Concert to delight Hanoi audience with musical masterpieces of impressionist composers A classical music night themed Impressionnisme (Impressionism) will be held in Hanoi on February 25 by the French Institute in Vietnam. Concert to delight Hanoi audience with musical masterpieces of impressionist composers (Photo: French Institute in Vietnam) Within the concert, three Vietnamese artists, namely violinist Nguyen My Huong, pianist Tran Ha My and cellist Phan Do Phuc, will share the stage with guest artist Hsin-Chiao Liao, a chamber musician from Chinese Taipei who is considered one of today's most prominent emerging artists. The four artists are expected to delight the Hanoi audience with their technical virtuosity through the performance of masterpieces by French representatives of impressionism in music including Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Camille Saint-Saens. According to Director of French Institute in Hanoi Thierry Vergon, the institute is glad to be opening cultural and artistic activities in 2022 with such a special night of classical music. I think it is a wonderful way to start a new year when activities have been resumed, he said. The concert is designed as a relief for the audience after such a long time being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated, adding that the event also aims to honour French musical works as well as talents of Vietnamese artists who have served as a bridge in facilitating cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries. The concert's curtains will be raised at 8 pm on February 25 at the French Cultural Centre L'Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Tickets are priced at 200,000 VND and only 150,000 VND for students. An unexploded bomb was also recovered from the site. (Photo: ANI | Representational) Kannur: One person was killed and two others injured in a bomb blast in Kannur district of Kerala on Sunday afternoon. According to the police, the deceased and the injured were part of the same group and were planning to attack another group with the bomb over some dispute which occurred a day ago. On Saturday, arguments between the two groups occurred at a house in Thottada where a wedding was to take place, they said. After the locals intervened, the dispute was resolved and the wedding took place on Sunday morning. Thereafter, in the afternoon, around 2.00 PM, the attack occurred in front of the wedding party comprising the bride and groom. No one from the bridal party was injured in the attack, it added. When the bomb was thrown, instead of hitting someone from the rival group, it hit Jishnu -- a member of the attacking group -- whose head was blown to pieces while two others - Hemant and Aravind -- got injured, police said. An unexploded bomb was also recovered from the site, it added. It said that both groups were affiliated to the same party and therefore, political rivalry was not a reason for the attack. The police told reporters that once the injured persons are questioned, further details, including the identities of the other members of the attacking group, would be revealed. Mister Open Society, George Soros, the symbol of globalist regime change Color Revolutions since the 1980s, has just signaled that he and his globalist circles have targeted Chinas President Xi Jinping for what looks a lot like regime change. On the surface, Soros latest sharp critique of Xi and his management of Chinas economy seems bizarre. For all his nice words about promoting open societies and democracy, Soros philanthropy has supported some of the most closed and corrupt leaders, such as Boris Yeltsin in Russia in the 1990s or Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine after the 2014 US coup. Could it be that Soros is now signaling a decision by a major faction of the globalist powers that be, to end their support of Xi in favor of other rival factions? In remarks at the Stanford University Hoover Institution conference, China on the Eve of the Winter Olympics: Hard Choices for the Worlds Democracies, the 91-year-old Soros delivered extremely harsh remarks on Xi. He reviewed the history of Chinas communist leaders since Mao, whom he calls a catastrophe for China, through to Maos rival, Deng Xiao Peng, who opened China to western investment in the 1980s. Soros describes Deng in glowing terms: Deng Xiaoping, who recognized that China was woefully lagging behind the capitalist worldHe invited foreigners to invest in China, and that led to a period of miraculous growth that continued even after Xi Jinping came to power in 2013. Hard Critique of Xi Dengs successors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, were careful not to violate the opening up market economic success initiated by Deng. However after Xi Jinping took power in 2012, Soros notes, Since then, Xi Jinping has done his best to dismantle Deng Xiaopings achievements. He brought the private companies established under Deng under the control of the CCP and undermined the dynamism that used to characterize them. Rather than letting private enterprise blossom, Xi Jinping introduced his own China Dream that can be summed up in two words: total control. That has had disastrous consequences. Soros identifies what he calls a sharp internal factional struggle inside the CCP: Xi Jinping has many enemies. Although nobody can oppose him publicly because he controls all the levers of power, there is a fight brewing within the CCP that is so sharp that it has found expression in various party publications. Xi is under attack from those who are inspired by Deng Xiaopings ideas and want to see a greater role for private enterprise. The key date he notes is the October CCP Party Congress, where Xi plans to break the two-term limit on Chinese presidents set by the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Internal Factional Wars? According to SinoInsider, a New York-based China political risk consultancy which specializes in analysis of internal factions within the China CCP elites, since he came to power in 2012, Xi has moved to consolidate unrivalled power over opposing factions, the most formidable opposition being that of Jiang Zemin and the so-called Shanghai Group, as well as many so-called princelings sons and daughters of former high ranking officers and officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from the 1949 era of the revolution. This faction war, they say, is behind Xi Jinpings crackdown on select Chinese private giant companies such as Jack Mas Alibaba Group. According to Japanese senior journalist, Katsuji Nakazawa, who was chief China correspondent for Nikkei, One source familiar with Chinese politics said that the interest groups targeted by Xi include tech giants such as Ant Group, Alibaba Group and Didi, major property developers such as China Evergrande Group and Fantasia Holdings Group, as well as the tutoring school industry. This cluster of private companies tends to be close to the politicians who pretend to obey Xi but secretly hold grudges; the companies often financially back such political forces. Among these forces is the Shanghai clan, led by former President Jiang Zemin and his close aide, former Vice President Zeng Qinghong. They maintain strong influence in political and bureaucratic circles that move the economy. If this is accurate, it would suggest that in order to decapitate his internal rivals, Xi has risked plunging Chinas economy, especially its bloated real estate sector with its huge debts, into what seems to be in an uncontrolled collapse that could bring China into a real economic depression just before his critical October 20th Party Congress where he clearly seeks an unprecedented third term. Ominous New Tone This is apparently the background that Soros clearly references in his remarks at Hoover Institution. He states, China is facing an economic crisis centered on the real estate market, which has been the main engine of growth since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013. The model on which the real estate boom is based is unsustainable. People buying apartments have to start paying for them even before they are built. So, the system is built on credit. Local governments derive most of their revenues from selling land at ever-rising prices. In his Hoover remarks, Soros also refers to the grave issue of ongoing demographic collapse in China which is ending the previous pool of low wage labor that spurred the dramatic growth of the past thirty years. He claims, the actual population is about 130 million lower than the official figure of 1.4 billion. This is not widely known, but it will aggravate the real estate crisis, produce labor shortages, fiscal strain and a slowdown in the economy. And making Xis situation more precarious, Soros notes that far from the brilliant success praised two years ago by WHO and others of the XI covid strategy, there is the debilitating impact on the economy of Xis heralded zero tolerance covid lockdown strategy that is closing entire cities such as Xian, and the huge container port city, Tianjin. Soros concluding words are ominous and foreboding about Xi Jinpings prospects: Given the strong opposition within the CCP, Xi Jinpings carefully choreographed elevation to the level of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping may never occur. It is to be hoped that Xi Jinping may be replaced by someone less repressive at home and more peaceful abroad. This would remove the greatest threat that open societies face today and they should do everything within their power to encourage China to move in the desired direction. Can it be that powerful circles in the globalist elite have concluded that Xi is no longer useful to their agenda? The Hoover Institution speech is not the first time Soros has been critical of China of late, though it is far the most explicit in advocating an end to the Xi rule. In a September 6, 2021 Wall Street Journal OpEd, Soros wrote a sharp rebuke of fellow Wall Street investor BlackRock for its recent decision to open a Chinese mutual fund: It is a sad mistake to pour billions of dollars into China now. This is likely to lose money for BlackRock customers and, more importantly, harm the national security interests of the US and other democracies. Soros went on to say, The BlackRock Initiative threatens the national security interests of the US and other democracies because money invested in China will help advance President Xis regime, which is repressive at home and aggressive abroad He is intensely nationalistic and he wants China to become the dominant power in the world. The fact that so influential a globalist as George Soros openly calls for the end of the Xi era suggests that a major faction within the Western globalists has decided to do whatever possible to bring a more pliable leadership in Beijing. Globalists at the level of Soros or Schwab do not make major interventions impulsively. The fact Soros is doubling down in his attacks directly on Xi suggest that a very powerful group of the Davos Great Reset green agenda have decided that Xi has become an obstacle to their dystopian agenda to eliminate the nation state everywhere, including China and USA. Could it be that a nationalist Xi Jinping, who has declared intent in recent months to annex Taiwan by force if necessary, after forcefully ending the Sino-Anglo HongKong treaty in 2020, is endangering the entire globalist Davos Great Reset agenda? Soros is an Agenda Contributor of Schwabs World Economic Forum and frequent guest to Davos. His son, Alexander Soros, is the Deputy Chair of the Open Society Foundations and one of the World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders of 2018. Moreover Soros decades of funding Color Revolutions since the 1980s arguably have advanced the end of the nation-state through collapsing regimes everywhere from the Soviet Union in 1991 to the Arab Spring in 2011 and Ukraine in 2014. Could it be that the Davos circles around Soros have decided to actively join the party rivals of the CCP to help topple Xi? F. William Engdahl is strategic risk consultant and lecturer, he holds a degree in politics from Princeton University and is a best-selling author on oil and geopolitics, exclusively for the online magazine New Eastern Outlook Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky told conservative website Daily Signal he's all for anti-vaccine trucker convoys to "clog up" metro areas across the U.S. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been well aware that truckers could soon embark for Washington, D.C. Still, this weekend, a more immediate threat could be a convoy headed to the Super Bowl in California. "I'm all for it," Paul said in the interview last Thursday. "Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates." "And some of this, we started," he added. "We put [COVID-19] 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." "Freedom Convoy" demonstrations against medical tyranny have so far been peaceful across Canada for more than a week, causing congestion issues in Canada's capital, Ottawa, and blocking one of the most crucial land ports on the U.S.-Canada border crossing that connects Detroit and Windsor, two regions responsible for a sizeable chunk of output for the North American auto industry. Paul added, "I hope the truckers do come to America, and I hope they clog up cities." "It'd 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," Paul added. "I don't know if it'll affect D.C. It'd be a nice change. We'd actually have some traffic." Paul was not alone in supporting the protesters. Last week, Dr. Robert Malone, the father of mRNA vaccines, wrote an open letter to the Canadian truckers, sympathizing with them and embedded this picture in the article: Suppose truckers are set to begin a convoy protest against medical tyranny stateside. In that case, they have a lot to learn from their brother and sisters in Canada as the actions of the governments of Ottawa and Canada were on full display of fascism (as Benito Mussolini once said, "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of the state and corporate power") by taking away political fundraising from the truckers on GoFundMe. Censorship is growing online, but one thing that petrifies governments who follow the script of the World Economic Forum for the so-called 'Great COVID Reset' are truckers who freedom honk and congest roadways. What's even more concerning for the Davos man is that the everyday person, no matter race, religion, social class, or even political party, are banding together against overreaching governments. This was on display this weekend in Canada, France, and elsewhere. A revolution could be emerging. The threat of convoys clogging up metro areas in the U.S. was enough for the DHS to distribute a bulletin to law enforcement agencies last week. An agency spokesperson replied to an email request by The Epoch Times, saying: "We're tracking reports of a potential convoy that may be planning to travel to several U.S. cities." The bulletin highlighted how a convoy of truckers could affect Sunday's Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. "While there are currently no indications of planned violence, if hundreds of trucks converge in a major metropolitan city, the potential exists to severely disrupt transportation, federal government operations, commercial facilities, and emergency services through gridlock and potential counterprotests," the memo said. DHS sent 500 agents to Inglewood in anticipation of trucker protests. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development minister K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday held a review meeting on issues related to the construction of road under bridges (RuBs) and road over bridges (RoBs) at various railway crossings in Hyderabad city. Officials from the South Central Railways (SCR), the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the revenue department participated in the meeting. k t rama rao Rama Rao asked the officials to come up with a comprehensive plan for works to be undertaken on railway crossings in Hyderabad. He asked the GHMC officials to work in tandem with the SCR officials to come up with the plan. He asked the officials to take up railway crossing structure work at a faster pace. Rama Rao said the government introduced the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) to strengthen the road network in Hyderabad. He also discussed the limitations in reducing traffic congestion near railway crossings in the city. He said the GHMC was completing the SRDP works as per the timeline given whereas there was a lag in works related to the SCR. Rama Rao said there was a need to develop structures at the railway crossings including road under bridges. He also stated that old RuBs such as the one at the Ramgopalpet in Secunderabad needed to be revamped on a war-footing. During the meeting, officials from the SCR assured to provide complete support to the GHMC in taking up works at railway crossings. They also assured to complete the work at a fast pace. ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Anxiety is running high in Newfoundland and Labrador as the province waits on a federal decision about a proposed offshore oil project about 500 kilometres east of St. John's. Politicians and union leaders raised their fists for the crowd of oil workers gathered in the parking lot of Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature building, on Monday, June 14, 2021. Anxieties are running high in Newfoundland and Labrador as the province waits on a federal decision about a proposed offshore oil project about 500 kilometres east of St. John's. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sarah Smellie ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Anxiety is running high in Newfoundland and Labrador as the province waits on a federal decision about a proposed offshore oil project about 500 kilometres east of St. John's. Equinor's Bay du Nord project would open a fifth oilfield for the cash-strapped province, whose oil sector was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and crashing global prices. But some experts say an approval from Ottawa would undermine federal climate commitments and send a message to other provinces that oil and gas is a viable industry on which they can hook their financial hopes. "If we're going to be serious about our net-zero commitment and our international commitments, then we cannot approve any new oil and gas projects," said Debora VanNijnatten, a public policy expert and associate political science professor at Wilfrid Laurier University. "And we have to have a plan to help those regions that we say 'no' to," she added in a recent interview. Oil accounted for nearly 21 per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador's GDP in 2019, according to its latest budget, which also forecasted a deficit of $826 million and a net debt of $17.2 billion. With an estimated 800 million recoverable barrels of oil in the proposed Bay du Nord site, the project is "is critical to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy," said a statement Thursday from Energy Minister Andrew Parsons. Meanwhile, Canada has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and to limiting global warming to 1.5 C. Bay du Nord is also among the first oil and gas projects to be considered for approval by the federal government since the International Energy Agency declared in May there can be no investment in new fossil fuel supply projects if the world is going to hit net-zero targets by 2050. On Monday, the federal government rejected GNL Quebec's proposed $14-billion liquefied natural gas project in Quebec's Saguenay region. A news release about the decision said the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada found the project could have adverse environmental effects due to an increase in greenhouse gases, among other concerns. VanNijnatten noted that the federal environment minister is also putting together a national emissions reduction plan, due at the end of March. "I'm sure he's right now hearing from a whole bunch of stakeholders that are saying, 'No, you can't approve anymore oil and gas projects,'" she said. Rob Strong has been a consultant in Newfoundland and Labrador's oil and gas industry for decades, and he said he feels a growing hesitancy from the federal government to keep supporting the fossil fuel industry. "I'm concerned," he said Friday about the Bay du Nord project. Radio-Canada reported Thursday there was unease about the offshore oil project among members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet. Newfoundland and Labrador's Progressive Conservatives held a press conference that afternoon demanding Liberal Premier Andrew Furey do something to ensure Bay du Nord's approval. On Friday, they called for the legislature to be opened for an emergency debate about the project. Joanne Thompson, member of Parliament for St. John's East, issued a statement Friday calling for "united support" for the project. Kathryn Harrison, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia, agrees that the Bay du Nord project is putting Ottawa in a complicated position. "If the federal government said yes to this, how would they justify that as being consistent with Canada's own international commitments?" she asked. In his statement Thursday, Newfoundland and Labrador's energy minister said Bay du Nord "will be the most carbon efficient development of its scale in Canada." It's also a key component of the province's mission of developing "responsible oil" while meeting its net-zero goals, Parsons said. Both VanNijnatten and Harrison say that approach only addresses the emissions released when the oil is extracted and not when it's ultimately exported and burned elsewhere. Those downstream emissions, Harrison said, undercut Canada's commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 C. "We've tended to have two very separate conversations, one about our commitment to reducing Canada's emissions and then about our fossil fuel exports," she said. Harrison said Bay du Nord provides an opportunity for Ottawa to send a clear message that it's committed to its domestic emissions reduction goals and takes responsibility for its contribution to global emissions. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2022. Reclusive billionaire James Packer is widely expected to give US private equity giant Blackstones $8.9 billion takeover bid for Crown Resorts his blessing, bringing two and a half years of turmoil at the stricken casino giant to an end. The gambling groups independent board of directors on Monday said it had signed a binding agreement with Blackstone, after a year-long courtship, for the US fund to pay $13.10 cash to take control of the company, which owns properties in Melbourne, Perth and Sydneys Barangaroo. Crown said last month it intended to accept Blackstones $8.9 billion offer. Credit:Chris Hopkins Mr Packer, who owns 37 per cent of the company, will net $3.26 billion from the sale, which still needs approval from gambling regulators and will go to a shareholders vote some time between April and June. Sources familiar with Mr Packers deliberations who were not authorised to speak publicly said he was relieved the deal was progressing and would likely cast his shareholding in its favour. Biotech giant CSL and its competitors have warned a US appeals court they will be forced to lay off workers and shutter collection centres if a ban on Mexican plasma donors is not overturned. ASX-listed CSL, valued at $119 billion, has joined with other blood plasma product makers to fight against US Customs and Border Control in court over a decision by the agency last June to prevent Mexican nationals from using visitor visas to cross into the US and donate plasma, the core ingredient in many of the companies life-saving therapies. A centrifuge at CSLs new plasma fractionation facility at Broadmeadows which will increase the companys plasma processing capacity in Australia to 9 million litres a year, from 1.2 million. Credit:Eddie Jim In December, the US District Court of Columbia rejected the calls for the rule to be overturned, but the companies have filed an appeal, outlining that a permanent ban would result in job losses and flow-on effects of medicine shortages and price spikes across the globe. CSL Group general counsel Greg Boss said it was crucial the ban was overturned. We are concerned with any actions that endanger patient access to life-saving therapies by limiting plasma donations at a time when plasma is needed to help satisfy the growing demand for plasma-based therapies as the industry continues to recover from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. The federal government has forged ahead with its plan to amend the countrys defamation laws despite warnings from legal experts that the changes are rushed, poorly drafted and will leave social media users with fewer remedies against defamatory attacks online. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Michaelia Cash announced in November that they would intervene in defamation law, traditionally covered by the states and territories, with the aim of providing an easy and quick way for people to complain to social media platforms and have allegedly defamatory material removed online. But experts say the changes will not work as intended. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The government has described the changes as a crackdown on trolls, although online abuse is not synonymous with defamation and defamation law does provide a remedy against harassment and abuse. Strathfield byelection Labor candidate Jason Yat-sen Li has called out the racism that he and his volunteers experienced during the campaign. Mr Li, who is expected to take a seat in Parliament once final results are declared, said: It is not OK that I and the Labor volunteers were subject to racist comments from opponents at polling booths whispered into the ears of voters. Jason Yat-sen Li, who is likely to win the seat of Strathfield when the result is declared, with his proud parents, Pansy and George. Credit:Edwina Pickles It is not OK that the patriotism or loyalty of candidates or of the Australian Labor Party is questioned with no basis in fact. And it is not OK that race is used as a partisan political weapon for a short-term gain but with devastating long-term social consequences. The rumour-mongering included comments that tried to paint Mr Li as a Chinese Communist Party sympathiser. Senior Labor Party figures blamed federal Liberal Party rhetoric about China for helping to fuel the accusations. The pilot of a hang glider has been rushed to a Brisbane hospital with serious injuries after he crashed near a regional airport on Sunday. The man, believed to be in his 50s, came down at Dalby Airport, 180 kilometres west of Brisbane, about 6.30am, suffering serious head and chest injuries, according to police. The man was in a serious condition at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Credit:Jono Searle - Getty Paramedics treated the man at the scene before taking him to Dalby Hospital in a serious condition, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service. He was then taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane by rescue helicopter, where his condition remained serious. Research published in Drug and Alcohol Review in December 2021 suggests a transformation in the publics views on drugs over the past decade. But while Rebeccas views apply to all illegal drugs, the general public draws a sharp distinction between different drugs. The national survey found 26 per cent of Australians just over one in four supported legalising the personal use of cannabis in 2013. By 2019 this had risen to 41 per cent. Over the same time, support for legalising the personal use of ecstasy rose from 7 per cent to 9 per cent, while for cocaine, it went from 6 per cent to 8 per cent. Yet there was little softening of views about heroin or methamphetamine, with support for legalising personal use hovering around the 5 per cent mark. Professor Don Weatherburn from the University of NSW National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, a co-author of the paper, says there are significant harms associated with prohibition of drug use. People who get arrested for no other offence than using drugs end up with a criminal record that can follow them through the rest of their lives, and make them less likely to get a job, he says. Professor Weatherburn, the former head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, says he was not surprised by the support for legalising cannabis. He was more surprised by the growing support for legalising ecstasy and cocaine, yet still extremely strong opposition to legalising methamphetamine or heroin. He attributes it to the stereotypes of people behaving violently under the influence of methamphetamine or committing robberies under the influence of heroin. But while legalisation was a minority view, the researchers also found the general mood of the public was against really punitive sanctions, with declining support for imprisonment. Support for either no sanction or health treatment rather than punishment was highest among people living in the major cities, with a university education and earning more than $52,000. Weatherburn says the inspiration for the research was the huge public discussion about drug laws following the ice inquiry in NSW. Its about ... encouraging them to think about what they would want if a member of their family developed a drug dependency issue. Emma Maiden, Uniting head of advocacy The Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice, handed to the NSW government in January 2020, recommended decriminalisation of drugs and reframing substance use as a health issue with greater investment in treatment. More than two years later, the government still has not provided its response, though it did reject a number of recommendations outright, including pill testing and a second supervised injecting centre for the state. NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman says the response to the ice inquiry remains under active consideration, and he expects an announcement in the near future. However, it has been delayed several times and last November he said he would be disappointed not to have the response released by Christmas. Several factors could have slowed down the process in the past few months, including the combination of a new Premier, Police Minister and Police Commissioner, the Omicron outbreak and the byelections this weekend. But Professor Dan Howard, SC, who led the inquiry, last May described the delay as a disgrace, while an alliance of peak medical bodies put out a joint statement in October saying that COVID-19 made dealing with addiction issues even more important. Speakman says the delays reflect the complexity of issues, which sit across several portfolios. There are over 100 recommendations that were considering closely, and we want to get it right, he says. Government sources have told the Herald the response will be about all drugs, not just ice, and focus on public health spending. Remaining discussion is focused on legal options such as pre-court diversions and an infringement scheme as an alternative to decriminalisation. For example, the submission from the former police commissioner opposed decriminalisation but suggested the increased use of criminal infringement notices for minor drug possession offences, as currently used at music festivals. If adopted, the consequence would be that drug possession would remain a crime, but police would have the ability to issue infringement notices that dont result in a criminal record. In 2019, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, found 43 per cent of Australians have used a drug illicitly in their lifetime, and 16.4 per cent in the past 12 months. But in a generational shift, young people are more likely to be sober than in the past back in 2001, people in their 20s were the most likely of all age groups to have used an illicit drug in their lifetime, but by 2019 it was people in their 40s. (This is a trend that applies to alcohol as well. The survey found teenagers start drinking an average of one-and-a-half years later in 2019 than 2001, and the proportion of 20-somethings who dont drink at all has trebled to almost one in four.) The institutes survey found three out of five Australians supported the availability of pill testing at designated sites such as music festivals, about two out of three supported needle and syringe exchange programs, and just under half supported supervised injecting rooms. When asked where money should be spent, people allocated more funds to education than to law enforcement for the first time in 2019. Uniting, the services arm of the Uniting Church, has mirrored this survey in key seats in NSW, proving to politicians that support for treating drug use as a health issue rather than a crime is high even in the most conservative electorates. Founding medical director Ingrid van Beek, left, and her successor Marianne Jauncey at the Kings Cross injecting centre. Credit:Louise Kennerley Uniting runs the Kings Cross injecting centre, which opened 21 years ago this May when Bob Carr was NSW premier, in what its founding medical director described last year as the last brave thing that happened in drug reform. It was the first of its kind in Australia but its success in preventing overdose deaths, referring addicts to treatment, and keeping drug use off the streets means other states have followed. For the past few years the Uniting Church has been advocating for decriminalisation of all illegal drugs and an emphasis on health treatment, through the Fair Treatment campaign. Unitings head of advocacy, Emma Maiden, says the campaign started in 2016 when a church member whose son died of an overdose succeeded in winning the churchs support for decriminalisation. After extensive work behind the scenes, the church launched a public campaign in 2018. She says Uniting identified a lack of services in regional areas and was instrumental in getting Premier Dominic Perrottet, then treasurer, to support the $7.5 million drug rehabilitation centre in Dubbo announced at the end of 2020. As well as public advocacy, Uniting has had hundreds of individual conversations with ordinary Australians about drug policy. So what does it take to change hearts and minds? Its about encouraging people to think about their values, and then encouraging them to think about what they would want if a member of their family developed a drug dependency issue or perhaps with occasional drug use, Maiden says. Would they want them to go to jail or be taken before the court? Or would they want them to connect with the health service? Some organisations working on drug policy support the full legalisation of drugs, because it would break users dependency on dealers and the underworld. Others, like Uniting, favour decriminalisation. Decriminalisation generally means removing the criminal sanctions for the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use, while drug trafficking and dealing would remain crimes. Personal possession could be made legal, or become a civil offence. Rebecca grew up in Canberra where cannabis was decriminalised for cultivation and possession for personal use, and she wonders if the lack of criminal sanction made her stepmothers use more flagrant. Loading Thats the double-edged sword, she acknowledges. Yet she still favours decriminalisation as long as it comes with increased public health spending. The Australian government has ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Kyiv amid concerns that Russian troops massing on Ukraines border are preparing to invade. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the remaining three staff members at the Australian embassy had been directed to leave as the situation becomes increasingly dangerous, and he condemned Russias actions as utterly unacceptable. Military exercises involving Russian and Belarus forces on the border with Ukraine. Credit:AP I want to send a very clear message on behalf of Australia a liberal democracy who believes in freedom and the sovereignty of states, not just in Europe but in our own region as well that the autocratic, unilateral actions of Russia to be threatening and bullying Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable, Mr Morrison said. He said the government had already relocated other Australian-based staff and their families from the mission in Kyiv. The chief minister has been regularly inspecting the progress of renovation works of Yadadri temple. (Twitter) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar inaugurated presidential suites and VVIP cottages constructed downhill in Yadadri on Saturday. Incidentally, this marks Raos 18 visit to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple since becoming the Chief Minister in June 2014. He has been regularly inspecting the progress of renovation works of Yadadri temple, which is being given a complete makeover at a cost of over Rs 1,200 crore. Rao had announced that the renovated Yadadri temple will be reopened to the public on March 28. A host of VVIPs, including President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, Chief Ministers, are expected to take part in the rituals. In keeping with their stature, the government has constructed presidential suites and VVIP cottages near the temple. The ground floor area of the presidential suite covers about 9,849 sq.ft., while the first floor area will be around 5,656 square feet. Similarly, 14 VVIP cottages and the main suite have been constructed at Chinna Konda in an area spread over 13 acres. Ministers A. Indrakaran Reddy and G. Jagadish Reddy, and Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy were present on the occasion. Later, Rao inaugurated the TRS district office in Bhongir. Climate and integrity crusading independent federal MP Zali Steggall failed to disclose a six-figure political donation from the family trust of a multimillionaire coal investor, who is accused of tax fraud, for almost two years, an audit of her campaign financing has found. An Australian Electoral Commission compliance review into Warringah Independent Ltds 2018-19 disclosures uncovered that a $100,000 cheque from The Kinghorn Family Trust, headed by prominent businessman John Kinghorn, had not been made public even though it exceeded the disclosure threshold. Independent MP Zali Steggall has been an advocate for political donation reform. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Kinghorn, founder of RAMS Home Loans, is facing charges over allegedly avoiding more than $30 million in tax and could face up to a decade in jail if found guilty. He has pleaded not guilty. The 80-year-old is a former investor and director of Cascade Coal and Felix Resources, which was sold to Chinas Yanzhou Coal for $3.5 billion in 2009. The AEC report, completed in February last year, found donations exceeding the $13,800 threshold were under-disclosed in Warringah Independent Ltds public returns. The full amount of the Kinghorn donation had been split into eight separate donations of $12,500 from Kinghorn family members, each of them falling under the minimum amount required to be disclosed. Australias decision to close its embassy in Ukraine was informed by updated American intelligence that raises the alarm Russia is increasingly likely to attack the capital, Kyiv, within days. The Australian government on Sunday ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Kyiv amid concerns that Russian troops massing on Ukraines border are preparing to invade the country, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has branded Moscows actions utterly unacceptable. Ukrainian civilians take part in military training in Kyiv this week. Credit:Getty Australian government sources confirmed that intelligence from the United States had raised the likelihood that Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch an attack against Ukraine this week, changing the earlier assessment that Moscow wouldnt move until after the Winter Olympics had concluded in Beijing. The updated intelligence assessment led to both the US and Australia evacuating their embassies in Kyiv. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has pointed the finger at local issues as the cause for major swings against the government in Saturdays byelections, insisting his handling of the pandemic is not to blame. In the wash-up of his first electoral test as Premier, Mr Perrottet said he took responsibility for the historic loss of the Bega electorate to Labor, as well as a massive swing against the government in the safe Liberal seat of Willoughby. Bad day at the office: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the result in Bega was disappointing. Credit:James Alcock Regional healthcare, the response to the Black Summer bushfires and the controversial northern beaches tunnel were bigger issues for voters at the ballot box on Saturday than the states strategy for the Omicron outbreak, he said. Theres no doubt there are some disappointing results across the board, and well reflect on that and learn from that, he said. Melbourne house hunters could save as much as $2.4 million on their next home by moving just one or two stops along the train line. An extra five to 10-minute trip on some of Melbournes busiest networks can see house price medians fall by hundreds of thousands of dollars, Domain data shows, with the biggest savings to be found along the Frankston line between Toorak and Armadale. Toorak is synonymous with high-end Melbourne, Hugh Tomlinson said. Credit:Penny Stephens Those with deep pockets could save $2,462,500 simply by buying in Armadale, one stop further along the Frankston line than Toorak where the median house price of $5 million, recorded in the December 2021 quarter, is almost double Armadales $2,537,500. While homes cost a premium in Toorak, Marshall White Stonnington agent and auctioneer Hugh Tomlinson said people still aspired to live there and are happy to pay the extra. Ottawa: As protesters swarmed Canadas capital, Ottawa, for the third weekend in a row to vent their anger about pandemic restrictions, police struggled to tame a blockade at the Ambassador Bridge, a crossing at the US border that is vital to the supply chains of the global automotive industry. By Saturday night, the bridge was still closed. Police had driven some protesters away in the morning, forming a line to push them back, but others stayed, and the crowd swelled as the day went on, despite frigid temperatures. The Canadian demonstrations have attracted the attention of far-right and anti-vaccine groups globally, raising millions of dollars and inspiring copycat protests in France, New Zealand and Australia. French protesters, galvanised by their Canadian counterparts, temporarily blocked the fabled Champs-Elysees, a central artery in Paris, despite an order banning them from entering the capital. Latest News RBA lifts official cash rate Finance industry reacts to major decision Does BID negate the need for clawbacks? Non-bank lender, broker aggregator say clawbacks unnecessary The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has launched a new feature in the CommBank app that allows customers to align home loan repayments with the date and frequency of incoming salary payments. With the help of Harvard Universitys STAR Lab, CBA was able to explore how the timing of large expenses relative to income can improve a persons cash flow and thus make it easier to achieve their desired financial outcomes. John Beshears, professor at Harvard Business School and member of the STAR Lab, said the initiative aimed to help keep people in sync with regard to money matters. This comes after CBA found in 2021 that eight in 10 customers were paid weekly or fortnightly, while most home loan repayments are made monthly. Peoples financial lives have so many moving parts, Beshears said. Income arrives on one schedule, and each major recurring expense, such as a home loan payment, often arrives on its own separate schedule. When these schedules are out of sync, many customers have difficulty planning their spending. Luckily, there are ways to help customers avoid this source of stress. Typically, a home loans repayment frequency may be decided on at settlement. However, if your financial circumstances changed and the frequency no longer suited your income timing, it may be worth considering taking advantage of this feature to reduce the risk of financial stress. Michael Bauman, executive manager for home buying at CBA, said emerging research has found making small changes like these can aid in managing overall finances. For many customers, home loan repayments are their biggest regular expense, and traditionally repayments are monthly with the repayment date determined by the settlement date of a property, Bauman said. The new feature in the CommBank app is designed to give customers control to be able to align their home loan repayments to when and how often they are paid. CBA will nudge customers via alerts in the CommBank app to notify them of the new feature. Latest News RBA lifts official cash rate Finance industry reacts to major decision Does BID negate the need for clawbacks? Non-bank lender, broker aggregator say clawbacks unnecessary Australian business owners are hoping to make a quick comeback this Valentines Day. The National Australia Bank (NAB) has predicted that over $150 million will be spent on restaurants, jewellers and florists in the week leading up to the anticipated event. Of the estimated amount, $20 million will go to florists and $52 million to jewellers, both of whom are expecting their biggest sales of the entire year. Without the threat of a lockdown, NAB reported Aussies dining out on the big day will amount to over $80 million, including $24 million in Victoria and $25 million in New South Wales. Ana Marinkovic, executive for small business at NAB, said optimism is in the air as the nation recovers from the Omicron peak. You can sense the excitement from small businesses as Valentines Day approaches without lockdowns, Marinkovic said. Many small businesses have done it tough, and these celebrations can be critical in helping them bounce back. We dont want to lose the heart of our cities and are looking forward to having workers back in offices soon to further support these businesses. Victorian restaurateurs will be feeling the most love in 2022 after turnover fell by 70% when a lockdown came into effect on Feb. 13, 2021. Similarly, most of the other regions saw a dramatic decline in restaurant traffic on the day itself, with the exception of Western Australia, where COVID-zero had become the norm. Tony Nicolini, owner of Melbourne restaurant Italian Artisans, said local business confidence was starting to get back up. Im feeling much more positive about the future, Nicolini said. With Valentines Day falling on a Monday, Im anticipating a pretty crazy weekend and were looking forward to taking advantage of an influx of bookings. NAB also advised Australians to be cautious of the surge in online romance scams during this time. In 2020 alone, Scamwatch said there were 3,708 filed romance scam cases that cost Australians $39 million. Scamwatch said that number was actually low, excluding thousands who dont make a report out of fear or embarrassment. Latest News RBA lifts official cash rate Finance industry reacts to major decision Does BID negate the need for clawbacks? Non-bank lender, broker aggregator say clawbacks unnecessary Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank are well ahead of ANZ and Westpac in the race to snare mortgage customers thanks to investments in technology and systems. CBA shares were up by 6% and NAB by 8% for the week following the latest round of results and news that surplus capital would be returned to shareholders. Will Curtayne, Milford Asset Management portfolio manager, said that while buybacks and increased dividends are expected to bring shareholders more returns, with much having already been priced into stock prices, where the banks should be investing in still is technology, Australian Financial Review reported. Rachel Slade, NABs group executive for personal banking, said NAB, which posted a better-than-expected performance on margins and smashed system growth in mortgages, had used the pandemic to overhaul its technology. We took a step back from aggressive pricing when COVID-19 hit and to be honest, we expected everyone else would do the same, but we came back once we knew that we could actually service the volumes, Slade told AFR. Were not leading on price, but were quickly and confidently giving approval, so people are choosing to stay. With customer preferences shifting to digital banking due to the pandemic, CBA is mulling a closer look at its branch network and footprint as a result. Many of the changes NAB had embedded due to COVID-19 would become permanent, Slade said. COVID-19 really gave us the opportunity to test what we could do in terms of using data and technology to transform customer experiences, Slade told AFR. Those things are having a lasting impact, like video lending appointments, which are about 40% of our total now. Through video chat, both new and existing customers can secure unconditional approval, resulting in much faster approval times overall. All the data to verify income is there already, so its just a matter of being able to digest everything and categorise it, Slade told the publication. Already 50% of our customers are getting unconditional approval within the same day and 30% of those eligible are approved within one hour. Slade said the bank is now looking to roll out similar initiatives in NABs owned channels through the broker channel. Brokers account for about half of NABs mortgages, and applying the faster approval system to this channel would be the focus for the rest of this year. For PAYG customers, were expanding to more areas and doing the same with brokers, where the loan would have no hands on it through operations, Slade told AFR. Angus Sullivan, CBAs head of retail banking and services, said faster processing times were helping the bank win its share of the market. According to investors, its the spending on technology that set the banks apart during the most recent earnings. If they have simple, effective systems theyre finding it much easier to service their clients and win market share without having to compete aggressively on price, Curtayne told AFR. Curtayne said that although CBA had maintained its leadership, NAB was moving in the right direction. NAB over the last few years has got its tech vastly improved, and now under [chief executive] Ross McEwan... have become a clear number two, Curtayne told AFR. Westpac and ANZ have a big catch-up investment to make there. Bryan, OH (43506) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing for the afternoon. High 61F. E winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. HYDERABAD: BJP state president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was trying to suppress the BJP cadres in Telangana state, but it would not be possible forever. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders were attacking the BJP activists to terrorise them, he alleged. Chandrashekar Rao was frustrated and was not realising what he was saying, Sanjay said. I thought he would apologise for the comments made on rewriting the Constitution; but he is hellbent on implementing the Kalvakuntla Constitution and is even forcing people to follow it, '' he said. Speaking to reporters here at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Bhavan on Saturday, he condemned the arrests of activists days before the Chief Ministers public meeting in Jangaon. The attacks are being made in the presence of the police. Unmindful of these attacks, when the activists shout Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans, Chandrashekar Rao gets threatened, Sanjay added. If the Chief Minister is holding a public meeting, he should speak of the government's welfare schemes. But Chandrashekar Raos intention is to target BJP in his public meetings, he said. Sanjay Kumar said Chandrashekar Rao knew that his illegal rule was under scrutiny and thus was plotting to raise the Telangana sentiment. The fear is clearly visible on his face, he added. Chandrashekar Rao was not only pushing the state into debt, but also troubling the public with irregularities in paying salaries and pensions, he said. When the Centre reduced the prices of petrol and 22 states reduced the cess, Chandrashekar Rao had openly charged 40 paise per litre, even though Telangana was a surplus state, Sanjay noted. Even after knowing the publics verdict in MLC elections and by-elections in Dubbaka and Huzurabad, he doesnt understand it, he said. BJP is a party that has sacrificed to uphold its ideology and the country. Even as there is threat to life from Naxalites, the activists of BJP will fight for the country till their last breath, Sanjay said. EATING TO EXTINCTION: The Worlds Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them Author: Dan Saladino Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Price: $30 Pages: 464 Ach-ech-ech-ech! The birdcall clacks through the canopy in the Tanzanian bush not far from Lake Eyasi. Down below, Sigwazi, one of the thousand or so members of the Hadza tribe, hears it and calls back. Both bird and man understand the message and soon they are off on a treasure hunt, by foot and by wing, that ends when the bird hovers over a nest of African honeybees high in the branches of a baobab tree. Sigwazi nimbly climbs the tree. He holds burning leaves in a not fully successful effort to ward off stings as he rips the nest apart with one hand and tosses chunks of honeycomb down to the rest of the hunting party. The bird, known as a honeyguide, waits while the Hadza suck out the honey and protein-dense larvae. The beeswax that they spit out on the ground will be its payment for the bee-spotting services. There are easier and less painful ways to get a sugar rush, and at least one of them has come to the Hadza recently. As Dan Saladino writes in Eating to Extinction, the last hunter-gatherers in Africa can now buy cans of brand-name soft drinks from a mud brick hut deep in their terrain, far from any city or road. This and other threats to a way of living and eating that stretches back tens of thousands of years, if not more, brought Mr Saladino to the Tanzanian honey hunt. A broadcast journalist for the BBC, he specialises in chasing down foods that are disappearing for one reason or another. Eating to Extinction tells the stories of dozens of these endangered tastes and makes a reasoned case for saving them in which nostalgia and sentimentality play very little part. The culprits have gotten bigger, too. What started as the grocery chains demands for uniform products with a long shelf life has metastasised into something so all-encompassing, yet so nebulous and faceless, that nobody has come up with a more precise term for it than the food system. What we really mean is profit-minded corporate logic set free on a global scale at an incalculable cost to health, economic stability, cultural coherence and joy. Mr Saladino has an 18-year-old backpackers willingness to light out for remote destinations far from the usual food-writer feeding troughs. He clambers over snow-covered terraces dug into the slopes of the Cordillera Apolobamba range of the Bolivian Andes, one of the highest, toughest, coldest places on earth to live, with a shaman who points out medicinal plants on the way to a patch of the tuber known as oca. Along with potatoes, uncounted varieties of oca are tended by Indigenous Quechua and Aymara people in these mountains. Oca in colours from cream to safety orange were bred over centuries to thrive at specific elevations. Now these microclimates are under attack from changes in the macroclimate. New pests are blighting oca crops, driving people from the slopes to cities in search of work. Variations on this scene replay in chapter after chapter. Global changes to the environment and the food marketplace dont just threaten unique flavors; as traditional ways of eating disappear, communities lose their ability to feed themselves. Local economies collapse. Money flows in one direction, out, into the accounts of a few corporations that will grow richer if everyone on earth eats only the foods that they control. Of course, some foods depend on us to clean up the mess weve made. Greedy fishing fleets and lazy policing have nearly emptied stretches of ocean that were once so crowded that 18th-century sailors reported getting stuck in traffic jams of giant cod. Factory methods applied to farming have polluted rivers, cleared forests and caused low-yielding but nutrient-rich local crops to be muscled out by blander, less fortifying ones. And were just starting to calculate the threats of climate change. Mr Saladino leaves no doubt that the diversity he set out to record very much includes distinctive people like Sally Barnes, who runs the last smokehouse in Ireland that preserves only wild Atlantic salmon. Barnes tailors her technique from fish to fish and can read the needs of each one. As global markets have hollowed out communities that once fed themselves, an opposing idea has taken root: reclaiming old foods as a form of resistance. For those people, swimming against the tide has political overtones. The Mexican group Sin Maiz, No Hay Pais (Without Maize, There Is No Country) promotes Indigenous strains of corn over the commodity corn that flooded Mexico after NAFTA, which the group wants to see renegotiated. Later in the book, Mr Saladino meets Vivien Sansour, a Palestinian woman who scours the West Bank for old strains of squash, tomatoes, wheat and sesame. She looked particularly hard for a watermelon called jadui, which once sweetened tables from Beirut to Damascus but was believed to have died out. Finally, she met an old man living in the West Bank who had given up farming and thought the world had forgotten about jadui. But he kept a packet of seeds in the back of a drawer, just in case. Encouraged by a steady recovery seen in the first two weeks of February, hospitality firms expect the business hotels in metros including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad that have been lagging the leisure hotels in terms of revenue per available room (RevPar) to catch up in the coming months. Huge pent-up demand for MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) as slowly return to hosting physical events coupled with easing of the recently announced restrictions on international travel, will also help in getting closer to pre-Covid levels of revenue, they said. The wave that peaked in January had derailed the strong month-on-month recovery seen by the hotels since August. We are seeing a promising and sharp recovery trend in hotel occupancy and business travel, said Sanjay Sethi, managing director and chief executive at . The K Raheja Groups hospitality arm is the asset owner of Marriott International brands in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The month of January saw a drop in pan India occupancy because of the third wave. However, the drop wasnt as bad as in the previous waves. Occupancy at the Chalet portfolio was at 38 per cent compared to 17 per cent during the peak of the first wave. The occupancy in January was supported by business travel, he said. From late January and into February, the pick-up has been robust said Sethi. Business travel trends are particularly pronounced among and industries that are hungry for growth, he said, citing instances of automobile, consultancy, finance. Mid segment hotel brands too are seeing traction in bookings and occupancy. J.B Singh president and chief executive at InterGlobe Hotels that owns and operates the Ibis brand of hotelsjoint venture with Accor Group said, Starting February, the business is showing strong growth 50 per cent plus levels across portfolio, and 60 per cent-70 per cent levels in selected city centric locations and changing on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, even as normalcy is getting restored gradually after the third wave, hotels arent seeing bookings for the large scale corporate events just yet. Chalets Sethi expects it to kick in the next few weeks. However, small and medium-sized events including social / weddings etc are back again and forward queries are growing, said Singh. The booking window is fairly short for MICE as well, with queries coming in 7-14 days before the event, he added. To be sure, an improvement in occupancy and average daily rates at hotel properties in the metros hold the key to a broad base recovery in the overall sector. On account of the sheer size and scale of the properties, these account for a major share in the overall revenue profit pool of hospitality firms. "Going by the current trend, we expect occupancy at the business hotels to touch 60 percent in March. This is similar to the levels seen in the last quarter of calendar year 2021," Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive at Noesis Capital Advisors. In an investor call earlier this month, Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO at Indian Hotel Co too indicated a similar trend. Delhi Mumbai and Bengaluru, the three most important markets for IHCLs business hotels saw a RevPar of 70-75 per cent of the pre-Covid levels in the December quarter. The day they get close to 95-100 per cent of pre-Covid levels-- which should happen in the next few months, the Tata Groups hospitality arm at a portfolio level (all brands) will reach 100 per cent of pre-Covid, said Chhatwal. Dubbing it as the country's biggest bank-fraud case, the Congress questioned the Narendra Modi government on Sunday why it took five years after the liquidation proceedings of to lodge an FIR in connection with the alleged duping of 28 banks. The has booked Limited, its former chairman and managing director Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal and others for allegedly cheating a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) of over Rs 22,842 crore. "Why did it take five years after the liquidation proceedings of to lodge even an FIR for duping 28 banks of Rs 22,842 crore?" Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala asked at a press conference here. "Why did the Modi government refuse to take note of the allegations made on February 15, 2018 by the Congress, warning of a scam in ABG Shipyard, and why no FIR was lodged and criminal action taken despite their accounts having been declared as fraud on June 19, 2019?" he asked. Surjewala said the SBI wrote to the in November 2018, "saying there was a fraud committed by ABG Shipyard and seeking the registration of an FIR and criminal action. Despite this, nothing happened and the pushed the files back to the SBI. Public money keeps getting swindled, but no FIR is lodged". On August 25, 2020, the SBI filed a second complaint with the CBI, saying "please register an FIR as this is a case of cheating and fraud. But the CBI still does not act. It waits for another year and a half. Finally, now, after five years, this FIR has been registered", he added. "The complicity, the collusion and the connivance of those sitting in the highest echelons of the Modi government with bank fraudsters is writ large," the Congress leader alleged. He said it was the "biggest bank fraud" witnessed by the country. Surjewala said there seems to be a "loot-and-escape" scheme for bank fraudsters while pointing out many instances in the past and adding that the accused in these cases are now in foreign shores. He alleged that "these indelible facts reflect the gross mismanagement of the banking system, holding the banking system captive to fraudsters and the initiation of the loot-and-escape flagship scheme for bank fraudsters". "Over the last seven-and-a-half years of the Modi government, incidents of bank fraud involving a total amount of Rs 5.35 lakh crore have been reported. During this period, the write-offs by the banks in India is Rs 8.17 lakh crore. "Bank NPAs amounted to Rs 21 lakh crore between 2014 and 2021. That is the state of gross mismanagement of people's money, which is lying in the banking system," the Congress leader said, adding, "India woke up to the rude shock of the biggest ever bank fraud in the last 75 years involving Rs 22,842 crore." He claimed that ABG Shipyard was allotted 1.21 lakh square metres of land in 2007 by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat. "The comptroller and auditor general had indicted the then Gujarat government for undue favours to ABG Shipyard and Rishi Agarwal over allotting land at Rs 700 per square metre, while the price of the land was 100 per cent higher, that is Rs 1,400 per square metre," Surjewala said. He said the then Gujarat government proceeded to allot 50 hectares of land to ABG Shipyard in Dahej. The SBI had first filed a complaint on November 8, 2019 on which the CBI had sought some clarifications on March 12, 2020. The bank filed a fresh complaint in August 2020. After "scrutinising" the complaint for a year and and a half, the CBI acted on the complaint, filing an FIR on February 7 this year. In its complaint, the SBI said ABG Shipyard Limited (ABGSL) is the flagship company of the ABG Group, which is engaged in the business of ship building and ship repair. (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 controversy breaking out over delay in filing the first information report (FIR) by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against ABG Shipyard, State Bank of India (SBI) has clarified that banks were not responsible for the delay. The loans to the troubled shipbuilder were extended by over a consortium of two dozen lenders, led by ICICI Bank which turned non-performing in November 2013, following which the loans were restructured under Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR) scheme in 2014. However, as the shipping industry was going through a downturn, one of the worst ever seen, the operations of the company could not revive, State Bank of India said in a statement on Sunday. As the restructuring failed, the account was classified as NPA in July 2016 with backdated effect from 30th Nov. 2013. E&Y was appointed as Forensic Auditor by lenders during April 2018 and they submitted their report in January 2019. E&Y report was placed before the Fraud Identification Committee of 18 Lenders in 2019. Fraud was mainly attributed to diversion of funds, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust. Although, ICICI Bank was the lead lender in the consortium and IDBI was the second lead, it was preferred that being the largest PSB lender, lodges the complaint with . The first complaint was filed with in Nov 2019. There was a continuous engagement between and Banks and further information was getting exchanged, said. On Friday, the CBI booked Ltd and its former chairman and managing director Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal along with others for allegedly cheating a consortium of banks for over Rs 22,842 crore touted as the biggest fraud in the Indian banking history. Besides Agarwal, the investigating agency has also named the then executive director Santhanam Muthaswamy, directors Ashwini Kumar, Sushil Kumar Agarwal and Ravi Vimal Nevetia and another company ABG International Pvt Ltd for alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and abuse of official position under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, media reports said. said that the circumstances of the fraud, as well as CBI requirements, were further deliberated in the various meetings of Joint Lenders and a fresh and comprehensive second complaint was filed in December. 2020. The account is presently undergoing liquidation under an NCLT driven process. At no point in time, there was any effort to delay the process. The lender's forum diligently follows through with CBI in all such cases, SBI said. The lender said typically when fraud is declared, an initial complaint is preferred with CBI, and based on their enquiries further information is gathered. In a few cases, when substantial additional information is gathered, a second complaint incorporating full and complete details is filed which forms the basis for the FIR. The Congress party questioned the Narendra Modi government as this massive scam broke out following CBI booking and its former CMD. At a press conference in Chandigarh Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala asked why the government refused to take note of allegations made on February 15, 2018 by Congress which warned of a scam. Why did it take five years after the liquidation proceedings of to lodge even an FIR for duping 28 banks of Rs 22,842 crore?, agency PTI said while quoting Surjewala. The sight of a fellow student being mocked during a school function five years ago is etched deep in Anoushka Jolly's memories. But for this 13-year-old, that incident became the push to start a social initiative to stop bullying and provide a platform for students as wells as parents to report anonymously. The 'Anti Bullying Squad (ABS)', with help from educational institutions, social organisations and experts, has positively impacted over 2,000 students from over 100 schools and universities, said Jolly as she spoke about the digital platform, she formed three years ago. The Class 8 student has also come up with a mobile application called 'Kavach' and it allows students and parents to report incidents of bullying anonymously, giving opportunity to schools and counsellors to tactfully intervene and take action. The incident of the girl being bullied "got registered in my memory and I still cannot forget her face", she was terrified and felt helpless, said Jolly, who was nine years old then. "I was attending the school annual day when my friends decided to bully the six-year-old girl who they found annoying. They walked up to her and started calling her names and laughed at her," she said. "Soon, I realised how common the problem is and saw many other children of my age being victims of bullying and losing confidence," said Jolly whose social initiative not only made her the youngest contestant to pitch her entrepreneurial idea on TV reality show Shark Tank India but also landed her a funding offer of Rs 50 lakh. The Pathways School, Gurugram, student wants to build a strong network of anti-bullying ambassadors, who will track the progress of those impacted directly or indirectly through the platform and application. "I have been running the ABS digital platform for over three years with an aim of spreading awareness about bullying which leaves many scarred and desolated. The platform acts as a community where specialists come together to organise one-on-one sessions in schools against bullying," Jolly told PTI. The platform also allows people to better understand bullying and its consequences, along with taking a pledge to prevent the menace, she said, adding that it also sells anti-bullying merchandise. "However, during the process, I realised that most of these incidents do not get reported and hence, do not get resolved. So, I came up with an idea of creating a bullying reporting mobile app 'Kavach' to anonymously report incidents," Jolly said. "The idea was well received by judges of (Shark Tank), two of whom even stepped forward to invest in my app at Rs 50 lakh in valuation to help me widen its scale and reach," she said. Shark Tank India is the indigenous version of Shark Tank, a global entrepreneurial reality show. In India, the show is currently running its first season and has selected 198 candidates out of 50,000 applications The investors in Jolly's idea are Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of People Group (Shaadi.com) and Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt. Daughter of a chartered accountant and an entrepreneur, Jolly has plans to take her entrepreneurial journey forward. However, she is yet to decide the subjects she would like to study once she finishes school. " but I wish to become an entrepreneur only, I will take this initiative forward. For now, I am looking forward to launching 'Kavach', to reach more children and hold webinars and talks all across the country as well as the world to propagate the anti-bullying message," Jolly said. Congratulating her, Capt Rohit Sen Bajaj, Director, Pathways School, Gurugram, said, "We take immense pride in spirit and passion of Anoushka Jolly whose work towards eliminating bullying in schools and campuses is not only educating many about the issue but also empowering young and old to stand up for themselves and for 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.) Congress leader on Sunday alleged that to the tune of Rs 5.35 lakh crore have taken place during the BJP government and that these are good days only for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "friends". " of Rs 5,35,000 crore have happened so far during the Modi era -- in 75 years there has never been such a fraud with the money of people of India," Gandhi said on Twitter. "These days of loot and deceit are good days only for Modi's friends. #KiskeAccheDin," he also said, taking a swipe at the government over the 'achhe din' slogan. The Congress party has also accused the Modi dispensation of complicity, collusion and connivance in the alleged fraud of Rs 22,842 crore by the Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard, which it dubbed as "India's biggest bank fraud". The opposition party has been accusing the Modi dispensation of helping a select few big businesses. (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 Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has directed health officials and district magistrates to ensure the Centre's revised COVID-19 guidelines for international arrivals are followed at the IGI Airport from Monday. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on February 10 released detailed guidelines for international arrivals at airports and seaports in the country, doing away with the quarantine provision. According to the guidelines, all the passengers will show self-declaration form on arrival at the airport. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated and taken to medical facility under health protocol. If tested positive, their contacts will be identified and managed as per laid down protocol. The protocol post arrival mandates that two per cent of the total passengers in a flight will undergo random testing at the airport. Such travellers in each flight will be identified by the airlines concerned, preferably from different countries. They will submit the samples and will be allowed to leave the airport. If such travellers test positive, their samples would be sent for genomic sequencing. All travellers will self-monitor their health for next 14 days of arrival. Earlier, such travellers were required to undergo weeklong home quarantine. The guidelines state if travellers under self-health monitoring develop signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, they will immediately self-isolate and report to their nearest health facility or call national helpline number (1075)/ state helpline number. This Standard Operating Procedure will be valid from midnight of February 14 till further orders. Based on the risk assessment, this document shall be reviewed from time to time. The guidelines further stipulate all travellers should submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online air portal Suvidha before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days' travel details. They will also upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report not earlier than 72 hrs prior to undertaking the travel or certificate of completing full primary vaccination schedule. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Sunday reported 1,274 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, raising its tally to 12,15,290 and toll to 10,808, a state health department official said. The discharge of 3,022 people during this period increased the recovery count to 11,90,271, leaving the state with 14,211 active cases, including 103 patients on ventilator support, he said. "Ahmedabad led with 416 new cases, followed by Vadodara with 336, Surat 94, and Rajkot 56 cases, among others. Vadodara reported four deaths, followed by three in Ahmedabad, two in Surat and one each in Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, and Bhavnagar," he said. A government release said 78,107 people were given COVID-19 vaccine jabs during the day, which took the total number of doses administered in the state to 10.10 crore. One new case and two recoveries in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu took the tally to 11,400 and the number of people discharged to 11,367, leaving the Union Territory, which has seen four deaths so far, with an active caseload of 29. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,15,290, new cases 1,274, death toll 10,808, discharged 11,90,271, active cases 14,211, people tested so far - figures not released. (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.) Udupi BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat on Sunday held a meeting with parents of school students and various political leaders at the Taluq office in Udupi, amid the ongoing hijab controversy in the state. Police, PU College Development Committee Vice President Yashpal Suvarna, President of Udupi City Municipal Council and BJP leader Sumitra Nayak along with others were present at the meeting. The Hijab protests in began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state 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 Udupi 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. Meanwhile, the 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. The Karnataka High Court on Friday uploaded the interim order passed in the petitions challenging the Hijab ban in colleges in the state. The hearing of the petitions will continue on February 14. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing Trinamool Congress chairperson as "paranoid", BJP IT cell chief on Sunday alleged that she dissolved all party posts to marginalise those closer to her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, as she is afraid of a "coup" in the . The accusations of Malviya, the BJP's co-incharge of West Bengal, came a day after the supremo dissolved the party's national office bearers' panel, which included Abhishek Banerjee - the national general secretary, and formed a 20-member working committee packed with party veterans amid a growing rift between old-timers and Gen Next. The BJP leader's statement drew a sharp rebuttal from the which asserted that he should not meddle in the organisational rejig in the ruling party of . Malviya tweeted, "After Abhishek Banerjee threatened to resign on the issue of one person one post, a paranoid dissolved all party posts, constituted a 'committee', marginalising those aligned to Abhishek. What next? Sack all ministers and run the Govt alone? Fear of coup is real!" In the 20-member national working committee, Banerjee brought to the fore her trusted old guard while retaining young blood like Abhishek whose supporters in the recent past had publicly criticised veterans on the issue of holding multiple posts - within the party and the state administration. Abhishek has been advocating "one person one post" to make way for newcomers. Reacting to the BJP leader's tweet, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told reporters that he should look into the happenings in his own party's state unit, as "rebels like Jay Prakash Majumdar and Ritesh Tiwari described him as tweet Malviya." Majumdar and Tiwari, veteran leaders of the state BJP, were suspended last month for "violating party discipline". Ghosh said, "He (Malviya) should remember how his frequent tweets before the assembly polls only helped in turning the tide against the BJP. Having no connection with grassroots, such armchair leaders only love to tweet." The TMC state general secretary said that Saturday's decision was nothing but an organisational rejig which happens in every party including the Congress. "This is democratic centralisation and the committee will work towards thwarting the BJP's divisive policy and serving the people," he said. Meanwhile, the unsigned list of TMC candidates for elections to 108 municipal bodies was removed from the party's social media handle on Sunday, more than a week after it was uploaded. The official list, signed by TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee and state president Subrata Bakshi was also released on February 4. The polls will be held on February 27. "The list could not be deleted earlier due to some technical problems. The technical glitches were solved and the list was removed," Ghosh 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.) It is baffling as to why in the business advisory committee meetings the leaders of Opposition in both houses have not jointly and collectively pressed aggressively for a discussion on the border situation qua China. (Representational Image/ AFP) The first leg of the Budget Session has ended. During his reply both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to the motion of thanks on the Presidents address the Prime Minister did not mention the word China even once. Not a word in his speech either directly or obliquely alluded to the stand-off on our borders that has been continuing now for over twenty two months since the April of 2020. Moreover, there has not been a single discussion in Parliament on the Chinese situation since September 2020 when Parliament first convened after the Covid-19 lockdowns. Even questions by members of Parliament on China are brushed aside with contempt by the Parliament Secretariat citing vague rules. As of December 20, 2021, 17 questions of mine pertaining to China have been disallowed so far. One more question on China during the ongoing budget session has been ostensibly referred (whatever that means) under some vague rule. It is hilarious that the legislature is seeking the consent of the executive as to what question they will find not uncomfortable and inconvenient to answer. I reproduce the question as tabled by my office in full: Will the Minister of Defence may be pleased to state a. Whether the government has taken cognisance of reports by Chinese media which claim that the PLA in August and November 2021 conducted several drills including night and day military drills and used reconnaissance drones, howitzers and rocket launcher systems; b. Whether the government is aware that Chinese Military has published pictures that show anti-nuclear, biological and chemical warfare drills being conducted in Tibet close to the LAC; c. What has been the governments response to use of anti-nuclear, chemical and biological gear so close to Indias border; d. Whether the government is aware of any other such exercises which may threaten Indias national security; if yes, details thereof; e. If no, reasons therefor; f. Whether the government is aware that Chinese forces are constructing a new bridge on Pangong Lake in Ladakh, a territory claimed by India; g. If yes, what action has the government taken in this regard? On December 1, 2021, Subramanian Swamy a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha was compelled to tweet It is hilarious if not tragic for Rajya Sabha secretariat to inform me today that my question whether the Chinese have crossed the LAC in Ladakh, cannot be allowed because of national interest! This situation does not auger well for the supreme legislative institution of the country, on one hand, and betrays a very profound sense of paranoia on behalf of the government, on the other. Even internationally it is counterproductive for the message it sends out is that the Government of India is trying to hide facts from its own people. What have been the parliamentary traditions with regard to debates and discussions on national security in the national legislatures? The British Parliament often considered as the mother of all legislatures was in session during the entire four years of the First World War and five years during the Second World War. In fact, Winston Churchill delivered some of his finest speeches in the House of Commons in the years leading up to the 2nd World War on Britains unpreparedness for the looming threat of war because of the advance of fascism and Nazism. In one such speech entitled The Locust Years delivered on November 12, 1936, he had warned the House of Commons I have been staggered by the failure of the House of Commons to react effectively against those dangers. That, I am bound to say, I never expected. I never would have believed that we should have been allowed to go on getting into this plight, month by month and year by year, and that even the governments own confessions of error would have produced no concentration of parliamentary opinion and force capable of lifting our efforts to the level of emergency. I say that unless the House resolves to find out the truth for itself it will have committed an act of abdication of duty without parallel in its long history. Mani Shankar Aiyar, writing for ndtv.com, on October 12, 2016, had this to say about the debate in Parliament during the Sino-Indian conflict On 26 October, Nehrus government issued a Proclamation of National Emergency. The same day, a young Rajya Sabha MP, one Atal Behari Vajpayee, aged 36, accompanied by his parliamentary party colleagues (just four of them in total) called on the Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, then at 72 exactly twice Vajpayees age, and with a two-thirds majority backing him. Vajpayee sought an immediate convening of Parliament. Nehru instantly agreed. Both houses were summoned on 8 November. It was an object lesson in how democracy functions in a time of armed conflict I can quite understand that the government is not interested in a discussion on Chinese transgressions into Indian territory for the facts are embarrassing but what intrigues me even more is the silence of the collective Opposition. While the Opposition is willing to stall Parliament on every other issue its silence on China is deafening. Not once has the Opposition come together collectively to demand that the government must concede to a discussion on China. It is baffling as to why in the business advisory committee meetings the leaders of Opposition in both houses have not jointly and collectively pressed aggressively for a discussion on the border situation qua China. The rules of procedure and conduct of business of the House even provide for a secret session. Rule 248 to 252 have been specifically inserted to deal with such a contingency. If the house deems it necessary it can always use this option that is already available in the rule book. If the highest institution of Westminster style democracy does not discharge its responsibility then, as Winston Churchill pointed out, not only would the government but Parliament also would be equally responsible were things pan out on an unfortunate trajectory. As he presciently stated in the context of the House of Commons not holding the British government to account, it would have committed an act of abdication of duty without parallel in its long history. Indians appreciate vacations with loved ones more now as compared to pre-pandemic days and one-third of them have already made travel plans to celebrate Valentine's Day together, according to a global consumer survey by hospitality technology platform OYO. Nearly 62 per cent of Indian respondents were looking to treat their loved ones to a quick getaway to a nearby destination, as per OYO's global Valentine's Day consumer index 'Let Love In With Travel 2022'. Stating that travel plays a huge part in bonding with loved ones, the OYO survey said the world took this for granted until the pandemic pulled the brakes on travel plans. "Two out of three respondents said they appreciate vacations with loved ones more today than pre-pandemic days. Indian respondents don't take their holidays for granted anymore," it added. The survey was conducted in February and covered around 2,000 respondents across India, the UK, the USA, Indonesia and Germany. When it comes to Valentine's Day destinations, a majority of Indian travellers prefer to spend the day by the beach in Goa, followed by the cozy hillside of Manali, it said. Nearly 38 per cent of them said they travel to spend quality time and share meaningful experiences with loved ones, while 26 per cent travelled for a break from the routine and another 25 per cent for the love of exploring new places and cultures. "A whopping 84 per cent also believe that travel strengthens their relationships with loved ones," the survey said. A majority of Indian respondents voted for Paris as the city that best defines the statement 'Love is in the air', followed by Goa and Kolkata. However, as for India's top international wishlist for Valentine's Day, the survey said, "With 28 per cent each, India remains divided between Paris and Maldives. Switzerland takes the third spot." As for dream proposals on the day, 31 per cent of the respondents said they would "prefer the question to be popped on a cruise during sunset in Goa", while "18 per cent said they would say yes while enjoying snowfall at a homestay in Himachal Pradesh". In Germany, according to the survey one in two respondents would love to spend Valentine's Day by the beach, while 70 per cent preferred spending the day with their partners or spouse, followed by . "Similar to India, respondents in Germany also feel they appreciate travelling with loved ones more today compared to pre-pandemic days," it added. Likewise, 54 per cent of respondents in Indonesia also said they would love to travel on Valentine's Day but a majority of them voted for "Bandung, a city set amid volcanoes and tea plantations", as the city that best defines the saying 'Love is in the air'. Similarly, "spending quality time and sharing meaningful experiences with loved ones" is America's favourite reason to travel, the survey found. Most of the American respondents were set to celebrate Valentine's Day soaking the sun at the beaches of Florida and about 10 per cent of them associated Paris as the city that best defines 'Love is in the air'. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 tally in reached 10,25,891 on Sunday with the detection of 2,092 cases, while four deaths in the last 24 hours took the toll to 10,693, a department official said. The positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, dipped to 2.9 per cent on Sunday from 3.4 per cent the previous day, he pointed out. The recovery count stood at 9,95,470 after 4,750 people were discharged during the day, leaving the state with an active caseload of 19,728, he said. Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 461 and 219 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he added. With 70,353 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,68,94,810, the official said. A government release said 11,22,25,094 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 11,303 Sunday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,25,891, new cases 2,092, death toll 10,693, recoveries 9,95,470, active cases 19,728, number of tests so far 2,68,94,810. (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 minister Bishweswar Tudu on Sunday said he is hopeful that the Centre will give its nod for turning the now-defunct Armada Road Airstrip in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, which was operational during World War-II, into a modern airport. Making an aggressive pitch for its revival, Tudu said the airstrip is located 225 km from state capital and only 90 km from the Kalaikunda air force station, and can be used for commercial and defence purposes. I have taken up the matter with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Both of them have found the place suitable for a modern airport as it is strategically located, Tudu told PTI over phone. A team of experts from the Airports Authority of India has already visited the site, and we are hopeful that the authorities will soon accord a no-objection certificate, said the Union minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti. The 1,000-acre piece of land in Rasgovindpur block falls under the purview of the defence ministry and it needs to be handed over to the civil aviation ministry, he said. The Armada Road Airstrip, once it turns into an airport, will cater to an estimated 82 lakh people, mostly in north Odisha, south Bengal and east Jharkhand. Tudu said the proposed airport will also address the requirements of key institutions like the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district and IIT-Kharagpur in West Bengal. If the airstrip becomes operational, it can be used for both commercial and defence purposes, akin to the airports in Pune and Guwahati, he said. The Rasgovindpur Airstrip (as it is known today) has a short but secret illustrious history, which has never been made public, said war historian Anil Dhir, adding, it had the longest runway in Asia, over 3.5-km long. Today, if you look at the silent runway lying mostly vacant apart from a few odd cows grazing, it would be difficult to associate the airport with activities of any kind. But, this airstrip played a very important role in Indian defence during World War-II, Dhir said. He said no details of the events that took place here between 1943 and 1945 exist, not even in government and military records. The station came into existence during the war as a forward airfield against the Japanese conquest of Burma. The large airstrip served its purpose well as a landing ground for planes and also as a training space for special bombing missions, the historian said. Built in the 1940s at a cost of Rs 3 crore, it was eventually abandoned after the war. (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.) From singing songs to frying "puris" and making emotional appeals, the candidates fielded by various political parties in the polls are making every effort to woo the voters. Unusual means of connecting with the electorate are also being adopted by ministers in the Yogi Adityanath government, who are doing their bit to reach out to the voters. If senior minister Suresh Khanna is singing songs invoking patriotism in Shahjahanpur, another minister Brijesh Pathak is frying puris at a roadside kiosk. The Congress nominee from the Mohammdabad Gohna seat in Mau, Banwari Lal, is making a desperate appeal to the voters to either give him votes or a "kafan" (shroud). Seeking re-election from the Shahjahanpur seat for the ninth time, a video clip of Khanna singing a song at an election meeting went viral on social media platforms recently. The BJP leader was heard singing his version of poet Pradeep's "hum layen hain toofan se kashti nikal ke, mere desh ko rakhna mere bachho sambhal ke", scripted for the 1954 film "Jagriti" and sung by Mohammed Rafi. Khanna's lyrical appeal, in line with his party's campaign to keep safe from the vices of crime, terrorism, casteism, regionalism and dynasticism is -- "is kshetra ko rakhna mere mitron sambhal ke, hum laye hai apradh se nikaal ke...atankvad, kshetravad, jatiwad ko, humne kiya parast pariwarvad ko...behka na de vikas se koi dhoke me daal ke...is kshetra ko rakhna mere mitron sambhal ke. Tumhi bhavishya ho mere Uttar Pradesh vishal ke...." Chairman of the Zila Sahkari Bank in Shahjahanpur and BJP leader DPS Rathore said Khanna had made such appearances on different party platforms earlier as well. "The song that he is singing during campaigning is a patriotic song and he has only expressed his patriotism and concerns through it," Rathore said. Law Minister Pathak caught eyeballs when he took to the busy streets of the state capital with his supporters for a door-to-door campaign and fried puris at a roadside kiosk in Narhi Bazar. He also tried his hands at a sewing machine at the "Ladle Tailor" shop. Though Pathak said it was nothing new as he had been moving about in the area for the last five years, his presence at the roadside kiosk and the tailoring shop generated interest among the locals who were also applied "tilak" by the minister. "I had gone to take the blessings of people, including the beneficiaries of various government schemes, by applying tilak," said Pathak, who is the MLA from Lucknow Central but has been fielded by the BJP from another high profile seat, Lucknow Cantonment, in the ongoing polls. Banwari Lal, the Congress nominee from Mohammdabad Gohna, is out to strike an emotional chord with the voters, making a desperate call for "votes or a kafan". The 65-year-old Congress leader is distributing a handout titled "vote ya kafan" with an appeal for support for what he terms as his last election, reminding the voters that he has been among them for the last 30 years. The appeal mentions how he lost his son and wife and the financial losses that forced him to sell his house. "Main Banwari bechara, mera antim prayas," says the handout with Lal's picture with folded hands. "I lost four elections with a slender margin in the past. This is my last election as no party will field me in the future. I have spoken about all that I have lost and have also appealed to the members of every section of the society to vote for me or else, give me a kafan," the Congress leader said. In Kaushambi district's Sirathu, the Assembly constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya who is busy campaigning for the BJP candidates all over the state, a drama group has arrived from Delhi and is visiting villages enacting skits. Several leaders, busy with road-shows and door-to-door campaigns, have obliged the voters by getting selfies clicked with them or garlanding children in the laps of their parents. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who has been leading her party's campaign in Uttar Pradesh, has been seen entering agricultural fields, talking to the women working there and explaining to them about her party's resolve and climbing atop a sugarcane-laden tractor to talk to the driver. (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 on Sunday said only the BJP-led alliance can secure Punjab, uproot drug menace from the state and stop illegal religious conversions, even as he made a sharp attack against Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. Shah, in his first public rally for the February 20 state assembly polls, hit out at the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and accused Congress leaders of being involved in killing of Sikhs in Delhi. He also raised the issue of religious conversion of Sikhs and Hindus in the state and lambasted the Channi-led government for 'failing' to check this practice. Shah claimed that religious conversion of Sikhs and Hindus was a big problem in . "These religious conversions cannot be stopped by Channi sahib," he said, adding that the AAP couldn't stop them either. He asserted that only the could stop the conversions. At another rally at Patiala, the Union Home Minister praised former chief minister Amarinder Singh, saying he always rose above partisan considerations when it came to the issues concerning national security. He said when he became the Home Minister in 2019, he felt quite concerned about the security along the border. But once I spoke to Amarinder, I felt relaxed, Shah recalled as Amarinder was present. Shah said the way the Congress party had treated a senior leader like Amarinder, it (Congress) must not get a single seat from Patiala. The is contesting February 20 polls in alliance with Amarinder Singh led Lok Congress and SAD (Sanyukt). Earlier at Ludhiana, Shah recalled the sacrifices made by the people of Punjab during the freedom struggle and also praised the state for contributing immensely towards making the country self-sufficient in foodgrain production. Addressing the rally, he said it is only the BJP-led alliance that can secure Punjab, while questioning the ability of rival parties to do so. Hitting out at Channi, the Congress' chief ministerial candidate, Shah said, "Channi sahib you are dreaming of forming another government. A person who could not secure the route of the prime minister, can he secure Punjab?" He was referring to a "major security lapse" on January 5 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stuck on a flyover in Punjab for 15-20 minutes due to a blockade by some protesters in Ferozepur and returned without attending an event at a martyrs' memorial. "If you cannot provide security to the prime minister, then how can you secure Punjab? Channi ji, you do not have the right to run the administration for one second," Shah said. He asked the people whether Punjab could remain safe under Channi's leadership and said, "A country is to be run, not a comedy film." Slamming Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor, for playing "vote politics", the leader said the Delhi chief minister does not have anything to do with security. "Remember the last elections? If they have their way, they will revive all terrorists," Shah claimed. Can they secure Punjab, he asked. "Only the NDA-led alliance can secure Punjab," said Shah as he reminded the people about surgical and air strikes against Pakistan following terror attacks in Uri and Pulwama. He claimed that during the UPA regime, terrorists from across the border used to enter Indian territory. Raising the issue of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, he alleged that the Congress committed "a sin by killing Sikhs in Delhi". "Nobody can forget the anti-Sikh riots. My eyes well up when I recall them. Channi should explain it," Shah demanded. He also said it was the BJP-led government which put behind bars those involved in the riots. He asked people to vote for the BJP in the elections, promising to address the issues of Punjab. "We will build a 'nawa' (new) Punjab," Shah said. Shah asked people to give chance to the BJP-led alliance and promised that the drugs would be uprooted from Punjab. On Kejriwal's promise of ending the drug problem in the state, he asked how could the AAP chief talk about ending the menace in Punjab after "drowning entire Delhi in liquor" by opening liquor shops everywhere. In Patiala, Shah claimed Kejriwal had come to Punjab seeking the votes of Punjabis and Sikhs but despite being in power in Delhi for about eight years now, the AAP national convenor has not appointed a single Sikh as a minister in his government. Shah said the contribution of Sikhs towards Delhi's history and development was immense but Kejriwal never acknowledged it. He said Punjab was a border state and peace and security in the state was very important for ensuring security of the country. In Patiala, former chief minister Amarinder Singh praised Shah and the BJP government at the Centre, saying he always got full support and cooperation from the senior leader and other ministers whenever he needed it. He said that during COVID-19 pandemic, when the state fell short of vaccines, the Centre took no time in providing the shots to the states. Asserting that the BJP always respects Sikh traditions, Shah highlighted the decisions taken by the Modi government like celebrating the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, opening of the Kartarpur corridor, making 'langar' free of Goods and Services Tax (GST). (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 BSP released a list of 47 candidates on Sunday for the seventh phase of the ongoing Assembly polls. The list includes candidates for the constituencies of Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts. The (BSP) has attempted to strike a fine caste balance in its list of candidates. The Mayawati-led party has fielded its state president Bhim Rajbhar against mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who is presently lodged in the Banda jail, from Mau. Five-time MLA Ansari won the 2017 from Mau on a BSP ticket. The BSP had won four seats in Azamgarh district five years ago but this time, it has re-nominated only Azad Arimardan from the Lalganj reserved seat. Sukhdev Rajbhar, who won from the Didarganj constituency in Azamgarh in 2017, died last year, while Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali, who won from Mubarakpur, quit the party subsequently. Vandana Singh, who won the 2017 polls on a BSP ticket from Sagdi, is in the fray from the BJP this time. The BSP has fielded Shankar Yadav from Sagadi, Abdusalam from Mubarakpur and Bhupendra Singh alias Munna from Didarganj. In the Zahoorabad seat in Ghazipur district, the BSP has nominated former minister (during the SP regime) Syeda Shadab Fatima against Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Omprakash Rajbhar. Fatima, who was in the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) of Shivpal Yadav, joined the BSP recently. In Varanasi's Shivpur constituency, the BSP has nominated Ravi Maurya against state minister and BJP candidate Anil Rajbhar. Polling is scheduled to be held in 54 Assembly constituencies in nine districts of in the seventh phase of the ongoing election on March 7. (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.) AIMIM chief on Sunday dubbed Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief as two sides of the same coin. Owaisi, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and Hyderabad MP, made the remark while addressing an election rally here. "Yogi (Adityanath) and Akhilesh (Yadav) are two sides of the same coin," said Owaisi while seeking votes for the candidates of Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha so that former UP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha could be made the UP CM. While likening to Yogi Adityanath, Owaisi did not explain how the two leaders were similar. He, however, had been asserting in the past that both and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav could become UP CMs on "charity votes" of 19 per cent Muslims, far outnumbering the votes of nine per cent Yadavs. The Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha was launched as a pre-poll alliance of AIMIM with little-known Jan Adhikar Party of former minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and an all-India body of government employees of the backward, Dalits and minority community, founded by Kanshi Ram in the 1970s. Farrukhabad goes to the polls in the third phase of the seven-phase and votes on February 20. While addressing the meeting, Owaisi termed elections as a battle for social justice and said, "We have to win this battle (for social justice) through voting." Attacking the BJP, he accused the party of meting out step-motherly treatment to Farrukhabad district. Despite all the MLAs of the district belonging to the BJP, no development work was carried out by this double-engine government in the district, Owaisi alleged. Owaisi had launched the new pre-poll front, Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha on January 22, promising two chief ministers and three deputy chief ministers for Uttar Pradesh, if the new front is voted to power. Out of the two CMs, one will belong to the backward classes and the other to the Dalit community, he said, adding the state will also have three Dy CMs, with one belonging to the Muslim community. Owaisi, however, had offered no explanation under what provision of the Constitution he will have two CMs for a state. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of polling on Monday, Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday made a veiled attack on Congress, saying that Opposition is not able to put up a fight against the incumbent government, for being busy in faction fighting. "There is no competition from the Opposition as they are busy fighting among themselves. They are clashing among themselves," said Dhami. Earlier, Congress in its third list had announced change of seats of the party's campaign committee chairman Harish Singh Rawat and four other leaders. The change has been done after the crisis within the party due to infighting among the leaders, as one of the working presidents of Congress Ranjeet Rawat was uncomfortable with the Candidature of Harish Rawat from Ramnagar Assembly Constituency. Urging people to vote on Monday, Dhami asked people to elect a government that can work in coordination with the Centre. "Elect a government which can work in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that we will work for the development of Uttarakhand," He said. Chief Minister, who is currently camping in his home constituency Khatim, said that PM Modi has taught them the art of converting challenges into opportunities. "Just like rest of the state, I am getting the support from my home constituency too. So even the challenge is looking like an opportunity," said Dhami CM Dhami is being challenged by Congress' Bhuwan Chandra Kapri from Khatima seat. will go to the polls on Monday, and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is suspending operations of its embassy in Kiev and is moving diplomatic staff to a temporary office in the Ukrainian city of Lviv, amid concerns over the security situation, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Sunday. "Given the deteriorating security situation caused by the build up of Russian troops on Ukraine's border, the Government has directed the departure of staff at the Australian Embassy in Kyiv and temporarily suspended operations at our Embassy in Kyiv," Payne said in a statement. The foreign minister added that Australia's ability to provide consular assistance to its citizens in could become limited. "We will be moving our operations to a temporary office in Lviv," Payne specified, adding that Australians are being advised to leave immediately as "security conditions could change at short notice." On Saturday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that the Canadian embassy in Kiev was suspending operations and that a temporary office was going to assist Canadians in the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Canadians were advised to leave and avoid all travel to the country. Earlier on Saturday, the German Federal Foreign Office updated its travel advice on Ukraine, calling on German citizens to terminate any non-essential stay as soon as possible. Similar advisories were issued by other countries, including New Zealand, Belgium and Finland. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused of a troop build-up near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an "invasion." Moscow has denied these accusations, repeatedly stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said has the right to move troops within its national territory. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President told Russias that invading would cause widespread human suffering and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but equally prepared for other scenarios, the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe. Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House. The two presidents spoke a day after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20. Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling on three sides. U.S. officials say Russias buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice. The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in . And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe. President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios, the White House statement said. The call was professional and substantive but produced no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity. The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action. Yuri Ushakov, Putins top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days "the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity. He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader. Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions. Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe. In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine. The timing of any possible Russian military action remained 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. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. "We are not afraid, we're without panic, all is under control, he said. Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement. We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. Welcome to hell! U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday. Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassys military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified appropriate means, the ministry said. Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies. The U.S. has urged all American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, and Sullivan said those who remain should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion. The Biden administration has been warning for weeks that Russia could invade Ukraine soon, but U.S. officials had previously said the Kremlin would likely wait until after the Winter Games ended so as not to antagonize China. Sullivan told reporters on Friday that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could take invade during the Olympics. He said military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive. Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action, Sullivan said, adding that 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 Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems. Zakharova said her country had optimized staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side. 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. Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATOs eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine. Russia is demanding that the West keep 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. 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 the Crimean Peninsula 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. (Heintz reported from Moscow. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Colleen Long in Washington and Mark Lewis in Stavanger, Norway, also contributed to this report.) These are strange times. Our lives have changed so much since the pandemic started that some things we thought normal a few years ago seem extraordinary now. Every trip to town, a trip that we made casually until early 2020, is now an expedition that we plan like a trip to the North Pole. We stock up on masks and hand sanitiser and air purifiers, and plan our stops to minimise exposure to the virus. We still manage to get into trouble, but I find reassurance in one thing that hasnt changed. Let me explain. A few days ago, my wife Prita and I went to town after a gap of a few weeks. We use our four-year-old car so little these days and take so much care over Covid-related precautions that we sometimes miss changes in traffic regulations. Prita was driving, as usual, because I prefer two wheels to four, and we were both surprised when a traffic policeman signalled us to pull over. We stopped, and Prita rolled down the window before rummaging in her handbag for her licence and other papers. The policeman, who had taken up position by the door on the drivers side, took one look at her and politely told her he didnt need to check her papers. The number plate, he said, was defective, for it didnt have a nationality marker, and there was a fine of Rs 500. After she paid the fine, he gave us a receipt, telling her very considerately that if another cop stopped us for the same offence in the next 24 hours, we wouldnt have to pay another fine. Then he took a walk around the car, inspecting both number plates closely, and told us that only the front number plate was defective: wed replaced the rear plate, when it developed a crack sometime last year, and it was in line with the new rules. While we were driving around trying to find a place where we could get the defective number plate replaced, I couldnt help remembering other occasions when Prita got preferential treatment from policemen. The earliest memory was from over two decades ago, when we lived in Coimbatore. We were on a bike, riding out to Guruvayur to visit her mother. Hoping to beat the rush and get there for breakfast, we left home at the crack of dawn. At the outskirts of the city, though, we ran into a traffic policeman stopping passing vehicles to check for papers. This was in the days before they got rigorous about insurance and emissions, so all we needed were my driving licence and the bikes registration certificate. We had neither. Due to a strange combination of circumstances and forgetfulness, I didnt have a valid driving licence, and Id forgotten the bikes registration documents at home. There was a line of a few vehicles ahead of us, waiting to be checked, and the policeman took his time getting to us. By the time he arrived, Prita had raised the visor of her helmet. The cop took a good look at us.He saw a fat bearded man and a slim woman, kitted out with helmets and gloves and jackets, on what was, by the standards of the day, a powerful bike, all loaded up with luggage for a long ride. He looked dubiously at me for a moment, then at the growing line of vehicles behind us, waiting to be checked. Then he decided to save some time. Do you have your papers with you? he asked. I didnt want to lie, so I shook my head in a vague fashion that could mean yes or no. He interpreted it to mean that yes, I had my papers with me, and he waved us on. I couldnt help thinking then that if Id been alone, hed have taken a different view. And then there was that time a few years ago when we went out to dinner at a nice restaurant in Mangalore. I had a couple of drinks with dinner, but we werent worried because she was driving anyway. We finished up a little before eleven, when the restaurant was due to shut its doors, and left a few minutes later, full of good food and good spirits, looking forward to a good nights sleep. A kilometre from the restaurant, at a major traffic junction with very little traffic because of the lateness of the hour was a police checkpoint where a group of policemen were checking whether drivers of passing vehicles had been drinking or not. Prita stopped close to a bright street lamp, and the interior of the car was clearly visible to the policeman who stepped up to check us, breathalyser in hand. He saw Prita in the drivers seat and me in the passenger seat and jumped to the conclusion that she was driving because Id had a couple and she hadnt. He waved us on, hurrying to check the next car. Home was only a couple of kilometres away, and in just a few minutes after the leaving the checkpoint we were near the lane to our house. The street lamp at the mouth of the lane was off and the approach was pitch dark. As we approached, Prita complained that it was so dark she couldnt see where to turn. It was only then that the two of us realised that shed forgotten to turn on the cars headlamps. Wed driven all the way from the restaurant in the dark, and even the policeman at the checkpoint hadnt bothered about it! So, like I said, one thing that hasnt changed is that when Prita and I are together, traffic policemen dont hassle us. It seems shes my respectable half, and Im not complaining! Hours after removing their vehicles blocking a key US-Canadian border bridge, protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates continued to block traffic outside in the bitter cold early Sunday, while in the capital Ottawa, police were forming a new command centre with provincial and national authorities that they said would help them respond better to a larger demonstration that has paralysed downtown. The tense standoff at the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, eased somewhat Saturday when Canadian police persuaded demonstrators to move the trucks they had used to barricade the entrance to the busy crossing. Early Saturday evening, crews set up concrete traffic barricades along the highway. But protesters reconvened nearby with reinforcements and were still choking off access from the Canadian side, snarling traffic and commerce. About 180 remained late Saturday in the sub-freezing cold. In Ottawa, the ranks of protesters swelled to what police said was 4,000 demonstrators. The city has seen that on past weekends, and loud music played as people milled about downtown where anti-vaccine demonstrators have been encamped since late January. The protests at the bridge, in Ottawa and elsewhere have reverberated outside the country, with similarly inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands, and the US Department of Homeland Security warned that truck convoys may be in the works in the . An ex-Cabinet minister in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government took the unusual step of calling out her former federal colleagues as well as the province and city for not putting an end to the protests. Amazingly, this isn't just Ottawa. It's the nation's capital, Catherine McKenna tweeted. But no one not the city, the province or the federal government can seem to get their act together to end this illegal occupation. It's appalling...Just get your act together. Now. Trudeau has so far rejected calls to use the military. The Prime Minister stressed that border crossings cannot, and will not, remain closed, and that all options are on the table, Trudeau's office said in a statement late Saturday after he met with senior officials. Trudeau has called the protesters a fringe of Canadian society. Ottawa police said in a statement late Saturday that a joint command centre had now been set up together with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They said that would beef up enforcement capabilities that had been limited by safety concerns arising from aggressive, illegal behaviour by many demonstrators limited police enforcement capabilities. Police earlier issued a statement calling the protest an unlawful occupation and saying they were waiting for reinforcements before implementing a plan to end the demonstrations. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency last week for the capital, where hundreds of trucks remained in front of the Parliament Buildings and demonstrators have set up portable toilets outside the prime minister's office where Trudeau's motorcade usually parks. Surrounded by dozens of officers in Windsor, a man with Mandate Freedom and Trump 2024 spray-painted on his vehicle left the bridge entrance early in the day as began dismantling a small, tarp-covered encampment. A trucker honked his horn as he, too, drove off, to cheers and chants of Freedom! But hundreds more arrived to bolster the crowd and settled into a faceoff with police about two blocks away, waving flags and yelling. While there were no visible physical confrontations, the crowd still controlled the road to the bridge, and traffic had not resumed as of Sunday morning. On Friday, a judge ordered an end to the blockade of mostly pickup trucks and cars, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency allowing for fines of 100,000 Canadian dollars and up to one year in jail for anyone illegally blocking roads, bridges, walkways and other critical infrastructure. The illegal blockades are impacting trade, supply chains & manufacturing. They're hurting Canadian families, workers & businesses. Glad to see the Windsor Police & its policing partners commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge, Federal Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeted Saturday. These blockades must stop. The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest US-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries, and auto plants on both sides have been forced to shut down or reduce production this week. The standoff came at a time when the industry is already struggling to maintain production in the face of pandemic-induced shortages of computer chips and other supply-chain disruptions. In Ottawa, 31-year-old Stephanie Ravensbergen said she turned out to support her aunt and uncle who have parked their semi in the streets since the beginning of the protest. She opposes vaccine and mask requirements, and said it's important for schoolchildren to be able see their friends' faces and emotions. We want the right to choose, Ravensbergen said. We want the right to be able to do what everybody else can do. Protesters on Saturday tore down a fence that authorities put up around the capital's National War Memorial two weeks ago after demonstrators urinated on it. Some later chanted liberte", French for freedom. Completely unacceptable, Lawrence MacAulay, Canada's veterans affairs minister, tweeted. This behaviour is disappointing and I'm calling on protesters to respect our monuments. On the other side of the country, protesters disrupted operations at another border crossing between Surrey, British Columbia, and Blaine, Washington, but officials said it was not blocked. A border crossings in Alberta remained shut down as well. While the protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions, many of Canada's public health measures, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants and theatres, are already falling away as the omicron surge levels off. Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter there than in the US, 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 . (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.) UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace claims that could launch an offensive against Kiev at any time, despite Moscow's repeated assurances that it is not threatening any country. Wallace said as quoted by The Sunday Times on Saturday that a Russian invasion of is "highly likely" and that could "launch an offensive at any time." The defense secretary warned that in case of escalation, NATO will build up its forces along the Russian borders and NATO allies will boost military spending. "It may be that he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West," Wallace said. The British defense secretary arrived in Moscow on Friday and held a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Wallace said the talks were "constructive and frank" and that he urged Moscow to de-escalate the situation on the Ukrainian border. Shoigu said after the talks that the level of Russian-UK relations was close to zero and that it was necessary to stop aggravating the situation in relations between and NATO. In the past few months, the West and have accused Russia of a troop build-up near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an "invasion." Moscow has denied these accusations, repeatedly stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said that Russia has the right to move troops within its national territory and warned Western countries that military deliveries to Kiev may encourage the latter to use them against the self-proclaimed republics in the southeast of (Donbas). (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.) External Affairs Minister (EAM) is set to begin his three-day visit to the on Sunday with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties. Jaishankar will visit the from February 13 to 15, to discuss regional and issues of mutual interest, said the Ministry of External Affairs in its official statement on Wednesday. The visit comes at a time when India signed a deal worth USD 375 million to supply 290 km strike range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the . Notably, this is Jaishankar's first visit to the Philippines as External Affairs Minister wherein he will hold talks with Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Secretary of of the Philippines to review developments in bilateral relations. In November 2020, the Joint Commission meeting on Bilateral Cooperation was co-chaired in virtual format by both sides. In addition to other meetings with the political leadership in the Philippines, EAM would interact with the Indian community in Manila during his visit. The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with key partners in the Indo-Pacific, Australia, and the Philippines, which is also a leading member of ASEAN, said MEA. Earlier, the CEO of the missile firm Atul D Rane said the deal with BrahMos was the first for India to supply a full major weapon system to a foreign country. "This is the first export deal that India has signed for a full major weapon system and this paves the way for many more to come forward," he said. . (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 is working on a 20 billion-euro ($22.7 billion) financing package to support African transport networks, as well as energy, digital, education and health projects to counter Chinas reach in the continent. Member states, however, have yet to commit to financing the infrastructure plans, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The blocs plan includes strategic corridors, submarine cables, new energy interconnections and investments in renewable sources in Senegal, Cote dIvoire, Egypt, Morocco and Kenya, according to a draft of the package seen by Bloomberg. The investment is aimed at underpinning the new partnership that the EU and Africa want to seal at a 17-18 February summit in Brussels. African leaders have prioritized roads, railways and bridges. The EU list includes about 60 projects meant to relaunch the relationship, after months of tensions over vaccine supplies and patents, as well as travel restrictions aimed at stemming the Covid-19 pandemic. A top Iranian security official said on Saturday that maintaining and expanding the country's peaceful nuclear and defence capabilities are "options that are never removed from the table." Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), made the remarks in a tweet a day after millions of Iranians celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Xinhua news agency reported. The irremovable options included "glorious presence of Iranians in ceremonies in support of the Islamic establishment, maintaining and strengthening Iran's peaceful nuclear capacities and defense capabilities, (as well as) regional security-making policies of Islamic Republic," he tweeted. The comments came at a time when envoys from and other parties are engaged in negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna to restore a 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli foreign ministry has issued a travel warning for Ukraine, urging Israeli citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. The ministry asked Israelis in to register with the consular division in order to assess the situation and prepare for evacuation, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the Israeli military to prepare to assist in such an operation, according to Israeli media reports. has already begun evacuating the family members of diplomats and Israeli staff at its embassy in Kiev. "The embassy ... continues to operate with its full team of diplomatic staff remaining in the country," read the statement from the foreign ministry. --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In recent years, former have accused the company of age discrimination in a variety of legal filings and press accounts, arguing that sought to replace thousands of older workers with younger ones to keep pace with corporate rivals. Now it appears that top executives were directly involved in discussions about the need to reduce the portion of older at the company, sometimes disparaging them with terms of art like dinobabies. A trove of previously sealed documents made public by a Federal District Court on Friday show executives discussing plans to phase out older and bemoaning the companys relatively low percentage of millennials. The documents, which emerged from a lawsuit contending that IBM engaged in a years-long effort to shift the age composition of its work force, appear to provide the first public piece of direct evidence about the role of the companys leadership in the effort. These filings reveal that top IBM executives were explicitly plotting with one another to oust older workers from IBMs work force in order to make room for millennial employees, said Shannon Liss-Riordan, a lawyer for the plaintiff in the case. Ms Liss-Riordan represents hundreds of former IBM employees in similar claims. She is seeking class-action status for some of the claims, though courts have yet to certify the class. Adam Pratt, an IBM spokesman, defended the companys employment practices. IBM never engaged in systemic age discrimination, he said. Employees were separated because of shifts in business conditions and demand for certain skills, not because of their age. Mr Pratt said that IBM hired more than 10,000 people over 50 in the United States from 2010 to 2020, and that the median age of IBMs US work force was the same in each of those years: 48. The company would not disclose how many US workers it had during that period. A 2018 article by the nonprofit investigative website ProPublica documented the companys apparent strategy of replacing older workers with younger ones and argued that it followed from the determination of Ginni Rometty, then IBMs chief executive, to seize market share in such cutting-edge fields as cloud services, big data analytics, mobile, security and social media. According to the ProPublica article, based in part on internal planning documents, IBM believed that it needed a larger proportion of younger workers to gain traction in these areas. In 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a summary of an investigation into these practices at IBM, which found that there was top-down messaging from IBMs highest ranks directing managers to engage in an aggressive approach to significantly reduce the head count of older workers. But the agency did not publicly release evidence supporting its claims. The newly unsealed documents which quote from internal company emails, and which were filed in a statement of material facts in the lawsuit brought by Ms. Liss-Riordan appear to affirm those conclusions and show top IBM executives specifically emphasising the need to thin the ranks of older workers and hire more younger ones. We discussed the fact that our millennial population trails competitors, says one email from a top executive at the time. The data below is very sensitive not to be shared but wanted to make sure you have it. You will see that while Accenture is 72 per cent millennial we are at 42 per cent with a wide range and many units falling well below that average. Speaks to the need to hire early professionals. Early professionals was the companys term for a role that required little prior experience. Another email by a top executive, appearing to refer to older workers, mentions a plan to accelerate change by inviting the dinobabies (new species) to leave and make them an extinct species. A third email refers to IBMs dated maternal workforce, an apparent allusion to older women, and says: This is what must change. They really dont understand social or engagement. Not digital natives. A real threat for us. Mr. Pratt, the spokesman, said that some of the language in the emails is not consistent with the respect IBM has for its employees and does not reflect company practices or policies. The statement of material facts redacts the names of the emails authors but indicates that they left the company in 2020. Both earlier legal filings and the newly unsealed documents contend that IBM sought to hire about 25,000 workers who typically had little experience during the 2010s. At the same time, a comparable number of older, non-Millennial workers needed to be let go, concluded a passage in one of the newly unsealed documents, a ruling in a private arbitration initiated by a former IBM employee. Similarly, the E.E.O.C.s letter summarising its investigation of IBM found that older workers made up over 85 per cent of the group whom the company viewed as candidates for layoffs, though the agency did not specify what it considered older. The newly unsealed documents suggest that IBM sought to carry out its strategy in a variety of ways, including a policy that no early professional hire can be included in a mass layoff in the employees first 12 months at the company. We are not making the progress we need to make demographically, and we are squandering our investment in talent acquisition and training, an internal email states. The lawsuit also argues that IBM sought to eliminate older workers by requiring them to move to a different part of the country to keep their jobs, assuming that most would decline to move. One internal email stated that the typical relo accept rate is 8-10 per cent, while another said that the company would need to find work for those who accepted, suggesting that there was not a business rationale for asking employees to relocate. And while IBM employees designated for layoffs were officially allowed to apply for open jobs within the company, other evidence included in the new disclosure suggests that the company discouraged managers from actually hiring them. For example, according to the statement of material facts, managers had to request approval from corporate headquarters if they wanted to move ahead with a hire. Several of the plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit brought by Ms. Liss-Riordan appeared to have been on the receiving end of these practices. One of them, Edvin Rusis, joined IBM in 2003 and had worked as a solution manager. He was informed by the company in March 2018 that he would be laid off within a few months. According to his legal complaint, Mr. Rusis applied for five internal positions after learning of his forthcoming layoff but heard nothing in response to any of his applications. Mr. Pratt, the spokesman, said that the companys efforts to shield recent hires from layoffs, as well as its approach to relocating workers, were blind to age, and that many workers designated for layoffs did secure new jobs with IBM. The ProPublica story from 2018 identified employees in similar situations, and others who were asked to relocate out of state and decided to leave the company instead. The company has faced other age discrimination claims, including a lawsuit filed in federal court in which plaintiffs accused the company of laying off large numbers of baby boomers because they were less innovative and generally out of touch with IBMs brand, customers and objectives. The case was settled in 2017, according to ProPublica. In 2004, the company agreed to pay more than $300 million to settle with employees who argued that its decision in the 1990s to replace its traditional pension plan with a plan that included some features of a 401(k) constituted age discrimination. The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits discrimination against people 40 or over in hiring and employment on the basis of their age, with limited exceptions. The act also requires to disclose the age and positions of all people within a group or department being laid off, as well as those being kept on, before a worker waives the right to sue for age discrimination. typically require such waivers before granting workers severance packages. But IBM stopped asking workers who received severance packages to waive their right to sue beginning in 2014, which allowed it to cease providing information about the age and positions of workers affected by a mass layoff. Instead, IBM required workers receiving a severance package to bring any discrimination claims individually in arbitration a private justice system often preferred by corporations and other powerful defendants. Mr. Pratt said the change was made to better protect workers privacy. While some former employees preserved their ability to sue IBM in court by declining the severance package, many former employees accepted the package, requiring them to bring claims in arbitration. Ms. Liss-Riordan, who is running for attorney general of Massachusetts, represents employees in both situations. The particular legal matter that prompted the release of the documents in federal court was a motion by one of the plaintiffs whose late husband had signed an agreement requiring arbitration, and whose arbitration proceeding IBM then sought to block. IBM argued that the plaintiff sought to pursue the claim in arbitration after the window for doing so had passed, and that some of the evidence the plaintiff sought to introduce was confidential under the arbitration agreement. The plaintiff argued that those provisions of the arbitration agreement were unenforceable. The judge in the case, Lewis J. Liman, has yet to rule on the merits of that argument. But in January, Judge Liman ruled that documents in the case, including the statement of material facts, should be available to the public. IBM asked a federal appellate court to stay Judge Limans disclosure decision, but a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected the companys argument, and the full circuit court also declined to grant a stay. The New York Times filed an amicus brief to the circuit court arguing that the First Amendment applied to the documents in question. has agreed to help US citizens leave by simplifying the entry procedures, the US Embassy in informs. " has indicated to the U.S. government that U.S. citizens may now enter through the land border with . No advanced approval is required. We encourage those traveling into Poland by land from Ukraine to cross at the Korczowa-Krakovets or Medyka-Shehyni border crossings," the US embassy said in a Saturday statement. According to the release, US citizens will need to present a valid US passport and proof of COVID-19 vaccination at the Polish border. "U.S. citizens in Ukraine should be aware that the U.S. government will not be able to evacuate U.S. citizens in the event of Russian military action anywhere in Ukraine," the embassy emphasized, urging US citizens in Ukraine to "depart immediately using commercial or other privately available transportation options." Earlier on Saturday, the US State Department said that the US was relocating some of its diplomatic personnel from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to the city of Lviv amid security concerns. Both Canada and Australia said they were suspending embassy operations in Kiev and opening temporary offices in Lviv amid the escalation of the Ukraine crisis. Earlier on Saturday, the German Federal Foreign Office updated its travel advice on Ukraine, calling on German citizens to terminate any non-essential stay as soon as possible. Similar advisories were issued by other countries, including New Zealand, Belgium and Finland. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused of a troop build-up near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an "invasion." Moscow has denied these accusations, repeatedly stating that it is not threatening anyone and at the same time expressing strong concerns over NATO's military activity near the Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said has the right to move troops within its national territory. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Joe Biden tried to send Vladimir Putin an ultimatum about the consequences of any invasion of in an hour-long conversation that left both sides at an impasse and Russias intentions unclear. Biden warned his counterpart in Moscow that would face severe costs. For his part, the Russian leader accused the US of failing to provide him with security assurances he needs to back down. The Kremlin characterised the talks as businesslike and balanced. Briefings by both sides afterward stuck to familiar talking points, providing few clues on where things go from here. Biden told Putin during the conversation their first direct exchange since late December that the US remains ready to find a diplomatic solution to the tensions over Russias military buildup near the Ukrainian border. The US has ratcheted up its rhetoric, asking Americans to leave while making clear it wont send in troops. US officials continue to say they do not know Putins final intentions. Still, a senior administration official, speaking after Saturdays call, said there was a distinct possibility that may proceed with military action and there had been no fundamental change in that view. The talks took place in an atmosphere of unprecedented hysteria by American officials about Russias allegedly imminent invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. Putin told Biden that U.S. responses to his demands for security guarantees dont address the Kremlins key concerns about preventing further NATO expansion, Ushakov said. The and the Kremlin said Putin and Biden agreed their officials would stay in contact in the coming days. The Pentagon on Saturday denied Russias claim that a US submarine was intercepted in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands. There is no truth to the Russian claims of our operations in their territorial waters, Navy Captain Kyle Raines, a spokesman for the US Indo-Pacific command, said by email. The US and UK say has massed about 130,000 troops close to Ukraine, raising fears of a potential three-pronged assault including from Crimea and via Belarus in the north. NATO has moved to reinforce defences in eastern European member states. Russian officials accuse the West of undermining the countrys security by drawing closer to NATO and say troop movements on Russian territory are an internal matter. Putin spoke separately with the leaders of France and Belarus on Saturday prior to his call with Biden. Russia and Belarus on 10 February started their largest joint military drills in Belarus for years, including near the Ukrainian border, while six Russian landing craft have been moved to the Black Sea for naval exercises that begin Sunday. The land exercises are due to end 20 February. Both countries have said the drills are purely defensive and that forces will return to base once they are finished. Ukraines foreign minister says situation under control Theres been no pivotal change in the situation along Ukraines border and occupied territories in the past few days, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Sunday. Ukraine continues to actively work with our partners and inside the country, Kuleba said, adding that diplomacy remains the only way to resolve the crisis. Ukraine is not alone. The situation remains under control, and Ukraine is ready for to any scenarios. US Ukraine response being watched in Asia, says Blinken Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the worlds response to the Ukraine crisis was being watched by others, in a pointed reference to Chinas expansive territorial claims in Asia. are watching, are looking to all of us to see how we respond, Blinken told reporters after meeting with the Quad foreign ministers in Melbourne. Turkey's foreign ministry has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to eastern amid escalating tensions between and . "It is recommended that our citizens refrain from travelling to the eastern border regions of unless they have to," Xinhua news agency reported, citing the ministry's statement. The ministry also asked citizens to take all possible precautions for their safety and contact the Turkish embassy in Kiev before essential travel. On Friday, US President Joe Biden reiterated his call for US citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of military action. recently has stepped up for acting as a mediator between Ukraine and to sustain peace in the region. --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts were meeting Saturday in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests. Blinken gathered in Honolulu with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. Defense chiefs from the three countries last week said North Korea's recent missile tests were destabilising to regional security. Some experts say is using the weapon's tests to put pressure on President Joe Biden's administration to resume long-stalled nuclear negotiations as the pandemic puts further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions. Biden's administration has offered open-ended talks but has shown no willingness to ease the sanctions without meaningful cuts to the country's nuclear program. The tests also have a technical component, allowing North Korea to hone its weapons arsenal. One of the missiles recently tested the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile is capable of reaching the US territory of Guam. It was the longest-distance weapon the North has tested since 2017. North Korea appears to be pausing its tests during the Winter Olympics in China, its most important ally and economic lifeline. But analysts believe North Korea will dramatically increase its weapons testing after the Olympics. The recent tests have rattled Pyongyang's neighbors in South Korea and . South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who helped set up the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, said last month that the tests were a violation UN Security Council resolutions and urged the North to cease actions that create tensions and pressure. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. Blinken arrived in Hawaii from Fiji, where he met with Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and other Pacific leaders to talk about regional issues, especially the existential risk posed by climate change. It was the first visit by a US secretary of state to Fiji since 1985. He started his Pacific tour in Australia, where he met his counterparts from Australia, India and . The four nations form the Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter China's regional influence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. 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Digital Editor Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Police searching for guns after man dies on Outer Banks beach; asking beachgoers to be on lookout Glen, NH (03838) Today Cloudy with rain ending for the afternoon. High 57F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 44F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Photo: The Canadian Press A coal mining operation in Sparwood, B.C. The federal government has bowed to provincial and industry lobbying in weakening proposed standards for coal mining effluent, critics say. The draft regulations, released earlier this year, would double the amount of toxins such as selenium the mines are allowed to release and wouldn't apply to any mine that starts producing before 2027. Nor do they require companies to monitor overall environmental effects. "Environment Canada got pushback," said Bill Donahue, an environmental scientific consultant and former head of monitoring for the Alberta government. "It dramatically reduced the proposed standards in terms of their stringency." Environment Canada began reviewing its rules for coal mine effluent in 2017 and released a previous set of proposals in 2020. The current proposals are weaker in several respects. They allow effluent to contain up to 20 micrograms of selenium per litre in any one sample and a monthly average of 10 micrograms. That's twice as much as the previous proposal. "Concerns were raised by industry and provinces over the achievability of previously proposed new mine limits," the document says. Selenium is an element closely associated with coal. It accumulates in the environment and damages the ability of fish to reproduce. Allowable limits for suspended solids, which damage fish habitat, would also be doubled again in response to industry concerns. As well, some contaminants associated with coal mines such as sodium, antimony and chloride won't have to be monitored, said Donahue. Environment Canada also proposes to exempt from the new rules any mine that starts producing within three years of them coming into effect. Since the rules aren't expected to be proclaimed until the end of 2023 at the earliest, that means they wouldn't apply to any mine that starts producing before 2027. A federal official, who spoke on background, defended the proposed contaminant limits. "It is a number that is meant to be met at the end of pipe (where) you've got 100 per cent concentrated effluent. In the receiver, you've got some level of dilution." The selenium limits are intended to be a consistent national standard and provinces may attach more stringent standards to individual mine permits, she said. She added the three-year delay before the rules take effect is to prevent companies with mines already in the planning stages from having to start over to meet new standards. Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society noted Alberta is currently considering whether to open its Rocky Mountains to open-pit coal mines. She feared the draft regulations could allow projects to go ahead without having to meet even the looser requirements they propose. "On the chance that we are seeing new opening mines, I think they should be expecting to put in water treatment technology that meets these upcoming preferably more stringent limits." She said effluent standards shouldn't be based on what's convenient for industry. "That's a backward approach. Rather than setting limits that protect water quality, they're setting limits that industry says they can meet." Donahue said the proposals don't address what's actually happening in an ecosystem downstream of a mine or consider that many of the contaminants under consideration build up over time. "It focuses entirely on end-of-pipe as opposed to what are the cumulative effects downstream. They are basically saying, 'If you release effluent that is less than this amount, we will deem it as having no effect.'" Companies would have to analyze selenium in adult fish tissue. But that won't reveal what's happening to the overall population, said Donahue. Environment Canada is accepting public comment on the proposals until the end of March. Another 60-day comment period is expected at the end of the year with a final version of the regulations scheduled for the end of 2023. Photo: CTV UPDATE: 7:40 p.m. Police contended with demonstrations at other border crossings, including in British Columbia where four people were arrested near the border crossing in Surrey. That crossing remained open as of Sunday, the Canada Border Services Agency said. UPDATE: 12:05 p.m. Surrey RCMP says drivers should expect traffic congestion as the main route to the Pacific Highway crossing over the Canada-U.S. border remains closed. Police say there is no access to 176 Street from 8th Avenue, 0 Avenue is blocked at 184 Street to westbound traffic and 172 Street is blocked at 8th Avenue to southbound traffic. They're advising drivers and pedestrians to avoid the area and use other border crossings, but say officers are working with residents to keep the neighbourhood near the border accessible for local traffic only. ORIGINAL: 11:20 a.m. The main route to the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey, B.C., remains closed following Saturday's protest against COVID-19 mandates. Saturday's demonstration saw some vehicles break through RCMP barricades and begin driving the wrong way down the road. Highway cameras showed a line of RCMP vehicles blocking the highway near the border today, though protesters appear to have dispersed for now. The Canadian Border Services Agency says the Pacific Highway port of entry remains open, but travellers are being advised there may be delays due to blockades in the area. It is encouraging people to use other border crossings if possible. Armed attack on the house of Deputy Chief Executive of the former Afghan government Engineer Muhammad Khan left two people dead and oneinjured in Kabul on Friday night, reported local media. The attack was triggered by family issues and conflict inside the house and no gunman has entered the house to carry out the attack, Khama Press quoted security officials of the Afghan capital Kabul as saying. Khalid Zadran, spokesperson of the Kabul police headquarter, said that among the people killed were his younger son and his security guard while those injured included Muhammad Khan's wife and his other security guard. Zadran said the security officials will investigate the matter to further elaborate on the incident, acc Chief Executive of the former national unity government in Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah condoned the incident and said that the attack was carried out in the personal privacy of a respected family in the country. (ANI) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The jury in Benjamin Browns felony murder trial deliberated for several hours after closing arguments on Saturday afternoon. Talks will continue on Monday morning. Prosecutor Andrew Coyle told the jury in the courtroom of Judge Barry Steelman that much of the defenses case has asked the jury to not believe their eyes. He outlined the alleged falsities in the defense's case. He reminded the jury that Brown did not call the police at any point while Annie was seizing. Mr. Brown did not call 911 when a little girl was seizing but he did call Dr. Baden, who got fired from New York, to say what he wants him to say, said Mr. Coyle. Much of Mr. Coyles argument criticized Dr. Badens findings and testimony. The prosecutors closing argument reviewed important evidence for their case. He said every single paragraph of Dr. Badens report had errors in it. He said no other medical professionals testimony agreed with his statements. And he said the jury cannot trust him. Its not just that Dr. Badens findings are wrong, it's that they are tailored to Browns defense, said Mr. Coyle. He said the most absurd part is Dr. Badens findings of cause of death. Dr. Baden said the cause of death was fentanyl overdose and medical malpractice. The prosecutor referred to Dr. Badens testimony on Friday saying that Dr. Baden was making medical references but could not show what he was referring to. Mr. Coyle argued the defense was muddying the waters in hopes to convince a jury. He finished his argument with this statement: If you trust your eyes and credible proof, this is a guilty man. Benjamin Brown and his hired gun are the only people that want you to believe Annie fell from a shelf. Defense attorney Steven Brown said he was proud of Brown for his courageous testimony Friday evening. He commented on his composure during cross-examination from highly skilled professionals considering Browns limited education. Brown said he stopped going to school when he was 15. Browns cross examination with prosecutor Cameron Williams could have been perceived as intense because of Mr. Williams apparent passion. He repeatedly called Brown a liar and murderer while Brown appeared to keep his composure consistently responding with yes siror no sir. The prosecution got frustrated on the stand, said attorney Brown. One of them even got angry- these professionals got angry, but Ben didnt. Has anyone come to the court saying Ben is a mean and violent person? Attorney Brown argued the Shell home was chaotic and lacked supervision based on extensive video evidence of activities at the home. He said there was 55 minutes of missing footage from the Shell residence, and he charged that David Shell, the child's father, was the only violent person involved. Video footage showed Mr. Shell slapping a child. The defense attorney argued the prosecution wanted the jury to put their blinders on and ignore all the evidence that does not support the prosecutions case. He said the defendant was consistent in his statements despite the one lie he admitted to in testimony. Mr. Brown also addressed the matter of Dr. Badens statements. Over the last couple years there have been lots of experts telling you what to think, said attorney Brown. There is no certainty in what the medical experts said yesterday. It is a difference in opinion. Prosecutor Williams argued that Brown is a liar and once again went over his lies. He reviewed video evidence from the Shells home. He told the jury to not check their common sense out at the door. Flames destroyed an East Brainerd residence on Sunday morning in a fire that was visible from I-75, Highway 153 and beyond. Blue Shift companies were called to the 6800 block of Gayda Lane at 10:51 a.m. First responding units found half of a home fully engulfed in flames and someone who had been in the house down in the roadway surrounded by family members. Firefighters checked on the injured person and started an EMS unit. They then launched a blitz attack using a deck gun to knock down the flames and deployed additional attack lines. All of the occupants were out of the structure. Crews continued working to extinguish the fire. They were on scene for several hours fighting the blaze and monitoring hot spots. Four people were displaced and the American Red Cross was notified to assist them. The residents denied medical treatment on the scene and indicated that they would be going to the hospital in their personal vehicle to be evaluated for possible smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The home is considered a total loss. Quint 8, Squad 13, Ladder 13, Engine 15, Ladder 7, Quint 21, Quint 6, Battalion 2, Battalion 1, Hamilton County EMS, CPD, EPB, and CFD Investigations responded. Daniel David Coleman, Jr. passed away on Friday evening, February 11, 2022, after a long battle with Metastatic Melanoma. Dan was born on Feb. 17, 1947, to Anna Faye and Dee Coleman in Chattanooga. He attended Brainerd High School where he was a member of the marching band, Optimist Club and Student Council. Later he attended and was part of the first graduating class of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned a bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering. After graduating, Dan was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Branch of the Army and spent two years in Germany. During his time in the service, Dan was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Dan married his high school sweetheart, Janice in 1968. He worked at the same company for 40 years and held many different positions including industrial engineer, sales manager, and product manager. During that time he and Janice had two daughters, Jennifer and Valorie. He was an active member of the church, attending Wesley Memorial United Methodist. Later in life, Dan enjoyed riding motorcycles and traveling. He was a proud grandfather of three and always willing to go out of his way to help anyone in need. Dan was preceded in death by his parents Dee and Anna Faye Coleman, and his brother Ron Coleman. Dan is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Janice Uren Coleman, his daughters Jennifer Perry (Jim), Valorie Bowers (D.J.); his grandchildren Isabel Warren (Hank), Jake Perry, and Jackson Bowers; and nephew Geoff Coleman (Christine). The family will receive visitors on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 12-2 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church at 6314 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. The funeral will be held immediately following at 2 p.m. Interment with military honors will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to the Melanoma Research Foundation. donate.melanoma.org Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to view the tribute and share condolences. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. John Louis Chambers, 82, of Hixson, Tennessee passed from this mortal life on January 30, 2022 surrounded by his family and listening for the final time to Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488. John was born in Athens, Al. to the late Ernest Howell and Annie Laurie Dillard Chambers. He was a proud Eagle Scout and a 1957 graduate of Athens High School. He received a bachelors degree in math and physics from the now University of North Alabama. Johns graduate studies included work in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma and he earned a masters degree in computer science from Alabama A & M University. Following his service as a weather officer in the U.S. Air Force, John worked for Lockheed and Computer Sciences Corporation as a contractor for NASA at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Al. during the Apollo program. He retired from TVA. John loved his family, the Boy Scouts, books, music, inclement weather and all areas of scientific study. Being a father brought him immense joy and pride. He always said, Why have children if you dont spoil them? His love of music was very eclectic with some of his favorites being The Chuck Wagon Gang, Happy Goodman Family, Bob Wills, George Jones, Arthur Rubinstein, Opera, and Mozarts Piano Concertos. John and his wife, Maggie, enjoyed many John Prine concerts. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Chambers. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marguerite Miller Chambers of Chattanooga; daughters, Sarah Tate Chambers McBride of Maryville, Tn. and Caroline Chambers Sanney of Franklin, Tn.; son, Thomas Perry Chambers of Chattanooga; son-in-law, Kenneth Sanney of Franklin, Tn.; his adored grandchildren, Dylan McBride, Catherine Sanney, Nora Sanney and Calvin Sanney; his brother, William Chambers of Palm Desert, Ca.; and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Monday, Feb. 21, from 910:20 a.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home & Crematory, North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343. A graveside memorial service will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation or your local Boy Scouts of America council. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343. As is the case with most Marvel casts, the Black Widow actors grew very close while filming the Marvel Cinematic Universe film. In fact, Florence Pugh, who played Yelena Belova in Black Widow, felt comfortable sticking her finger in David Habours nose, who played Alexei Shostakov. David Harbour and Florence Pugh | Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Florence Pugh made her Marvel debut in Black Widow Florence Pugh is one of Hollywoods brightest young stars, and that was even before she starred in Black Widow. And, now, fans cant get enough of her as Yelena Belova in the MCU. Marvel introduced Yelena in Black Widow as Natasha Romanoffs younger adoptive sister. The two were very close until they were separated and went through training in the infamous Red Room to become Black Widows. Flash-forward to the future where Natasha was on the run after violating the Sokovia Accords, Yelena was still being mind-controlled as a Black Widow. However, she came into contact with a gas that freed her of mind control. Yelena and Natasha then found their way back to one another, and they reunited with their adoptive parents, Alexei and Melina. The four previously posed as a family in Ohio for years while working as Russian undercover agents. Together, they worked to defeat Dreykov, the man responsible for the Black Widow program. At the end of the film, Yelena leaves to find other Black Widows to free them of mind control. And in a post-credits scene, Yelena visited Natashas grave. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine joined her and informed her that Clint Barton was to blame for her sisters death. And that set up Florence Pughs appearance in Hawkeye. Florence Pugh revealed she would tease David Harbour on the Black Widow set While speaking with Buzzfeed during the Black Widow press tour, Florence Pugh shared behind-the-scenes secrets from the set. She even confessed that she would mess with David Harbour while filming. Im a bit of a joker, Pugh said. I just like teasing. I did get into a really nice habit of putting my finger up Davids nose in really inconvenient times. And he really liked it. And she also discussed how she would make fun of how Harbour walked in his Red Guardian suit. Pugh revealed, I remember copying the way that David would walk in his suit and being full-on Russian papa. But despite the joking, the entire Black Widow cast, including Florence Pugh, became a family on the set. Harbour said, I do think when we started shooting we, sort of, fell into our role and that family dynamic of us really started to emerge naturally. Scarlett [Johansson] being the oldest daughter, [and] Florence being the younger baby. Dads, right? Experience Marvel Studios' #BlackWidow again and get tickets or order it now! https://t.co/cWeQKLS0qL pic.twitter.com/xertTaLIXt Black Widow (@theblackwidow) July 27, 2021 What does the future look like for Yelena Belova? The next time fans saw Florence Pugh as Yelena after Black Widow was in Hawkeye on Disney+. She wanted revenge for her sisters death, but after an intense fight, Clint made her see that Natasha made the decision to sacrifice her life. So whats next for Pugh in the MCU? Many fans speculate that Pugh might star in her own Black Widow movie after Yelena carries on Natashas legacy as the Black Widow. But Marvel nor Pugh have confirmed whats next for Yelena. Following the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland told The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show that he wants to work with Pugh in the MCU. He said, [A Spider-Man and Black Widow crossover] hasnt been suggested to the big bosses yet, but Florence and I have definitely spoken about it. And hopefully one day, we can make that happen. That would be very cool. Black Widow is available to stream on Disney+. RELATED: Scarlett Johansson Shared How Black Widows Power Changed, Said It Started in Her Sexuality but Became Her Vulnerability The work history of the Duggar family is sketchy at best. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have long insisted they made their fortune in real estate. They do have a verified track record of buying and selling property. Its harder to track how the adult Duggar kids make a living, though. In November 2020, Josh Duggars car lot was raided by federal agents. During his interactions with federal agents, Josh claimed his brother, John David Duggar, works as a police officer in Tontitown, Arkansas. Is he a sworn officer of the law, though? Josh Duggar told federal agents that his brother was a police officer and a constable The Duggar familys work record is a bit sketchy. While there are a plethora of adult Duggars, there isnt a single one who appears to work a traditional 9 to 5 job. Josh would like Duggar family followers to believe that the opposite is true. When federal agents approached him Josh sat down to discuss the raid with them. Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images At one point he mentioned that his brother, John David, was a police officer and a constable, according to court transcripts. When pressed further, Josh told agents that his brother was a police officer in Tontitown. Tontitown is the small hamlet the Duggar family calls home. He even claimed John David had been in the role since 2010. So, is any of that accurate? Is John David Duggar a police officer? Josh told federal agents that John David was a police officer in Tontitown, Arkansas. Tontitown is a tiny hamlet near Springdale, Arkansas. The town has under 4,000 residents, and, according to the towns official website, they have five full-time police officers and 10 part-time officers on staff. There is no indication that John David is one of those officers, though. However, the flight enthusiast has been elected as a constable in Washington County. The public elects constables in the county, but they are considered volunteer positions. Constables in the county are not paid for their time. John David first became a constable at the age of 23 in 2013. Joshs statement that his brother had been a police officer since 2010 was, obviously, incorrect. John David and his wife have kept a low profile since their wedding While John David and Abbie Burnett have been quieter than most Duggars on social media since their 2018 wedding, they are among the few who havent changed their posting habits since Josh Duggars April 2021 arrest. The couple has maintained their usual posting schedule of sharing photos at special events and holidays. John David Duggar, Josiah Duggar, and Joseph Duggar | Ida Mae Astute/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Their most recent post came in January 2022, when the couple spoke out about rumors that they had been involved in a plane crash. They confirmed they had an emergency landing several months before. Before that post, the couple shared snaps from both Christmas and Thanksgiving. John and Abbie are parents to Grace Annette Duggar, 2. While John and Abbie have acted like its business as usual in their house, several Duggar siblings have opted to change their posting habits in the wake of Joshs legal issues. Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson opted to clear out their Instagram almost completely. Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo have stopped sharing photos of their childrens faces with the public. Jill Dillard seems to be moving toward a similar posting style. RELATED: Duggar Family News: Anna Duggar Breaks Social Media Silence to Defend Josh Duggar Viewers cant stop binge-watching the latest true crime drama from Netflix, Inventing Anna, about convicted fraudster and fake heiress Anna Sorokin (AKA Anna Delvey). In the nine-episode limited series, Julia Garner portrays Sorokin. Greys Anatomy and Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes wrote and produced the series based on Jessica Presslers New York Magazine article. However, theres one new habit that Sorokin insists viewers wont see in the Netflix drama. Inventing Anna: Julia Garner | Aaron Epstein/Netflix In an article found on Anna Delveys Instagram account, she shares what its like to be in prison. However, the 31-year-old fashionista is no longer incarcerated because of her grand larceny and theft of services charges. On good merit, the New York State Board of Parole released Sorokin from prison on Feb. 11, 2021. She served almost four years of her four to 12-year sentence. However, in the article she contributed to via Insider, Sorokin shares that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took her into custody six weeks later. Sorokin reports that she paid the restitution from her criminal case to the banks from which she fraudulently took the money while serving her initial sentence. She managed that with Netflix payout for the rights to her life story for Inventing Anna. Sorokin added that she did not break any laws while out on parole but remains in custody for overstaying her visa in the United States. She is currently still waiting (almost one year later) for a decision regarding whether she will be deported back to Germany. Until then, Sorokin remains in Orange County prison in upstate New York. RELATED: Inventing Anna: How to Watch Julia Garners New Show & Everything We Know About It Nearly four years in the making and hours of phone conversations and visits later, the show is based on my story and told from a journalists perspective, Sorokin describes Inventing Anna. And while Im curious to see how they interpreted all the research and materials provided, I cant help but feel like an afterthought, the somber irony of being confined to a cell at yet another horrid correctional facility lost between the lines, the history repeating itself. Anna Sorokin shares a new habit viewers wont see in Netflixs Inventing Anna Not only is Sorokin back in prison while shes detained by ICE, but she tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 19. Her new habit came from being stuck in isolation. What you wont see in the Netflix show is my newly acquired habit, Sorkin writes in the Insider article. I have to methodically bite the skin around my nails until the nail beds slowly fill with blood from both sides, collect at the tip, which I then squeeze until theres enough to drip down the sink of the cell with opaque white-spray-painted windows I spend 91.2% of my day in. Rinse and repeat. It doesnt accomplish anything tangible, other than dulling an obsessive fixation on another wasted day that Ill never get back. And I cant just stop. Inventing Anna cast viewers will see telling the Anna Delvey story Inventing Anna: Laverne Cox as Kacy Duke, Katie Lowes as Rachel, Julia Garner as Anna Delvery, Alexis Floyd as Neff Davis | Netflix In addition to Ozarks Julia Garner starring in the leading role as Anna Sorokin (aka Delvey), the Netflix Inventing Anna cast has multiple big-name stars. Emmy nominee, Anna Chlumsky from HBOs Veep, joins the cast as journalist Vivian. You might also remember Chlumsky for her early role as Vada in My Girl and My Girl 2. Shonda Rhimes tapped her Shondaland ABC show Scandal for Katie Lowes, who portrayed Quinn Perkins in the political drama. Lowes joins Inventing Anna as Rachel the friend who allegedly incurred $62,000 of debt from her trip with Delvey to Morocco. The stellar cast doesnt stop there. Laverne Cox also joins the cast from Netflixs Orange Is the New Black as Kacy Duke. The Inventing Anna cast also steals a favorite from HBOs Succession Arian Moayed. He currently portrays Stewy Hosseini in the satirical comedy but becomes Todd in Inventing Anna. Kate Burton (Ellis Grey) and Jeffrey Perry (Thatcher Grey) from Shondalands Greys Anatomy even make appearances in the new series. Terry Kinney from HBOs Billions and Jennifer Esposito from Blue Bloods also join the cast. All nine episodes of Inventing Anna drop to Netflix on Feb. 11, 2022, at 3 a.m. EST. RELATED: Ozark: This Character Will Move Up As the New Ruth Langmore In Season 4 During an interview, Yoko Ono said John Lennon commented on the 1960s in one of his solo songs. Yoko said the song made her want to cry. She said John was using the song to reach out over the battlefield of dead families. Yoko Ono and John Lennon | Jack Mitchell/Getty Images Yoko Ono talked about John Lennons social commentary In a 1980 interview that comprises the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview With John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Yoko reflected on the 1960s. John has talked about the 60s and how it gave us a taste for freedom sexual and otherwise, she said. It was like an orgy. Then, after that big come that we had together, men and women somehow lost track of each other and a lot of families and relationships split apart. Yoko then compared the 1970s to Nazi Germany. I really think that what happened in the 70s can be compared to what happened under Nazism with Jewish families, she said. Only the force that split them in the 70s came from the inside, not from the outside. We tried to rationalize it as the price we were paying for our freedom. Though she did not elaborate, Yoko could have been discussing the Vietnam War, which may have resulted in the deaths of over 3 million people. One of John Lennon and Yoko Onos billboards reading War Is Over | Three Lions/Getty Images RELATED: John Lennon: Why He Called a Yoko Ono Song 1 of the Best Rock Songs John Lennons (Just Like) Starting Over moved Yoko Ono Yoko then discussed the meaning of Johns single (Just Like) Starting Over. And John is saying in his new song, Starting Over, OK, we had the energy in the 60s, in the 70s we separated, but lets start over in the 80s,' she said. Johns song makes me feel like crying. Yoko saw (Just Like) Starting Over as a message to herself and others. Hes reaching out to me, reaching out after all thats happened, she opined. Hes reaching out over the battlefield of dead families even though its more difficult this time around. RELATED: John Lennons Son Named His 2 Favorite Beatles Songs Even Though He Hates Being Asked About That The way the world reacted to (Just Like) Starting Over (Just Like) Starting Over became Johns final No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was No. 1 for five weeks, stating on the chart for 22 weeks in total. (Just Like) Starting Over appeared on John and Yokos collaborative album Double Fantasy. Double Fantasy reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for eight weeks. It stayed on the chart for 77 weeks altogether. (Just Like) Starting Over became popular in the United Kingdom as well. According to The Official Charts Company, the song was No. 1 in the U.K. for one week. (Just Like) Starting Over lasted 15 weeks on the chart. Meanwhile, Double Fantasy was No. 1 for two weeks of its 36-week run on the chart. (Just Like) Starting Over impacted Yoko and the world. RELATED: John Lennon Felt 1 Little Richard Song Was Better Than Anything by Elvis Presley It Was So Great I Couldnt Speak Its no secret that the wait for Stranger Things Season 4 is taking a serious toll on fans. With delays from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic coupled with the sheer scope of the storyline for season 4, fans continue to wait on the edge of their seats. Some believed the series might release a trailer or possibly a poster on Feb. 6 due to Noah Schnapps Instagram post. However, the day came and went with no new information. Now, all eyes are on Super Bowl LVI and the possibility of Netflix using the time to debut a trailer. While we wait, lets take a look at some theories of potential plots in Stranger Things Season 4. The mysterious desert door | Netflix Stranger Things Season 4 might use Victor Creels accusation of murder as a red herring Robert Englund portrays Victor Creel, a new character, in Stranger Things Season 4, and a lot of mystery surrounds his back story. In August 2021, the Stranger Things Twitter account released a short clip of microfiche images of newspapers detailing the Creel murders. Authorities accuse Victor of murdering his wife and two small children after moving into their large Victorian home in Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1950s. However, in the Creel House teaser, clips showed lights flickering in the home. While most could chalk this up to electrical issues, any Stranger Things fan knows this is a tell-tale sign of the Demogorgon. The newspaper articles, which tease Stranger Things Season 4, state that somebody claims a vengeful demon is responsible for the murders of Victors wife and children. Could Victor have mistaken the monster from the Upside down as a demon? It certainly seems possible. welcome to the creel house pic.twitter.com/y3qB2AVuxk Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) September 25, 2021 RELATED: Stranger Things: The Duffer Brothers Original Pitch Notes for the Show Had Some Major Changes The door in the desert in the Stranger Things Season 4 Welcome to California teaser serves as a door to an underground lab Theres no reason to have a door in the middle of the desert unless whoever built that door wants to keep something top secret. The door, which seemingly leads nowhere, could serve as an entrance to an underground lab where nefarious types like Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) continue to perform horrific experiments on unwilling victims. Folks also saw several military vehicles and helicopters converge on an area in the desert. It makes sense for there to be a connection with the mysterious door if Dr. Brenner returns to torture kids like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) again. Could that door lead to the Nina Project Stranger Things Season 4, which showrunners continue to tease? the world when they read "dear billy" pic.twitter.com/w0mgwNK6SU Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) November 6, 2021 Eleven has her own Carrie moment when she stands up to bullies at her new school Eleven grew up in a lab, and while shes had a couple of years to adjust to real life, she continues to struggle with truly understanding the nuances of friendship. In the Stranger Things Season 4 Welcome to California teaser, Eleven narrates her letter to Mike (Finn Wolfhard). She tells him about her new friends at school, but what audiences see contradicts what she says. The kids at school make fun of her and throw spit wads at her face. Eleven lost her powers at the end of Stranger Things Season 3, but its doubtful shell be without them for long. A chaotic scene in the Welcome to California teaser shows Eleven spinning in circles at a roller rink, seemingly upset and scared. Audiences watched Eleven take care of Troy and James for bullying Mike and Dustin in Stranger Things Season 1, but what if she stands up to her own bullies this time? The roller rink could be the perfect opportunity for Eleven to get revenge on the kids at her school who pick on her constantly, similar to Stephen Kings Carrie. However, without her powers for so long, whos to say she knows how to control them as well as she once did? For now, the long wait until the summer continues. In the meantime, fans can rewatch the first three seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix. RELATED: Stranger Things Season 4 Release Date Window May Have Just Been Leaked by Georgia Tour Company Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home. Elnora J Rock of Chickasha, OK, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the age of 85. She was born Dece Christians protest Satanic Temples 3-day SatanCon in Arizona city that rejected group's invocation Christians gathered, prayed and read scriptures outside an Arizona hotel that hosted a three-day event by The Satanic Temple called SatanCon that included such sessions as Raising Children in a Satanic Household and Abortion as a (Religious) Right. The Catholic demonstrators prayed, read from the Bible, held signs, banners, rosaries, crosses and images of the Virgin Mary outside the Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale, the site of the Satanic Temples event, which concludes Sunday, Fox 10 reported. Were out here to let the satanists know that theres no place for evil in Arizona, a protester was quoted as saying. And were here to combat that. And were here to say that Jesus is Lord. Phoenix Catholic Bishop Thomas Olmsted had said in a statement that Catholics should refrain from participating in any public demonstration or protest against the satanic event. The faithful should instead unite in spiritual warfare through prayer, fasting and participation in the Sacraments, the statement read. These are the most effective spiritual weapons against Satans futile attempt at sowing division and confusion in our midst. SatanCon included sessions on Devils Food, Darwin vs. The Lord of Lies, Raising Children in a Satanic Household, and After School Satan Club, among others. In 2018, The Satanic Temple lost a lawsuit against Scottsdale over its decision not to allow the group to give an invocation at one of the city council meetings two years earlier. The Scottsdale City Council had given its approval to allow the satanic group to give a less than three-minute invocation at the beginning of one of its meetings in 2016, but later withdrew the offer after facing public backlash. The council said The Satanic Temple was not based in Scottsdale, but Tucson instead, CBN News reported at the time. In a statement about the event, The Satanic Temples co-founder and spokesperson Lucien Greaves said, In addition to creating a community for our members, SatanCon serves as an expression of our good will toward the city of Scottsdale, despite the perplexing and unfortunate ruling against us which defied precedent and common sense. Greaves added, In the course of litigation, Scottsdale officials desperately made clear that they are, in fact, accepting and inclusive regarding satanists. We heard you, Scottsdale, and we accepted that as an invitation to turn Scottsdale into the Happy Satanic Fun Capital of the World. The statement said SatanCon would have talks and presentations on the groups efforts to protect members reproductive rights, fight psychiatric abuse, protect children from abuse in schools, promote addiction recovery, and build support for TSTs after-school club. In 2016, The Satanic Temple launched a nationwide After School Satan Club to counter Christian student organizations in public schools. The groups creation came in response to the Christian Good News Club that was meeting at public schools throughout the nation. Greaves told The Christian Post at the time that the Christian clubs presence at public schools created the need for a counter-balance in the extracurricular options. Moises Esteves, vice president of USA Ministries for Child Evangelism Fellowship, told CP at the time that he believed the Satan club was yet another atheist PR stunt that has no staying power. The After-School Satan Club is simply another attention-seeking atheist club. The choice of mascot reveals that its leaders simply hate God, and are trying to provoke or spook parents and schools, said Esteves. Like those before it, this club will fizzle out, because parents don't view their children as pawns for a blend of political activism, religious critique and performance art by angry atheists. Muslim extremists beat Christian apologist unconscious in Uganda Islamic extremists beat a Christian apologist and evangelist unconscious as he was traveling to participate in a debate about Christianity and Islam in Kampala, Uganda, according to a report. Two men stopped the car of 43-year-old apologist Charles Kamya when he was about 300 meters from the open-air debate site in the Bwaise area of Kampala and then a mob attacked him, Morning Star News reported. I stopped my car only to be ambushed by six other Muslims in Islamic attire who resurfaced from the bush at around midday, Kamya was quoted as saying from his hospital bed. One of the assailants told him, You have been terrorizing our religion. Today Allah has called you, and you are going to meet him. Some beat me badly while others cut me with some objects, and I lost a lot of blood as they pulled me out of my car and threw me out, he said. In the Jan. 29 attack, he was hit on his head with an iron bar, leaving him unconscious for about two hours. A passerby found him in a pool of blood and called the police. Kamyas father fears his son will be attacked again and has asked the hospital to release him against the doctors advice. Days before the attack, Kamya had gone to a mosque in the Jinja area to buy a Quran, accompanied by a Muslim convert to Christianity. He then debated Muslims in that mosque. I used the Quran to show Muslims that from the beginning of the Earth to date, God wants all people to be saved, including Muslims, Kamya said. I also discussed Surah 72 about the powers of evil jinn, and that they can be defeated by Issa [Jesus], and many Muslims converted to Christ. One sheik wanted to grab the Quran from me, but I refused and left immediately. Another debate was scheduled for Jan. 29, organized by Bwaise area churches. It was well publicized, with my photo displayed as the main debater of the day in Christian-Muslim dialogue, Kamya said. While most people in Uganda are Christian, some Eastern and Central regions have higher concentrations of Muslims. According to the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project, about 11.5% of Ugandas population is Muslim, mostly Sunni. Armed attacks and murders of converts are not uncommon in the region. Radical Islams influence has grown steadily, and many Christians within the majority-Muslim border regions are facing severe persecution, especially those who convert from Islam, a Voice of the Martyrs factsheet notes. Despite the risks, evangelical churches in Uganda have responded by reaching out to their neighbors; many churches are training leaders how to share the Gospel with Muslims and care for those who are persecuted after they become Christians. 'I have set your Jesus ablaze': 2 pastors beaten by radical Hindus who set fire to Bible in attack A dozen Hindu nationalists harassed and beat up two pastors and set fire to a Bible one was carrying after accusing them of converting people to Christianity by offering money, according to a report. The pastors, identified as Sanjay Kumar and Inderjit, were in the northern Indian state of Haryana returning home after visiting a Christian family for prayers on the roof of their home in the Anand Nagar area of Ambala Cantonment when the mob, which included women, attacked them, Morning Star News reported about the Jan. 28 attack. The pastors were accused of receiving foreign funds and offering money to people in an attempt to get them to convert. Visibly hostile, some people in the mob filmed the pastors while questioning them in coarse language without letting them answer, Pastor Kumar was quoted as saying. Sanjay Rana, a neighbor and member of the Hindu extremist Bajrang Dal, was leading the mob, he said. Rana seized Pastor Inderjits drivers license and Pastor Kumars ID card, and then the mob began punching and slapping them. They also snatched the Bible from Kumars hand. Their beating did not pain me as much as the snatching of my Bible did, Pastor Kumar said. I began to weep. I said, This is my Bible ... this is my Jesus. Please give my Bible back to me. A woman and a man from the crowd using a matchbox burned my Bible, and she sarcastically exclaimed, See, I have set your Jesus ablaze. The mob then tried to force the pastors to recite a devotional hymn in praise of the Hindu god Hanuman and attempted to abduct the pastors and take them to a Hindu temple to force them to bow before idols, Pastor Kumar said. They began to force us to enter their car. When we resisted firmly, they said, Lets call the police. Pastor Inderjit said he was glad at the possibility of police arriving and ending the 90 minutes of physical and mental abuse. As Pastor Kumar was dizzy due to the beating, one of the assailants said they should let them go, and the two pastors fled. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, attacks on Christians have increased and intensified. While Christians make up only 2.3% of Indias population and Hindus comprise about 80%, there has been an uptick in radical Hindu nationalist attacks on religious minorities. With 486 incidents of violence against the Christian community in India, 2021 was the most violent year for Christians in the countrys history, according to the United Christian Front. In its report, the United Christian Front noted that in nearly all cases reported nationwide, vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists have been seen to either barge into a prayer gathering or round up individuals that they believe are involved in forcible religious conversions. The watchdog group Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, reports that Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences. Hindu extremists believe that all Indians should be Hindus and that the country should be rid of Christianity and Islam, an Open Doors fact sheet on India explains. They use extensive violence to achieve this goal, particularly targeting Christians from a Hindu background. Christians are accused of following a foreign faith and blamed for bad luck in their communities. CNN sex scandals, religious hypocrisy and the words of Jesus The Daily Wire recently ran an article by Tim Meads titled Perverts, Predators And Adulterers: 7 CNN Employees Forced Out In Disgrace. Not included in the article was CNN anchor Don Lemon, who has been accused of sexual assault by a stranger, with the case now headed to a jury trial. This is certainly news, although Lemon is innocent until proven guilty and is still front and center on the network. The question is, how should we react to this news? Many on the right are laughing out loud, as CNN implodes before their eyes and the hated Don Lemon could be taking a fall. Thats what you get when you dont have any morals, they cackle with glee. Those on the right could also say, I told you so! with news of two university professors talking openly and glibly about their support for some aspects of pedophilia. We knew things were headed this way! And the right could also point to the tragic story of the Boy Scouts, having to declare bankruptcy in 2020 after being faced with multiplied thousands of lawsuits from men who claim that they were sexually abused by Scout leaders when they were boys. As I wrote on February 20, 2020, Now that the Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy as a result of a deluge of sexual abuse suits, there is an obvious question that must be asked again. Seeing that the BSA leadership was well aware of the long history of male-on-male sex abuse, why on earth did it cave in to homosexual activism? Why did it open the door for openly gay scouts and then scout leaders? I continued, On July 15, 2015 I wrote an article titled, Boy Scouts Moral Suicide Continues. I noted then that the barely hidden, dirty secret of the Boy Scouts of America is that for decades now, several thousand cases of man-on-boy sexual abuse have been swept under the rug, with private payoffs taking the place of open court cases and to be perfectly clear, the men involved in these cases were normally Scout leaders. If such was the case with the ban on openly homosexual leaders in place, what happens when that ban is removed? And how do the Boy Scouts figure out who the bad apples are first? Or are the boys the guinea pigs in this poorly conceived experiment? It would be easy to sit back in our self-righteous chairs and say, The left is destroying itself. And these sex scandals are the tragic but expected fruit. Theres only one problem with this attitude. We who consider ourselves conservatives, especially Christian conservatives, have nothing to boast about. We have just as many scandals in our midst. And, the truth be told, ours are even worse, since we claim to hold to higher morals based on our biblical convictions. Shall I remind us of the sex scandals that rocked the Catholic Church, most recently, the official report from France that more than 330,000 children were abused by Catholic clergy and leaders over a 70 year period, dating back to the 1950s? More than 330,000 children! Even retired Pope Benedict recently issued an apology for his mishandling of four sex abuse cases, reassigning the guilty priests to other parish ministries. But non-Catholic Christians have nothing to boast about either. Who can even list the names of major leaders who have disgraced themselves through sexual sin? Its the same whether we identify as Southern Baptist or Pentecostal-Charismatic (or other). The lists go on and on, from decades back until today. Of course, I dont write this to throw stones or to condemn. There is potential mercy and redemption for everyone in Jesus. And certainly, we must continue to focus on the needs of those who have been abused, some of them scarred for life. But as we watch the news of the latest scandal on the left, lets not wax self-righteous. We all stand by mercy, and theres only One who is perfectly holy. And that leads to this fascinating and highly relevant account found in Lukes Gospel: "Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on themdo you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:1-5) In other words, all of us deserve judgment, and unless we repent for our sins, that judgment will eventually fall on us. This does not mean that we take the sins of others lightly. Not at all. And it doesnt mean that we dont want to see justice. On the contrary, we do. It also does not mean that we stop exposing unlawful acts and confronting destructive world views. That is absolutely part of our calling if we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But we do all this with humility, not arrogance. And we never gloat when others fall. As I just wrote in another context, what goes around comes around, and the way we judge others, we will be judged. The missing link in the Whoopi-Holocaust story The Holocaust is a 77-year-old story. Yet Whoopi Goldberg got in trouble last week for getting a major aspect of it wrong. On January 31s edition of The View, Goldberg said that the Holocaust was not about race. The context was a discussion about the book, Maus, being banned by a Tennessee public school board because of nudity and profanity. Goldberg said: Im surprised thats what made you uncomfortable, the fact that there was some nudity. I mean, its about the Holocaust, the killing of six million people, but that didnt bother you? If youre going to do this, then lets be truthful about it. Because the Holocaust isnt about race. No, its not about race. She has been suspended from the show for two weeks. Hours after the program, she tweeted an apology to those offended by her remarks: On todays show, I said the Holocaust is not about race, but about mans inhumanity to man. I should have said it is about both. As Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League shared, The Holocaust was about the Nazis systematic annihilation of the Jewish people who they deemed to be an inferior race. I stand corrected. Greenblatt accepted her apology. I asked Rabbi Daniel Lapin, president of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians, for a statement on this story. He told me that he disagrees with her often, but does not agree with the suspension: Stuffing a gag into peoples mouths and trying to harm their careers doesnt win the argument. It actually prolongs it by breeding anger and resentment. He added, By the time the left has silenced the right and the other way around, and by the time secular and religious have silenced one another and by the time blacks and whites have silenced one another, well all be living in a dull, silent, monotonous and resentful world. Interestingly, the very next day after this broadcast of The View came the release of a book, Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism, and White Nationalism. This is the latest book by Dr. Richard Weikart, author of, From Darwin to Hitler. Weikart is professor emeritus of history at California State University, Stanislaus, and a senior fellow with the Discovery Institute. Ive been following Dr. Weikarts research for years. In 2006, I traveled to his college to interview him for our television production on the impact of Darwin on devaluing human life for D. James Kennedy Ministries, Darwins Deadly Legacy. I asked Weikart if there was a link between Darwinism and what Adolph Hitler and the Nazis did. He told our viewers, Among German historians, theres really not much debate about whether or not Hitler was a social Darwinist; he clearly was drawing on Darwinian ideas. Weikart added that Darwin wasnt anti-Semitic, but his ideas were used by the anti-Semites to do away with those viewed as sub-human. Recently, Weikart wrote an op-ed initially called Whoopi Goldberg, the Holocaust, and Race to address her misguided comment that the Nazi Holocaust was not about race. Weikart notes that historically Jews were viewed as a religious group in Germany, but with the widespread acceptance of Darwinism came the acceptance of biological determinism. He writes, Biological determinism taught that human traits, including behavioral traits, were determined by ones heredity, not by ones education and upbringing. When applied to Jews, this meant that the common stereotypes of Jews that they are greedy, deceitful, sexual immoral, etc. were allegedly biologically ingrained traits. By the time of Hitlers Third Reich, this view was widespread and Jews were viewed more in racial terms than in religious terms So indeed the Holocaust was about race. It was all about achieving the so-called master race and eliminating those viewed as subhuman. The Jews were the largest group killed. Said Weikart, For them, the killing of Jews was all about race. The Nazis also killed Gypsies and Slavs for racist reasons. Weikart said that the Nazis were putting into practice genetic selection in the concentration camps deciding who would live and who would die: Natural selection was a guiding idea for Hitler and the Nazis ... and the term was related directly to Darwinian terminology ... They were selecting this person to survive and this person to go to the gas chambers. On a recent radio segment, Weikart told me, Hitler saw this life as a struggle for existence among many races opposing his so-called Aryan (or sometimes hed use the term Nordic) race, and he framed it as a Darwinian struggle for existence. So what was the Holocaust all about? Said Weikart, Adolph Hitler was clearly trying to speed evolution along. Hitler believed that the evolutionary survival of his master race required the extermination of Jews. Darwinian evolution is the missing link in Whoopi Goldbergs verbal mistake last week. Venue Church Pastor Tavner Smith apologizes for inappropriate relationship in return to pulpit After months of headline-grabbing drama, including repeated denials to his staff that he was engaged in an adulterous affair, Pastor Tavner Smith of Venue Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, confessed to his embattled congregation Sunday that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship. He asked for forgiveness as he returned to the pulpit after a brief sabbatical. Before I preach a word today, Ive just come to say Im sorry. So many things Ive said, that Ive done, that Ive not said, that Ive run from were wrong, Smith said, according to a recording of the apology posted on YouTube by journalist Julie Roys. I was involved in an inappropriate relationship. And I want to say that Im sorry that I put you through any embarrassment, heartache or confusion. Ive wounded people and Ive caused devastation that I know I can never take back, he added. As your leader and pastor, I come to you to publicly acknowledge my mistakes and truly ask for forgiveness. It grieves me to think that my pride and my selfishness couldve caused anyone hurt. Smiths apology on Sunday comes as the scandal around his personal life led to the hemorrhaging of members and staff in recent weeks after he was confronted about an alleged relationship with a married church staff member. Just days earlier, on Feb. 3, The Chattanooga Times Free Press published leaked audio of some 100 church volunteers questioning Smith at a Dec. 17 meeting about his relationship with a church employee with whom he was once reportedly found half-naked. The Daily Beast reported that during a surprise visit to Smiths home last November, church volunteers who hoped to cheer up their pastor found the employee dressed in a towel while Smith was in his boxers. Smith claimed that they had been making chili and hot dogs and gotten food on their clothes, but volunteers werent convinced he was telling the truth. I dont think none of us was that dumb, one volunteer told The Daily Beast. If she dropped chili on her clothes, why are you in your boxers? Was you all like, throwing chili at each other? In the audio of the December confrontation, Smith denied having sex with the employee and characterized their relationship as great friends. He admitted that they kissed after they both stopped living with their spouses. He also stated that he intends to pursue a relationship with her once their divorces are finalized. Smith and his wife, Danielle, who have three kids together, began divorce proceedings last May, according to court records. I was 14 months outside of living with Danielle and separated, Smith said in the leaked audio. At her point, she was eight months living outside and separated. When shes not married and Im not married, yeah, we hope to pursue each other, he continued. As long as she is still married, we are not going to have any type of romantic relations. At least eight employees of Venue Church quit their jobs after confronting the pastor about the allegation as a viral video surfaced online showing him kissing his love interest. As the controversy unfolded, Venue Churchs following began showing signs of damage. Some two-thirds of the roughly 150 cushioned chairs at a recent 9 a.m. service at the Chattanooga location of the church were unfilled, The Chattanooga Free Press reported. Chattanooga Campus Pastor Michael Patterson II announced in a video message played during a livestream broadcast a call for volunteers to join their dream team. A Facebook page critical of the church, called The Venue is NO Church, also published evidence showing that Venue Church is now only operating from the Chattanooga campus on Lee Highway. The church previously listed a campus in North Georgia. That location is no longer listed on the churchs website. In his apology on Sunday, Smith made it clear that after spending time with God and receiving counseling about how he has been handling his affairs, he is seeing a lot more clearly now. Through this last month in my counseling and my time with the Lord, Ive made commitments to put my focus on the Lord, my family, this church, and my health, as my top priorities, he said. And I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing through the storm and the pain. I am committed to love you and serve you better than I ever have before and I ask you for your grace and patience as we move forward together. Christian doctor challenging order banning him from saving babies' lives to have case heard at high court A High Court in the U.K. is scheduled to hear the case of a Christian doctor who has been banned from providing life-saving treatment for unborn babies. The doctor is asking the court to revoke the order by the medical regulator. On Thursday, the Royal Courts of Justice will hear the case of Dr. Dermot Kearney, a former president of the Catholic Medical Association (U.K.) who works for Britains National Health Service, said the Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting the doctor. Last May, an Interim Orders Tribunal blocked Kearney from providing emergency abortion pill reversal treatment for up to 18 months after the abortion provider MSI Reproductive Choices U.K., previously known as Marie Stopes International, filed a complaint to the General Medical Council, the Daily Mail reported. Abortion pill reversal involves administering the natural hormone progesterone to a pregnant woman who wants to urgently reverse the effects of the first abortion pill, mifepristone. The abortion provider claimed in the complaint that Dr. Kearney prescribed a treatment that has no evidence base behind it, imposing his anti-abortion beliefs on patients. However, Sue Turner, director of Physicians for Life, told The Christian Post in an earlier interview that if a pregnant woman who has taken the first of two abortion pills decides shes made a mistake and wants to keep her baby, she would have a relatively high chance of delivering a healthy baby if she was to undergo the reversal. Turner cited a U.S. study showing a 64% to 68% success rate of delivering a healthy baby after a woman has been given the natural hormone progesterone thats essential to maintaining a healthy pregnancy. CP previously reported on that study and its results here and here. MSI Reproductive Choices U.K. used the testimony of a woman, a mother in her 40s who was not identified by the Daily Mail, who had sought help from Kearney after she started a pills by post abortion, but then changed her mind. However, progesterone failed to work and she suffered a miscarriage the day after taking the abortion pill. The woman now says she felt MSI had twisted her experience with Kearney to suit its complaint, and felt pressured to criticize him. I felt scared and pressured by him (MSIs medical director Dr. Jonathan Lord) at a time I was vulnerable and ill. I feel that Marie Stopes are to blame for what has happened to me and I do not wish to be used by them in some sort of complaint against Dr. Dermot, she was quoted as saying. We have seen many women immediately regret taking the first abortion pill, the Christian Legal Centres Chief Executive, Andrea Williams, said. Dr. Kearney offers the possibility of saving the pregnancy when this happens. He should have the freedom to do it. Williams added, Abortion providers are putting women on a conveyer belt which means once they start the abortion process, they have to go through with it and are pressured to do so or left with no alternatives. Women should be properly informed, as a matter of course, that the babys death is not inevitable after the first pill is taken. In Thursday's hearing, Dr. Kearneys lawyers will argue that the general dispute about the safety and ethics of abortion pill reversal is outside the General Medical Councils remit and that the evidence against their client fails to demonstrate a real risk of impairment of fitness to practice. The Christian Legal Centre says the number of women seeking abortion pill reversal has increased after the pandemic as the government has controversially allowed abortion via telemedicine. This means that women who are under 10 weeks pregnant can currently request, receive and take these pills without any human contact other than a short telephone call, often with someone who is not medically qualified, the group says. Last November, the BBC reported that the health watchdog NICE had issued a new guidance saying women who experience bleeding in early pregnancy and have had at least one miscarriage should be treated with the hormone progesterone. At least 32 women who received APR treatment from Dr. Kearney have given birth to healthy babies, the Christian Legal Centre added. There has been a 55% success rate (live births following the administration of the medication) following the treatment which is more than double the survival rate of 20%-25% following expectant management alone (without Progesterone administration) as found in a previously published study. Appeals Court refuses to stop Biden admin. from giving Title X funds to abortion clinics A federal appeals court has refused to block a Biden administration rule that allows Title X family planning funds to go to entities that promote or provide abortions. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected an injunction request by a group of states suing the Biden administration over the new rule. The circuit panel concluded that the states suing the federal government have not demonstrated that they will be irreparably harmed without the injunction." Last October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule allowing federal funding to go to family planning clinics that referred their patients to abortion counseling. The new rule reversed an earlier measure by the Trump administration, labeled by critics as a gag rule, which prevented Title X funds from going to any entity that performs or promotes abortion as a means of family planning. In March of last year, months before the Biden administrations reversal of the 2019 Trump-era rule, 19 states sued the federal government to prevent the scrapping of the gag rule. To be sure, some States provide such funding. And many advocates would like to see more public funding. But the broader national consensus against funding elective abortion remains, stated the joint motion. Title X reflects this consensus. Since its 1970 enactment, the law has funded non-abortion family planning. All the while, it has banned the use of Title X funds in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. Led by Ohio, the motion also included the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. For his part, President Joe Biden said in a memo released soon after taking office that he believed the Trump-era rule puts "undue restrictions" on the use of federal funds and puts "womens health at risk by making it harder for women to receive complete medical information." The same memo revoked the "Mexico City Policy," a measure that barred federal funds from going to overseas nonprofits that promote or perform abortions. These excessive conditions on foreign and development assistance undermine the United States efforts to advance gender equality globally by restricting our ability to support womens health and programs that prevent and respond to gender-based violence, claimed the Biden memo. Thailand to donate COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, five others Thailands Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on February 11 approved a proposal to donate up to 3.55 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to six countries, including Vietnam. The others are Myanmar, Laos, Nepal, Kenya, and Ethiopia. A shipment of 500,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines arrive in Thailand from China in June 2021. (Photo:AFP/VNA) In response to Thailand's signalling to the World Health Organization (WHO) its readiness to donate vaccines to other nations in need via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), the WHO has permitted the country to proceed with donating to the six countries directly, said Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA. Following the approval by the CCSA, around 3.5 million doses of the vaccine will be delivered to those countries, he said. Thailand will donate 500,000 to 1 million AstraZeneca doses to Myanmar, 300,000 to Laos, 300,000 to Vietnam, 400,000 to Nepal, 550,000 to Kenya, and 1 million to Ethiopia. On February 12, Thailand logged in 16,330 new COVID-19 cases and 25 related deaths, raising the total caseload to nearly 2.58 million and death toll to over 22,400. As of February 8, more than 52 percent of some 35,500 schools across Thailand had reopened and resumed in-person classes. According to the CCSA, nearly 100 percent of the teachers have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot and 79.45 percent vaccinated twice. For the students, the figures are 95.11 percent and 71.41 percent, respectively. CVS defends policy after Christian nurse fired for refusing to prescribe contraception drugs A Christian nurse practitioner has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that CVS discriminated by not granting her a religious exemption from dispensing contraception and terminating her for refusing to do so. In response, the national drug store chain defended its policy to require nurses to perform "essential functions" of the job. The First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty legal nonprofit, wrote a letter to the EEOC on behalf of nurse Robyn Strader Tuesday. The document stated that Strader worked as a nurse practitioner at a CVS Pharmacy MinuteClinic in Keller, Texas, for 6.5 years until she was fired for refusing to prescribe contraception because doing so conflicted with her religious beliefs. Before her first day on the job, Ms. Strader asked for a religious accommodation not to prescribe contraception, and upon hiring her, CVS agreed to accommodate her religious beliefs, First Liberty Counsel Christine Pratt wrote in the letter. For the next 6.5 years, CVS accommodated Ms. Strader with no issues. On the rare occasions someone requested contraception, Ms. Strader referred them to the other nurse practitioner at her location or to another CVS MinuteClinic two miles away. Straders work experience changed dramatically on Aug. 26, 2021. That is the day CVS announced that all nurses must perform essential services related to pregnancy prevention, including contraception. Shortly after that, Straders manager informed her that CVS would no longer honor religious accommodations regarding pregnancy prevention services and that Ms. Strader had no religious accommodation on file with CVS. On September 23, 2021, Ms. Straders manager said that, if Ms. Strader did not change her beliefs about contraception, CVS would fire her on October 31, 2021, the letter adds. Ms. Straders manager repeatedly pressured Ms. Strader to change her beliefs. CVS failed to timely respond to the three letters Ms. Strader wrote requesting a religious accommodation, and on October 31, 2021, it terminated her. After firing Strader, Pratt said that CVS claimed that she never requested a religious accommodation and that accommodating her would cause CVS an undue hardship. The lawyer argues that CVS violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion. CVS discriminated against Ms. Strader on the basis of religion when it prospectively preempted all requests for religious accommodations related to contraception prescription, derided her religious beliefs and pressured her to abandon them, discontinued a six-year religious accommodation without cause, refused to consider her request for an ongoing religious accommodation, failed to engage with her about possible accommodations, and terminated her because of her religious beliefs, the letter states. Title VII declares that it shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individuals race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. I am a Christian and longtime member of a Baptist Church, Strader claimed in a discrimination charge signed Monday. I believe that all human life is created in Gods image and should be protected. For this reason, I cannot participate in facilitating an abortion or participate in facilitating contraceptive use that could prevent the implantation of an embryo, cause an abortion, or contribute to infertility. Strader accused her former manager of pressuring her to abandon her religious beliefs that motivated her steadfast opposition to contraception. Specifically, she reported that her former manager told her, you are doing this to yourself when speaking of her impending termination and took issue with her strong beliefs. In a statement to The Christian Post, CVS Executive Director of Corporate Communications Mike DeAngelis insisted that while the company couldnt comment on a specific complaint filed with EEOC, it has a well-defined process in place for employees to request and be granted a reasonable accommodation due to their religious beliefs, which in some cases can be an exemption from performing certain job functions. It is not possible, however, to grant an accommodation that exempts an employee from performing the essential functions of their job, he argued. We continue to enhance our MinuteClinic services, growing from providing urgent care to offering more holistic care. DeAngelis describes educating and treating patients regarding sexual health matters including pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infection perfection, and safer sex practices as essential job functions of our providers and nurses." DeAngelis maintained that [w]e cannot grant exemptions from these essential MinuteClinic functions. In a statement, Pratt cited Strader as an example of corporate canceling of faithful religious Americans, which she demanded must end. CVS accommodated Robyn for more than six years without any problems, Pratt said. Its bad medicine to force religious health care professionals to choose between their faith and their job, especially at a time when we need as many health care professionals as we can get. In recent weeks, other major corporations have reached settlements with religious employees after their refusals to accommodate their deeply held beliefs led to lawsuits. Last month, an Amazon delivery service provider paid $50,000 to a former Christian employee fired for refusing to work Sundays. White Evangelicals most likely to oppose pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants: poll White Evangelical Protestants are the only major religious group in the United States in which a majority are opposed to a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, according to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. PRRI released the results of a survey examining Americans attitudes on immigration policy on Thursday. The survey, conducted between Sept. 1629, 2021, asked 2,508 adults who are part of Ipsos Knowledge Panel about their support for policies related to undocumented immigrants living in the U.S." While a majority of respondents supported pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants (62%) and believe that immigrants strengthen American society (56%), only 44% viewed immigration as a critical issue. The results revealed that with the exception of white Evangelical Protestants, majorities of all religious groups support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. While just 47% of white Evangelicals supported a pathway to citizenship, majorities of all other religious groups polled expressed support for the policy. Support was highest among black Protestants (75%), followed by Hispanic Catholics (70%), religiously unaffiliated Americans (69%), other Christians (65%), white mainline Protestants (59%), non-Christians (55%) and white Catholics (54%). The survey measured approval of a pathway to citizenship at 66% among white mainline Protestants who attend church services at least once a week, and at 57% among white Catholics who attend church services weekly or more. On the other hand, white Evangelicals who attended services at least once a week were less likely than the complete sample of white Evangelicals to indicate support for a pathway to citizenship, with support measured at 45% among the former group and 47% among the latter. Additionally, white Evangelical Protestants were much less likely than members of other religious groups to believe that immigrants strengthen American society. Thirty-five percent of white Evangelicals agreed with the aforementioned statement. The only other religious groups where less than half of respondents believed that the growing number of newcomers from other countries strengthens American society were white Catholics and white Protestants. Among both groups, 46% of those surveyed pointed to immigrants as a source of societal strength. Majorities of nearly all other religious groups saw immigrants as a benefit to American society, with overwhelming majorities of the religiously unaffiliated (74%), black Protestants (69%), non-Christians (65%) and Hispanic Catholics (61%) subscribing to that belief. In addition to 53% of Evangelicals, most white Christians viewed immigration as a critical issue. Fifty-seven percent of white Catholics were more likely than their Protestant counterparts (54%) to rate the issue as a matter of high importance. Less than one-third of religiously unaffiliated Americans (32%) believed immigration constitutes an important issue. The survey also asked respondents who view immigration as a critical issue how they felt about allowing undocumented immigrants to become citizens provided they meet certain requirements and allowing immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children to gain legal resident status. Among all subgroups surveyed, support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows those who were children when they were brought to the U.S. illegally to remain in the country, was higher than support for providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants in general. It's estimated that between 11 million to 14 million people living in the U.S. either entered the country illegally or have overstayed their visas. Among those numbers are some 700,000 temporary DACA recipients, those who were younger than age 31 when it was enacted in 2012. The Americans who rate immigration as an important matter were broken down into four subgroups: White Evangelical Protestants, Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Thirty-four percent of white Evangelicals expressed support for letting illegal immigrants become citizens if they met certain requirements, and 41% of white Evangelicals indicated approval of the DACA program. The latest PRRI survey compares the responses of demographic subgroups to questions about immigration in the 2021 questionnaire to the responses they gave in previous surveys. The share of black Protestants who supported a pathway to citizenship rose from 70% to 75% from 2013 to 2021. In the same time period, support for a pathway to citizenship dropped from 74% to 70% among Hispanic Catholics, 61% to 59% among white mainline Protestants, 68% to 55% among non-Christians, 62% to 54% among white Catholics, and 56% to 47% among white Evangelicals. By contrast, support increased from 64% to 69% among the religiously unaffiliated and from 63% to 65% among other Christians. While most religious subgroups saw an increase in the share of respondents who saw immigrants as a strengthening force in American society, the percentage of white Evangelical respondents who ascribed to that belief decreased from 38% in 2011 to 35% in 2021. The share of white mainline Protestants who reported seeing immigrants as a source of strength recorded a similar drop in that same time period (48% to 46%), while white Catholics saw a much more significant decrease (56% to 46%.) PRRI attempted to single out the factors that led respondents to be more supportive of a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. The study concluded that Democrats were twice as likely as Republicans to support a path to citizenship, while Independents were 1.5 times more likely than Republicans to do so. Those who believed immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents were 2.8 times more likely than respondents who believed immigrants today are a burden on our country because they take our jobs, housing, and health care to support a pathway to citizenship. Respondents who believed immigrants strengthen American society were 2.3 times more likely than those who think immigrants threaten traditional customs and values to support a pathway to citizenship. The release of the PRRI survey comes as the U.S. continues to grapple with a surge in illegal immigration across its southwest border with Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 1,734,686 encounters with migrants at the southwest border in fiscal year 2021, more than four times the number recorded in fiscal year 2020. Three months into fiscal year 2022, CBP recorded 518,360 border crossings. Critics of the Biden administration attribute the increase in border crossings to the reversal of Trump-era policies designed to curb illegal immigration, specifically the Migrant Protection Protocols requiring migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico while their cases are adjudicated and Title 42, which allowed immigration officials to turn back most migrants because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Biden administration restarted the Migrant Protection Protocols late last year in response to a court order. California dreamin to California leavin In 2010, as a 5th grader at Sellers Elementary in Glendora, California, part of the curriculum was learning the 50 states and their capitals. As we learned them, I felt that I could remember better if I learned information about each state. I had no clue what I was in for. During my research, my eyes were opened to how different life, politics, economics, and culture were in various states. As I dug more, my desire to leave the Golden State was planted and began to grow. Now 12 years later, due to a better financial situation, I am finally leaving. To be fair, California will always have a special place in my heart. I grew up here, my immediate family is here, most of my network is here, and there are countless memories I have experienced here. I can say the climate and weather in California are second to none. The natural beauty of our national parks is truly something to behold. However, as a Christian who hates abortion with a fiery passion, I cannot bear living in a state where the governor wants to make California an abortion sanctuary. The Bible and even other religious texts explain that a sanctuary is a place of holiness. So Gavin Newsom wants to create a holy place for incredibly unholy acts to take place. When I saw the news in December, it was the cherry on top for me. I am not alone. Even for non-Christians, the Golden State has become so horrific that U-Haul literally ran out of trucks for people trying to leave. Even Snopes had to say the claim was true. Tesla, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard, Charles Schwab, and others are leaving or have already left. This once flourishing, desirable, incredible destination is now a decaying, repulsive, and horrible place. Why? Abortion policies notwithstanding, here are three reasons why people and companies have gone from California dreamin to California leavin. 1. Taxes California currently has a 13.3 percent income tax, which leads the nation. Last year, California had the highest state sales tax rate. State legislators proposed a wealth tax and raising the income tax to 16.8% in 2020. For some inexplicable reason, Californias Democrat politicians believe that when items like cigarettes and flavored nicotine products are highly taxed, people are deterred from buying them. Yet they simultaneously believe that when high taxes are applied on income and businesses, individuals and corporations will be excited, not deterred, to live and do business in California. While Californians pay an insane amount of taxes, streets are littered with obscene amounts of garbage, open needles, potholes, and other things. Sidewalks and walkways are broken and some are totally unusable. Law-abiding citizens feel unsafe just going about their day. As political firebrand Ben Shapiro shared, Its one thing to pay exorbitant taxes. Its another thing to pay exorbitant taxes and watch your city degrade into a hell hole. 2. Homelessness In 2019, near the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a homeless man went up to a random woman and poured a bucket of hot diarrhea on her. Recently, 24-year-old UCLA student Brianna Kupfer was killed during a random attack at her job by a homeless man and career criminal, Shawn Laval Smith. Around the same time, homeless man Kerry Bells randomly attacked nurse Sandra Shells as she was waiting for the bus and she later died from her injuries. These stories are a nutshell of the homelessness issue in California. Growing up, I remember seeing homeless individuals, but it used to just be relegated to places like Skid Row in Los Angeles. This is no longer the case. Even nice areas like the Hollywood Walk of Fame have homeless people sleeping and living on the sidewalks. Underpasses, street corners, in front of peoples residences the homelessness issue can be found all over California. One day, I was on a date and we had spent an incredible day together and we started to walk home. We came across a transient about half a mile from our dorms. He was screaming and completely out of his mind. But if we crossed the street, we would have to literally step over multiple homeless people sleeping on the sidewalk. I told her to hold my arm as we passed him. He simply stared at us as we passed and we had no further issues. Another time, I was working at a grocery store when a family came in and told me that there was a fully naked woman sitting outside the store. We called the police who took 30 minutes to arrive and only talked to her. In 2011, the homeless population of Los Angeles was estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000. In less than a decade, the homeless population in Los Angeles County grew to about 70,000. The homeless situation has been absolutely out of control and will only worsen. 3. Quality of life/poor policy-making Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk did an interview with The Babylon Bee. Early on, he talked about how California used to be a land of opportunity and now it is a place of overregulation, overlitigation, and overtaxation. This is very true. Californias unscientific COVID policies caused places like restaurants, barbershops, and hair salons to be shut down. Children are made to wear masks, coerced to take the COVID-19 shots, and use unnecessary hybrid learning models when the insurmountable data shows individuals ages 0-17 are incredibly safe from COVID. In education, while this issue starts in the home, 75 percent of black boys in California are illiterate. Entire grading systems and policies have been changed in the name of equity and racial disparity. In health, it is legal to be HIV-positive, have unprotected sex, and not disclose it with a sexual partner. However, if you would like to go work out at your favorite gym in Los Angeles, you must show proof of full vaccination. In conclusion, if you are thinking about moving to California, do not do it. If you are in California and think this state can be saved, you are wrong and you should immediately get out if you can. I tell my podcast audience all the time: The places people go to are desirable. The places people leave are undesirable. Why would people and businesses be leaving an awesome place by the thousands? Why are there more people leaving than people entering? Why do you think people are California Leavin instead of California Dreamin? 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 and 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 life as well as their bakery once 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 strangers one 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). Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. ALTON Do mimosas make better mosaics? Maybe, but they certainly make mosaics more fun. Its all about being in the moment. So a little mimosa in the morning just calms everything down and helps with the enjoyment, said first-time mosaic-creator Sharon Spence from University City. Theres no wrong way to make a mosaic," she said. "The process is very creative and calming. Im going to put this plant I bought in my mosaic pot and place it in my kitchen window. Spence was among the participants at Mimosas & Mosaics held Saturday at the Jacoby Arts Center in Alton. Mosaics are works of art created by using glass or tile pieces and grout to make a picture or pattern, and the art form adorns everything from cathedral ceilings to coffee tables. Those creating their own mosaic flower pots also got to partake in the popular orange juice and champagne brunch cocktail, one of which was included in the events registration fee with more available from a cash bar. St. Louis resident Aaliyah Leggs was a fan of the mimosa part of the event. It helps bring everything together and makes a feel-good kind of energy, said Leggs. She added the mosaic-creation process feels good. "Its meditative and relaxing; its like coloring and puzzling at the same time. Dawn Bailey of Granite City and her daughter, Rebecca McNeely, said they took the class primarily for the art. Im not a drinker; I just came for the fun, Bailey said. Years ago when the kids were little I did a mosaic table, and this reminds me how much fun that was. Participants got to make their creations from provided glass pieces. Local educator/artist Jenna Muscarella kept them on task and offered guidance where needed. Its great for both beginners and advanced artists, Muscarella said. You get to pick out the glass that you want, so you can go with random designs or come up with a whole new design on your own. And do the mimosas help? It helps the process a little bit, Muscarella said. It gives you that extra little bit of confidence to do something different. Depending on who you believe, mimosas were either created by a Paris, France hotel bartender in 1925 or by famed movie director Alfred Hitchcock in the 1940s. Hitchcock was instrumental in elevating the popularity of the post-breakfast beverage. And if you visit London, you can see a series of mosaics in the Leytonstone tube station near his birthplace depicting scenes from Hitchcocks movies. All around the city, state and country, the pandemic has put a strain on nursing staff. And one recent report revealed it to especially be a major problem in schools districts. Fortunately, this does not seem to be the case in Laredo. Neither the Laredo Independent School District nor the United Independent School District are facing these shortage problems. However, one district does say its nurses are constantly battling with the COVID-19 virus, which is causing some burnout on campus. I'm always concerned about the shortage of health care professionals throughout our country and especially South Texas, Executive Director Of Communications at LISD Veronica Castillon said. Thankfully, Laredo ISD is very proactive in producing health care professionals through their programs at the Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Early College High School which focuses on health science fields. This school is located in its own building at Martin High School. And, our Little Medical School after-school program for elementary school students encourages little ones to consider health science fields. They learn first aid, CPR, stitching, etc. Although UISD does not report any shortage in nursing staff at its schools, it does say many of the nurses in the school district are facing burnout due to the pandemic. We are fortunate enough to have a full (nursing staff) on our campus, however, they are getting burnt out because of COVID, said Irene Rosales, the health services director for UISD. It has been over a year, almost two years, since we have been dealing with COVID-19, and so they are having to do intakes for every person that turns out to be positive for COVID. A whole document has to be filled out. So with that comes close contact, and so everybody that has been in contact with that individual has paperwork to be done. So the nurses have to work on that the whole day, and they even go into the evening hours to 6 or 7 at night, so they are spending a lot of time just doing that and not focusing on the students that they are here for. Rosales says several conversations she has had with the nurses at the school district have demonstrated how they are exhausted of the work they do and how the pandemic has caused this strain on them. They are exhausted, and some of them miss quite a bit. And I dont blame them, as they take a wellness day because they need it in order to function, Rosales said. I have a team of four nurses, and they have to go and help whenever a nurse is out, because I dont have any substitutes. So that triggers my work over here having to be on hold so we can provide the services that they need, so it trickles down to everybody. She said many nurses during the past two years have come in contact with an infected student, and this has also caused them to be out of work. UISDs health services director says the nurses do not just have to worry about those potential infectious cases, but they also have to monitor testing done on staff and teachers who come in contact with positive cases which is more work to be done. Once a positive case is determined, then the school nurse must intake all other possibly exposed individuals and do a tracker for the cases deemed positive to see when these individuals can return back to school, according to the period of their infection. Rosales says currently the school district is trying to find a way in which the nurses can focus solely on those diagnosed to be positive in efforts to have less intake work to do that burdens the nurses. Even though nursing burnout might be a problem seen in schools because of the pandemic, Castillon does say the future of the profession looks good as many students continue to want to join the field. I'm also very grateful for the partnership between LISD and Laredo College, Castillon said. Students from the Cantu School pursuing a nursing degree are graduating from high school with an associates degree in nursing. So that means these students can earn their nursing bachelors degree and registered nurse designation in two years. Castillon says between 30-50 Cantu students have been graduating from high school with a high school diploma, and their associates degree in nursing or certifications in radiology tech, EMT and pharmacy tech annually. Rosales says the best solution to alleviate some of the burnout faced by these school health workers is to get everybody vaccinated so the effects of the virus are mitigated and infections are not severe. In UISD, she reports that 2,825 of the staff from the school have gotten one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and that 2,800 have gotten fully vaccinated, which means 89% of all the staff from the school district have been vaccinated. In terms of nurses, Rosales says four nurses have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 for religious reasons while all others have been vaccinated. However, she says all should get vaccinated in efforts to avoid any more transmissions, severe sickness or even death. I am really encouraging everybody to get vaccinated, Rosales said. Even if they had COVID after the 10 days, on the 11th day, we can vaccinate you to try to protect us and mitigate this spread of the disease as omicron is really transmissible. Rosales says she sees no end to the virus any time soon and worries that without proper vaccination rates infections could remain high and the nurses at the schools will continue to feel more burnout. This is not going away any time soon, Rosales said. China has already locked down another city while here in the United States in the eastern area they are taking away the masks, the social distancing and all of the protection. So its going to come back, and we might go back to square one. This is why she asks all people who can get a vaccine to do so in efforts to mitigate any effects of the virus or its transmission. She says UISD has several vaccine clinics almost every week where parents can take their children and staff can also attend and get their vaccines. Rosales says as the pandemic is here to stay and the school district finds ways to alleviate some of the burnout felt by school nurses due to their responsibilities. She does see another major problem looming that she also contributes to the pandemic: obesity and diabetes among school-aged children. We have a large range of diabetics now, because of the pandemic there is so much obesity, and so the number of diabetics has increased, Rosales said. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com John Elsesser has big plans for solar power in Coventry where hes been town manager since 1988. The roofs of all five schools in town are covered with panels acquired in 2015 through the states ratepayer-funded commercial solar program. There are panels on town hall and at the fire and police stations. But the panels on the schools didnt provide enough power to cover the full electric loads. So three years ago Coventry applied for more. Those panels would go at the high school on a stadium and as a solar canopy over a parking area like the kind the town already has over its police cars. Three years later, Coventry is still waiting. Not for the solar panels. Coventry hasnt even gotten that far. Theyre just waiting to be considered - as are 70 other municipalities, state owned facilities and agriculture sector operations that are eligible for the state program Coventry applied to, known as Virtual Net Metering, or VNM. Theyre all in the queue. They dont even know where. They wont tell you, Elsesser said. Net metering is a longstanding way to compensate solar owners for excess power they put into the grid during certain times of the day. Virtual net metering is a way to credit that power to structures that are not connected directly to the system itself. Coventry has to use VNM because the new panels it wants to install would credit power to a number of school buildings to pick up the slack in the solar systems they already have. VNM and the commercial program are among three solar programs in the state with caps that limit their use. For as long as these programs have been in place - in some cases 10 years - those caps have frustrated not only applicants like Coventry, but also the states solar industry, environmental advocates and many lawmakers. Some of the caps have inched up, only to tap out almost immediately. As this legislative session gets underway, a serious effort to raise or even eliminate the caps is emerging. But there is already disagreement over which program caps to alter, how they should be altered, and what, if any, other rules should be overhauled. The legislative effort comes at a confusing time for all solar programs. As of January 1, the management of some programs has shifted; all newly installed solar systems will have new compensation structures; and a brand new power storage program - designed to work best with solar programs - is just kicking off. For Coventry though, its simple - do something about the cap so they can get out of the line theyve been in for three years. In the meantime were in never-never land of what should we do next? Elsesser said. Were in a holding pattern. Which programs to change Environmental advocates have been pushing to double the existing caps on two of the programs - neither of which is the one Coventry needs. They also want to remove certain size limitations on solar arrays. But Rep. David Arconti, D-Danbury, co-chair of the energy and technology committee and the point-person on the committees priorities, wants to raise the cap on only one of the programs. Its also not the one Coventry needs. Arconti is focused on a program that would bring solar to residential units that cant have it on their own roofs, by allowing them to get credit virtually from nearby large systems. This arrangement goes by several names: community solar, shared solar. Connecticut calls it shared clean energy facilities or SCEF (pronounced skeff). While single family homes can participate, it is targeted to multi-family and rental units, and is uniquely suited to low income residents. I think the community solar, SCEF program is the best one to try to tackle given the limited time were going to have, he said, referring to the extremely short session. I do plan on trying to raise a committee bill around SCEF increasing the caps, allowing credits to roll over. A rollover means that any unused portion of the program could move into subsequent years. The adoption of SCEF has been a legislative battle royale since it was first proposed in 2014 as a pilot project. Many legislators argued there were multiple community solar programs around the country to use as models, so there was no need for a pilot. It took until 2018 to authorize a full, but capped, program. Since then the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has levied fines against the utilities for moving too slowly on getting it running. Bottom line: there is only one community solar program operating in the state. Its in Bloomfield and actually was part of the original pilot. Arconti said his attention to SCEF is to help environmental justice communities reap the benefits of clean energy projects. I think the SCEF program checks off a lot of those boxes and youd get the biggest bang for the buck. Advocates would welcome any bang at this point and SCEF is one of the two they are targeting for the higher caps. SCEF is an equity tool, said Mark Scully, executive director of Peoples Action for Clean Energy, PACE, the environmental advocacy group helping to lead the effort on solar initiatives. We should be willing to invest a little bit in equity. Right? PACE is also pushing to raise the cap on the commercial solar program, now in its 10th year. Data collected over the duration show that only about one-third of the projects that have applied for funding in what is essentially a reverse auction - low prices win - have gotten it. We miss tons of it, said Tim Schneider of Earthlight Solar. You get a project, you get a customer interested; you do all your interconnection paperwork and you submit for an incentive. Its like once a year you get to bid into this and then you miss the bid. The small business youre working with gets screwed because he cant do solar. And it goes on to the next year, and to the next year. Its a screwed up system. He and many others perpetually point to the Massachusetts solar program, which provides for much larger program capacity in terms of how much power they can produce and is not limited to one application period a year. Data in PURAs first-ever Clean and Renewable Energy Report, now in draft form, show Massachusetts with nearly twice the installed solar as Connecticut as of the end of last year. And it projects that Connecticut will lag the region even further five years from now. Size matters Schneider and advocates are also pushing to change the current size rules for commercial solar systems. Currently they cant be larger than the power needed for the building theyre on. In the case of something like a huge warehouse with a ton of roof space but small power needs, much, if not most of the roof could go unused. Scully is also pushing for some way to incentivize the conversion of parking areas into solar fields by putting panels over them - the same kind of solar canopies Coventry is hoping to use more of. These projects face fewer siting challenges and can be deployed quickly and with much less risk, Scully said of any solar project placed on already-developed space, whether its a rooftop or a parking lot. Anticipating pushback among legislators that such programs would cost ratepayers more, he told the annual pre-session environmental summit last month that an average ratepayer would face about 15 cents more per month. For community solar, the cost would be an additional two cents a month. That calculation didnt factor in indirect social benefits such as lower health care costs that can result from cleaner air. These costs pale in comparison with the many benefits of commercial and community solar, he told the gathering. We estimate that Connecticut could site seven gigawatts of commercial solar on 8,400 canopies, essentially parking lots, across the state generating 37% of our current electricity needs. Nothing for VNM So far neither the committee nor environmental advocates are making the case to do something about the VNM situation. Right now the number of applicants on the waiting list equals all the projects that have come through in its entire existence, according to data provided in the PURA draft report. The Connecticut Council of Municipalities and the Connecticut Council of Small Towns have taken up the VNM cause, arguing that its part of towns larger efforts to reduce energy costs. From the towns standpoint, virtual net meterings a win-win because they can save thousands of dollars each year in energy costs and, at the same time, theyre promoting the use of clean, renewable energy. So theres a huge benefit to the towns and their communities, said Betsy Gara, executive director of COST. Donna Hamzy Carroccia, advocacy manager at CCM, said, while clearly theres demand, she doesnt think change will come unless the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection makes it a priority. Its just really frustrating when our towns are looking to help support the identified goals of the state, with regard to solar and renewables, she said. I think where we fall short is - is it really a priority, or is it not a priority? The bigger picture Hamzy Carroccia wont get much of an answer from DEEPs commissioner, Katie Dykes, who said she wasnt going to comment on changes to the solar caps until she knew specifically what the energy committee was proposing. But she did offer that SCEF provides a more direct flow that benefits directly back to low income customers. The utilities, which administer many of these programs and whose operations have to accommodate and technically support them, are similarly silent. Eversource said it would be premature to comment without specific language and Avangrid did not respond at all. But Marissa Gillett, PURAs chairman, who has spent her nearly three years on the job setting up regulatory structures aimed at modernizing Connecticuts electric grid through programs like these, is much less reticent. Are the caps limiting? she asked. I think theres obvious anecdotal evidence that they are. What she hopes shes been able to do so far is update programs and set new ones in motion that are flexible enough to handle changes in components - like the caps. She also believes the programs are coordinated to achieve the big picture goals - more reliability on the grid and reasonable costs while addressing climate change. One example is getting more carbon-free solar power in place. To that end, she said shes often told legislators they can tell her the results they want and PURA can design a program around that. There are lots of ways that they can send us a signal without being as prescriptive as a hardline cap, she said. All this comes as Connecticut is pivoting on several initiatives that address the causes of climate change through the power sector. On January 1, the management of the wildly popular residential solar program shifted from the Green Bank - which created it and ran it for 10 years - to the utilities. It is now called the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program. It also transitioned to a new financial model. It used to only offer net metering, compensating solar owners for power put back into the grid through a simple math process - what a home uses minus what it sells - paid at the retail rate of electricity. Now it - along with all the other solar programs - mainly uses whats known as a tariff system. A tariff is a highly confusing term to describe the fixed price solar owners are credited for the power they sell to the grid for a specific period of time - in this case - 20 years. Also on January 1, the Green Bank implemented a new power storage program. Ideally solar and storage should dovetail, and the two should work together with grid operations to bolster reliability by dispatching or storing excess power for use when its needed. To do that, you need advanced metering infrastructure - AMI - also known as smart meters. For the most part, Connecticut doesnt have them. Avangrid is moving ahead with them in its territory. Eversource hasnt yet, though under orders from Gillett at PURA, it is devising plans for them. Getting creative A broader question bubbling up is whether the piecemeal changes, the impending fight over solar caps and the states struggle to meet its climate change benchmarks beg for a coordinated overhaul of Connecticuts strategies for renewable and clean energy. And to really update solar programs, does the state need the kind of creativity that some - including Gillett - think has been missing? I do think were suffering from a lack of creativity, just generally, and its been kind of hard to draw that out, she said. But she also said, as did others, that while having smart meters in place first is ideal, the state should not stop programs to wait for them. The systems are reasonably future-proofed and have value now even absent pairing with the smart meters, she said, while noting that rate design and programs like electric vehicle charging will be better with smart meters in place. Would they be better with AMI? Absolutely, she said. Gillett, Commissioner Dykes and others point to federal infrastructure money as a potential way to pay for smart meters - which are expensive - without overburdening ratepayers. This technology is foundational to a modernized grid, Dykes said. Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, who has served on the energy and technology committee for a decade, is all for trying to get the feds to pay for smart meter deployment, but he pointed out its not the silver bullet for addressing Connecticuts lag on clean energy - an area in which the state once led the nation. The state is now losing ground on its mandates for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and risks missing Gov. Ned Lamonts goal of a carbon-free electric grid by 2040. All this while anticipating an increased need for electricity as more residents transition to electricity for home heating and electric vehicles. Talk about falling behind. You know, its not simply a matter of bringing the grid up to the 21st century - its that we should be preparing for the future, Steinberg said. I think youve got to move on all fronts because were so far behind on all fronts. He said the grid modernization work Gillett has done should become the blueprint for devising a clean energy strategy for the state. It lays out the mapshes put out things that could keep us going for 20 years, he said. There are already a few creative ideas being floated. PACEs Scully pointed to those empty commercial rooftops and suggested plastering them with solar. The owner would sell all of the power and buy back only what he needs. It could be shared solar, Scully said. We need to just push on all fronts, said Ken Gillingham, who specializes in environmental and energy economics at Yale and was the senior economist for energy and the environment at the White House Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration. He thinks solar canopies tend to be an expensive option, but if thats whats available - go for it. One way forward is to say, okay, if you add in storage, along with the solar youre exempt from the cap, he said. Another concept is to allow development of microgrids on unused roof space, with storage that can be dispatched to the grid during peak times or when the grid would otherwise need to run dirtier power, such as on very cold days. Thats, to me, a very promising way forward, he said. Climate change solutions arent either-or, weve got to do all of it, said Dykes, as she often does. And you dont wait to see how one solution works to then start trying on the next. The state needs multiple programs running at once and the ability to tweak and adjust them if there are problems or new technologies. For John Elsesser, back in Coventry, the reason for getting that VNM queue moving is that it will reduce costs and help everyone in his town. I dont know why its so complicated, he said. We understand macroeconomics, and were just a small player. All we can do is try to say we think its the right thing to do and sometimes we should do the right thing just because its the right thing. That undergraduate degree or graduate degree you havent completed is looking for you. Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Boards (THECB)Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program to provide critical support to students returning to TAMIU to complete their degree, or students starting a graduate degree. This is the second round of funding that TAMIU receives to support students through the THECBs Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program. Scheiby Gonzalez Fisher, TAMIU interim associate vice president for Student Success, said this program has already provided 75 students with the opportunity to get back on track to graduate with a degree and succeed in the workforce. The program targets both displaced Texas workers who need to reskill or upskill to move quickly back into the workforce, including opportunities for students seeking graduate degrees and students who have previously stopped out of higher education institutions without completing a post-secondary credential (Bachelors degree), Gonzalez Fisher said. Students must not have enrolled in an accredited postsecondary institution in the previous long academic semester. We know there are many former TAMIU students and students seeking graduate degrees that could be helped by this program, and were encouraging them reach out and explore this option with us, she explained. Through this program, students can receive a scholarship between $500 and $2,500 per semester/term towards tuition and fees, or cost of attendance. Criteria for consideration include that students must be Texas Residents, eligible for In-State Tuition, have filed a FAFSA application, affirm they were affected by COVID-19 and enroll at least part-time, Gonzalez Fisher noted, Funding is available for Summer and Fall 2022 without consideration of financial need. Eligible and interested students can apply at go.tamiu.edu/reskill. For additional information, contact Gonzalez Fisher at outreach@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.2700. University information is also available from the Universitys website at tamiu.edu and on social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Fort Hood, TX (76544) Today A few isolated thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 83F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 69F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Florida, US (34429) Today Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. In five years Canada's population grew 1.8 million, mostly due to immigration. Canada fastest growing country in G7 thanks to immigration In five years Canada's population grew 1.8 million, mostly due to immigration. Canada fastest growing country in G7 thanks to immigration In five years Canada's population grew 1.8 million, mostly due to immigration. Canada fastest growing country in G7 thanks to immigration In five years Canada's population grew 1.8 million, mostly due to immigration. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadas population growth over the the past half decade has been largely driven by immigration, according to 2021 census data. Statistics Canada captured the Canadian population on May 11, 2021, five years after its previous census in 2016. The newly-released findings reveal Canada grew about twice as fast as other G7 countries, which include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, U.K. and U.S. Even in 2020 when the pandemic halted Canadas population growth, it continued to be the fastest-growing in the G7. The main reason for the slowdown was the border restrictions Canada put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. Canada is now home to nearly 37 million people. Immigration, not fertility, drove Canadas population growth. Four out of five of the 1.8 million people added to the population were either temporary residents or immigrants with permanent status. The remaining population growth was due to natural increase (the difference between births subtracted by deaths). Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Growth within Canada Immigration continues to be the main driver of population growth for most provinces and territories. The population of the Maritimes grew at a faster pace than the Prairies for the first time since the 1940s. The population of Yukon grew at the fastest pace nationally from 2016 to 2021, while Prince Edward Island and British Columbia had the highest growth rates among the provinces, mostly due to immigration. Newfoundland and Labrador was the only province to see its population decline. Urban centres grew faster than rural areas because immigrants are far more likely to settle in cities. There were more than 6.6 million Canadians living in rural areas in 2021, a 0.4% growth from five years earlier. By comparison, urban areas grew 6.3% in the same time frame. Canada had 41 cities of more than 100,000 people in 2021, up from 35 in 2016. The six new additions include: Fredericton, New Brunswick; Drummondville, Quebec; Red Deer, Alberta; Kamloops, B.C.; Chilliwack, B.C.; and Nanaimo, B.C. Resort destinations such as Squamish, B.C.; Canmore, Alberta; as well as Wasaga Beach and Collingwood in Ontario, are among the fastest growing communities in Canada. Immigration driving population growth Immigration has largely driven population growth since the 1990s. Much like other G7 countries, the Canadian fertility rate is not enough to grow the population. There have been more people moving to Canada than there have been leaving Canada. The result of little emigration and a low fertility rate means population growth has been fuelled by immigration. Canadas immigration targets have risen annually since 2015. More census data on immigration, place of birth, and citizenship will be available in October, 2022. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Wilkes Barre, PA (18701) Today Some early morning breaks in the overcast, otherwise cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 73F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Beachwood, OH (44122) Today Rain. High 66F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 48F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was challenged by dissenting Canadian truckers who were branded as outlaws due to their protest. Emergency powers allow him to heap $100K fines on truckers voicing their dissent of vaccine mandates, similar to what Joe Biden did. Behind the scene, police were taking gas cans and woke CEOs of funding apps who chose to shut down access to donations. Truckers Continue Protests Over Vaccine Mandates The protestors gathered at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario, which is a major trade route. Trudeau's regime's mandate regarding the COVID-19 vaccine as opposed to trying to stop crossing the Canada-US border, The Express reports. Indications point out the Biden administration is trying to prevent spillover, even asking the Canadian PM to stop the convoy from entering the US. Doug Ford, tha Ontario Premier, charged the protest is now an occupation. Truckers have gotten tired of the imposition of their government. Fear of growing support has prompted the administration to heap a $100,000 to send the protesters home, an equivalent to 60,000, and get a 12-month jail term for expressing legitimate protest. Ford added that it's not part of a protest to get food, fuel, and goods over the border, while many call these actions suppression. Also, the police are provided the tools and powers to deal with the situation and restore order. PM Justin Trudeau was questioned whether the army would be called in to stop the dissenting Canadian truckers forcefully, but he said it is not an option yet. He added it might be an eventuality. Read Also: Joe Biden Abandons Britain in the North Ireland Protocol, Threatens Similar Appeasement in Favor of the EU Posting on social media, the prime minister claimed the protest action affects jobs, trade, the economy, and communities. He said they should be stopped. Today, I shared a clear message to those taking part in illegal blockades and occupations: Weve heard you. But there are consequences for breaking the law, and those consequences are becoming increasingly severe. Its time to go home to your communities. pic.twitter.com/o6RyoxD46O Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 12, 2022 Opinions have noted that slamming these working-class truckers that they are harming the economy after almost two years of lockdowns imposed that caused damage to many businesses. Citizens are tired of these mandates and exercising their rights but have called out vaccine mandates as undemocratic, questioning pandemic policies. Former speechwriter of Canadian Prime Minister Michael Taube stated in The Telegraph that the imposition of mandatory vaccination tramples individual rights. He added that several things are incorrect, and the PM has other evident motives. It's a mistake to target truckers joining and expressing sentiments against the government, which is anti-people. Many of them are vaccinated and aware of their function in delivering goods and services vital to society. They are protesting against the Trudeau government's alleged authoritarianism, which has not considered the effect of these mandates. Taube stressed the mandate to vaccinate has a problem because it targets the trucking industry unfairly, and there should be more studies before doing that, as with other sectors. Trudeau Pressures Truckers Since the start of the trucker's protest, which has been uneventful except for claims by those sympathetic to the government, overall control is still with the truckers who were leveraged threats as they neared the Canada-US border. But Ford and other Canadian officials are adamant, saying that the majority are sympathetic to the government. Instead, a hardline for the vaccine mandate is still in place. Justin Trudeau is not backing down against the peacefully dissenting Canadian truckers while Joe Biden hopes none spills over. The Canadian government expects the $100,000 fine scares off the truckers. Related Article: Canada Anti-Vaccine Protest Consisting of Truckers in Protest Has Caused Chaos in Ottawa, and the Police Reported @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Friday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Ronald Hertzog a State College man was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury "for possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon." According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the indictment alleged Hertzog, 59, "possessed multiple rounds of ammunition in various calibers and two rifle receiver lowers as a previously convicted felon" on Feb. 3. The State College Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, according to the release. The case will be prosecuted "as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program" by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel. "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," the release said of the program. If Hertzog is convicted, the maximum sentencing is 10 years of imprisonment, the release said.. MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE Penn State reports 5th known sex offense of spring semester Penn State reported its fifth known sex offense of the spring semester on Saturday, accordin 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. A former Trump adviser doubled down on the alleged intention of Russia to overrun the bloc due to problems weakening the bloc. Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton stated that the Russian leader Vladimir was committed to returning to the former USSR and regaining control over former Soviet block countries as NATO would be hard-pressed to contain a Russian advance. He brought to attention unknown factors even though tough guy announcements for Joe Biden, not all EU members are inclined towards charges of an invasion. Putin Wants To Restore Territories, Former Trump Adviser Says Ex-President Donald Trump appointed Bolton in 2018, but he left after 16 months of service. He added that French President Emmanuel Macron wanted re-election when he spoke with Russian Leader Vladimir Putin. The Ukraine standoff is tense due to claims by the White House of an invasion that the Kremlin denied, according to the Express UK. He was the resource person of the organized by the Foreign Press Association, and his opening was that Putin is intent on returning Russian power to the USSR. He added that one of the goals of Putin's regime was to restore the territories which were lost after the Cold War. But the Bolton said that the Kremlin wants to drive apart NATO and its allies, rendering NATO weak means Russia gets what it wants, cited Eagles Vine. President Biden has a problem getting the bloc countries to work together with nothing panning out. Washington has yet to announce it will act militarily if Russian rolls over the Ukraine border, as Bolton reveals. Read Also: Ex-Trump Security Adviser Says Taliban Could Get Nukes if Pakistan Falls to Them that Could Endanger the West Even Washington is in the dark if sanctions can affect Russia or if the bloc will apply it. Putin Shrugs Off US Sanctions One of these sanctions that the US administration says will not allow US banks to have any transactions from Ruble to American money. This penalty would affect all transactions worldwide with foreign banks in ruble-dollar exchanges. It is a measure that might disadvantage US banking negatively. The administration did not think it out as the large European, or Asian banks will be dealing with either nation's banks. One comment by Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that should the European Union ignore the American imposition on dealing with ruble transactions. It only makes the White House look ineffective, and Putin has trounced the US leader again. Chancellor Scholz said the US administration said nothing and should stop being vague. Germany is one of the countries not listening to fear-mongering Joe Biden. Bolton doubts whether NATO can ever be unified under the Biden administration as sanctions spoken of are only words, which Putin is shrugging off the US and steps ahead too, per Independent. He added that Macron made it clear that the EU should be talking to Putin, not the US, and he wants Paris to have a more significant role. Bolton stated if the bloc wants to defend itself against Russia, it would be hard to do. When the French president met Putin at the Kremlin, he has assured no invasion of Ukraine as opposed to what the US says. Bolton adds that Vladimir Putin controls the gas and can buckle Brussels knee, as Joe Biden is still grasping for a reprieve. The Russian leader has prepared and can squeeze anytime. Related Article: ITV Host Peston Interviews Former US Security Chief Who Said Putin Is Straining the Western Alliance Due to Weak US Leadership @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis Corsicana, TX (75110) Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially early in the day. High 76F. SSE winds shifting to N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Sony owns the rights to around 900 Marvel Comics characters and has spent around 900 years trying to figure out how to make money out of the ones not called "Spider-Man." In 2020, they announced that the official name of their universe is SPUMC (Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters) -- and the SPUMC is finally rising, baby! (They later changed it to "Sony's Spider-Man Universe," but we know their heart's not in that name.) After the success of the two Venom movies, Sony felt emboldened to go forward with a bunch more Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man in them. For instance, it was just announced that Russell Crowe will appear in a movie about Kraven the Hunter, which sounds like GREAT casting, since Crowe has a similar build and manic energy as the villain who once defeated Spider-Man and celebrated by eating fistfuls of spiders. Marvel Comics, Radar286/Wikimedia Commons Kraven wears slightly more stylish pants, though. Thing is, Crowe isn't playing Kraven. Aaron Taylor-Johnson from Kick-Ass is. But, given that in the comics, Kraven has a whole bunch of psycho kids who follow his steps, it's possible Taylor-Johnson is actually playing one of the Kraven Jrs. and Crowe the real deal. Another confirmed SPUMC project is a live-action show based on Cindy "Silk" Moon, a classmate of Peter Parker who was bitten by the same radioactive spider and gained different spider-related powers. Instead of trying to make money wrestling "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Cindy ends up getting locked up inside a room for 7 years to protect her from a family of interdimensional vampires who go around the multiverse killing Spider-People. Cindy has actually appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe already as a classmate of Peter and a fellow decathlon nerd ... 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 Former President Donald Trump allegedly flushed down records in the White House in a toilet bowl is absurd. Calling the House Oversight Committee looking into the silly claims as comical, he added that it must be fake news. The controversy that has gone to the toilet is the documents contained in 15 boxes. Flushing Records is Fake News, Trump Claims The Democrats are trying to make a case for the documents that the National Archives and Records Administration a month ago from his Resort in Florida, the Express UK reported. Since the end of his term, the incident of January 6 has been blamed on and everything else thrown at him. The ex-president issued a statement, who has been criticizing Joe Biden for all the errors his administration made, even paving the way for the red wave on his own. The story about the flushing down the toilet is fake news that attempts to divert the public from the flailing Biden administration. He added that it was invented by a reporter so that his book made up of untruths could sell. Everything is going wrong for the Democrats who want everyone to look the other way from the mistakes of president Joe Biden. The Unselect Committee of political spinners is seeing how bad they want something to blame for it, instead of good governance, noted NBC News. Read Also: Joe Biden Might Be the Least Performing US President in Modern Times, Recent Polls Result Reveals Despite what the other camp claims, Donald Trump mentioned that all interaction actions were respectful and collaborative when the National Archives got all the documents. This included letters and other published or written records during Trump's term. Trump's Library To Display Documents of His Achievements Choice documents will be placed in the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library planned for the public to see, said the ex-president. He added that the people have glimpses of what his administration has done for America. The alleged toilet flushing of records called it untrue, and they are trying to make another failed narrative with NARA. He alleged the fake news media is stirring another issue. Furthermore, Trump liked working with NARA, which will help keep the good respect president's legacy alive. He still holds more support, like the recent rally in Conroe, Texas that was heralded by Nigel Farage as a wake-up call for Joe Biden. The New York Times alleged that the National Archives was concerned that National Archives was not keen on the ex-president taking out classified material; they are now talking to the Justice Department. It was pointed out that the papers weren't given under duress, and there was no conflict, which was not what the Fake News Media reported. Another fact is it was routine and nothing out of the ordinary, and there was no legal obligation to surrender the material. One example is Hillary Clinton, who deleted relevant emails that should have been surrendered to the government. Furthermore, Bill Clinton would not surrender audio tapes the archive requested, even a court case would fail to get them. Trump added that it included other stuff in past administrations. The Biden government is trying to smear ex-President Donald Trump with a not working narrative. Related Article: Joe Biden Shellacked by Approval Rating Like Donald Trump's Prompting Indicators of a Red Wave Coming in Midterms Sweeping Democrats @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Contributed / Monroe Volunteer Fire Department MONROE Firefighters quelled an active fire at the offices of Aquarion Water Company that broke out early Sunday morning, officials said. Crews from the Monroe and Stepney Fire Departments were alerted to the incident around 3 a.m. on Sunday, officials said. Upon entry to Aquarions offices, at 200 Monroe Turnpike, firefighters found smoke throughout much of the 27,000 square foot building. Watch what they do, not what they say. Thanks to the reporting of the Connecticut Posts team of journalists, many of us have had an opportunity to learn what Mayor Ganim has been saying regarding the Dec. 12, 2021, untimely deaths of two Black women, Lauren-Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls. We have also learned what he is saying about his police department. We have also had the opportunity to watch what he does. We can reach one conclusion: what he says and what he does dont add up. According to press reports, there are a few things that we know. And there are many things that we dont know, as well. We know that on Friday, Jan. 21, the family of Smith-Fields, through their attorney, filed a notice of intention to sue the city in connection with her death, and the unacceptable investigation process utilized by the Bridgeport Police Department. That means that the city was on notice that it would be a defendant in a lawsuit against it. We also know that on Jan. 30, despite being on notice of a potential legal claim against the city, Mayor Ganim sprinted to the TV cameras and lobbed a grenade aimed at our own police department. He did this despite knowing that an investigation was in progress. In her Feb. 1 article, Sandra Diamond Fox quotes the mayor as saying, he is extremely disappointed with the leadership of the Bridgeport Police Department and finds actions taken up to this point unacceptable. It is unfortunate that our mayor did not offer any details, or even acknowledge actions already taken by his police personnel prior to his media splash. But it is even more unfortunate that police personnel cannot answer questions posed by the media or by ordinary citizens due to Mayor Ganims media policy that imposes a gag order on municipal employees, including the chief of police, Rebecca Garcia, in an acting role. In his Feb. 4, article Connecticut Post reporter Brian Lockhart states that what has been missing in all of this is Garcias side of the story. He continues by reminding us that Garcia like other department heads under Ganim, is not allowed to speak to the press without permission. And why is she not allowed to speak to the press? Consistent with Mayor Ganims need to control every aspect of his administration, he has implemented a media policy that requires all department heads to call the mayors communication director, before responding to any media inquiries. The media policy includes a script for the department head or supervisor to follow once a member of the press approaches a municipal employee. This is a gag order dressed up as a municipal policy. While Mayor Ganim is not the only chief executive to adhere to such a restrictive media policy, he does happen to be the mayor who keeps members of boards and commissions in their positions long after their terms have expired. According to the city website, two members of the Civil Service Commission, Melva Falberg and Richard P. Rodgers, are serving terms that ended in 2017 and 2010, respectively. Every single member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, according to the city website, is serving an expired term, and the chair of the commission, Melville Riley, is serving as acting chair. In addition, the mayor also has a well-established practice of keeping department heads in acting positions, rather than empowered as the actual head of the department. Just think back to the acting personnel director of civil service, David Dunn, and of course, acting Police Chief AJ Perez, both of whom distinguished themselves with terms of imprisonment for federal convictions in connection with their service to the city. And of course, the website also states that our fire chief, Lance Edwards, is also serving in an acting position. The department of public facilities is also led by an acting director, Craig Nadrizny. A fair question for the mayor is: What are you afraid of? Does the truth frighten you so much that you must control every detail of information given to the residents of the city? Why do you need to regulate and control every detail of a department heads speech? Why cant the chief be available to respond to inquiries from the press? Must everyone who works for you surrender their right to communicate with the public, while distancing themselves from accountability? While gag orders have become a common practice in government, they are frowned upon by the courts. These gag orders are referred to as prior restraint of speech. They are intended to prevent speech even before any words have been spoken. Although public employees rarely challenge these gag orders in court, when they are challenged, the employees have prevailed on many occasions. Most of us would agree that keeping a muzzle on the chief of police or any other department head is not a policy that enhances the public good or supports the publics right to know. It is the antithesis of transparency. Mayor Ganim, lift the gag order. Carmen L. Lopez is a retired Superior Court judge. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Dalton, GA (30720) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Indicators of human trafficking Indicators of human trafficking can include the following: An individual with an inability to produce identification or other documents because they are in a third partys possession and control. An individual who is unable to freely contact friends or family. An individual who is coached on what to say to law enforcement or other authority figures. An individual who lacks knowledge or awareness as to what happens to the money they earn/are supposed to earn. An individual who lacks knowledge or awareness as to how much money they earn. An individual who is unable to move or travel freely. Garnishment of a salary to pay off a fee imposed by their employer. Juveniles engaged in commercial sex. Frequent visits to the emergency department. United States President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of serious and massive consequences if Moscow pushes to invade Ukraine during an hour-long phone call that attempted to de-escalate the threat of an impending war in Eastern Europe. According to the White House, Biden told his Russian counterpart that the US and its allies are prepared to "impose swift and severe cost" if the Kremlin attacks Kyiv. The discussion between the two leaders came on Saturday after US intelligence disclosed info that Russia could invade Ukraine before Feb. 20, the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, per US News report. Putin told Biden that Washington had failed to consider Russia's primary concerns and that Moscow had received no "substantial answer" on key issues such as NATO's expansion and the deployment of offensive forces in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. Biden-Putin Call Makes No Breakthrough But Diplomatic Talks Might Continue One senior White House, who requested anonymity, the official described the call between the two presidents as "professional and substantive." However, as per Reuters, it resulted in "no fundamental change" in the situation, and it remains uncertain whether Putin made a final decision to take military actions on Ukraine. Russia denies allegations of the US and the West that it plots to invade Ukraine, but it has assembled more than 100,000 troops around the Ukraine border. It also had conducted military exercises with neighboring Belarus, sending thousands of troops and hardware. With the continued tensions, US officials think they have few days left to prevent a worst-case scenario in Ukraine. While the US and NATO have no plans to send troops to Ukraine, the massive sanctions they would impose on Russia once it launches an invasion could affect the global market and might lead to a power struggle in Europe. In a statement, the White House said President Biden "remains prepared to engage in diplomacy" and in "full coordination" with its allies. It added that the US is "equally prepared for other scenarios. Russia announced that it had optimized its diplomatic staff numbers in Ukraine as its embassy and consulates continue to function amid the "provocations" by Kyiv or others. Read Also: Biden Urges Americans in Ukraine To Evacuate as Russia Refuses To Ease Troop Build-Up Ukrainians Unite Against Invasion Threat Meanwhile, thousands of Ukrainians marched through the center of Kyiv to show unity against fears of a Russian invasion, chanting "Glory to Ukraine" while waving Ukrainian flags. The demonstrators also carried banners with messages of "Ukrainians will resist," and "Invaders must die." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy downplayed the possibilities of war and repelled excessive news on a looming war in his country. He noted that the information is "just provoking panic" and not helpful for Ukraine. "I can't agree or disagree with what hasn't happened yet. So far, there is no full-scale war in Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. The US and other Western nations recently urged their citizens in Ukraine to flee from the country immediately. Israel, Portugal, and Belgium have also joined the call, according to BBC. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Shook Up Britons When Russian Warships Transit the Irish Coast Where Vulnerable Submarine Cables Are Located @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. No sooner did we learn Camilla would become Queen Consort on the accession of Prince Charles than the predictable survey followed: Who would have made a better Queen Camilla or Princess Diana? Quite aside from the fact that Dianas death in 1997 renders the question rather pointless, its never a fair contest when one of the candidates can only be viewed in hindsight. Nostalgia is a powerful tool in boosting approval ratings. No surprises, then, that the majority voted for Diana. Like many famous people who suffer untimely death, the Princess of Wales is enshrined in our memories as a golden, lissom woman, fated never to get wrinkles and thick ankles. Along with her glamour, her empathy and ability to connect with others was admired around the world. She was a wonderful mother and could be a captivating companion. No sooner did we learn Camilla would become Queen Consort on the accession of Prince Charles than the predictable survey followed: Who would have made a better Queen Camilla or Princess Diana? Pictured: Camilla this week in London However, she was also a vulnerable and insecure woman whose opinions on people and issues were frequently influenced by how they impacted her personally. She found the strictures and formalities of Royal life oppressive. She was hugely sensitive to perceived slights and not averse to playing games with her own power and patronage. She was buffeted from one direction to the next like the famous Candle in the Wind. The role of Queen requires a very different skill set. The job description demands stoicism and an ability, figuratively speaking, to wear a mask. It is never about the individual. Feelings are allowed but only to a point. The strength of our current Queen is her belief that the Crown is more important than anything personal to her, a conviction that has given her strength in many difficult times. But theres no denying its a tough calling. Quite aside from the fact that Dianas death in 1997 renders the question rather pointless, its never a fair contest when one of the candidates can only be viewed in hindsight. Nostalgia is a powerful tool in boosting approval ratings. Pictured: Diana on a visit to Hong Kong There is every sign that the Duchess of Cambridge will at some point be up to the task. But in the nearer future, the Duchess of Cornwall has demonstrated she understands the brief exceptionally well. So she should make a successful Queen Consort and arguably a more reliable one than Diana would have. Camilla wont be ruler but her steadiness and constancy, when the time comes, will help her husband enormously in his long-awaited role. That, and her famously fabulous sense of humour. I emerge after Covid blinking furious I was one of the last cohort to be stuck inside for ten days before Boris announced plans to end mandatory isolation later this month. There I was, a spectral figure behind the bedroom door rather than at the banquet, neither fully present in the house nor entirely absent. So I was intrigued to see, when I emerged blinking into the light, how our home looked almost exactly the way it had when I tucked myself away. There were no signs of active life over the intervening days. Our bath potions (OK, my bath potions) were in exactly the same position. The vase of tulips was still on the kitchen table (empty of water and bare of petals but still there nonetheless). The Seville oranges I bought just before Covid struck were rotting away contentedly in the fruit bowl. The vegetables in the fridge had neither been eaten nor thrown out. It might have been understandable had I lived alone. But I dont. I do, though, live with someone who, left to his own devices, happily avoids any kind of participation in domestic life which means when Im not around, nothing gets done. Or nothing useful. He has, for example, managed to remain ignorant of the fact that, for the past 12 years, using our tumble dryer has involved emptying a water container. But nobody told me, was his plaintive excuse for the laundry I discovered tangled in a damp bundle. I may have turned into a ghost for ten days but he seems to inhabit a parallel universe. Adele finds her voice for women Just when Ive made up my mind about Adele, she throws a curve ball. I was glued to the Brits last week and worked myself into a right old lather when I watched Adele receive her third award of the night. Her unremarkable performance was far less thrilling than Sam Fenders classic rock or Little Simzs high-voltage rap act. Just when Ive made up my mind about Adele, she throws a curve ball. I was glued to the Brits last week and worked myself into a right old lather when I watched Adele receive her third award of the night It certainly made me wonder quite what part of her show wasnt ready for the Las Vegas tenancy she cancelled just days before it was due to open. Since her fans are content for her just to stand there and sing, she doesnt exactly need complex pyrotechnics or the elaborate dance routines of Beyonce or Taylor Swift. Its just her and her amazing voice. Call me cynical but I doubt she would have flown in from LA to perform at the Brit Awards if she hadnt been assured shed sweep the board. Her shocked, gushing acceptance seemed unbearably ham. But then, just as Id written her off, Adele spoke out against the daft decision to abandon separate male and female awards and voiced the (now politically incorrect) view that she actually liked being a woman. That flung the noisy trans community into a predictable rage. How annoying for them for Adele whose talons, scimitar eyebrows, concrete lipliner and statuesque build might ordinarily have endeared her to the trans community to let the side down. And how wonderful for the rest of us that she resisted crowd-pleasing platitudes and said what few dare say in these gender-neutral times. but bungling Liz takes us backwards Isnt it rotten that our Foreign Secretary has such a poor grip on her ministerial responsibilities that shes ignorant of the difference between the Baltic and the Black Sea? Accused of being like the deaf talking to the blind by her Russian counterpart after an icy meeting in Moscow, Liz Truss seems unfamiliar with the most basic negotiating skills. I would have loved to be a Liz Truss fan. Shes a female in the Cabinet with a big job, which sadly is still rare. But I fear her bungled trip to Russia may turn out to be one giant step back for womankind. Will Ukraine add to Sir Len's war gallery? Ukrainian-born Sir Len Blavatnik, one of the richest men in Britain, has donated a huge sum to the Imperial War Museum to document the art of war. Its rare to hear him speak politics but Id love to know his view on the troops massing next to his birthplace for a conflict which may soon provide new material for a gallery hes funding. It appeared to be the end of Team Carrie. As Boris fought to save his premiership, it was reported one of her key allies, Henry Newman, had been shunted out of No 10. In a 'mutually agreed decision with the Prime Minister', Newman would be returning to work with his old boss Michael Gove. But many in Westminster were concerned it was a smokescreen. As one Minister told me: 'Henry's based in Marsham Street now. That's about a thousand yards down the road. Carrie Johnson speaking at the annual LGBT+ pride reception hosted in partnership with Stonewall at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last year 'He can still wander round to the flat to see Carrie any time he wants. Nothing's really changed.' Actually, it has. Newman's move and the infighting attending it has highlighted a conflict at the heart of Johnson's Government. Should it pursue the liberal, One Nation agenda favoured by his influential wife and her allies? Or should it return to the true-blue Tory messages that saw Boris break the Brexit logjam and deliver Election triumph? For a number of Red Wall Tory MPs, Newman's return to Gove's side at the department delivering the Levelling Up agenda has made the toxic situation inside Government worse. One Red Waller told me: 'A big part of our problem is all this green stuff [about climate change]. 'And that's being pushed by Newman and the inner-London clique around Carrie. They just don't understand Red Wall voters. 'And until that group goes, this whole thing is going to keep spiralling.' A No 10 insider attests to Newman's influence: 'He was responsible for pushing the trans rights agenda through Carrie. 'And he's also blown up efforts to find ways of getting round the European Convention on Human Rights.' Friends of Newman and the Prime Minister's wife forcefully reject reports that they have been running what their enemies describe as 'a shadow government'. As one told me: 'The stuff Henry gets blamed for is crackers. He didn't really work on Brexit in No 10 or [the drive to get carbon emissions to] net zero. 'On LGBT [rights] he didn't come up with the idea of banning LGBT conversion therapy it had been Government policy since 2018. 'Now he's being told he's bad for the Red Wall. Honestly, it's mad and totally unfair.' A Minister who has worked closely with Newman added: 'The idea there is this cohesive group operating like some old-school communist cell in the heart of government, all with their own rigid line and agenda, is a fantasy. Boris Johnson with Carrie, pictured last October, after he delivered his speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester 'Henry isn't this great Svengali. He's very talented and able, but he's one adviser. It's the PM and Michael who are setting the Levelling Up agenda. And the course is set.' Perhaps it is. But the stories about the way in which Carrie Johnson and her inner circle have had a destabilising impact on Boris's official political operation are legion. And they pre-date entering No 10. 'A lot of it goes back to the leadership election,' one senior campaign adviser told me, 'and that night Boris and Carrie had their row, and the police were called. Some of Boris's main advisers told him she was causing him too many problems, and he had to cut her loose. She never forgave them for that.' Carrie Johnson's allies don't dispute there were tensions on the campaign trail. But they say they were a reflection of the jealousy members of the City Hall team that worked with Boris as London Mayor had at their influence being questioned. They say the strain also reflected Carrie's concern Boris had become too dependent on the advice of older, socially conservative men with a narrow outlook. It's this influence Mrs Johnson was supposedly attempting to counterbalance with the establishment of a team of young, diverse advisers inside No 10. But it immediately created friction. One Downing Street staffer told me: 'She'd say "I'm with The Gays up in the flat. Can you come up?"' It was meant as an affectionate nickname, but I'm told it made a number of aides uncomfortable. Carrie attending the annual LGBT+ pride reception last October. One Downing Street staffer told Dan Hodges she would say: 'I'm with The Gays up in the flat. Can you come up?' Something that made people even more uncomfortable was the manner in which Team Carrie quickly began to clash with other senior staffers over policy, political strategy and communications. What alarmed Ministers and advisers was how frequently Boris would be dragged into an internal briefing war. 'Team Carrie would tell the PM they knew from friendly journalists who was planting stories against him,' one Minister told me, 'and sometimes they'd be right. But other times they'd be wrong. And occasionally it would be deliberately wrong to stir up divisions and settle scores.' This Reservoir Dogs-style face-off exploded over a report that Dilyn Boris and Carrie's rescue dog had run amok at Chequers, causing more than 1,000 damage. Incredibly, Boris was told a member of his family was responsible for the briefing. 'It was a nightmare,' one of the PM's ministerial allies told me. 'His press team were telling people Carrie was pointing the finger at someone in his family. Carrie was saying the press team had briefed it themselves, and were blaming his family to cover it up. The whole thing was farcical.' But it was differences over policy that caused the deepest divisions. When Dan Rosenfield was appointed Downing Street chief of staff, he was co-opted into a move by members of Team Carrie to replace Boris's policy chief Munira Mirza with Newman. A plan that backfired in comical fashion. 'Rosenfield wasn't properly across who the key players in No 10 were,' a Minister told me. 'So he went up to Dougie Smith [a senior Boris adviser] and said, "I'm thinking of advising the PM to move Munira and get Henry into the policy unit. What do you think?" And Dougie replied, "Dan, I think you should know Munira is my wife."' Ten days ago Mirza resigned, citing Boris's criticism of Sir Keir Starmer for his failure to prosecute Jimmy Savile. Boris being kissed by Carrie at the 2019 Conservative Party Conference in Manchester But the issues went much deeper. Issues Boris's 'shadow whipping operation' has been frantically trying to resolve. Last week, MPs were being told Team Carrie was being disbanded. Others were even briefed about a plan for Carrie to move out of No 10 and into another grace-and-favour building. All of which wouldn't so much represent a shuffling of the deckchairs on the Titanic, as hurling them at the iceberg in the hope it will go away. Henry Newman. Team Carrie. Carrie herself. They are handy scapegoats. Yes, the claim issued last week by her spokeswoman that she 'has no role in government' is false. But it's not her government. Part of the problem is that Carrie Johnson and her allies are trapped in an Influence Loop. If they take an interest in an issue, Ministers and their aides assume they are successfully selling that issue to Boris. In turn, they respond by driving it up the agenda of their department. At which point perceptions of Team Carrie's influence are enhanced. And myth and reality merge. Another problem is Boris's personality. Ask any Minister and you will hear how they walk away from every meeting convinced he is backing their agenda. And when he changes course as he does they seek someone to blame. Boris and Carrie shared a moment after he delivered his keynote speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester last year Someone who is a softer target than their own boss. A green agenda. A pro-trans agenda. It's convenient to point the finger at the Prime Minister's wife or her friends for foisting woke metropolitanism upon them. But those who recall Boris sporting his pink stetson at London Pride, or still do daily battle with his labyrinth of cycle lanes, knows those issues are dear to his heart. Which is why those MPs face a dilemma. Reports of the death of Team Carrie may have been exaggerated. But even if they have not, a disbandment would not change the fundamentals. If the Tory Party wants an end to the net-zero drive or to engineer a rethink on trans rights as it battles to shore up its Red Wall, fine. But it's going to have to stop scapegoating Carrie Johnson and her allies and muster the courage to stand up to the Prime Minister himself. Is the NHS primarily there to treat us when we are ill or to socially engineer Britain into a fairer society, asks Ross Clark (pictured) Who could argue with an extra 12 billion a year for the NHS to catch up with operations and other treatments following the Covid pandemic? We have a record six million people who need treatment, 300,000 of whom have been waiting for more than a year. Clearing this backlog has been the Government's justification for the 1.25 per cent rise in National Insurance contributions, due to take effect in April. Yes, of course the NHS needs money and the healthcare system has suffered a huge blow from the pandemic. But can we be sure these extra billions will be spent on frontline services or will a fat slice be diverted into fashionable causes? Sadly, a trawl through the jobs that the NHS is advertising this week gives little confidence that the extra money will be spent wisely and rekindles fears of the scale of waste in our National Health Service. A matron for inclusion, but no mention of bed sores Is the NHS primarily there to treat us when we are ill or to socially engineer Britain into a fairer society? Diversity has become a whole industry within the health service, with its practitioners earning half as much again as the average nurse. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is advertising for a Workforce, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Mental Health, based in Hove, East Sussex. The bumf reads: 'We are looking for a Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Lead to join our team, supporting our work to put people at the heart of everything we do. This post plays a pivotal role in the Trust, ensuring diversity and inclusion is a core part of how we recruit, develop and deploy our workforce.' The salary is between 47,126 and 52,219. By contrast, the average nurse's pay before the pandemic, as calculated by the Royal College of Nursing, was 33,384. Diversity has become a whole industry within the health service, with its practitioners earning half as much again as the average nurse. (File image) A matron used to be a revered figure someone who would breathe fear into junior nurses and doctors alike with demanding, no-nonsense standards as to how wards should be run. Now, it seems, the job is as likely to be ensuring staff meet diversity quotas. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is advertising for a Matron for Well Being, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The job, which commands a salary of 47,126 to 52,219, is described as 'an exciting opportunity of a corporate Matron role to Lead on Staff Well Being and Equality'. Nothing about eliminating bed sores or indeed anything about looking after patients. Can you depathologise gender diversity? Gender dysphoria where people experience a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity has been a long-recognised condition. Happily the NHS has, for decades, been able to offer help to people who experience such feelings. But the latest initiative by Devon Partnership NHS Trust reads less as a job for a trained doctor than one as someone fresh from a gender studies degree at university. Their Consultant in Gender Healthcare, who will command a salary of between 84,559 and 114,003, will be expected to help to 'depathologise gender diversity'. The advert states: 'The Service accepts gender diversity as one facet of human experience and recognises that gender diverse people often experience difficulty in gaining recognition and the respect of others, including from some healthcare practitioners. We seek to help them overcome exclusion and discrimination. We value them and recognise the contribution that they make to society.' Apparently, according to the advert, 'gender-diverse' people often have healthcare needs specific to them, some of which 'may result from internalised transphobia and minority stress'. All very fashionable but perhaps not the best appointment to help to try to clear that backlog of six million operations and other urgent treatments. You might be struggling to get an appointment with your GP, but you might have better luck getting a consultation with the Engagement Manager which Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group seeks to appoint on a salary of 40,057 to 45,839 Purveyor of corporate gobbledegook on 100k Still waiting for a hip operation? I'm not sure I would look to the Director of NHS at NHS England and NHS Improvement for help. The new appointment, on a salary of 100,000, will apparently be 'a dynamic individual who will lead NHS Horizons, accelerate the delivery of large-scale transformational change and develop a cadre of transformational leaders across the health and care system'. The post holder, it goes on to say, 'will lead the design and delivery of support interventions for national priority programmes and needs to have the commercial and organisational experience to ensure that the team delivers high quality support to all its clients and achieves its income goals'. I am sure that this kind of stuff goes down very well at conferences but, on balance, I think I would rather have a GP, or three nurses, for the same money. Employing patients to help with treatments Time was when doctors were expected to complete long years of training before taking up their posts. Even now, if you wanted treatment for, say, a kidney stone, you would expect to be treated by a skilled urologist not by someone who had been employed chiefly because they could empathise with you on the grounds that they, too, had suffered from a kidney stone. But things seem to work differently in mental health. Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is advertising for an Advanced Lived Experience Development Lead, on a salary of 40,057 to 45,839, the chief qualification for which appears to be that the applicant must have suffered emotional difficulties. The bumf states: 'We are looking for someone with lived experience of complex emotional difficulties, a core mental health profession, an interest in leading on Knowledge and Understanding Framework (KUF) training for us, and wanting to learn about and train, or be training or already trained, in the delivery of evidence-based psychological therapies and approaches.' Engage with this 45k listening consultant You might be struggling to get an appointment with your GP, but you might have better luck getting a consultation with the Engagement Manager which Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group seeks to appoint on a salary of 40,057 to 45,839. The job seems to be to listen to patients and the public something you might hope NHS managers were doing anyway. The advert states: 'This role is for a strategic engagement specialist who has a track record of delivering best practice and innovative engagement activities. 'The post holder will have experience of planning and delivering high quality resident involvement, including consultations across complex and politically sensitive environments.' The party's over for illegal parties. So said Westminster Council to its residents in Central London. In an email sent out in January last year, it said: 'Rule-breakers have driven a rise in illegal gatherings and pop-up nightclubs across the city, ignoring essential public health guidance and putting local communities at risk.' The council described a recent bust where people were found 'drinking, smoking and partying' with a 'DJ set-up' where the DJ was fined 10,000 and their equipment confiscated while revellers were made to pay 200 each. Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street earlier this week. To an FOI request that queried the 'total cost of alcohol supplied to No 10 since January 1, 2021', a reply two weeks ago said 'we do not hold recorded information in scope of your specific request' However, some Westminster residents clearly felt they were exempt. The day after the email, on January 14, a Mr B Johnson, of 10 Downing Prosecco Street, gave a leaving speech for two colleagues during a boozy get-together. Similarly, a 'DJ setup' was playing there on the night before Prince Philip's funeral. Such disrespect didn't deter Tory-controlled Westminster Council from scaring the living daylights out of less special residents on a regular basis. In another email, it told how 29 people had been found 'in clear violation of lockdown measures and public health guidance'. They were given 800 fixed penalties by the police. All of which is to say that the Partygate Plod would do well speaking to independently minded official Nicholas Howard who, in October 2021, when answering a Freedom of Information Act request about how much the PM's Office had spent on booze, said: 'No receptions were held at which alcohol was served in 2020.' A separate FOI request queried the 'total cost of alcohol supplied to No 10 since January 1, 2021'. Howard replied two weeks ago: 'We do not hold recorded information in scope of your specific request.' Bodes well for the police's 50 questionnaires being sent out to party attendees Sources at last week's Brit Awards said Therese Coffey (pictured) introduced herself to fellow revellers as the 'Twerk and Pensions Minister' Cabinet karaoke fan Therese Coffey notoriously seen murdering a hit from Dirty Dancing the night before her Work & Pensions department scrapped the Universal Credit uplift is now throwing shapes on the dancefloor. Sources at last week's Brit Awards tell me Coffey introduced herself to fellow revellers as the 'Twerk and Pensions Minister'. Gulp. Why Lord Sugar wont fire himself Absentee Lord (Alan) Sugar is taking a 'leave of absence' from the House of Lords to tend to his overseas interests, I can reveal. 'Being a member of the Lords is one of the best achievements in my life,' said the 74-year-old peer whose busy TV and business career hasn't allowed him to vote since 2017. He last spoke in the second chamber in 2018 and has never asked a written question. Controversial 'leave of absence' rules allow peers to maintain their titles, as well as access to parliamentary facilities and stationery, and the freedom to bring in up to five guests while not being able to speak or vote, and not having to declare outside interests. Absentee Lord (Alan) Sugar, pictured, is taking a 'leave of absence' from the House of Lords to tend to his overseas interests It also means they fall out of tough new transparency rules that from January have required peers to declare how much they are paid. Why not just carry on not speaking or voting as normal, I asked the sweet lord. Sugar said he was completely unaware of the transparency rule change when he absented himself even further from his legislative duties. He will be working abroad until May, when he comes back to Blighty and 'will return to the House'. Asked why he doesn't just fire himself, the star of the BBC's The Apprentice replied: 'I don't want to and will NEVER resign my place in the House of Lords.' Such a question of the non-elected absent peer is apparently 'belligerent'. As the military forces of a modern Russian dictator menacingly encircle Ukraine, they stir chilling memories from the past of his predecessors such as Joseph Stalin in this scruffy little town of 12,000 people that sits near a new border with Crimea. For it is filled with exiled families who know from bitter experience the brutal reality of Kremlin rule after suffering repeated waves of ethnic cleansing over the past century first under the Soviet Communists, then recently under Vladimir Putin. Typical is a taxi driver called Ildar. His grandmother was deported to the Urals almost a century ago, then his father put in a cattle wagon by Stalin's goons and sent to central Asia on a 20-day rail journey that only one in five people survived. It was only with the collapse of the Soviet Union that, along with about 250,000 other Tatars, Ildar returned to Crimea. But then they watched in horror as Putin followed in Stalin's footsteps with his illegal seizure of Crimea eight years ago. Ildar joined protests against Moscow's annexation but was forced to flee with his wife and two children, abandoning his home and business to escape over the newly-imposed border. Crimea has long held significance as a naval base and Putin's invasion in 2014 has led to the harassment, detention, disappearance and killing of Tatars who opposed his actions. Eighty years ago, Stalin brutally expelled 200,000 Crimean Tatars. Today, with Putin's troops massing, their descendants say this time they will fight to the death. Today, he lives among 5,000 Crimean Tatars in the town of Novooleksiivka so close in geography yet so far for him in reality from Russian-controlled Crimea. He fears fresh confrontation with Moscow amid talk of another invasion. 'We have nowhere left to run so we'll have to fight,' says Ildar. 'Russia is a terrorist country ruled by people who don't value human life.' As we sit in a cafe, he tells me his family's story: His wealthy grandmother targeted by the Communists when they collectivised farms; his uncle dying on that horrific train journey after Crimea's Tatars were rounded up on Stalin's orders; and his father's shock when the survivors were dumped in empty fields in Uzbekistan. Yet this terrible tale is far from unique in this town and given the tragic history of the Crimean Tatar people, treated with such cruelty by Russia's rulers over three centuries, it is no wonder they look with alarm at the actions of Putin, the latest Kremlin empire-builder. These people were among leading opponents of Putin's theft of Crimea, the chunk of land that dangles below Ukraine where Florence Nightingale worked in the 1850s when Britain fought the Russian Empire for control of the Ottoman Empire. Crimea has long held significance as a naval base and Putin's invasion in 2014 has led to the harassment, detention, disappearance and killing of Tatars who opposed his actions. Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured last Monday, has more than 100,000 troops on the Ukraine border Novooleksiivka the only place in Ukraine with a school teaching lessons in Crimean Tatar lies in a coastal region some analysts suspect Putin is targeting to strengthen his grip on the peninsula and key strategic stretches of sea. The testimony of Adile Medzhitova, 75, drives home the deep fears of this Muslim minority subjected to waves of ethnic cleansing that date back to the initial Russian annexation in 1783 of their independent state under Catherine the Great. Adile's father, a teacher, fought as a partisan against the Germans when the Nazis invaded Ukraine during the Second World War, marrying her mother after his first wife was thrown into a well and young son killed in retaliation for his activities. Yet after Russia repelled Hitler, Stalin deported 200,000 Crimean Tatars to Central Asia over a few days in May 1944, claiming they were Nazi collaborators even all those serving in the Red Army or who had joined the resistance. 'The soldiers came early one morning. They were called 'traitors' and 'collaborators' even those like my father, heroes fighting against Germany,' says Adile. Adile's father (pictured laying at the bottom left in white trousers and a dark t-shirt), a teacher, fought as a partisan against the Germans when the Nazis invaded Ukraine during the Second World War, marrying her mother after his first wife was thrown into a well and young son killed in retaliation for his activities. Adile's parents found themselves 1,200 miles from home in a forest yet were fortunate to escape the fate of two of her uncles, sent to Siberia as intellectuals and never seen again. Pictured: Adile Medzhitova (top right) with her mother (bottom right) and father (bottom left) and other relatives Some Tatars did back the Nazis in hope of kicking out the hated Communists yet many more fought against them. Some historians think Stalin's motivation was not revenge but part of his plan to start a fight with Turkey to reclaim land lost in the First World War, which led him to fear that Tatars as Turkic people of Islamic faith might side with Turkey. Families were given as little as 15 minutes to pack and permitted to take few belongings, if any, in one of the 20th century's most savage acts of ethnic cleansing. It was declared a genocide by Kiev's parliament seven years ago. The majority of deportees were women, children and old people with many suffering hunger, thirst, cold, overcrowding and diseases that spread rapidly in the packed cattle trucks. Stalin's soldiers were reported to have killed those unable to walk and then refused to bury them. Ildar, the taxi driver, says he was 12 when his father told him about the events to explain why they had come to be living in Uzbekistan. 'The soldiers came at night and ordered them into cattle wagons, 100 at a time,' he recalls. 'Only about 20 people reached the destination alive. The journey lasted 20 days. They were given one barrel of water and some fish, then they did not stop nor get any other food.' It is estimated almost half the deportees died en route or in the first year of exile. Adile's parents found themselves 1,200 miles from home in a forest yet were fortunate to escape the fate of two of her uncles, sent to Siberia as intellectuals and never seen again. 'My mother always cried telling me about it,' she said. 'It looked like a concentration camp with long wooden barracks. Soldiers with dogs threw hay on the floor and told them to make it into their beds.' The couple's first child, like many Tatar babies born in such barren conditions, died in infancy. Adile arrived three years after deportation her birthplace listed in official documents as 'the tenth kilometre' since there was no existing town. Then her father suffered a horrendous head injury while cutting timber that left him with mental difficulties. Later, after the family were allowed to move to Uzbekistan, he worked in a cotton factory. 'My father was an educated man but he had to do manual labour. The local population did not want us there we all dreamed of returning to Crimea.' Adile remembers one day in 1953 when people were made to gather in a stadium to mourn Stalin's death. 'Everyone was crying it was only later we learned the original order to deport us had been signed by Stalin,' she said. A decade later Adile helped her father, along with other exiled Crimean Tatars, collect signatures for a letter to the Soviet leadership begging to return to their homeland. 'Everyone was very afraid of the KGB because if they caught us, we could go to prison.' As a result, in 1968 the local KGB gave the family 24 hours to leave the area but they remained barred from Crimea, unable to work without the correct documents and ending up sleeping rough at rail stations. Her father died in 1986 after working as a guard on a collective farm, writing Tatar poetry and pining for his Crimean homeland. The year after his death, a small group of Tatar activists staged a series of protests in Moscow's Red Square, demanding an end to their exile. Among them was Edem, then 30, who told me they held banners emblazoned with slogans such as 'Return Crimea to Crimean Tatars' while confronted by passers-by shouting that they were 'traitors to the Soviet Union'. Despite this being the time of Mikhail Gorbachev's 'perestroika' reforms, the KGB tried to break up the protests; some demonstrators were sent to psychiatric hospitals. 'They'd drag us off, fly us out of Moscow, patrol the streets with dogs,' said Edem. Yet the numbers swelled and copycat protests took off, leading to the pledge of a meeting with Soviet president Andrei Gromyko. Crimean Tatars deported in 1944 were accused of being 'Nazi collaborators' The testimony of Adile Medzhitova, 75, drives home the deep fears of this Muslim minority subjected to waves of ethnic cleansing that date back to the initial Russian annexation in 1783 of their independent state under Catherine the Great. Over the following decade, hundreds of thousands of Tatars flocked back to Crimea among them Edem, a car mechanic, and his two brothers. 'It felt so good, like a homecoming,' he says. Yet those returning home faced hostility. 'People had been brainwashed by Russian propaganda and didn't realise our ancestors had been on Crimean land since the beginning.' Then this man who once faced down the KGB starts to weep gently as he tells me he cannot visit the graves of his brothers in Crimea and speaks of his fear that Russian troops might soon be seen on the streets of Novooleksiivka. Edem says: 'If the Russians keep pushing forward into Ukraine, I would have no choice but to take a gun in my hands. We cannot allow them to take more of our lands.' And so the agony of the Crimean Tatars continues their lives disrupted and devastated by Russia's repeated atrocities against them. For her part, Adile Medzhitova, says that despite Putin's war-mongering, she does not bear a grudge towards Russian people. 'It's not their fault they live under a bad government. I've seen how they have miserable lives. 'For them, it is still like Soviet times you can't speak freely there.' Speaking in her three-room whitewashed house where she raised two daughters with her late husband, she tells me she is scared Russia might seize her adopted home town. 'I am afraid to say my worst fears out loud. It would be so terrible that I can't even talk about it.' Such fears seem justified. Russian security forces last week carried out fresh searches of Tatar homes in several parts of Crimea, which led to four people being detained for suspected terrorism. Habibula Lumanov, a father of six who runs a cafe in Novooleksiivka, knows many who stayed in Crimea and were put in prison, so felt unable to return even for his mother's funeral. Usein Tohlu, the town's imam, is equally forthright. 'We'd all like to see Putin in a coffin,' he says. 'The Russian state is evil. It is the enemy of Tatar people.' 'They don't need a reason in Russia to put a person in prison,' he said. 'Anyone who disagrees with them can be called a terrorist they come to your home and say they found weapons, drugs or forbidden documents.' The 52-year-old says that when Russian troops invaded Crimea the Tatars wanted to fight back but were not supplied with weapons by Ukrainian forces. 'Now we've discussed it a lot if anything happens we'll send our families to a safe place but we'll stay to fight.' His own father was deported to Uzbekistan before finally returning to Crimea. Now he says: 'My oldest daughter is 17 and I fear she must go through the cycle again.' Usein Tohlu, the town's imam, is equally forthright. 'We'd all like to see Putin in a coffin,' he says. 'The Russian state is evil. It is the enemy of Tatar people.' He joined volunteers in Novooleksiivka assisting 30,000 Tatars who fled Crimea after annexation. Their leaders still demand that the Russian-held peninsular is reunified with Ukraine which has triggered retaliation including a ban on their representative assembly as an 'extremist' body. Like so many other Crimean Tatars whose families have been benighted pawns of Moscow strongmen down the years, thousands more now find themselves trapped on the frontline of a geo-political struggle. This time it is one that pits Putin against the West. A man was slammed for branding his girlfriend's chosen birthday gift as 'nonsense' and refusing to buy it for her. The 30-year-old, who is American but lives in Europe, took to Reddit to ask if he was an 'a*****e' for telling his girlfriend of six years he wouldn't buy her the 188 set of knives she wanted, despite having the money, because he thought it was 'unreasonable' as she only cooks as a 'hobby'. He continued: 'She said "ok", but was quiet the whole evening. When I asked her what happened she told me I shouldn't ask her what she wants if I don't want to take it in consideration. The 30-year-old, who is American but lives in Europe, took to Reddit to ask if he was an 'a*****e' for telling his girlfriend of six years he wouldn't buy her the 188 set of knives she wanted, despite having the money, because he thought it was 'unreasonable' He started the thread by saying it is 'always a problem' to get her something for her birthday, so after asking her what she would like, she chose a nice set of Japanese knives, priced at $254 (188) 'I think it's a bit childish, she gave me one suggestion and I said no. It shouldn't be such a big deal.' He added she had bought him a holiday to Turkey for his last birthday. The post was met with hundreds of comments, with almost everyone voting that he was the 'a*****e' in this situation. One posted: 'You're the a**hole big time. You asked, she answered - you don't get to decide if it's 'legitimate'. It's her hobby! 'If she was into bird watching would you scoff at buying decent binoculars? 'As it happens, $250 is a really good price for a hobbyist set. Not a great set, just a decent set. You know nothing about cooking knives, based on the fact you think that's expensive for knives.' Many made note of the fact he was given a trip to Turkey for his birthday, and struggled to see how he couldn't notice that to be enough of a reason to buy her the Japanese knives Others said that he shouldn't ask for what she would like if he doesn't actually want to consider what she wants. One wrote: 'I'd be pretty upset if my boyfriend spoke about me this way. 'It's so... subtly condescending it makes me so uncomfortable. You're the a**hole only because you literally made her feel bad for suggesting you get her something she really wants. 'You could've politely turned down the suggestion without being an a*****e.' Others said that he shouldn't ask for what she would like if he doesn't actually want to consider what she wants Another said his girlfriend deserves better: 'This dude is such an a*****e,' he said, 'She got him a whole a** trip to Turkey and he didn't want to get her a decent set of knives that aren't even that expensive? And belittled her hobby on top of it?' A different poster added: 'You're the a**hole. Asks gf what she wants, "money doesn't matter", is told what she wants, tells the gf her choice sucks... what? 'No, original poster. You suck. Why even ask what they want if you're just gonna crap on what they have to say. 'Trip to Turkey aside, most significant others are just happy to give a gift that they know their partner will enjoy, as silly a gift as it may be. 'Buy your girl the darn knives. It's sad that money still isn't a problem for you, and yet you still refuse your partner their happiness because YOU think it's a silly choice.' There were hundreds of comments from those who enjoy the higher-end of kitchen knives themselves, actually noting that the price of the ones she chose were not bad at all for professional ones In a later edit made to the original post, the man said he bought her a trip to Italy, as well as agreeing to get the knives. Willibehappyoneday thought that this trip to Italy is a 'selfish gift'. 'You're the a**hole. Is nobody going to mention the fact he got her a trip to Italy meaning he is going with her... unless it was just for her which I doubt. 'So it's actually a present to himself as well. Whilst the knife would only be hers. So even Italy itself is a selfish gift in my opinion. What a loser.' A woman who felt like her life was passing her by while living alone throughout lockdown has revealed how she now travels the world while working thanks to a fully remote job. Kendra Okereke, 29, who lives in Los Angeles, works 43 hours a week as a full-time talent producer in addition to hosting a podcast and creating travel content for social media. However she does it all from locations like Mexico, Ireland and Denmark after deciding to quit her partially office based job in favor of one that offers complete flexibility, allowing her to log in from anywhere in the world for as long as she likes. Kendra spends around five to 14 days at each destination, but there is no time limit if she feels that she's getting her money's worth. In 2021, she had a stint in Mexico in May, an eight-day stay in London in November and 12 days traveling around Denmark, Finland and Estonia for Christmas. She has just returned home from nine days in Ireland. Kendra Okereke, 29, who lives in Los Angeles, revealed how she is able to travel the world while working full-time. Pictured: Kendra in Tulum, Mexico Kendra said she decided to get a fully remote job after lockdown influenced her decision to priorities travel. Pictured: Kendra in Copenhagen, Denmark Kendra said Americans don't get many vacation days and there's a fear of missing something important at work when you take time off. Pictured: Kendra in Estonia She said anyone hoping to live a similar lifestyle needs plenty of commitment and careful planning as you will be out of your comfort zone and unexpected issues such as problems with internet connectivity can arise. Kendra said: 'Traveling is a priority for me at this juncture in my life. I recently left my job of over three years for a new opportunity because I'd like the life I'm living to reflect my current priorities. 'My previous employer had us doing a hybrid work model where we do three days in the office and two days at home. Because traveling is such a big part of my heart, I wasn't super keen on the idea of going back into the office. I wanted a job that was fully remote so that I can work from anywhere. 'I like the freedom it grants me and I love the idea of carrying my creativity out of the place I know and into the world. It was hard leaving a job that shaped me so much, but I'm excited for this new venture and I'm positive it will be worth it. 'I felt like I was watching my life pass me by while we were in lockdown. It was so hard for me because I live alone. 'I'm an incredibly extroverted person and I love to be around people, so going through a global pandemic completely alone was not ideal in any sense.' Kendra revealed that she wakes up early to work on her podcast and spends her lunch break working on TikTok. Pictured: Kendra in Tulum, Mexico Kendra said travelling has helped to diversify her mind and therefore improved her job performance. Pictured: Kendra in Helsinki, Finland Once lockdown lifted, Kendra set about going on trips she had already planned in her head. She said this way of living also allows her to travel within the 10 days of annual leave usually given to US employees. She continued: 'So when the opportunity presented itself for remote work, I jumped on it. You're telling me I can work from anywhere as long as I keep company hours and can attend the occasional Zoom call? Sign me up.' Kendra saves money while traveling by living in hostels and always brings a portable charging bank with her. 'The best investment I ever made was in a good portable charger. It saved my life while I was camping in the desert for five days in Mongolia,' Kendra said. 'I was able to not only charge all my devices (cell phone, iPod, computer), but the devices of two other people as well. An outlet converter is also a must, as well as an outlet splitter and multi-USB port. This allows me to have multiple devices plugged in at once. Kendra said a good portable charger has been the best investment that she's made since travelling. Pictured: Kendra in London 'I always make sure my phone is updated with the most recent OS and that my personal hotspot is set up and ready to go at a moment's notice. I also like the idea of having multiples of the same charger in case one gives out or you happen to be working next to a cute guy at a cafe and he's forgotten his charger.' Kendra always does her research to make sure hostels have co-working spaces or other places for her to work. Otherwise she plumps for a quiet private room. Just like in a regular work day, Kendra makes sure her 'work from anywhere' days are tightly schedules. She said: 'A typical day for me usually starts with emails and meetings in the first half of the morning. The second half is spent doing outreach to find people to feature in the videos we're producing. 'Once lunch hits, I usually take 30 min to eat and then 30 min to make a TikTok video. After lunch, I continue doing outreach and check in with the team I'm working with to see what else we need to solidify before a shoot. Kendra said she researches hostels ahead of her trip to ensure they have the facilities she needs for working. Pictured: Kendra in Copenhagen, Denmark Kendra admitted that it's difficult to save while travelling because she often buys memorabilia. Pictured: Kendra in Ireland 'I also host a podcast called The Rom-Com Room so I'll wake up early to record for an episode of that for an hour one day a week. In the evenings, I'll either make another TikTok video or go explore the city I'm in. 'I actually think traveling has improved my working ability. I love people. I love being around people and learning all the intricacies of a person. Working in casting and with talent, you have to be a people person. 'By travelling, I am able to engage, learn and hear stories from a variety of people who have vastly different beliefs, opinions and identities. 'The more diverse the people are that you get to know, the more diverse your mind becomes and the better you are at engaging with others who are different to you. So I really think traveling has made me better equipped to perform my job well.' Kendra is also currently working with Hostelworld, which has found an overwhelming demand among employees for businesses to adopt 'Work From Anywhere' (WFA) policies, while calling the standard practice of 'Work From Home' (WFH) outdated. A survey conducted by Hostelworld found 57 per cent of people would like to work from another country as much as they want each year, while worker happiness would double with WFA policies. Jody Jordan, Chief People Officer at Hostelworld, says: 'Younger people feel particularly disconnected and lonely after spending two years working from home. 'They want to explore, connect, meet new people, and still do the work they love and advance in their career. 57 per cent of our customers say they have worked whilst travelling, so it's important that as employers we adapt to changing times to attract young talent. 'We're proposing a definition for 'WFA' as we want to highlight that flexible working can be done in a mix of locations, not just at home. Remote workers say they're three times more creative when not WFH, so the impact WFA could have on our future workforce's productivity could be significant.' US Secretary of State Antony Binken met with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea in Hawaii to discuss the threat of the recent weapons development and series of missile testings of North Korea. Blinken discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-Yong on the recent missile launchings of Pyongyang that threaten the stabilization of security in the indo-pacific region. Before talking to Blinken, as per ABC News, Hayashi and Chung had a separate bilateral meeting wherein Japan's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the importance of collaborating with the United States in responding to North Korea and to achieve regional stability. Several experts pointed out that the continued weapons test by North Korea, despite prohibitions from the United Nations Security Council, intends to pressure the administration of US President Joe Biden to resume the stalled nuclear negotiations to help ease Pyongyang's economy battered by the Covid-19 pandemic and US-led sanctions. North Korea has been granted open-ended dialogue by Biden's administration, but the nation's nuclear program has not been significantly reduced based on recent reports. North Korea's recent missile launches indicate progress in its weapons development program announced by leader Kim Jong Un last year. In a previous test, Pyongyang launched a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of hitting Guam. According to military analysts, North Korea seems to temporarily stop its weapons tests but they believe that it will resume and will dramatically increase after the Beijing Winter Olympics. Read Also: Biden Warns Putin of 'Swift And Severe" Consequences If Russia Attacks Ukraine; Moscow Still Open For Diplomacy Three Countries Working Closely for Security in the Region The series of missile testings raised concerns from Japan and South Korea, the Associated Press reported. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, said last month that the tests violate UN Security Council resolutions and urged Pyongyang to stop its actions that provoke "tensions and pressure". In January, Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had their first one-on-one meeting that established cooperation between the two countries to work closely on the North Korean development of nuclear weapons. In response to North Korea's first nuclear test in 2006, the United Nations Security Council slapped sanctions on the nation. The fifteen-member International security council made sanctions harder as Pyongyang continued to bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities. North Korea's Secret Missile Base Discovered US think-tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) earlier disclose a report indicating North Korea has constructed a secret missile base near its border with China. Based on satellite imagery, per Al Jazeera, the CSIS said the base located in an isolated mountain valley in Chagang province is probably intended to contain "intercontinental ballistic missiles." The CSIS said that the launching of a Hwansong 12 long-range missile, with a range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles, came from the area on Jan. 30. According to the report, Pyongyang began putting up the base two decades ago, suggesting rare development planning linked to projected development and "basing needs" of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, experts at the United Nations warn North Korea is continuing to build its nuclear and ballistic missiles in violation of international constraints. Pyongyang reportedly uses illicit money, including online raids on cryptocurrency exchanges, to fund its weapons development agenda. Related Article: North Korea Fires Tactical Guided Missiles in Showcase of Force, Flouts Threat of New Sanctions @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Beauty lovers are raving about this 'miracle' night cream that has recently launched in Australia and will transform your skin in a matter of weeks. More than 100,000 people are on the waiting list in the UK to get their hands on the No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate that has been earning five star reviews online. Available to Aussie beauty gurus at Priceline for $61.99, No7's age-defying Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate is designed to get rid of wrinkles and revitalise and calm the skin while you sleep. Beauty lovers are raving about this 'miracle' No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate that has recently launched in Australia and will transform you skin in a matter of weeks Available to Aussie beauty gurus at Priceline for $61.99, No7's age-defying Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate is designed to get rid of wrinkles and revitalise and calm the skin while you sleep The new skincare must-have is formulated using two powerful anti-wrinkle technologies, Matrixyl 3000+ and 0.3% Pure Retinol, to smooth out the skin while minimising irritation. Women across the globe have been leaving rave reviews online after seeing the night cream's miracle results. 'Great product and can definitely see a difference in the overall appearance of my skin. Feels smoother, tighter and has evened my skin tone,' one woman wrote. The new skincare must-have is formulated using two powerful anti-wrinkle technologies, Matrixyl 3000+ and 0.3% Pure Retinol, to smooth out the skin while minimising irritation 'Within a few weeks of using this my skin was so clear and smooth. I can honestly say out of all the creams I have ever purchased this is the only one I have seen results with,' said a second. The UK skincare brand that's beloved by Gwyneth Paltrow, Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan and Sienna Miller launched in Australia just last August in more than 470 Priceline stores. No7 - which is the top-selling beauty brand in the UK - boasts 42 products ranging from $19.99 to $61.99 in price. Byron Bay sisters who were forced to close their beauty salons during the Covid lockdowns created an at-home eyelash serum while stuck at home that is set to become a multi-million dollar company this year. Kea, 30, and Violet Rogers, 27, co-founded the Brow and Lash Co seven years ago in northern NSW before branching out into a teaching role with the Brow and Lash Co Academy. But when Covid devastated the economy, in particular the beauty industry, in 2020 the sisters were forced to reshuffle their plans. 'Covid absolutely helped in being a game changer in the launch of The Lash Rehab,' Kea told Daily Mail Australia. Kea, 30, and Violet Rogers (both pictured), 27, co-founded the Brow and Lash Co seven years ago in northern NSW before branching out into a teaching role with the Brow and Lash Co Academy With 10 years of combined experience within the lashes and brow industry, the Eyelash Growth Serum ($79.95) the ladies created was a game-changer for targeting eyelashes effectively 'When Covid shut down all beauty salons across both states including our four Brow and Lash Co salons, people were looking for solutions. 'Violet and I found a gap in the market for a high quality, Australian made and owned, pregnancy safe and affordable product, with very quick and effective results. 'During the lockdown period, people were able to transform their lashes by rehabilitating, thickening and growing their natural lashes with The Lash Rehab from home, replacing their need for lash treatments.' The Lash Rehab uses a 'Triple Peptide Formula' combined with natural active ingredients scientifically formulated to target the three different stages of the lash growth cycle - Anagen, Catagen, Telogen With 10 years of combined experience within the lashes and brow industry, the Eyelash Growth Serum ($79.95) the ladies created was a game-changer for targeting eyelashes effectively and seeing a noticeable change to their growth within eight weeks. The Lash Rehab uses a 'Triple Peptide Formula' combined with natural active ingredients scientifically formulated to target the three different stages of the lash growth cycle - Anagen, Catagen, Telogen. Within six months the sisters had made $70,000 and after collaborating with MAFS star Martha Kalifatidis they generated $14,000 in revenue in a single day. What are the three stages of eyelash growth? The Anagen Stage The Lash Rehab starts from the Anagen stage where it penetrates into the dermis to build a strong cellular foundation for the lash follicle. The Catagen Stage Then in the Catagen stage the Lash Rehab focuses on the lash follicles, stimulating substantial growth at an early stage, combined with nourishing active ingredients and botanical extracts like Clover (flower) for strength and conditioning. The Telogen Stage Finally, in the Telogen stage, The Lash Rehab focuses on nourishing the natural lashes to prolong the lash lifecycle giving extended length to a normal lash life and thus longer, thicker and fuller lashes. Advertisement 'We are on track to be worth a multi-million dollar business in a year's time,' Kea said 'We are on track to be worth a multi-million dollar business in a year's time,' Kea said. 'We created a product that we personally needed for us in lockdown, so we knew there was a strong demand for it. 'After turning over $100,000 within months of launching, selling out multiple times online with waitlists and making $24,000 in 24 hours we tip it'll be easily a multi-million dollar business in a years' time.' Many of the clientele post their epic before and after eyelash transformations to TikTok and Instagram, raving about the rapid change. Many of the clientele post their epic before and after eyelash transformations to TikTok and Instagram, raving about the rapid change 'I feel like my lashes speak from themselves. They are just so long and thick,' one woman said 'I feel like my lashes speak from themselves. They are just so long and thick,' one woman said. 'Loving this serum. Saw some ads praising the growth so I had to test myself. New addition to my morning routine confirmed,' said another. A third added: 'I've been using the Original Serum for about 10 weeks now and have seen really strong growth. Loving how long and healthy my lashes are looking!' Kea and Violet sell both a sensitive and original serum option as well as an eyelash curler ($19.95) and lash wand ($10). A young Australian mum has shared how her Tinder date was with her when she gave birth to her son after just four dates. Alyssa Jane, from Queensland, had been dating Max, 25, who she met through Tinder, for only eight weeks before she went into labour but he rushed to be by her side while she was in the hospital with her newborn son, Ollie. Max's attentiveness and unwavering support for Alyssa even had the nurses assuming he was Ollie's dad. Scroll down for video Young mum, Alyssa Jane, 20, has gone viral on TikTok for sharing how her Tinder date, Max, 25, was with her as she gave birth to her son, Ollie In a video posted to TikTok, Alyssa, the 20-year-old new mum, explained she was meant to pick Max up from the airport following a work trip when her waters broke. 'I texted him and said I'm so sorry you're going to have to find your own way home, I am stuck at the hospital, my waters have broken and he instantly said ok the second I get home I'm going to unpack and I'm going to come visit you,' she said in the clip. 'My mum happened to be away on holiday and so Max continued stay with me for the entire week that I had contractions and every time I thought I was in labour he would bring me into the hospital and drive me back home - he took the whole week off work to stay with me.' In the clip, Alyssa said she had been on a handful of dates with Max who she met through Tinder, over eight weeks before she went into labour but he rushed to be by her side while she was in the hospital and even took time of work Max's attentiveness and unwavering support for Alyssa even had the nurses assuming he was Ollie's dad Alyssa's mum was with her in the theatre when she had to have an emergency C-section while Max waited anxiously outside and said it was 'the most stressful time of his life'. The young mum said Max took another week off work to be by her side while she was in the post-natal ward and Ollie was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 'Every time that we would go into the NICU, the nurses would think that he was the dad but he never said otherwise,' she said. 'I was 19 and had a newborn baby and I had no clue what I was doing and Max stayed with me and he learnt with me - he didn't know either but he learnt everything with me so when I was learning to change nappies, he was too.' The couple are still going strong and she Alyssa has been sharing her journey with Ollie and Max on TikTok gaining a huge following and millions of views Alyssa has been sharing her journey with Ollie and Max on TikTok and has gained a huge following and millions of views. She and Max are still going strong and many users are impressed with his commitment and supportiveness. 'The nurses called it, he's definitely the dad,' one viewer wrote. 'Can we all share Max?! This is just the sweetest! I hope you marry this man someday!' another said. 'Girls don't ever expect anything less! Max is the bar. Find yourselves a Max also!' commented a third. A British jewellery designer has revealed how the glamorous over-sized cocktail rings she creates were influenced by her own experience of being harassed for four years by a man she didn't want to date. Hannah Mossman Moore's 'knuckleduster' rings, which start from around 300 and which she sells under the brand Jean London, have gained a celebrity following with the likes of Adele, Rihanna and Fearne Cotton all fans. However, the bold rings have a more serious undertone and the British jeweller, 29, told The Sunday Times, that they represent 'jewellery as armour' for women, saying her own trauma at being stalked changed the way she designs. Scroll down for video Jean London, founded by Hannah Mossman Moore sells 'big rocks for powerful people' - and has earned a slew of celebrity fans including Rihanna and Adele Her reimagined versions of the traditional cocktail ring, which became prominent in society in the 1920s, feature a thicker band, chunky settings and large, colourful semi-precious stones. She told the Sunday newspaper that as a 25-year-old, she was harrassed and stalked by a wealthy man she met at an industry networking event for four years after she refused his advances. The Philosophy graduate said her current designs have replaced the more delicate rings with smaller stones she used to create, evolving into 'big rocks for powerful people' that have quickly become her trademark. She said: 'My designs shifted to sort of big knuckledusters and powerful jewellery which you could kind of wear on you as armour. I actually started sleeping with them on because I felt more powerful wearing these huge rocks on my fingers.' The semi-precious stones are all ethically sourced. A period living in Sri Lanka saw her influenced by a local mine owner, who ran female-run mines, where the workers would hold shares in the stones they mined. Reimagining the cocktail ring: The 'knuckleduster' rings retail from 300 and use large, ethically mined semi-precious stones in bold settings Pictured: Fearne Cotton wearing Jean London designs; the brand was named after Mossman Moore's late grandmother, Jean Mossman, who was a journalist In a note on the Jean London website, she says she wanted to kick back against an industry that is far too often unethical and dominated by men, saying: 'I came to understand the best - and the worst - aspects of the business. 'Its a very male-dominated industry and many companies really dont care about where their gemstones come from or how their jewellery is made.' The Jean London website reveals that Mossman Moore named the jewellery after her late grandmother, Jean Mossman, a journalist, who the jeweller calls a 'determined unconventionalist' whose spirit 'informs every aspect of the brand'. The knuckleduster, also known as 'brass knuckles', harks back to Ancient Rome, when gladiators would wear a gloved version of them - the 'caestus' - to gain advantage over their opponents while in battle. Netflix has come under fire for teasing two plus-sized women in the premiere of its hit dating show Love is Blind's second series - but then dropping them for the remaining episodes. After the success of the first series, which aired in 2020, the first five episodes of Love is Blind's second series were released on Friday. The popular dating shows sees 30 singletons date in 'pods' where they cannot see each other before getting engaged, after which they spend four weeks together and must decide whether they want to go through with a wedding at the end of that period. Scroll down for video Chassidy Mickale, 33, from Chicago, was one of the plus sized women who featured on the first episode of the second series of Netflix's Love is Blind - but her dating story wasn't followed. Viewers accused the show of using Chassidy and another plus-sized female contestant to appear diverse Viewers caught on the fact the two women were introduced early on but that their dates were not shown Viewers said they want to know what happened to Chassidy and Hope and that they were disappointed the show does not focus on them more, in spite of teasing them in the first minutes of the new series Viewers claimed the Netflix show used curvier women to appear more diverse, but that women with conventional sizes were the ones the show focused on (Pictured: a grab from later in season 2 of the show) Femail has contacted Netflix for comment. The two first episodes focus on the people making connections in the pods, and only the couples who get engaged are featured in the rest of the show. Two of the female contestants introduced early on in the premiere were Chassidy Mickale and Hope Antoniello, who were both plus sized, leading viewers to believe their stories would be well-featured in the new series. However, eagle-eyed fans took to Twitter after they realised that Chassidy and Hope, were actually not amongst the 12 contestants the show would be focusing on. Some accused Netflix of using Chassidy, Hope and other plus sized contestants to appear diverse while the lion's share of the show focused on conventionally beautiful pairings. Chassidy, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Chicago, was the first woman viewers were introduced to on the show. Walking down the corridor leasing to the Love is Blind pods dressed in a flattering orange dress, she said: 'My physical insecurities have definitely affected my dating life. 'This experiment allows me to be judged for who I am as a person versus the physical,' she added. Hope also mentioned her weight in a piece-to-camera that was shared within the first five minutes of the show. Hope Antoniello, 31, was also featured in the first episode, but little was heard from either women on the show after their initial introduction The show's first three episodes focus on the 'pods,' where men and women talk to each other, but cannot see each other 'It doesn't matter what I look like, how much I weight, color, ethnicity, anything you come from, it is who you are inside. 'And I'm looking forward to what potentially could be discovered in these pods because I do indeed wanna leave here with a husband,' she added. In spite of featuring early in the premiere, nothing more was heard from the two women. Meanwhile, Hasseb Husn was the only plus sized man on the show and little was heard from him either. They did not connect with the people in the pods, and their blind dates were not shown, leading several fans to voice their disappointment online. 'Love Is Blind really strolled out two plus size women in the premiere making us think we were going to have diversitythen we never saw them again,' one said. 'Im glad you saw them too, I thought maybe I hallucinated them at this point damn I was excited,' said another. The rest of the show focused only on the six couples who got engaged after the pods segment of the series Hasseb, pictured centre, was the only plus size man to be featured on the show, and was not among the couples who got engaged 'I was so excited for Cassidy and she literally walked in and back out I guess lol,' another said. 'I was so excited for the normal women and then they were gone,' one wrote. 'I was ready to see these men fall in love wit a big girl before seeing her.... den Netflix had other plans,' one said. Some also took issue with the fact that several of the female contestants that the show's second series did focus on talked about losing a large amount of weight and struggling with body image. Chassidy is the first woman viewers were introduced to in the premiere of the second series of Love is Blind In her introduction, Hope said weight, color or ethnicity do not matter on Netflix's dating show and that she wants to find a husband Danielle Ruhl, 29, who is paired with Nick Thompson, 36, on the show, admitted she used to be fat as a child, which left her with crippling confidence issues. And Deepti Vempati, 31, who is paired with veterinarian/DJ Abhishek Shake Chatterjee also confessed she lost a lot of weight in the past. Shake was also heavily criticised by viewers after he asked Deepti if he would be able to carry her on his shoulders in a bid to guess her weight. This did not land well with viewers, who said the people were presented as less acceptable partners because they used to be fat. 'And meanwhile we got multiple "I used to be fat, can you ever accept me?" storylines,' one said. A mother has revealed how her baby sons became the UK's most premature twins - and were given zero per cent chance of survival - after they were delivered more than a week before the legal abortion limit. Harley and Harry Crane were conceived via IVF and were born at 22 weeks and five days. Babies born at 22 weeks are not classed as legally viable and medical intervention is sometimes not offered. However, the tough siblings, now 13 weeks old, weren't going anywhere and have amazed doctors by blossoming under the care of specialist hospital staff. Jade Crane, 39, from Nottingham, has spent the last three months by her babies' sides in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham. Jade Crane, 39, gave birth to her twins Harley and Harry Crane at just 22 weeks and five days - more than a week before the abortion limit Blooming: The babies are now 13-weeks-old, surprising doctors who gave them a zero per cent chance of survival after being born so prematurely Doctors told Jade and her husband Steve that their babies would not survive being born so prematurely - they only intervened as the twins were born in a teaching hospital According to Jade, doctors are 'really rooting' for the family now, after the babies beat the odds to reach 12-weeks-old The miracle pair are doing well and it is hoped they'll be home for their due date, in a few weeks' time. The former mental health nurse and addiction counsellor, who lives in Derby with her husband Steve, 52, said: 'I'm so proud of my babies - they're little fighters. 'They're doing absolutely amazing. They're doing all the things that we were told they wouldn't do - they're crying, they're surviving. 'The doctors were saying the babies wouldn't survive at this gestation. I was still two weeks away from what the UK classes as viable and the babies were given a 0% chance of survival. 'It was only because I was at a teaching hospital and that the babies were born with signs of life that they chose to intervene medically. 'It's crazy how much has happened, really, because I'm not even at my due date yet! I'm not due until February 24 and yet they've been alive for 12 weeks now. 'The doctors are amazed, they're really rooting for us now. There's not one surgeon in the hospital who hasn't heard about our twins.' Jade and Steve had quite the journey to finally have their twins after 11 years of treatments - including eight cycles of IVF and several implantations of frozen embryos as well. They had been trying to fall pregnant naturally for three years and Jade had suffered an ectopic pregnancy before they decided to start IVF in 2010. After three tragic miscarriages on IVF, Jade discovered that she had an overactive immune system whereby her body would reject the pregnancies. The couple moved from a fertility clinic in Nottingham to one on Harley Street in London - believed to be one of the best in the world - where Jade was prescribed lots of different types of medication in order to combat her immune system problems. She said: 'We had a really long IVF journey. Steve and I have been together for 14 years, and 11 of those have been spent doing IVF. Jade finally fell pregnant with the twins after 11 years of treatments including eight cycles of IVF and several implantations of frozen embryos Jade and Steve (right) tried to fall pregnant naturally for three years, with Jade suffering an ectopic pregnancy, before they decided to try IVF 'Little fighters': Jade branded her babies 'fighters' and 'miracles' as they have survived for 12-weeks, despite being born a week before the abortion limit 'On our eighth cycle of IVF, we had two embryos transferred which both worked and we ended up with boy and girl twins! 'I couldn't let myself believe it, I was so fearful of a miscarriage or something going wrong. I literally didn't do anything during the pregnancy as a result. 'I was still in disbelief when we got to 20 weeks, and I hadn't even hit my third trimester when I went into labour so we hadn't bought anything! 'We'd painted the nursery and revamped furniture but we hadn't bought cots or thrown baby showers or anything. 'The few bits of clothes that I did buy made me think that I better keep the tags on just in case - you just don't want to let yourself believe. Jade took herself to get checked at Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham on October 26 after leaking fluid at home for several days at 22 weeks pregnant. An internal examination revealed that Jade was experiencing a premature rupture of membranes, whereby the foetal membranes rupture before the onset of labour. With Jade only being 22 weeks pregnant, her babies were not considered to be viable and the poor mum believed she would lose her precious twins. She said: 'The doctor was so shocked - she told me she could see the membrane bulging, so the sac of water was basically showing. Doting parents: Steve and Jade revealed they were so worried about miscarriage that they hadn't bought cots or many clothes for the twins Babies born at 22 weeks are not classed as legally viable and medical intervention is sometimes not offered 'It was so scary. I knew I was 22 weeks but I didn't know about the viability thing. They told me they were going to admit me but that I was probably having a miscarriage. 'The doctor kept saying it was a miscarriage but I said it couldn't be because I could feel the babies moving. 'I knew they were ok but was being told they wouldn't survive at this gestation.' The abortion law in the UK states that women can terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks. Doctors are not required to medically intervene with babies born prior to 24 weeks gestation as they are not considered to be viable. Jade had chosen to go to Queens Medical Hospital in Nottingham for her baby scans due to the fact that they had a more extensive NICU than her local hospital in Derby, and she wanted a higher level of monitoring due to her fertility history. Luckily for Jade, the facility is a teaching hospital and doctors intervene with babies born 23 weeks and later in an effort to learn more about premature births. At the time of going into labour, on born on October 26, 2021, Jade was still 30 hours away from the 23 week mark - but doctors chose to intervene after her babies showed signs of life when born. Jade had chosen a teaching hospital for her scans, meaning doctors intervene with babies born 23 weeks and later in an effort to learn more about premature births Despite babies Harley and Harry being born before 23 weeks, doctors intervened medically after they showed signs of life when born Jade said: 'I was 30 hours away from what they would class as viable and my babies were given a 0 per cent chance of survival. 'Labour happened really quickly. I was denied pain medication and monitoring during labour as I wasn't viable, which was awful, really. 'It was only because the babies were born with signs of life that they chose to intervene medically. They were alive, moving around, and they cried. Their little cries sounded like a tiny kitten. 'I remember saying that I couldn't hear Harley cry and one of the nurses said I wouldn't because she was far too early but then I heard this little cry. They're doing absolutely amazing. They're doing all the things that we were told they wouldn't do - they're crying, they're surviving... Jade Crane, Harley and Harry's mother 'Harry did the same when he was born an hour later, still in his sac. In Japan, it is seen as being lucky if you have a baby born in their sac, so I held onto that luck!' Little Harley and Harry were intubated and taken to the NICU where they remained on ventilators as doctors worked hard to save the premature babies. Jade said: 'I was told they weren't going to survive and that I'd have a miscarriage so I was in complete disbelief. 'I remember getting wheeled round to NICU and the first thing I asked was if they were still here, because I didn't know if they'd still be there, but they were and still are - 79 days in now!' The twins have lots of health problems as a result of their premature birth, including chronic lung disease, and have undergone many surgeries in their little lives to combat them. Harley now has a stoma bag fitted and Harry recently received injections in his eyes to help prevent premature blindness. Devastatingly, the twins were also diagnosed with a serious gastrointestinal problem called necrotizing enterocolitis. Steve and Jade are now preparing to bring their family home; the babies are set to be discharged from hospital around their original due date - February 24 Proud mother Jade says her children will go down in 'medical history' as they have beaten the odds by surviving How common is premature labour and birth? Premature labour is labour that happens before the 37th week of pregnancy. About eight out of 100 babies will be born prematurely. Babies born before full term (before 37 weeks) are vulnerable to problems associated with being born premature. The earlier in the pregnancy a baby is born, the more vulnerable they are. It's possible for a baby to survive if born at around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Babies born this early need special care in a hospital with specialist facilities for premature babies. This is called a neonatal unit. They may have health and development problems because they have not fully developed in the womb. If your baby is likely to be delivered early, you should be admitted to a hospital with a neonatal unit. Source: NHS Advertisement This can be fatal, and Jade was told to prepare to say goodbye. Jade said: 'We were told to get the family in and have a christening. I kept referring to the christening as 'the funeral'. It was just awful.' Thankfully, the twins have defied the odds and are now thriving in the NICU after their shock arrival 12 weeks ago. Jade and Steve are now preparing to bring their babies home with the hope they'll be able to leave the hospital near the original due date - February 24. Jade said: 'They're doing absolutely amazing. They're doing all the things that we were told they wouldn't do - they're crying, they're surviving. 'They have all of the health problems that come with a premature birth but they're all being worked on and I would say that they're now at a stage where they're thriving and we're talking about going home plans. 'It's crazy how much has happened, really, because I'm not even at my due date yet! I'm not due until February 24 and yet they've been alive for 12 weeks now. 'After they were born, I was Googling twins who survive at 22 weeks and trying to find any that have to give me hope. 'I found a set of twins in America who had survived - they're four now. I've connected with their mum on Instagram and she guided me through the first few days of being in the unit and what to ask for. 'I'm really lucky that I went to Queens instead of Derby. If I'd gone to Derby Hospital, I wouldn't have come home with any babies, and that's where the ambulance would have taken me because of the catchment area - its a postcode lottery. 'The doctors are amazed, they're really rooting for us now. There's not one surgeon in the hospital who hasn't heard about our twins. 'Steve and I are doing great, we're always at the hospital. We do cares, so changing the nappy, feeding the babies - Steve is doing all of that, he's really stepped up. 'We are working towards the twins coming home on my due date. Harley has to have a stoma reversal before she comes home so they have spoken about potentially taking Harry home first. 'As this hasn't happened really before, they've got no medical evidence. Usually they'd say what they did with other babies at the same age, but they don't have any 22-weekers to base it on because it just doesn't happen. 'They'll go down in medical history - I'm pretty sure they'll be having on of the wards named after them because everyone is just amazed by them!' Men and women who survived living under the rule of a Turkish televangelist-turned- cult leader have opened up about the abuse they suffered - often for years - before he was finally arrested. In January, Adnan Oktar was jailed for 1,045 years in Turkey for a series of charges including rape, child abuse, espionage and blackmail. The 64-year-old denied all of the charges, and is expected to appeal. At the height of his notoriety, the conservative Islamic preacher frequently broadcast his sermons surrounded by scantily-clad women. Speaking to the Sunday Times, several of the women who lived with him, whom he called 'kittens', and some of the men who were under his rule, known as his 'lions', have now opened up about the terrible abuse he put them through. Several women who were victims of the Turkish televangelist Adnan Oktar, pictured, have now opened up about life with the abusive group leader, after he was jailed for 1,045 years in January Adnan, pictured left, was found guilty of a series of charges including rape, child abuse, espionage and blackmail by a Turkish court in January He was arrested in 2018 along with dozens of his followers in police raids on his properties in Istanbul and other cities as part of an investigation into his group. The televangelist - who uses the pen name Harun Yahya - is also known for a series of books he has authored promoting creationism against Darwin's theory of evolution. One woman told the newspaper she was sexually abused by the cult leader when she was 16 and forced to get a rhinoplasty without general anaesthestic when she was 20. She said she's still traumatised by the operation: 'I can still remember the hammer. I was counting how many times they were hitting the hammer and the chisel to my nose,' she said. Seda Isildar, revealed she joined the group aged 15 through school friends in the 1980s. Now 50, she compared the group - which didn't have an official name - to a toxic relationship, explaining those at the top isolated her. She revealed Oktar forced her to marry him when he was in his 30s and she was still a teenager. After eight years spent with the evangelist, Selda managed to escape and moved to Canada, where she still resides. Another woman, Ceylan Ozgul, joined the group at the age of 24 in 2006 and became one of the groups' most prominent members until she left and raised abuse allegations against Oktar. She described life with the group as a 'prison' and added that nobody in Turkey took Oktar seriously because he liked to surround himself with scantily clad-women, but that the abuse his victims were put through was serious. Oktar was arrested for fraud in 2018, pictured, and was sentenced to jail in January this year, after being find guilty of several crimes The televangelist became known in Turkey for preaching on TV while surrounded by groups of scantily-clad women - some of those women now say their cries weren't heard for a long time While Islam preaches modesty among women, Oktar argued this was due to a misinterpretation and that women should protect their 'inner beauty' with their looks. He was considered tacky by the Turkish public opinion. Ozgul said that when she was first introduced to Oktar, she liked speaking with him because he was fun and took her seriously. She helped build the group's international reputation and secured speaking engagements for Oktar with prestigious organisations, including University College London. However, as time went by, her actions were increasingly monitored and her freedom of movement became limited. She said the compound where Oktar's followers stayed was constantly monitored with several cameras. On his channel, A9 TV, Oktar would host theological shows where women would dance for him in front of a crowd Meanwhile, other members were tasked with luring more women into the group. A man named Sahin told The Sunday Times he became one of the televangelist's followers through friends as a teenager. Encouraged by Oktar, Sahin began to dress in expensive clothes and to take care of his appearance. His good looks were a 'bait' for female followers. He reveals how he and other 'lions' would hang out in malls or cafes and would strike a conversation with women there and would give them his number posing as a scout for a modelling agency or a professional looking for a salesperson. The women on the show, whom Oktar called 'kittens', also gave him adoring looks. However, several how come out and revealed life with the preacher was like living in a 'prison' This scheme was called the 'turnstile system' and countless women were brought to the cult this way over the years. Sahin, who claimed he brought 200 women into the cult, said he was brainwashed by Oktar into thinking what he was doing was right. Sahin eventually left the cult and with other members, shared information with police in exchange for immunity from prosecution. In January, Adnan Oktar was found guilty of 10 separate charges including child sexual abuse, leading a criminal gang, rape, blackmail, fraud, political and military espionage and causing torment. The 64-year-old, who denied the charges, was handed a total of 1,075 years in prison. The hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations, with Oktar telling the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends. Several ex-members have since accused Oktat or sexually abusing them, raping them and blackmailing them. Oktar is expected to appeal the verdict of his jail term 'There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim,' he said in another hearing in October. He added on another occasion: 'I am extraordinarily potent.' Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals. His online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations from Turkey's religious leaders. One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women. Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court. Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities. He also found guilty of aiding US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of masterminding a failed coup attempt in 2016. Thirteen of Oktar's associates were also given lengthy sentences on similar charges, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest. Oktar is expected to appeal the verdict and has maintained that he was the victim of a plot. Beatrix Potter: Drawn To Nature opened at the V&A in London this weekend and is running until September 25. QUESTIONS: 1. The author and illustrator once wrote a scientific paper about the reproduction of: A. Puddle ducks B. Tadpoles C. Fungi D. Squirrels 2. Peter Rabbit is the worlds oldest licensed character. Which of these did Potter agree to have her illustrations on? A. Newspaper comic strip B. Wallpaper C. Toilet paper D. Chocolate wrappers Beatrix Potter: Drawn To Nature opened at the V&A in London this weekend and is running until September 25 (pictured is Beatrix Potters character Peter Rabbit) 3. TRUE OR FALSE: Potter tried and failed to get Walt Disney to adapt her work. 4. Potter was the first woman elected to lead: A. Her local sheep breeding association. B. The Society of Illustrators. C. The Hedgehog Appreciation Society. D. Her local fox hunt. 5. An identical brick-for-brick replica of her house was built in: A. New Zealand B. Japan C. Disneyland Paris D. South Africa 6. TRUE OR FALSE: Peter Rabbit was the first character from childrens literature ever to appear on a UK coin. ANSWERS: 1) C. Fungi After becoming engrossed in creating watercolours of fungi, Beatrix Potter developed her own theory of how they reproduced and wrote a paper, On The Germination Of The Spores Of Agaricineae. A man presented it to the Linnean Society on her behalf because women were not allowed to attend its meetings. 2) B. Wallpaper She personally oversaw the Peter-themed wallpaper, saying: The idea of rooms covered with badly drawn rabbits is appalling. Peter became the worlds oldest licensed character when Potter patented a doll in 1903. Later, she approved a range of slippers, handkerchiefs and china tea sets. 3) FALSE In 1936, Disney asked for her permission to turn Peter Rabbit into an animated film. She refused, saying her illustrations werent suitable for blowing up to big-screen size. Her biographer said the problem with the screen characters is that they become cutesy, which is really quite un-Potter. 4) A. Her local sheep breeding association. Potter, a leading farmer in the Lake District, won prizes for breeding sheep. She was the first woman elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, but died before she took up the chair. 5) B. Japan In 2006, a full-size replica of Potters Hill Top Farm in Cumbria, which she bought with the proceeds from Peter Rabbit, was built at a zoo near Tokyo. 6) TRUE A 50p was released in 2016 to mark 150 years since Potters birth. It is one of the rarest 50ps in circulation and has fetched as much 1,000 on eBay. A young university student returned to her car after lectures to find a handwritten note stuck to her windscreen, spelling out how she had saved a complete stranger's life. Brooke Lacey, 22, was expecting the note she spotted last Monday to be a parking fine or someone angry about the way she was positioned, so she nervously snatched it off the windscreen and hastily drove away. A couple of hours later when the woman from New Zealand paused to read the message she was moved by what it said. 'I left my house with a plan and asked for a sign, any sign, I was doing the right thing when I saw your car in the parking lot. Thank you,' it read. Brooke Lacey, 22, was expecting the note she spotted last Monday to be a parking fine or someone angry about the way she was positioned, so she nervously snatched it off the windscreen and hastily drove away 'I left my house with a plan and asked for a sign, any sign, I was doing the right thing when I saw your car in the parking lot. Thank you,' it read Brooke remembered her car's bumper sticker, which said: 'Please don't take your life today. The world is so much better with you in it. More than you realise, stay.' 'I had these made so long ago, put one on my car and forgot about them, until now. I am so glad whoever you are chose to stay today. You never know who needs this reminder,' she said on Twitter. Brooke, who has suffered through her own mental health struggles, designed 600 stickers during the initial wave of the Covid pandemic in Wellington, New Zealand, in hopes they might help someone in need. She also left laminated notes near trains, bridges and large bodies of water across her home city. Brooke remembered her car's bumper sticker, which said: 'Please don't take your life today. The world is so much better with you in it. More than you realise, stay' The political science student caused an outpouring of responses on Twitter after posting pictures of the sticker and the kind stranger's note The political science student caused an outpouring of responses on Twitter after posting pictures of the sticker and the kind stranger's note. 'How beautiful. The world needs more people like you,' one woman wrote to her. 'I'm not crying, you're crying,' said another. A third added: 'Holy hell! Glad you and your car were where they needed to be'. If you or someone you know needs support during this difficult time, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, The phone rings and the caller needs no introduction. The hybrid accent flecked with vowels that fall somewhere between Moscow and Manhattan, via Berlin gives her away; it smacks of fancy finishing schools, trust funds and a leisured and affluent lifestyle. But there's another instantly identifiable element to this telephone call: it's preceded by a pre-recorded message which announces that it's coming from a prison the Orange County Correctional Facility in upstate New York, to be precise. And the caller? Her name is Anna Sorokin best known to the world as Anna Delvey the notorious fake German heiress and convicted trickster who was jailed in 2019 for a series of jaw-dropping frauds that scandalised New York's wealthy art scene. Posing as a glamorous and highly plausible art lover and socialite, she had spent ten months duping banks, law firms, hotels, fashion designers, a private jet company and supposed friends out of 211,000 after arriving in the U.S. in 2017. The world was gripped by her month-long trial. Jurors heard how she'd taken up residence in splashy boutique hotels in downtown Manhattan, dressed in Balenciaga and Celine, patronised expensive restaurants and threw crisp $100 bills around like confetti to waiters, concierges and drivers. In reality, the so-called trust-fund babe who had boasted of having a 60 million fortune overseas was, in fact, the penniless daughter of a Russian truck driver who'd moved his family to Germany. Jailed for four to 12 years, she was released early on February 11 last year and is now the subject of a ten-part Netflix series about the convicted fraudster's life. Called Inventing Anna, and starring Julia Garner of Ozark fame, it debuted on Friday and instantly shot up the rankings to become Netflix's most-watched show over the weekend in both the UK and U.S. Anna Sorokin best known to the world as Anna Delvey is a notorious fake German heiress and convicted trickster who was jailed in 2019 for a series of jaw-dropping frauds that scandalised New York's wealthy art scene 'I want to see the series, but it will have to wait till I'm out of jail,' says Anna (who is now back behind bars), in an exclusive interview with the Mail. 'Obviously, I can't get a Netflix account while I'm incarcerated.' Although she has co-operated with Shonda Rhimes, the Bridgerton producer who made the series, Anna says she has no idea if the drama will offer a fair portrayal. 'I'm the only person who can tell my story. No one else was with me the whole time, when all those things were happening,' she comments. To this end, she is writing her memoir in prison. 'That's the only good thing I've been able to achieve while I'm in here I definitely have a lot of time to write. I'm in talks with different publishers,' she says. The irony of Anna, 31, being unable to see the television series based on her own life won't be lost on some of her victims, including Marc Kremers, owner of Future Corp, a London and Paris-based digital agency whose clients include luxury fashion brand Moncler, artist Damien Hirst and New York's Museum of Modern Art. He says he is still owed 16,800 for branding work he did for Anna's grandiose plan to start a 25 million private members' club to showcase what she claimed was her wealthy family's art collection. 'She'd tell me: 'Don't worry, it's just this little hitch with the transfer of my funds.' 'But every single day, every single week, for more than a year, there were different excuses,' he recalls. After being released on parole last year, anyone who thought Anna Sorokin would slink away quietly was in for a surprise. She immediately set about picking up the threads of her old life, booking into the upmarket NoMad hotel in New York and striking magazine and TV deals. She wanted to start her own clothing label, and was planning to launch The Corrections Collection of 'prison-style loungewear'. This image released by Netflix shows Julia Garner in a scene from 'Inventing Anna.' There was talk of printing T-shirts with the QR code of Anna's bank on it, so people could send her money. Other T-shirts would have phrases such as 'Anna Delvey bigger than El Chapo' and 'Anna Delvey she's got more deals than Netflix'. There were even plans for an underwear line that would play on the name of Kim Kardashian's range, Skims. Anna's version would be called Scams. Anna had to report regularly to her parole office in Gowanus, an unglamorous area of Brooklyn. Some convicted white-collar criminals might think this duty was something to be done as discreetly as possible. But not Anna. She turned it into a fashion show, dressing in her beloved Balenciaga and posing for the dozen or more paparazzi trying to take her picture when she came out of her hotel. She would even order a limousine or an SUV to take her to her parole appointment. According to her Instagram account at the time she still has 150,000 followers it was business as usual. Anna posted a photograph showing her eating caviar and drinking champagne with a friend, as well as a picture of a carrier bag from high-end retailer Net-APorter. All of this was apparently being funded by what was left of the 235,000 she had made through the Netflix deal, after she'd paid 147,000 in restitution to creditors like banks and hotels, plus 17,500 in fines. She persuaded a U.S. television channel to buy her an expensive new wardrobe in return for an interview. She dined in expensive restaurants, even though she had to be back in her hotel early because of a 9pm curfew imposed by her parole conditions. Douglas Higginbotham, a British cameraman and producer who is now based in New York, acted as her personal videographer and de-facto publicist. He recalls how Anna would comment on Twitter when the New York District Attorney made announcements on the subject of law and order. 'I'd say: 'What are you doing? It's like throwing stones at a lion. Delete that!',' he says. 'I felt like her dad sometimes.' On her own Instagram account, Anna boasted: 'I own this ****ing lawless city.' But her hubris was to prove her downfall and the authorities clearly didn't take kindly to such displays of bravado. Everything came crashing down for Anna once more when after just six weeks of freedom she was re-arrested and taken into custody for overstaying the tourist visa she'd used to enter the U.S. Since March 26 last year, she has been back behind bars and her designer wardrobe has been swapped for a prison jumpsuit. Her eyelash extensions fell out a couple of weeks into her detention, and she says she has been thoroughly 'de-glammed'. 'Sure, I miss nice clothes and make-up but that's not the primary thing I'm concerned about,' she complains. 'I miss not being able to do things for myself and I hate having other people have so much control over my life. 'I feel people don't see that I'm trying to fix things and move on from my crimes and the events that happened to me in my 20s. 'Hopefully, I will be able to turn it around. But so far that hasn't been the case. 'I do accept responsibility for some of the choices I made, but I never said that everything in my life was so great and so awesome that people should go and do the same thing. 'I was trying to do something good with the situation I ended up with, but I've never said that I should be an example for anyone.' Her comments are in stark contrast to remarks she made in interviews last year. Then, she told the New York Times: 'The thing is, I'm not sorry. I'd be lying to you and to everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything. 'I regret the way I went about certain things.' Similarly, in an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, presenter Emily Maitlis asked Anna whether she thought that crime paid. 'In a way, it does,' she smirked. Both interviews were brought up during a deportation hearing that followed when the judge called her a 'danger to society' and ordered her to be deported from the U.S. This is on hold while Anna appeals in her last roll of the dice. 'When I was first in prison for my crimes, I felt like that was my sentence and I was supposed to be there, but right now it feels completely unfair,' says Anna. 'I never scammed people my crimes were against financial institutions. The definition of fraud in America is that you permanently deprive people of funds or property, and I don't feel as though that was ever my intention.' Judge Diane Kiesel sentenced Anna Sorokin a/k/a Anna Delvey to 4-12 years in prison, $198,956.19 restitution and a $24,000 fine for stealing more than $200,000 and attempting to steal millions more through multiple scams In the Netflix series, Anna's character says that men hype their financial backgrounds all the time and there are no consequences for them much less jail time. Does she feel that she's been harshly treated because she's a young woman? 'I do in a way, yes,' she replies. 'I'm trying to own up to what I did, but if you look at other people, they get away with a lot more than I did. 'But I'm trying not to think of myself as a victim because that's a toxic way of thinking.' As well as the memoir she is writing, Anna says she has other projects ready for when she is finally released from detention. 'I'm in talks with some galleries about showings of my art; I'm finishing my book; I'm planning my clothing line and I'm working on a podcast as well.' In deportation cases, people are typically banned from re-entering the U.S. for ten years. Several times Anna has been told that she is being sent back to Germany, and a few weeks ago she was taken to New York's JFK airport and was about to be put on a plane to Frankfurt when her lawyer intervened. 'I feel as though my whole life is in New York, and most of my friends. I have so much history there and so much going on. I would really love to resolve my immigration situation,' she says. Over the telephone, it's clear that she is sobbing. 'It's difficult every day and it's very hard for me not to cry,' she says. 'I feel like there's no ending to this, and I don't know what's going to happen.' While Douglas Higginbotham says he doesn't condone Anna's crimes, he feels that she has been punished enough. 'If she does have to leave the States, I think she will feel utterly defeated,' he says. 'New York is the place she wants to be. She wants to live this life; she wants to live like Jeff Bezos.' Not surprisingly, Marc Kremers, still looking at his unpaid invoice, sees things differently. 'I think she's a fantasist and now her fantasy has become intrinsically entwined with her life. But I can't deny that it's an entertaining story to tell my clients. Everyone wants to talk about Anna Delvey. 'It's annoying that people still admire her and believe she had guts to play this big, elaborate trick on New York. 'But when people take you for a ride like that, it's a horrible feeling.' As for Anna, she says she just wants the chance to prove herself. 'I know I made questionable choices, but to the people who think badly of me, I'd like the chance to prove them wrong,' she says. Even though she is locked up and facing deportation from the United States, only one thing is certain: we certainly haven't heard the last of Anna Sorokin. Anna Sorokin has not received any fee for this interview. As Valentine's Day approaches, zoos across the United States offer an outrageous way to celebrate love-- naming a cockroach after loved ones, or perhaps an ex. The Bronx Zoo Name a Roach program offers an interesting way to express genuine love by naming a Madagascar hissing cockroach after your sweetheart for the price of $15. Customers can get a virtual certificate to memorialize the love bug. Unlike flowers and chocolates, cockroaches last forever. In its Twitter account, the zoo encourages the public that naming a roach after a loved one is one way your love can last forever. "Valentine's Day is almost here, and there's only one way to tell someone your love is eternal. Name a Bronx Zoo hissing cockroach for them." The program will benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society, a non-profit organization, according to NPR. Moreover, the zoo offers other items like roach socks and roach beanies. Valentines Day is almost here and theres really only one way to tell someone your love is eternal. Name a Bronx Zoo hissing cockroach for them. Go the extra mile and add a roach hat, roach socks, or romantic roach encounter to complete the package: https://t.co/S66H3cbGvB pic.twitter.com/E1X38037Cj Bronx Zoo (@BronxZoo) January 18, 2022 The Bronx Zoo in New York started Valentine's Day campaign in 2011, per Fox News. The naming of cockroach is also applicable to exes and friends. According to National Geographic, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, like 99 percent of all cockroach species, are not pests and do not live in human homes. Insects that live on forest floors hide among leaf litter, logs, and other debris. They become more active at night and forage for food, preferring to eat fruit or plant debris. The cockroach's mating ritual includes hissing, which can be used as a strong alarm signal. The majority of insects that create noise use vibrating membranes or rub their body parts together. On the other hand, Madagascar hissing cockroaches exhale air through their breathing holes. Read Also: Want to Celebrate Valentine's During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Here are Some Alternatives! Other Zoos' Valentine's Day Offerings The Houston Museum of Natural Science also suggests cockroaches as Valentine's Day gift idea. Customers can buy a name-a-roach pin for the price of $10 with a digital gift certificate and a roach named after your special someone. "There are two things we're sure will last forever; True Love and Roaches," the museum's website says. On the other hand, the San Antonio Zoo offers to Cry Me a Cockroach fundraiser offers the naming of the bugs after persons who made 2021 hell like an "ex-partner" or "boss." It also offers other living creatures to name: one can pay $5 to name a leafy green plant, $10 for roach, and $25 for naming a rodent after someone. For those individuals who will upgrade their donations, the zoo offers a video of their new named creature being fed to an animal. Meanwhile, the Nebraska Humane Society has a similar promotion to San Antonio Zoo's gimmick. For $15, the group will put the first name of an ex-lover at the bottom of a litter box. Is Cockroach the New Love Symbol? Some may find it weird to name a cockroach after someone you love. But for Lauren Davidson, an entomologist at Houston Museum of Natural Science, thinks it's sweet-- kind of. Davidson suggests that it's "really better" if one names a loved one, rather than an ex, after a cockroach "because they're really cool bugs" as they can live for an extended period and and "they can live in just the weirdest places." Like true love. Related Article: World's Oldest Male Gorilla from Zoo Atlanta Found Dead in His Cage After Suffering from Facial Swelling, Weakness @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By her clever and tactful use of the phrase 'in the fullness of time', the Queen has made it easier for the nation to think openly about the moment unavoidable but, we hope, far off when she will no longer be with us. This did not merely permit her to end any controversy over whether the Duchess of Cornwall will be Queen Consort. It opened the way for many other discussions about what is to come. One such debate is about the shape and size of the next Coronation. This astonishing ceremony, a thousand years old and now unique in Europe, is in many ways the keystone of our Constitution. It is clear that after the turbulent decades since 1953, the next Coronation cannot be precisely the same as it was then. Yet it must still contain the essence of its might, majesty, dominion and power. As we report today, this work has begun under the leadership of Prince Charles himself It says what sort of country and people we are and exposes, for a few brief and moving hours, the actual foundations of our civilisation. It is clear that after the turbulent decades since 1953, it cannot be precisely the same as it was then. Yet it must still contain the essence of its might, majesty, dominion and power. As we report today, this work has begun under the leadership of Prince Charles himself. He will be keenly anxious to ensure that it remains Christian without excluding the other faiths now flourishing here. Empire has become Commonwealth. The ancient nobility and the upper- class establishment which still dominated national life 70 years ago have gone, replaced by a far more complex and multi-layered order. And, though many will be saddened to recognise this, the Monarchy can no longer put on such an extravagant show in these more egalitarian times. The Mail on Sunday wishes the Prince well in this endeavour, but also urges him not to let the modernisers change too much. It is all very well to keep up with the times, but some things are eternal, and best left well alone. At last, a Tory rally cry against wokery British Conservatives in recent years have tended to concentrate on Brexit and on the economic battle, against high taxation and extravagance, and against too much State control of business and industry. The post-Thatcher years have not seen much Tory thinking about the deeper issues of human liberty, free speech and thought. In fact, under David Cameron's leadership, the Tories sometimes wandered into wokery themselves. This was never so in the US, where the different wings of conservatism have kept up a lively debate on these subjects. So it is striking and encouraging that Tory Chairman Oliver Dowden is planning to use a platform in Washington DC to launch a rallying cry against the new tyranny of cancel culture. The Mail on Sunday reports today that Mr Dowden will tomorrow call on Conservatives to find the confidence to mount a vigorous defence of the values of a free society. He will warn against social-media mobs but also against the enemies of the West in China and Russia. He will point out that China has not, as some hoped 30 years ago, become politically free because it has embraced free markets and capitalism. These are important points. Mr Dowden is wise to make them and the rest of the Government should heed him. People in Britain are increasingly sick of efforts to tell them what they can and cannot think or say, often enforced by giant social-media corporations based in California and backed by the BBC, which they are also forced to pay for. They are tired of seeing attacks on national heroes such as Winston Churchill. In the political battles to come, the party which fights against wokery and in favour of national pride will have much to gain and nothing to lose. Tom falls for the outrageously good food served up by an East London newcomer Mantecas crab cacio e pepe is all low, peppery, savoury hum David Carter is a Bajan restaurateur who is more interested in the good than the strictly authentic. Which is just fine by me. Sure, with Smokestak, he managed to create a British barbecue restaurant worth writing about. Even my old friend Ardie Davies, over from Kansas City for some serious eating, was impressed. And he cooks, eats and judges the stuff for a living. But while the Smokestak Texas-style brisket could make even an Austin BBQ bore grin like a drunken jackal (not that theyd ever admit it), Carter would never brand it authentic. And so it is with Manteca, his second restaurant, opened with chef Chris Leach (formerly of Pitt Cue and Petersham Nurseries), and now firmly entrenched in the East End, after a few West End cameos. Italian in spirit, but in practice just outrageously good. The room is Shoreditch to its core, the walls bare and unadorned, yet the atmosphere is thicker than the great wodges of their dense, oil-slicked focaccia. An open kitchen, complete with wood oven, sits in the centre. Home-cured charcuterie the most delicately fragrant mortadella and chewy, fat-flecked coins of salami is memorable, cut to order on a hand-cranked slicer. Flavours here are big and bold. Sometimes, they veer towards the deep and thrillingly base. Like a bagna cauda of smooth, gloriously murky depth. And a fine-grained lamb sausage with a wink wink, nudge nudge of offally allure. Or the crab cacio e pepe, all low, peppery, savoury hum, where brown meat meets sharp pecorino. Other dishes are like shoving your head in a massive bass bin of flavour. Puntarelle salad, the crisp, bitter leaves swathed in a chilli, lemon and anchovy dressing, not only electrifies the tastebuds but blasts away any jaded ennui. Pigs tail ragu, heavy on the heat, swaggers and struts like John Travolta with Saturday Night Fever. Curls of homemade garganelli pasta, properly al dente, wear the sauce like a grin. Theres puffy flatbread, blistered and billowing, with a pile of clams in the centre, drenched in garlic butter. And a pigskin ragu thats the edible equivalent of making a silk purse from a pigs well, skin. Scooped up with giant curls of fresh pork crunch, its gentle and discreet. Just like the service. This is cooking to make the heart thump with delight. Not so much authentic as authentically inspired. About 30 per head. Manteca, 49-51 Curtain Road, London EC2; mantecarestaurant.co.uk DRINKS: Ollys pink English fizz Pink English fizz leads the bubbly battle on quality with impressive form. If youre after a quick buy from the high street, Tesco Finest English Sparkling Rose (11.5%), 21, is packed with summer-fruit vitality. But by choosing from the best British growers, spending a few quid more will have you falling in love with every glass. The quality is epic, our homegrown style invigorated by the fresher edge of our cool climate. And their elegance makes these pink English bottles perfect to woo with. If only there was a catchy name glass of Pinglish, anyone? WINE OF THE WEEK Roebuck Rose de Noirs 2016 (12%), 42, roebuck estates.co.uk. Cascading joy in every sip, this feels like strawberries infused with peachy-apricot lushness. Chapel Down Rose Brut (12%), 24.95, master ofmalt.com. A raspberry romp of a wine, this is the best-value pink English fizz to buy right now. Camel Valley 2019 Rose Brut (12.5%), 36, camelvalley.com. If they serve bubbly in heaven, this luxuriant one would be on tap. Paradise in liquid form. Busi Jacobsohn Rose Extra Brut 2018 (12%), 39, busijacobsohn.com. Sherbet red-fruit flair with pin-fine bubbles, this is bullseye brilliance. They scour flea markets and vintage fairs for love letters, postcards and war medals in a bid to return them to their families. Hanna Woodside meets a unique band of historical sleuths To give a family a piece of their history back is the best part of what we do The walls of 34-year-old historical researcher Charlotte Sibtains London home are covered in wedding photographs: hundreds of them. The pictures arent of her own wedding, however, but those of total strangers. I probably have in excess of 400 wedding pictures, she says of the images, which date all the way from the 1800s to the 1960s. Charlottes BBC Radio 4 programme The Wedding Detectives finds her teaming up with YOU magazines Cole Moreton, 54, in an attempt to track down the owners of the photographs which she also shares on her Instagram account @VintageWeddingPhotos. What started as a rescue mission, says Charlotte, took on an emotional aspect. This is someones special day and it made me sad to think they got separated from their albums. It was a way of saving them and celebrating that couple with everyone. A wedding photograph from Charlotte Sibtains collection In each episode, Charlotte and Cole choose a random photo from the collection and attempt to uncover the story of the happy couple before putting the photo back in the hands of someone who will cherish it. Combing through official records and old newspaper articles, visiting key locations and interviewing local historians, they have uncovered tales of heartbreak, scandalous affairs and even murder. But the story that moved Charlotte and Cole the most was that of Bill and Eileen Cunnington, who married in Hackney, East London in October 1939, just after the outbreak of the Second World War. Bill was 26 and Eileen 21. We found out fairly quickly that Bill died the following year. He was a Hurricane pilot and his plane ran out of fuel, crashing into the sea on a mission to Malta; his body was never found, says Cole. But we hoped perhaps Eileen had lived a long life. She joined the WRAF after Bills death, working at RAF Durrington, but died in 1945, just 27 years old, of an agonising stomach disease. Within six years of their wedding day, these two young people had died. When you look at their wedding photo, contained within that picture is a really precious moment, says Cole. You simultaneously feel tremendously sad for them but also pleased youve been able to mark what has happened in their lives. Bill and Eileen Cunningtons wedding day joy in 1939 was to be short-lived Although Bill and Eileen had no children, Charlotte and Cole managed to track down Eileens niece also named Eileen, in honour of her late aunt and return the photo for safe-keeping, much to Charlottes joy: To me, these are treasured items. To be able to give a family a piece of their history back is the best part of what we do. Charlotte and Cole are not the only so-called heirloom detectives with a penchant for the romantic. Chelsey Brown, 28, only began detecting in July 2021, but she has already reunited over 200 families with lost heirlooms: letters, photos, diaries, postcards, drawings and even an old cookbook. The interior designer from New York often scours vintage markets for antiques but spotting personal items always tugs at her heartstrings. I have this feeling whenever I see these heirlooms that they should be with their families, she says. Choosing items with identifying names and addresses, she traces descendants using census records and the ancestry website MyHeritage.com. Lots of people have public family trees on there, so its easy to message them and get a response, explains Chelsey. I guess its bizarre when a stranger says, Hey, I found this item that belonged to your ancestor. But most people are really excited to hear from me. Once I started, I couldnt stop. I became addicted to it. Chelsey cant resist picking up anything with a romantic story behind it. I returned a Valentines Day card to a lady that was from her great-grandfather to her great-grandmother. She had no idea how it ended up at the flea market but she was in tears, she was so excited to get it back. While Chelsey typically buys items that are over 100 years old, a bundle of love letters from the 1960s, written from a soldier named Bobby to his sweetheart Cookie, caught her eye. Incredibly, Chelsey tracked down Cookie, who is now 78 years old. She remembered meeting this man in the 1960s, when she was working as an airline hostess, but never received the letters, says Chelsey. I know she was excited to finally have them but she was also a little sad. A part of her must have been thinking: what if I had received these letters? Occasionally, Chelseys detective work even helps to solve a family mystery. I returned the diary of an 11-year-old girl from 1946. There was an entry in the diary about Uncle Joe falling down the stairs and cracking his skull. The family hadnt known how he had died so suddenly, but I had the answer in my hands. Chelsey loves what she does so much that shes taking a career detour to become a full-time heirloom detective. Sharing her success stories with her 184k followers across Instagram and TikTok, in November she landed a sponsorship deal with MyHeritage. Ive spent thousands on heirlooms and postage but I never ask for payment from the families I contact. Now I can carry on without worrying so much about my rent. Recently she returned a letter written by a Holocaust survivor shortly after she was liberated from a Nazi concentration camp. She wrote to relatives in England to say she was alive, but that everyone else her mum, dad, husband, two sisters had died. It was heartbreaking. She never had children but I was able to return the letter to her great-niece. That was very emotional. For the recipients of the lost treasures, the reunion can be deeply moving. In December 2020, Jocelyn Trent received a message from a stranger on Facebook. He told me he had found two First World War medals, which belonged to my grandfather Charles Sherman over a hundred years ago. And now he wanted to return them to me. It was a bit of a shock. Why did he have them? How did he find me? says the 65-year-old social worker from Peterborough. But it was exciting to know that the medals had somehow survived all these years. When they arrived in the post, I burst into tears. It was very emotional to hold them in my hands. Adam Simpson-Yorks Medals Going Home project reunites families with long-lost war medals; he finds them on Ebay and then searches military archives to trace the original owners The mysterious stranger behind this remarkable good deed? Postman Adam Simpson-York, a 35-year-old father-of-two from Ipswich. Adam is part of a community of heirloom hunters who rescue orphaned artefacts long-lost war medals, old love letters, faded wedding photos from Ebay and car boot sales. They may not be valuable antiques, but they were once treasured objects to the people who owned them. But what possesses someone to spend so much time reuniting strangers with an old family heirloom? For Adam, it started as a way to pass the time during the winter lockdown in 2020. With a longstanding interest in genealogy, having successfully traced his own family tree, Adam decided to use his research skills on a new project. There are thousands of old war medals on Ebay, he says. I thought: why not try to get them to the soldiers relatives? Since Adam Simpson-York starting the Medals Going Home project, he has returned almost 40 medals (mainly from the First World War) to grateful families across the UK Since starting the Medals Going Home project, he has returned almost 40 medals (mainly from the First World War) to grateful families across the UK. Around the rim theres usually a surname and a regiment number. Thats all I need to get started, says Adam, who pays roughly 20-30 for each medal. Searching online archives of military records to identify the medals original owner, he uses the digital National Archives and Ancestry.com to build a family tree. It takes some digging, but Im a problem-solver. Im good at this sort of thing. If Adam finds a living relative, he contacts them via Facebook. Jocelyn is delighted her grandfathers medals, honouring his service as a siege battery gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, are now in their rightful home. But it wasnt just the medals that she got back. Thanks to Adams research into her family tree, Jocelyn discovered that she had a whole family she knew nothing about: Sadly, I have lost my husband, both parents and my brother, so I thought my only family was my daughter and she lives in Hawaii. Then I find out I have 18 second cousins! Adam put me in touch and its been lovely chatting with them, says Jocelyn. What Adam has done is absolutely incredible. I gained a new family in the space of 24 hours. For the past two decades, Helen Baggott, 60, has been collecting postcards from the turn of the 20th century, looking into the lives of the people they were sent to all those years ago. You can search the address on Google Maps, and if the original house is still there its lovely to imagine them walking up the steps to their front door, says Helen, a freelance writer and editor in North Dorset. She now has more than 500 postcards and has shared many of them in her two books, Posted in the Past and Posted in the Past: Second Delivery. Its almost like the postcards are waiting to share a story. Theyre a real snapshot of someones life. The first postcard Helen Baggott researched was sent to soldier Gilbert Freedman in 1913. The very first postcard Helen researched was sent in 1913 to a soldier living in Londons Chelsea Barracks. I discovered that Gilbert Freedman, the soldier, had been killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. I wanted to honour the life he sacrificed, and tell his story. After months of painstaking research, she wrote up Gilberts life story in a blog post and shared it on Facebook. Miraculously, by the following morning, the granddaughter of the brother who sent the postcard contacted me. It was a real wow moment like it was meant to happen. People are very pleased their ancestors are being remembered, that they havent been forgotten, says Helen. There are so many history books about the rich and the famous but ordinary people matter, too. Like Helen, Lynn Heiden cant help but feel a connection to the strangers she spends weeks researching. Lynn, 68, also from Dorset, has collected hundreds of vintage photo albums the oldest dating back to 1856 since retiring in 2005. Every day, she posts a photo from her collection on Twitter (@lynnswaffles), writing detailed blogs about the people pictured in them. I like to create a family tree for each of them, so relatives can find them if theyre searching online. So far she has been able to reunite over 20 families with photos of their ancestors. Lynn Heiden has photo albums dating back to 1856 Among Lynns favourite finds is a set of photos she bought on a whim at an antiques fair; it was only when she got home that Lynn realised they belonged to Mary Ansell, the actress wife of Peter Pan author J M Barrie. Many of the photos had never been published before. Lynn pieced together Marys life story on her blog and shared copies of the unseen photos. Over Christmas 2020 I received an email from a lady called Jessica in California. She had started researching her family history and found my blog. She was a descendant of Mary Ansell but had no idea about the J M Barrie connection. We had a long chat and I was able to send all the photos over to her. So now theyre with their rightful family. They were two 1970s TV stars whose paths never quite crossed until, five decades later, Cupid struck by video call during the pandemic. PATRICK DUFFY and LINDA PURL tell Sarfraz Manzoor about the romance that took them both by surprise Top row, from left: Patrick and Linda in Mexico, July 2021, watching Bond movie No Time To Die in November, and meeting canine war heroes. Middle row, from left: happy at home last May, exploring Cheyenne canyon in Colorado in August, and at a friends wedding in December. Bottom row, from left: getting through quarantine their way, April 2021, and out and about always together, November 2020 and January 2021 It is late January and in the upstairs office of a building close to Paddington station, actors Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl are sitting together. He is 72, she is 66 and they are holding hands. The official reason for talking to them is so they can promote Catch Me If You Can the play in which they both star, which opened last week and continues touring around the country until the summer. The actual reason I want to talk to them is because Patrick and Linda are a real-life couple. Their relationship started just before the pandemic, at a time in both their lives when they had given up on ever finding love again. Theirs is a gloriously open-hearted and inspiring love story, and it starts with a flashback. Patrick in the 70s show Man From Atlantis Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. Patrick is starring in the sci-fi television series Man from Atlantis, but the show is rumoured to be getting cancelled after the first season. Patrick is looking around for his next project. He is sent a script for a show called Young Pioneers, a western series starring Linda. Patrick reads the script but decides to pass on it. He accepts another television offer instead a soap named after the city in which it is set: Dallas. And so they never met and both Patrick and Lindas lives followed their own arcs, only to intersect decades on. This needed to happen now, not then, says Patrick, who famously played Bobby Ewing. I feel that this happened 18 months ago because it was the precise time in my life when I needed her. Linda is less well known in the UK, but she has been a TV fixture since the 1970s when she played The Fonzs girlfriend Ashley in Happy Days and more recently appeared in Homeland and the American version of The Office. Their relationship histories during that time could hardly have been more different. Patrick met and married the ballet dancer Carlyn Rosser in the early 70s and the couple remained solidly and happily married until she died in 2017. Linda has been married four times including to Desi Arnaz Jr (son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) for a year in the early 80s, and screenwriter Alexander Cary, with whom she has a son, Lucius, born in 1995. Mines more colourful, she says, but there has been a lifelong desire for continuity, consistency and shared experience. It just took a different path to get here. Linda as Ashley in Happy Days The path began in the autumn of 2019. Patrick and Linda both attended an event in LA where they met through a mutual friend, who set up a text chat with the three of them but soon dropped out of the group, leaving Patrick and Linda to text each other. That soon led to weekly FaceTime sessions Patrick on location filming in Canada and Linda in New York where she was performing in a play. Id say, Heres what my ranch looks like, and shed say, Heres my apartment, recalls Patrick. We did a FaceTime every Wednesday. So about three weeks into that, I said, Is there any reason Sunday cant be Wednesday? And then the pandemic hit. Confined to their homes Patrick at his ranch in Oregon and Linda in Colorado they moved from FaceTime to Zoom. We Zoomed for a couple of months for two to three hours a night, says Linda. Seven days a week, adds Patrick. The more they talked, the more they found they had in common not just the television industry, but finding solace in family and children. We found all of this common turf and then we would drop down to a different level, says Linda. Patrick would read me a poem hed written. Hello! He writes poetry After his wife died, Patrick retreated to his ranch where he spent 18 months almost entirely on his own. I had all these emotions, he recalls, not just about the relationship [with Carlyn] but about life, so I would walk around the ranch and think in a way and to a depth I had not before. The poem he read to Linda was about an old tree in an orchard that was dead but written from the point of view of the tree. Months later, when we were a couple, Linda actually got a bunch of my poems, put them in a little book and gave them to me, says Patrick. When he was not reading poems to Linda, he would listen to music that she would put on Barbers Adagio for Strings. She says we listened to music together, says Patrick, but she would listen to the music and I would watch her listening to the music. I feel this happened because it was the precise time in my life when I needed her. Patrick and Linda today They talked and talked and the pandemic pushed them further into each others minds and hearts. One night, around two months into their nightly Zoom sessions, Patrick signed off by saying I love you and then hanging up. That was a big floor drop, says Linda. I probably tarted up a bit more for the next Zoom, just to be sure. The next night was kind of frightening, admits Patrick. A line had been crossed and then the conversation became that it would be great to see her. Linda ended the Zoom saying they would talk tomorrow. Patrick had a response ready he would drive to see her. It was 24 June 2020. I drove 23 hours nonstop to end up on her doorstep, Patrick says. When the GPS told me I was five minutes from her home I pulled over and changed from my shorts and sh***y shirt into good pants and a nice shirt. I water-slicked my hair back. I gargled. I put a little cologne on and I got back in the car. I think I changed my outfit about ten times that morning, recalls Linda. It was juvenile and delightful. Patrick turned up at her doorstep. They had spent many, many hours in each others company from different states and now they were standing opposite each other. Hello, Patrick said to Linda. May I kiss you? Two weeks passed. Patrick had to return to the ranch but there was one problem. I knew I had to leave, he says, but I knew I didnt want to leave her. One evening they were sitting around a fire pit in the back yard of Lindas home having a drink when Patrick said, I need to talk to you about something. Linda feared he was about to end things and braced herself for the bad news. I said, I really have to leave the day after tomorrow, but is there any reason you cant come with me? She packed her bag and we drove 23 hours in the opposite direction and weve never been apart since. After that trip to Colorado, Patrick and Linda quarantined together in preparation to both appear in the same TV movie. Now they are also starring in a play that will similarly mean they will be spending nearly all of their waking hours together. It was very odd to walk to and from the set holding hands, says Linda. And very odd to be at the end of a particular take when I got a pat on the bottom saying, Good job. She laughs. The chemistry and affection between the couple is palpable during our chat Linda instinctively puts her hand on Patricks knee and they often hold hands as they talk. Life is fantastic, absolutely fantastic, enthuses Patrick. Im as happy now as I was in the first year of being with my wife. He was in his early 20s then, 50 years ago. I want to know what was different about falling in love at this time in their lives. So many of the boxes are ticked, says Linda. We are not at the bottom of the mountain building our careers we are very happy if we get to work, but were also happy if were not working. The day we finally met, I changed clothes about ten times. It was juvenile and delightful. The ability to discuss any subject isnt scary now, adds Patrick. Neither of us is really invested in protecting ourselves. Its something you learn as you mature. One of the things I learned in a relationship is to acquiesce without feeling that youre giving up anything. Its a learning process not to keep a debit book: I did that for you two days ago, so you owe me one. Those are the advantages, but surely, I ask, there must be downsides? The older one gets, the greater the chance that you get set in your ways, which can pose a challenge to relationships. I enjoy my alone time, but she enjoys being sociable much more, Patrick says. Her happy places are at the beach, hiking in the mountains or mountain-biking. I dont do that. The reason that those differences did not pull them apart, he says, is that he viewed the relationship as two people moving in tandem but not dependent on each other. Their support for each other extends to their children. Lucius fell in love with Patrick and has thanked him often, says Linda. He has, on several occasions, written specifically to say, Im so glad youre in my mothers life. Ive never seen her so happy, says Patrick, who has two sons Padraic, born in 1974, and Conor, born in 1980. And my boys have seen me happier than I had been in five years. While their dating histories are very different, both Patrick and Linda had been single for around the same length of time when they met and neither seriously rated their chances of falling in love again. How much, I wonder, did they believe in fate? You have to put in the effort and you have to be bold, says Patrick, but I think the forces of the universe are working for all of us. I ask Linda the same question. She tells me about an interview she read about a man who rowed across the Atlantic and was asked by a journalist if, when the boat was being tossed upside down, he cried out for God? And he said, No, I had to reach for the oar, and once I did the reaching then God would help me. The secret, then, if there is a secret, is both Patrick and Linda remained hopeful about falling in love and open to that possibility. Both retain a keen sense of gratitude for the way their story has unfolded. That is why their tale is so joyful and ultimately inspiring. Its astonishing that this has happened, for both of us, says Linda. Im grateful and pretty much in a state of wonder. She pauses, turns to Patrick and then to me and says, What are the chances? Her books have been warming hearts for a more than a century but, says Kate Thompson, the heartbreaking story of the authors doomed romance is the most moving of all Beatrix in 1890, when she was in her mid-20s, and her first love, editor Norman Warne Beatrix looks up from her writing desk in surprise. The housekeeper has delivered an elegant parcel from Hamleys toy store on Londons Regent Street. Just arrived, Miss Potter. For me? she murmurs, setting down her pen. Hidden in the folds of tissue is a set of exquisite dolls house furniture, from tiny gilt chairs down to a miniature side of ham. It is an odd choice of gift for a 39-year-old spinster, but evidence of the growing bond between her and her dashing editor Norman Warne. The love story between Beatrix and Norman is one not just of personal but also of professional admiration. As her editor, he wanted to encourage her work and so, when she told him about her idea for The Tale of Two Bad Mice (which she would also illustrate), he sent her dolls house furniture so she could copy it. Beatrix, in turn, never forgot to let him know how important these gifts were to her. Dear Mr Warne, she wrote in one letter. I received the parcel from Hamleys: the things will all do beautifully. I am getting almost more treasures than I can squeeze into one small book. Peter Rabbit In some ways Beatrix was not a romantic. Unlike many of her female contemporaries, she envisaged a life beyond that of a wife. A barristers daughter, born into a Victorian upper-middle-class family, she defied convention early on by refusing to be pressurised into an advantageous match. She once (while recovering from rheumatic fever) wrote in her diary: I am well content to have a red nose and a shorn head, I may be lonely, but better that than an unhappy marriage. In 1901, the 35-year-old Beatrix self-published The Tale of Peter Rabbit which soon attracted the interest of Frederick Warne Publishers. It was an instant success when published in 1902 the year she met Norman, then 34 and within a year there were a further five editions. What an appalling quantity of Peter, she remarked, in her typically dry style. Just when it appeared that Beatrix now very old for a first-time bride of that era would die a spinster, love blossomed across the printing presses. Their courtship was conducted in a cloud of Edwardian restraint and propriety, says Sarah Gristwood, author of The Story of Beatrix Potter. Even when, in the summer of 1905, Norman wrote her a letter proposing marriage, it crossed in the post with a business letter from Beatrix addressed to Dear Mr Warne and signed off I remain yrs sincerely Beatrix Potter. But that doesnt detract from the strength of their feelings indeed, if you look at their correspondence, Beatrix had been dropping hints for some time that she would like the relationship to grow closer, telling him of a long walk shed like to have taken, making a point of adding that, unfortunately, I have no one to walk with. By the time Norman proposed, he was 37 and Beatrix 39. It was an equal and creative partnership which led to love. Beatrix saw her path to independence through her writing and Norman was always encouraging. He would have been an escape from her family home, and a chance to enter into a marriage to someone who wouldnt stop her from writing and creating, explains Helen Antrobus of the National Trust, a co-curator of the V&A Museums new Beatrix Potter: Drawn To Nature exhibition that celebrates the authors life and works. Not everyone, however, was so enamoured. Beatrixs unbending mother was shocked and deeply disapproved of the union. Her mother didnt see Norman as a suitable match for her daughter, says Helen. She saw his family as being tradespeople, which is ironic considering the Potters were from Lancashire industrialist stock. In her letters with Norman, Beatrix said of her mother, People who only see her casually do not know how disagreeable she can be when she takes dislikes. Beatrix in 1938, And so the engagement wasnt announced, despite Beatrix wearing Normans gold engagement ring. At the end of July 1905, reaching a deadlock, she accompanied her family on holiday to North Wales. Perhaps she hoped to gently bring her parents round to the love match? On 24 August she wrote Norman a tongue-in-cheek letter about their future life together a silly letter all about my rabbits, and the walking stick that I was going to get for him to thrash his wife with, she recorded in her diary but he was never to read it. The next morning, she received a telegram from Normans sister Millie telling her that he was gravely ill. Her urgent journey from Wales was to no avail; he had already succumbed to his illness by the time she reached his home. Tragically, Norman had died from a rare form of leukaemia, aged just 37. The potential of their marriage was never to be fulfilled. It was a heartbreak from which Beatrix would never truly recover. Summoning all her stoicism, she wrote later that she was glad she had not reached London in time to see Norman alive, confessing, I should only have cried and upset him. But that was far from the whole story, Sarah Gristwood says. Months afterwards, Beatrix confessed to his sister Millie that when he proposed: I thought my story had come right with patience and waiting. Her engagement present to him had been a drawing of Cinderellas carriage the image of an escape. But now the carriage was turned back into a pumpkin. Determined to be brave, she wrote to Millie that she must try to make a fresh beginning. That meant looking to the Lake District, a place she had fallen in love with on childhood holidays, and the setting of many of her books. After his untimely demise, I dont think she ever stopped searching for a sense of home, Helen Antrobus adds. This explains why, three months after her fiances death, using royalties from her books, she bought Hill Top farm in Near Sawrey, a village she called as nearly perfect a little place as I have ever lived. She retreated there, with Normans dolls house furniture, to reflect on a life that never was. The solitude of the Lake District did eventually work its healing power on the grief-stricken Beatrix. Aged 47, she met and married a respected local solicitor called William Heelis, with whom she had a 30-year relationship. But Norman held a piece of her heart for ever and she wore his ring on her right hand for the rest of her life. Beatrix Potter at Hill Top farm in the Lake District, 1907, where she retreated after Norman died In a letter to Millie dated November 1918, five years after her marriage, she recalls how she nearly lost the ring lifting wet sheaves in the cornfield. My hand felt very strange and uncomfortable without it. The Hamleys dolls house furniture given to her by Norman as a token of his esteem remains at the National Trust-managed Hill Top farm to this day, as do many of her treasured belongings. Even after Normans death, her letters refer to him liking a certain colour or landscape, says Helen. Continuing the work they started together was a process Beatrix used to heal from his death; he lived on in the tales that he helped to shape. Beatrix died of bronchitis on 22 December 1943 at her Lake District home. She was 77. The National Trust described her as a many-sided genius. Legions of fans remember her as the creator of Britains most mischievous bunny. Her books have sold over 250 million copies, which have been translated into 46 languages. Nearly 80 years on from her death, her stories continue to delight. What a bitter irony, therefore, that the one tale she never managed to complete was her first and forbidden love story. Nine million households are signed up to green energy tariffs with the promise of fuel from clean, renewable energy. Yet all are seeing their bills rocket sometimes even more than non-green tariffs leaving many questioning why they are just as exposed to the explosion in wholesale gas prices as those on standard energy tariffs. A look under the bonnet of some green tariffs reveals that households who have taken them out are right to feel a sense of outrage. Critics accuse some suppliers of 'greenwashing' claiming their tariffs are renewable when they do not generate a single megawatt of clean energy. Off colour: Critics accuse some suppliers of 'greenwashing' claiming their tariffs are renewable when they do not generate a single megawatt of clean energy Others are accused of 'green shuffling' using accounting quirks to make some tariffs appear renewable. And in some cases, firms are claiming they are helping the environment by offering renewable tariffs while simultaneously investing in fossil fuel production. So are you being conned? The Mail on Sunday investigates... Why are green tariffs going up? Wholesale gas prices are rocketing worldwide a result of a cold winter in Europe running down reserves, increased demand from China and limited supply from Russia. You might wonder why these factors impact on green energy such as solar and wind. But the truth is, whether you are on a green or standard tariff, you receive exactly the same energy mix at home as your neighbour. The regulator Ofgem likens the system to a giant smoothie. Energy from various sources coal, gas, nuclear, wind and solar is pumped into the National Grid. Once there, they are blended so that what is poured into each household is a mix of energy produced from many sources. What one household receives is no different from another. So, when you turn your kettle on to make a cup of tea, it may be running on coal dug up in Russia or a wind turbine turning in the North Sea. In short, if you get your energy from the National Grid as most of us do, you cannot specify you only want green energy. So what is it that makes a tariff green? Energy companies have devised a number of workarounds to offer green tariffs. The first is by investing in renewable energy projects such as wind turbines and solar farms. By pumping renewable energy into the grid equivalent to that consumed by green customers, suppliers can legitimately claim they are making a tangible, positive impact on the UK's energy mix. The second is by signing contracts with renewable energy producers, agreeing to buy the power they produce. The third and most common method is even more tenuous. It does not involve buying or investing directly in energy from renewable sources. Instead, the suppliers purchase certificates in recognition of renewable energy produced somewhere at some point in the UK. It is this strategy which experts are most critical of. Certificates, known as Regos (Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin), are issued every time a unit of renewable energy is produced. One Rego is worth one megawatt-hour of energy. Producers can sell these certificates to anyone. Suppliers buy them to match the energy consumed by their customers on green tariffs. That way, they can say that while their customers may be using non-green energy, they are supporting renewable energy production. Suppliers with green tariffs backed purely by Regos include Outfox the Market and Utility Warehouse. It is debatable whether buying Regos leads to additional renewable energy production. Regos are cheap around 2 each, or just a few pounds to cover a household's energy consumption for a full year. Oliver Archer, analyst at energy consultant Cornwall Insight, says: 'Although Regos have been going up in price, they are still too cheap and volatile to be hugely impactful to the business case. 'At their current prices, a decision on whether to invest in a renewables project shouldn't be won or lost based on the value from selling Regos.' Which tariffs are the most costly? In a spin: All suppliers are required to publish the fuel mix of their electricity supply, and how it compares to the UK average Given that the actual energy you are using at home comes from the same source, regardless of whether the tariff is badged as 'green', you might assume the surging gas price affects all customers equally. But, counter intuitively, it is green tariffs offered by suppliers investing directly in renewable energy production that can be the most expensive. Ofgem, the energy regulator, has given Good Energy, Green Energy UK and Ecotricity special dispensation to set prices in excess of the energy price cap in recognition of their direct investment in renewable energy projects. The regulator also argues that households have chosen such tariffs specifically because of their green credentials, so their tariff choice is unlikely to have been driven purely by price. Green Energy UK says its variable tariff is at the cap, while Ecotricity and Good Energy both exceed it. This means that a household on a dual tariff (gas and electricity) with Green Energy UK will pay on average 1,277 a year. The equivalent figures for Ecotricity and Good Energy are 2,179 and 2,230 respectively. Like all fixed rate tariffs, green equivalents are alarmingly expensive. Of the 23 tariffs currently available, comparison website Uswitch says 14 are green. But the five most costly fixed rate tariffs are badged green. The two most expensive are offered by Outfox The Market. Its two one-year green fixes are priced at 3,057 and 3,398 per annum for an average household. To put these figures into perspective, you could take out a 12-month fix from SSE, which is non-green, and would cost 2,100 a year. Can I find out how green my tariff is? The price comparison website Uswitch issues gold, silver and bronze accreditation for green tariffs. When it was last updated in 2021, seven Good Energy tariffs and one British Gas tariff were awarded gold. All suppliers are required to publish the fuel mix of their electricity supply, and how it compares to the UK average. This will give you an idea about where your energy comes from. However, take it with a pinch of salt, for the reasons we have already explained. What about green gas? It is all but impossible to be ecofriendly and use gas. That is why over the long term, the best way to reduce the carbon footprint of our energy supply is by using less and switching from gas to electricity for example, using heat pumps (too expensive for most at the moment) rather than traditional gas boilers. Green gas can be created by breaking down organic materials such as food and farm waste in huge tanks or digesters. However, there is currently insufficient capacity in the UK to supply all of our homes. Green Energy UK provides solely green gas. Other energy suppliers that offer green gas tariffs tend to invest in biogas sources and then offset the remaining proportion of energy that is not green by investing in renewable schemes. For example, supplier Ovo offers 100 per cent carbon-neutral energy with its Beyond tariff. Supply is based around 15 per cent of green gas with the rest offset, for example, by paying towards saving rainforests in Guatemala and planting trees in Uganda. As with Regos, this is all rather abstract. Only individual customers can decide whether they are content to buy a carbon-neutral tariff that is based on paying to encourage trees not to be cut down in South America. But, at the moment, there is little alternative. Can a supplier be green and make fossil fuels? Shell offers 100 per cent renewable tariffs, a claim it makes by backing its retail supply with Regos. However, it will be news to no one that Shell is also one of the world's biggest fossil fuel producers. Energy supplier Good Energy claims some suppliers are guilty of 'green shuffling' making some tariffs look greener simply by making others less green. Ian McKee, at Good Energy, explains: 'Suppliers can make some tariffs look greener by keeping their total energy mix the same, but claiming some tariffs have a higher proportion of renewable energy while others have more dirty, brown energy.' Domestic customers may wonder if they are having a positive impact by opting for a supplier that offers a high proportion of renewables but only because, as a result of an accounting quirk, their brown energy is being shifted elsewhere. Eon's fuel mix data reveals that renewables make up an impressive 81.9 per cent of energy supplied to its domestic customers and small businesses more than double the UK average. However, its corporate customers receive just 27.7 per cent renewables, and a greater proportion of natural gas than the UK average. A new Big Bang for the City? That is the way the ideas outlined last week by John Glen MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, for a new more competitive and agile regulatory framework have been greeted. For anyone familiar with the renaissance of London following the reforms of financial regulation in 1986, it is a seductive precedent. Now that the UK is free from EU regulation the head of a huge British enterprise once described this to me as 'the ball and chain of Europe' we are free to get rid of restrictive practices, as we did then, and allow the financial services industry to go outright for the global market. Seductive, but misleading. What happened then was that we replaced its home-grown regulations with the international ones developed by the US. Fast forward: The challenge is to look at all the reasons why business might go elsewhere The UK system, including the split between jobbers and brokers on the stock exchange, and between investment banking (merchant banking as we called it then) and commercial banking, had become impossible to sustain. It was hard, for example, to justify fixed commissions for trading stocks and shares, but our jobbers and brokers were too small to survive without that price cartel. So we went global, which led to a huge boom in London's overall financial business, but at the cost of losing British ownership of most of the brokers, jobbers, and merchant banks. It's different now. What's in prospect is tweaking the present regulations, some of which have been brought in as part of our membership of the EU, and some of which are home-grown, so that we can do two things. One is to increase our share of global financial business. The other is to make it easier to get more of the pile of cash waiting to find a home into productive investment in Britain. Both are admirable. One of the things I have found frustrating is the focus of much of the commentary on the amount of business lost as a result of leaving the EU. There was always going to be some shift because Europe was going to try to use its regulatory powers to make companies move. So there have been the 7,000 jobs that are reported to have gone to European centres. But in the first quarter of last year there were 1,140,000 jobs in financial services in the UK, including 548,000 in London and the South East. That overall figure has been remarkably stable for 30 years. It was 1,113,000 in 1992, and 1,119,000 in 2016 on the eve of the Brexit vote. Fussing about the odd 7,000 jobs going is absurd. What matters is whether new business, and the employment that goes with it, is coming to London. Are we getting our share of new listings? Does it matter if Arm, the chip designer for mobile phones, gets its primary quote in New York rather than London? Is Deloitte right with its Global City report that London is number one city in the world for fintech companies, with more than 2,100 of them? My answers to those questions, by the way, are: we are doing better, but still a fair way behind New York; I am afraid it does a bit; and yes, absolutely. You see the point. Business is fluid. What matters is how much new stuff you can generate, not how much old stuff you can cling on to. So the challenge is to look at all the reasons why business might go elsewhere, or the ways silly bureaucratic requirements add to admin costs. Mr Glen talked of a 'new agility' in regulation. Well, yes. But tell that to someone I know who had to supply both their driving licence and the 30-digit code on the bottom of their passport to show they were suitable to be a trustee of a charity, apparently to comply with money laundering legislation. Actually, I suspect that issues such as the ease of getting visas for foreign staff are just as important for the UK's international business as financial regulation. A final point. Finance is a service industry. It collects savings and channels them into investments. Some parts work reasonably well. The home loans business is an example of that, and the UK is the largest residential mortgage market in Europe. The international financial business, taken as a whole, works well, for if it didn't, London would not rank alongside New York as one of the two financial capitals of the world. What we now need is attention to detail. Small changes that remove blockages in the flow of funds, and small changes that keep the system sweet and bring the chancers to heel. The army of activist investors laying siege to some of Britain's biggest firms are underestimating bosses, according to one of the City's most influential money managers. Fund star Nick Train, who manages Lindsell Train and Finsbury Growth & Income Trust, warned that even many major investors don't have the 'faintest idea' how to run a multinational so should be cautious about dispensing advice. A dozen FTSE100 groups worth almost 500billion in total have been targeted by agitators including telecoms giant Vodafone, consumer goods maker Unilever and pharma firm GlaxoSmithKline. Not the 'faintest idea': A dozen FTSE100 groups worth almost 500billion in total have been targeted by agitators But City veteran Train who has a fiercely loyal following of small investors swept aside the activists' concerns and said shareholders should focus on the long term. Speaking on the sidelines of the Finsbury annual meeting, he told The Mail on Sunday: 'I worry that many people like me actually haven't the faintest idea how to run a company of the scale and complexity of a Vodafone or Unilever. 'It's very easy for people sitting looking at a Bloomberg screen, who can buy and sell a billion pounds of the company, to say, 'Oh, you just need to press a button'. Running businesses I know enough about it to know it's not as easy as that.' However, he added that it could be a 'healthy thing' for some companies and investment trust managers to be challenged by activists or bids from private equity firms. 'Nature abhors a vacuum and when corporate assets are run in a mediocre way or [share] prices fall to clearly attractively low prices there will be a mechanism whereby that value can be realised,' Train said. At the event, held in the City's grand Guildhall, Train admitted that Finsbury had underperformed its benchmark. The fund's performance was hindered by struggles at key holdings including the London Stock Exchange Group, online stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown and Unilever. He took the opportunity to reiterate his support for Unilever chief executive Alan Jope, who is facing pressure from activist Nelson Peltz after a failed 50billion attempt to buy GlaxoSmithKline's consumer goods arm. Train, whose fund owns a 1.24billion stake in Unilever, said the deal was a 'rational' move, but that the timing was 'unfortunate' after two Covid-hit years. He added: 'I suspect that investors would have applauded it to the rafters [two years ago]. Now the thing is held in derision. It's a bit unfair, frankly.' In a warning to Peltz, Train said: 'This is a business that for half a century or more has generated reliable growing dividends and returns for its owners, and provided a secure, relatively risk-free investment for widows and orphans. 'Investors have to be careful about allowing or condoning any smashing up of a corporate asset that has achieved something like that. It has been a magnificent business.' Train revealed that investors drawing cash out of the fund had forced him to sell his stake in the education group Pearson, which is also under attack from an activist, Cevian Capital. However, the investment guru has backed Hargreaves Lansdown to grow market share this year, and said he had beefed up its stake in the London Stock Exchange Group due to confidence in its 20billion takeover of data firm Refinitiv. Virgin Media has terminated a landmark mobile phone deal, delivering another blow to Vodafone boss Nick Read. The pair had agreed a five-year deal, running from January 2021, to launch 5G services for Virgin Mobile's three million customers. Split: Virgin completed a 31billion tie-up with O2 last year, prompting speculation that Vodafone would be replaced The agreement ended a 20-year relationship with BT-owned EE. But in a shock letter to bondholders, Virgin said 'notice has been given to cancel this agreement'. Virgin completed a 31billion tie-up with O2 last year, prompting speculation that Vodafone would be replaced. The switch could begin as early as this year well before the scheduled 2026 end date. Analysts at Enders said it could represent a 'substantial' hit to Vodafone's profits. Read is working to reshape the 37billion Vodafone group under pressure from activist investor Cevian Capital. The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that Vodafone had embarked on a secret overhaul codenamed Project Galaxy, designed to reorganise its global enterprise division. The company has looked at buying rival mobile firm Three and last week regulator Ofcom opened the door to the tie-up by indicating that its concerns over mobile consolidation had eased. Separately, Vodafone rejected a 9.2billion approach for its Italian business from France's Iliad and Apax Partners. The City watchdog should install an independent chair of embattled insurer LV, say angry MPs. A botched sale to private equity firm Bain Capital has left LV's 1.2million members in limbo and has forced chairman Alan Cook to step down in April. LV had tried to push through the takeover on the premise it could not survive as a standalone mutual. Writing on the wall: A botched sale to private equity firm Bain Capital has left LV's 1.2million members in limbo But in a sharp U-turn, LV said it was a sustainable business on its own, as it dropped separate merger talks with rival Royal London. The debacle has raised questions over the Financial Conduct Authority which gave the Bain deal the green light. Labour MP Gareth Thomas, chair of the parliamentary group on mutuals, said: 'It appears the FCA is either asleep at the wheel or has decided the consumers and owners of LV do not deserve its attention. It suggests the board of LV, despite its obvious inconsistencies, should be allowed to do whatever it wants. 'A good regulator would demand an independent chair and a board fully committed to mutuality.' Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake said: 'The FCA has a responsibility to properly look and decide whether LV contrived the situation with Bain or whether there was a genuine need for it. The FCA should lean on the board to appoint a chair who believes in mutuality.' The FCA said: 'Our role, under the law, was to ensure customers are treated fairly and we challenged the firm to make sure this happened.' Yesterday it emerged interim chair Seamus Creedon was also due to take a role with Bain if the deal had succeeded, alongside Cook and LV chief executive Mark Hartigan. Georgia lawmakers seek to improve internet connectivity in residences in rural areas, which has been a challenge for many people during the pandemic. Governor Brian Kemp announced earlier that homes and companies in 70 counties across the state of Georgia would get a total of $400 million to improve internet access and speed. According to a WRBL report, part of the funds will come from the American Rescue Plan act. The funding will be used to construct towers, add cable lines, and broaden internet access in areas without online access. According to state lawmakers, it will help adults who need telehealth and children cope better with virtual learning. In 2021, applications for the grant money were submitted to the Broadband Infrastructure Committee, prioritizing those underserved and un-served communities. According to State Senator Dr. Ben Watson, it is not fair for children in the urban areas to have internet access while those in the rural areas do not at times. He believes that the measure "would make it an even playing field." Read Also: Facebook's Meta Says It's Building World's Faster AI Supercomputer, Promises Free Internet Access Safe Internet for Minors Pushed by Lawmakers, Groups Meanwhile, Georgia lawmakers moved two measures that aim to restrict public school students' access to obscene or inappropriate materials and online content. On Thursday, a House Education panel approved House Bill 1217, which expands Georgia's requirements to ban schoolchildren from using school computers or internet networks to access information that is hazardous to minors. It is now up to the full committee to take action on it. The House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed Senate Bill 226 on a split vote a day earlier. The proposal seeks to create a process for parents to demand the removal of books and other materials. It moves forward for consideration by the full House. The internet filtering bill requires Georgia's Department of Education to publish standards yearly that will serve as guidelines for districts in using internet filters that would block online content that is obscene and harmful to minors, as per News Channel 9. It also requires the use of notification systems that will inform district personnel when a school computer or network is utilized to access inappropriate content. Technical support, a list of eligible vendors, and training guidelines for school districts would also be required from the state. Starting in the fall of 2022, each school district or charter school would be required to present an annual copy of its acceptable use policy and filtering systems to the state for evaluation. Internet Filter Bill To Protect Families Republican lawmaker Chris Erwin of Homer, the sponsor of the bill, said that the "technology-based bill" is meant "to serve" families and "to protect those youngest learners," as per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution report. Some advocates show their support for the bill as some local schools reportedly fail to take action on parents' complaints. Taylor Hawkins of Frontline Policy Action, a conservative group, said that several schools "have shut down parents' concerns" with hearing their sides on the issues of the young students' access to inappropriate materials. But according to opponents, once it becomes a law, book titles with topics preparing teenagers for adulthood, such as racism, sexuality, or violence, will be banned. Related Article: Everything You Need To Know About Internet Speeds @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 'Slap in the face': Mark Hartigan blew up to 43m of members' money LV chief executive Mark Hartigan is under pressure to give up his bonus after his botched attempt to sell the insurer to American buyout barons. Hartigan is in line for a bonus of up to 740,000 for 2021. But critics said it would be a 'slap in the face' if the ex-army colonel received more than his basic salary of 435,000. Hartigan and departing chairman Alan Cook tried to sell the mutual to Bain Capital for 530m until members voted against it in December. Hartigan claimed LV could not continue as a standalone company. He blew up to 43m of members' money on lawyers, advisers and spin doctors to push the deal, which could have landed him a pay rise. But last week the company revealed it is in good health and can thrive on its own. It ended merger talks with Royal London. This sparked calls for Hartigan to apologise and resign, and critics say 'the very least' he should do is give up his bonus. LV's ousted chairman Alan Cook is still collecting his 205,000 a year salary until he leaves at the end of March. Of Hartigan, Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, who sits on the Treasury select committee, said: 'It is unfathomable to think of any other line of work in which somebody could perform so disgracefully yet be rewarded so handsomely. 'Mark Hartigan has wasted tens of millions of pounds of members money, it beggars belief he is now in line for a bumper bonus as well. 'If he had a shred of decency he would apologise and leave but, at a bare minimum, he must give up his bonus.' And Labour MP Gareth Thomas, chairman of Parliament's all-party group on mutuals, said: 'A bonus should be a reward, whereas the only thing Mr Hartigan needs is to be shown the door. 'If he refuses to quit, the least he can do is give up his bonus. Failing that, the company should scrap it. Any bonus to this woefully inept chief executive would be a disgrace and a slap in the face to hard-working members.' LV refused to commit to scrapping the bonus. Cook will leave as part of a shake-up, alongside independent director David Barral and non-executives Alison Hutchinson and Luke Savage. Seamus Creedon, another non-executive director, becomes interim chairman on April 1. NatWest has become the first bank this year to push through a new round of branch closures. Although the bank made no official announcement of the 32 branches that it will axe across its NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland brands later this year, it confirmed its decision after it was leaked to The Mail on Sunday. 'We can confirm we've made the difficult decision to close 32 branches,' it said. 'These are under the NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland brands in England and Wales.' It added that the closures were a result of 'most of our customers shifting to mobile and online banking because it's faster and easier for people to manage their financial lives'. A sign of the times: NatWest made no official announcement of the 32 branches that it will axe The closures are the first to attract independent scrutiny from cash machine network provider Link under a new scheme agreed with the banks by the Access to Cash Action Group. The scheme is designed to protect communities which are losing their last high street bank branch. The group, chaired by 'cash champion' Natalie Ceeney, has persuaded the banks to sign up to a voluntary arrangement whereby Link is allowed to assess the impact on access to cash in any community where a closure will leave it bankless. If Link believes the closure will compromise the community's access to cash, it can order the banks to collectively finance the installation of a free-to-use cash machine, improve the facilities at the local Post Office, or fund a new style banking hub. Such hubs, successfully trialled last year, are operated by an independent company such as the Post Office. But customers of all the major banks can use them and speak to a representative from their own bank on a specific day of the week. The Access to Cash Action Group is hoping between 20 and 25 banking hubs will be up and running by the end of the year. Details of NatWest's 32 closures were sent to Link ahead of last week. Only one branch closure is being scrutinised the NatWest branch in Headingley, Leeds. Link told The Mail on Sunday: 'We have already started a review to assess the quality of alternative access to cash services.' Headingley does have a local post office. Currently, Link can only assess the need for access to cash in communities left bankless by a branch closure announced since the start of this year. But the Access to Cash Action Group is hopeful that from July, communities that have already lost their last bank will be able to demand that Link do an independent assessment. Experts believe 800 bank branches will shut this year. Sources say Lloyds will be the next to carry out a cull although the bank will not confirm this. Stuttering attempts by GlaxoSmithKline to join the Covid vaccine bonanza have suffered another setback. A year ago GSK championed a tie-up with America's Novavax but the deal is now off. The original agreement would have seen GSK provide 'fill and finish' manufacturing at its site in County Durham's Barnard Castle (infamous as Dominic Cummings' lockdown stomping ground). Setback: A year ago GSK championed a tie-up with America's Novavax but the deal is now off. GSK had planned to start working on the manufacture of up to 60million doses of the jab from as early as May 2021. But Novavax spent last year working to gain regulatory approvals and GSK wasn't prepared to reserve the factory capacity. Boss Emma Walmsley said last week: 'We stood ready to support it, but just because of the delays in its supply, that is no longer required.' At least the deal was relatively small beer for GSK. Walmsley will hope that imminent final data on its main jab prospect, developed by France's Sanofi, can boost its Covid efforts. Glencore results may hit activist Bluebell Commodity trader Glencore may deliver one in the eye to Bluebell Capital this week as it posts annual results. The activist investor has called for Glencore to separate its thermal coal business pronto amid the push for greener energy sources. But soaring coal prices due to the European gas squeeze should have left the division looking vital to the group. Handy. Purplebricks going private? Online estate agent Purplebricks listed in 2015 amid a blaze of quirky marketing. The AIM-listed stock later hit highs of nearly 5 in 2017 but is now at record lows around 19p following a string of own goals. Higher staffing costs and a crunch in the supply of new homes isn't helping. City sources now reckon Purplebricks valued at just 60million is vulnerable to a takeover. The smart money is on a take-private deal by Axel Springer, the German media and tech conglomerate, which remains its largest shareholder, with 26 per cent of the stock. Meanwhile founder brothers Michael and Kenny Bruce recently set up another agency. Could they be tempted back to revive their first love? CVC Capital doesn't fancy The Hut Group Rugby fans were busy watching the Six Nations yesterday, but the tournament's owner, CVC Capital, doesn't fancy a scrum. The private equity firm has been touted in the City as a suitor for The Hut Group. The online retailer has already attracted attention from rival buyout firms Advent International, Leonard Green & Partners and Apollo. Dominic Murphy joined CVC as managing partner in 2019 from rival KKR, where he played a key role in investing in THG, but sources close to CVC said Murphy had snubbed an approach about a deal. THG's pummelled stock has held gains made when buyout reports emerged. Are investors betting that founder Matt Moulding will swiftly end its painful stint as a public company? Northcott Mutilator Damien Anthony Peters is fighting to be released from prison as the State of NSW tries to block his bid for fear he could commit more violent offences A killer known as 'The 'Mutilator' for a series of grisly murders is fighting to be released from prison - with authorities desperately working to block his parole bid out of fear he could resume his horrific attacks. Damien Anthony Peters was convicted of the murders of two male lovers whose bodies he dismembered at the Northcott housing block at Surry Hills in inner Sydney, known to locals as 'The Suicide Flats'. Peters committed the grisly crimes while high on a massive and potentially lethal cocktail of 19 different drugs, including ice, heroin, testosterone, steroids, Xanax, Dilantin, Valium and Mogadon. When Peters was last released from jail on parole with conditions including not to drink or take drugs, he cut off his satellite tracking anklet and fled to Sydney's Oxford Street in 2019. He was arrested while on the run after a manager at popular gay pub, the Stonewall Hotel, asked Peters on two successive nights to leave due to his excessive intoxication. Peters, then aged 50, was returned to custody and an application for an interim continuing detention order (CDO) was heard by the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday. Without that order, Peters' jail term is due to expire in September. Justice Julia Lonergan heard submissions on Thursday from Peters' lawyer Matt Johnson as to why he should be released into the community on an Extended Supervision Order with more than 50 conditions. Last time Peters was released on parole he cut off his satellite tracking anklet, was found severely intoxicated in Sydney gay bars and was eventually arrested (above) When police knocked on the door of Flat 3 in A block of Northcott, a dazed Peters let them inside where they found the decapitated torso of Bevan Frost beside his head in a bag Mr Johnston told the court Peters 'needs to be exposed to life situations to foster his rehabilitation' and that the conditions were 'capable of protecting the community' Lucy Nichols, representing the state of NSW, applied for continuing detention, arguing that Peters presents an unacceptable risk of committing a serious offence if released and said 'testing the defendant in the community flies in the face of a risk avoidant approach'. Peters was a 31-year-old unemployed drug addict when he committed the mutilation murders in 2001. Peters was six-foot tall, fit and muscular from heavy steroid use, and had a minor record for drug possession, break enter and steal crimes, and one serious assault. He spent four months in prison for breaking into a pharmacy to steal Rohypnol tablets, and was released in 1997 to Langton Clinic Half Way House where he met Tereaupii 'Andrei' Akai. Damien Peters (above) was on a cocktail of 19 drugs including intravenous steroids, ice, heroin, testosterone, speed, Xanax, Dilantin, Valium and Mogadon After murdering each of his victims, Peters smashed apart the men's flats, ransacking each unit in a drug-fuelled frenzy after which he began dismembering their bodies and disposing of the parts The 47-year-old New Zealander began a romance with Peters, who moved into Akai's flat at Northcott. The Surry Hills block housed psychiatric patients, prison parolees and financially disadvantaged HIV sufferers. Andrei Akai was one of the latter, and by 2000 his condition had advanced to full-blown AIDS. Residents living near the ninth-floor flat the men shared in Northcott's B block could not remember seeing Akai after about January or February 2001, and was not caring for his beloved Alsatian dog Rajah. In August that year, neighbour Jillian Nash reported her concerns to NSW Police who searched Akai's flat, which had been ransacked and was stained and smeared with blood. Akai's disability pension was still active, and police found recent withdrawals from his St George Bank account totalling $1650. The notorious Northcott flats in Surry Hills block housed residents including psychiatric patients, prison parolees and financially disadvantaged HIV sufferers The amount of drugs ingested by Peters at 'Suicide Towers', which is infamous for drug use (above) and violence, would have caused him 'anxiety, paranoid ideation and violence' Damien Peters (above, after his 2019 arrest) murdered his first lover after he was called 'stupid' and the second after a fight with the man he claimed had treated him as a 'battered wife' Detectives were able to identify the man making the withdrawals from ATM security camera footage and took 32-year-old Peters in for questioning. He admitted withdrawing the money, but said Akai had given him his bank card to look after the flat and their dog while he took 'a break' from the Northcott flats. He said he had been 'tearing my hair out' at Akai's extended absence, and ripped apart the flat, cutting his hand on the broken window and spilling his own blood inside. He complained about nursing Akai through HIV, and getting infected with the virus. Police charged Peters with obtaining money by deception and he returned to another Northcott flat he was living in with his 'best friend', Bevan. A police listening device recorded a conversation between the concerned neighbour who had alerted them and Peters, in which he admitted killing Akai and was worried police would arrest him. On September 7, 2001, detectives knocked on the door of Unit 3 in A block rented by Bevan James Frost, but he refused to let them in. When they returned four days later, on September 11, Damien Peters let them in to the flat, which was in disarray. Police found two ransacked flats in Northcott when investigating Andrei Akai's disappearance, but although they recovered Bevan Frost's remains, Mr Akai's were never fully recovered Peters appeared dazed and agitated to the officers, who were unaware of the colossal amount of illegal and prescription drugs he had been on. He was also self-administering intramuscular injections of the steroids Sustanon, Nandrolone and Durabolin, and two days earlier had injected 250 milligrams of crystal methamphetamine. Police told Peters he was under arrest for the murder of Tereaupii Akai, and began to search the ransacked premises. Blood was smeared on the carpet and walls and a pattern of blood on the mattress formed the outline of the upper torso of a body. In the bathroom, the officers found a decapitated and eviscerated body in the bathtub and beside it in a bag was a severed head. The police did not think the body could be Akai's, and Peters admitted it belonged to Bevan Frost, who he had killed two days earlier after 'a fight'. The officers found a 32cm bloodstained carving knife, and Peters eventually admitted he had killed Akai eight months previously after he had called Peters 'stupid'. Damien Peters is arrested in Petersham (above) after cutting off his satellite tracking anklet and breaching his parole by substance abuse and was returned to prison to serve his full sentence Andre Akai was Peters' first victim and his remains were gradually disposed of, being placed in bins and skips on the grounds of Northcott, leaving little for police to find He claimed Akai had conned him into sleeping with him, infected him with HIV and gonorrhoea, and was violent, moody, abusive and belittling. It was subsequently determined that Akais mood swings had likely been a result of an AIDS dementia complex. Peters admitted he was 'revved up' when he went to the kitchen to get a knife and stabbed Akai twice in the neck while he was sitting on the lounge. He placed Akai's body on the floor of the bathroom and spent the next six hours removing his organs and flushing them down the toilet, along with the teeth, to prevent identification. For the same reason, he also burnt off the hair with peroxide and chemicals. Over successive days, he had cut up the body with a hacksaw and disposed of the various parts, concealed in plastic bags or suitcases, and into garbage bins over several weeks. Peters (above in 2019) is now applying to be released from prison at the end of his maximum sentence on more than 50 conditions, but the state wants him to remain behind bars because of the risk to the community The Northcott towers have been the scene of drug use, suicides and the grisly murders carried out by Damien Peters in 2001 against two lovers he murdered and then mutilated A pharmacology professor later estimated Peters had been on a daily dose of 100mg of methadone, plus a weekly steroid injection, and had been smoking cannabis and shooting up methamphetamine 'ice' for days. Peters said after killing Akai, he had not slept for nine days and continued to dispose of Akai's body parts, and bleach the bloodied carpets. When finally he came to his senses, he realised he had 'loved' Akai and contemplated suicide, but instead just 'existed' for another six months, during which he 'trashed' the flat. After police searched the flat, its locks were changed and he was forced to move in with Frost, and in return had submitted himself to sex with Frost, who he claimed was 'very rough' despite being 57 years old and in frail condition. Peters told police he had been extremely drugged, depressed and lost his reasoning when he stabbed Frost, who was lying on his front expecting a massage. Over the next two days, he had partially disembowelled Frost's body, flushing the internal organs down the toilet, leaving the torso and head. Inside the Northcott towers, residents have had to endure drug use, vandalism and violence in the block which houses addicts and jail parolees among its other occupants Andrei Akai's remains were never fully recovered and Peters later claimed he needed 'the forgiveness' of Akai's family in order 'to be able to move on' Peter pleaded guilty to the murders but said he had the equivalent of 'battered wife syndrome' and was 'not a violent man'. His barrister Kate Traill, who has since become a District Court judge, said he should not be given a life sentence for the murders, because he already had a reduced lifespan with HIV. Peters said he tried to leave Mr Akai several times but was always manipulated into staying at their unit. His remains were never fully recovered and Peters later claimed he needed 'the forgiveness' of Akai's family in order 'to be able to move on'. A forensic pharmacologist professor said Peters large and diverse drug intake would have caused 'anxiety, paranoid ideation, irritability, emotional lability and violence, and impaired mental functioning'. Andrei Akai vanished from the ninth floor of Northcott's B block (above) after which Peters systematically dismembered the body and placed parts in dumpsters outside the building Peters lived in B block of Northcott (above) with Akai, who was dying from HIV, and when police came to investigate the New Zealander's disappearance they found another body in the bathtub Psychiatrics reports tendered to the NSW Supreme Court said Peters had a dysfunctional childhood as the fourth child to his high achieving father, difficulties at school and attention deficit disorder. But Justice James Wood accepted pleas of guilty to murder rather than manslaughter, and ruled that Peters had dismembered the victims' bodies in a 'deliberate and cold-blooded way'. Peters' actions attempting to clean Akai's flat, destroying dental or fingerprint remains, accessing Akai's pension money and carrying on a charade that his lover was still alive were 'very callous'. They were the actions of a man 'cerebrating relatively clearly despite his continuing abuse of drugs'. 'They also speak of a man lacking, at that time, in much, if anything, in the way of remorse or insight into what he had done,' Justice Wood concluded. 'However, I accept (Peters) was provoked to a degree by (a) pattern of physical and mental abuse and by sexual manipulation or abuse.' He sentenced Peters to a maximum 21 years prison, dating from September 11, 2001. Peters was released on parole in November 2016 but after tearing off the satellite anklet in April 2019, he was returned to custody, from where he has now applied for conditional release. Justice Lonergan will hand down her decision on Peters this week. Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation trial is about to get personal with his ex-wife due to step into the witness box to give evidence against Australia's most decorated living soldier. Emma Roberts, who dropped the Smith from her surname after their split, is expected to appear in person in the Federal Court in Sydney this week. Ms Roberts had initially been on her ex-husband's side when he launched legal action against Nine newspapers after the publisher accused him of war crimes. She will now be called by Nine in its bid to prove Mr Roberts-Smith killed or was complicit in the murders of six prisoners while serving with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation trial is about to get personal with his ex-wife due to step into the witness box to give evidence against Australia's most decorated soldier. Emma Roberts, who has dropped the Smith from her surname, will appear in the Federal Court this week Ms Roberts had initially been on her ex-husband's side when he launched legal action against Nine newspapers after the publisher accused him of war crimes. She is pictured outside her Brisbane home Mr Roberts-Smith took several swipes at his ex-wife while giving evidence in the defamation trial last June. 'It's very sad that my my wife has involved herself in these proceedings, Your Honour,' the Victoria Cross recipient told Justice Anthony Besanko. 'And I take absolutely no joy in describing my wife in any way that is negative, but the reality is she is extremely bitter. 'She has done things along the way that have been detrimental to my family, and particularly to me, because she thinks it will hurt me.' Mr Roberts-Smith, 43, and Ms Roberts were together about 20 years and have twin 11-year-old daughters. She is a couple of years older than her ex-husband. They settled their divorce in February last year and she gave a statement to Nine a month later outlining the evidence she would be prepared to give against him in court. Mr Roberts-Smith left Ms Roberts in January 2020 and the former couple sold their home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast for more than $2million in December 2000. Text messages sent by Ben Roberts-Smith's former wife in support of the war hero before he was publicly accused of killing prisoners have been released. Ms Roberts has since flipped and is giving evidence for Nine newspapers. The former couple is pictured in London in 2012 The couple had rocky periods before they parted, with Mr Roberts-Smith admitting having an affair with a woman known in the trial as Person 17 from October 2017 until April the following year. Mr Roberts-Smith has given evidence he separated from his wife in September 2017 but they eventually reconciled. Ms Roberts is expected to deny there was any separation or having knowledge of his affair with Person 17 until it had finished. Nine will allege Mr Roberts-Smith asked his then wife to lie about the affair and say they were separated to protect him if the relationship ever became public. Ms Roberts' lifelong friend Danielle Scott has said Ms Roberts told her about July 2019 she had lied in her initial outline of evidence about being separated from Mr Roberts-Smith during his affair with Person 17. She had done that, according to Ms Scott, because Mr Roberts-Smith had 'pressured to do so on the basis that if she didn't, she would lose everything.' Mr Roberts-Smith took several swipes at his ex-wife while giving evidence in the defamation trial last June. 'It's very sad that my my wife has involved herself in these proceedings, Your Honour,' he told Justice Anthony Besanko Ms Roberts is expected to give evidence she became aware of her husband's affair on April 6, 2018 when Person 17 came to the marital home. That unannounced visit was about a week after Mr Roberts-Smith says Person 17 got so drunk she fell down the steps at a function in Parliament House. Nine alleges Mr Roberts-Smith punched Person 17 in the head in a Canberra hotel room later that evening, which he vehemently denies. Ms Scott states that on the day Person 17 revealed the affair to Ms Roberts she missed a number of calls from her friend. She allegedly called back and had a conversation in words to the following effect. Ms Scott: 'Is everything ok?' Ms Roberts: 'Are you sitting down?' Ms Scott: 'Do I need to be?' Ms Roberts: 'Yes, I'm standing on my verandah and I'm looking at Ben's girlfriend.' Ms Roberts: 'She has a big black eye.' Ms Scott: 'How did she get that?' Ms Roberts: 'I asked her the same thing, she said she [fell] down the stairs at parliament house.' Mr Roberts-Smith had an affair with a woman known in the trial as Person 17 from October 2017 until April 2018. He claims he separated from his wife in September 2017 but Ms Roberts says that never happned. This picture was taken on December 31, 2017 Ms Roberts is expected to give evidence about allegations Nine has made that Mr Roberts-Smith buried evidence inside a pink lunch box in the couple's backyard. Ms Roberts has indicated she will claim Mr Roberts-Smith buried six USB sticks holding hundreds of photographs taken in Afghanistan. Her friend Ms Scott says that some time before March 15, 2020 Ms Roberts told her she suspected Mr Roberts-Smith had buried something on their property. When Ms Scott visited Ms Roberts about March 16 the pair allegedly looked in the backyard to see if they could find what had been buried. According to Ms Scott the pair noticed a rock on the ground under a hose reel and dug under it using a pitchfork. About 10 to 15cm down they allegedly found a lunchbox containing six USBs inside a plastic snap-lock bag. Ms Scott copied the contents of the USBs onto her computer, the pair placed them back in the bag and re-buried the lunchbox. According to Ms Scott, she was later contacted by the Australian Federal Police and provided a copy of the contents of the USBs to that agency. Ms Scott says that on June 5 Ms Roberts told her 'Ben is coming over to collect some documents' and the pair discussed the possibility he was talking about the USBs. A series of text messages between Emma Roberts and her friend Danielle Scott relate to evidence given by Mr Roberts-Smith's fellow SAS member Person 5 to an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan After the call Ms Roberts sent Ms Scott four photographs taken of the area where they say the lunchbox had been buried. Mr Roberts-Smith has denied burying the USBs in the lunch box. Text messages sent by Ms Roberts in support of her then husband before he was publicly accused of war crimes in June 2018 have also previously been released by the court. Ms Roberts says in one message to Ms Scott that 'someone has said a hell of a lot about Ben but they also have to prove it.' The texts from Ms Roberts to Ms Scott were sent a month before the first newspaper story was published. The contents of the texts were first read in July last year as Mr Roberts-Smith gave evidence about what another SAS member known as Person 5 had told an official war crimes inquiry. Person 5 and Mr Roberts-Smith were both being investigated by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) at the time. Person 5 had been Mr Roberts-Smith's patrol commander in Afghanistan and was called in to be questioned by the IGADF on May 9, 2018. Earning the Victoria Cross turned Mr Roberts-Smith into a celebrity solider. Ms Roberts met the Queen and dignitaries including Prime Minister Scott Morrison while accompanying her husband to functions around the country. He is pictured with his then wife and the Queen He had been due to fly to the United States after giving evidence to the inquiry. Barrister Nicholas Owens SC, for Nine, suggested Person 5 subsequently revealed to Mr Roberts-Smith 'in very great detail' various allegations that had been made about his service in Afghanistan. The court heard discussing what was said during such interviews was against Defence regulations. Mr Roberts-Smith told the court Person 5, who was a close friend, had merely sent him a letter of complaint about his treatment by the IGADF investigators. Part of that letter said: 'They were pushing the fact that BRS wandered off whenever he wanted and did whatever he wanted' while on deployment in Afghanistan. Mr Owens read from text messages Ms Roberts sent to Ms Scott after Person 5 gave evidence to the inquiry. Ms Roberts has indicated she will claim Mr Roberts-Smith buried six USB sticks holding hundreds of photographs in a pink lunch box in the couple's backyard, which he has denied. She took this picture to show where she claimed the lunch box was buried 'Hey mate, [Person 5] rang BRS late [followed by a sad face emoji],' the first message said. 'He was drilled for hours! Lots of questions about Ben and even to the point of questioning his VC action [sad face]. 'Hence to say he didn't get much sleep. [Person 5] was free to leave for the US with 5 hrs until his flight!! Ms Scott: 'So if they let [Person 5] go... that's gotta be a good sign right?' Ms Roberts: 'Yeh. [followed by a thumbs-up emoji] It's obvious that someone has said a hell of a lot about Ben. But they also have to be able to prove it.' Mr Roberts-Smith has denied the texts showed he told his wife that Person 5 had disclosed detailed information about allegations against him which had been revealed while Person 5 was being interviewed. 'It looks like she's forming her own opinion which is reasonably typical of my ex-wife,' he told the court. Ms Scott has indicated she will also give evidence for Nine. Person 5 is listed to give evidence for Mr Roberts-Smith. A civil servant has hit out at woke Whitehall after an NHS quango urged staff to attend unconscious-bias training sessions over Zoom. Andrew Scarborough, 36, who is mixed race, fears the obsession of his employer NHS Health Education England (HEE) with politically correct causes such as 'white privilege' and 'toxic positivity' distracts workers from doing their jobs. The project support administrator who is still being asked to work from home along with his colleagues, despite the Government urging people to return to their desks said he found it increasingly difficult to carry out his duties due to the barrage of woke emails and bulletins received almost daily from his bosses. When he queried the quango's 'political' messaging, he claims he was reprimanded and called a racist. He decided to speak out when HEE, which gets 4billion of taxpayer cash each year to support NHS training and skills development, invited staff to a virtual 'white privilege' course to address 'unconscious bias' and 'white fragility'. The four-and-a-half-hour event costs 141 a head. 'There's constantly this dialogue on diversity and inclusion over anything else,' said Mr Scarborough, whose grandfather was from Somalia. Andrew Scarborough, 36, (pictured) who is mixed race, fears the obsession of his employer NHS Health Education England (HEE) with politically correct causes such as 'white privilege' and 'toxic positivity' distracts workers from doing their jobs 'It's difficult to see the aims of the organisation because the business and health conversations are being sidelined for dialogue on being a race ally or a non-binary ally. 'It's very divisive language and I know it makes people uncomfortable because they've spoken to me about it. I don't think the organisation is racist, but we're constantly told we are. I don't think I would have spoken up about this if I didn't have a mixed race background.' Mr Scarborough has been deluged with invitations to woke webinars. One said it would allow him to 'reach beyond a safe space towards a brave space' where he can understand white privilege. Another espoused the benefits of unconscious bias training, despite the Government deciding it had little value and scrapping it in 2020. Mr Scarborough said he clashed with colleagues last year. Asked to share his insight about being a mixed-race man in Britain, he said his experience had been positive and the country had made much progress in tackling racism. Mr Scarborough has been deluged with invitations to woke webinars. One said it would allow him to 'reach beyond a safe space towards a brave space' where he can understand white privilege. Pictured: Whitehall He added: 'But I was called racist ... I don't feel like I can discuss these things at work any more.' He said unconscious-bias training was little more than a way 'to shame white people', adding: 'We work for the people of this country and the money we receive comes from them. I feel a responsibility to not waste money on something that is not going to make a difference to clinical outcomes.' Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: 'It beggars belief that the NHS is wasting money on this snake oil.' HEE said it was 'a diverse, people-focused, inclusive organisation' that offered optional 'opportunities to all to further awareness... of aspects of diversity and inclusion'. A right-wing American politician has bizarrely accused Australia of 'running internment camps' after being asked about the US Capitol attack. Republican Kari Lake, who is backed by former US president Donald Trump, sat down with veteran Australian 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett for an interview over Zoom as part of a segment about the American political system. But the 25-minute exchange quickly descended into chaos, with Ms Lake, who is running for governor of Arizona, walking out and calling him an 'insane person'. Ms Lake began making her absurd claims about Australia when Bartlett began grilling her about the 2020 presidential election and riot at the US Capitol. Republican Kari Lake, who is backed by former US president Donald Trump, (pictured together) has labelled an Australian journalist 'completely insane' in a fiery post-interview clash Video of the explosive argument, which was leaked online, shows Lake slamming Australia for its mask mandates and claiming the country revoked its democratic rights by 'melting down their guns'. The footage was filmed by Ms Lake's husband Jeff Halperin as a condition of the interview and quickly began circulating on right-wing websites. The conversation started off smoothly before Ms Lake turned tense when Bartlett called into question the politician's debunked accusations the 2020 presidential election was rigged. 'On a broad scope, right across the US, you've had election officials, you've had court officials, you've had judges look at this,' Bartlett said, countering her claims. Ms Lake insisted: 'They've not looked at the evidence, they've not looked at the evidence.' 'There's been no evidence, no evidence has been presented in a single court of law in your country that has proved there's election fraud. I mean, if that is true, if it was stolen, as you say, why is there no evidence, a year down the track,' Bartlett said. Ms Lake said: 'It's really rich to have somebody from Australia coming here trying to tell us how our elections were run. 'You haven't done your homework either.' Ms Lake repeated claims that American voting officials were 'corrupt' before telling Bartlett it was 'really rich' for an Australian to 'tell us how our election was run'. 'It's so typical of the media to push this propaganda, "The Big Lie", "The Big Lie" is what the media has been pushing for many, many years,' she said. Lake spoke to Bartlett over Zoom (pictured) for a 60 Minutes investigation into the US Political system Bartlett replied: 'It's the media's fault, so the media are corrupt, the election officials are corrupt, the courts are all corrupt, everybody's corrupt?' Ms Lake, who also claimed Trump's face should be added to Mount Rushmore, then accused Bartlett of 'not doing his research', with the journalist reiterating no hard evidence has been presented backing her claims. She then claimed 'Australians don't even have any freedom'. 'What I don't like is that people are being held in prison without being charged, that's un-American, maybe they get away with that stuff in Australia,' she said. 'Perhaps in Australia because you've given your rights away, you melted down all of your guns and you guys have no freedom, but you find that okay. 'But here in America we do things differently, we have something called the US Constitution and we have rights.' Ms Lake was referring to conservative former prime minister John Howard's sweeping bans of automatic and semi-automatic guns after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre where 35 people were killed and 23 wounded. Australia's worst mass shooting resulted in a massive gun amnesty where firearm owners handed in their newly illegal weapons for disposal. The American politician continued her tirade, claiming Australia would be better off with more guns, not fewer. 'I feel so sorry for the people in Australia, (who) have no power, the only thing keeping us from being Australia right now or Canada is our Second Amendment, and we will never ever let that go. Liam Bartlett (pictured) accused Lake of walking out when the 'going gets tough' after she abruptly ended the interview amid his tough questioning 'What we saw happening in Australia, internment camps, and people are being forced if they've encountered anybody with Covid to be locked into a quarantine camp is the most horrifying thing I think I've ever seen a government do.' Bartlett continued to ask Ms Lake about her thoughts on the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, frustrating the American who claimed 'you keep asking the same questions and I've already given you my answer'. She then stood up and began shutting down the interview, removing her microphone and thanking Bartlett for his time. But after the journalist accused Ms Lake of walking out when 'the going gets tough', the bickering only intensified, with the politician claiming she had already given the news program the '15 minutes promised'. 'You promised us 30 minutes actually yesterday,' Bartlett said. Ms Lake replied: 'Well I never promised 30 minutes, I told my staff, 15.' Bartlett countered that he did not believe that was true, with Lake saying: 'I'm sorry you asked the same question three times and wasted your time'. Lake fired back by slamming Bartlett and claiming he would be someone who 'makes his children wear masks' Lake then accused Bartlett of being biased and trying to tell her how she should see the world, which is not his 'job'. Bartlett responded by asking if this is the way 'Trump people' do things, 'having one narrative and that's it, you can't think out of the box'. 'Sir I believe you have that narrative,' Ms Lake said. 'I don't I don't live in Australia, are you actually a respectable journalist there or are you kind of considered a joke?' Bartlett replied: 'Incredible. Incredible. That's the Donald Trump way, it's fake news, all of a sudden it's fake news, if you have a different narrative it's fake news.' The arguing continued for a few more moments, with Ms Lake accusing Bartlett of being one of those people who would 'make his children wear masks' before she stormed out of the room. 'That guy is a complete nut, seriously, a complete insane person. Do people in Australia listen to him?' she said, exiting the room. 'That's the craziest thing I've ever experienced.' Lake, who is running to become governor of Arizona, made her husband record the conversation as part of her conditions for partaking The 60 Minutes project is understood to be highly critical of conservative US political figures. Mark McGowan will give Western Australians just a few days notice before he finally drops his hard border with the rest of the Australia and the world. The rescheduled opening date will not come with an eight-week warning like last time, after the premier backflipped on his decision to open up on February 5. Mr McGowan and his government are planning to give residents and their families less than a week to organise travel and reunion plans after years of separation. The state leader also confirmed residents will need to be triple-dosed to enter pubs, clubs, restaurants and gyms 'some time in the future'. 'There's some technical update needed on the Service Australia app and once that work is done, and when people are eligible for their third dose, those sorts of requirements will kick in,' Mr McGowan said. Mark McGowan will give Western Australians just a few days notice before he finally drops his hard border with the rest of the Australia and the world (pictured, a couple at Sydney airport) It comes as the state leader has confirmed residents will need to be triple-dosed to enter pubs, clubs, restaurants and gyms 'some time in the future' (pictured, a Adelaide woman is jabbed) The federal government on Thursday updated its vaccine policy on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. It advised citizens would no longer be classed as 'up to date' on their Covid vaccinations if they did not get their booster shot six months after their second dose. Western Australia, like all other states and territories, has not set a date for the updated vaccine requirement. 'I'd have to take technical advice as to how you do it based upon a person's eligibility status,' the premier told reporters. 'But at some point in time, I expect that will become part of the ServiceWA app arrangement.' From January 31, unvaccinated Western Australians were banned from entering pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms and nightclubs as part of the state's sweeping vaccination requirements. The premier (pictured) has hinted vaccine passports will be required for 'years' to come with vaccine mandates also to remain in the state long-term It is understood the rescheduled opening date will not come with an eight-week warning like last time, after the premier backflipped on his decision to open up (pictured, a mother embraces her daughter upon her arrival at Sydney airport) The hardline premier hinted vaccine passports would be required for 'years' to come with vaccine mandates also to remain in the state long-term. 'What we've done has resulted in massive take up of vaccines. Our third dose rate is increasing I think the fastest of anywhere in Australia,' he said. 'And it shows whilst our mandate regime was tough, it's actually been effective. And I know of course, a lot of pushback, but we're trying to save lives here.' On January 20, the Mr McGowan announced WA would not be opening its border to the rest of the country on February 5 as planned. As rumours swirled WA's hard border could be reopening in mid-March senior government minister Paul Papalia said the focus was on curtailing new cases. 'Right now, the most important thing is that we're keeping numbers relatively low,' Mr Papalia told reporters on Saturday. From January 31, unvaccinated Western Australians were banned from entering pubs, clubs, restaurants, gyms and nightclubs as part of the state's sweeping vaccination requirements (pictured, a registered nurse is vaccinated in Canberra) It was just days after the state reported its second Covid-related death ever on Friday, as cases surge with 51 new infections. There were 49 new cases recorded on Saturday, 26 of which were locally-acquired. 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 Omicron outbreak. Mr McGowan on Friday expressed his condolences to the family of the man and urged people to get vaccinated. '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 while attending an event in Perth's northern suburbs. Mark McGowan (pictured) on Friday expressed his condolences to the family of the second Covid-relate death the state has recorded and urged people to get vaccinated '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 had their third vaccine dose, representing 49 per cent of the eligible population. Twenty-one migrants today dived off a yacht into a river after its sailor ran it aground during low tide on Saturday. The group capsized the 20ft vessel when they rushed to one side to see why they had stopped moving, toppling it over in the water. They got stuck near the bank in Rye Harbour in East Sussex at around 1pm after sailing the boat across the English Channel and up the river. Footage, shared with MailOnline, showed people desperately swimming towards a nearby dinghy that was deployed from the yacht. Some of the people were forced to leap into the water as the yacht slowly tipped over and capsized when too many grouped on one side. At least one man could be seen swimming through the water with an orange life jacket towards the dingy. It was not clear if the others had life jackets when they leapt from the vessel. Footage taken later in the evening showed the boat after it had been re-floated by responders from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The group capsized the 20ft vessel when they rushed to one side to see why they had stopped moving, toppling it over in the water They got stuck near the bank in Rye Harbour in East Sussex at around 1pm after sailing the boat across the English Channel and up the river. Some were forced to jump into the water The 20ft yacht, with a baby-blue coloured bow, was seen flying a Union Jack as it was pulled into the harbour by an RNLI vessel. Speaking to MailOnline, a witness said the yacht was steered up the river by a single sailor, and that it was coming in quite late in the tide. 'He looked competent, he had the wet weather gear on, he had the sails down and he was motoring all the right things you would do when you're coming up a river in a yacht,' the local sailor said. However, the sailor appeared to lose control of the yacht and ran it aground on the river bank, he said. Rather than reversing fully back into the river, the man made the 'strange' decision to reverse out and sail straight into the bank a second time. The eyewitness said that he believed the sailor was caught out by harsh conditions, including strong winds. 'He was caught out by the weather,' he said. 'He had it well planned. He must have left (France) yesterday afternoon which is when the weather dropped. When the boat ran ashore, the sailor 'then got a little dinghy out and signalled to someone from inside the yacht to get in it, and he rowed off quite competently to the bank,' the source said. Once they reached the bank together, the man 'pointed back to the yacht to the other person who was left in the dinghy, and he ran off.' Footage, shared with MailOnline, showed people desperately swimming towards a nearby dinghy that was deployed from the yacht The person left in the dingy was left to row back to the stranded yacht to rescue the others on-board. An eyewitness told the MailOnline they made it to shore and fled the scene The person left in the dingy was left to row back to the stranded yacht to rescue the others on-board. 'Someone else came out, and then another one and they were shouting and throwing ropes, and then one of them jumped in (the water) and then a load more came out and stood on the side and they were all shouting,' the source said. 'Then obviously as all the weight was on one side and it was aground, the yacht fell on its side and most of them went in the water.' He told MailOnline that the eyewitnesses counted around 20 people in total. Border Force later turned up to the village and told locals that they had arrested 16 people without IDs, suggesting around four are still on the run, the source said. 'Everyone disappeared when everyone got off and when border force got there two hours later they'd all gone,' he added. 'But then later on that day, they came back to look at the yacht again outside the lifeboat station tied up. They said the national crime agency was coming down in the morning because it's a boat of interest to them.' MailOnline contacted Border Force and the Home Office for comment. A spokesperson confirmed the incident had been reported to officials on Saturday. Speaking after the incident, Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration Tom Pursglove MP said: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they also impact on the UK taxpayer and it risks lives. Rightly, the British public has had enough.' It was announced this week that 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. Australians are losing more money than ever to online dating scams but there are a few signs to look out for to make sure you're swiping right on a genuine person. 'Valentine's Day is a busy time for singles to use dating apps, meaning scammers are also hard at work targeting lonely hearts through social networks, dating sites and instant-messaging apps,' NSW Fair Trading Minister Eleni Petinos said. Australians lost a record $56 million to dating fraudsters in 2021, up 44 per cent from the $38.9 million figure in 2020, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Ms Petinos urged Australians to take steps to protect themselves from online scammers and determine if a profile is legitimate. Online dating scams accounted for a record $56million of Australians' money lost to fraudsters in 2021 (stock image) These include doing an online image search for the profile photo to see if the image turns up under different accounts or even on stock image sites, she said. Checking the profile or messages for obvious spelling and grammar mistakes is another along with poor English, despite saying they are well educated or live in a western country. There will also often be inconsistencies in information or vague stories about why they need money. Discussions tend to escalate quickly into relationship territory without meeting or even Skyping - with the scammer constantly giving excuses about they they can't. Online daters are being warned to look out for signs to spot fake profiles ahead of Valentine's Day (stock image) WAYS TO SPOT SCAM DATING PROFILES Do an image search on the profile pictures to make sure it's not used elswhere. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes or poor English especially when they say they are well educated. Inconsistencies in stories or information on their profile. Constant excuses about why they can't Skype or meet in person. Advertisement 'Scammers will go to great lengths to build your interest and trust, often over many months,' the ACCC said. 'Once they have gained your trust and your defences are down, they will ask you either subtly or directly for money, gifts or your banking details. 'Never send money or personal information to someone you haven't met in person.' Ms Petinos said app companies are getting better at removing fake profiles and reminded users to keep their communications within the app where there are more protections and to report any profile they believe is fraudulent. 'Dating apps can then remove the profile of anyone reported to be a potential scammer,' she said. 'This will benefit others on the app who are also in contact with that person.' 'And never transfer money to, or share bank account details with, someone you haven't met in person. When it comes to love, it is important to listen to your head as well as your heart.' Xi signs order to promulgate regulations on military equipment experiment, assessment Xinhua) 09:18, February 13, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order promulgating a set of regulations on the experiment and assessment of military equipment. The regulations stipulate the basic tasks, contents and management mechanisms of military equipment experiment and assessment under new circumstances, and serve as the fundamental rule of relevant work. The regulations, consisting of 56 articles in 11 chapters, took effect on Feb. 10. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Members of an association of fund fraud victims protest in front of the Seoul government complex in central Seoul, urging financial authorities to impose sanctions on financial companies responsible for the mis-selling of funds, Feb. 10. Yonhap By Anna J. Park Most victims of the mis-selling of Discovery Asset Management's fraudulent funds have yet to receive compensation for losses incurred since the funds suspended redemption in 2019. But they are still urging financial authorities to take firm action on the dragged-out matter by imposing sanctions on banks and securities firms that sold the funds to clients. Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) sold two different types of Discovery funds valued at a total 679 billion won ($566 million) from 2017 to 2019. The amount is the highest among 12 financial companies including banks and securities firms that sold the funds to their clients. As of April last year, about 256 billion won of the invested money has not been redeemed. Discovery Asset Management was founded in 2016 by Jang Ha-won, a brother of former presidential policy chief Jang Ha-sung. Jang Ha-sung was presidential policy chief until late 2018 and has been serving as Korea's ambassador to China from April 2019. Since July last year, a travel ban was placed on Jang Ha-won while police have been investigating how a company, just one year after being founded with a capital of 2.5 billion won, could be able to sell such a huge amount of fund products through IBK, a state-run bank, from 2017. The police have found documented evidence that both Ambassador Jang and Kim Sang-jo, former chief of policy at the Presidential Office, invested 6 billion won and 400 million won in the funds, respectively. While the investigation is ongoing, victims and financial companies that sold the funds failed to narrow differences on the conditions of compensation. While the dispute arbitration committee of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) advised IBK to compensate victims from 40 to 80 percent of their original principal in May last year, many victims did not accept the recommendation, asking instead for compensation in total, as seen in the case of Korea Investment Securities. Korea Investment compensated 100 percent of the company's clients who invested in the funds. Victims also raised questions that financial authorities in particular seem to be much slower and less transparent in their dealings with the matter, compared to other mis-selling cases like Lime and Optimus fiascos. They expressed doubts on whether the financial authorities' evasive and lukewarm stance on the matter is one of the core reasons why state-run banks like IBK have not taken any proactive compensation measures for victims. Labour ex-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has taken a 'leave of absence' from the House of Lords which means he will not have to declare how much he is paid by foreign clients, including the Russian government, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Lord (Peter) Goldsmith took the leave of absence at the end of December, when the Lords introduced new transparency laws requiring peers on foreign payrolls to declare how much they are paid. The Labour peer, who served as Tony Blair's Attorney General until 2007, has 'personally provided' services to the Russian Federation as a partner of law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, according to the Register of Lords' Interests. Labour ex-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has taken a 'leave of absence' from the House of Lords Controversial leave of absence rules allow peers to take open-ended breaks while keeping their titles, use Lords facilities and even use Lords stationery. They cannot vote or speak and do not have to register their outside interests. Other peers on a leave of absence include Lord (Greg) Barker, the former Tory Energy Minister who in 2019 took leave to become chairman of En+, the Russian energy giant in which Oleg Deripaska then had a controlling stake. Last night, MPs and peers demanded the House of Lords stop allowing peers a leave of absence to focus on their outside interests. Lord Mann said: 'It is nonsense. This is clearly a loophole in that you can entertain, use the facilities and headed paper without declaring any interest. 'It is very much a gentleman's club arrangement. If you take a year or more off, then don't also have access to facilities.' Bob Seely, the Conservative MP who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, also called for the system to be scrapped: 'If you want to quit, you quit. It is absolutely staggering that you could keep almost all of the perks while simply not having to declare [interests].' The Labour peer served as former PM Tony Blair's (pictured) Attorney General until 2007 Lord Goldsmith opposed the introduction of the tighter transparency rules. Asked why he did not choose to resign from the Lords instead, he said last night: 'I am sorry to have to take leave of absence, but felt it was the only option open to me given the choice between that or revealing privileged and confidential information.' A Lords spokesman said: 'Taking leave of absence is an appropriate way for Members who cannot play an active part in the House due to other commitments.' Liam Byrne, the Labour MP who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'We have to move quickly to drain the House of Lords of Russian influence and money.' Friends of Prince Harry have warned his no-holds barred book will lay bare his true feelings towards his step-mother Camilla and is likely to 'shake the monarchy to its core'. The Duke of Sussex, 37, is set to publicly spill all on his relationship with his estranged family in an explosive 14.7million ($20million) memoir due to be published later this year. The Royal Family has been left deeply concerned by Harry's decision to secretly collaborate with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer on what his publishers described as 'the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him'. The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are said to have been completely blindsided by Harry's shock announcement that he has been secretly working on his as yet untitled memoirs for more than a year now. Royal experts had previously warned that the potentially explosive book could burn further bridges with the distant Duke and The Firm. And sources close to the Duke of Sussex fired a warning shot on Saturday that is likely to send chills through the Royal Family as news of Harry's potentially explosive memoirs reappeared. His friends told the Mirror: 'If they think he's gone soft, they are mistaken. Just wait for the book to come out because that will shake the monarchy to the core.' The Duke of Sussex, 37, is set to publicly spill all on his relationship with his estranged family in an explosive 14.7million ($20million) secret memoir due to be published later this year Prince Harry had come under fire this week for seemingly ignoring the fact Camilla was bestowed the ultimate blessing by Her Majesty and will become Queen Consort Initially, the prince did not make any public announcement, but breaking his silence four days later from his Californian mansion, he paid lavish tribute to his mother Diana's work on Aids and HIV Prince Harry had come under fire this week for seemingly ignoring the fact Camilla was bestowed the ultimate blessing by Her Majesty and will become Queen Consort. Initially, the prince did not make any public announcement, but breaking his silence four days later from his Californian mansion, he paid lavish tribute to his mother Diana's work on Aids and HIV. Source close to the prince say his recent silence 'speaks volumes' and they allege Harry still shares a frosty relationship with his stepmother. Harry's book, due to be published by Random House in late 2022, will likely tackle the brothers' frosty relationship with the Duchess of Cornwall, who last week was confirmed as the future Queen Consort. The Royal Family has been left deeply concerned by Harry's decision to secretly collaborate with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer on what his publishers described as 'the definitive account of the experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him'. Pictured: Camilla and Diana pictured together in 1980 The Duke's explosive memoir is expected to explore Harry's childhood, his time in the military and his marriage to American-born former actress Meghan Markle Friends of the Duke explained to the Mirror: 'Although tensions have eased between the two of them over the years, it was more for a show of unity than a close relationship. 'There were big problems at the start but as Harry and his brother William aged and matured, things got better and they can now co-exist as adults. They were never close with her and they still aren't.' It comes as The Mail on Sunday revealed Camilla would be crowned side-by-side with Charles in a slimmed-down Coronation celebration when the time comes. The Prince of Wales has already let it be known that he favours a leaner monarchy and his Coronation service whenever it comes is expected to set the tone for his reign. Last week the Queen declared it was her 'sincere wish' that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when, 'in the fullness of time', her son becomes King. The first draft of the manuscript, currently untitled, is said to be almost completely written and is due to be submitted in October Prince Harry has been working with Pulitzer-winning ghostwriter J. R. Moehringer Prince Harry had come under fire this week for seemingly ignoring the fact Camilla was bestowed the ultimate blessing by Her Majesty and will become Queen Consort The Sussexes' radio silence on Camilla's announcement came despite a source claiming Harry had extended an olive branch to his father last month in a bid to heal their rift ahead of the Queen's celebrations. He is expected to return to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee, which will see the country enjoy a four day bank holiday from June 2 to 5. It is not known if Meghan Markle, 40, and their children Archie, two, and eight-month-old Lilibet, will be joining him. But royal aides are said to be concerned the memoir will be a one-sided account of the prince's experiences. And in further comments that are likely to concern the Palace, Harry's friends added: 'He has got lots to say. People think he's keeping a low profile to respect the family but it's not that. 'He's writing a book. He's got a multi-million-pound book deal and he's keeping a lot of his opinions for that. The memoir deal states that it should include personal details of personal and family arrangements. 'And it will be a really intimate take on his feelings about his family and what has gone in the breakdown of the relationship.' The memoir is expected to explore Harry's childhood, his time in the military and his marriage to American-born former actress Meghan. At the time the book was announced last summer, Harry said of the memoir, to be published by Penguin Random House, will be written 'not as the prince' he was, but as the man he has 'become'. He said, 'I'm writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. 'I've worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story - the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned - I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think. 'I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I've learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a first hand account of my life that's accurate and wholly truthful.' MailOnline approached representatives of Prince Harry for comment but has not yet received a response. Cyclone Dovi is wreaking havoc across New Zealand, bringing widespread flooding, gale winds, and serious damage across the country. Severe weather warnings are in place for many parts of the North Island and upper half of the South Island, with people urged to stay inside as winds reach up to 150km/h even before the storm peaks on Sunday. Authorities closed Auckland Harbour Bridge and one man was hospitalised with serious injuries after his car was struck by a fallen tree. Despite the wild weather, hundreds of demonstrators braved the heavy rain and wind to rally against mask mandates and coronavirus restrictions outside parliament in Wellington for a sixth day. Scroll down for video Te Kuiti, on the North Island, has gone under water after copping 150mm of rain overnight (pictured) Raging waters devour the coastline at Taranaki, leaving a trail of shredded trees, as ex-cyclone Dovi batters New Zealand Winds up to 150km/h have already been clocked in some areas, although the peak of the storm is not expected to hit until later on Sunday Hundreds of 'Freedom' protesters gather outside Parliament House in Wellington on Sunday as demonstrations enter a sixth day Cladded in ponchos, protesters camped out on the lawns danced in the mud on Sunday morning as authorities blasted music in a bid to push them out. While some countries use riot squads to disperse crowds, New Zealand officials turned to playing songs, including Frozen's Let It Go, Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, and James Blunt's Your Beautiful. Meanwhile, several residents were evacuated from Plimmerton, in the Wellington region, overnight after landslides hit the area, with 109mm of rain falling over the past 12 hours. Strong wind warnings are in place across the region as well as in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Great Barrier Island, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Tararua, Waitomo, Wairarapa, Wellington, and Marlborough. Several highways and roads are closed due to flooding as emergency services work to clear roads, with many areas suffering power outages as uprooted trees crush powerlines. 'Our crews are working hard to clear slips and re-open roads as soon as possible, but heavy rain and severe winds are still affecting many areas, and we need flood waters to recede in some areas before damage can be assessed,' National Emergency Response Team leader Mark Owen told the New Zealand Herald. The remnants of Cyclone Dovi expected to make landfall the northern Taranaki/Waitomo area around the mid-to late Sunday morning Authorities have received more than 130 call outs related to the weather. Pictured are workers clearing a road after a landslide Landslides in Plimmerton, in the Wellington region, saw residents evacuated as mud and debris filled yards and flipped cars 'Driving conditions are hazardous in many areas, with the risk of surface flooding, slips, falling tree branches or power lines coming down, and people should avoid all non-essential travel in these areas.' The remnant of Cyclone Dovi is expected to make landfall in the northern Taranaki/Waitomo area around mid-to late Sunday morning, with experts predicting the worst is still to come. Wind speeds are clocking at more than 105km/h on Auckland bridge, with authorities warning they will pick up later this afternoon. The Taranaki Emergency Management Office has already reported power outages in New Plymouth, Kaitake, Kaupokonui, Hawera, Normanby, Okiawa and parts of Northland and the Waikato. More than 130 calls were made to emergency services across the North Island on Saturday night due to the wild weather, with reports of a gas lines ruptured as wind throws trees across rail tracks, roads, and onto homes. Protesters have camped outside Parliament House to rally against Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates Severe weather warnings are currently in place for large swathes of the North Island and upper parts of the South Island A house teeters on the edge of a cliff in Melling after a huge chunk of earth was shifted during the deluge Floodwaters take over the SH1 at Plimmerton as police urge people to stay indoors State Highway 58 between Paremata and Paekakariki was closed due to a landslide, but has since been cleared, while a slip in Plimmerton upturned a car and pushed mud and debris onto homes. A man was reportedly taken to Waikato Hospital after his vehicle was hit by a tree on Main Road in Raglan about 11.30am. '[We] are asking people in areas impacted by the bad weather to avoid non-essential travel,' police said in a statement on Sunday. As New Zealand's Covid protests enter a sixth day, demonstrators have been working to repair camping equipment damaged overnight by the storm, Stuff reported. Carpet, rubber mats, and bales of hay were brought in to be laid over the muddy ground, as well as large gas patio heaters for protesters to gather around to keep warm. The demonstration kicked off last Tuesday as hundreds of cars, trucks and motorbikes carrying thousands of people from across the country converged in Wellington The demonstration kicked off last Tuesday as hundreds of cars, trucks and motorbikes carrying thousands of people from across the country converged in Wellington, inspired by Canada's Freedom Convoy which has paralysed Ottawa. Police set up a barricade between protesters and Parliament House, with more than 100 arrests made over the past week as violent clashes broke out between the two sides. The group continued to swell since Tuesday, gathering to wave banners and signs demanding the return of freedoms and denouncing the Labor government. On Saturday, parliament speaker Trevor Mallard deployed sprinklers and boomed Barry Manilow, 1990s Latin dance anthem Macarena, and pro-vaccine messages from loud speakers to dispel the crowd. Attempts to flush out the group has had little effect, with demonstrators digging trenches and installing makeshift drainpipes to divert the sprinkler water, and singing, dancing, and some performing the Indigenous Maori haka in response to the music. For many music lovers, Hey Jude remains one of the most iconic recordings in the canon of popular song. Now, more than five decades after its release, the handwritten lyrics of The Beatles' 1968 classic are to go on public view for the first time. The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans. Now valued at more than 1million, the jotter which also features drawings by Sir Paul was given to actress-turned-author Davinia Taylor as a 21st birthday present. The notebook, which is valued at more than 1million, was given to actress-turned-author Davinia Taylor as a 21st birthday present The notebook has been lent to The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, where it will go on display from February 22 It was bought by her tycoon father Alan Murphy at a Sotheby's auction for 100,000 in 1998 because at the time she played a character called Jude in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks. Now Ms Taylor has lent it to The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, where it will go on display from Tuesday, February 22. Among the other entries, there are also partial lyrics for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, recording notes by George Harrison for All You Need Is Love, as well as lyrics for a number of other songs, including Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!, Good Morning Good Morning and All Together Now. There is also an early draft of the design for the bass drum featured on the Sgt Pepper album cover, and a small sketch by Sir Paul of Ringo Starr with a beard and long hair. Described as the 'ultimate memento', the item was put up at a Sotheby's rock and pop memorabilia auction by Mr Evans's widow in 1998. Depressed and taking prescription medication, he was shot dead by Los Angeles police in 1976 after brandishing an air rifle. It was subsequently purchased by Liverpool toilet roll tycoon Mr Murphy for his daughter. Recalling the moment her father called to tell her about her milestone present, Ms Taylor said: 'My dad was bidding on a phone auction and there was someone from America also trying to buy it. The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans The lyrics to the The Beatles' 1968 classic were scribbled down by Paul McCartney The bass drum design (left) to feature on the Sgt Pepper album cover and the drum that was used (right) 'There was no way he would let this leave Liverpool and go overseas, so my dad started increasing his bid and it eventually went up to 100,000. 'He called me to tell me he had bought it for me for my 21st birthday present, the link being that I was playing a character called Jude Cunningham in Hollyoaks. 'My birthday was a few weeks away and I was doing a night shoot. 'My dad was a couple of bottles of wine in and he rang to explain what he had bought. I couldn't believe it.' The song was written by Sir Paul to comfort John Lennon's young son Julian after his father left home to move in with future wife Yoko Ono. Ms Taylor, 44, explained that she was forbidden from touching the book, with her late mother telling her it was a 'priceless piece of art' and that it had to remain under lock and key for insurance purposes. If it was ever opened, gloves had to be worn to ensure it wasn't damaged. There is also a small sketch by Sir Paul of Ringo Starr with a beard and long hair Ms Taylor said her friend Jude Law a fellow member of the notorious Primrose Hill celebrity set in the Nineties was envious of the book and admitted to her that he would like to buy it because of the connection with his own name. The page featuring McCartney's Hey Jude lyrics in red will be on show at the museum at Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock, with the rest of the book in a digitised form allowing fans to turn the pages. The book also featured a page where Evans wrote down the equipment needed for the Sgt Pepper song, including a painted piano for John Lennon, a tea trolley, a harpsichord, a 'Burt Lancaster rifle' and 'Sergeant Pepper buttons'. Ms Taylor, who named one of her four sons Jude, added: 'This is a piece of rock'n'roll history which needs to be returned to its home city... to be seen by Beatles fans. I also want to support the tourism industry in the North West, which has suffered so badly due to Covid.' Go to beatlesstory.com to buy tickets. Mal Evans notebook will be on display at The Beatles Story Liverpool at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool from 22nd February 2022. For more information and to book a ticket, please visit https://www.beatlesstory.com/ Former presidential son-in-law and ex-White House adviser Jared Kushner has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for a second straight year. Kushner, 41, who worked on foreign policy for the Trump administration, was put up for the award for his work on the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements that normalized relations between Israel and several Middle Eastern nations. Congressman and Republican candidate for governor of New York Lee Zeldin nominated both Kushner and the former White House adviser's deputy Avi Berkowitz, according to the New York Post. 'The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, represent the most significant diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Arab nations in decades,' Zeldin wrote in his nomination. The accords normalize relations between Israel and the UAE, Sudan, Morocco and Bahrain. Jared Kushner (center) was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his work on the Abraham Accords Congressman and Republican candidate for governor of New York Lee Zeldin nominated Kushner Kushner was the Director of the White House Office of Innovation and a foreign policy advisor to father-in-law and President Donald Trump 'Against the background of a centuries-old conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, rising tensions, and Iran's growing influence, Kushner and Berkowitz successfully brought together regional leaders, and forged regional alliances better capable of countering Iran's malign influence.' This is the second straight year Kushner and Berkowitz have gotten the nomination for their work. Last year, former Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz put them up for the award. Kushner told the Post he is 'humbled' to be up for the prize. 'Thanks to the visionary leaders and efforts of millions of Israelis and Arabs, the Abraham Accords continue to strengthen, making the Middle East - and the world - a safer, more prosperous place,' he said. Since leaving Washington, Kushner has reportedly been reaching out to some of the connections he built in those nations for investment in a new firm. US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, Trump administration Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash and Israel's National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat in Abu Dhabi at the signing of the treaties Avi Berkowitz (right), Kushner's deputy, was also nominated for the Nobel Prize Kushner has reached out to leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other Persian Gulf states to try and get backing for Affinity Partners, Kushner's new company, according to The New York Times. The former Director of the Office of American Innovation has purportedly not been entirely successful in his efforts, which seek to raise an amount 'in the low billions of dollars' by early next year, The Times said. Rulers in both Qatar and the UAE have reportedly declined to invest in Affinity. However, Kushner has purportedly found interest from Saudi Arabia and the kingdom's $450 billion Public Investment Fund. The Times reported that the Saudi PIF is currently in negotiations with Kushner over a 'sizable investment.' Jared Kushner (pictured right), son-in-law and former senior advisor to ex-President Donald Trump, is attempting to line up Middle Eastern investment in a new firm Kushner worked extensively in the Middle East and has interest in the firm from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured right) Kushner was crucial in organizing Trump's first international state visit to Saudi Arabia in 2017 Kushner favored the Emiratis in their feud with the Qataris during his time at the White House. While the UAE sees Kushner as an ally, they reportedly questioned his past business acumen, which is largely limited to the time he spent in charge of his family's real estate business. Kushner became close with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, defending the head of state when US intelligence determined he'd ordered the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi over criticism of the royal family. The former senior advisor has moved to Miami with wife Ivanka and their children since leaving the White House. Kushner has stated no desire to get back into politics, but has attempted to build off his work in the Middle East by establishing a nonprofit called the Abraham Accords Institute for Peace. Anti-vaccination protesters gathered amid chaotic scenes in a Canberra park have been told by ACT Police to leave by the end of the day. An estimated 10,000 protesters marched to Parliament House on Saturday to protest against vaccine mandates. Most of the Canada-inspired 'Convoy to Canberra' came from other parts of the country and many set up a makeshift camp at the Exhibition Park in Canberra after being moved on from their previous illegal campsite near the National Library. But ACT Police warned protesters they will have to leave on Sunday so preparations can begin for the Canberra Show on February 25-27. Anti-vaccine mandate protestors dance at Exhibition Park in Canberra on February 12, 2022 'ACT Policing is working with EPIC management today to notify campers that they will need to vacate the site by the end of the weekend,' police said. 'People who remain in EPIC after this time may be considered trespassing.' Pauline Hanson joined the protesters on Saturday, who appeared to represent many different causes and carried a wide array of anti-authority signs, messages and flags. The One Nation leader made an appearance on Saturday after Scott Morrison warned marchers to be 'peaceful and respectful'. Police said the protesters were well-behaved overnight, with no arrests in the park after Saturday's march. Three people were arrested amid wild scenes Saturday during the protest, one of whom was tackled to the ground by police after he allegedly drove trough a roadblock. 'One man was charged with multiple offences after he drove his truck through a roadblock and two men were taken into custody for breaching the peace,' ACT Police said. The demonstrators, who oppose any compulsory vaccination, streamed through Canberra on Saturday to assemble across several huge lawns at Parliament House. Pauline Hanson (pictured beside police officers) joined thousands of anti-vaccine mandate protestors rallying outside Parliament House Protestors in the crowd that gathered in Canberra had a diverse range of views but were united under a banner of 'freedom' from vaccine mandates The Convoy to Canberra crowd included a hugely diverse range of views but were generally united a banner of opposition to vaccine mandates and any pandemic-related government orders. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government supported compulsory vaccines only for people working in high risk situations, and for vulnerable people. Saturday's rally forced the cancellation of a major Canberra fundraiser for suicide prevention hotline Lifeline, whose organisers were concerned about safety. The Capital Regional Farmers Market also delayed its event over safety concerns. It is the second week anti-vaccine protestors have staged protests in the capital city. A large crowd marched on Australia's main government buildings in Canberra as 'freedom' protestors called on leaders to end vaccine mandates Many families (pictured) were at the anti-vaccine mandate protests in Canberra on Saturday Among the crowd were men who appeared to be former Australian soldiers, tradies, truckers, motorcyclists, evangelical religious groups, a smattering of Indigenous protestors and some MPs. Many flew alternative Australian flags including the Eureka stockade flag, considered a general symbol of rebellion against authority, the Aboriginal flag and the red maritime ensign. The red ensign has been adopted during anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protests by the so-called 'sovereign citizen' movement, a fringe group who believe government laws do not apply to them. Protestors organised using social media but arrived in person in their thousands in the nation's capital Up to 10,000 demonstrators, united in their opposition to compulsory vaccination, streamed through Canberra to assemble across several huge lawns at Parliament house 'We've been controlled by the politicians ... I'm here as an Australian fighting for my rights and my freedoms,' Ms Hanson told 7News. She had earlier taken to Facebook to urge protestors to join the rally. 'I hope you're all behind this Convoy to Canberra,' she wrote. 'Convoy to Canberra has arrived. Say 'hi' if you're here and see me.' It is nearly the second week anti-vaccine protestors have staged rallies in the capital city as part of the 'Convoy to Canberra (pictured, a protestor raises a child in the air during Saturday's demonstration) Many flew alternative Australian flags including the Eureka stockade flag, considered a general symbol of rebellion against authority, the Aboriginal flag and the red ensign Speaking in Sydney, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged protestors to behave in a respectful manner. 'I want to be very clear when it comes to the issue of vaccine mandates, the Commonwealth government have only ever supported mandates that relate to aged care workers, disability workers and those that are working in high-risk situations in health system,' he said. 'My government has only ever supported mandates that have been recommended right across the country by the medical expert panel and our chief medical officers. 'All other mandates that relate to vaccines have been imposed unilaterally by state governments.' It is the second week anti-vaccine protestors have staged rallies in Australia's capital as part of the 'Convoy to Canberra' (pictured, protestors at Parliament House) Speaking in Sydney, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged protestors to carry out the rally in a respectful manner (pictured, anti-vaccine mandate protestors in Canberra) MP Craig Kelly, who is leader of the United Australia Party, tweeted in support of the protests. 'Tens of thousands of Freedom Fighters in Canberra saying no to human rights abuses,' he wrote. Great Australia party founder Rod Culleton was also at the march. Anti-vaccine protestors on the back of a ute at the rally in front of Parliament House on Saturday Advertisement Millions of refugees could flee Ukraine if it is invaded by Russia, the Defence Secretary warned last night as he said that Vladimir Putin could strike 'at any time' and likened the West's efforts to stop him to the infamous policy of appeasement in the lead-up to the Second World War. Ben Wallace said that the potential for 'millions of displaced people - refugees - pouring from one European country to another hasn't been seen since the war and could potentially have a massive impact.' His comments echoed previous warnings by Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, who said that a 'major war' could lead to the 'sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion'. Poland is among the countries that are preparing to absorb an influx of people fleeing conflict if it does break out. Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Wallace added that there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air' - an apparent reference to the 1938 agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in the hope that it would prevent the outbreak of war. Just a year later, the Second World War began when Hitler invaded Poland, with Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts to preserve peace left in tatters. Mr Wallace, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause 'widespread human suffering'. During an hour-long phone call, Mr Biden told the Russian president an attack would 'diminish Russia's standing' as heightened fears of an attack caused western nations including Britain to urge citizens to flee Ukraine. Mr Wallace said that Moscow could 'launch an offensive at any time', with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. 'It may be that he [Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West,' he added. A source explained that Mr Wallace's concerns that if Mr Putin strikes 'come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man'. US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky sought to downplay the threat, saying: 'The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us.' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking 'hysteria'. Diplomatic efforts on Saturday also included French President Emmanuel Macron sharing a call with Mr Putin, but it was understood that Boris Johnson, who spoke to the Russian president earlier this month, did not have any calls with Moscow scheduled. Pictured: British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace attends a meeting with Russian Defence Minister in Moscow on Friday. The Cabinet minister, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause 'widespread human suffering' In this photo taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, A tank moves at the training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus Ben Wallace said there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air', in an apparent reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War. Pictured: Helicopter fires missiles beneath clear blue skies during a Russian-Belarusian joint military drill on Saturday Adolf Hitler greets British Prime Minister Neville chamberlain at Munich 1938. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace likened the West's attempts to stop a Russian invasion of Ukraine to the failure to prevent WWII The Defence Secretary has compared diplomatic efforts to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine to appeasement as he said it is 'highly likely' Vladimir Putin will order an attack despite the concerted talks to avert war. Pictured: Soldiers work with their military vehicle at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Despite the ramping up of military drills, Russia has called fears of an invasion of Ukraine 'alarmist' Pictured: A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows tents and equipment at the northern end of the Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, 10 February 2022 Russian Navy's diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don is escorted by a Turkish Navy Coast Guard boat as it sets sail in the Dardanelles, on its way to the Black Sea, in Canakkale, Turkey February 12, 2022 Ukrainians attend an open military training for civilians range as part of the 'Don't panic! Get ready! ' which is carried out by veterans of the Azov battalion on a training range in Kyiv amid the threat of Russian invasion, Feb 12, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured left on Friday) and US President Joe Biden (pictured right on Wednesday) held a high-stakes phone call today as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days German chancellor to fly to Ukraine and Russia to try to defuse tensions amid invasion fears German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent and Germany has called on its citizens to leave Ukraine as quickly as possible. Ahead of his first visits as Chancellor to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Mr Scholz renewed his warning to Russia, as well as his advocacy of continuing diplomacy in multiple formats. '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,' he told the German parliament's upper house on Friday. 'But at the same time that also includes using all opportunities for talks and further development.' Russia has concentrated more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and launched a series of military manoeuvres in the region, but says it has no plans to invade the nation. Moscow wants guarantees from the West that Nato will not allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members, and for the alliance to halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. The US and Nato have flatly rejected these demands. Mr Scholz has repeatedly said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine or to spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia have drawn criticism abroad and at home and raised questions about Berlin's resolve in standing up to Russia. Germany's reluctant position is partly rooted in its history of aggression during the 20th century when the country's own militarisation in Europe during two World Wars led many post-war German leaders to view any military response as a very last resort. Despite this historic burden, experts say it is of utmost importance now that Mr Scholz stresses Germany is in sync with its European and American allies, especially when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Markus Ziener, an expert with the German Marshall Fund, said: 'Scholz has to convey a very clear message in Moscow, and it can really only be: There is unity and oneness in the Western alliance. There is no possibility of driving a wedge into the Western alliance, and that must be understood in Moscow. I think that's the most important message he has to convey there. 'At the same time, he has to make it clear that the costs are high. That's basically the message that is most likely to catch on in Moscow as well. So a military invasion of Ukraine has significant consequences for Russia.' Advertisement UK nationals in Ukraine have been being urged by the Foreign Office to 'leave now while commercial means are still available', with officials warning there will be no RAF evacuations. Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack 'very, very quickly', with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine's border. But unlike when the Taliban seized Kabul, Mr Heappey stressed that the RAF would not be carrying out evacuations in the event of war in Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she spoke to US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Saturday, and shared her 'acute concerns' that Russia could launch further military aggression against Ukraine within days. She tweeted: 'Spoke to @SecBlinken today about acute concerns that Russia may launch further military aggression against Ukraine in coming days. We agree Russia will face massive consequences for any invasion, including severe sanctions. Russia must deescalate and engage with @NATO proposals.' Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded the US share intelligence which suggests Russia is planning to invade his country on Wednesday - as the first British families begin arriving to the UK after being urged to flee the potential future war zone. Writing on the website of the think tank the Atlantic Council in December last year about a potential refugee crisis, Mr Reznikov said: 'A major war in Ukraine would plunge the whole of Europe into crisis. 'The sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion would be just one of many major concerns facing European society. 'For example, the EU relies heavily on food imports including grain. A major war would seriously disrupt and possibly prevent entirely many imports from both Ukraine and Russia, creating a whole range of food security problems for the entire continent.' Poland is one nation neighbouring Ukraine that is preparing for an influx of refugees. Speaking earlier this month, the country's deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, told Polish radio: 'We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and [we have] been taking steps so as to be prepared for a wave of up to a million people.' The alleged invasion plans, reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel, are said to detail specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and were analysed by the Secret Service, the CIA and the Pentagon before being handed over to President Joe Biden's government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held an emergency call with Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov to discuss the crisis today, after the 'extremely detailed' plans stoked fears of war in eastern Europe. He warned his Russian counterpart that further aggression from Moscow would be met with a 'resolute, massive and united transatlantic response'. Mr Blinken had said earlier today that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving close to Ukraine's borders. But speaking during a live broadcast this afternoon, Mr Zelensky told the US: 'If you have 100 percent-certain information about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, please share it with us'. He added that he realised 'such risks do exist' and that his country remains ready to take any measure necessary and 'from any border.' Thousands of British, American and other European citizens - including many embassy staff - have now been told to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as they were warned there would be no military evacuation in the wake of a Russian attack. (Pictured: Hurricane rocket launcher during Russian-Belarusian drill on Saturday) Two camouflaged tanks toll through the Gozhsky training ground during military exercises held by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus in the Grodno region, Belarus, on Saturday Smoke fills the air during a military drill between Russia and Belarus in the Grodno region of Ukraine's neighbour on Saturday Amid the escalating tensions, thousands of British, American and other European citizens - including many embassy staff - have now been told to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as they were warned there would be no military evacuation in the wake of a Russian attack. The first haul of visibly relieved British families arrived at UK airports today, including a medical student from Birmingham and a couple with a young daughter, who landed at Gatwick airport. The student said the call for Britons to flee Ukraine caused 'quite a panic' and a rush to return home. Ali Haider said after landing at Gatwick Airport from Kyiv on Saturday: 'I'd been in two minds about coming back because of the advice coming out by the British Embassy, about the amber alert, red alert. 'A lot of people, a lot of students were waiting for the red alert, and it happened yesterday. Once that happened, everybody booked their tickets and left as soon as possible.' The 21-year-old from Birmingham said his university, the Dnipro Medical Institute in Dnipro, a city in central Ukraine, had advised students to 'get out as soon as you can'. He said around half the students at the university are British. Mr Ali said: 'I think the main thing that people were getting worried about as well is, because it's along the Dnieper River, a lot of the people were saying, if Putin wants to suffocate Kyiv, push his warships along that path as well.' The student said he had paid 210 for his one-way flight ticket and thought prices would get much more expensive over the next three days as more people rush out of the country. He said he was hoping to return to Ukraine by June to continue his studies. Mr Ali said Ukrainians' opinions were split on the likelihood of a Russian incursion, but that the perception that Western media were blowing the crisis out of proportion was changing. He said: 'The Ukrainians are generally very laissez-faire as in terms of people, but the last couple of days they've started to get worried. And when that happens, alarm bells should be ringing.' Another British citizen arriving at Gatwick on the same plane said Ukrainians did not seem worried. Paul Meakin, 51, from Poole in Dorset, his Ukrainian-British wife Svetlana, 36, and their daughter, who had spent a week in Ukraine to attend a funeral, said most passengers on their flight had been Ukrainian, not British. Asked about people's attitudes there, the IT company chief said: 'You wouldn't even know. They don't care, that's what came across.' That sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian Pasha Honcharuk, 24, from Kyiv, who said he was 'not too worried' and that he would have stayed home if it were not for work in the UK. He said: 'All news channels tell that there will be war but I don't think so.' But a Ukrainian business analyst, who did not want to be named, said 'of course everybody's worried' about the threat of war. But she said this had not influenced her pre-existing decision to move to London from Kyiv for work. Relieved: Paul Meakin, his wife Svetlana and their daughter (pictured left) arrive at Gatwick from Kiev, Ukraine, after being urged to leave the country amid mounting tensions with Russia. Pictured right: Haider Ali, 21, from Birmingham, is all smiles as he arrives safe and sound at Gatwick from Ukraine, where he studies at a medical university Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, (pictured together) are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror Ben Garratt, and his wife Alice - both from Queen's Park in London - are also trapped waiting for their surrogate-born baby to receive documentation Daniel Williams, 45, who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife While many of the 6,000 Britons in Ukraine have already fled via air or west into Poland, there have also been reports of British families with newborns becoming trapped in the country waiting for the correct documentation. Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror. Douglas was born weighing 9lbs by cesarean section, and he and his mother are in a Kyiv hospital. Mr Stewart, originally from Edinburgh, and his family now face an anxious wait to see if they can get out in time. Meanwhile, Ben Garratt and his wife Alice - both from Queen's Park in London - are also trapped waiting for their surrogate-born baby to receive documentation. The couple moved to Kyiv in December where their son was born thanks to the 'very different surrogacy laws' in Ukraine that allow for a swifter IVF and surrogacy process. Mr Garratt said he and his wife are growing increasingly concerned after the Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to encourage UK nationals to leave. Another British man - Daniel Williams, 45 - who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife. They are also stuck in the country, he has said. Mr Williams' wife has a valid travel visa, but their baby does not yet have a British passport or a Ukrainian passport to get to the UK by commercial means. People take part in the Unity March, which is a procession to demonstrate their patriotic spirit amid growing tensions with Russia, in Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday Hundreds of people took to the streets of Kiev on Saturday, vowing to 'resist' any attempt at occupation from Russian forces Hundreds waved Ukrainian flags as they marched against Putin in Kiev on Saturday Protestors against Russian threats hold up a sign saying: 'Say no to Putin' in Kiev on Saturday Ukraine Will Resist! 5,000 march through Kiev warning Putin of bloody consequences if his massive army invades Traffic in the city ground to a halt as the anti-war rally snaked its way from Shevchenko Park to the historic Maidan Square, birthplace of the 2014 revolution. (Pictured: Demonstrators hold up sign reading: 'Ukrainians will resist') By Nick Craven in Kiev, Ukraine, for MailOnline More than 5,000 people defiantly marched through the centre of Kiev behind a huge banner proclaiming 'Ukraine Will Resist'. Traffic in the city ground to a halt as the anti-war rally snaked its way from Shevchenko Park to the historic Maidan Square, birthplace of the 2014 revolution. Protesters of all ages, many draped in yellow and blue Ukrainian flags, chanted 'Ukraine, united, will never be defeated' and one banner described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a 'mass murderer' and a 'war criminal'. Another said simply '#sayNOtoPutin' Leading the march, Illia Kononov of the Capitulation Resistance Movement, told MailOnline: 'So many people have turned out to show their support for Ukraine and to tell the world that we don't want war, but if it comes we will fight back. 'We also want to thank all the countries such as the UK which have supported us morally and given us weapons to deter the Russians. 'Personally I don't think Putin will invade, but if he does, he should know that Ukraine will fight to the last man and woman.' The march halted at Maidan and the protestors sang the Ukrainian national anthem beneath flags fluttering in the chilly wind. Students Aleksey, 17, and his 18-year-old girlfriend Elvira, said they had come to show their support for their country at a time of need. 'Russia has so many problems of its own, so why are they planning to cause problems in our country,' said IT student Aleksey. Physics student Elvira added: 'When I think about what might happen in the next few days or weeks, I'm scared, but it's good to see so many people coming out to make their feelings known it would not be so easy to do this in Russia because they don't have the freedoms we have.' Another marcher, Andreii, 34, who had fought in the Ukrainian army in Donbas for three years, said he was now 'seriously worried' about the situation. 'When I heard that the US and UK governments were telling their people to return home, it made me think this was actually going to happen,' he said. 'But we are home, and that means we can't run away anywhere we have to stand and fight.' Woman holds up picture seemingly comparing Putin to former dictators Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler, during an anti-war rally in Kiev on Saturday *Britain's Ambassador to Ukraine has pledged to remain at her post, despite the Foreign Office advising Britons to leave the country now over fears that a Russian invasion is imminent. Melinda Simmons will continue to run the Embassy in Kyiv with a skeleton staff while most colleagues are expected to fly home over the weekend. She tweeted: 'I am staying in Kyiv and continue to work there with a core team. The embassy remains operational.' The news came as the Russian Embassy also sent most staff home, which observers were interpreting as another clear sign that Putin intends to take offensive action against his weaker neighbour. Advertisement Earlier on Saturday, the Russian military said it caught a US submarine in its far-east waters and drove it out with 'appropriate means' after the vessel ignored a Russian request to leave, Interfax news agency has reported. Citing the Russian defence ministry, Interfax reported that the US submarine was detected near the Pacific Kuril islands as Russia conducted naval exercises with its Pacific Fleet. It was ordered to surface immediately. It said the order was ignored by the U.S. submarine's crew, leading the crew of Russia's Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate to use unspecified 'corresponding means' to make the vessel leave. 'The U.S. submarine ... left Russian territorial waters at maximum speed,' the defence ministry was quoted as saying. The Russian ministry called in the U.S. defence attache after complaining that the submarine had entered its waters, the RIA news agency reported. 'We are aware of press reporting about an alleged naval incident in the Pacific. We cannot confirm the details of these reports at this time,' said a Pentagon spokesman. Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported seven incidents of ceasefire violations in the rebel-held Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, accusing Russian-backed forces of 'opening fire' on the outskirts of Pisky. And frictions could worsen from Sunday, when a crucial stage in the Russian military exercises around Ukraine begins in the Black and Azov Seas on the country's southern coast. The manoeuvres, scheduled to last a week, will completely block international shipping to and from the Sea of Azov as the Russian naval blockade will put a stranglehold on the narrow Kerch Strait between Russia and Crimea. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has claimed the movements of Russian ships in the Black Sea are in compliance with international maritime law, but the potential for a full-scale amphibious assault on Ukraine has not been lost on NATO observers. The Ukrainian coast of the Sea of Azov is the perfect bridgehead for Moscow as no other nations' ships can enter that stretch of water because the Kremlin controls Kerch Strait. The West's fears of an invasion were branded 'alarmist' and a symptom of US 'hysteria' by leading Russian figures on Saturday - just as sabre-rattling drills were launched by Putin in neighbouring Belarus. The country'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.' However in the same breath, she revealed Russia was reducing diplomatic staff in Ukraine because it feared 'provocations' from the Kiev authorities or 'third countries' - in another alarming sign that an invasion is edging closer. It has long been suspected that Russia could use the cloak of an 'attack' in rebel-held, pro-Russian areas as an excuse to send in troops. Ms Zakharova added: 'In the wake of possible provocations by the Kiev regime or third countries, we have, indeed, made a decision on some optimisation of the staff of Russian overseas missions in Ukraine. 'We want to highlight that our embassy and consulates will keep performing their basic functions.' The Ukrainian MoD urged people via Twitter to 'remain calm' today, as hundreds joined anti-Putin rallies on the streets of Kiev, holding up signs reading: 'Invaders must die' and 'Say no to Putin.' It came as Britain made clear that its embassy in the capital would remain open despite a reduction in staff and travel advice for all UK citizens to leave ahead of a feared Russian attack. Ambassador Melinda Simmons said: 'I am staying in Kiev and continue to work there with a core team. The embassy remains operational.' The US embassy will also run on a skeleton crew after it ordered all non-emergency Kiev staff to leave Saturday 'due to the continued threat of Russian military action'. Despite mounting fears, Russia's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told Newsweek magazine that warnings of an invasion were 'alarmist' and repeated that his country was 'not going to attack anyone.' The White House said 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 amid fears that Putin could launch an 'aerial bombardment' of Kiev, risking a high civilian death toll. Spain, The Netherlands, Kuwait, Germany and several other countries have now told their citizens to leave, 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. Images released today showed Russian and Belarusian forces testing snow-camouflaged 'hurricane' and 'tornado' rocket launcher systems, while a major Russian sea drill, featuring deadly warships, was launched in the Black Sea. Tobias Ellwood, 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. Ukrainians hold up flares as they unfurl a banner reading 'Ukrainians will resist' and 'say no to Putin' during a rally in the capital Kiev on Saturday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (pictured left) is currently on a call to Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov (pictured right) to discuss the crisis, after the 'extremely detailed' invasion plans, seen by the Secret Service, CIA and the Pentagon, stoked fears of war in eastern Europe. Snow camouflaged Tornado rocket launcher systems are put to the test in sub-zero Belarus on Saturday amid mounting fears of Ukraine invasion 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) Britain made clear today that its embassy in Kiev would remain open despite a reduction in staff, and travel advice for all UK citizens to leave ahead of a feared Russian attack. (Pictured: Russian Tornado rocket launcher system during drill in Belarus) 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) Soldier mounts a 'hurricane' rocket launcher system during drill in Belarus Russian soldier behind the wheel of a rocket launcher system during drills in Belarus on 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 '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. 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.' A British woman has claimed her severe allergy to nuts meant she was kicked off a flight after cabin crew members told her first class passengers had to be served the complimentary snacks. Electrical engineer Sophie Draper, 26, had been flying to JFK Airport in New York from Heathrow in December - but alleges she was discriminated against and was not allowed to board the plane with her boyfriend. Ms Draper, who is also a PhD researcher at Durham University and describes herself as an 'intersectional feminist' on social media, claimed 'blunt' American Airlines staff told her they were 'contractually obliged' to serve mixed nuts in business class. It was also not part of the company's policy to make an announcement about food allergies while on board, she later alleged. In a Twitter thread after her ordeal, Ms Draper described the company as a 'dangerous airline for people with food allergies,' and slammed their 'heartless' policy. Were YOU on this flight? Contact O.Devereux-Evans@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Electrical engineer Sophie Draper, 26, had been flying to JFK Airport in New York from Heathrow in December - but alleges she was discriminated against because of her nut allergy and was not allowed to board the plane Ms Draper traveled to Heathrow with her boyfriend in December 2021 and told staff of her nut allergy. She says her explanation was met with 'confused looks' by American Airlines employees on the departure gate, who asked her if it 'would be ok if people around [her] could still eat nuts' In a Twitter thread (pictured) after her ordeal, Ms Draper described the company as a 'dangerous airline for people with food allergies,' and slammed their 'heartless' policy Ms Draper is also a PhD researcher at Durham University and describes herself as an 'intersectional feminist' on social media Ms Draper traveled to Heathrow with her boyfriend in December 2021 and told staff of her nut allergy. She says her explanation was met with 'confused looks' by American Airlines employees on the departure gate, who asked her if it 'would be ok if people around [her] could still eat nuts'. After Ms Draper told them her severe allergy was airborne and she could suffer an adverse reaction, she alleges the employees scoffed at the idea of banning nuts from the plane. After Ms Draper told them her severe allergy was airborne and she could suffer an adverse reaction, she alleges the employees scoffed at the idea of banning nuts from the plane One allegedly told her: 'Well, theyre not going to stop serving nuts on the aircraft I really doubt thats gonna happen' One allegedly told her: 'Well, theyre not going to stop serving nuts on the aircraft I really doubt thats gonna happen'. When the couple raised their concerns with the head of the flight's cabin crew, they were told American Airlines were 'contractually obligated to serve hot mixed nuts in first class'. Asking about a potential anaphlactic reaction onboard, the cabin crew is alleged to pointed at her boyfriend and responded: 'He knows how to use your epi-pen, right?' When the couple raised their concerns with the head of the flight's cabin crew, they were told American Airlines were 'contractually obligated to serve hot mixed nuts in first class' American Airlines urged all passengers with allergies to take the 'necessary medical precautions' before flying A spokesperson for American Airlines said: 'Protecting the health and safety of those who fly with us is our priority, and it's essential to our purpose of caring for our customers as they travel. 'We regret that we disappointed Ms Draper and her travel partner during this trip, and our team has reached out to apologise and hear more about their experience.' American Airlines does not serve peanuts in flight, but it also said it 'can't guarantee' customers won't be exposed to nuts during their voyage. The company has also urged all passengers with allergies to take the 'necessary medical precautions' before flying. A jury trial has been shown bodycam footage depicting the moment a policeman allegedly shot an Aboriginal teen dead. Kumanjayi Walker, 19, died in Yuendumu, 300km northwest of Alice Springs on November 9, 2019. Video played to the Northern Territory Supreme Court this week showed Constable Zach Rolfe, 30, and his partner Adam Eberl questioning the teenager about his identity before Walker appeared to lunge at them both with a pair of scissors. Three gunshots can then be heard 2.6 seconds apart as Rolfe calls out repeatedly 'he's stabbing me', according to the bodycam video showed to the jury. The constable, who fired the fatal shots, faced the court this week and alongside a jury watched as the distressing bodycam footage was played several times over. Body-cam footage was played to a jury showing the moment Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot. Northern Territory police officer Zach Rolfe, 30, is standing trial charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty Rolfe has pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder and two lesser charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death. On November 9, Rolfe and his partner were tasked with apprehending the fugitive after being sent from Alice Springs, the court has heard. Bodycam footage shown to the jury features the two men asking Walker his identity. The teenager appears calm and gives the officers a different name, while the officers respond by asking him to put his arms behind his back. Walker pauses slightly before suddenly leaping at them with the pair of scissors, appearing to stab Rolfe in the left shoulder and his partner in the armpit. One shot can be heard in the chaos and then another two follow 2.6 seconds later as Walker and the other officer struggle on the ground. second and third shot that constituted murder. Pictured: Kumanjayi (Arnold) Walker 'Two-point-six seconds after he fired the first shot, the accused stood over Kumajayi Walker and fired into his left torso... when the accused fired the second and third shot, he intended to kill Kumanjayi Walker,' Mr Strickland said. The constable's lawyer David Edwardson said his client was carrying out his role as a policeman in good faith and was defending himself and his partner. 'Constable Rolfe did not have the luxury of considering tactical options frame by frame. He had been stabbed,' Mr Edwardson told the jury. 'His partner was locked in combat with an armed assailant, he could not press the pause button. He was taught, trained and drilled - an edged weapon equals a gun.' The officer-in-charge of the Yuendumu police station in November 2019 told the court she drew up a plan to safely arrest Walker. Sergeant Julie Frost said her station suffered a 'huge resource problem' the night the teenager was killed, prompting her to call in the Alice Springs-based Immediate Response Team which Rolfe was part of. Sergeant Frost said she asked the IRT to patrol break-in hotspots in the community as well as do some high-visibility policing. She planned to arrest the teenager herself at 5.30am the following day on November 10, with an officer who knew Walker personally. 'An early morning arrest like that is a far safer time to arrest people,' she told the court. 'We know that they will be sleeping, and it gives the element of surprise.' However, when asked what to do if they encountered the fugitive during their patrol Frost told the IRT officers: 'By all means, lock him up.' The trial continues. A group of trainee sniffer dogs showed off their sharp-nosed prowess when they uncovered a huge cannabis factory worth 1.3million during a workshop with young children. Leicestershire police were stunned after a security company specialising in the training of drug sniffer dogs informed them their pooches had turned up a major haul at a factory in Thames Street, Leicester. The trainee dogs had been conducting a sensory workshop for children with special education needs at the time when they repeatedly approached one wall near to an adjoining unit. Their handlers raised the alarm after they displayed the unusual behaviour, which led to the tip off to police. Officers found the entire top floor of the building covered in cannabis plants with a street value of 1.3million once the workshop had ended. Police found three men, Renald Dema, 21, Ali Hoxha, 29, and Juljan Jaku, 29, hiding in a storage cupboard during a sweep of the building. The trio were later jailed after being charged with cultivating cannabis. The trainee sniffer dogs turned up a major haul when they found a cannabis farm worth 1.3m at a factory in Thames Street, Leicester A force spokesperson said the private firm, which trains drug search and private protection dogs, had been working with youngsters to aid their sensory learning. 'During the workshop, the dogs have repeatedly gone to the wall of the adjoining unit where the cannabis was later found after the workshop had ended,' the spokesperson said. 'When officers attended the unit they found cannabis plants of various sizes with a street value of 1.3 million.' Police found three men, (left to right) Ali Hoxha, 29, Juljan Jaku, 21, and Renald Dema, 21, hiding in a storage cupboard during a sweep of the building. The trio were later jailed at Leicester Crown Court after being charged with illegally cultivating cannabis In December, Dema, Hoxha and Jaku all admitted to illegally cultivating cannabis and were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court. Dema, 21, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years and three months. Hoxha, 29, of no fixed address, was given a sentence of two years and nine months, while Jaku, 24, also of no fixed address, was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Speaking at the conclusion of the case, Detective Inspector Ross Dimmock, of the Central Leicester neighbourhood policing area, said: 'This was a significant discovery which not only led to three people being arrested but also stopped more than a 1 million worth of drugs hitting our streets. 'Those responsible for this cannabis factory thought their actions would go unnoticed and undiscovered but they were wrong. 'We would like to thank the person reporting the discovery for their assistance. 'Drugs are a blight on society and lead to criminality and the breakdown of relationships and families. We take these offences extremely seriously.' Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, right, meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 12. Reuters-Yonhap Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saturday in Hawaii to discuss ways to engage with North Korea. The meeting follows a recent series of North Korean missile launches amid a prolonged hiatus in dialogue with Pyongyang. "As I have repeatedly said publicly, maintaining the status quo in the Korean Peninsula issues is not an option," Chung said Friday after arriving in Honolulu. "As time passes, North Korea's nuclear missile capability will continue to develop, and if that happens, the security conditions of the Korean Peninsula will worsen and that will lead to instability not only on the Korean Peninsula but in Northeast Asia and the entire world," he added. North Korea staged seven missile launches in January, the largest number of missile tests it has conducted in a month. It also launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile, its longest-range missile test since late 2017. Blinken has condemned the missile tests as serious violations of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, but has also offered to meet with North Korea anytime without preconditions. Pyongyang, however, has remained unresponsive to all U.S. overtures, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. The reclusive North has shunned denuclearization talks since late 2019. Chung and Blinken were set to be joined later in the day by their Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, for trilateral talks on ways to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table. The foreign ministerial talks follow bilateral and trilateral meetings between the countries' top nuclear envoys held earlier this week also in Honolulu. South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk said he had very meaningful and productive discussions with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts on "several ways to engage with North Korea," and that the foreign ministers would continue their discussions when they meet. (Yonhap) A record-breaking rogue wave that measured 58 feet tall has been recorded off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. It was tracked in November 2020, with the water wall's record-breaking nature only confirmed by scientists earlier this month. To give an idea of its size, scientists say that it was three times higher than any of the other waves surrounding it, with those outsize proportions making it the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. The wave, which was the height of a four-story building, had its height measured by a buoy that was floating out in the open ocean which is able to track specific movements caused by such currents. Although taller waves have been recorded elsewhere in the world, this one broke records relative to the others seen in the area at the time. Its size is said to be a rarity and a once-in-every 1,300 years occurrence and proportionally the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. The wave was measured via a MarineLabs buoy about 4.3 miles off the coast of Ucluelet, British Columbia. There was no damage reported as a result of the wave back on land or out at sea. A rogue wave was recored off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada in 2020. Pictured, part of a video simulation from MarineLabs buoy and mooring at the time of the record-setting wave An open ocean buoy calculated the wave to be 58 feet high, about four stories, while other waves surrounding it were peaking at closer to 20 feet The wave was measured via a MarineLabs buoy about 4.3 miles off the coast of Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia 'Only a few rogue waves in high sea states have been observed directly, and nothing of this magnitude. The probability of such an event occurring is one in 1,300 years,' said Johannes Gemmrich to CNN. 'Rogues' are also known as 'extreme storm waves' and are usually twice the size of surrounding waves and can be extremely unpredictable because they often come from directions different to the prevailing winds or waves. 'In simplified terms, a rogue wave is actually just a wave that is large compared to the surrounding wave field,' Gemmrich explained. The wave was measured in November 2020 but has only now been confirmed in a study released earlier this month. The MarineLabs sensor buoy which detected the record-breaking rogue wave off of Ucluelet, British Columbia was most extreme rogue wave ever recorded At 58 feet tall, the wave would have stood out compared to the surrounding waves which clocked at around 20 feet. Gemmrich noted that while the overall size of the wave doesn't specifically matter, it is its size in comparison to other wives which makes it 'rogue', and in this particular case, record-breaking. 'Most observations are at a single buoy, a single location, and so the wave passes through, and we know at this moment it was this high, but we don't know how long. That is the big science question,' Gemmrich said. The waves are rarely witnessed in person but a network of buoys out in the ocean are able to detect if such conditions are encountered. 'They look like a large four-story lump sticking out of the water with a large peak and big troughs before it,' said Scott Beatty, CEO of MarineLabs, the company that operates the buoy which measured the wave. This MarineLabs rugged solar-powered ocean sensor unit (pictured center) converts any float into a real-time data station. The sensors are mounted to buoys, like the ones pictured, before being deployed in the water 'We're a real-time intelligence company, and we provide real-time updates on what is going on along the coastline, including wind, waves, and other data,' he explained. An animation clearly shows how the wave would have moved the buoy as it came through and details the swell of the ocean compared the smaller waves surrounding it. Beatty says the waves would cause a significant threat to boats in the area and it is their sheer unpredictability that also makes them such a hazard. There are 26 buoys that MarineLabs currently has placed in oceans around North American with the company planning to more than double their reach by the end of the year. 'We are aiming to improve safety and decision-making for marine operations and coastal communities through widespread measurement of the world's coastlines,' Beatty stated. The wave was measured via a MarineLabs buoy about 4.3 miles off the coast of Ucluelet, British Columbia. There was no damage reported as a result of the wave 'They are unexpected, so the vessel operator has little warning. If it is high enough that it can cause some damage to the vessel, the operator has no time to change course or react to it.' Gemmrich said who also noted that there was a distinction between rogue waves and tsunamis. 'Rogue waves are generated by wind, so they are just a rare occurrence of wind generated waves. Whereas a tsunami is generated most commonly by an earthquake, underwater earthquake, or as we've seen recently a volcano eruption,' Gemmrich explained, with coastal communities everywhere vulnerable to rogue waves. John Simpson has spoken of his fears for his close friend and former BBC cameraman who's being held captive by the Taliban. Distinguished British journalist Peter Jouvenal, 64, has been locked in a cell without being charged or given legal help since he was arrested in Kabul two months ago. Mr Simpson, the BBC's world affairs editor, said: 'Conditions are bad. It's bitterly cold, and all they have to eat each day is a bowl of rice, occasionally garnished with beans. Distinguished British journalist Peter Jouvenal (pictured), 64, has been locked in a cell without being charged or given legal help since he was arrested in Kabul two months ago 'He has no access to the medicine he needs for high blood pressure.' Mr Jouvenal has worked and travelled in Afghanistan for more than 40 years, is married to an Afghan woman and they have three children. He was with Mr Simpson in 2001 when the reporter, famously disguised in a burka, slipped into Afghanistan and they became the first journalists to show the world the last months of Taliban rule. Mr Jouvenal also arranged and filmed the first Western interview with Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, for CNN, in 1997. Mr Simpson last saw his friend in November three months after the Taliban returned to power when Western troops left the country. Two weeks later, Mr Jouvenal was abducted near the former British Embassy in Kabul but details of his plight had been kept secret amid fears for his safety. The news emerged on Friday when another former BBC journalist, Andrew North, was taken captive by the Taliban but quickly released. Mr Jouvenal, who is now a successful businessman, had reassured family he would be safe. Courageous: Mr Simpson, left, with Peter Jouvenal in Afghanistan in 2001. Mr Jouvenal also arranged and filmed the first Western interview with Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, for CNN, in 1997 Another friend said: 'He felt very comfortable in Afghanistan, even in much worse times than this. 'He was always cool as a cucumber in Kabul, as if he were on the French Riviera there was no sense of impending danger.' The friend said of his wife: 'She's tortured by it, thinking, 'Is there another phone call I can make that will help, someone else I can contact, another button I can push to get him out?' ' His friends and family believe he may have been detained in error as he had been openly working and had frequent meetings with senior Taliban officials. Foreign Office officials have been able to see Mr Jouvenal, who has to sleep on the concrete floor of a tiny cell that is often without light because of power cuts. JOHN SIMPSON: The Taliban desperately need the help of the outside world. They must now free Peter Jouvenal The Taliban's decision to release Andrew North, a former BBC correspondent, together with the other people who were arrested at the same time, is a huge relief. They had been working in Afghanistan for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The Taliban leadership is anxious to keep in with the UN and other institutions in order to get international help at a time when the Afghan economy has collapsed and its people are starving. The Taliban's decision to release Andrew North (pictured), a former BBC correspondent, together with the other people who were arrested at the same time, is a huge relief But other Westerners are still in prison in Afghanistan. Several are British people who were working for security organisations under the old regime. The most prominent is Peter Jouvenal, a friend and trusted colleague. At one time he was one of the most distinguished television journalists and cameramen in the world, and was with me when, disguised in burkas, we entered Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in October 2001. A few weeks later, as Kabul fell, Peter and I, together with a BBC news team, walked into the city and were given a rapturous reception by the inhabitants. Peter's contacts and knowledge of Afghanistan made all these things possible. His coverage was seen around the world. Today he is a businessman with interests in Afghanistan, including many that could help rebuild the shattered economy there. He was arrested in Kabul early in December. His circumstances are bad. It seems Peter and another Briton are being held in a small cell. It's bitterly cold, and all they have to eat each day is a bowl of rice, occasionally garnished with beans. He has no access to the medicine he needs for high blood pressure. At first, Peter's family wanted to keep his arrest quiet, in case the Taliban demanded some concession from the British or German governments Peter has dual nationality. The Foreign Office has been active on Peter's behalf, and seemed to have made progress. But when Andrew North was arrested, Amrullah Saleh, a leading figure in the old regime, revealed that Peter was also being held. It killed off any attempt to deal with Peter's imprisonment discreetly. On Friday, David Loyn, a former BBC correspondent who is leading the efforts to get Peter freed, said: '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. He was working openly and had frequent meetings with senior Taliban officials.' Peter's chief interest is helping the people of Afghanistan to prosper again. He is married to an Afghan and has three daughters. Afghanistan has been his life. The Taliban desperately need the help of the outside world. They freed Andrew North directly his plight became known. They must now free Peter Jouvenal. It is an industry peppered with tales of foul-mouthed chefs with fiery tempers, where the drive to reach excellence and creativity pushes emotions to the brink. Chasing a coveted Michelin star, or two, or three, means the service each day in a restaurant must be exceptional and the cuisine 'to die for'. And in this simmering pressure-cooker atmosphere, careers can be made or broken, skills carefully cultivated or dashed to the ground like a discarded piece of cutlery. At least, that is how it was, says Tom Kitchin, one of Scotland's leading chefs and a man who should know, having found his own work practices under the spotlight in recent months. Tom Kitchin, one of Scotland's leading chefs, has found his own work practices under the spotlight in recent months A social media page - set up to 'name and shame' so-called toxic workplaces across the country carried allegations by former employees that they had suffered historical incidences of physical and verbal abuse, as well sexual harassment, in Kitchin's award-winning restaurants in Edinburgh. Worse still, the celebrity chef himself was personally accused of presiding over 'a climate of fear and intimidation', as well as manhandling staff. For many, the fact he vehemently denied the allegations and ordered an independent probe to uncover the truth, leading to the suspension of two senior members of staff, was irrelevant. In the ensuing fall out, the chef and his Swedish-born wife, Michaela, were forced to call in police after online trolls threatened to 'burn their restaurants down', warned them they 'didn't deserve to live' and told the chef they were going to 'f***ing batter him' next time they saw him walking his dog in the park near the family's home in the city. Given what he and his staff were accused of online by their detractors, some named, others not, the irony is not lost on a sombre-faced Kitchin, who has decided to finally speak out. In an exclusive interview, the 44-year-old, whose culinary skills were moulded in the kitchens of some of Europe's most influential chefs in London, Paris and Monte Carlo, admits there were times in his career when his push for absolute perfection on the plate saw him lose his temper with staff but never to the point he got physically violent. The chef, who opened his first restaurant The Kitchin, in Leith, in 2006, and became one of the youngest ever to win a Michelin star just six months later at the age of 29, says: 'We live and breathe what we do. 'It is a tough environment, it is full on, 110 miles an hour, especially back when we started our business. A social media page carried allegations by former employees that they had suffered historical incidences of physical and verbal abuse, as well sexual harassment, in Kitchin's award-winning restaurants in Edinburgh. Pictured: Tom Kitchin and his wife Michaela The chef vehemently denied the allegations and ordered an independent probe to uncover the truth 'Nowadays it is a much different place but don't get me wrong, and I think this is really important, we still work extremely hard. It's an environment that's not for everyone and I've a lot of long-serving members of staff who understand the commitment required to operate at the highest levels. If I was such an ogre, I don't think they would stick around.' But Kitchin, a well-known face on television with appearances on BBC shows Master Chef and Saturday Kitchen, added: 'Yes, there have been moments in the past where the way I acted was not correct. 'Shouting and screaming at someone over a carrot....because it's not cut correctly. Do I shout and scream like that now? No, I do not and the way I was then is not acceptable in today's modern world and I put my hand up to that. 'Like many of my fellow chefs, we've been striving to make our kitchen and restaurant environments better. Our industry, and this restaurant in particular, has already changed so much in recent years, moving away from the work cultures of the past. We are not perfect but, equally, we have nothing to hide.' The allegations, which emerged in June last year, included claims by one former chef, James Dunn, 28, who worked at The Kitchin for six months in 2017, that he witnessed a co-worker being pinned up against a wall by the head chef, while Kitchin was present. He also claimed the head pastry chef made him catch a hot iron tray on his forearms, burning him, while David Sunderland, 32, who worked at The Kitchin as a commis chef between 2011 and 2012, claimed confusion over a tomato and mackerel dish for a table of VIPs led Kitchin to 'throw all the plates', grab him and push him against a door. The chef admits there were times in his career when his push for absolute perfection on the plate saw him lose his temper with staff but never to the point he got physically violent Another anonymous employee alleged Kitchin 'hit him in the chest and pinned him to a wall' after he failed to smooth the surface of a tub of mascarpone in 2010. Four former female employees, all speaking anonymously, also claimed a senior member of staff touched their bottoms or watched as they changed into their uniforms. Meanwhile, a whistleblower accused the chef and his wife, who is a director and co-founder of the business, of paying themselves 700 a month from tips earned by staff at their gastro pub, Scran and Scallie, in the city's Stockbridge area. In the immediate aftermath of the claims being posted on social media, the Kitchins hired an external human resources company to investigate every allegation. A hotline and an email address were set up for former, and any current, employees harbouring complaints. Yesterday, Mrs Kitchin, who met her husband while working for chef Anton Mosimann and has a background in hotel management, including at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and The Savoy in London, said: 'We didn't want any stone to be left unturned. 'You have to be respectful of the fact that people pay a lot of money to come here. It has to be the best level. There is no excuse for any bad language or bad behaviour.' But no formal grievances were made and while the probe concluded there were 'some examples of a macho culture', though not directly associated with Kitchin himself, it led to the suspension of two senior staff members. One subsequently left the company, with the other agreeing to undergo 'behaviour mentoring'. Lauded for his 'nature-to-plate' creativity, Kitchin's signature dishes in his flagship restaurant where prices range from a 49.50 set lunch to a 170 dinner tasting menu - include rolled pig's head with langoustines. He said: 'We've had over 4000 people work for us over 15 years. I've pored over the accusations and wondered 'Was it really like that?' When the service is on there's adrenaline, passion, attention to detail, that's what we do...we have very high standards and expect the best from people who work for us. 'It has really hurt deep down because not only has it hurt the people who work for us, it's hurt my family and my suppliers who we have this incredible rapport with and who understand what it takes to produce a restaurant of this level. It has turned us upside down but if any of our former staff feel that I've let them down, then I'm very sorry about that.' The chef and his wife were forced to call in police after online trolls threatened to 'burn their restaurants down' and warned them they 'didn't deserve to live' A significant number of the allegations predate, he says, the expansion of The Kitchin seven years ago with the purchase of a restaurant next door, allowing them to increase the size of the kitchen area. Until then, the cramped working space and the demands of a rapidly growing clientele meant tensions were often high. Part of the renovation included inserting a large window into the wall between restaurant and kitchen, and a diner-style table being placed in the kitchen to allow customers to see first-hand the chef and his team in action. Mrs Kitchin: 'Those were created in a spirit of openness, which is why to hear some of our ex-employees were not happy here, is devastating. 'If we had known at the time this was going on, that someone had been treated badly, we would not have tolerated it.' Along with The Kitchin, the couple, who have four sons, aged eight to 13, opened four further venues Castle Terrace, in 2010, which also won a Michelin star, the Scran and Scallie, and in December 2018, Southside Scran in the city's Bruntsfield area, and The Bonnie Badger Hotel, in Gullane, East Lothian. With businesses forced to close their doors overnight in March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, they had to take the decision to make 100 of their 250 staff redundant. Kitchin, who has been a vocal critic of Scotland's pandemic lockdown measures and has now closed Castle Terrace and Southside Scran, said: 'Restaurant businesses don't have millions in the bank, it's all about cash flow. 'In your darkest moments you are thinking are you going to have to liquidate everything and there were times we thought we might not be able to open up again.' Similar to the opprobrium faced by chef Michel Roux Jr before them, the couple also came under fire when claims were made they had been taking a share of the hard-earned tips of their front of house staff. Under the law, controversial 'tronc' schemes, where tips are 'fairly pooled' between all hospitality staff, including kitchen employees and management, are commonplace in top end restaurants. The Kitchins subsequently ended the practice for directors, with all credit card and cash tips now going entirely to the front of house and kitchen teams. Out of 80,000 bookings at The Kitchin since the allegations about his business empire first erupted, there have been 17 'protest' cancellations and Mrs Kitchin wrote to each one personally. Many of the chefs mentored by Kitchin, who are now in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, have been in touch in a 'show of support'. He said: 'They've told me they wouldn't be the chefs they are today if they hadn't spent two years in my kitchen. The support of those people, our family and our regulars has been amazing.' Four months ago, it was reported in a newspaper that three of those who raised the original allegations had consulted with lawyers but, to date, no court action has ensued. The row, however, has given the chef's union, Unichef, more grease to their elbow, after their repeated criticism of the 'degrading behaviour' glorified by celebrity chefs on TV, such as Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen or Boiling Point. A national campaign is currently under way calling for establishments to have Michelin stars rescinded if they are caught dishing out aggressive reprimands to youngsters who burn the souffle. Kitchin, who grew up in Edinburgh and began his career at the age of 18 at the three Michelin star restaurant, La Tante Claire, in London's Chelsea, under his first mentor, Pierre Koffman, the well-known occasional tormentor of a generation of chefs, including Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsay, agrees change in the industry was long overdue. He said: 'We've been through a nightmare but, if one positive has come out of it, it has made us look at every part of our business. I'm determined to make this the number one hospitality place to work and the best restaurant we can. 'I used to apply the same rules for everyone and that is completely not the way to work. Everyone is an individual and I accept you need to treat everyone individually.' 'With that in mind, he has introduced a mental health helpline for staff, as well as a uniform allowance and gym membership. The company has also made strides to push up salaries and keep to a four-day working week where possible. 'This is a new chapter for us,' he says, reaching for his crisply-ironed chef's whites. 'I've learned so much about myself from this experience. Before, I was always chasing culinary accolades but I'm now hell-bent on winning a good employer award that would make me really proud.' Taxpayers hoping to treat themselves this year with their tax refund money may have to wait till next year for their reward after the IRS revealed its processing backlog is more than twice as big as it previously reported. The Internal Revenue Service is still struggling to process close to 24 million tax return filings from last year, according to a report by the Washington Post. That's more than twice as much as the 11.4 million unprocessed business and individual returns that the tax agency reported in mid-December 2021. The bureaucratic snarl threatens to delay many tax refunds for 10 months or more. The Biden administration promises to spend $80 billion dollars on the Internal Revenue, which has shed staff over the last two decades. Staffing is at 1970s levels despite the expanding population of the United States. Pictured left is Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, who've both been embroiled in the scandal Data crunched by the DC newspaper showed that 23.7 million individual and business returns were being held up because they require 'manual process' -- meaning someone in the tax office has to work on them rather than passing them through on the automated system. This human bottleneck means that 2022 processing will also be affected, the Treasury Department warned in January. Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate, seen here said that the pandemic has severely hobbled the IRS's ability to process tax returns and suggest that the agency ease off penalties for taxpayers There are 9.7 million paper returns waiting processing, 4.1 million had errors with stimulus payments, Covid-19 relief funds or other problems and 4.1 million returns were amended after being filed. There were 5.8 million sets of correspondence between the tax office and Americans that had to be resolved still before the filings were signed off. National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins penned a letter recommending the IRS delay or suspend some tax collections and penalties because of the backlog. 'The coronavirus pandemic has created enormous challenges for taxpayers, tax professionals, and the IRS. It is time to take steps to ameliorate the situation,' the NATP letter stated. 'Implementing reasonable penalty relief measures, the IRS can offer immediately, are necessary to help not only taxpayers and tax professionals but also the IRS during these challenging times.' The IRS has been tasked with dolling out stimulus checks and overseeing new child benefit policies, plus coping with an increase in unemployment claims - all during a pandemic, and on a reduced budget IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig sent a letter to Congress this week blaming the lack of funds to hire new staff and the agency's antiquated computer software systems. He is considering Collins suggestion to halt penalties. 'We will rapidly adapt to changing circumstances, when appropriate to do so,' Rettig wrote in the letter. 'We are doing everything we can with all of the resources available to us.' The IRS has had a busy two years, doing double-duty doling out pandemic supplements and child tax credits as well as processing tax returns. The agency has also dealt with the same work-from-home-lockdown restrictions that have disrupted business for everyone. Staffing shortages, caused by two-decades of neglect by both Republicans and Democrats, promise to further aggravate the slowdown. Over the last 10 years, 17,000 enforcement agents have left the agency and it has the least amount of auditors since World War II. The IRS reassigned 1,200 employees to be part of their 'surge team' to help clear the overdue work and aimed to hire 5000 new personnel by this tax season, but so far has only added 200, according to the Post. The IRS backlog for 2020 returns is nearly 24 million, double what the agency was reporting in December of last year. A delay in processing returns could delay tax refunds for this tax season The Biden Administration is seeking $80 billion in funding for the agency over the next decade to restore some of what's been lost due to neglect. A faction of 30 Republicans penned a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig calling the agency's performance 'untenable,' according to the Post. But Democrats say that the Republicans have been the problem. 'For decades, Republicans have starved the IRS of funding, and now American taxpayers are paying the price,' Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the tax-focused House Ways and Means Committee told the Washington Post. 'The backlog of tax returns is but one symptom of the fundamental issue that has been ailing the IRS for too long: inadequate resources.' Most Americans now file their returns electronically, which are process quickly, but paper returns still make up about 10 percent of the filings or 17 million forms. It takes nearly a year to process paper 1040 tax forms filed in 2020, and the agency is only up to April 2021 for forms without errors, the Post reported. About 77 percent of American taxpayers received tax returns last year, according to the paper. CNN commentator Van Jones has welcomed home a new baby daughter with a female friend after the two decided to become 'conscious co-parents' over a 'friendly meal.' Sources told TMZ that the co-parent was Noemi Zamacona, a woman who Jones has a platonic relationship with and that they both share an interest in criminal justice advocacy. Zamacoma works as a prisons inspector for Los Angeles County, with the new baby girl her first child. Jones, 53, who already has a daughter called Mattai and son, Cabral, with ex-wife Jana Carter, told TMZ that he realized he wanted to raise another child after the pandemic lockdown. 'I got clear that I wanted another kid. I discovered that my friend Noemi also wanted a baby,' he said. 'So, we decided to join forces and become conscious co-parents. It's a concept that I hope more people will explore and consider.' CNN commentator Van Jones will raise his new baby daughter with a platonic female friend TMZ identified the mother as Noemi Zamacona (above), who hatched the plan together with Jones during dinner after they both learned they wanted to raise a baby Jones, 53, already has two children with his ex-wife, Jana Carter (pictured) Zamacona works as a monitor at the Los Angeles County Inspector General's Office and has dedicated the last 12 years of her career addressing criminal justice reform. She previously worked as a death penalty mitigation specialist in Riverside County, California. 'It's a very modern arrangement,' one source close to Jones said. 'They're not a couple, but they are a team that wants to raise a kid together.' Jones, whose former wife filed for divorce in September 2018, with the separation finalized in June 2019, confirmed that his new daughter was born in February and that he was excited to raise her together with Zamacona. 'This is a special time for our families. I feel grateful, joyful and blessed,' he said. 'As we create a safe and loving environment for this blessed young soul, I respectfully ask for privacy. Thank you for all the love and support.' After splitting with Carter in 2018, the couple insisted the end of their marriage had come to an amicable end as a result of a personal 'evolution.' They told People: 'Though we have decided to end our marriage, we still love each other very much. 'We will continue raising our kids together, running our businesses together and supporting each others growth. There is no beef or drama just evolution.' The couple later filed for joint custody of their children. Platonic co-parenting, different from when two exes continue to raise their child, has been on the rise in the last decade, with many services popping up to meet the demand. Zamacona works as a monitor at the Los Angeles County Inspector General's Office Modamily, a parent-matching service that launched in Los Angeles in 2012, has about 30,000 members across the world. Coparent.co.uk, which launched in Europe in 2008, has more than 120,000 members worldwide. While co-parenting was predominantly done between gay individuals or between a gay man and straight woman in the past, the majority of people who use co-parenting services now are straight individuals, The Guardian reported. Labor appears set for a historic win in the NSW seat of Bega, while the Liberals have suffered a swing against them in former premier Gladys Berejiklian's seat of Willoughby in the state's Super Saturday by-elections. A predicted Labor victory would be its first in Bega, held by the Liberals since its creation in 1988 and occupied by retiring member Andrew Constance since 2003. Opposition Leader Chris Minns previously said the seat would be 'almost impossible' for his party to win, but early tallies in the south coast electorate on Saturday night gave a swing of more than 14 per cent to the ALP's Michael Holland over the Liberal Party's Fiona Kotvojs. Dr Holland says the 'incredible' swing to Labor in Bega is a reflection of the community's response to the current government. 'It's also been a plebiscite ... to wanting a local member who will represent them with integrity and honesty,' Dr Holland said on ABC News. Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) has admitted the expected victory of Labor in Bega was 'disappointing' Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Sunday the government will reflect and learn from 'some disappointing results across the board'. There's certainly lessons to be taken from the 'particularly disappointing' result in Bega, but by-elections are notoriously hard for governments, Mr Perrottet said. '[It is] disappointing to look like losing Bega, but this is a strong result for the state government, defying the average swing against governments in by-elections and, against all odds, cutting into Labors lead in Strathfield,' Mr Perrottet said. The premier also doubled down on his stance about combating the Omicron outbreak, despite criticism over decision to hastily reopen the state amid high case numbers. 'Going into lockdowns may be popular, but it is not right,' he told Liberal supporters in Strathfield. 'We need to keep businesses open. We need to keep people in work.' With votes from just under a third of the electorate counted as of 10.45pm on Saturday, Dr Holland had received 57.1 per cent of two-candidate preferred votes, compared to Ms Kotvojs' 42.9 per cent, according to the NSW Electoral Commission. The Liberals went into the by-election with a margin of 6.9 per cent. A likely loss in Bega will push the government further into minority and force it to rely more heavily on the votes of independent or minor party MPs. Ms Berejiklian's former seat in Willoughby is also experiencing a swing of almost 18 per cent, while the swing Mr Barilaro's electorate of Monaro has narrowed. However, Scott Morrison claimed the results reflected the popularity of retiring local MPs and would not damage federal seats in the same region. Michael Holland (pictured) is leading by more than 14 per cent over the Liberal Party's Fiona Kotvojs Citing examples, the prime minister pointed to the departure of 'very successful members' of the Coalition, including former premier Gladys Berejiklian, Nationals leader John Barilaro and cabinet minister Andrew Constance, who will contest the federal seat of Gilmore later this year. 'You could expect in those seats, there was a very strong following for both of them [Ms Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro], and indeed for Andrew Constance as well,' Mr Morrison said said. '[Mr Constance is] an outstanding local on the south coast of NSW and Im very pleased that hes seeking to join our team and is running for us in the seat of Gilmore, at the next federal election. 'I think that bodes quite well.' Despite Mr Morrison's calm attitude, the seat of Bega overlaps with the federal seats of Gilmore and Eden-Monaro - which are must-win electorates for the Morrison government at the upcoming federal election. Meanwhile, Mr Minns says he and Dr Holland were 'straight back to work' on Sunday morning, discussing plans for the Eurobodalla Hospital development, which the premier said his government was already building. Labor candidate Jason Yat-Sen Li looks set to win Strathfield, leading Liberal candidate Bridget Sakr 54.4 per cent to 45.6 per cent with about 37 per cent of the electorate's votes counted. Mr Perrottet insisted Labor's vote had gone backwards in the electorate and vowed Ms Sakr would win the election next year. The Nationals are on track to hold former deputy premier John Barilaro's seat of Monaro despite a swing of more than six per cent. Dr Holland (pictured) had received 57.1 per cent of two-candidate preferred votes, compared to Ms Kotvojs' 42.9 per cent as of 10:45pm on Saturday. With about 44 per cent of the vote counted, Nichole Overall led Labor's Bryce Wilson 55 per cent to 45 per cent. Two-candidate preferred results for Willoughby, which Labor did not contest, are not yet available. Liberal Tim James has so far secured about 43.4 per cent of first preference votes, trailed by Independent Larissa Penn on 32.1 per cent, with just over 40 per cent of the blue-ribbon electorate's votes counted. The by-elections were viewed as a test for the premier and his government's handling of the state's Omicron wave. The stakes were also high for Mr Minns, who has pitched himself as the man to make Labor a real election chance after more than a decade in opposition. Mr Minns said voters had sent the premier a message on Saturday that the government needs to change direction. Close to 40 per cent of constituents voted early or via post, so results are not expected to be finalised for some time. The NSW Electoral Commission says no votes will be counted on Sunday. Counting will resume on Monday, and postal votes will be counted from next weekend, with final results not expected until later this month. Advertisement Freedom Convoy truckers have returned to the site of the six-day standoff and have continued to 'hold the line' on the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor in order to block access on the Canadian side after being cleared away earlier by police following a lengthy demonstration. Demonstrations across Canadian cities have been implemented in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's order for the country's truckers to be vaccinated or quarantine after returning from the US. The tense standoff at the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, eased somewhat early in the day when Canadian police persuaded demonstrators to move the trucks they had used to barricade the entrance to the busy international crossing. Protestors, however, made their return as they were seen blocking the bridge yet again on Saturday night. Other cities including Ottawa also faced an influx of protestors as around 4,000 had been reported by police. Officials with the Ottawa police initially communicated to protestors earlier on Saturday to threaten arrests and fines if they did not clear the scene by midnight. A Canadian judge also previously asked the protestors to move by 7pm but failed to get them out. In addition, other demonstrators have also blocked borders to the Canadian province of Manitoba at the Emerson Port of Entry, which is shared with North Dakota as well as Coutts Crossing in Alberta, which brings truckers into and out of Montana. The problems have fed into current issues linked to the supply chain crisis as a shortage in auto parts have caused vehicle companies to temporarily shut down. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has since announced she is preparing to deal with the disruptions related to the protest. This comes ahead of a planned protest at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, that connects the southern region of the province to Buffalo. Protestors continued their demonstration on the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario after initially being told to clear off by police A truck is seen passing Ontario Provincial Police officers and demonstrators in opposition of the COVID-19 mandates on the Toronto-bound QEW highway after crossing the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie on Saturday A man carrying a lacrosse stick walks toward the protest as truckers and supporters are being moved back by the police as they continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge The demonstrations on the Ambassador Bridge have been targeting vaccine mandates and other COVID restrictions Protesters confront Ontario police officials as they try to clear the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen speaking out about the protests after setting the vaccine mandate and COVID protocols for the nation's truckers Protestors are seen waving flags toward the Peace Bridge during a rally in Buffalo Another Buffalo protestor is seen waving an American flag on top of a vehicle New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced she was preparing for a similar protest between Ontario and the US city of Buffalo There have been organized convoys around the country with border control problems in other provinces including Manitoba and Alberta Other problem areas include the city of Ottawa, the Emerson border crossing in Manitoba and the Coutts crossing in Alberta More than 12 hours after Freedom Convoy trucks cleared the Ambassador Bridge, a crowd of Canadians, many on foot, were continuing to hold the line into Saturday night. Marco Filice, 37, saw his hometown of Windsor overtaken last week by truckers who blocked off the busiest border crossing between the U.S. and Canada, and said he feels proud to take over where they left off. 'I came here for the first time with my three kids, wanting them to see that were Canadians, and if we dont agree with things, we can go protest and let people know that we disagree with whats happening around here, with our freedoms being taken away,' Filice told DailyMail.com. 'Windsors been very quiet and, to be honest, my patriotism was at an all-time low lately,' he added. 'Its like we were just waiting for someone to stand up. And the truckers stood up for us. And my patriotism is now at an all-time high. 'To see all these people coming here. This is my neighborhood. I love it. It just shows that were willing to stop the economy to fight for our freedoms.' Officers in black uniforms with yellow safety vests descended on the scene around 8.30 a.m., and slowly moved in earlier in the day, but then paused. As temperatures plummeted into the evening, hundreds of protesters roamed the roadway leading toward the bridge, many bundled up in Canadian flags. They were getting no real pushback from police, despite official threats of arrest. 'I know what the plan was this morning, but I dont what the plan is now,' an Ontario Provincial Police officer told DailyMail.com, standing idly by. A few dozen officers held their own line, keeping protesters a couple blocks from the bridge itself. Many wore military-style gear and stood ominously alongside armored vehicles, with several officers monitoring from adjacent rooftops. But there was no police action as of 7 p.m., and the two sides could be seen chatting amiably. Protestors gather in Queen's Park in Toronto for a second week in opposition of COVID measures Thousands of protestors also flocked in the capital city of Ottawa A Toronto protestor holds a sign reading 'United for the rights and freedoms of future generations' Other protestors are seen gathering on the streets of Toronto A veteran supporter holds a sign in Ottawa reading 'Trudeau stop lying and hating' Demonstrators are seen in a hot tub between trucks during the protest One protester, Sianna Berlinghoff, 16, was shivering in a pair of ripped jeans when an officer handed her a pair of heating packs, which she placed over her knees. 'It feels so much better,' Berlinghoff said. 'I wasnt expecting that. Thats actually pretty cool. Im glad theyre not being all in our face and stuff.' A demonstrator named Eric found himself debating the merits of the protest with Officer S. Myers, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 'Theres $20 million in an hour of goods that cross that border,' the officer told Eric, arguing about the financial impact of the blockade. 'Thats a big deal. 'My defense is that there are people that havent worked in two years and have lost their jobs,' Eric replied. 'Much longer than this blockade here now.' 'The other side of that coin,' the officer shot back, 'is that those people who got their jobs back may get laid off again because of this. They'll say, well, weve already suffered two years and now youre going to make us suffer more?' Eric spoke about two buddies who lost jobs, and claimed his grandmother got a stroke from the vaccine and that he couldnt visit her because of Covid restrictions. 'I'm sorry to hear that,' the officer replied. Michelle Neil, 34, drove five hours to join the protest. 'The Canadians are finally standing up for our rights and saying, enough is enough,' she told DailyMail.com. 'We're done with the shots, were done with the mandates, we're done with the restrictions everywhere. If we need to be restricted, then well restrict the rest of the world. 'Were standing up, blocking everything, so the government can actually see we're done.' Truckers and their supporters continue to block the border in Emerson, Manitoba A truck clad with Canadian and American flags sits at the border in protest of the mandate One of the signs reads: 'No more mandates. Freedom' Another sign reads: 'End All Mandates' At the same time, she said, 'Were trying to be peaceful.' 'I want my teenage-hood back,' Berlinghoff, the 16-year-old, told DailyMail.com. 'The last two years I havent been able to do anything Ive been dreaming of since I was a little girl. I couldnt even celebrate my sweet 16.' Ryan Gold, 36, of Sarnia, Ontario, was bundled up in his camouflage bow hunting gear. 'The other side says youre blocking the bridge and impeding peoples ability to make a living,' he said. 'Well the way I see it, after the last two years, this is just fighting fire with fire. We could stand on the side of the road and nobodys going to listen. 'But when you actually hit them where it hurts, in the wallet, then theyre going to listen to you. 'I don't know how this is going to end,' he added, 'but its great to see everybody coming together. 'I just hope that our federal and provincial leaders get the message that the majority of people are done with this and its time to move on.' He was prepared to get arrested for the cause. 'Last night people talked about everybody locking arms and sitting down and being arrested,' he said. 'If that's the way it happens, then so be it. Im absolutely willing to be arrested for this. Id give my life for freedom.' 'I talked to a lot of the officers today,' Gold continued. 'A lot of them seem cool and very laid back, and they dont want to arrest anybody. 'At the same time, they did take an oath. So, I know earlier they pushed people back probably about 250 yards from the original position. 'Depending on the crowds mood when they try to make a move, it can go any which way. 'Im hoping it doesnt turn violent,' he added. 'Ive seen a couple guys in here get a little aggressive, but everybody was pretty quick to calm them down and remind them that were being peaceful and this is how we win.' A NY demonstrator holds up a sign in protest of state governor Kathy Hochul's COVID policies Protestor Paul Acorn sits on the ground in front of police officers as they block the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge Another protestor holds a sign reading" 'The media is the virus' in Edmonton, Alberta Protestors are also seen gathering at the War Memorial around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa Truck driver Mat Mackenize and others are seen at the protest in Ottawa Young adults run with flags towards the protest in support of the truckers The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25 percent of all trade between the two countries, causing auto plants on both sides to shut down or reduce production this week. A large number of protestors were seen braving the Canadian winter temperatures and crammed themselves onto the bridge. Surrounded by dozens of officers, a man with 'Mandate Freedom' and 'Trump 2024' spray-painted on his vehicle left the bridge entrance early in the day as others began dismantling a small, tarp-covered encampment. A trucker honked his horn as he, too, drove off, to cheers and chants of 'Freedom!' But hundreds more arrived to bolster the crowd and settled into a faceoff with police about two blocks away, waving flags and yelling. While there were no visible physical confrontations, the crowd still controlled the road to the bridge, and traffic had not resumed as of the evening. Windsor police tweeted that no one had been arrested but urged people to stay away from the bridge: 'We appreciate the cooperation of the demonstrators at this time and we will continue to focus on resolving the demonstration peacefully. Avoid area!' Protester Daniel Koss said shortly before police advanced that the demonstration had succeeded in bringing attention to demands to lift COVID-19 mandates and he was happy it remained peaceful. 'Its a win-win,' Koss said. 'The pandemic is rolling down right now, they can remove the mandates, all the mandates, and everyones happy. The government does the right thing, and the protesters are all happy.' The previous day, a judge ordered an end to the blockade of mostly pickup trucks and cars, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency allowing for fines of 100,000 Canadian dollars and up to one year in jail for anyone illegally blocking roads, bridges, walkways and other critical infrastructure. 'The illegal blockades are impacting trade, supply chains & manufacturing. They're hurting Canadian families, workers & businesses. Glad to see the Windsor Police & its policing partners commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge,' Federal Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeted Saturday. 'These blockades must stop.' Trudeau is seen speaking with reporters in Ottawa in Friday in light of the demonstrations Trudeau also issued a tweet on Friday to provide an update on how the country plans to handle the demonstrations Hochul also announced plans to prepare for a possible demonstration in Ontario across from Buffalo She visited the interagency command center in Buffalo to discuss the protests Windsor police issued a statement late Saturday in response to the continuing late night protest. 'We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully (and) peacefully,' the department said in a statement. 'Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.' In Ottawa, the ranks of protesters swelled to what police said was 4,000 demonstrators. The city has seen that on past weekends, and loud music played as people milled about downtown where anti-vaccine demonstrators have been encamped since late January. Ottawa police said a joint command center had now been set up together with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Police earlier issued a statement calling the protest an unlawful occupation and saying they were waiting for police 'reinforcements' before implementing a plan to end the demonstrations. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency last week for the capital, where hundreds of trucks remained in front of the Parliament Buildings and demonstrators have set up portable toilets outside the prime ministers office where Trudeaus motorcade usually parks. 31-year-old Stephanie Ravensbergen said she turned out to support her aunt and uncle who have parked their semi in the streets since the beginning of the protest. She opposes vaccine and mask requirements, and said its important for schoolchildren to be able see their friends faces and emotions. 'We want the right to choose,' Ravensbergen said. 'We want the right to be able to do what everybody else can do.' Protesters on Saturday tore down a fence that authorities put up around the capitals National War Memorial two weeks ago after demonstrators urinated on it. Some later chanted 'liberte,' French for 'freedom.' 'Completely unacceptable,' Lawrence MacAulay, Canadas veterans affairs minister, tweeted. 'This behavior is disappointing and Im calling on protesters to respect our monuments.' Counter-protestors from a group called Defend WPG hold signs and shout 'Go home' as truckers and supporters continue to protect COVID Counter-protestors are seen in Winnipeg to go against the truckers and their supporters One sign reads 'You are emboldening reckless people in other places please go home!' An ex-Cabinet minister in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government took the unusual step of calling out her former federal colleagues as well as the province and city for not putting an end to the protests. 'Amazingly, this isnt just Ottawa. Its the nations capital,' Catherine McKenna tweeted. 'But no one not the city, the province or the federal government can seem to get their act together to end this illegal occupation. It's appalling. ... Just get your act together. Now.' Trudeau has called the protesters a 'fringe' of Canadian society, and both federal and provincial leaders say they cant order police what to do. 'Safety concerns arising from aggressive, illegal behavior by many demonstrators limited police enforcement capabilities,' Ottawa police said in a statement late Saturday. The Canadian Prime Minister also spoke out on Friday to plead with the truckers to 'go home.' 'If you join the protests because you are tired of Covid, you need to understand that you are breaking laws,' he said. 'The consequences are becoming more and more severe. 'You don't want to end up losing your license, end up with a criminal record, which will impact your job, your livelihood, even your ability to travel internationally, including to the US.' On the other side of the country, protesters disrupted operations at another border crossing between Surrey, British Columbia, and Blaine, Washington, but officials said it was not blocked. Two border crossings, in Alberta and in Manitoba, remained shut down as well. TD Bank freezes accounts that received money for Canada protests Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO) has frozen two personal bank accounts into which C$1.4 million ($1.1 million) had been deposited to support protesters fighting the Canadian government's pandemic measures, a bank spokesperson said on Saturday. The demonstrations, dubbed the "Freedom Convoy" by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccination mandate for cross-border drivers as well as other pandemic restrictions, are now in their third week. They have gridlocked the capital Ottawa and blocked U.S.-Canada border crossings, damaging trade between the two countries. Early on Saturday, Canadian police began clearing protesters blocking a key bridge linking Canada and the United States. read more TD applied to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Friday to take the funds, which were sent through GoFundMe and bank transfers, so they can either be sent to the intended recipients or returned to the donors "who have requested refunds but whose entitlement to a refund cannot be determined by TD," the bank said in a statement. TD has been put "on notice that their actions are improper and disappointing," Keith Wilson, a lawyer for the convoy, said in an email on Saturday, adding the convoy will seek a court order next week to release the donations to a new not-for-profit corporation that has been set up to manage and distribute them. One of the bank accounts received a lump sum of C$1 million through GoFundMe, while the rest was sent to the second account through multiple bank e-transfers, the TD spokesperson said. TD does not know where the GoFundMe payment originated, they said. GoFundMe took down the protest convoy's donation page on Feb. 4 after it reached $10 million, prompting most of the protesters to turn to Boston-based GiveSendGo. GoFundMe has said it will refund the donations. The Ontario Superior Court on Thursday ordered GiveSendGo to freeze all funds sent in aid of the protest. The crowdfunding platform defied that order in a tweet on Thursday. The protest has raised C$11 million on GiveSendGo, Wilson said. "We are also going to be taking the Ontario government to court to seek an immediate lifting of what we consider to be an unlawful order," he said. Canada's other major banks did not immediately respond to emails asking if they were taking steps similar to TD. The countrys anti-money-laundering agency told a parliamentary committee on Thursday that it has not seen a spike in suspicious transaction reporting from the banks in recent weeks. Source: Reuters Advertisement Another prospective protest has been slated at the Peace Bridge in Ontario with officials keeping an eye out for any sign of potential trouble. Posts from social media have indicated protesting to move to this area following demonstrations across other areas of the country. As part of these demonstration plans, the planned rally has hinted at a merge between a Canadian group and two US convoys. The timing of the protest has yet to be revealed and how it will affect the transportation of goods. 'The Peace Bridge is our third busiest crossing in Canada, and there are approximately 1.2 million trucks that cross that bridge each and every year,' Mohawk College supply chain management program coordinator Carol Fleck told CBC. 'If they were to close that bridge for any number of days, we could see closures in businesses because they're not getting the parts to keep them open.' Hochul has since discussed plans to manage the potential rally taking place at the bridge that connects from Buffalo to Niagra. 'Today I visited the interagency command center in Buffalo to ensure we're prepared for any impacts from protests near the Canadian border. We are ready to address any potential travel & commerce disruptions, and also ensure we can protect everyones right to peaceful protest.' Hochul said in a tweet. While the protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions, many of Canadas public health 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 there 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. Inspired by the Canadian demonstrations, protests against pandemic restrictions were seen in parts of Europe on Saturday. At least 500 vehicles in several convoys attempted to enter Paris at key arteries but were intercepted by police. Over 200 motorists were ticketed, and elsewhere at least two people were detained amid a seizure of knives, hammers and other objects in a central square. Police fired tear gas against a handful of people who demonstrated on the Champs Elysees Avenue in defiance of a police order. In the Netherlands, meanwhile, dozens of trucks and other vehicles ranging from tractors to a car towing a camper arrived in The Hague, blocking an entrance to the historic parliamentary complex. Protesters on foot joined them, carrying a banner emblazoned with 'Love & freedom, no dictatorship' in Dutch. Earlier this week in New Zealand, protesters rolled up to Parliament grounds in a convoy of cars and trucks and set up camp. Police have taken a hands-off approach after initial attempts to remove them resulted in physical confrontations. Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard on Friday ordered his staff to turn on the lawns sprinklers to douse them and to play Barry Manilow tunes and the 1990s hit Macarena over loudspeakers to annoy them. Protesters responded by playing their own songs, including Twisted Sisters Were Not Gonna Take It. A shock new report has found sexism and gender stereotyping in Australian schools have barely moved on in almost 50 years. South Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly said some views expressed by schoolchildren for the study were 'distressingly familiar to what you would hear in 1975'. The CCYP study spoke with hundreds of pupils aged 11 to 19, who revealed cruel name-calling such as 'fat b***h', 'f****t' and 'pussy', as well as girls being 'cat-called' and asked to 'flash'. Even age old stereotypes of the expectation that girls 'get married' and boys 'have a successful career' were still prevalent. Schoolies 2021 celebrate in Byron Bay. A new report has revealed shocking levels of sexism and gender stereotyping in schools 'Children and young people described many examples of sexism and gender stereotypes being used within classroom settings, starting early in their school years,' Ms Connolly told The Advertiser. She said it is quite common for boys to call other boys a 'simp' if he is too nice to a girl, or 'gay' if he hangs out with girls instead of boys. '(Boys) described bullying that has the most impact on them as that which questions their sex and masculinity... the most common and hurtful insults being when they're called a 'pussy' or a 'faggot' by other young men,' Ms Connolly said. A 14-year-old boy told researchers that 'some stereotypes are good but some are bad'. 'If equal respect is given, the world would run smoother. Boys and girls should be taught similarly about fatherhood and motherhood,' he said. Girls told the study about bullying and abuse over their looks, sexual violence and harassment. Ms Connolly said girls described being constantly pressured to send 'sexts' to boys, which scared and embarrassed them but they didn't know how to deal with it. School children (pictured) in are still exposed to some shocking gender stereotypes, a new report reveals Girls said teachers sometimes use them to monitor the behaviour of boys. Pictured are girls and a boy in a locker room A 16-year-old girl quoted in the report said 'Girls must be presented appropriately (clothed), but boys can wear what they want. Ms Connolly said when girls wore revealing clothing they were called a sl*t because it was assumed to be for male attention. Girls said teachers sometimes use them to monitor the behaviour of boys and unintentionally cause tension by praising girls' behaviour over that of boys in the classroom. Ms Connolly said boys reported this actions reinforced the view that they were inherently 'naughty' and less trustworthy than girls. Last June around 100 Adelaide High School students walked out of class to protest over what they said was sexism and sexual harassment at school. Last June around 100 Adelaide High School students walked out of class to protest over sexism. Pictured are school leavers celebrating the end of high school At the time, a 17-year-old girl at the school said: 'We're hoping that this stand against a toxic sexist culture at school will bring more attention to the fact that sexual assault and harassment is prevalent in schools and it needs to be prevented. 'It can no longer be treated as a taboo topic that is swept under the carpet, excused and forgotten. 'We should not have to walk through school halls to be told by male students daily what they would do to us sexually and objectify our bodies.' Joe Biden's dithering withdrawal from Afghanistan has been blamed for worsening the chaos on the ground and putting American lives at risk by a newly-declassified US intelligence report. Newly-released papers compiled in the aftermath of the August withdrawal found that deadly chaos was only made worse due to indecisiveness among officials with the Biden administration officials in Washington D.C. Their reluctance to close down the U.S. embassy in Kabul only added to the confusion and made the mission even more dangerous, according to the damning documents. Three weeks after the final planeload of soldiers were back in the U.S., two 'after action' reports were compiled by American officials with Central Command. On Friday, the very existence of this encyclopedic, 2,000 page report was denied by White House press secretary Jen Psaki, eager to downplay any remarks made by U.S. commanders. Two declassified reports from the U.S. military into Kabul withdrawal details frustration with White House and State Department throughout the process and complete chaos on the ground. Pictured, Afghans struggle to reach the foreign forces to show their credentials to flee the country outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, 26 August 2021. At least 13 people including children were killed in a blast outside the airport A U.S. Marine carries a girl to the gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport, August 20 President Joe Biden speaks with his national security team during a briefing on the situation in Afghanistan, on August 22, 2021, in the White House Situation Room in Washington, DC They served only to confirm the various accounts of U.S. commanders who were on the ground in Afghanistan who described their frustrations as both sloppy and mismanaged. The Washington Post says military leaders blame the White House and State Department who completely underestimated how fast the Taliban would regain control of the country and put off preparing evacuation plans for Kabul with just weeks until the deadline. Biden and his team had anticipated Kabul would take weeks or even months to fall, but the Taliban wrested back control within hours. The 'after-action' report also takes a look at one of the worst incidents during the evacuation, the August 26 suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport's Abbey Gate which killed an estimated 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members. The attack was carried out by a lone Islamic State operative who had rigged a bomb with ball bearings in order to cause maximum carnage right outside the airport. 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, August 29 The report, some 2,000 pages in length, comprises of dozens of witness interviews, findings of fact, together with official government records. The Post describes is as 'the most extensive, unvarnished account to date of the United States' 17-day race to end its longest war' with the documents revealing the military's frustration with the White House and diplomats over the evacuation. But on Friday, the very existence of this encyclopedic report was denied by White House press secretary Jen Psaki, eager to downplay any remarks made by U.S. commanders. 'I think it's important for people to understand that there was no after-action report,' Psaki told reporters in the White House briefing room. A National Security Council official speaking anonymously said that Psaki was in fact referring to an even more comprehensive review which is said to be forthcoming and will shed even more detail on the American's pullout. 'Many people have wrongly conflated the Abbey Gate report and documents released to The Washington Post with the Pentagon's after-action review of Afghanistan a broad report that will examine the final months of America's longest war, beginning in February 2020,' the official said. Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit fly to Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, August 17 During the second half of August 2021, more than 120,000 people were flown from Kabul U.S. Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, arrives at Hamid Karzai International Airport on August 17, 2021, in advance of the withdrawal Psaki said last 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. 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 Vasely. 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 didnt 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. Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, prepares to board a C-17 cargo plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, on Monday, August 30, 2021, as the final American service member to depart Senior military officials are said to have only recently have been briefed over the conclusions reached in the report at the Pentagon on February 4. During an interview on NBC News last week, President Biden said he was 'rejecting' critical accounts from U.S. commanders about the Afghanistan evacuation. The information contained in the after-action reviews is said to have come U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Forward, the military headquarters that oversaw the withdrawal, and Joint Task Force-Crisis Response, a unit led by the U.S. Marine Corps that was involved Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, the top U.S. commander in Kabul during the evacuation, said that the withdrawal chaotic U.S. troops 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', Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, who was among the Commanders responsible for coordinating the evacuation said in his report. As the Afghan government in Kabul collapsed on August 15 at the Taliban began to slowly take over the various provinces before encircling Kabul, only 600 U.S. troops were left on the ground in order to provide security for the diplomats. The crisis was so bad that an additional deployment of 5,000 additional U.S. troops was required in order to safely evacuate some 124,000 to safety. An investigation into the attack on Kabul airport found that the US dead and wounded were close to the canal where the bomber detonated his explosives, and had clustered together to search potential evacuees. The worst hit were standing on a wall overlooking the canal 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 at the Abbey Gate. 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. Vasely states that the evacuation was so rushed, it left the U.S. with about 12 hours to clear the embassy. In a second after-action analysis that also focuses on the Abbey Gate bombing, states reveals how U.S. Marines at Kabul airport were completely overrun as tens of thousands of Afghan citizens dashed to terminal, in the hope of making a getaway. 'While considered in the planning phase, the scope and scale of the desperation population was not fully appreciated,' the report states. The State Department also says that messages sent to potential evacuees were completely at odd with the reality of the situation on the ground at the aiport. The report warns that for all future evacuations, plans must be put in place in advance at all levels with the Defense and State Departments 'planning, cooperating and endeavoring to stick to the plan.' President Joe Biden had zeroed in on a pair of finalists for his first Supreme Court pick when there were rumors last year that Justice Stephen Breyer would retire, after vowing to replace him with a black woman. But since the upcoming retirement was announced late last month, a third potential candidate has emerged. And J. Michelle Childs, 55, has ready-made bipartisan support that has complicated Biden's impending decision. She is a federal judge in South Carolina, who enjoys support of prominent local lawmakers, including State Senator Lindsey Graham. For Biden, it's a tantalizing prospect. The president believes he was elected to try to bring the country together following the yawning and rancorous political divide that grew during the Trump administration and especially following the Capitol riots in January 2021. And a Supreme Court nominee with a raft of qualifications who has the vocal support of even one or two Republican senators could well attract the backing of other Republicans. That, in turn, could make for a smoother nomination process after some painfully partisan ones in recent years. J. Michelle Childs, 55, a US South Carolina District Court judge, was confirmed to be among the candidates to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer The South Carolina judge has a key ally in Rep. James Clyburn (center), a longtime friend of Biden's who offered his endorsement in 2020 to the then-presidential candidate in exchange that Biden publicly vow to nominate a black woman for the Supreme Court if given the chance Two of the three judges now on Biden's short list were evaluated last year by White House aides, although that early vetting did not include deep dives into their opinions or backgrounds, formal interviews or FBI background checks. They are Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, a recent appointee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where she has served since June 2021, and Leondra Kruger, 45, a California Supreme Court judge since 2015 who would be the first person in more than 40 years to move from a state court to the Supreme Court if she were to be confirmed. President Biden has promised to pick a black woman to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, but he's also sought to bridge the partisan divide in Congress, making Childs a top pick for judge Jackson is seen as the top candidate. And she, too, has a proven record of bipartisan support: She was confirmed to the appeals court on a 53-44 vote. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted for her. Biden said he would name his nomination for the Supreme Court in February But J. Michelle Childs has rapidly become a serious third candidate after House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D.-S.C., publicly announced his support for her, as did the state's Republican senators, Graham and Tim Scott. Graham has made clear Childs is his preferred choice. The 55-year-old is a federal judge in South Carolina who has been nominated to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. That nomination is on hold while she's under consideration for the high court. Childs lacks the elite law school credentials of many current Supreme Court justices she attended the University of South Carolina School of Law. But that's part of her appeal to Clyburn and others who question why Ivy League credentials are necessary. Eight of the court's nine current members attended law school at Harvard or Yale. Childs also has a master's degree from the school as well as a different legal degree from Duke. Among the three justices on Biden's short list, Childs is considered the most moderate, and she has been criticized by progressives and labor groups who say her record is not sufficiently supportive of worker rights. She was previously a state court judge and has served as a federal trial court judge since 2010. Jackson did attend Harvard Law School and has expertise that would bring considerable professional diversity to the high court. She worked as a public defender and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission before she was nominated to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama. She is the favorite of progressives. Kruger, 45, has been on the California Supreme Court since 2015. She was just 38 when chosen for the job by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. She's seen as a moderate on the seven-member court. She used to work for the Department of Justice. President Joe Biden has promised to replace liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer with a black woman Breyer's replacement won't shift the ideological makeup of the court. So in some ways, that makes it easier for Republicans to back a candidate advanced by Biden. But Biden has also said bipartisan support is not a necessity; a razor-thin majority in the U.S. Senate means he doesn't need it. President Joe Biden delivered remarks Thursday on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer - and confirmed he would select a black woman for Breyer's replacement Biden said earlier this week he was looking closely at 'about four' candidates and was interested in selecting a nominee in the mold of Breyer who could be a 'persuasive' force with fellow justices. Although his votes tended to put him to the left of center on an increasingly conservative court, Breyer frequently saw the gray in situations that colleagues to his right and left were more likely to find black or white. Biden, who is spending the weekend at Camp David, is studying a range of cases and other materials about the candidates, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. His team, led by former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, has compiled past writings, public remarks and decisions of the candidates, as well as learning their life stories. Psaki said Biden could begin meeting with top contenders as early as next week, noting that such interviews typically happen at the end of the vetting process. She said the president remains on track for an announcement by the end of the month. Going back as far as his campaign, Biden has pledged to nominate a black woman for the slot. The Supreme Court was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Thurgood Marshall are the only two black men who have served on the court. There has never been a Black woman. Other possible candidates included U.S. District Court Judge Wilhelmina Wright from Minnesota; Melissa Murray, a New York University law professor who is an expert in family law and reproductive rights justice; and Leslie Abrams Gardner, a U.S. district judge for the Middle District of Georgia and the sister of Stacey Abrams, a powerful voting rights activist and nominee for Georgia governor. From left, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi pose before their trilateral ministerial talks in Honolulu, Feb. 12. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan urged North Korea, Saturday, to halt its destabilizing actions and return to dialogue. The joint call came after a trilateral meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Honolulu. "We condemn the DPRK's ballistic missile launches and its unlawful nuclear ballistic programs, which are clear violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions," Blinken said in a joint press conference, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "And we continue to work to find ways to hold the DPRK accountable," he added. The foreign ministerial talks came after North Korea staged seven missile launches in January, the largest number of missile tests it has conducted in a single month. Its missile launches also included the firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the longest-range ballistic missile launched by the North since late 2017. Chung said the North Korean missile launches were "clearly wrong." "We are especially urging North Korea not to repeat such wrongful activities with regard to its firing of an intermediate-range missile," he said in the joint press conference with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts. Advertisement US officials warned that Russia could begin cyberattacks against America as it prepares for a possible invasion of Ukraine that a congressman called 'inevitable.' The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a 'Shields Up' alert on Friday night, warning all organizations in the US, regardless of size, to 'adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting their most critical assets.' 'While there are not currently any specific credible threats to the U.S. homeland, we are mindful of the potential for the Russian government to consider escalating its destabilizing actions in ways that may impact others outside of Ukraine,' the agency said in a statement. CISA Director Jen Easterly wrote on Twitter: 'Every organization in the US is at risk from cyber threats that can disrupt essential services. As we know, the Russians have used cyber as a key component of their force projection, to include disabling or destroying critical infrastructure.' Although the alert was sent out as a precaution for a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, U.S. GOP Rep. John Katko believed there was nothing that could be done to prevent armed conflict, telling Fox News that the Biden administration failed to change anything after Joe Biden's one-hour call with Vladimir Putin on Saturday. 'They really don't have a cohesive foreign policy and they don't project strength,' Katko said. 'The concern I have is that this is symptomatic of a larger problem with this administration.' Biden warned Putin of the 'swift and sever' economic and political costs of invading Ukraine as the Pentagon deployed another 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe on Saturday while Russia has amassed about 120,000 soldiers at its border with Ukraine. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned that every organization in the US is at risk of cyberattacks from Russia President Joe Biden told Russia's President Vladimir Putin he would face 'swift and severe' economic and political costs if he pushed ahead with plan to invade Ukraine. Biden made the call from Camp David where he is spending the weekend The Kremlin said Putin told Biden that he had not taken into account Russian concerns about NATO approaching its territory US Rep. John Katko said the president failed to 'project strength' during his hour-long call with Vladimir Putin and lacked a robust foreign policy plan. He said an armed conflict was inevitable The Pentagon deployed another 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Eastern Europe on Saturday. About 1,700 troops were deployed there on Tuesday Russia has amassed about 120,000 soldiers at its border with Ukraine. The Russian troops have been engaging in weapons tests near the border as a show of strength Although Russia has yet to announce any plans for an invasion, intelligence officials said it could come at anytime now while journalists warn it may come Wednesday The call came 24 hours after the US told Americans to get out of Ukraine and offered its bleakest warning yet that an invasion was coming. All American citizens still in Ukraine have been advised to leave immediately, and on Saturday morning the Pentagon ordered the evacuation of 160 Florida National Guardsmen, who had been training Ukrainian forces and represented the final US troop presence in the country. The State Department also warned that the US government will not send any troops into Ukraine to extract Americans in the event of a Russian military incursion, and says any citizens still in the country need to leave now. 'Military action may commence at any time and without warning,' the State Department said in a flash bulletin. 'US citizens should not travel to Ukraine, and those in Ukraine should depart immediately using commercial or other privately available transportation options.' Amid the heightened tensions, the CISA said it had been preparing to bolster awareness of potential Russian cyberattacks for months, noting that Russians have engaged in cyberattack in the Ukraine in 2015, a year after Russia seized the Crimea. 'The Russian government understands that disabling or destroying critical infrastructureincluding power and communicationscan augment pressure on a country's government, military and population,' the CISA said in a statement. The messages from American officials have spooked the Ukrainian government, which demanded to see intelligence that Russia is planning to invade on Wednesday. Diplomatic sources told DailyMail.com it was part of a strategy designed to deny Moscow any attempt to launch a 'false flag' operation as justification for attacking Ukraine. At the same time, a senior administration official said Putin still had the choice to back down from 'an action that we believe would be catastrophic.' He said Russia was already having to play defense on the world stage, and that financial sanctions and export controls would follow invasion. 'If Russia invades this list will also include a severe economic costs - as I've already described - and irrevocable reputational damage caused by taking innocent lives for a bloody war of choice,' he told reporters after the call. The official also spelled out how military assistance continued to flow to Ukraine - seen as a tacit warning that invading forces could get bogged down in a messy, drawn-out conflict. For its part, the Kremlin said Putin told Biden he had not taken account of Russia's security concerns. Kremlin official Yuri Ushakov said the call was 'businesslike' but accused the West of spreading 'hysteria' about an invasion, according to Reuters. Earlier Ukraine's president demanded the US share intelligence which suggests Russia is planning to invade his country on Wednesday after America claimed an assault was imminent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a live broadcast on Saturday told the US: 'If you have 100 percent-certain information about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, please share it with us'. Uragan rocket launchers are fired during joint Russian-Belarusian military drills on Saturday, as tensions escalate U.S. troops of the 82nd Airborne Division recently deployed to Poland set up camp at a military airport in Mielec, southeastern Poland, on Saturday. Meanwhile the Pentagon is withdrawing 160 military trainers from Ukraine People take part in the Unity March, which is a procession to demonstrate Ukrainians' patriotic spirit and intention to resist any Russian aggression amid growing tensions, in Kiev on Saturday Demonstrators shout slogans as they stand with lit flares on a bridge adorned with a banner 'Ukranians will resist - Say No to Putin' during a rally in Kiev on Saturday, held to show unity amid US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion A Russian helicopter fires during during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at the Gozhsky firing range in the Grodno region, near the Ukrainian border on Saturday Russian armored vehicles move at the Gozhsky training ground near the border with Ukraine on Saturday during Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border but denies invasion plans In an alert, the State Department said that the US Embassy in Kiev would suspend all consular services starting on Sunday as diplomatic staff evacuate, in a sign that the US fears a Russian assault could reach the Ukrainian capital. 'Prudence requires us to assume, to plan for and prepare for a worst-case scenario,' a US official told reporters on a call. 'And the worst-case scenario would obviously involve substantial Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital.' A small skeleton crew of US diplomats will fall back to a consulate in Lviv in far western Ukraine to handle emergencies. The fallback position is close to the border with Poland, allowing for easier extraction of the staff if the situation deteriorates. US and Polish officials are now said to be scouting for locations to establish fortified border control points along the Poland-Ukraine frontier to process Americans fleeing by land, in the event an attack halts commercial air flights. Biden spoke to Putin for an hour and two minutes on Saturday It comes as alleged invasion plans, reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel and reviewed by the Pentagon, are said to detail specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units in an imminent invasion scheduled for Wednesday. Russia has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, but denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Ministry in a post on Telegram accused Western governments and press outlets of conspiring in a 'large-scale disinformation campaign against Russia'. 'We regard this as collusion between the Western governments and media aimed at fanning tensions over Ukraine by means of a massive and coordinated fake news campaign designed to serve their geopolitical interests, in particular, to divert attention from their own aggressive actions,' the ministry said. Russia on Saturday accused a US Navy submarine of violating Russian waters in the Pacific, saying that Russian forces chased the Virginia-class submarine away 'at maximum speed' after it ignored demands to surface. But the Pentagon denied the claim. U.S. Navy Capt. Kyle Raines, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command spokesman said: 'There is no truth to the Russian claims of our operations in their territorial waters. I will not comment on the precise location of our submarines but we do fly, sail, and operate safely in international waters.' Russia is also drawing down its embassy staffing in Kiev in another troubling sign that war is imminent. In an alert, the State Department said that all consular services would be suspended the U.S. Embassy in Kiev (above) starting on Sunday, warning any American still in Ukraine to leave the country immediately Putin has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, but Russia insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, a tank takes part in a military exercise, in Russia A satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows alleged new Russian deployments at Slavne, Crimea, earlier this week. More than 550 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles have arrived at the Oktyabrskoye airfield north of Simferopol A satellite image shows a close-up of troops and equipment at Oktyabrskoye air base, Crimea on Thursday People take part in the Unity March, which is a procession to demonstrate their patriotic spirit amid growing tensions with Russia, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday Workers unload a Boeing 747-412 plane with the FGM-148 Javelin, American man-portable anti-tank missile provided by US to Ukraine as part of a military support to Ukraine, at Kyiv's airport Boryspil on Friday Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the country has 'optimized' staffing at its embassy in Kiev, but said the move was in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side. 'We conclude that our American and British colleagues apparently know about some military actions being prepared in Ukraine that could significantly complicate the situation in the security sphere,' she said. 'In this situation, fearing possible provocations by the Kiev regime or third countries, we actually decided to somewhat optimize the staffing of Russian foreign missions in Ukraine.' Early on Saturday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a call with Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov to discuss the crisis, after the US alleged that 'extremely detailed' Russian invasion plans, seen by the Secret Service, CIA and the Pentagon, showed that a war was imminent in eastern Europe. On the call, Lavrov accused accused Washington of waging a 'propaganda campaign' about possible Russian aggression, and said the US had ignored key Russian security demands, according to a readout of the call from the Russian foreign ministry. Blinken responded by vowing that 'further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive, and united Transatlantic response' according to the State Department's readout. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III also had a call with his Russian counterpart on Saturday, in which they discussed 'Russia's force build-up in Crimea and around Ukraine' according to the Pentagon. Britain on Saturday also told its citizens to leave Ukraine. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC that U.K. troops that have been training the Ukrainian army also would leave the country. Germany and the Netherlands also called on their citizens to leave as soon as possible. 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. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Saturday said 'it is critically important to remain calm, to consolidate within the country, and to avoid actions that undermine stability and sow panic.' It added that the armed forces 'are constantly monitoring developments and are ready to rebuff any infringement on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.' Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Americans should not expect the U.S. military to rescue them in the event that air and rail transportation is severed after a Russian invasion. Thousands of British, American and other European citizens - including many embassy staff - have now been told to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as they were warned there would be no military evacuation in the wake of a Russian attack. (Pictured: Hurricane rocket launcher during Russian-Belarusian drill on Saturday) Smoke fills the air during a military drill between Russia and Belarus in the Grodno region of Ukraine's neighbor on Saturday 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 Kiev, the capital. Russia scoffed at the warning, blaming fears of a Ukraine invasion on American 'hysteria' and the 'Anglo-Saxon need for war'. The country'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.' However in the same breath, she revealed Russia was reducing diplomatic staff in Ukraine because it feared 'provocations' from the Kiev authorities or 'third countries' - in another alarming sign that an invasion is edging closer. It has long been suspected that Russia could use the cloak of an 'attack' in rebel-held, pro-Russian areas as an excuse to send in troops. Zakharova added: 'In the wake of possible provocations by the Kiev regime or third countries, we have, indeed, made a decision on some optimization of the staff of Russian overseas missions in Ukraine. 'We want to highlight that our embassy and consulates will keep performing their basic functions.' Britain made clear today that its embassy in Kiev would remain open despite a reduction in staff, and travel advice for all UK citizens to leave ahead of a feared Russian attack. Snow camouflaged Tornado rocket launcher systems are put to the test in sub-zero Belarus on Saturday amid mounting fears of Ukraine invasion 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) 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) 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 Ambassador Melinda Simmons said: 'I am staying in Kiev and continue to work there with a core team. The embassy remains operational.' The US embassy will also run on a skeleton crew after it ordered all non-emergency Kiev embassy staff to leave Saturday 'due to the continued threat of Russian military action'. Despite mounting fears, Russia's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told Newsweek magazine that warnings of an invasion were 'alarmist' and repeated that his country was 'not going to attack anyone.' But according to German newspaper Der Spiegel, the 'February 16 invasion' plans were deemed credible enough to be passed on to Biden's government, before being 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. Images released Saturday showed Russian and Belarusian forces testing snow-camouflaged 'hurricane' and 'tornado' rocket launcher systems, while a major Russian sea drill, featuring deadly warships, was launched in the Black Sea. Americans were warned to get out of Ukraine while they still can, as tensions reached boiling point amid fears that Putin could launch an 'aerial bombardment' of Kiev, risking a high civilian death toll. The UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Kuwait, Germany and several other countries have also told their citizens to leave, 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. 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. 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 Pictured: Still grabs from video purportedly showing atomic canons, sparking fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware to its borders with Ukraine 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. 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. 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. 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 A Ukrainian tank moves during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 10, 2022 It also emerged on Friday that 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. 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 and EU finalizing 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 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,' Sullivan said. 'We are not saying that a decision has been taken by President Putin,' 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'. 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 Kiev' 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 Putin has made a final decision. 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 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. 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 neighboring 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, U.S. officials told Reuters news agency on Friday. Earlier, 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. An evil wife and her lover will each spend more than 20 years in jail for the shocking, 'brutal' murder of her wheelchair-bound and drugged husband. Steven Hinrichsen was killed in a frenzied knife attack, suffering about 50 wounds, so Tanya Hinrichsen, 44, could marry her lover, a motive that was difficult to comprehend, a judge said. Mr Hinrichsen, a 63-year-old grandfather, was murdered in his Morphett Vale home in in Adelaide in December 2018 by Gavin Scott Skinner, 47. Robert John Thrupp, 48, was also present during the crime and was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. Disabled man Stephen Hinrichsen was murdered in his Adelaide home by his wife's lover Tanya Hinrichsen was not present but was found guilty of murder on the basis that she encouraged Skinner to kill her husband. Justice Sophie David said Hinrichsen became resentful of her husband and viewed him as an impediment to her new relationship with Skinner. She said Hinrichsen wanted the victim to agree to letting Skinner stay at their house some nights a week. A text message sent from Skinner to Tanya Hinrichsen said: 'I'm so ready to go on a hunting spree.' She replied: 'If it's to do him then I'll give you my permission.' Sentencing the trio in the South Australian Supreme Court, Justice David said the killing involved a 'brutal and violent attack on a man who was partially incapacitated, confined to a wheelchair and sedated by some form of medication'. 'Gavin Skinner, you inflicted a last humiliating assault on him by smashing a framed picture which had previously been on the wall of the bedroom he shared with Tanya Hinrichsen over his head,' the judge said. 'This was nothing less than a frenzied attack.' Tanya Hinrichsen (pictured left) has been found guilty of the murder of her husband in Adelaide Justice David told Hinrichsen that her conduct was an 'egregious abuse' of her husband's trust. 'You were his wife and you were his carer. You knew that he loved and trusted you,' she said. 'He was a vulnerable man, incapacitated and confined to a wheelchair, yet you encouraged another to murder him for your own selfish purposes. 'It is difficult to comprehend your motivation to commit this offence. It was open to you to simply leave your husband. 'There was simply no need to encourage another to murder him.' Steven Hinrichsen was found by police and paramedics in his Morphett Vale home (pictured) The judge added that Hinrichsen murdered the father of their children, and 'must now live with the consequences of [her] conduct'. In sentencing Skinner, Justice David said he 'inflicted a brutal attack on a vulnerable man for your own selfish purposes'. 'It was completely unjustified and gratuitous,' she said. Justice David said Thrupp was 'present in the deceased's home' when Skinner inflicted the fatal wounds. 'You knew the deceased was vulnerable and incapacitated, and Gavin Skinner held much animosity towards him and had assaulted him on one previous occasion,' she said. Stephen Hinrichsen (pictured) was killed in a frenzied knife attack, suffering about 50 wounds 'While you did not physically inflict any of the wounds or injuries to the deceased, you were in sufficient proximity to see what had taken place. 'When interviewed by police later that day, you denied having attended at the deceased's home with Gavin Skinner. 'It is difficult in those circumstances to give any weight to the expressions of remorse made by you to a psychologist or on your behalf by counsel.' Skinner was jailed for a minimum of 24 years, Hinrichsen for at least 22 years, and Thrupp for at least seven years, two months, and 13 days. Outside court, Mr Hinrichsen's daughters and sister said justice was served. 'I'm so glad she's got life,' one daughter said. 'I was shocked when it happened I would never think she would do something like that.' Another daughter said it was a horrific ordeal to go through. 'I was happy when I found out how long [Tanya Hinrichsen] got, and all the other people too,' she said. 'I don't want anything to do with her.' A mentally ill former soldier told friends he planned to go out in a 'blaze of glory' before strapping himself in a homemade explosive vest and detonating it after leaving his ex-girlfriend's home. Clent Wilson, 43, blew himself up on a Melbourne street on January 22 following struggles with mental health and drug addiction after serving in the Australian Army. The father of three was in 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Darwin's Robertson barracks and was known as a 'crazy f**ker' before being dishonourably discharged 20 years ago. Heartbreaking new details have emerged about his frame of mind and the trauma he experienced serving his country that led to his life spiralling out of control. A friend of a former Australian soldier who died wearing an explosive vest (Clent Wilson, 43, pictured) has revealed he bragged about going out in a blaze of glory Mr Wilson blew himself up on a Melbourne street on January 22 (pictured) following struggles with mental health and drug addiction after serving in the Australian Army A close friend claimed Mr Wilson once bragged that he intended to 'go out in a blaze of glory' and was skilled at making small bombs, the Herald Sun reported. The friend said the former mechanic enjoyed the hobby as a civilian and once nearly killed an apprentice during a botched practical joke. The unidentified mate also claimed Mr Wilson told him he was raped by an army colleague during his service, and subsequently booted out for bashing his attacker. He said Mr Wilson told him the story while 'crying in his shed', and only disclosed the alleged abuse to a handful of close confidantes. The friend believed the alleged sexual assault was a turning point that sent Mr Wilson down a dark path. Before his time in the army, Mr Wilson was known as a handyman and keen water skier to residents of Victorian border town Swan Hill, where he was born and raised. But afterwards, friends and close friends said he was never the same, with life stressors in recent years leading to his downturn. 'So many people said that after the Army he was a different person, but they didnt know why. Now theyll know,' the friend said. In 2009, Mr Wilson separated from his wife, sparking a long-running struggle with mental illness and drug addiction. The friend said Mr Wilson was raped during his time in service and was never the same again Mr Wilson (pictured) allegedly told a close friend that he had beaten an army colleague that raped him and was discharged as punishment His friend said Mr Wilson mainly used ice but would 'take anything'. As his situation escalated the military veteran had several run-ins with the law in recent years and it is alleged he even attempted to shoot his estranged father, Tony Wilson. However, Mr Wilson's friend said the ex-soldier had been a happy man before joining the ADF and believes it was his time in the army that sent him spiralling. 'With the right things in place and the right systems in place, he probably would never have ended up the way he was,' he told the newspaper. Mr Wilson was known by friends as a miracle mechanic who could fix anything and make complicated inventions out of scraps. 'If he couldn't fix it, nobody could,' his friend said. On Saturday January 22 at 11.40am a car driving down Nettle Drive in Hallam, east Melbourne, exploded and killed Mr Wilson as he drove. He was wearing an explosive vest he made out of vehicle airbags that blew up as he went over a speed bump. Mr Wilson (pictured) in 2009 separated from his wife and began his struggle with mental illness and drug addiction The blast blew out the car's sunroof and windscreen but didn't cause any major structural damage. Mr Wilson's body was later found inside after his car, which had rolled into another vehicle outside a nearby nursing home. The explosion sparked a police operation as investigators worked to determine the cause of the blast, quickly ruling out terrorism. Shortly before the explosion Mr Wilson visited his on-off girlfriend in neighbouring Dandenong. Mr Wilson's friend said that despite his struggles in life, he was 'one of the best people you'd ever meet'. It is not known whether Mr Wilson ever reported his alleged rape to the Australian Army. The ADF confirmed he was a member. His death is being investigated by the Victorian Coroner and the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans' Suicide. The Australian Defence Force has not confirmed if Mr Wilson (pictured) was a member Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or defence.gov.au/health/healthportal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608. A Florida girl who was arrested and handcuffed by cops in 2019 for being unruly at school now has PTSD as a result, her grandmother says. In an unforgettable body camera recording taken in 2019 at the Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy Charter School in Orlando, first grader Kaia Rolle can be seen begging the officer not to use zip-tie handcuff to restrain her before putting her in patrol SUV and driving her away. Rolle's grandma Meralyn Kirkland, says the youngster is now a completely different child, forever changed by that traumatic run-in with police. 'Before the incident, Kaia was an awesome young lady,' Kirkland told CNN. 'She wanted to hug everybody, she wanted to sing for everybody, she wanted to dance for everybody. As a result of the incident, Kaia's been diagnosed with PTSD, with severe separation anxiety. She almost has a solitary lifestyle right now.' Kaia Rolle, now 8, suffers from PTSD and severe separation anxiety two years after she was handcuffed and arrested for throwing a temper tantrum in first grade The cop who detained Rolle had to use the plastic ties because her wrists were too small for regular cuffs. 'Please give me a second chance! Please, let me go!' Kaia wails as she's loaded into the vehicle. An assistant principal had said that Kaia had hit her and the girl had thrown a temper tantrum when she was not allowed to wear her sunglasses in the classroom, according to CNN, who caught up with the family three years later. At the time, Florida had no minimum age laws for arrests. An officer is seen leading Kaia out of the school with zip ties on her wrists Turner and another officer escorted Kaia to a police SUV waiting outside the school 'Please give me a second chance! Please, let me go!' Kaia wailed as she was placed in the car Kaia's family released the video, which was widely shared, out of outrage over the arrest. 'Kaia was so short that the officer had to find a footstool so that she would be at the appropriate shot so he could take her mugshot,' Kirkland said. The little girl recalled her confusion and fear that day. 'I was really scared and confused,' Kaia said in a recent interview. 'I said 'are those police officers for me?'' Body camera footage shows Orlando police officers arresting sobbing six-year-old Kaia Rolle at Lucious and Emma Nixon Academy Charter School on September 19, 2019 Kaia's family released the video of the outrageous arrest on Monday, which shows the child tearfully pleading for officers to let her go before they restrained her with zip ties She said that she still lives with the memories. 'I feel bad about what happened at the school with the police officer because I think he was being very mean to me,' she told broadcasters. In the footage Orland Police Officer Turner is heard telling a school employee: 'She's going to have to come with us now,' before he motions to Kaia and commands: 'Stand up, stand up come over here.' 'What are those for?' Kaia asks. Kaia Rolle, 8, was a happy, outgoing child before she was arrested at age 6. Now she is withdrawn, her grandmother says, and lives a 'solitary lifestyle' Meralyn Kirkland, Kaia's grandmother, lobbied Florida lawmakers to lower the age of arrest. The Kaia Rolle Act went into effect in July 2020 and makes it illegal to arrest and prosecute a child younger than 7 8-year-old Kaia Rolle's grandmother said that the little girl is still troubled by her arrest. She said that there is no cure for PTSD 'It's for you,' Turner replies. Kaia then breaks down in tears as she begs another officer not to put her in the restraints. 'It's not going to hurt,' the second says. 'No, no, I don't want handcuffs on!' Kaia howls. 'No, don't put handcuffs on! Please!' The six-year-old girl was taken to a juvenile detention center and charged with misdemeanor battery, according to an arrest report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. Prosecutors dropped the charge the following day. One of the arresting officers, Dennis Turner(pictured), was fired by the Orlando Police Department in the wake of the incident as it was revealed that he'd also arrested another six-year-old in an unrelated incident at the school on the same day Kaia (pictured) was arrested for misdemeanor battery after she threw a temper tantrum and hit three school employees. Prosecutors dropped the charge the next day The arresting officer, Dennis Turner, was fired by the Orlando Police Department in the wake of the incident as it was revealed that he'd also arrested another six-year-old in an unrelated incident at the school on the same day. The Rolle family worked with Florida state legislators after the incident to raise the minimum age for arrest, which was dubbed the Kaia Rolle Act. It went into effect on July 2021 and prohibits children under seven-years-old to be arrested or prosecuted except in the case of violent felony. 'We shouldn't be putting handcuffs on six-year-olds,' Dr. Chris Curran, the director of the University of Florida Educational Policy Research Center told he cable news show. 'There's almost no situation in which that is an appropriate response.' A week after Kaia's family raised alarm about the arrest, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon told reporters that he was 'appalled' by Turner's actions. 'As a grandfather of three children less than 11 years old, I can only imagine how traumatic this was for everyone involved,' Rolon said. 'We could fathom the idea of a six-year-old being put in the back of a police car.' Just last year, when Kaia turned 8-years-old, she said that she was scared because the law no longer protects her. Now, the family wants the age raised again. 'For Kaia, the future is a long road,' her grandmother said. 'You can learn to live with it, you can learn to live with some semblance of normalcy, but there is no cure for PTSD.' A New York City man who has been arrested 44 times, including 16 times in a single day, has been charged with brutally attacking an aspiring model on a deserted Manhattan subway platform. Kevin Douglas, 40, of Queens, was arrested on Thursday after police connected him to the attack of Bew Jirajariyawetch, 23, who was waiting for a subway train in Midtown on November 22 when Douglas allegedly beat and robbed her. Surveillance footage of the incident shows a man said to be Douglas dragging the aspiring model along the northbound platform before throwing her to the ground. He then holds her down as he punches her in the head four times and snatches her purse, before briskly walking away. Hours after the assault, police said Douglas barged into a 34-year-old woman's home and punched her in face, the New York Post reported, leading to his arrest that day. He has been in jail since, and was re-arrested on suspicion of the subway attack while being held in custody. Jirajariyawetch told the Post that she is relieved to get some sense of justice over the arrest. 'Nothing can change what happened to me but I am happy to know he can not do this to someone else,' she said. Police arrested Kevin Douglas, 40, of Queens, for allegedly beating for allegedly assaulting Bew Jirajariyawetch, 23, at a New York City subway platform back in November Surveillance footage of the incident shows a man grabbing the aspiring model (left). He then holds her down as he punches her in the head four times and snatches her purse Bew Jirajariyawetch, 23, revealed her battered face after she was brutally mugged while she waited for the subway at the 34th Street Herald Square subway platform on November 22 Her attorney, Eric Parnes, called the arrest inspiring after his client waited three months to see someone arrest for the brutal attack. 'Although this took an incredible amount of pressure and time to lead to an arrest, it does show that when the police and prosecutors are allowed to do their job without illogical restraints people can have some sense of hope that things can be better,' Parnes told the Post. Police said Douglas has 44 prior arrests and faced charges for drugs, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, robbery and criminal tampering dating back to 1997, the Post reported. On May 13, 2019, he was arrested 16 times. New York Police officials have yet to make Douglas's full rap sheet available. They have also not said whether or not he was out on bail for a previous arrest when he attacked Jirajariyawetch. He was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday with bail set at $75,000. Douglas is currently in police custody, and his next court date is set for April 11. Jirajariyawetch said she was glad to learn that a suspect had been arrest over he assault Police said that hours after brutally beating Jirajariyawetch, Douglas allegedly attacked another woman, 34, after barging into her home 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. This incident comes as crime continues to surge in NYC with a 19.4 percent increase in robberies reported Nearly every single police precinct in New York City has seen spikes in crime so far this year - including five in which the rate has doubled, new data from the NYPD shows Police are holding newly elected Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (pictured) accountable for Hall's most recent assault Christian Hall, 30, has been arrested 21 times with nine open cases, including robbery with a deadly weapon and assault Christian Hall's lengthy rap sheet Christian Hall, 30, has been arrested 21 times and has nine open cases - six in Manhattan, two in Queens and one in Brooklyn - including robbery with a deadly weapon and assault. November 2021 Hall was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly entering a building in Manhattan and slamming a victim on the ground, dragging him across the floor and approaching a second victim while brandishing a knife and threatening to stab them. December 12, 2021 Hall was arrest for robbery and forcible theft with a deadly weapon in Sunset Park December 28, 2021 Hal was charged with first-degree robbery for forcible theft with a deadly weapon in Gramercy Park January 4, 2022 Hall was arrested for robbing a Manhattan Fairway Market. In that incident, Hall allegedly tried to steal items and when confronted by a security guard, shears fell out of his coat. January 6, 2022 Hall was arrested for a violent theft at a TJ Maxx in Chelsea with an 'assault and robbery recidivist' and ended up with a mere shoplifting charge. February 9, 2022 Hall allegedly snuck up on a 55-year-old sanitation worker as he was collecting trash outside a Manhattan building and hit him in the head without warning. Hall was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, under a provision of state law that enhances the penalty for attacking certain public employees, as well as menacing and harassment. Advertisement Earlier this week, another criminal with a lengthy rap sheet who had charges downgraded under woke DA Alvin Bragg was arrested again for sucker-punching a New York City sanitation worker on the job. Christian Hall, 30, of Uniondale, Long Island, allegedly snuck up on a 55-year-old sanitation worker as he was collecting trash outside a Manhattan building on Wednesday morning and hit him in the head without warning, causing pain and swelling, the New York Post reported. Hall was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. He was arraigned on Thursday where a judge set his bail for $25,000. He was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, under a provision of state law that enhances the penalty for attacking certain public employees, as well as menacing and harassment, the Post reported. Police are holding newly elected Manhattan DA Bragg accountable for the assault after his office was accused of 'intentionally omit(ing) all facts' from court documents for a previous violent theft at a TJ Maxx in Chelsea in January, with an 'assault and robbery recidivist' ending up with a mere shoplifting charge. Bragg's office is accused of meddling in the 30-year-old's court papers. It's unclear why the DA's office downgraded the charges. Hall has been arrested 21 times with nine open cases, including robbery with a deadly weapon and assault, the Post reported. A memo obtained by the Post says that a few days prior to the TJ Maxx incident in January, Hall also robbed a Manhattan Fairway Market. In that incident, Hall allegedly tried to steal items and when confronted by a security guard, shears fell out of his coat, the Post reported. Police sources described Hall as a 'felony assault recidivist, robbery recidivist and transit offender.' According to the Manhattan's District Attorney's office, Hall has 19 open cases, 10 open warrants and 14 failure to appear in court. One of Hall's open cases is from November 2021, where he was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly entering a building in Manhattan and slamming a victim on the ground, dragging him across the floor and approaching a second victim while brandishing a knife and threatening to stab them, the DA's office said in a criminal complaint provided to DailyMail.com. In another pending case from a December 2021 incident, Hall was charged with robbery after entering a Manhattan Starbucks. stealing beverages and then displaying a sharp object toward an employee when confronted for not paying, the DA's office said. Hall also has a pending case from a December 12 arrest for robbery and forcible theft with a deadly weapon in Sunset Park. 'DA Bragg owns this attack,' a Manhattan cop told the Post. 'You have a city worker, in uniform, doing his job, providing a service to the community and he is attacked by a man that should be in jail,' the officer added. DailyMail.com reached out to the DA's office and NYPD for more information on Hall's criminal history and why his charge after the violent theft at TJ Maxx was downgraded. Bragg has been previously been publicly slammed by the NYPD's first black female Commissioner Keechant Sewell for his woke policy of downgrading burglary, armed robbery and drug dealing crimes. Bragg's decision not to impose 'carceral punishments' and downgrading felonies has been criticized as New York City's crime rate soars. New NYPD data shows that nearly every police precinct in New York City has seen spikes in crime this year - including five in which the rate has doubled. 'No neighborhood is safe,' one Brooklyn cop told The New York Post on Tuesday, offering a grim forecast for the future of the crime-ravaged city. 'At this rate, we will lose the city by St. Patrick's Day.' 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. 'Only the squirrels are safe,' another anonymous cop joked to The Post Tuesday. 'Tourists will never come back.' 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. A federal judge has denied Ghislaine Maxwell request to keep her motion for a new trial under seal after a juror said after her conviction that he'd been sexually abused as a child. U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan denied the request from February 1 on Friday as she claimed that doing so was not in the public interest. The judge said public access to the documents and any ensuing publicity would not violate Maxwell's right to fair proceedings. 'The Court is unpersuaded by the Defendant's concern that media interest in the motion warrants temporary sealing of the documents in their entirety,' Nathan wrote in her ruling. Attorneys for Maxwell initially argued in a letter that the motion for the new trial should remain under seal until a judge has ruled on it or a hearing was held for the request, according to the New York Post. Ghislaine Maxwell's request to keep her motion for a new trial sealed has been denied Judge Alison Nathan denied the request as she claimed it was not in the public interest Maxwell's attorneys have raised concern about the truthfulness of one of the jurors who convicted Maxwell in December of conspiring to procure and groom teenage girls to be abused by Epstein. Juror Scotty David told DailyMail.com that he told other jurors he had been sexually abused as a child which led Maxwell's attorneys to demand a new trial. He first told DailyMail.com that he had not revealed this history during jury selection because it had not been asked on the juror questionnaire. When it was pointed out that question 48 of the 50 asked exactly that question, he then claimed that he did not remember it but had answered all questions 'honestly.' He told other outlets that he, 'flew through' the questionnaire. He also revealed that a second juror had shared their own story of sexual abuse, a claim later verified by the juror who wished to remain anonymous. He has claimed he can't recall how he answered questions about previous sex abuse that were given to potential jurors before the trial. He told Reuters that he 'flew through' the questionnaire but was sure that he answered the question truthfully. Nathan also noted that public access to the documents and any ensuing publicity would not violate Maxwell's right to fair proceedings Maxwell faces up to 65 years in jail when she is sentenced on June 28 after being found guilty in December on five charges for sex trafficking DailyMail.com has already established that whatever David answered on the questionnaire it did not elicit any follow up questions at the interview or 'voir dire' stage of jury selection. David told DailyMail.com, 'It was never raised. We went in front of the judge and there were all the lawyers in the room and that's where they asked me some questions. They asked me what I do, what I like to do for fun and if I can be fair and impartial. It was literally like 30 seconds long and then I was out of the room.' Conversely when he shared his story in the jury room on day three of deliberations, he recalled 'the room went silent.' According to David his own sharing led a second juror to share their story. His experience, he said, allowed him to better understand the victims who testified and parlay that into a better understanding in jurors who were not convinced of the victims' credibility. Maxwell's lawyers argued that unsealing their motion for a retrial would give Scotty David an 'improper' view of information he 'should never have' including his 'exact' questionnaire responses. Maxwell's attorneys told the Mail on Sunday that they believe they found a third juror who lied about being abused, after a second unidentified juror told The New York Times that they, too, had been abused as a child. The demand for a retrial came after juror Scotty David revealed that he been a victim of sexual abuse as a child The first juror to reveal their sexual abuse, David, said he couldn't remember how he answered a pre-trial question about his own sexual abuse history - casting doubt on the validity of Maxwell's conviction - and he has asked the judge to see his answers. He has since retained lawyer Todd Spodek, who asked the court to provide the questionnaire, according to the New York Daily News. He could face perjury charges if he's found to have intentionally lied. David, 35, has claimed that he used his experience being sexually assaulted to influence other jurors, saying: 'When I shared that, they were able to come around on the memory aspect of the sexual abuse.' But video published by DailyMail.com revealed that David couldn't remember if the pre-trial questionnaire asked about sexual abuse history - which it did. David told DailyMail.com that he was 'quite excited' to be selected for jury duty and that when he discovered that he had been called for selection for the Maxwell trial he was, 'shocked.' He said, 'I thought this is incredible. If I get selected for this that would be an honor.' He added, 'I honestly didn't know much about her or Jeffery Epstein going into it. I didn't know who Jeffery Epstein was until he died.' Meanwhile, Maxwell's lawyers asked the court to vacate her convictions and acquit her, arguing that despite the jury's verdicts on multiple counts, prosecutors failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Maxwell had been convicted after it was revealed she had been grooming young girls for late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein Epstein had taken his own life in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking of a minor, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three counts of conspiracy. She was found not guilty of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts. Maxwell, whose friends included Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, was convicted after a month-long trial in which prosecutors maintained that she recruited and groomed teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse from 1994 to 2004. Maxwell once had a romantic relationship with Epstein, but later became his employee at his five residences, including a Manhattan mansion and a large estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein took his own life at a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited a trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell's lawyers argued at trial that she was made into a scapegoat by federal prosecutors after his death. She faces up to 65 years in jail when she is sentenced on June 28 after being found guilty in December on five charges. Tai Tuivasa shocked the world and stunned the home crowd after knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC271. The Aussie was was on the backfoot throughout the fight against the UFC's knockout king, before a rogue elbow knocked the Houston native and he never recovered. 'That's the king of knockouts, much respect to Derrick, but I'm young and I'm taking over now,' he told former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier after the fight. Tai Tuivasa (pictured celebrating his win) shocked the world and stunned the home crowd after knocking out Derrick Lewis at UFC271 The Aussie was was on the backfoot throughout the fight against the UFC's knockout king before a rogue elbow knocked the Houston native and he never recovered Tuivasa, who had won four-consecutive fights when he entered this bout, admitted he accepted the challenge while drunk. 'We were planning to move up and fight him eventually. He's the no.3 in the world. 'I did an interview on the piss. A few drinks later they said do you want to fight Derrick. I said 'sweet, it's on', and I had to stop drinking piss.' Tuivasa said it wasn't 'in his plans' to fight Lewis so soon, particularly in his hometown of Houston, but he said 'why wouldn't I' take the challenge if it presented himself. Tuivasa, who proudly represents Mount Druitt, lost the first round after Lewis repeatedly took him down. Lewis, the Knockout King, buckled under an elbow from the 28-year-old western Sydney native who earned easily the biggest win of his career Tuivasa celebrated in his typical fashion by drinking a shoey after his shock win over Lewis The second round it appeared Lewis was in control again, throwing his trademark right hooks and clearly wobbling the 28-year-old. 'I knew I was danger,' he said. 'But I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a banger from western Sydney. I'll bang till the day I die'. However, Tuivasa threw a deadly right while Lewis was looking for the finisher, ending the fight in the second round. Lewis, seemingly out of nowhere, fell to his stomach after the clinch elbow from the 28-year-old, with the homecrowd stunned and Australia in hysterics. 'Bam Bam Tuivasa, with the biggest win of this life,' commentator Jon Anik said as Lewis buckled. 'Tuivasa has done it, he'll be in the top three next week. Many of you know what will come next,' as Tuivasa lined up his shoey with pubs around Australia exploding. 'Tuivasa has done it, he'll be in the top three next week.' Tuivasa knocked out the Knockout King in front of his home Houston audience After the fight the Aussie was full of confidence. 'My name's Tai, like muay thai. I'm nitty gritty, and I'm always down to get down baby. 'Bam Bam from western Sydney baby, whoever, whenever.' The UFC's morefront journalist Ariel Helwani said Tuivasa had even won over Lewis' home crowd. 'Tuivasa just KOd the hometown guy and is getting a ton of love. People just love him,' he tweeted. The heavyweight starlet said he was more than prepared for the fight with the UFC's most decatorated KO champ. 'I was Mark Hunt's punching bag for a long time,' he said of the former Aussie. A former NRL star who once pocketed $650,000 a season is now living on little over $800 a week following a bitter court battle with his ex-wife. Michael Jennings has had his assets frozen by the court after he was ordered to pay nearly half a million dollars in damages in a civil court case late last year. Kirra Wilden sought damages against the former star centre after alleging he had abused her during the relationship. The allegations included that Jennings raped her four times between October 2014 and early 2016, claims the star denies. Judge David Wilson ruled in Ms Wilden's favour in the NSW District Court in December, and ordered Jennings pay her nearly $490,000 in damages. A Sydney court heard this week the father-of-two, 33, is yet to pay a cent of the damages awarded to his ex-wife and is surviving on $3236 per month after a freezing order was imposed by the court. He denies his former wife's claim and is planning to appeal. Michael Jennings (with current wife Kristin Harris) has had his assets frozen by the courts The District Court was told Jennings is seeking advice from his senior counsel after he recently lodged notice of intention to appeal the decision, the Daily Telegraph reported. The award included $200,000 in general damages, $51,000 for costs related to future treatment, and $100,000 for economic loss. He has until March 21 to formally lodge his appeal. Judge Wilson continued the freezing order and granted an application by Ms Wilden's lawyers to place caveats on two western Sydney properties owned by Jennings. He slammed Jennings after it was revealed by property records that he moved the ownership of one of the properties to his current wife Kristin Harris while the decision of the civil case was still pending. 'Tell me why I shouldn't order charges over the property in favour of the plaintiff,' Judge Wilson told the court on Thursday. 'Because he was plainly dissipating assets when judgment in this court had been reserved.' Michael Jennings was ordered to pay $500,000 in damages to ex-wife Kirra Wilden (pictured together in 2015) Property records reveal the transfer was for Jennings to repay his wife after Ms Harris forked out $300,000 for his legal fees. Ms Wilden sued for personal injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, she said she sustained during her relationship with Jennings, whom she married in a extravagant ceremony in 2015. The damages awarded to Ms Wilden late last year included $200,000 in general damages, $51,000 for costs related to future treatment, and $100,000 for economic loss. Jennings was also ordered to pay Ms Wilden's legal costs. Judge Wilson also referred the case to NSW Police for further investigation. Mr Jennings has has never been charged in relation to the case. He denies sexually assaulting Ms Wilden and said if she suffered PTSD, he was not the cause. Kirra Wilden (pictured) alleged her then-husband raped her four times between October 2014 and early 2016, claims that Jennings denies Once regarded as one of the NRL's biggest stars, Michael Jennings (pictured in 2020) is now trying to make ends on $809 a week Jennings was considered one of the NRL's premier centres during 298-game 13-year career in the top grade, playing with the Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels. He played 18 Origin games for NSW and represented Australia seven times between 2009 and 2015. He was suspended by the NRL in October 2020 after returning a positive test for performance-enhancing substances Ibutamoren and Ligandrol. The scandal forced Jennings into premature retirement, despite having 18 months of his contract with the Eels still to run. An NHS doctor who was suspended following a complaint in 2018 but later allowed to return to work has been arrested on suspicion of child sexual assault - as police identify nine potential victims. The doctor, 34, was initially suspended from his role at Royal Stoke University Hospital when the parents of a vulnerable female raised concerns about an examination four years ago, but he was allowed to return to work after police dropped a probe due to a lack of evidence. However, he was arrested in December after becoming subject of complaints over the examination of two girls, aged seven and 15. Staffordshire Police, which is now reviewing hundreds of patient records, has launched Operation Anzu after identifying nine potential child victims and at least 109 cases of concern. The medic worked in the A&E departments at both hospitals and in the obstetrics and gynaecology at Russells Hall - where he saw more than 800 patients between August 2020 and March last year, including more than 350 children. He was excluded from the hospital trust in March, before being suspended by the General Medical Council in October. Together with the NHS, Staffordshire Police has launched a major incident review combing through the doctor's work at both hospitals, The Sunday Times reports. It includes reviewing hundreds of files, including those of vulnerable patients, while a helpline has also been created for potential victims. The doctor was suspended from Royal Stoke University Hospital (pictured) in 2018 when the parents of a vulnerable female raised concerns about an examination He subsequently completed a two-year training course before becoming employed at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, West Midlands The doctor had been suspended from both NHS hospitals, which say they are working closely with police The doctor was suspended following allegations from the parents of a vulnerable patient in 2018, before an inquiry identified concerns regarding other patients. The case was subsequently raised to senior management at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which began a formal investigation and contacted Staffordshire Police and the General Medical Council. He was suspended for around 12 months, but returned to work in 2019 when police dropped the investigation due to insufficient evidence. The doctor then completed a two-year training course and took up a role at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley in August 2020. The alarm was raised again, though, last year following complaints in relation to the examination of two girls. He was excluded from the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and conditions placed on his practice by the General Medical Council in March, before he was suspended from his role in October. The doctor had been released on bail, with a representative saying he refutes all allegations that he committed any criminal offence and is cooperating with the hospital and police probes. Operation Anzu will focus on reviewing clinical records of children seen by the medic, but the hospitals will also look at records of adult patients aged 18 to 25. Staffordshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and said it is 'reviewing an investigation into the same suspect in 2018'. An IOPC spokesperson added: 'We assessed a referral from Staffordshire police in December and decided on the information available that the force should continue to deal with the matter.' Parents of potential victims have been sent letters advising them on how to contact Operation Anzu. The cases have been identified following a specialist review of medical records for patients seen by the doctor. The medical directors of both NHS trusts have confirmed the doctor is no longer working at either hospital and would make no further comment while the police probe is ongoing. Dr Matthew Lewis, medical director of the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, confirmed the doctor 'no longer works at Royal Stoke University Hospital' and the trust is 'working closely with police' as part of the probe. A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: 'A 34-year-old man, from the West Midlands, was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault in December 2021. He was released on bail with conditions pending further inquiries. The University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust says a helpline is available 'for any patient and guardian who may have concerns' on 01782 672540. A separate helpline for patients at the Dudley hospital can be reached via 01384 322 311. The driver who unleashed on a Covid protester has shared the abuse she received online after claiming a 'dumb bogan' reversed into her at a traffic light. The incredible road rage erupted after an anti-vaxxer who had been at a Canberra protest allegedly rolled backwards into Chantal-Jasmine Fox. Thousands of anti-vaxxers have descended on the capital from out of town for days of marches and protests against vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions - much to the anger of locals. 'What are you doing you f**king bogan?,' she said as the other films the front of the car to record any damage. 'Get the f**k out of Canberra, go get a job and find something better to do with your f**king life,' she yells at the protester, who asks for her licence. The woman shared a series of responses to her Instagram stories, with one person describing her as 'shameful'. 'What do you have to say for yourself,' a person commented, to which Ms Fox replied: 'Suck my b***s'. Chantal-Jasmine Fox (pictured) who identified herself as the woman being filmed was soon inundated with messages from trolls The argument erupted between the two motorists after one allegedly rolled backwards into Ms Fox's car on a Canberra road (pictured, one of the drivers) Ms Fox shared some of the messages she has received from online trolls (pictured) with one telling her to 'learn some manners' Ms Fox posted a picture of her black 4WD mounted onto the other woman's car, saying she was a 'bit butthurt over an accident', adding 'anti-vaxxers = drama'. She posted the backlash she received as a result of the collision, with some commenters slamming her stance against the protesters, including one who told her to 'learn some manners'. 'These are the kind, rational people at these protests,' Ms Fox responded. Others called her a 'dole bludger' and said she needed a 'muzzle'. Ms Fox posted the footage on her story on Saturday saying she had been the victim of an accident at the hands of an anti-vaxxer. 'You've reversed into me. Honey, you've just reversed into me,' the woman behind the wheel repeats. Ms Fox admitted it was an 'accident' but said the anti-vaxxer was overreacting to the incident The incredible road rage erupted after an anti-vaxxer allegedly rolled backwards into Chantal-Jasmine Fox on a Canberra road 'Say whatever you want sweetheart. The media doesn't care about you.' 'I'm not talking to the media,' the protester responds. As she goes to drive off, footage shows her car slam into the back of the protester's car with the impact launching the 4WD into the air. The tyres land on the roof of the protester's car with a loud crunch as the driver lets out a scream. 'You f**king idiot. You are f**ked,' the protestor screams back. The argument erupted between the two motorists after the woman in front allegedly rolled backwards into the other's car on a Canberra road The footage quickly spread across social media including on Facebook, and was flooded with comments from locals. Police have confirmed a woman will be charged with negligent driving. It comes as 20,000 anti-vaccine activists, conspiracy theorists and people from the sovereign citizen movement marched in the nation's capital this weekend. It comes as 20,000 anti-vaccine activists, conspiracy theorists and people from the sovereign citizen movement marched in the nation's capital this weekend (pictured) Protesters have been making their presence known in the city since January, however record numbers gathered on the Parliament House lawns on Saturday (pictured, protesters) Protesters have been making their presence known in the city since January, however record numbers gathered on the Parliament House lawns on Saturday. On Saturday three people were arrested including one man who allegedly drove his truck through a roadblock. Some of the demonstrators caused damage to the EPIC show-ground forcing the cancellation of the Lifeline charity book fair. Police said rising numbers of people at the rallies and campers placing tents in non-camping areas had left organisers with no choice but to cancel. Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked the activists to protest 'peacefully and respectfully' and said state governments were responsible for mandates. 'I'm going to be very clear when it comes to the issue of vaccine mandates: The Commonwealth government has only ever supported mandates that relate to aged care workers, disability workers and those who are working in high-risk situations in the health system,' he said at a press conference. Saturday's rally of up to 20,000 people is understood to be the biggest public demonstration ever held in Canberra. A medical worker administers a COVID-19 test to a visitor at a screening center near Seoul Station, Sunday. Yonhap Lifting of COVID-19 measures premature: experts By Lee Hyo-jin The government's quarantine scheme shift targeting the Omicron variant has led to rising calls to ease social distancing measures and the vaccine pass system, among people who view these antivirus regulations as ineffective in curbing the unrelenting spread of the virus. Amid surging Omicron cases, the government recently introduced new virus management strategies to focus on high-risk groups, rather than putting equal resources into all confirmed infection cases. Since Feb. 10, the authorities have scrapped the GPS-based monitoring of people in self-isolation after testing positive or being in close contact with an infected case. COVID-19 patients undergoing home treatment no longer need to report to public health officials when they go out to visit hospitals, while their cohabiting family members are allowed to leave the house freely to buy medicine and daily necessities. The government has also replaced its rigorous epidemiological investigations with what it calls, "self-contact tracing." Public officials are no longer contacting people who tested positive to conduct an epidemiological investigation. Instead, patients must fill out a questionnaire on their mobile phones about where they've been and with whom they have come in contact. The new quarantine scheme, which largely depends on individual responsibility to control the spread of infections, have prompted calls to ease COVID-19 restrictions that some see as limiting individual freedoms. Under the current social distancing regulations, cafes and eateries cannot receive sit-in customers after 9 p.m., while private gatherings of more than six people are banned. Also, the vaccine pass implemented on multiuse facilities bans unvaccinated people from entering them unless they provide a negative PCR test taken within the last 48 hours. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Friday hinted at a possible relaxation of the antivirus measures, even before the current ones are scheduled to end on Feb. 20. A coronavirus testing center in Songpa District of Seoul is crowded with people waiting to receive a test, Sunday. Newsis Police have blamed 'needless' paperwork for a 50 per cent rise in the time it takes to charge a suspect as new figures show victims are left waiting an average of 419 days after reporting the crime. Detectives said getting cases 'trial ready' is wasting days and weeks before they are referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to make a decision on whether to charge a suspect. They said hundreds of pages of third party evidence, including contact with health services, and thousands of data files are required to be prepared by officers even if the suspect pleads guilty or in cases with no prospect of a conviction due to a lack of evidence. This data then has to be reviewed and redacted to remove people who are not involved in the case, detectives said, which includes pixelating faces in police bodycam footage. Police have blamed 'needless' paperwork for a 50 per cent rise in the time it takes to charge a suspect as new figures show victims are left waiting an average of 419 days after reporting the crime The change in CPS rules The CPS brought in new rules after a series of cases collapsed when new evidence which should have been investigated further emerged at trial. Detectives said hundreds of pages of third party evidence, including contact with health services, and thousands of data files are required to be prepared by officers even if the suspect pleads guilty or in cases with no prospect of a conviction due to a lack of evidence. This data then has to be reviewed and redacted to remove people who are not involved in the case, detectives said, which includes pixelating faces in police bodycam footage. Police say the rules have gone too far and are contributing to a lack of detectives. The CPS said the public 'rightly expected' thorough police investigations that pursued all lines of inquiry and that these would help avoid 'unnecessary delays' or cases being dropped. Advertisement The change in CPS rules came in 2020 after a series of cases collapsed when new evidence which should have been investigated earlier emerged at trial. Ministry of Justice figures showed a 49.6 per cent increase in the average time between an offence being reported and the CPS authorising police to charge the suspect. The latest data shows it now takes an average of 419 days, compared to the 282 day average in 2019. The figures also show the delay between cases entering the court system and a trial being completed is increasing. In 2019, this averaged 246 days but it is up to an average of 387 days. This delay is also partly caused by a huge backlog of court cases. Figures show more than 60,000 Crown Court cases are outstanding in England and Wales, plus more than 300,000 in magistrates courts. Veteran detective Kevin Marshall, 51, who specialises in child cruelty and abuse cases, said his officers are often tasked with going through years of contact with child services, schools, GPs and hospitals before gathering and reviewing potentially thousands of pages of documents. He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'A lot of those inquiries we have to do to make it "trial ready" are onerous and take days or months. 'Officers are just screaming at me saying this is unworkable. They are probably spending at least 50 per cent more time at a desk in front of a computer screen.' The change in CPS rules - which police say has gone too far in the other direction - is causing some detectives to consider quitting, with the extra paperwork being cited as a reason, a poll at Devon and Cornwall Police found. The results found the added workload is also deterring new recruits from becoming detectives all the while 29,000 roles remain unfilled. Andrew Berry, the chairman of Devon and Cornwall's Police Federation, said 'additional work is wasted' if a defendant pleads guilty or the CPS decides not to charge. The CPS told The Telegraph that the public 'rightly expected' thorough police investigations that pursued all lines of inquiry and that these would help avoid 'unnecessary delays' or cases being dropped. Last month, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab announced that magistrates would be able to jail offenders for up to 12 months, doubling the current maximum, in a bid to relieve pressure on the growing court backlog. He said the move would free up around 2,000 days of Crown Court time a year, as fewer cases will have to be referred to a judge for sentencing. Andrew Berry, the chairman of Devon and Cornwall's Police Federation, said 'additional work is wasted' if a defendant pleads guilty or the CPS decides not to charge However, lawyers said the proposal risks seeing defendants, fearing a longer prison sentence being handed down by a magistrate, choosing a trial in front of a jury, or pleading guilty in a crown court where statistics show they are less likely to be imprisoned. International and national human rights and criminal lawyer Kirsty Brimelow QC said defendants may 'take their chances' and go up to crown court, rather than risk a lengthened imprisonment from a magistrate. Barrister Max Hardy said the proposal would 'cost the taxpayer a lot of money' as crown court trials are 'dramatically more expensive' than those heard in the magistrates' court, while an increase in the number of prisoners serving short term jail terms would also hit the public purse. Mr Raab's announcement came after the Colston Four - who threw a statue of slave trader Edward Colston into Bristol Harbour in 2020 - opted to stand trial in front of a jury, where they were eventually found not guilty of criminal damage. Powers to increase magistrates maximum sentencing powers were first passed into law in 2003 - but have never been brought into force. The changes are limited to triable-either-way offences meaning that defendants can still opt to have their case heard by a jury. Scott Morrison's wife has expressed her disappointment about Grace Tame's frosty exchange with the Prime Minister during an Australia Day function at their home. The then-Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor made headlines last month when she refused to hide her displeasure of being at a morning tea hosted by the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra. Ms Tame was seen giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance. Jenny Morrison has broken her silence about the awkward encounter in a wide ranging pre-election interview with 60 Minutes to be aired on Sunday night. The mum-of-two carefully said she wishes Ms Tame had displayed more 'manners and respect' after being invited into their home. Jenny Morrison has opened up about Grace Tame's (right) recent visit at their home where she refused to smile while posing for photos with the Prime Minister 'I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,' Ms Morrison said. 'I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in. 'I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.' She was then asked by Karl Stefanovic whether she wanted her daughters Lily and Abbey to look up to outspoken advocates such as Ms Tame. 'I want my daughters to grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people. And I think they can still do that and show kindness to other people and be polite and have manners,' Ms Morrison replied. Her husband has been on the receiving end of much criticism over the past year from Ms Tame, who was awarded the Australian of the Year title in 2021 for her campaigning efforts on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. Ms Tame later defended her behaviour at the function, which had been a tea for the incoming Australian of the Year nominees. 'The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders,' she tweeted. 'It is dependent on hypocrisy. My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen in fact I have worn the consequences of civility for the sake of civility.' Jenny and Scott Morrison opened up about the saga on Sunday night's episode of 60 Minutes 'When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and they're always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate,' Mr Morrison later said. 'I haven't raised any issues about (the incident) - all I'm saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country.' In Sunday night's episode, Ms Morrison will also open up about the lonely heartbreak of 'doing it alone' while her husband runs Australia in a personal pre-election interview, admitting it 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.' The prime minister also showed off his musical skills by playing the ukulele at the dinner table. Mr Morrison got a few lines into the 1977 song 'April Sun In Cuba' by New Zealand rock band Dragon before forgetting the words. '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. The interview comes as Mr Morrison faces a growing backlash from right-wing commentators, with Sky News host Peta Credlin this week joining the pile on that already includes fellow commentators Andrew Bolt, Chris Kenny and Janet Albrechtsen. With pressure mounting on the prime minister due to poor polling numbers and an election due within months, Ms Credlin - who is Tony Abbott's former chief of staff - wrote that Mr Morrison needs to 'be better'. In a crushing blow, she said 'the government originally elected to be the antithesis of Rudd-Gillard-Rudd has become Labor-lite'. Later in the preview, the prime minister showed off his musical skills on the ukulele and sung the 1977 song 'April Sun In Cuba' by New Zealand rock band Dragon - before forgetting the words Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny Morrison and daughters Abbey (right) and Lily (left). His mother Marion Morrison is pictured far right Sky News host Peta Credlin (pictured) has turned up the heat of Prime Minister Scott Morrison She called on Mr Morrison to give voters 'a reason to vote for you', saying his leadership of the Liberal Party was leaving some people 'politically homeless'. Writing in The Australian, Ms Credlin said Mr Morrison's lack of ideas have led to a lot of 'disillusionment among many Liberal supporters', especially on policy related to lowered taxes and more support for big businesses. Ms Credlin also poured cold water on the government's ability to steer the economy - traditionally viewed as a strong point for the Liberals. She said the Coalition 'boasts about good economic statistics that don't wholly capture what's happening in the real world and owe much less to government than to the hard work of individuals making the most of a bad situation'. Scott Morrison (pictured) is under pressure from right wing commentators who have previously backed him Credlin's column comes just three days after fellow Sky News host and News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt said Mr Morrison is 'finished', with the last straw seeming to be a stunt where the prime minister washed a woman's hair in a salon in Victoria. Mr Bolt said it was a 'sad stunt' and urged Minister for Defence Peter Dutton, who is favoured by conservatives, to 'get ready to lead' because Mr Morrison looked like a 'man with the fight beaten out of him'. Writing in the Herald Sun, he said: 'Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks finished, and is now making a fool of himself to get some love. 'This bizarre (hair salon) photo-op showed not just that Morrison is desperate but out of ideas. It showed he has a dangerously thin skin, and is bleeding.' The salon visit came after a horror week which started with a Newspoll showing the government trailing Labor by 12 points, which if replicated on election day would mean the Coalition losing 25 seats. He was then roasted by journalists at the National Press Club where he admitted making several errors during the pandemic but refused to apologise and failed to name the price of bread, petrol and rapid antigen tests. Mr Morrison was later asked about texts from 2019 in which then NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian allegedly called him a 'horrible, horrible person' and a one of his own ministers branded him a 'complete psycho'. Janet Albrechtsen (pictured) used her column in The Australian to say Scott Morrison is 'just not up to the job' Sky News host and News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt (pictured) said Scott Morrison is 'finished' Then last Thursday the PM was slammed for backflipping to support Western Australia's hard border, with critics saying it proved he has no principles and can't be trusted. This drew anger from Sky News host and former Liberal adviser Chris Kenny. 'Mark McGowan's wrong and the Prime Minister didn't call him out on it,' Me Kenny said. '(The PM) needs to call out Mark McGowan on this. He's the Prime Minister of Australia! He should support no internal hard borders.' On Friday, texts were made public of National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce calling Mr Morrison a 'hypocrite and a liar'. Armed police hunting a man in connection with a shooting stormed a house in Oldham only to arrest the wrong person - who has the same surname as the suspect. West Yorkshire Police officers who were searching for Kashif Hussain, 43, in relation to a firearms incident in Bradford last month, stormed the family home of Shazad Hussain earlier this week, and arrested both him and his brother at gunpoint. Mr Hussain, 39, was at his home on Wednesday evening (February 9) when he spotted armed police outside his front window. When he opened his front door he was confronted by the barrel of a machine gun, and an officer who immediately bellowed 'get down on the floor'. Dramatic eyewitness video shows an officer pointing a gun through Mr Hussain's open front door before the bloodied and shaken taxi driver is led bare foot into the street from his house. He is then seen with a wound on his left brow, with blood pouring into his eye, and running down his cheek. Mr Hussain and his brother, Sharaz Hussain, 36, who arrived at the scene after hearing a commotion when his brother accidentally dialled his phone during the arrest, were both handcuffed during the dramatic raid. Shazad Hussain, 39, was at his home on Wednesday evening (February 9) when armed police arrived on the doorstep Footage shows the moment armed police arrested Shazad, a taxi driver, on his doorstep Police are looking for Kashif Hussain (pictured) Sharaz emerged from his home with a cut above his left eye and a gash on his knee, which he claims were injuries he received from his arrest. The pair, who were released without charge, say they aren't related to Kashif Hussain and have demanded an apology from the force. Footage shows the moment armed police arrested Shazad, a taxi driver, on his doorstep. Speaking of the terrifying moment, Sharaz said: 'I could see somebody looking through the window. I opened the door and armed police were in front of me. The guy was right there with a battering ram. 'I thought at first someone was trying to rob me. Then an officer came to the front with a gun pointing at me. He was shouting: 'Armed police, get down on the floor'. 'I was barefoot. Two other officers gripped me and threw me onto the floor. 'I'm shouting: 'What the hell have I done?'. 'I've not tried fighting with them. They didn't give me a chance to speak or anything. They just bust me to the ground.' Sharaz said one of the officers asked his pregnant wife if she knew Kashif, before checking Sharaz's identification. He said the raid left his family, including his eight-year-old autistic son and 18-month-old baby boy in shock. He was also left with a cut over his left eye. Sharaz (pictured) said the raid left his family, including his eight-year-old autistic son and 18-month-old baby boy in shock. He was left with a cut above his eye The pair, who were released without charge, say they aren't related to Kashif Hussain and have demanded an apology from the force Footage shows Sharaz being arrested with a cut above his left eye He was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police barefoot by West Yorkshire police officers 'I was bleeding all over my face,' he said. 'It was covered in blood. My right knee was gashed.' Sharaz was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police station, where his photograph was taken and he was put in a cell. He and his brother were released together at around 11:30pm. 'The sergeant just said: 'You're not being charged, we're sorry, you're free to go,' Sharaz said. 'It was terrible. I'm 36. I was born and bred in Oldham. I've worked all my life. I have no bad record. This was like going through hell for me, my wife and the kids. My wife was traumatised. I was traumatised. 'There was no need for the way they treated me. I would have understood if I came out flying or angry. I wasn't. 'They just gripped me and threw me on the floor. What sort of preparation did they do? 'I want an apology from the people who arrested me. I want a proper, public apology. I want everybody to know what happened.' Dramatic footage shows the moment armed police arrested the father-of-two The taxi driver said he and his family have been left traumatised by the incident The pair were finally released from the police station at around 11:30pm on Wednesday Shazad, also a taxi driver, said: 'Someone has seen [the police appeal] and told the police it was my brother. 'It was totally wrong. My brother didn't resist arrest. I was traumatised, handcuffed and humiliated.' A statement from West Yorkshire Police said: 'Armed police were deployed to an address in Oldham on arrest enquiries for a man wanted in connection with an investigation into a firearms discharge in Bradford, who is known to have links to the area. 'Both men who were present at the address were taken to a police station as part of an identification process. 'Both were released from custody once it was established that neither were the man being sought.' A man was stoned to death in a remote village in eastern Pakistan for allegedly desecrating the Koran, police have said. The custodian of local mosque said he saw Mushtaq Ahmed, 41, burning the Muslim holy book inside the mosque on Saturday evening and informed the police. The subsequent violence took place in a village in the district of Khanewal in Punjab province. Police have detained 36 men living near to the mosque in relation to the incident, but have said they suspect around 300 people took part. According to witnesses, officers from Tulamba police station were rushed to the mosque and took custody of a man, but the angry crowd snatched him away from them and beat police as they tried to rescue him. The violence took place in a village in the district of Khanewal in Punjab province Officers tried to take his body from the scene, but the crowd began throwing stones at them, causing three of them to sustain injuries. More officers arrived at the scene later to remove the body. Mian Mohammad Ramzan, the mosque custodian, said he saw smoke inside the mosque and rushed to investigate. He found one Koran burned and saw a man attempting to set a second alight. He said people were arriving for evening prayers at the time while he shouted at the man to stop. Munawar Gujjar, Police Chief of the area said: 'The ill-fated man has been mentally unstable for the last 15 years and according to his family often went missing from home for days begging and eating whatever he could find.' Prime Minister Imran Khan said he is seeking a report from Punjab's Chief Minister on the police handling of the case, claiming they 'failed in their duty.' Police have detained 36 men living near to the mosque in relation to the incident, but have said they suspect around 300 people took part Mian Mohammad Ramzan, the mosque custodian, said he saw smoke inside the mosque 'We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands and mob lynching will be dealt with with the full severity of the law,' he said in a tweet hours after the incident. He has also requested a report on the actions taken against the perpetrators. The death comes months after the lynching of a Sri Lankan manager of a sporting goods factory in Sialkot in Punjab province after being accused on blasphemy by workers. The incident happened on December 3. Mob attacks on people accused of blasphemy are common in the area, and is punishable by death in Pakistan. Boris Johnson will travel to Scotland this week as he seeks to recover from Partygate - but will not meet the Scottish Tory leader who demanded he quit over No10 parties. The Prime Minister is expected to visit a manufacturing site in Scotland during the Parliamentary recess during a UK tour he hopes will switch focus on his levelling-up agenda. But the Scottish Conservatives have confirmed to MailOnline that Mr Johnson will not be spending time with Douglas Ross, who last month publicly called for his resignation. The Moray MP said the PM's position was 'untenable' after he admitted attending a No10 party during lockdown. His remarks - made in a television interview, prompted a public row between the English and Scottish Conservatives, with now Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg branding Mr Ross a 'lightweight' figure of low importance. A Scottish Conservative spokeswoman told MailOnline today that Mr Johnson's was a governmental rather than political visit and 'Douglas Ross will not be meeting with the Prime Minister on this occasion'. The Prime Minister is expected to visit a manufacturing site in Scotland during the Parliamentary recess during a UK tour he hopes will switch focus on his levelling-up agenda. A Scottish Conservative spokeswoman told MailOnline today that Mr Johnson's was a governmental rather than political visit and 'Douglas Ross will not be meeting with the Prime Minister on this occasion'. No 10 said the Prime Minister is to start the week with a visit to Scotland, where he is a massively unpopular figure. He made himself Minister for the Union in 2019 but his subsequent visits north of the border have often proved controversial. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'Boris Johnson is not fit to be Prime Minister and he is single the biggest threat to the future of the UK. 'If the Scottish Tories welcome him back with open arms, it will confirm once and for all that they are a party devoid of any principles.' In a statement, Mr Johnson said: 'I'm getting out of London this week and taking a simple message with me, this Government is getting on with the job of uniting and levelling up the country.' The calls for the Prime Minister to go will only grow louder and more widespread if he cannot convince police he was not in breach of regulations at up to six events. As he employs the help of personal lawyers, the Telegraph cited Mr Johnson's allies in reporting he plans to argue he was working in his official Downing Street flat on the night of the alleged 'Abba party' in November 2020. The Times said that even if he is fined he will not resign, in a move that would be likely to trigger Tory MPs to force a vote of confidence in his leadership. Scotland Yard says 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'. Fifteen Tory MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson to quit, while more are thought to have privately written to the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories calling for a no-confidence vote. More 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 Conservative MPs write to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, and would be ousted if more than half of his MPs subsequently voted against him. A 'raped' BBC employee was 'put under surveillance' and monitored by a private detective aftet telling bosses of an attack during filming for Hungry For It. The woman claims she was attacked in London while working on the BBC Three, hosted by Stacey Dooley, in September last year. BBC studio chiefs moved the woman into a hotel after she reported the incident, but she was then trailed by private investigators while staying at the premises. A report passed to The Sun claims details were made of her comings and goings at the hotel, as well as the police station and identities of the investigating officers. The report also reveals the detective was watching the woman in her flat and bedroom. The BBC employee says the details of her movements are accurate and said the report was 'disgusting' and 'terrifying'. She told a friend: 'Id been sexually assaulted at work one of the worst things imaginable. To then find out someone had put private detectives to tail me as I reported what happened to police is horrifying. 'The detail in the report is disgusting. To realise that someone was watching my bedroom at home is terrifying. It feels like something out of a TV drama and not real life.' A spokesperson for BBC Studios has denied it has had any involvement in a surveillance operation. BBC Studios has denied having any involvement in the surveillance operation (pictured: BBC Broadcasting House in London) Kayla Greer, Stacey Dooley, Big Zuu on the set of BBC Three's Hungry For It - a cookery competition in which 10 chefs aim to impress judges to win a life changing sum of money A statement added: 'Neither BBC Studios nor the BBC have instigated, sanctioned or contracted a third party to carry out any surveillance and we have no knowledge of any such report. 'What we have been doing is fully supporting our colleague from the moment we learned about the alleged assault.' City of London Police said last week that the incident was reported to them by another force and that 'the evidence in the case is currently being reviewed'. The force added: 'On Sunday 19 September 2021, City of London Police was contacted by another police force, which had received a late report of a rape that took place on Friday 10 September 2021, at an address in Chancery Lane, EC4A. 'The evidence in the case is currently being reviewed and the female victim is currently being supported by specifically-trained officers.' Hungry For It is a cookery competition in which ten chefs, who are all living together, aim to impress judges in order to win a life changing prize. Stacey Dooley fronts the show while chef and rapper Big Zuu and chef Kayla Greer are mentors and judges. By Olivia Day for Daily Mail Australia Friday, October 15 Cleo along with her mother Ellie Smith, her partner Jake Gliddon and her little sister Isla Mae arrive at the Blowholes campsite around 6:30pm. They had a 'quiet' night and arrived at sunset. Saturday, October 16 1:30am: Parents' last sighting of Cleo in the tent she shared with her parents and baby sister when the four-year-old asks for some water. 6.23am: Ellie calls 000 to report her eldest daughter missing as she continues to search the camp ground. 6.30am: The first two officers are dispatched from Carnarvon police station. They travel to Blowholes as a matter of priority, with sirens and lights. 6.41am: A second police car with another two officers is sent to Blowholes, also with lights and sirens. 7.10am: The first police car arrives. The second is only minutes behind. 7.26am: Police on the scene establish a protected forensic area which is taped off to the public, surrounding the family tent where Cleo was last seen. 7.33am: A drone operator is called upon to search from the skies. 7.44am: A third police car is dispatched to the Blowholes. 8am: Family and friends of Cleo's parents begin to arrive to help with the ground search. Another group of detectives briefly searches Cleo's home to make sure she's not there. They then head to Blowholes and begin stopping cars coming into and leaving the area. 8.09am: A helicopter from a local company arrived at the scene and started searching as police request an SES team attend the Blowholes search. 8.24am: Police air-wing and volunteer marine searchers are called in to assist with the search. 8.34am: Roadblocks are set up at the entrance of Blowholes as detectives gather the names, registration details and addresses of people coming and going. Police search cars. 9.25am: Nine SES personel arrive at the Blowholes to assist with the search. Investigators, bounty hunters and officers from the Australian Federal Police have spent two-and-a-half weeks searching for missing four-year-old Cleo (pictured) 9.30am: Detectives sit down with a distressed Ellie and remain by her side for the rest of the day while other search crews hunt for Cleo. 11am: Homicide detectives from the Major Crime Division are called and begin travelling from Perth to assist with the search. 1pm: More homicide detectives and search experts are flown in from Perth. 3pm: Officers and search experts arrive in Carnarvon to offer their expertise. Sunday, October 17 Ms Smith takes to social media to plead for help finding her missing daughter. A Facebook post uploaded at 1:45am on Sunday which said: 'It's been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl's eyes. 'Please help me find her! 'If you hear or see anything at all please call the police!' Police suggest Cleo may have been abducted. Monday, October 18 Police release an image of the red and grey sleeping bag missing from Cleo's tent. Cleo's biological father is interviewed by police in Mandurah and is asked to provide a statement, which he does so willingly. WA Police with the help of SES members, volunteers and aircraft continue the land hunt for Cleo, with officers searching nearby shacks and vehicles in the area. Tuesday, October 19 Cleo's mother Ellie Smith and her partner Jake Gliddon front the media for the first time and describe the terrifying moment they realised the little girl was missing. Ms Smith says her four-year-old would never have left the tent by herself. Police release new images of Cleo and the pink and blue one-piece she was wearing the night she went missing to aid the investigation. Investigators urge anyone who was at the campsite or in the vicinity on October 15 to get in contact with police. Wednesday, October 20 Police reveal the zip of the family tent, which was found hanging wide open by her mother at 6am on Saturday morning, was too high for Cleo to reach. Officers say they 'haven't ruled out' reports from campers who heard the sound of screeching tyres in the early hours of Saturday morning. Deputy Police Commissioner Daryl Gaunt confirms officers are investigating the whereabouts of 20 registered sex offenders in the Carnarvon area. Thursday, October 21 The WA Government offers a $1million reward for information that leads to Cleo's location announced by WA Premier Mark McGowan. 'All Western Australians' thoughts are with Cleo's family during what is an unimaginably difficult time,' Mr McGowan said. 'We're all praying for a positive outcome.' The speed of the reward being issued - within days of her disappearance - was unprecedented. Pictured: Police are seen examining rubbish left near the Blowholes campsite in remote WA Monday, October 25 WA Police confirm Cleo was definitely at the camp site - on CCTV footage on a camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent she disappeared from. Tuesday, October 26 Forensic officers and detectives spent much of the day at her home in Carnarvon, 900km north of Perth, on Tuesday and left with two bags of evidence. Although investigators had been to the home before, this was the first time they thoroughly searched inside with a forensics team. Acting WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the search of the family home was 'standard practice' and did not indicate they were suspects in Cleo's disappearance. Wednesday, October 27 WA Police forensics officers return to the Blowholes campground and are seen collecting soil samples from a number of campfires near shacks in the area. The federal government announce Australian Federal Police officers had been drafted in to support forensic and intelligence efforts. Friday, October 29 Police return to the Blowholes camp to analyse the area with drones. Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde returns to the Blowholes campsite to join the search for Cleo as the search hit the two-week mark. He confirms national and international agencies are engaged in the search for Cleo. Sunday, October 31 Detectives go door-knocking at a number of homes along the North West Coastal Highway in the North Plantations, 5km from Cleo's hometown on Sunday. Monday, November 1 Detectives sort through mounds of rubbish from roadside bins located hundreds of kilometres away from the campsite she vanished from. The material was transported to Perth, where forensic officers and recruits sorted through hundreds of bags in search of items that may have helped them find Cleo. Officers issue a plea for dash cam and CCTV footage from within a 1000km radius of where the four-year-old disappeared. Police renew an appeal for more businesses in Carnarvon to provide footage and go door to door in an industrial area on the outskirts of the town. Her elated mother, Ellie, (pictured, with Cleo, her partner and younger daughter) broke her silence the morning Cleo was found, sharing a series of love heart emojis on Instagram Wednesday, November 3 After two-and-a-half weeks of searching Cleo Smith is found alive and well in the early hours of November 3. WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed just before 7am AEST that little Cleo is alive and well and had been reunited with her relieved parents. 'One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her 'what's your name?' he said. 'She said: 'My name is Cleo'.' Ellie Smith posted to social media: 'Our family is whole again'. Police arrest Carnarvon man Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, and take him in for questioning. On October 19, Ellie Smith (pictured) and her partner Jake Gliddon fronted the media for the first time and begged the public to report any information 'big or small' Thursday, November 4 Kelly is charged with multiple offences including forcibly taking a child under 16 and appears in Carnarvon Magistrate's Court barefoot and wearing a black T-shirt. Friday, November 5 Terence Kelly is flown to Perth and taken to Casuarina prison. Monday, January 24, 2022 Kelly pleads guilty via AVL from prison to kidnapping Cleo Smith and is ordered to appear in Perth District Court in March. Scott Morrison's wife has fronted cameras in a wide-ranging television interview after being rolled out as her husband's 'secret weapon', as the federal election battle gears up. Mother-of-two Jenny candidly revealed a rare insight into their lives, including when when she first met her husband at age 16, when he initially dumped her for another girl. She also admitted she now regrets the family of four's ill-fated trip to Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfire crisis, saying they had 'disappointed' the Australian public. The family were forced cut their trip short with the Prime Minister copping heavy public backlash upon on his return home. Jenny Morrison opened up about her husband in a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview 'I am more than sorry if we disappointed,' she told 60 Minutes' Karl Stefanovic on Sunday night. 'We did disappoint. Did we make the right decision? I thought I was making the right decision for my kids. I obviously was wrong. Yes, we were over there seeing it and we were like... we really need to get home. 'So...I wish that had never happened. But I can't change it.' She pointed out the spotlight on politicians today is relentless, unlike those in her husband's position almost four decades ago. 'It's 24-7,' she said. 'Can you imagine back in the day when Bob Hawke was prime minister and he had a phone and a fax machine. 'I think everyone worked hard, but I think then it was OK to have a holiday and things like that, and it doesn't seem that way now. 'People want you to be seen to be doing something all the time.' Jenny Morrison now regrets the family vacation to Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires (pictured, the couple together at a cafe in Hawaii as outrage brewed back home) The Prime Minister and his wife recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary Stefanovic later quipped the family could return to Hawaii if Mr Morrison loses the upcoming election but didn't get the response he was hoping for. 'Too soon Karl, too soon,' Mrs Morrison replied, as her husband agreed and grinned sheepishly. The couple were childhood sweethearts who met at church before they tied the knot in 1990, but on recalled for the first time ever how the pair briefly split up after they first started dating as teens. 'He broke up with me because he was keen on another girl,' Mrs Morrison explained. Her husband sheepishly replied: 'Oh, I was an idiot. It was a stupid decision. We fixed it pretty quick.' His wife was asked what she would say to her 16-year-old self. 'Run!' she laughed. 'It's been a long time but I know him better than he knows himself.' She said his messiness and being married to the job were her husband's worst traits. 'We have to take a back seat. Running the country is incredibly important,' Mrs Morrison said. Scott Morrison briefly left Jenny for another girl when they first met as childhood sweethearts (pictured are the couple while dating) Viewers also heard briefly from their daughters Abby and Lily, who are both extremely proud of their dad. 'It's good, we're used to him doing this stuff because he's been doing it since I was born in 2007,' Abby said. Her younger sister added: 'He does hard work every day.' Mrs Morrison also expressed her disappointment about Grace Tame's frosty exchange with the Prime Minister during an Australia Day function at their home. The then-Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor made headlines last month when she refused to hide her displeasure of being at a morning tea hosted by the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra. Ms Tame was seen giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance. Mrs Morrison has broken her silence about the awkward encounter and says she wishes Ms Tame had displayed more 'manners and respect' after being invited into their home. Daughter Lily (left) and Abby (right) are very proud of their dad being the Prime Minister Jenny Morrison has opened up about Grace Tame's (right) recent visit at their home where she refused to smile while posing for photos with the Prime Minister 'I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,' Mrs Morrison said. 'I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in. 'I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.' She was asked whether she wanted her daughters to look up to outspoken advocates such as Ms Tame. 'I want my daughters to grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people. And I think they can still do that and show kindness to other people and be polite and have manners,' Mrs Morrison replied. Her husband has been on the receiving end of much criticism over the past year from Ms Tame, who was awarded the Australian of the Year title in 2021 for her campaigning efforts on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. Ms Tame later defended her behaviour at the function, which had been a morning tea for the incoming Australian of the Year nominees. 'The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders,' she tweeted. 'It is dependent on hypocrisy. My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen in fact I have worn the consequences of civility for the sake of civility.' Jenny and Scott Morrison opened up about various sagas in a wide-ranging 60 Minutes interview 'When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and they're always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate,' Mr Morrison later said. 'I haven't raised any issues about (the incident) - all I'm saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country.' She was shocked when former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgins first went public with claims a year ago she was raped by a colleague in a minister's office at Parliament House in 2019. Mr Morrison later admitted a heart-to-heart conversation with his wife compelled him to act. 'No one wants see that, or hear that happen to anyone,' Mrs Morrison said. 'I was speaking directly to him. I really wanted to know our girls would be perfectly safe working in that building. 'I think Scott totally gets things. He's all about problem-solving so that can come across sometimes as serious, uncaring, or lacking empathy. 'But it isn't that at all. It's seriously focused and task-orientated and it can only make things better having more people aware about it and change actually happening.' Jenny Morrison said she was shocked when she first heard about Brittany Higgins' (pictured this week) allegations that she was raped by a male colleague inside Parliament House She also addressed the time when comedian Magda Szubanski appeared to make fun of her strong faith while retweeting a photo of Mrs Morrison wearing a modest black dress while watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. In the controversial tweet, Ms Szubanski said the image looked like a scene from the dystopian thriller The Handmaid's Tale where women are uneducated, subservient to men and ruled by Bible-touting dictators. 'Look, I can take a joke and I think I'm quite a strong person because I live with Scott,' Mrs Morrison said. 'But sometimes, it's just like, really?' Her husband interrupted: 'It's part of my job. It's never part of the family's job. Mrs Morrison dismissed suggestions that she's often dragged under the bus by her husband when he refers to her frequently in press conferences as the family's chief decision maker. 'I think he should be able to say what happens with us in our life,' Mrs Morrison said. 'Yes, he talks to me regularly. Do I make policy decisions? Absolutely not, because they would be bad. But I can tell him about how I feel about something.' Mrs Morrison isn't a fan of politics which she described as ruthless and has no plans to follow in her husband's footsteps. 'Never, never, never,' she said. She also recalled 'feeling sick to my stomach' when Mr Morrison was ambushed by bombshell revelations from journalist Peter van Onselen on live television shortly after finishing his keynote speech to the National Press Club in Canberra a few weeks ago. The Network Ten political editor read out text messages allegedly between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and a senior Liberal figure slamming Mr Morrison branding 'a horrible person' and 'complete psycho', leaving the stunned Prime Minister lost for words. She also opened up about the lonely heartbreak of 'doing it alone' while her husband runs Australia, admitting it 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.' The prime minister also showed off his musical skills by playing the ukulele at the dinner table. Mr Morrison got a few lines into the 1977 song 'April Sun In Cuba' by New Zealand rock band Dragon before forgetting the words. '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. The interview comes as Mr Morrison faces a growing backlash from right-wing commentators. The Prime Minister is facing protests from Tory MPs and peers over the Government's ban on fracking, which they say could prevent a future energy crisis. Lord Frost is reportedly among 30 MPs and peers who have submitted a joint letter to the Prime Minister urging him to 'reverse this moratorium' which has prohibited the mining of shale gas since 2019. According to the Telegraph, other signatories include former culture secretary John Whittingdale and Bob Blackman, the 1922 committee executive secretary. The letter was reportedly organised by Craig Mackinlay and Steve Baker, chairman and deputy chairman of the Conservative Net Zero Scrutiny Group (NZSG). According to the newspaper, it argues that shale gas mining would 'allow us to combat the cost of living crisis, level up, create jobs, opportunity and a renewed sense of community in the north, improve our energy security, reduce our reliance on imported gas, stabilise energy and achieve net zero without increasing the cost of living for already hard-pressed working families.' It comes after the only company to frack for shale gas in Britain was ordered to permanently plug and abandon its wells near Blackpool last week. Lord Frost is among 30 MPs and peers who have submitted a joint letter to the Prime Minister urging him to reverse the moratorium which prohibited the mining of shale gas since 2019 Pictured: Last week, energy company Cuadrilla was told by the Government's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to seal two horizontal shale wells drilled near Blackpool (pictured) 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. Energy company Cuadrilla was told by the Government's Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to seal two horizontal shale wells drilled in Lancashire. The process has been mired in controversy since 2011 after it caused two minor earthquakes in Lancashire, prompting a temporary ban on fracking in the UK. WHAT IS FRACKING AND WHY IS IT CONTROVERSIAL? Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before inserting a high-pressure water mixture to release gas and oil within rocks. This allows drilling firms to access hard-to-reach gas and oil sources. Although banned in Scotland, other parts of the UK are expected to legalise fracking in 2018, according to British shale gas companies. This comes after another year of campaigners protesting with little progress. Fracking could be introduced to the resource-rich area stretching from Lancashire to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Currently, drilling licenses are only issued to select companies. In the US, fracking has significantly boosted oil production and reduced gas prices. Fracking is estimated to have offered gas security to the US and Canada for around the next 100 years. Why is it controversial? Fracking is controversial due to the potentially cancer-causing chemicals used to extract oil and gas, which could then contaminate local water supplies. Some also argue, fracking, which requires a huge amount of water, may distract energy firms and the Government from investing in renewable energy sources. The process has even been linked to the recent rise in earthquakes in Oklahoma as drilling can penetrate rock crisscrossed with tectonic faults, triggering such natural disasters. Source: BBC and The Guardian Advertisement 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. 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 - a temporary ban - on shale-gas extraction. Fracking has attracted controversy with reports of gas polluting local water supplies. It is also fiercely opposed by environmentalists who say it is at odds with Britain's commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. There has been much disturbance caused in particular to residents living near to the fracking site in Preston New Road, Lancashire, which is run by Cuadrilla. On Thursday, Cuadrilla and Tory MPs hit out at the ban, claiming domestic shale gas could combat the cost-of-living crisis. Without a fresh drive to exploit the resources, industry groups warn that UK gas production will fall by three-quarters by 2030, putting the nation's energy security at risk. 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. Tory former minister Steve Baker said: 'We're abandoning any chance we had of levelling up, solving the cost-of-living crisis and delivering on... net zero.' On Saturday, Lord Frost told the Telegraph that reversing the ban would bring a 'British energy renaissance'. He said: 'If our economy is to boom after Brexit, British industry needs a competitive and reliable source of energy which we hold in our own hands and brings investment into this country. Shale gas production achieves all this and more. 'If we don't produce it here, as we have seen, all we do is import gas from elsewhere, and push up overall carbon emissions too. 'So let's reverse the moratorium on shale gas and let a British energy renaissance begin.' Lord Goldsmith, the Minister of State for the Pacific and the International Environment, appeared to respond to the push within his party to reverse the moratorium. Cuadrilla fracking site is on Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool lies dormant In a series of tweets, he said: 'The argument that fracking will reduce our reliance on Russian gas is wrong. Between just 1 & 3% of UK gas comes from Russia. We import mostly from Norway - a friend and ally. 'To replace half the gas we import, we'd likely need around 6,000 new wells, with all the associated industrial equipment & endless movements of trucks ferrying toxic chemicals & wastewater to & from sites. It's hard to imagine communities across the UK being ok with that. 'It's hard to overstate just how unpopular fracking is with the British public. The last BEIS (the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) attitude tracker showed only 18% support (76% supported onshore wind). People do not want large-scale industrialisation of the British countryside. 'And given the gas would be produced by private firms and sold at the highest price (internationally), there would likely be no measurable impact on UK gas prices anyway.' Lord Goldsmith concluded by saying: 'We do need gas - it is the cleanest bridge to renewables (I've not seen a model that says otherwise). 'But the UK is not Utah. To have any impact at all, Govt would need to rig the market & go to war with furious communities. On every level the cost would be enormous.' Last week, the Prime Minister shot down Jacob Rees-Mogg at a Cabinet meeting for suggesting that fracking for shale gas should be permitted. The new Brexit Opportunities Minister is understood to have raised it as a way to make the UK more self-sufficient. A Whitehall source told the Telegraph that fracking had been banned because it presented 'unpredictable and unmanageable' risk to local communities. The source added: ' Even if new scientific evidence emerged and we lifted the moratorium tomorrow, it would take approximately 10 years before sufficient quantities of gas could be produced for the market.' Watchdogs are warning of a new surge in energy bills - possibly another 700 a year - if gas supplies are hit by a Russia invasion of Ukraine. The regulator, Ofgem, told MPs last week that current forecasts suggest another increase is likely to come into effect before next winter. The energy crisis has led to fresh calls for the Government to exploit hundreds of oil and gas wells in the North Sea - as well as to revisit the issue of fracking. There is the equivalent of between ten and 20 billion barrels of oil under the sea, according to Government figures, enough to cover a significant proportion of the UK's energy needs for two to three decades. Fracking is controversial due to the potentially cancer-causing chemicals used to extract oil and gas, which could then contaminate local water supplies. Pictured: A protestor in Blackpool How does fracking cause earthquakes? Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake, and in extreme cases can even split the Earth's crust up to its surface. Fracking works by injecting huge volumes of water into the rocks surrounding a natural gas deposit or hydrothermal well. The water fractures the rocks, creating dozens of cracks through which gas and heat can escape to the surface. Fracking can cause earthquakes by introducing water to faultlines, lubricating the rocks and making them more likely to slip. When two blocks of rock or two plates rub together, they catch on one another. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving, building pressure that is only released when the rocks break. During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. Advertisement Without a fresh drive to exploit the resources, industry groups warn that UK gas production will fall by three-quarters by 2030, putting the nation's energy security at risk. MPs have also called for the moratorium on fracking of shale oil and gas in the north of England and Scotland to be lifted. The annual bill for a typical household is due to go up from 1,277 to 1,971 from April 1, but some industry analysts are predicting it will go up again to 2,300 from October 1. In fact, the rise could be substantially higher if Russia invades Ukraine, which would hit gas supplies to Europe and drive up global prices. Environmentalists, however, have welcomed the decision to keep the ban in place. Greenpeace UK's 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 it's still unproven as a resource in the UK', adding: 'It would take years...before commercial quantities of shale gas could be produced.' A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: 'The development of domestic energy sources, including fracking, must be safe and cause minimal disruption and damage... 'We ended support for fracking on the basis of scientific evidence, showing that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability and size of tremors associated with fracking. Shale gas remains unproven as a resource in the UK.' Advertisement Vladimir Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions if his country were to invade Ukraine, Russia's ambassador to Sweden said as US staff began withdrawing from eastern Ukraine amid warnings of an 'imminent' invasion. In an outspoken interview yesterday, Viktor Tatarintsev told the country's Aftonbladet newspaper that 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. He claimed Russia had become more 'self-sufficient' amid the threat of sanctions and accused the West of not understanding his country. 'We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes', he said. His comments came as it emerged that commercial flights to and from Ukraine face being grounded from tomorrow, while some airlines have already cancelled flights until further notice. Amid the invasion fears, photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has monitored the eight-year conflict in Ukraine's separatist east, packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk. They were fleeing as Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said a Russian invasion could be 'imminent' and Germany warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. The potential invasion force prompted the US and the UK, along with other European nations, to warn their citizens to leave the country while they still can. Although many of the 6,000 Britons in Ukraine have already fled, some are stranded in the country as they wait for passports to be issued for their newborn babies. Mr Lewis told Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday: 'We have to be realistic about Russia having 100,000 troops now roughly on the border that an imminent incursion by Russia is entirely possible.' He was echoing warnings by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said last night that millions of refugees could flee Ukraine if an invasion takes place and warned Vladimir Putin could strike 'at any time'. Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Wallace added that there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air' - an apparent reference to the 1938 agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in the hope that it would prevent the outbreak of war. Just a year later, the Second World War began when Hitler invaded Poland, with Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts to preserve peace left in tatters. Vladimir Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine, Russia's ambassador to Sweden said as US staff began withdrawing from eastern Ukraine amid warnings of an 'imminent' invasion In an outspoken interview, Viktor Tatarintsev told the country's Aftonbladet newspaper that 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. Pictured: Joint military exercises by Russian and Belarusian forces There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. Above: Ukrainians attending an open military training session as the country prepares for a possible invasion Veteran diplomat Tatarintsev said in his interview: 'Excuse my language, but we don't give a s**t about all their sanctions'. 'We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture. 'New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound', he added. Sanctions being considered could target both Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries. However, Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality. 'The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be,' he said. Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war. 'That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war,' he claimed. His comments came before reports emerged about flights from Ukraine possibly being grounded from tomorrow. Insurance giant Lloyds of London is about to suspend cover for flights passing through the country's airspace as fears of an imminent Russian invasion grow, reported Ukrainian publication Ukrainska Pravda. The publication quoted information from unnamed sources in the aviation industry in a report picked up by the English-language Kyiv Post. Anatoliy Ivantsiv, head of Ukrainian insurance firm Expo, told Interfax news agency that reinsurers Lloyds announced it would temporarily cease all conflict risk insurance over Ukrainian airspace from Monday. Withdrawing insurance cover will mean that Ukrainian airlines, who lease almost all of their aircraft, will not be able to fly above Ukraine. Dutch airline KLM cancelled all flights to Kyiv on Saturday until further notice, while on the same day Ukrainian carrier SkyUp was forced to divert a flight to Moldova as the leasing company which owned the plane refused to let it enter Ukrainian airspace. International fears of a large-scale Russian invasion now risks closing transport routes out of Ukraine. Avianews warned that Ukraine could soon become a 'no-fly zone' for commercial aircraft. According to the publication, unless an agreement is made between the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and international insurers and airlines, Ukraine will gradually be closed to air traffic. SkyUp announced: 'On February 12, the world's largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian air carriers that they would stop insuring aircraft for flights in Ukrainian airspace within 48 hours. Such a decision is associated with increased risks of the outbreak of hostilities.' The Ministry of Infrastructure, after a meeting today, confirmed that Ukrainian air space is still open and offered 'additional financial guarantees' to carriers to continue flying on international routes. Advisor to Ukraine's president's chief of staff Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Sunday that closing Ukraine's airspace was 'nonsense' and akin to a 'partial blockade.' MailOnline contacted Lloyds for comment. On Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Russia would face 'massive consequences' if it invaded Ukraine, including 'severe sanctions'. Today, Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, said a 'very strong and united international response' is needed for 'this Russian belligerence'. She told BBC One's Sunday Morning programme with Sophie Raworth: 'It is immensely serious and nobody should be naive about what Russia is up to, and the scale of the troops amassing on the Ukraine border.' Ms Cooper said there has to be 'extremely strong and swift and severe' sanctions. Pictured: A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows tents and equipment at the northern end of the Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, 10 February 2022 Ben Wallace said there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air', in an apparent reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War. Pictured: Helicopter fires missiles beneath clear blue skies during a Russian-Belarusian joint military drill on Saturday Ukrainians attend an open military training for civilians range as part of the 'Don't panic! Get ready! ' which is carried out by veterans of the Azov battalion on a training range in Kyiv amid the threat of Russian invasion, Feb 12, 2022 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) 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) : Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends drills held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the settlement of Kalanchak near the border with Crimea Today, a German government source warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. They were speaking on the eve of Chancellor Scholz's departure for Kyiv and then Moscow. Mr Scholz said today that Russia would be hit with sanctions 'immediately' if it were to invade Ukraine. 'In the event of a military aggression against Ukraine that threatens its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that will lead to tough sanctions that we have carefully prepared and which we can immediately put into force, together with our allies in NATO and Europe,' Scholz said. What is Vladimir Putin's personal wealth and could sanctions affect him? Vladimir Putin is notoriously secretive about his private life and personal wealth. In 2017, it was reported that he could have a personal wealth of as much as $200billion. The figure was mentioned by US financier and fierce critic Bill Browder, who claimed that Putin had siphoned off public funds into 'Swiss bank accounts'. One of the most quoted guesses of Putin's personal wealth, made by political analyst Stanslav Belkovsky in 2007, put it at $40billion. If the lower figure is more accurate, it would still make him one of the world's richest men. Belkovsky later upped his estimate to $70billion. A sign of wealth for Putin is his 73.2 million pleasure craft, named Graceful. In December 2020, it was suggested by a Russian newspaper that a vast palace that sprung up near Moscow could have been owned by Putin himself. And in documents dubbed the Panama Papers that were released last year, Mr Putin was linked to secret assets in Monaco. However, in April 2015, Putin declared a 2014 income of just $119,000, listing ownership of two apartments and a share in a car parking garage. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned last month that an enhanced sanctions regime would allow Britain to target any 'strategic interest' of the Russian state. It meant that Mr Putin's wealthy supporters, many of whom have bases in London, were in the firing line to be hit financially. 'Any company of interest to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia would be able to be targeted,' Miss Truss told Sky News. 'So there will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs, for Russian companies involved in propping up the state.' Advertisement 'Our concerns have grown... we asses the situation as very critical, very dangerous', the source told members of the press, as fears grow that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent.' Meanwhile, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia carries the 'responsibility' for the possibility of war in Ukraine. There was 'the danger of a military conflict, of war in eastern Europe and Russia carries the responsibility for that,' Steinmeier said in a speech to mark his re-election. Photos today showed staff at the OSCE withdrawing by car from the city of Donetsk, which has been held by Russian-backed rebels since 2014. The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo. They were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country. Today, Russia said it was concerned by the decision of the OSCE to relocate some of its monitors. The OSCE 'informed the participating states of the decision by 'a number of countries' to relocate their national staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 'due to deteriorating security conditions'', foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. 'These decisions cannot but cause our serious concern.' The OSCE has served as the world's eyes and ears for the eight-year conflict across Ukraine's Russian-backed separatist east that has claimed more than 14,000 lives. Zakharova said the OSCE move further inflamed tensions over Ukraine, adding that the monitoring mission could be used as a 'tool' to stage a possible provocation. 'We call on the OSCE leadership to resolutely stop attempts to manipulate the mission and prevent the organization from being drawn into dirty political games,' Zakharova added. On Friday, the Foreign Office 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'. However, some defiant Britons have insisted that they will stay in the country, even as airlines start to stop flights and diplomats leave. Lecturer Charlie Gilkeson is one of those staying put. The 68-year-old Yorkshireman told the Mail on Sunday that he feels it would be wiser to remain, even as he finds himself in a 'possible war'. He is staying in a flat he is renovating with his wife, whom he met in Russia. His children have urged him to come to the UK. 'I think it is safer here,' he said. Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Lewis told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme that the West must realise Russia could 'move very quick' despite diplomatic efforts to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. But he also defended diplomatic action so far, saying it had probably already delayed a strike into Ukraine from Moscow forces. Discussing Mr Wallace's comparison with appeasement in the late 1930s, Mr Lewis said: 'If you look back to that period of time there was a lot of diplomatic engagement, there was an optimism at the time actually that there may be a diplomatic way through. 'That eventually turned out not to be the case. It turned out that wasn't the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. 'What he's [Mr Wallace] drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that he's had that the Foreign Secretary and others... has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this. 'But he's expressing that concern that we've got to also understand the reality that while they're having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, we've got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore we've got to be cognisant of the reality they could move very quick.' Speaking later on Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme, Mr Lewis said: 'We will bring in more sanctions, that is what one of the repercussions will be... we already have some sanctions against Russia already. 'We have already taken the power in last week or so with the statutory instrument in Parliament to allow the UK to put more sanctions in place. Valentyna Konstantynovska, aged 79, holds a weapon during a basic combat training for civilians, organized by the Special Forces Unit Azov, of Ukraine's National Guard Travellers are seen on Sunday at Boryspil airport near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as they wait to board flights out of the country Ukraine vowed to keep its airspace open to international travel despite Western warnings that Russian troops conducting drills near its borders could invade at any point. Above: Travellers check-in their bags at Boryspil airport amid invasion fears Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned today that there could be 'millions' of refugees if Russia does choose to invade Ukraine. Above: Travellers check in at Boryspil airport bear Kyiv as they wait to board flights out of the country A plane sits at a gate at Borispol International Airport in Kyiv on Sunday as thousands wait to leave the country amid invasion fears Passengers are seen boarding a plane out of Ukraine on Sunday after foreign nations including the UK and the US warned their citizens to get out while they can This Ryanair plane was also pictured heading to a gate at Borispol airport today. It will likely be boarded in part by citizens looking to get out of Ukraine before any invasion by Russia takes place Lithuania's military aid including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, delivered as part of the security support package for Ukraine, is unloaded from a ?17 Globemaster III plane at Boryspil International Airport The crates of weaponry are seen being loaded onto a truck at the airport. The UK has also donated military aid to the country The Lithuanian equipment was also being transported in cardboard boxes, as well as metal cases and crates 'I spent most of last week in the United states... what is very clear is that the United States are absolutely unified in this approach to ensure that we do not see an incursion and that if Russia does take that kind of activity then there will be repercussions. ' Mr Lewis was speaking after Mr Wallace's warning that there could be 'millions' of refugees if Russia does choose to invade Ukraine. He said that the potential for 'millions of displaced people - refugees - pouring from one European country to another hasn't been seen since the war and could potentially have a massive impact.' His comments echoed previous warnings by Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, who said that a 'major war' could lead to the 'sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion'. Mr Wallace said that Moscow could 'launch an offensive at any time', with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. 'It may be that he [Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West,' he added. A source explained that Mr Wallace was concerned that if Putin strikes 'come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man'. His comments came as dramatic photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine Photos today showed staff at the OSCE withdrawing by car from the city of Donetsk, which has been held by Russian-backed rebels since 2014 The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo Members of the OSCE were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky sought to downplay the threat, saying: 'The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us.' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking 'hysteria'. Poland is among the countries that are preparing to absorb an influx of people fleeing conflict if it does break out. Writing on the website of the think tank the Atlantic Council in December last year about a potential refugee crisis, Mr Reznikov said: 'A major war in Ukraine would plunge the whole of Europe into crisis. 'The sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion would be just one of many major concerns facing European society. 'For example, the EU relies heavily on food imports including grain. A major war would seriously disrupt and possibly prevent entirely many imports from both Ukraine and Russia, creating a whole range of food security problems for the entire continent.' Poland is one nation neighbouring Ukraine that is preparing for an influx of refugees. Pictured: British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace attends a meeting with Russian Defence Minister in Moscow on Friday. The Cabinet minister, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause 'widespread human suffering' Speaking earlier this month, the country's deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, told Polish radio: 'We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and [we have] been taking steps so as to be prepared for a wave of up to a million people.' Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack 'very, very quickly', with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine's border The alleged invasion plans, reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel, are said to detail specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and were analysed by the Secret Service, the CIA and the Pentagon before being handed over to President Joe Biden's government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held an emergency call with Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov to discuss the crisis yesterday, after the 'extremely detailed' plans stoked fears of war in eastern Europe. He warned his Russian counterpart that further aggression from Moscow would be met with a 'resolute, massive and united transatlantic response'. Mr Blinken had said that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving close to Ukraine's borders. But speaking during a live broadcast yesterday, Mr Zelensky told the US: 'If you have 100 percent-certain information about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, please share it with us'. Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured left on Friday) and US President Joe Biden (pictured right on Wednesday) held a high-stakes phone call today as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days He added that he realised 'such risks do exist' and that his country remains ready to take any measure necessary and 'from any border.' German chancellor to fly to Ukraine and Russia to try to defuse tensions amid invasion fears German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent and Germany has called on its citizens to leave Ukraine as quickly as possible. Ahead of his first visits as Chancellor to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Mr Scholz renewed his warning to Russia, as well as his advocacy of continuing diplomacy in multiple formats. '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,' he told the German parliament's upper house on Friday. 'But at the same time that also includes using all opportunities for talks and further development.' Russia has concentrated more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and launched a series of military manoeuvres in the region, but says it has no plans to invade the nation. Moscow wants guarantees from the West that Nato will not allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members, and for the alliance to halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. The US and Nato have flatly rejected these demands. Mr Scholz has repeatedly said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine or to spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia have drawn criticism abroad and at home and raised questions about Berlin's resolve in standing up to Russia. Germany's reluctant position is partly rooted in its history of aggression during the 20th century when the country's own militarisation in Europe during two World Wars led many post-war German leaders to view any military response as a very last resort. Despite this historic burden, experts say it is of utmost importance now that Mr Scholz stresses Germany is in sync with its European and American allies, especially when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Markus Ziener, an expert with the German Marshall Fund, said: 'Scholz has to convey a very clear message in Moscow, and it can really only be: There is unity and oneness in the Western alliance. There is no possibility of driving a wedge into the Western alliance, and that must be understood in Moscow. I think that's the most important message he has to convey there. 'At the same time, he has to make it clear that the costs are high. That's basically the message that is most likely to catch on in Moscow as well. So a military invasion of Ukraine has significant consequences for Russia.' Advertisement After the Foreign Office's warning for British citizens to leave, the first haul of visibly relieved British families arrived at UK airports yesterday, including a medical student from Birmingham and a couple with a young daughter, who landed at Gatwick airport. The student said the call for Britons to flee Ukraine caused 'quite a panic' and a rush to return home. Ali Haider said after landing at Gatwick Airport from Kyiv on Saturday: 'I'd been in two minds about coming back because of the advice coming out by the British Embassy, about the amber alert, red alert. 'A lot of people, a lot of students were waiting for the red alert, and it happened yesterday. Once that happened, everybody booked their tickets and left as soon as possible.' The 21-year-old from Birmingham said his university, the Dnipro Medical Institute in Dnipro, a city in central Ukraine, had advised students to 'get out as soon as you can'. He said around half the students at the university are British. Mr Ali said: 'I think the main thing that people were getting worried about as well is, because it's along the Dnieper River, a lot of the people were saying, if Putin wants to suffocate Kyiv, push his warships along that path as well.' The student said he had paid 210 for his one-way flight ticket and thought prices would get much more expensive over the next three days as more people rush out of the country. He said he was hoping to return to Ukraine by June to continue his studies. Mr Ali said Ukrainians' opinions were split on the likelihood of a Russian incursion, but that the perception that Western media were blowing the crisis out of proportion was changing. He said: 'The Ukrainians are generally very laissez-faire as in terms of people, but the last couple of days they've started to get worried. And when that happens, alarm bells should be ringing.' Another British citizen arriving at Gatwick on the same plane said Ukrainians did not seem worried. Paul Meakin, 51, from Poole in Dorset, his Ukrainian-British wife Svetlana, 36, and their daughter, who had spent a week in Ukraine to attend a funeral, said most passengers on their flight had been Ukrainian, not British. Asked about people's attitudes there, the IT company chief said: 'You wouldn't even know. They don't care, that's what came across.' That sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian Pasha Honcharuk, 24, from Kyiv, who said he was 'not too worried' and that he would have stayed home if it were not for work in the UK. He said: 'All news channels tell that there will be war but I don't think so.' But a Ukrainian business analyst, who did not want to be named, said 'of course everybody's worried' about the threat of war. But she said this had not influenced her pre-existing decision to move to London from Kyiv for work. While many of the 6,000 Britons in Ukraine have already fled via air or west into Poland, there have also been reports of British families with newborns becoming trapped in the country waiting for the correct documentation. Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror. Douglas was born weighing 9lbs by cesarean section, and he and his mother are in a Kyiv hospital. Mr Stewart, originally from Edinburgh, and his family now face an anxious wait to see if they can get out in time. Meanwhile, Ben Garratt and his wife Alice - both from Queen's Park in London - are also trapped waiting for their surrogate-born baby to receive documentation. Relieved: Paul Meakin, his wife Svetlana and their daughter (pictured left) arrive at Gatwick from Kiev, Ukraine, after being urged to leave the country amid mounting tensions with Russia. Pictured right: Haider Ali, 21, from Birmingham, is all smiles as he arrives safe and sound at Gatwick from Ukraine, where he studies at a medical university Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, (pictured together) are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror Daniel Williams, 45, who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife The couple moved to Kyiv in December where their son was born thanks to the 'very different surrogacy laws' in Ukraine that allow for a swifter IVF and surrogacy process. Mr Garratt said he and his wife are growing increasingly concerned after the Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to encourage UK nationals to leave. Another British man - Daniel Williams, 45 - who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife. They are also stuck in the country, he has said. Mr Williams' wife has a valid travel visa, but their baby does not yet have a British passport or a Ukrainian passport to get to the UK by commercial means.' FigureAhn Cheol-soo, right, presidential candidate of the People's Party, shakes hands with Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party during a TV debate at broadcaster MBN's studio in the Jung District of Seoul, Feb. 11. Yonhap Minor presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo officially proposed merging candidacies with main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, Sunday, to ensure an "overwhelming victory" against the governing party. Ahn of the centrist People's Party also proposed selecting a unified candidate between the two through opinion polls, the same method adopted to unify candidacies with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of Yoon's People Power Party ahead of last year's local by-elections. "Winning is important, but in order to overcome the current crisis and carry out future-oriented reform tasks, there should be an overwhelming victory amid people's trust. This can't be done by any single person alone," Ahn said during a press conference held via YouTube. "I am looking forward to a sincere response to my proposal from candidate Yoon," he said. Regardless of who becomes the unified candidate, the other should be his running mate, Ahn said. Ahn and Yoon have been under growing pressure from conservatives to join forces to boost the opposition's election chances, with such political engineering seen as the surest guarantee of success in a remarkably tight race. Polls have shown Yoon and ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party (DP) neck-and-neck with support of around 40 percent each, while Ahn has recently climbed to just below 20 percent in some surveys. Ahn had planned to hold an in-person conference earlier in the day but called off the plan and instead held an online conference after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. (Yonhap) Dr David Mackereth (pictured) lost his battle against the DWP because he refused to refer to people by their preferred pronoun instead of their biological sex A Christian doctor who was sacked because he refused to refer to transgender people by their chosen sex or 'call any 6ft tall bearded man madam' will take his fight to the High Court. Dr David Mackereth claims his Christian beliefs are being 'coerced and threatened' in a bid to 'affirm' the increasing number of patients who identify as transgender. Dr Mackereth, an A&E doctor with 28 years' experience, was sacked as a medical assessor for the Department of Work and Pensions in 2018 after refusing to identify clients by their chosen gender instead of their biological sex. In July 2019, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, he took his case to an Employment Tribunal in Birmingham claiming harassment and discrimination based on his Christian beliefs. He claimed his employer had breached his right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. But a panel condemned his view of what it means to be male and female as 'incompatible with human dignity'. Dr Mackereth said during proceedings that he was asked in a conversation by his line manager: 'If you have a man six foot tall with a beard who says he wants to be addressed as 'she' and 'Mrs', would you do that?' Dr Mackereth, who now works as an NHS emergency doctor in Shropshire, said that in good conscience he could not do this. His contract was subsequently terminated over his refusal. Bringing his case, the 56-year-old said he was wrongfully sacked for refusing to call people who were born male 'she' even if they now identify as female. The tribunal 'found that his beliefs were likely to cause offence and have the effect of violating a transgender person's dignity or creating a proscribed environment, or subjecting a transgender person to less favourable treatment'. As well as claiming religious discrimination, Dr Mackereth said no effort was made to accommodate his beliefs, such as referring transgender clients at Birmingham's Five Ways assessment centre to another doctor. An employment judge argued that his biblical beliefs were not protected by the Equality Act and were 'mere opinion'. The ruling stated: 'Belief in Genesis 1:27, lack of belief in transgenderism and conscientious objection to transgenderism in our judgment are incompatible with human dignity and conflict with the fundamental rights of others, specifically here, transgender individuals.' It added: 'In so far as those beliefs form part of his wider faith, his wider faith also does not satisfy Grainger [the requirement of being worthy of respect in a democratic society, not incompatible with human dignity and not in conflict with the fundamental rights of others].' Dr Mackereth's legal team believe the ruling in favour of Maya Forstater (pictured) which was made at the High Court last year resolved the central issue of law raised in Dr Mackereths case The landmark case for common sense: What was the Maya Forstater ruling? Maya Forstater lost her job at a think tank in March 2019 after she posted tweets opposing government proposals to reform the Gender Recognition Act to allow people to identify as the opposite sex. Ms Forstater, 47, who tweeted comments such as woman means adult human female, was accused of fear-mongering. The Central London Employment Tribunal had originally upheld the dismissal following the posts. Then in June last year, a High Court judge said the original tribunal had 'erred in law', but added: 'This judgment does not mean that those with gender-critical beliefs can 'misgender' trans persons with impunity.' Finding in favour of Ms Forstater, Mr Justice Choudhury said her views 'may well be profoundly offensive and even distressing', but said they 'must be tolerated in a pluralist society'. The employment tribunal had upheld the dismissal after judge James Tayler described her beliefs as 'not worthy of respect in a democratic society'. Her case gained national attention after Harry Potter author JK Rowling voiced her support, and said she disagreed with the tribunal's decision to throw out her discrimination claim. In the wake of the ruling, Ms Forstater said she was fighting for everyone's right to hold an opinion. Advertisement Ahead of the hearing, Dr Mackereth, said: 'My case affects everyone, not just me and Bible-believing Christians, but anyone who is concerned by compelled speech and transgender ideology. 'The judgment from two years ago said to Christians "you have to believe in transgender ideology". That is totalitarianism. It made out Christianity to be nothing, the Bible to be nothing. That cannot be allowed to stand. 'It is a difficult issue for everyone in the NHS. There has been an explosion of patients identifying as transgender. The ideology to affirm them is enforced in a complex, coercive, and threatening way. 'Everyone in the NHS should be able to say publicly without fear that a person cannot change sex, but instead we are being forced to accept a massive change to our concept of the medical reality of sex, with no scientific basis for that change. 'No doctor, or researcher, or philosopher, can demonstrate or prove that a person can change sex. 'Without intellectual and moral integrity, medicine cannot function and my 30 years as a doctor are now considered irrelevant compared to the risk that someone else might be offended. 'If we are to tell patients that they need to "follow the science", then we must not tell them that they can change sex.' Dr Mackereth and the Christian Legal Centre, who are supporting his challenge, will argue that a recent landmark ruling at the High Court in June 2021 will help overturn the decision. The case found in favour of Maya Forstater, who was sacked from a think tank for saying that people could not change their biological sex. Finding in favour of Ms Forstater, Mr Justice Choudhury ruled that the original tribunal had 'erred in law' when it judged her belief that sex is assigned at birth as 'incompatible with human dignity'. In a two-day hearing, lawyers will now therefore argue that the Forstater ruling has resolved the central issue of law raised in Dr Mackereths case. Lawyers for Dr Mackereth will argue the 'conclusion that Christian religion itself was not a protected characteristic simply cannot be right'. During a two-day hearing to take place at the High Court, lawyers will argue the 'conclusion that Christian religion itself was not a protected characteristic simply cannot be right' Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'This was an astonishing judgment and one that if upheld will have seismic consequences not just for the NHS and for Christians, but anyone in the workplace who is prepared to believe and say that we are created male and female. 'The teaching of Genesis 1:27 is repeated throughout the Bible, including by Jesus Christ himself. It is fundamental to establishing the dignity of every human person but is, in a bizarre ironic twist, being branded as incompatible with that dignity. 'No protection is given to beliefs "incompatible with human dignity" and "not worthy of respect in a democratic society". 'In the past this definition has only applied to the most extreme beliefs, such as those of Holocaust deniers, neo-Nazis, and similar. It was and still is shocking that a judge should put the belief in the Bible in the same category. 'This ruling cannot stand. We are determined to fight as far as possible for justice and for it to be overturned.' A DWP spokesman said: 'We cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings.' A British Airways cabin crew member was found dead hours after flying from Heathrow to Johannesburg following a night out with friends. Robert Gay, 52, joined colleagues for food and drink following the 11-hour flight from London. Mr Gay became separated from his friends and was found collapsed on the floor unconscious. BA cabin crew member Robert Gay, pictured, died following a night out with colleagues in Johannesburg having flown in from Heathrow Mr Gay was on a layover with colleagues in Johannesburg having arrived earlier from Heathrow Mr Gay became separated from his colleagues in Johannesburg at the end of the evening Paramedics battled to save his life but unfortunately they were unsuccessful. Local police are investigating the cause of Mr Gay's death, although initial reports suggest he had 'no visible injuries'. An investigation source said: 'It appears he was walking back to crew hotel and got separated from his friends and was found dead at 4am on February 5. 'It is suspected that the cause of death was a heart attack, although the full post mortem results are awaited.' However, Johannesburg is renowned for its incredibly high crime rate so police have not ruled out whether Mr Gay was a victim of a crime. According to Sun on Sunday, cabin crew have previously reported attacks when on layovers describing parts of the city as 'lawless'. One source said his family and colleagues are devastated: 'Rob was loved by everyone at BA. We are all in pieces. 'Security is being tightened for airline crews.' A spokesperson for BA told MailOnline: 'We're deeply saddened by this news and our thoughts and sincere condolences are with our colleague's family and friends at this sad time. 'We're providing support to all of our colleagues that may be affected by this sad news.' The Foreign and Commonwealth office told Mailonline: 'We are providing consular assistance following the death of a British man in South Africa.' The Education Secretary has told schools to root out activist teachers after claims that 'concerning' race theories were being taught in classes and pupils as young as 10 were urged to write critical letters about the Prime Minister. Nadhim Zahawi will this week issue guidance for schools to ensure teachers make a 'balanced presentation of opposing views' when discussing political issues with their students. He said it was to ensure the 'complexity of many of these important questions is understood'. It comes after Mr Zahawi was forced to investigate a council over reports that 'concerning' race theories are being taught in schools and staff at a Nottingham primary school were blasted for allegedly pushing children as young as 10 into penning notes attacking the PM and calling for him to resign. Today, Mr Zahawi said: 'Children must be given the opportunity to shape their own views on political issues, without being swayed by what others think.' Writing in The Sun ahead of his announcement, the Education Secretary said it is 'part of a democracy' for children to shape their own political views as they grow up. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, 54, has told schools to root out activist teachers after claims that 'concerning' race theories were being taught in classes and pupils as young as 10 were urged to write critical letters about the Prime Minister 'The new guidance I will issue clarifies the requirement for teachers to make a balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues, so that the complexity of many of these important questions is understood', he wrote. 'It is not for teachers to tell people what they should think on political issues or how they should vote. The next generation is more than capable of making their own decisions.' He said it was important for parents and carers to trust schools to be impartial so their children can 'form their own independent opinions'. 'It means education not indoctrination', he added. Last week, Mr Zahawi shot a direct warning to the Labour-run council which oversees Welbeck Primary School in Nottingham and insisted 'no school should encourage young people to pin their colours to a political mast'. Teachers at Welbeck Primary School in Nottingham have been accused of 'indoctrinating' 10-year-old pupils by getting them to write letters criticising Boris Johnson over 'Partygate' Its Twitter account shared a picture of the children brandished documents addressed to a local Labour MP, who supports the headmistress Welbeck Primary's Twitter account shared a picture of the children brandishing documents addressed to a local Labour MP, who supports the headmistresses. Another showed a pupil scowling next to a whiteboard which said 'lies, mistrust and selfish' next to 'Boris Johnson' in an adult's handwriting. And one zoomed in on a letter allegedly written by a year six student using the phrase 'PMQs' and breaking down the UK economy and pandemic response. Meanwhile the headteacher has tweeted a series of left-wing messages and used the phrase 'Tory scum' online. It came just days after Mr Zahawi was forced to investigate Brighton and Hove Council over reports that 'concerning' race theories are being taught in schools run by the Green-led local authority. More than 5,000 people signed a petition slamming the council for allegedly telling primary school children they are 'racists' or 'victims of their classmates' in lessons. Children as young as seven are being taught that they are not 'racially innocent', because they view 'white at the top of the hierarchy', according to the Sunday Telegraph, who were leaked slides from race training given to teachers in Brighton and Hove schools. Staff at Welbeck Primary School in Nottingham were blasted for allegedly pushing the youngsters into penning the note attacking the PM and calling for him to resign Mr Zahawi said: 'Every day in schools across the country, brilliant teachers are teaching sensitive issues in a balanced and inclusive way - which is why reports like this one are so concerning. 'These issues can be divisive if covered the wrong way, and I am clear - as is the law in the country - that any contested theories and opinions must not be presented to young people as facts.' The PM has been subjected to weeks of claims of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic, in a scandal dubbed 'partygate'. Mr Johnson has sought to move beyond the scandal by changing his top team, with several senior aides departing and a new chief of staff and communications chief. He is awaiting the outcome of a Met Police probe into the numerous Downing Street gatherings and whether lockdown rules were breached. The under-fire leader could face being fined by police - an outcome likely to prompt a flurry of no-confidence letters. He is also heading into UK local elections in May with Labour enjoying a double-digit lead over the Tories on the back of the partygate scandal. Scott Morrison's wife firmly believes the embattled Prime Minister can remain in the top job as she shared extraordinary details about their relationship for the first time, including how he dumped her as a teenager for another girl. It's been a torrid start to 2022 for Mr Morrison, who has been ambushed with one political scandal after another in recent weeks as his popularity wains in the lead up to the federal election. But Jenny Morrison refuses to give up hope as she fronted cameras in a wide-ranging tell-all television interview after being rolled out as her husband's 'secret weapon'. The mother-of-two candidly revealed a rare eye-opening insight into their lives, including when she first met her husband at age 16, when he initially dumped her for another girl. The Prime Minister's most annoying habits of being messy and married to his demanding job of leading the country were also brought to light as the family sat down with Karl Stefanovic. In a personal moment, Mrs Morrison expressed her disappointment in sexual assault survivor Grace Tame's behaviour during an Australian of the Year function at The Lodge in Canberra, saying she should have displayed more 'manners and respect' after being welcome to their home. The prime minister's wife Jenny Morrison has revealed a rare insight into the family (pictured with daughters Lily, left, and Abbey, right, as well as the family dog, Buddy) Scott Morrison briefly left Jenny for another girl when they first met as childhood sweethearts (pictured are the couple while dating) The Morrisons were childhood sweethearts who first met at Luna Park before running into each other against a Christian youth camp and finally starting to date aged 16. Mrs Morrison recalled for the first time ever how the pair briefly split up after they first started dating, before the future prime minister finally came to his senses. 'He broke up with me because he was keen on another girl,' she told 60 Minutes. The bombshell revelation sparked shock from reporter Stefanovic. Her husband sheepishly replied: 'Oh, I was an idiot. It was a stupid decision. We fixed it pretty quick.' Mrs Morrison was asked what she would say to her 16-year-old self, laughing as she replied: 'Run!'. 'It's been a long time but I know him better than he knows himself.' Jenny Morrison (pictured, left, with the PM, Grace Tame and her fiance Max Heerey) said she thought the campaigner should have shown better 'manners' Jenny Morrison (left) believes her husband can win the next election, despite the latest polls Despite their more than three decades of happy marriage, Mrs Morrison admitted her husband did have some bad traits - being messy and married to his job. 'We have to take a back seat. Running the country is incredibly important,' Mrs Morrison said. But despite the rigours of the job, Mrs Morrison said she backed her husband of 32 years to be re-elected as she prepares to join him on the election campaign trail - saying ordinary Australians would vote for him for the 'best life'. 'I think the Australian people, as a whole they totally know what's going on and are very disappointed with seeing some of the things that are going on at the moment,' Mrs Morrison said. 'I truly believe that. And sometimes the loudest people take up the most space. 'But there are a lot of other people out there who are just concentrating on their families and just having a good life. 'I think Scott can give Australians best of the life they desire.' Mr Morrison believes the 'quiet Australians' will vote him back in, despite recent polls suggesting otherwise. The latest Newspoll released on Sunday shows the Liberal-led coalition's primary vote remains on a post-election record low of 34 per cent, with Labor staying at 41 per cent. This is the largest gap between the two parties since mid-2018. Scott and Jenny Morrison (pictured on their wedding day) recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured with voters) has been joined on the election campaign trail by his wife 'At the end of the day, you just engage people directly and one of the things that I'm really enjoying doing is having gotten out of Canberra, where, largely, we've been pinned down for the last two years,' Mr Morrison said. 'Whenever I get the opportunity, you can hear what people are going through directly.' He believes he can win his second election in three years, despite the odds stacked against him - with Stefanovic joking that it could need more than a miracle. 'You just focus on doing the job, you do the job well, that has its reward,' Mr Morrison said. Responding to critics who said the prime minister can't pull off another win, he replied: 'Well, they said that last time, too.' Jenny Morrison has opened up about Grace Tame's (right) recent visit at their home where she refused to smile while posing for photos with the Prime Minister In another part of the interview, Mrs Morrison expressed her disappointment about Grace Tame's frosty exchange with the Prime Minister during an Australia Day function at their home. The then-Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor made headlines last month when she refused to hide her displeasure of being at a morning tea hosted by the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra. Ms Tame was seen giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance. He has been on the receiving end of much criticism over the past year from Ms Tame, who was awarded the Australian of the Year title in 2021 for her campaigning efforts on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. 'I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,' Mrs Morrison said. Jenny Morrison recalled being 'sick to her stomach' after her husband (pictured) was ambushed by bombshell revelations from journalist Peter van Onselen on live television shortly after finishing his keynote speech to the National Press Club 'I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in. 'I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.' She was asked whether she wanted her daughters to look up to outspoken advocates such as Ms Tame. 'I want my daughters to grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people. And I think they can still do that and show kindness to other people and be polite and have manners,' Mrs Morrison replied. She also recalled 'feeling sick to my stomach' when Mr Morrison was ambushed by bombshell revelations from journalist Peter van Onselen on live television shortly after finishing his keynote speech to the National Press Club in Canberra a few weeks ago. The Network Ten political editor read out text messages allegedly between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and a senior Liberal figure slamming Mr Morrison branding 'a horrible person' and 'complete psycho', leaving the stunned Prime Minister lost for words. 'I want my daughters to grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people,' Mrs Morrison said (pictured, the family-of-four) Jenny Morrison said she was shocked when she first heard about Brittany Higgins' (pictured last week) allegations that she was raped by a male colleague inside Parliament House Watching at home in Sydney, Mrs Morrison's biggest concern was for their daughters as she almost teared up while discussing the saga. 'I actually felt sick to my stomach because it was about someone I really care about,' she said. 'It was such a poor question with such bad intent that those people had no idea how it would affect my family. 'I have grown daughters that are going to high school. But they know their dad better than anyone else.' Mr Morrison admits even he was stung by the claims. 'You're a human being,' he said. 'When these things are said and they were very personal, it was a horrible thing to hear as it would be for anyone. But does it really distract me? Do I sometimes expect better? No. Mr Morrison (pictured on the campaign trail in Cairns in January) is hoping to win another term In a difficult month for the PM, he's been criticised by Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame (pictured together) 'I've been around politics for a long time and I've seen how it's changed.' When asked about his own perceived lack of empathy in response to the human cost of the Covid-19 pandemic, the prime minister said he bleeds 'like everybody else'. 'I do it privately, and I do it quietly and I do it in the arms of my wife and family,' Mr Morrison said. His wife was shocked when former Liberal party staffer Brittany Higgins first went public with claims a year ago she was raped by a colleague in a minister's office at Parliament House in 2019. Mr Morrison later admitted a heart-to-heart conversation with his wife compelled him to act. The Morrisons (pictured) put on a united front on Sunday's 60 Minutes, offering unprecedented access to their lives 'No one wants see that, or hear that happen to anyone,' Mrs Morrison said. 'I was speaking directly to him. I really wanted to know our girls would be perfectly safe working in that building.' 'I think Scott totally gets things. He's all about problem-solving so that can come across sometimes as serious, uncaring, or lacking empathy. 'But it isn't that at all. It's seriously focused and task-orientated and it can only make things better having more people aware about it and change actually happening.' His wife now regrets the family's ill-fated trip to Hawaii in December 2019 during the Black Summer bushfire crisis, saying they had 'disappointed' the Australian public. The family were forced cut their trip short with the Prime Minister copping heavy public backlash upon on his return home. Jenny Morrison now regrets the family vacation to Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires (pictured, the couple together at a cafe in Hawaii as outrage brewed back home) 'I am more than sorry if we disappointed,' she said. 'We did disappoint. Did we make the right decision? I thought I was making the right decision for my kids. I obviously was wrong. Yes, we were over there seeing it and we were like... we really need to get home. 'So...I wish that had never happened. But I can't change it.' She pointed out the spotlight on politicians today is relentless, unlike those in her husband's position almost four decades ago. 'It's 24-7,' she said. 'Can you imagine back in the day when Bob Hawke was prime minister and he had a phone and a fax machine. 'I think everyone worked hard, but I think then it was OK to have a holiday and things like that, and it doesn't seem that way now. The Prime Minister and his wife recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary 'People want you to be seen to be doing something all the time.' Viewers also heard briefly from their daughters Abbey and Lily, who are both extremely proud of their dad. 'It's good, we're used to him doing this stuff because he's been doing it since I was born in 2007,' Abbey said. Her younger sister added: 'He does hard work every day.' Mrs Morrison also addressed the time when comedian Magda Szubanski appeared to make fun of her strong faith while retweeting a photo of Mrs Morrison wearing a modest black dress while watching her husband sign a condolence book for the late Prince Philip. In the controversial tweet, Ms Szubanski said the image looked like a scene from the dystopian thriller where women are uneducated, subservient to men and ruled by Bible-touting dictators. 'Look, I can take a joke and I think I'm quite a strong person because I live with Scott,' Mrs Morrison said. 'But sometimes, it's just like really.' Her husband interrupted: 'It's part of my job. It's never part of the family's job. Mrs Morrison dismissed suggestions that she's often dragged under the bus by her husband when he refers to her frequently in press conferences as the family's chief decision maker. 'I think he should be able to say what happens with us in our life,' Mrs Morrison said. 'Yes, he talks to me regularly. Do I make policy decisions? Absolutely not, because they would be bad. But I can tell him about how I feel about something.' Mrs Morrison isn't a fan of politics which she described as ruthless and has no plans to follow in her husband's footsteps. 'Never, never, never,' she said. Ben Wallace said he was cancelling a family holiday today amid fears over the 'worsening situation' in Ukraine. The Defence Secretary announced on Twitter he was returning to London - after last night warning that Russian forces could strike their neighbour at short notice. An estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower has been amassed along Ukraine's border by Vladimir Putin in recent weeks. The potential invasion force prompted the US and the UK, along with other European nations, to warn their citizens to leave the country while they still can. On Twitter this morning, Mr Wallace, a father of three, said: 'Having returned from Moscow early on Saturday morning and because we are concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine I have cancelled a planned long weekend abroad with my family and will be returning.' His comments could also be seen as a way of putting clean air between himself and former foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who was criticised last year for remaining on a Mediterranean holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban. A senior defence source said: 'As events worsen, the Secretary of State has cut short a planned long weekend with his children for half-term.' The Defence Secretary announced on Twitter he was returning to London - after last night warning that Russian forces could strike their neighbour at short notice. Mr Raab admitted being 'caught off-guard' by the Taliban rampage while staying at a luxury Crete hotel. He was staying at the five-star Amirandes Hotel before belatedly jetting back into Britain to help deal with what has been described as the biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez. He insisted that he did not spend 'all day lounging on the beach' as militants swept through Kabul, saying he took part in a series of meetings from his hotel and only went outside to see his family 'episodically'. At the same time, Foreign Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Barton had enjoyed a two-week break in a chateau in the heart of the Dordogne - one of the most picturesque regions of France. In December he told shocked MPs he stayed on holiday for 11 days after the dramatic fall of Kabul - as he admitted there are 'lessons to be learned' from the Afghanistan debacle. During an extraordinary committee hearing, Sir Philip revealed that he was on leave from August 9 and did not return until August 26, nearly two weeks after the government collapsed and handed the Taliban control. He refused to say where he was on holiday, but disclosed that it was partly in the UK and partly abroad - trying to play down the impact on the crisis response by saying he had put cover in place. He refused to confirm whether or not he was still in the UK when the evacuation began. Mr Raab admitted being 'caught off-guard' by the Taliban rampage while staying at a luxury Crete hotel. He was staying at the five-star Amirandes Hotel before belatedly jetting back into Britain to help deal with what has been described as the biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez. During an extraordinary committee hearing, Sir Philip Barton (left) revealed that he did not return from a break until August 26, nearly two weeks after the government collapsed and handed the Taliban control. He was slammed by MPs including Tory Alicia Kearns (right) Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times today, Mr Wallace added that there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air' - an apparent reference to the 1938 agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in the hope that it would prevent the outbreak of war. Just a year later, the Second World War began when Hitler invaded Poland, with Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts to preserve peace left in tatters On Friday, the Foreign Office 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'. Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Lewis told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme that the West must realise Russia could 'move very quick' despite diplomatic efforts to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. But he also defended diplomatic action so far, saying it had probably already delayed a strike into Ukraine from Moscow forces. Discussing Mr Wallace's comparison with appeasement in the late 1930s, Mr Lewis said: 'If you look back to that period of time there was a lot of diplomatic engagement, there was an optimism at the time actually that there may be a diplomatic way through. 'That eventually turned out not to be the case. It turned out that wasn't the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. 'What he's [Mr Wallace] drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that he's had that the Foreign Secretary and others... has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this. 'But he's expressing that concern that we've got to also understand the reality that while they're having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, we've got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore we've got to be cognisant of the reality they could move very quick.' Speaking later on Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme, Mr Lewis said: 'We will bring in more sanctions, that is what one of the repercussions will be... we already have some sanctions against Russia already. 'We have already taken the power in last week or so with the statutory instrument in Parliament to allow the UK to put more sanctions in place. 'I spent most of last week in the United states... what is very clear is that the United States are absolutely unified in this approach to ensure that we do not see an incursion and that if Russia does take that kind of activity then there will be repercussions.' Dominic Perrottet is set to confirm the loosening of Covid restrictions throughout New South Wales, but those living in Western Australia have been warned by his counterpart Mark McGowan to expect a string of new rules. The duelling premiers will make sweeping changes to their respective states' legislation this week, with fully-vaccinated tourists to be arriving back into Australia next week. Mr Perrottet has confirmed boosters will not be mandated for those looking to enter through NSW and underlined his ambition to revitalise Sydney's CBD with mask restrictions to be dropped. But things in Western Australia, where there has never been a major Covid outbreak, things couldn't be more different as Mr McGowan warned WA residents more restrictions could be implemented as new infections rise. Western Australia is set to increase Covid restrictions throughout the state as New South Wales ease their rules ahead of welcoming back tourists (pictured, some of the very few arrivals allowed to enter WA) 'We haven't actually made a decision on when (further restrictions) will come in, but at some point in time they will come in,' Mr McGowan said. There were 68 new cases in the state on Sunday, with the outbreak linked to Juniper Cygnet aged care home jumping to 17 infections. With the state's grand February 5 reopening now shelved indefinitely, tourism companies on the west coast will be unable to benefit when the rest of Australia flings open their doors to foreign tourists on February 21. Tourists who have had two doses of the vaccine but are unboosted will be able to skip hotel quarantine in NSW, Mr Perrottet confirmed on Sunday. It is the first time there has been public clarification from officials about the designation of travellers and whether there would be enhanced measures around those looking to enter the country. Mr Perrottet confirmed boosters will not be mandated for those looking to enter through NSW and encouraged Sydneysiders to get back into the office (pictured, New Year's Eve revellers at Sydney Opera House) Mr McGowan meanwhile said they will be tightening rules as Omicron cases rise in the state He also reiterated his ambition to see NSW residents return to the office at the end of the month, but hesitated to bring forward the state's advice. 'I want the public servants back to work, in the office,' he said. 'I want people to return to the city.' Mr Perrottet wants to see the emphasis move away from working at home to restoring office structures and re-awakening the capital's CBD. Masks must be worn in all indoor public venues including supermarkets, pubs and cafes until February 28. Meanwhile WA continue to move forward with the world's strictest Covid laws and provides no timeline for when it will drop its borders to the rest of the country. Currently WA has an indoor mask mandate and vaccination requirements to enter certain venues, including pubs and restaurants. The state continues to add to its stockpile of rapid antigen tests but Mr McGowan says PCR testing will remain the preferred method so long as the state has capacity. 'We haven't actually made a decision on when (further restrictions) will come in, but at some point in time they will come in,' Mr McGowan said on Sunday COVID RULES IN WA Masks are required in the following settings in Perth and Peel, the South West, Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions: Anyone who travels from these regions to another must follow these mask requirements for two weeks after leaving. It is recommended you wear a mask outdoors where physical distancing is not possible. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirements apply state-wide to indoor venues, including: All hospitality venues, food and licensed venues: including restaurants, dine-in fast food, cafes, bars, pubs, clubs, taverns, licensed commercial boats excluding food and non-alcoholic beverage takeaway; food courts; roadhouses, and petrol stations. Source: WA government Advertisement He says the state's clinics can handle 35,000 PCR tests daily and is currently only at about 15 to 20 per cent of that. The state also has 8.8 million RATs in its stockpile, with another 2.4 million expected to arrive within the week. It is mandatory to report positive rapid antigen tests to state health authorities, which 10 of Sunday's positive cases had done. 'We just need to know what the spread of the virus is in the community and we rely upon people doing the right thing in order to inform us of that,' Mr McGowan said. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says a new advertising campaign will be launched to educate the public about close contact definitions and isolation requirements as the state prepares for 'living with the virus'. 'Our public health and social measures including mask wearing and isolation are doing a good job of keeping case numbers low but we do not expect that this will continue forever. We know that the Omicron variant is highly transmissible,' Ms Sanderson said. UK families face paying up to 160 more to drive on the continent as firms struggle to meet the sudden demand of holidaymakers in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Tourists are expected to pay 'around 125 per cent more' this summer to sit behind the wheel after several car hire companies sold off vehicles during the pandemic. Many firms have been unable to replace fleets due to stock issues, which has led to a huge increase in costs. Tourists are expected to pay 'around 125 per cent more' this summer to sit behind the wheel after several car hire companies sold off vehicles during the pandemic UK families face paying up to 160 more to drive on the continent as firms struggle to meet the sudden demand in the wake of the Covid pandemic (file image) Holiday Extras, an award-winning firm that sells car hire packages to tourists, warned families that companies were already up by 90 per cent in Mallorca in 2021. Pictured: Sandy beach with tourists in Playa de Muro, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain A weeks car rental which previously cost 99 pre-Covid has dramatically increased to 223, according to research collected by consumer group Which? for the Sunday Mirror. The data showed that the 'highest weekly rate was 968 for a VW Polo in Iceland compared to 300 before the pandemic'. Last August an Opel Vauxhall Corsa had 'risen by nearly 700 in Zadar, Croatia for 10 days' - compared to under 250 back in 2019. Holiday Extras, an award-winning firm that sells car hire packages to tourists, warned families that hire companies were already up by 90 per cent in Mallorca in 2021. Families who have made bookings over the Easter and summer months will pay '50 per cent more for car hire than they would have done pre-pandemic' - and will hit those who have booked breaks abroad over the half term which starts tomorrow. This news comes as it was revealed last week that Barcelona, Beniform and Madrid securing three out of the top ten most booked locations for this summer so far, according to Booking.com. Pictured: London's Heathrow Airport earlier this week 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 Zest Car Rental said that average costs had increased to 273 per week in the Mediterranean, compared to 163 per week at Easter 2019 - with peak August prices rising by at least 253. This news comes as it was revealed last week that Barcelona, Benidorm and Madrid securing three out of the top ten most booked locations for this summer so far, according to Booking.com. 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). The federal budget should focus on increasing Centrelink payments and ditch tax breaks for the wealthy, according to Australia's peak welfare advocate group. In its budget submission to the federal treasury, Australian Council of Social Service asks the government to take advantage of a 'historic opportunity' to address longstanding inequality. Instead of tax cuts - such as the $16 billion a year already committed, going mainly to people on higher incomes - Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been urged to invest in tackling poverty, unemployment, the housing crisis and climate emergency. The federal budget should focus on increasing Centrelink payments and ditch tax breaks for the wealthy, according to Australia's peak welfare advocate group Instead of tax cuts - such as the $16 billion a year already committed, going mainly to people on higher incomes - Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been urged to invest in tackling poverty, unemployment, the housing crisis and climate emergency Chief executive Cassandra Goldie says payment programs such as JobKeeper brought in at the start of the pandemic show the government has the resources to solve poverty in Australia. 'We halved poverty with the fiscal response that was delivered in 2020 - it meant fewer kids went hungry, made childcare affordable and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs,' she said. 'What sustains economic growth is putting more money into the hands of people who need it and will spend it in the real economy.' ACOSS is calling for the budget to invest in essential services, safety nets and housing affordability. As part of this, it wants rent assistance lifted and income support payments to be increased to at least $69 a day, up from the current $45 rate. '(In 2020) we had the real life experiment of what it means for the economy when you properly prioritise putting resources into the hands of people who will actually spend it,' Dr Goldie said. 'We'd be much better off investing in ongoing supports for people on low and modest incomes.' The current crisis in aged care - where the army has been deployed to assist the overstretched workforce - is because Australian governments have consistently underinvested in critical care services, ACOSS says. Dr Goldie said the last thing Australia needed was - as the treasurer has signalled - a budget that had more cuts and an 'irresponsible focus' on paying down debts. Instead of tax cuts - such as the $16 billion a year already committed, going mainly to people on higher incomes - Treasurer Josh Frydenberg must invest in tackling poverty, unemployment, the housing crisis and climate emergency, ACOSS says Among ACOSS's demands is for the federal budget to invest in health promotion and prevention to five per cent of total health expenditure by 2025 'The right economic strategy is a government that invests and acts from a place of care and compassion and focuses on lifting up and protecting the incomes of people with the least,' she said. 'Debt and deficit is not the high priority right now, it should be to continue to sustain employment growth to be able to respond to uncertainties yet to come from the pandemic.' ACOSS also warns a genuine response to climate change is needed to stop people on the lowest incomes being hit hardest from its effects. It recommends the government invest in energy efficiency improvements for low-income households and establish an energy transition authority to support workers and communities dependent on fossil fuels. Brandon Lewis warned the Democratic Unionist Party against collapsing the power-sharing Stormont government today, amid fears of months of political deadlock over Brexit. Northern Ireland was plunged into fresh political upheaval last month when the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in protest at the protocol. The party said the post-Brexit deal, 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. It raised the prospect of a political void before elections in May - in which republicans Sinn Fein are expected to become the largest party in the legislature. Concerns have been raised that the DUP will refuse to appoint a deputy first minister, a step required for it to function under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. But Mr Lewis cautioned the DUP against rash action today. He told Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday the Brexit problems were 'not just something about Unionism'. 'I'll be very clear about this as I was last time when Sinn Fein were trying to bring down the Executive: I don't think the people of Northern Ireland want to tolerate or are happy with anybody threatening institutions at Stormont,' he said. 'That is part of the Good Friday Agreement, it's how we ensure a good government in Northern Ireland, that devolved authority to deliver on the issues like health and education, that need so much formal work in Northern Ireland. We will support the Executive to do that, we want to see a functioning Executive with all the parties working together to do that. But Mr Lewis cautioned the DUP against rash action today. He told Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday the Brexit problems were 'not just something about Unionism'. Concerns have been raised that the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson will refuse to appoint a deputy first minister, a step required for it to function under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement Mr Lewis added that he believes there is a 'landing ground' for resolving difficulties which exist with the Northern Ireland Protocol. But shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle has warned that the Good Friday Agreement is now under 'huge pressure' because of the Government's handling of issues around the protocol. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met in London on Friday as part of their attempt to break the deadlock over the protocol and committed to intensive talks over coming days. But DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has since warned that there has been 'very little progress' in the ongoing discussions and said he does not expect to see a breakthrough before Stormont Assembly elections in May. Mr Lewis told the BBC: 'We think there is a landing ground, we think there is a way of resolving this. 'The best way to resolve it is by agreement because that gives certainty, stability for businesses and people in Northern Ireland. 'One of the points the DUP make, so do Sinn Fein, is we need to resolve the problems with the protocol to make sure the people in Northern Ireland can access goods and products in the way they always have done.' Northern Ireland was plunged into fresh political upheaval last month when the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in protest at the protocol. 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. Stormont Assembly elections are scheduled for May 5, but in the meantime there is no functioning Executive. Mr Kyle blamed the Government for the political crisis in Northern Ireland during an appearance on Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday. He said: 'We have a Prime Minister that goes to Northern Ireland, makes an absolute solemn promise there will be no border down the Irish Sea and has no intention of honouring that promise, and in fact breaks it straight away. 'This has put a division right down Northern Ireland at a time when politics is already fragile. 'The Good Friday Agreement is under huge pressure at the moment because we have a Government that doesn't represent all of Northern Ireland, it only represents part of the politics of Northern Ireland. 'We have a Northern Ireland Secretary who doesn't really engage across all of the communities in Northern Ireland.' He added: 'I am afraid this is a Government who has played fast and loose with the Good Friday Agreement and all of the measures which have delivered peace, stability and economic growth in Northern Ireland and that is a real worry.' This is the moment a Samuel L Jackson blockbuster became a real life as a stunned AirAsia passenger filmed a snake slithering inside an overhead compartment on a plane, prompting an emergency landing. The incident took place on board an AirAsia flight from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur headed for the city of Tawau earlier this week (February 10). The flight was quickly diverted to the Malaysian city of Kuching after the animal was spotted by passengers over their heads. Footage posted on TikTok shows the silhouette of the snake travelling along a lit overhead compartment near the passenger reading light. Once the pilot had made the emergency landing, passengers were safely transferred to another flight and travelled onto Tawau. Although a rare occurrence, snakes have been known to find their way onto planes, the airline said. 'This is a very rare incident which can occur on any aircraft from time to time,' AirAsia Safety Officer Captain Liong Tien Ling said. 'The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is always our top priority.. At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk.' The incident took place on board an AirAsia flight from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur headed for the city of Tawau earlier this week (February 10) Footage posted on TikTok shows the silhouette of the snake travelling along a lit overhead compartment near the passenger reading light. He added the airline was 'aware of an incident on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau on Thursday.' It's not clear how the reptile boarded the plane or if it was the beloved pet of one of the passengers. Commenting on the video, Netizen 'Emylia Lien Sundang' said: 'I am reminded of the movie 'Snakes on a Plane'!' While Siti Nur Fatihah wrote: 'Seriously? So scary!' Major presidential candidates pose before their TV debate at broadcaster MBN's studio in the Jung District, of Seoul, Feb. 11. 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 Candidate registration for the March 9 presidential election began Sunday, with all four main contenders, including the ruling party's Lee Jae-myung and the main opposition's Yoon Suk-yeol, registering on the first day to become the country's next president. The National Election Commission (NEC) will receive candidacy registration for two days through Monday before the official 22-day campaign period kicks off Tuesday. Along with Lee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon of the People Power Party (PPP), Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People's Party and Sim Sang-jeung of the minor progressive Justice Party registered their candidacies on the first day, the NEC said. Starting Tuesday, candidates can hold street campaigns, put up election posters, send campaign materials to voters, and release TV and radio commercials up until the day before the election. The results of public polls cannot be published beginning March 3, six days before the election. Before the presidential election, advance voting will take place March 4 and 5. Overseas Korean citizens who are registered as absentee voters will cast their votes from Feb. 23 to 28. (Yonhap) Advertisement The Pentagon says Joe Biden's hour call with Russian President Vladimir Putin proved tensions are not improving in Eastern Europe as he warns 'major military action could happen any day now.' Defense Department Spokesman John Kirby told Fox News Sunday that the leaders' call Saturday was 'certainly not a sign that things are moving in the right direction.' 'It's certainly not a sign that Mr. Putin has any intention to de-escalate the tensions,' he continued. 'And it's certainly not a sign that he is recommitting himself to a diplomatic path forward. So, it doesn't give us any cause for optimism.' Following the apparently unsuccessful call with Putin on Saturday, Biden also called up Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday morning from Camp David. 'President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine,' the White House released in a readout of the call. 'President Biden reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.' 'President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its Allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine,' it added. 'The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued on Sunday a stark warning to Russia by claiming an attack on Ukraine would equate an assault on democracy as a whole and insisted Putin knows 'war is not an answer'. 'The fact is that we think that an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy,' Pelosi told ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos. 'We understand that the loss of life, the damage, the collateral damage to civilians, to military and the rest are severe.' 'If he decides to invade, the mothers in Russia don't like their children going into what he's had to experience that forgive the expression bodybags from the moms before. So he has to know that war is not an answer,' she added. 'There's very severe consequences to his aggression, and we are united in using them,' the California Democrat threatened. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is still hopeful for a diplomatic path from Russia, but he reiterated Kirby's warnings on CNN Sunday morning. 'An invasion could begin a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now, that includes this coming week before the end of the Olympics,' Sullivan told State of the Union host Jake Tapper. The shift in rhetoric away from diplomacy comes as Russia's ambassador to Sweden said this weekend that Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions should he invade Ukraine. U.S. staff began withdrawing from eastern Ukraine amid warnings of an 'imminent' invasion with some claiming it could come as early as Wednesday. Even more U.S. Military aid arrived in Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv on Sunday to help bolster defenses in Ukraine without actually deploying troops there. GOP Senator Lindsey Graham that he wants to see Putin 'punished now' as Congress works toward a bill to issue sanctions on Russia even as many claim this isn't enough and warn military involvement is inevitable at this point. 'What do you make of this overall strategy we're seeing from the administration?' Sephanopoulos asked Graham on his Sunday program. 'Do you think that maybe has been effective in pushing Putin back?' 'I don't know. That's a really good question,' the South Carolina senator admitted. 'I don't want to ring an alarm bell as much as take action. They're telling us the invasion is imminent. But they're not telling Putin with clarity what happens if you invade.' A U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane pictured at the airport in Jesionka, Poland on Sunday February 13, 2022 after U.S. soliders arrived in Poland following Biden's approval of deployment More U.S. Military aid arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to help bolster defenses there as warnings emerged that Russia could invade Ukraine this week Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the outcome of the hourlong call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden is 'certainly not a sign that things are moving in the right direction' A Military member in Ukraine unloads security assistance aid from the U.S. at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv on Sunday Onlookers watch in Southern Poland as a U.S. Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over the airport in Jesionka, Poland on Sunday Putin (pictured left on Friday) and Biden (pictured right on Wednesday) held a high-stakes phone call Saturday as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Fox News Privacy Policy 'He should be punished now' Graham insisted. 'What I can't get over is that the world is allowing him to do all this without consequence.' 'The guy took the Crimea in 2014. He's got 100,000 troops amassed on the Ukrainian border and he's paying no price at all,' he lamented. 'So I'd like to hit him now for the provocation and have sanctions spelled out very clearly, what happens to the ruble and his oil and gas economy. I think that's what's missing. We're talking way too much and we're doing too little.' In an outspoken interview Saturday, Russian Ambassador to Sweden Viktor Tatarintsev told the country's Aftonbladet newspaper that 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. He claimed Russia had become more 'self-sufficient' amid the threat of sanctions and accused the West of not understanding his country. 'We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes', he said. His comments came as dramatic photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has monitored the eight-year conflict in Ukraine's separatist east, packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk. They were fleeing as Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said a Russian invasion could be 'imminent' and Germany warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. The potential invasion force prompted the US and the UK, along with other European nations, to warn their citizens to leave the country while they still can. Although many of the 6,000 Britons in Ukraine have already fled, some are stranded in the country as they wait for passports to be issued for their newborn babies. Mr Lewis told Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday: 'We have to be realistic about Russia having 100,000 troops now roughly on the border that an imminent incursion by Russia is entirely possible.' He was echoing warnings by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said last night that millions of refugees could flee Ukraine if an invasion takes place and warned Vladimir Putin could strike 'at any time'. Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Wallace added that there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air' - an apparent reference to the 1938 agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in the hope that it would prevent the outbreak of war. Just a year later, the Second World War began when Hitler invaded Poland, with Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts to preserve peace left in tatters. People watch a Black Hawk helicopter flying above the airport in Jesionka, Poland on Sunday as U.S. forces arrived last weekend in the region to bolster NATO's eastern flank as Russia's threat of invasion into Ukraine grows Lithuania's Military also delivered aid to Ukraine on Sunday, including anti-aircraft missiles House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned Sunday of 'severe consequences' should Russia invades Ukraine, claiming an assault on 'Kyiv' is an assault on democracy as a whole The unity of our allies and NATO to come to an agreement as to the severity of the sanctions is very, very important. And that is something that Putin should pay very close attention to, @SpeakerPelosi tells @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/HUp6nvRor6 pic.twitter.com/EqeAM1DI23 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 13, 2022 But Russia's Ambassaor to Sweden said Saturday Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine. Pictured: Belarus' Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin (right) and servicemen are seen during the Allied Resolve 2022 joint military drills held by Belarusian and Russian troops at Gozhsky range on Saturday In an outspoken interview, Viktor Tatarintsev said 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. Above: Ukrainians attending an open military training session as the country prepares for a possible invasion on Saturday Veteran diplomat Tatarintsev said in his interview: 'Excuse my language, but we don't give a s**t about all their sanctions'. 'We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture. 'New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound', he added. Sanctions being considered could target both Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries. However, Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality. 'The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be,' he said. Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war. 'That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war,' he claimed. On Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Russia would face 'massive consequences' if it invaded Ukraine, including 'severe sanctions'. Today, Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, said a 'very strong and united international response' is needed for 'this Russian belligerence'. She told BBC One's Sunday Morning programme with Sophie Raworth: 'It is immensely serious and nobody should be naive about what Russia is up to, and the scale of the troops amassing on the Ukraine border.' Ms Cooper said there has to be 'extremely strong and swift and severe' sanctions. Pictured: A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows tents and equipment at the northern end of the Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, 10 February 2022 Ben Wallace said there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air', in an apparent reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War. Pictured: Helicopter fires missiles beneath clear blue skies during a Russian-Belarusian joint military drill on Saturday Ukrainians attend an open military training for civilians range as part of the 'Don't panic! Get ready! ' which is carried out by veterans of the Azov battalion on a training range in Kyiv amid the threat of Russian invasion, Feb 12, 2022 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) Today, a German government source warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. They were speaking on the eve of Chancellor Scholz's departure for Kyiv and then Moscow. 'Our concerns have grown... we asses the situation as very critical, very dangerous', the source told members of the press, as fears grow that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. Photos today showed staff at the OSCE withdrawing by car from the city of Donetsk, which has been held by Russian-backed rebels since 2014. The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo. What is Vladimir Putin's personal wealth and could sanctions affect him? Vladimir Putin is notoriously secretive about his private life and personal wealth. In 2017, it was reported that he could have a personal wealth of as much as $200billion. The figure was mentioned by US financier and fierce critic Bill Browder, who claimed that Putin had siphoned off public funds into 'Swiss bank accounts'. One of the most quoted guesses of Putin's personal wealth, made by political analyst Stanslav Belkovsky in 2007, put it at $40billion. If the lower figure is more accurate, it would still make him one of the world's richest men. Belkovsky later upped his estimate to $70billion. A sign of wealth for Putin is his 73.2 million pleasure craft, named Graceful. In December 2020, it was suggested by a Russian newspaper that a vast palace that sprung up near Moscow could have been owned by Putin himself. And in documents dubbed the Panama Papers that were released last year, Mr Putin was linked to secret assets in Monaco. However, in April 2015, Putin declared a 2014 income of just $119,000, listing ownership of two apartments and a share in a car parking garage. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned last month that an enhanced sanctions regime would allow Britain to target any 'strategic interest' of the Russian state. It meant that Mr Putin's wealthy supporters, many of whom have bases in London, were in the firing line to be hit financially. 'Any company of interest to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia would be able to be targeted,' Miss Truss told Sky News. 'So there will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs, for Russian companies involved in propping up the state.' Advertisement They were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country. Today, Russia said it was concerned by the decision of the OSCE to relocate some of its monitors. The OSCE 'informed the participating states of the decision by 'a number of countries' to relocate their national staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 'due to deteriorating security conditions'', foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. 'These decisions cannot but cause our serious concern.' The OSCE has served as the world's eyes and ears for the eight-year conflict across Ukraine's Russian-backed separatist east that has claimed more than 14,000 lives. Zakharova said the OSCE move further inflamed tensions over Ukraine, adding that the monitoring mission could be used as a 'tool' to stage a possible provocation. 'We call on the OSCE leadership to resolutely stop attempts to manipulate the mission and prevent the organization from being drawn into dirty political games,' Zakharova added. On Friday, the Foreign Office 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'. However, some defiant Britons have insisted that they will stay in the country, even as airlines start to stop flights and diplomats leave. Lecturer Charlie Gilkeson is one of those staying put. The 68-year-old Yorkshireman told the Mail on Sunday that he feels it would be wiser to remain, even as he finds himself in a 'possible war'. He is staying in a flat he is renovating with his wife, whom he met in Russia. His children have urged him to come to the UK. 'I think it is safer here,' he said. Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Lewis told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme that the West must realise Russia could 'move very quick' despite diplomatic efforts to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. But he also defended diplomatic action so far, saying it had probably already delayed a strike into Ukraine from Moscow forces. Discussing Mr Wallace's comparison with appeasement in the late 1930s, Mr Lewis said: 'If you look back to that period of time there was a lot of diplomatic engagement, there was an optimism at the time actually that there may be a diplomatic way through. 'That eventually turned out not to be the case. It turned out that wasn't the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. 'What he's [Mr Wallace] drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that he's had that the Foreign Secretary and others... has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this. 'But he's expressing that concern that we've got to also understand the reality that while they're having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, we've got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore we've got to be cognisant of the reality they could move very quick.' Speaking later on Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme, Mr Lewis said: 'We will bring in more sanctions, that is what one of the repercussions will be... we already have some sanctions against Russia already. 'We have already taken the power in last week or so with the statutory instrument in Parliament to allow the UK to put more sanctions in place. 'I spent most of last week in the United states... what is very clear is that the United States are absolutely unified in this approach to ensure that we do not see an incursion and that if Russia does take that kind of activity then there will be repercussions. ' Mr Lewis was speaking after Mr Wallace's warning that there could be 'millions' of refugees if Russia does choose to invade Ukraine. He said that the potential for 'millions of displaced people - refugees - pouring from one European country to another hasn't been seen since the war and could potentially have a massive impact.' His comments came as dramatic photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo Members of the OSCE were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country Pictured: British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace attends a meeting with Russian Defence Minister in Moscow on Friday. The Cabinet minister, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause 'widespread human suffering' German chancellor to fly to Ukraine and Russia to try to defuse tensions amid invasion fears German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent and Germany has called on its citizens to leave Ukraine as quickly as possible. Ahead of his first visits as Chancellor to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Mr Scholz renewed his warning to Russia, as well as his advocacy of continuing diplomacy in multiple formats. '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,' he told the German parliament's upper house on Friday. 'But at the same time that also includes using all opportunities for talks and further development.' Russia has concentrated more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and launched a series of military manoeuvres in the region, but says it has no plans to invade the nation. Moscow wants guarantees from the West that Nato will not allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members, and for the alliance to halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. The US and Nato have flatly rejected these demands. Mr Scholz has repeatedly said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine or to spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia have drawn criticism abroad and at home and raised questions about Berlin's resolve in standing up to Russia. Germany's reluctant position is partly rooted in its history of aggression during the 20th century when the country's own militarisation in Europe during two World Wars led many post-war German leaders to view any military response as a very last resort. Despite this historic burden, experts say it is of utmost importance now that Mr Scholz stresses Germany is in sync with its European and American allies, especially when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Markus Ziener, an expert with the German Marshall Fund, said: 'Scholz has to convey a very clear message in Moscow, and it can really only be: There is unity and oneness in the Western alliance. There is no possibility of driving a wedge into the Western alliance, and that must be understood in Moscow. I think that's the most important message he has to convey there. 'At the same time, he has to make it clear that the costs are high. That's basically the message that is most likely to catch on in Moscow as well. So a military invasion of Ukraine has significant consequences for Russia.' Advertisement His comments echoed previous warnings by Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, who said that a 'major war' could lead to the 'sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion'. Mr Wallace said that Moscow could 'launch an offensive at any time', with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. 'It may be that he [Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West,' he added. A source explained that Mr Wallace was concerned that if Putin strikes 'come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man'. US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky sought to downplay the threat, saying: 'The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us.' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking 'hysteria'. Poland is among the countries that are preparing to absorb an influx of people fleeing conflict if it does break out. Writing on the website of the think tank the Atlantic Council in December last year about a potential refugee crisis, Mr Reznikov said: 'A major war in Ukraine would plunge the whole of Europe into crisis. 'The sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion would be just one of many major concerns facing European society. 'For example, the EU relies heavily on food imports including grain. A major war would seriously disrupt and possibly prevent entirely many imports from both Ukraine and Russia, creating a whole range of food security problems for the entire continent.' Poland is one nation neighbouring Ukraine that is preparing for an influx of refugees. Speaking earlier this month, the country's deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, told Polish radio: 'We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and [we have] been taking steps so as to be prepared for a wave of up to a million people.' Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack 'very, very quickly', with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine's border The alleged invasion plans, reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel, are said to detail specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and were analysed by the Secret Service, the CIA and the Pentagon before being handed over to President Joe Biden's government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held an emergency call with Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov to discuss the crisis yesterday, after the 'extremely detailed' plans stoked fears of war in eastern Europe. He warned his Russian counterpart that further aggression from Moscow would be met with a 'resolute, massive and united transatlantic response'. Mr Blinken had said that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving close to Ukraine's borders. But speaking during a live broadcast yesterday, Mr Zelensky told the US: 'If you have 100 percent-certain information about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, please share it with us'. He added that he realised 'such risks do exist' and that his country remains ready to take any measure necessary and 'from any border.' 'Freedom Convoy' protesters were forced to end their occupation of the busiest bridge from Canada to the United States on Sunday morning after police in Windsor, Ontario, started arresting demonstrators and towing away vehicles. Police swept through the convoy around 7am, following a standoff that began Friday evening when a Canadian judge issued a 10-day injunction making it unlawful to block Ambassador Bridge which connects Windsor with Detroit. Protesters in trucks, cars and vans have blocked traffic in both directions since Monday, choking the supply chain for Detroit's carmakers. Despite clearing the key bridge on Sunday morning, however, officials kept Ambassador Bridge closed to traffic. 'Freedom Convoy' protesters against Canada Prime Minster Justin Trudeau's vaccine mandates were forced to clear access to Ambassador Bridge, the busiest bridge from Canada to the U.S., on Sunday morning Police came in full force arresting protesters, who were charged with mischief, and towing vehicles After they were forced away from the bridge, protesters lingered around local businesses until police began threatening to arrest people for trespassing. Among the group was Kim Dion (above), 57, a contractor who drove 3 hours to join the protest yesterday and returned today at 5.30am Police arrested a protester in Windsor on Sunday as officials began acting on a 10-day court injunction making it unlawful to block Ambassador Bridge Demonstrations across Canadian cities have been implemented in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's order for the country's truckers to be vaccinated or quarantine after returning from the US. 'Today, our national economic crisis at the Ambassador Bridge came to an end. Border crossings will reopen when it is safe to do so and I defer to police and border agencies to make that determination,' Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said in a statement on Sunday. Police forced the demonstrators to clear the bridge by stepping up their presence with more than 50 vehicles, including cruisers, buses and an armored car on Sunday. The number of protesters still at the bridge had dropped to around 45 from Saturday's roughly 100-person turnout. 'Enforcement is continuing in the demonstration area and there will be zero tolerance for illegal activity. The public should avoid the area,' the Windsor Police Service tweeted on Sunday morning. Protesters lingered in the vicinity of the bridge after their forced removal, however, gathering on sidewalks and in parking lots of local businesses. One small group convened at a Shell gas station with a couple of men in a pickup truck who were blasting Twisted Sister's 1984 protest anthem, 'We're not going to take it.' Among the group was Kim Dion, 57, a contractor who drove 3 hours to join the protest yesterday and returned today at 5.30am. 'I went to the hotel room had a rest, then when I came back, they started to come out in large numbers,' he told DailyMail.com, referring to the hundreds of police officers that came down on the protest on Sunday morning. 'They told everybody to move or you're going to get arrested. So some of us started trekking back. and a few were staying there holding their ground. They pushed us back to here and this is where we're watching,' he said. Dion said he feels good about what the protesters accomplished during their week there, adding that he wasn't surprised by the crackdown. 'I think this was a good statement and I think it's getting more noticed around the world. [The police] had to do this to save some jobs. If Trudeau and Forbes didn't do this, their necks are on the lines. So they did what they did. And we accomplished what we wanted. And at any moment's notice, if things don't change, we could bring thousands of people back here and do this all over again,' Dion said. 'The government needs to start listening to the people and stop calling us racists and every other name just because we have a different opinion than they do. We're here for freedom. I'm here for my grandkids, my kids. And we need this country to get back to normal,' Dion added, noting that he plans on leaving this afternoon. Two RCMP tactical unit officers monitored the situation as police remove truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after protesters blocked the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge Officers detained a protester on Sunday as police cracked down on the blockade Most of the protesters began dispersing from the Shell station around 9am, when Ontario Provincial Police officers threatened to cite them for trespassing. 'Business owners in the area of the demonstration are asking people to remove their vehicles from private property. They are also asking for police assistance to notify demonstrators to leave their property as they are trespassing,' Windsor police tweeted. 'The business does not want you on this property,' one officer told the demonstrators at the Shell gas station. 'We're not stopping anyone from getting gas,' one protester shouted backed, but the officer said he was 'just a messenger' and would have to arrest anyone who didn't leave. As of early afternoon, police maintained control of Huron Church Road, threatening to arrest any protesters who step foot on the roadway. Nearly a hundred demonstrators stood on the sidewalk, respecting the show of force even as some vowed to retake the road once police disperse. Protester Victor Green, an elderly local resident originally from Great Britain, wore his old Royal Navy beret as he returned for another day of protest. 'We're not blocking anything now, but I think the authorities realize that this police presence here today, with all the massive overtime, is costing people a fortune,' Green told DailyMail.com. 'They can't enjoy that and they're eventually going to have to go. And as soon as they go, I can imagine the slow roll and the blockade will come back. 'As long as there's any kind of a protest, I'll be making an appearance each and every day,' he declared. 'We are being accused of hurting the economy quite badly, but you know what?' he continued. 'This government through their mandates has been hurting the economy for the last 22 months.' 'Just because Chrysler and General Motors complained that they couldn't get their car parts across the border, the government and local mayor are concerned. They don't seem to be concerned at all about the many, many lives that have been ruined over the last 22 months.' 'There's only one way to end this and that's get rid of the mandates,' he said. Tom Meahan, another protester, was more frustrated that the blockade was forced to end before protesters' demands were met. 'We spent the last two years throwing people's freedom and liberty away for the illusions of these people's safety, and it's just not acceptable. And we came here to protest. I guess we're just not in a democracy anymore because now the government doesn't let you protest the government,' he told DailyMail.com. 'Everything was strong last night. They waited until most of the protest had subsided, then came in and did their dirty work. They need to trade their black shirts for brown shirts here. This could have been ended day one. All we had to do is get our premiere and cowardly prime minister to step up and end these mandates. It's totally unnecessary. It's time for us to move on,' he added. Meahan said it felt like 'watching the end of our democracy' to see the blockade come to an end and likened the Canadian police to the 'gestapo.' Mayor Dilkens defended the removal of protesters in a statement on Sunday, saying, 'Canada is nation that believes in the right to freedom of speech and expression, but we are also bound by the rule of law.' Ambassador Bridge carries about $360 million a day in two-way cargoes - 25% of the value of all U.S.-Canada goods The estimated loss so far from the blockades to the auto industry alone could be as high as $850 million, based on IHS Markit's data He also stressed the importance of Ambassador Bridge for the Canadian economy. 'This is the busiest border crossing, so it's not just automotive. We are talking about things that impact the entire nation here. That's why finding a resolution is so important,' he said. Ambassador Bridge carries about $360 million a day in two-way cargoes - 25% of the value of all U.S.-Canada goods trade. Ford Motor Co, the second-largest U.S. automaker, General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp all have announced production cuts as a result of the blockade. Companies have diverted cargo to stem losses during the cuts. The estimated loss so far from the blockades to the auto industry alone could be as high as $850 million, based on IHS Markit's data, which puts the 2021 daily flow in vehicles and parts at $141.1 million a day. A cop policing the thousands of Canadian flag-waving protestors joining the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa has admitted to DailyMail.com: 'They are in control no doubt about that.' He spoke out as demonstrators in Ottawa continued to drastically outnumber the city's entire 1,480-strong force on Sunday, with officers now reduced to standing by and watching as around 4,000 people are now part of the occupation. In fact, there appears to be a growing element of sympathy among some officers for the truckers and others who woke up on Sunday morning after enduring bone-chilling overnight temperatures of negative 24 Fahrenheit with wind chill. Asked if he believed police would move in to smash the demonstration in Canada's capital city, he replied: 'No, I cannot see that happening. 'It doesn't matter how many boots we have on the ground, they have more. 'It's going to be up to these people, and I guess the politicians, when this ends.' The officer, who would not be named, continued: 'We're doing the best we can, but we are outnumbered, overwhelmed and exhausted - especially on the weekend when lots of people who are not part of the actual trucker convoy have come down here. 'Our priority is to keep the peace and make sure everyone is safe. 'It's less about enforcement. I can't go around focused on violations for openly carrying alcohol and stuff like that that isn't hurting anyone. We can't start taking away fuel and water and the things these people need to survive.' The cop also emphasized that using all his department's resources to police the burgeoning demo would leave the rest of the city vulnerable. 'People don't realize that this is a city of 1 million people and this is happening in a few blocks of downtown and only about 6,000 people live in the core,' he told DailyMail.com. 'We have to continue responding to calls all over the city so we can't pull everyone down here. 'We are stretched. Vacation times have been suspended and everyone is doing overtime. We come here to a hotel and get a few hours of sleep and a shower and then we're back out on the street. Police marched through Windsor as authorities struggled to quell a two-week-old protest movement that also paralyzed downtown Ottawa 'We're away from our families. I feel like we're doing what we can with what we have to make this safe for everyone no matter what side you're on.' He made his views plain as the truckers' protest over a Canadian government mandate - forcing them to be fully vaccinated when they return from their regular runs to the United States - continued to spread across the country. Directly across from the Parliament Buildings, five men and a woman gathered around a makeshift campfire on Sunday morning amid the cacophony of noise from running truck engines and generators on day 16 of Ottawa's 'Red Zone' occupation. More than 400 trucks are clogging the streets. They all backed up the view that cops are now standing well back and in some cases actually helping the demonstrators. Will, 50, who refused to give his last name and is not a trucker, traveled 310 miles from Guelph, Ontario, said: 'From what I can tell, they want to be here less than we want to be here. 'They're walking around, they're saying 'hi' to people, they're fist-bumping people not all of them but I'd say that a good 75 percent of them are just miserable.' The hardy protestor and his group slept out in the grueling cold with the others and has been in Ottawa three weeks. He continued: 'At the very beginning the police were trying to do things to dissuade everybody. Take gas, take wood. Make up a couple of lies here and there, put it on the news. 'Now, I haven't seen anybody get a ticket. 'There's too many people. If they kept taking the gas you can't get no heat. If they take the wood, you can't heat. And there's kids here, too. If somebody freakin' died in their truck Police surround pickup trucks as they cleared protestors against Covid-19 vaccine mandates who blocked the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge 'I don't think the police could stop it. I don't think they could do it. But the army could. However, they're not going to fire on civilians. And I'm in it for the long haul, as long as I can stay.' His fellow group member John, 57, who hitchhiked 225 miles from North Bay, Ontario, weighed in: 'Even if they took every person off the grounds they still have all those trucks. 'It's not a win. How do you win it? It would take months to make it a win because you still have vehicles that you have to move.' John said he lost a glove and a cop came to the rescue. 'He saw me sleeping me on the steps and he brought me gloves with heating pads in them, said the demonstrator. 'I can't even publicly thank him for it because he would lose his job or have some sort of blowback. It's a shame.' He added: 'Look, if Canadians who are known the world over for being polite can get this well organized and riled up, then I'm certain folk in the US would take it to a different level.' A joint command center has now been set up between The Ottawa Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A statement from the Ontario force on Saturday said this was to beef up enforcement that had been limited by 'safety concerns arising from aggressive, illegal behavior by many demonstrators' and 'limited police enforcement capabilities'. It added: 'We have a plan to end this unlawful occupation and await necessary reinforcements to do so.' Police officers held a line as protesters marched in Windsor on Sunday Ottawa City councilor Diane Deans, chair of the police services board, has admitted: 'They (police officers) have been working very hard under very stressful circumstances. 'Everyone in OPS is extremely tired. This has gone on for 16 days with right now no end in sight, and they need help and resources.' Ottawa mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency in the city last week. His spokesman Patrick Champagne called the protest an 'unprecedented insurrection, which is now national and international in scope'. Saturday saw many of the thousands of demonstrators and their supporters partying to loud music right outside the office window of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Street vendors had set up stalls selling Canada flags and were doing a brisk trade with people who draped them over their shoulders to continue the almost carnival-like atmosphere. Firework displays on a nearby street went on past midnight. As demonstrators woke up on Sunday morning, music continued to blare from various locations around the static trucks. But amid the revelry, truckers whose livelihoods depend on crossing the border to the US, the atmosphere over the weekend was more somber. Drivers who parked their rigs in Ottawa's historic Confederation Square continued to denounce Trudeau and remained defiant despite the lack of facilities and temperatures. Christian Muntean, 45, of Windsor, vowed: 'We will win. There is no way back. I won't give up.' Sitting in the cab of his immaculate yellow Peterbilt truck, the single dad added: 'I've been here for the last three weeks. And I will stay until the end. 'The end will be when the government, Trudeau, let's us chose what we want. To let us chose what we want to put in our bodies. 'I'm not vaccinated. That's my choice. But I'm losing my livelihood because of it.' Muntean said he will have lost 20,000 Canadian dollars if the stand-off lasts another week. 'This my truck and I usually travel to the US, back and forth, back and forth. Now I can't do it because I'm not vaccinated,' he said. 'I normally use the Ambassador Bridge twice a week. I'm losing a lot man, $20,000 a month. 'I am angry and disillusioned. But people are kind. They give us food, water and occasionally some money to help out.' A Ukrainian trucker who has been driving in Canada for 10 years was equally defiant. He refused to be named, but insisted: 'I've been here for two weeks and I'm not going anywhere. 'I haven't been vaccinated but that's up to me, my personal choice. 'It's going to be extremely cold tonight but I'm not bothered by that. This is more important than surviving freezing temperatures- this is about our freedom of choice and our livelihoods. 'I am losing at least $1,000 a day being here but I'm staying.' Canadian police resumed operations Sunday to clear a key US border bridge occupied by trucker-led demonstrators angry over Covid-19 restrictions Police detained a protester in Windsor on Sunday as officials began cracking down on the blockade of Ambassador Bridge Meanwhile, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall wrote in a statement Sunday that the U.S. is working closely with our Canadian counterparts to end the blockade of key bridges and crossings between the United States and Canada and to restore vital commerce between our two nations. Sherwood-Randall said that she and Canadian National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas spoke last night about the widespread damaging impacts the obstructions have already had on the lives and livelihoods of people in both our nations and the imperative of taking swift, strong action and deterring future blockades. Canadian officials told White House officials that most protestors have been cleared from the Ambassador bridge, barriers are being removed, and the corridor is being secured, she added, noting that Canadian authorities plan to reopen Ambassador Bridge after completing necessary safety checks. We stand ready to support our Canadian partners wherever useful in order to ensure the restoration of the normal free flow of commerce can resume, she concluded. Following Sunday's events, Mayor Dilkens called for unity as the coronavirus pandemic reaches its two-year anniversary. 'I strongly urge all Provincial and Federal leaders to refrain from any divisive political rhetoric and redouble efforts to help all Canadians heal, as we emerge from almost two years of pandemic lockdowns and restrictions,' he said. Windsor police also attempted to bridge the divide following the protests. 'Throughout this demonstration, Police have respected the protesters' freedom of expression and their right to a peaceful assembly,' the Windsor Police Service said in a statement on Sunday morning. 'The Windsor Police Service along with policing partners used a progressive approach by ensuring open lines of communication and continuous negotiations with protestors. During these negotiations, demonstrators were made aware that their actions were illegal and subject to arrest,' the statement continued, noting that several protesters were charged with mischief and multiple vehicles were towed. 'We also recognize the rights of the general public, local residents and businesses to a safe environment. Police used discretion during the course of the demonstration to avoid creating an unstable situation and potentially putting the public at risk. This exercising of police discretion should not be confused with lack of enforcement,' Windsor police added. 'You will see a continued police presence in the area in order to maintain an environment that is safe. In an effort to work towards resuming traffic flow, a continuous assessment of the situation is vital to ensure a sustainable solution,' the statement concluded. Donald Trump was largely unconcerned whether his White House staff followed standard protocols and frequently shirked the rules himself, his former press secretary Stephanie Grisham claimed on Saturday. Amid uproar over the former president's handling of certain executive branch documents -- which includes reports of torn-up paperwork and allegedly flushing pages down the toilet -- Grisham suggested to the Washington Post that Trump bred an office culture that largely ignored rules and procedure. 'He would roll his eyes at the rules, so we did, too,' Grisham said. 'We werent going to get in trouble because hes the president of the United States.' The former White House official recalled one instance during which she approached Trump with concern about a potential Hatch Act violation. The 1939 law prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity or using their government platforms for such. But she said Trump was unconcerned. 'Whos the boss of the Hatch Act? Its me. So say whatever you want,' Grisham claimed Trump told her. Grisham (right) gave the Washington Post an in-depth sense of the Trump White House's alleged disdain for rules and protocol amid a firestorm of controversy over the former president's handling of official documents Multiple reports indicate that Trump had a habit of tearing up and disposing of White House documents, while aides scrambled to retrieve and send them to the White House Office of Records Management to be taped back together and preserved. The Post also reported last week that Trump took 15 boxes of documents with him to Mar-a-Lago when he left Washington, some even marked 'classified' and 'top secret.' Since 2018, reports have indicated that Trump ripped presidential documents, and even 'ate' them according to former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman's memoir from that year. More recently, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's forthcoming novel alleges that staff members frequently found pages clogging White House toilets, leading them to believe Trump was attempting to flush documents. Earlier this month the National Archives claimed that some documents it obtained from Trump were ripped up and had to be reconstructed. The National Archives asked the Justice Department last week to probe whether Trump violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires each White House to preserve documents and memorabilia as the property of the American people. Congress announced last week it would be investigating Trump's handling of his presidential records. Trump denied these claims in a lengthy statement Thursday, calling it 'another fake story' that was 'made up by a reporter in order to get publicity for a mostly fictitious book' Former aides detailed an almost methodical approach to destroying presidential materials, according to the Post's Saturday report. He would tear the paper into four pieces with two large 'clean' tears, multiple aides reportedly recalled, only to strew the remnants onto desks, the floor, or the bin. The unnamed staff members also claimed he would take large caches of documents to the White House's private residence only for them to be retrieved after piling up. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's upcoming book Confident Man details the paper flushing after reports emerged that Trump ripped, burned and held onto official documents that needed to be preserved and handed over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at the end of his presidency Trump's spokesman said in a statement to the Post: 'This unfortunate attempt by the media to twist a story, along with the help of anonymous sources, is just another sensationalized distraction of an otherwise uneventful effort to persevere the legacy of President Trump and a good faith effort to ensure the fulfillment of the Presidential Records Act.' 'Sadly, the business of news has become reliant on the next manufactured Trump "investigation," and so here we are. Its a disgrace.' Trump himself released a statement blasting the allegations and claiming his discourse with the National Archives has been 'collaborative and respectful.' The former president also questioned why his handling of documents was being probed while his rival Hillary Clinton wasn't forced to hand over her 32,000 emails. 'I have been told I was under no obligation to give this material based on various legal rulings that have been made over the years,' Trump insisted Thursday. 'Crooked Hillary Clinton, as an example, deleted and acid washed 32,000 emails and never gave that to the government,' he added. 'Then, they took large amounts of furniture out of the White House. And Bill Clinton kept numerous audio recordings that the archives wanted, but were unsuccessful at getting after going to court. We won't even mention what is going on with the White House in the current, or various past administrations.' 'In the United States there has unfortunately become two legal standards, one for Republicans and one for Democrats. It should not be that way!' Britain's Covid infections have fallen by 23 per cent with the latest Government data showing 41,270 new infections while deaths have fallen to 52. The latest date shows that the number of cases week on week has decreased by 12,825 from the 54,095 cases that were reported last Sunday. Meanwhile there were another 52 deaths registered today - a 30 per cent fall from the 75 deaths reported on February 6. It marks the twelfth day in a row that the daily number of new infections has fallen week-on-week, with the last increase being recorded on February 1 while the average total number of cases has been in freefall since mid-January. The latest vaccination figures show that 10,798 first dose jabs, 25,406 second doses and 40,086 booster jabs were delivered on Friday. It brings the total number of people to have received at least two doses of a vaccine to 48,718,497 whilst 37,724,528 have received a booster jab, according to the latest available figures. It comes as Boris Johnson's new chief of staff said the Prime Minister will 'trust the people' to know best how to run their own lives. Steve Barclay offered 'red meat' to disaffected Tory MPs and voters alike as he said it would be 'a priority to restore a smaller state' after years of Covid regulations and multi-billion-pound funding for workers and businesses. He also admitted that recent weeks had been 'frustrating' but insisted the PM was the right person to turn Tory fortunes around. It comes after Mr Johnson received a questionnaire from Scotland Yard demanding he truthfully set out his version of his behaviour around alleged lockdown-busting parties in No10. He has seven days to avoid a fine by answering the form from Metropolitan Police officers investigating whether he broke his own Covid laws. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, former Brexit secretary Mr Barclay said: 'Now, it is a priority to restore a smaller state - both financially and in taking a step back from people's lives. Steve Barclay offered 'red meat' to disaffected Tory MPs and voters alike as he said it would be 'a priority to restore a smaller state' after years of Covid regulations and multi-billion-pound funding for workers and businesses. 'It's time to return to a more enabling approach. To trust the people, return power to communities, and free up business to deliver. 'I know how frustrating the recent weeks of speculation about the workings of government have been - for the people of this country, and for political colleagues. 'But Johnson has apologised for the things we simply did not get right, and for the way that some matters have been handled. 'And knowing the Prime Minister as I do, he is the best person to deliver the mission of renewal and recovery.' Boris Johnson told MPs this week that he expects to end all restrictions, including the requirement to self-isolate following a positive test, this month weeks earlier than scheduled. But Sage experts say the Government should take various actions that could help protect the vulnerable as well as mitigate the general spread of Covid when rules are eased. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, former Brexit secretary Mr Barclay (pictured with Mr Johnson this week) said: 'Now, it is a priority to restore a smaller state - both financially and in taking a step back from people's lives' In minutes from the group's meeting on Thursday, members warned: 'Increased ambiguity about a requirement to self-isolate upon testing positive will also disproportionately impact vulnerable sections of the population.' They also raised concerns about the consequences of removing access to free testing and called for 'clear and consistent' messaging to the public about the ongoing risks. The group said getting rid of free testing would make it harder for people to take precautions and 'may also increase anxiety among those who have found testing reassuring after possible exposure, particularly those who are or live with someone who is clinically vulnerable'. 'Some people may also take the removal of free and accessible testing as a signal that they should continue to attend workplaces/social gatherings while showing Covid symptoms, as these become conflated with other symptoms of respiratory illness such as influenza,' the group added. In response to this, Sage suggested the Government should take 'various proactive measures' to address the culture of 'presenteeism' at work, including encouraging people to work from home when unwell and providing 'adequate' sick pay for employees. The group also emphasised the importance of public messaging as a way to reduce the impact. 'Lifting of restrictions should be accompanied with clear and consistent messaging about the scientific rationale and continued benefit of protective behaviours to reduce transmission,' Sage said. Public messaging should also be employed 'to stress the different needs and risk appetites of others,' it added. 'This should help to improve understanding of the continued need and adoption of protective behaviours by different groups and reduce the risk of social tensions, abusive incidents and stigma towards minority groups,' the group said. Sage also suggested that health authorities should take over the responsibility of public messaging, based on studies that show people have higher confidence in experts and are less likely to follow rules if trust in a government is low. 'This could improve adherence but is dependent upon consistency across organisations, including central government,' it said. Covid restrictions had been due to expire on March 24, but Mr Johnson told MPs he expects they can end a month sooner if the data continues to be encouraging. It means in just over two weeks England could be returned to levels of freedom enjoyed before the pandemic, for the first time since restrictions were brought in almost two years ago. Advertisement Ukraine has pledged hundreds of millions of pounds to try to keep its airspace open to commercial flights, as some carriers reviewed their services to the country after the United States warned that Russia could invade at any time. Airlines today began suspending flights to Ukraine and the country's government reportedly banned entry to Russian citizens over fears of an invasion and the threat of hit squads and saboteurs trying to enter the country. Dutch carrier KLM announced it was stopping flights to and from the country until further notice, amid sensitivity in the Netherlands to potential danger in Ukrainian airspace following the 2014 shooting down of jetliner MH17 as it flew over territory held by Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people aboard died in the disaster, including 198 Dutch citizens, while Russia was widely condemned as being responsible. Germany's Lufthansa also said on Sunday it was considering suspending flights. There was further upheaval yesterday as Ukrainian carrier SkyUp was forced to divert a flight to Moldova as the leasing company which owned the plane refused to let it enter Ukrainian airspace. International fears of a large-scale Russian invasion now risks closing transport routes out of Ukraine. Avianews warned that Ukraine could soon become a 'no-fly zone' for commercial aircraft. According to the publication, unless an agreement is made between the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and international insurers and airlines, Ukraine will gradually be closed to air traffic. It also emerged that remaining commercial flights to and from Ukraine face being grounded from tomorrow. Ukraine's infrastructure ministry meanwhile has said airlines were continuing to operate 'without any restrictions', and Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said the government had allocated 16.6 billion hryvnia (436 million) to guarantee the continuation of flights through its airspace. He said the funds would 'ensure flight safety in Ukraine for insurance and leasing companies.' 'This decision will stabilise the situation on the market of passenger air transportation and will guarantee the return to Ukraine of our citizens who are currently abroad,' he said, without specifying how the funds would be allocated. It comes as the Pentagon said an hour long call between US President Joe Biden and Putin did not go well. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said: 'It's certainly not a sign that Mr. Putin has any intention to de-escalate the tensions. 'And it's certainly not a sign that he is recommitting himself to a diplomatic path forward. So, it doesn't give us any cause for optimism.' US House Speaker today issued a stark warning to Russia by claiming an attack on Ukraine would equate an assault on democracy as a whole and insisted Putin knows 'war is not an answer'. 'The fact is that we think that an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy,' Pelosi told ABC This Week host George Stephanopoulos. 'We understand that the loss of life, the damage, the collateral damage to civilians, to military and the rest are severe.' 'If he decides to invade, the mothers in Russia don't like their children going into what he's had to experience that forgive the expression bodybags from the moms before. So he has to know that war is not an answer,' she added. 'There's very severe consequences to his aggression, and we are united in using them,' the California Democrat threatened. The news about the worsening travel situation into and out of Ukraine came after Russia's outspoken ambassador to Sweden claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions if his country were to invade Ukraine. Viktor Tatarintsev told Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper that 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. He claimed Russia had become more 'self-sufficient' amid the threat of sanctions and accused the West of not understanding his country. 'We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes', he said. Airlines today began suspending flights to Ukraine and the country's government reportedly banned entry to Russian citizens over fears of an invasion and the threat of hit squads and saboteurs trying to enter the country. Pictured: Passengers are seen boarding a plane out of Ukraine on Sunday after foreign nations including the UK and the US warned their citizens to get out while they can Dutch carrier KLM announced it was stopping flights to and from the country until further notice, amid sensitivity in the Netherlands to potential danger in Ukrainian airspace following the 2014 shooting down of jetliner MH17 as it flew over territory held by Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people aboard died in the disaster, including 198 Dutch citizens. Pictured: The aftermath of the disaster Vladimir Putin 'doesn't give a s**t' about the risk of Western sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine, Russia's ambassador to Sweden (right) said as US staff began withdrawing from eastern Ukraine amid warnings of an 'imminent' invasion Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby today said that the outcome of an hour long call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Joe Biden is 'certainly not a sign that things are moving in the right direction' In a sign of the worsening situation in Ukraine, photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has monitored the eight-year conflict in Ukraine's separatist east, packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk. They were fleeing as Britain's Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said a Russian invasion could be 'imminent' and Germany warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower - including a large number of attack helicopters - massed along Ukraine's border. Mr Lewis told Sky's Trevor Phillips On Sunday: 'We have to be realistic about Russia having 100,000 troops now roughly on the border that an imminent incursion by Russia is entirely possible.' He was echoing warnings by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said last night that millions of refugees could flee Ukraine if an invasion takes place and warned Vladimir Putin could strike 'at any time'. Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Wallace added that there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air' - an apparent reference to the 1938 agreement that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland in the hope that it would prevent the outbreak of war. Just a year later, the Second World War began when Hitler invaded Poland, with Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts to preserve peace left in tatters. In an outspoken interview, Viktor Tatarintsev told the country's Aftonbladet newspaper that 'the more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be'. Pictured: Joint military exercises by Russian and Belarusian forces There are an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. Above: Ukrainians attending an open military training session as the country prepares for a possible invasion Insurance giant Lloyds of London is about to suspend cover for flights passing through the country's airspace as fears of an imminent Russian invasion grow, reported Ukrainian publication Ukrainska Pravda. The publication quoted information from unnamed sources in the aviation industry in a report picked up by the English-language Kyiv Independent. Anatoliy Ivantsiv, head of Ukrainian insurance firm Expo, told Interfax news agency that reinsurers Lloyds announced it would temporarily cease all conflict risk insurance over Ukrainian airspace from Monday. Withdrawing insurance cover will mean that Ukrainian airlines, who lease almost all of their aircraft, will not be able to fly above Ukraine. SkyUp announced: 'On February 12, the world's largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian air carriers that they would stop insuring aircraft for flights in Ukrainian airspace within 48 hours. Such a decision is associated with increased risks of the outbreak of hostilities.' The Ministry of Infrastructure, after a meeting today, confirmed that Ukrainian air space is still open and offered 'additional financial guarantees' to carriers to continue flying on international routes. Advisor to Ukraine's president's chief of staff Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Sunday that closing Ukraine's airspace was 'nonsense' and akin to a 'partial blockade.' MailOnline contacted Lloyds for comment. Veteran diplomat Tatarintsev said in his interview: 'Excuse my language, but we don't give a s**t about all their sanctions'. 'We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture. 'New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound', he added. Sanctions being considered could target both Russian businesses and individuals in a range of significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries. However, Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality. 'The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be,' he said. Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war. 'That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war,' he claimed. Ukraine reportedly closed its borders to Russians amid fears that operatives from Russia's infamous GRU spy unit are already suspected of having infiltrated Ukraine to spearhead an invasion by attacking behind the front lines. The tightening of border controls came as groups of uniformed soldiers were seen walking in central Kyiv and an emergency government meeting on Monday was reported to be considering bringing in martial law. Border guard spokesman Andrey Demchenko said: 'There is Ukrainian legislation regulating the crossing of the state border. And border guards closely observe it.' Dozens of foreign citizens are daily refused entry to Ukraine 'for various reasons,' he said. This includes Russians who must 'comply with the conditions of entry before entering the country's territory.' The measures are being imposed amid fears that Russia could stage a 'false flag' attack in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine or elsewhere in the country, triggering a full-scale war. In a sign of the worsening situation in Ukraine, a former deputy (MP) in the country's parliament posted on Facebook that martial law could be on the agenda of an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine tomorrow. 'The meeting might be related to the consultations required by law regarding the declaration of martial law', Ihor Mosiichuk said. Russia has boosted its already huge force on Ukrainian borders by moving a large number of attack helicopters to forward positions, according to social media videos. This includes a massing in Belgorod region, only 19 miles from the border with Ukraine, at the same site as in 2014 when Moscow intervened in the Donbas and annexed Crimea. Sobering videos show Ka-52 Alligators, Mi-8s and Mi-24 military attack helicopters on the move in multiple locations in western Russia. They were seen in the regions of Belgorod, Nizhny Novgorod region, Tver, Ulyanovsk and Yaroslavl amid suspicions they are being moved to the potential war zone close to Ukraine. More were filmed in Dobrush, close to the border with Ukraine in the Gomel region of Belarus where vast military exercises are underway. In Oryol region, military equipment believed to be a BUK missile system was filmed crossing a road, and a BM-27 Uragan Rocket Launcher was also filmed. Attack helicopters are seen as an essential factor in any invasion scenario. On Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that Russia would face 'massive consequences' if it invaded Ukraine, including 'severe sanctions'. Today, Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, said a 'very strong and united international response' is needed for 'this Russian belligerence'. She told BBC One's Sunday Morning programme with Sophie Raworth: 'It is immensely serious and nobody should be naive about what Russia is up to, and the scale of the troops amassing on the Ukraine border.' Ms Cooper said there has to be 'extremely strong and swift and severe' sanctions. Pictured: A handout satellite image made available by Maxar Technologies shows tents and equipment at the northern end of the Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, 10 February 2022 Ben Wallace said there is a 'whiff of Munich in the air', in an apparent reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War. Pictured: Helicopter fires missiles beneath clear blue skies during a Russian-Belarusian joint military drill on Saturday Ukrainians attend an open military training for civilians range as part of the 'Don't panic! Get ready! ' which is carried out by veterans of the Azov battalion on a training range in Kyiv amid the threat of Russian invasion, Feb 12, 2022 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) 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) : Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends drills held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the settlement of Kalanchak near the border with Crimea Today, a German government source warned that tensions between Russia and Ukraine have reached a 'critical' point. They were speaking on the eve of Chancellor Scholz's departure for Kyiv and then Moscow. Mr Scholz said today that Russia would be hit with sanctions 'immediately' if it were to invade Ukraine. 'In the event of a military aggression against Ukraine that threatens its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that will lead to tough sanctions that we have carefully prepared and which we can immediately put into force, together with our allies in NATO and Europe,' Scholz said. What is Vladimir Putin's personal wealth and could sanctions affect him? Vladimir Putin is notoriously secretive about his private life and personal wealth. In 2017, it was reported that he could have a personal wealth of as much as $200billion. The figure was mentioned by US financier and fierce critic Bill Browder, who claimed that Putin had siphoned off public funds into 'Swiss bank accounts'. One of the most quoted guesses of Putin's personal wealth, made by political analyst Stanslav Belkovsky in 2007, put it at $40billion. If the lower figure is more accurate, it would still make him one of the world's richest men. Belkovsky later upped his estimate to $70billion. A sign of wealth for Putin is his 73.2 million pleasure craft, named Graceful. In December 2020, it was suggested by a Russian newspaper that a vast palace that sprung up near Moscow could have been owned by Putin himself. And in documents dubbed the Panama Papers that were released last year, Mr Putin was linked to secret assets in Monaco. However, in April 2015, Putin declared a 2014 income of just $119,000, listing ownership of two apartments and a share in a car parking garage. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned last month that an enhanced sanctions regime would allow Britain to target any 'strategic interest' of the Russian state. It meant that Mr Putin's wealthy supporters, many of whom have bases in London, were in the firing line to be hit financially. 'Any company of interest to the Kremlin and the regime in Russia would be able to be targeted,' Miss Truss told Sky News. 'So there will be nowhere to hide for Putin's oligarchs, for Russian companies involved in propping up the state.' Advertisement 'Our concerns have grown... we asses the situation as very critical, very dangerous', the source told members of the press, as fears grow that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent.' Meanwhile, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia carries the 'responsibility' for the possibility of war in Ukraine. There was 'the danger of a military conflict, of war in eastern Europe and Russia carries the responsibility for that,' Steinmeier said in a speech to mark his re-election. Photos today showed staff at the OSCE withdrawing by car from the city of Donetsk, which has been held by Russian-backed rebels since 2014. The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo. They were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country. Today, Russia said it was concerned by the decision of the OSCE to relocate some of its monitors. The OSCE 'informed the participating states of the decision by 'a number of countries' to relocate their national staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 'due to deteriorating security conditions'', foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. 'These decisions cannot but cause our serious concern.' The OSCE has served as the world's eyes and ears for the eight-year conflict across Ukraine's Russian-backed separatist east that has claimed more than 14,000 lives. Zakharova said the OSCE move further inflamed tensions over Ukraine, adding that the monitoring mission could be used as a 'tool' to stage a possible provocation. 'We call on the OSCE leadership to resolutely stop attempts to manipulate the mission and prevent the organization from being drawn into dirty political games,' Zakharova added. On Friday, the Foreign Office 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'. However, some defiant Britons have insisted that they will stay in the country, even as airlines start to stop flights and diplomats leave. Lecturer Charlie Gilkeson is one of those staying put. The 68-year-old Yorkshireman told the Mail on Sunday that he feels it would be wiser to remain, even as he finds himself in a 'possible war'. He is staying in a flat he is renovating with his wife, whom he met in Russia. His children have urged him to come to the UK. 'I think it is safer here,' he said. Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Lewis told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme that the West must realise Russia could 'move very quick' despite diplomatic efforts to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. But he also defended diplomatic action so far, saying it had probably already delayed a strike into Ukraine from Moscow forces. Discussing Mr Wallace's comparison with appeasement in the late 1930s, Mr Lewis said: 'If you look back to that period of time there was a lot of diplomatic engagement, there was an optimism at the time actually that there may be a diplomatic way through. 'That eventually turned out not to be the case. It turned out that wasn't the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. 'What he's [Mr Wallace] drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that he's had that the Foreign Secretary and others... has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this. 'But he's expressing that concern that we've got to also understand the reality that while they're having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, we've got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore we've got to be cognisant of the reality they could move very quick.' Speaking later on Sky's Trevor Phillips on Sunday programme, Mr Lewis said: 'We will bring in more sanctions, that is what one of the repercussions will be... we already have some sanctions against Russia already. 'We have already taken the power in last week or so with the statutory instrument in Parliament to allow the UK to put more sanctions in place. Valentyna Konstantynovska, aged 79, holds a weapon during a basic combat training for civilians, organized by the Special Forces Unit Azov, of Ukraine's National Guard Travellers are seen on Sunday at Boryspil airport near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as they wait to board flights out of the country Ukraine vowed to keep its airspace open to international travel despite Western warnings that Russian troops conducting drills near its borders could invade at any point. Above: Travellers check-in their bags at Boryspil airport amid invasion fears Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned today that there could be 'millions' of refugees if Russia does choose to invade Ukraine. Above: Travellers check in at Boryspil airport bear Kyiv as they wait to board flights out of the country A plane sits at a gate at Borispol International Airport in Kyiv on Sunday as thousands wait to leave the country amid invasion fears This Ryanair plane was also pictured heading to a gate at Borispol airport today. It will likely be boarded in part by citizens looking to get out of Ukraine before any invasion by Russia takes place Lithuania's military aid including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, delivered as part of the security support package for Ukraine, is unloaded from a ?17 Globemaster III plane at Boryspil International Airport The crates of weaponry are seen being loaded onto a truck at the airport. The UK has also donated military aid to the country The Lithuanian equipment was also being transported in cardboard boxes, as well as metal cases and crates 'I spent most of last week in the United states... what is very clear is that the United States are absolutely unified in this approach to ensure that we do not see an incursion and that if Russia does take that kind of activity then there will be repercussions. ' Mr Lewis was speaking after Mr Wallace's warning that there could be 'millions' of refugees if Russia does choose to invade Ukraine. He said that the potential for 'millions of displaced people - refugees - pouring from one European country to another hasn't been seen since the war and could potentially have a massive impact.' His comments echoed previous warnings by Ukraine's defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, who said that a 'major war' could lead to the 'sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion'. Mr Wallace said that Moscow could 'launch an offensive at any time', with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraine's border. 'It may be that he [Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West,' he added. A source explained that Mr Wallace was concerned that if Putin strikes 'come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man'. His comments came as dramatic photos today showed U.S. staff members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) packing up and leaving the rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine Photos today showed staff at the OSCE withdrawing by car from the city of Donetsk, which has been held by Russian-backed rebels since 2014 The staff were pictured carrying suitcases and wearing rucksacks as they climbed into white SUVs emblazoned with the OSCE logo Members of the OSCE were leaving after the US and the UK warned their citizens to get out of the country US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky sought to downplay the threat, saying: 'The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us.' Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking 'hysteria'. Poland is among the countries that are preparing to absorb an influx of people fleeing conflict if it does break out. Writing on the website of the think tank the Atlantic Council in December last year about a potential refugee crisis, Mr Reznikov said: 'A major war in Ukraine would plunge the whole of Europe into crisis. 'The sudden appearance of between three and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion would be just one of many major concerns facing European society. 'For example, the EU relies heavily on food imports including grain. A major war would seriously disrupt and possibly prevent entirely many imports from both Ukraine and Russia, creating a whole range of food security problems for the entire continent.' Poland is one nation neighbouring Ukraine that is preparing for an influx of refugees. Pictured: British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace attends a meeting with Russian Defence Minister in Moscow on Friday. The Cabinet minister, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause 'widespread human suffering' Speaking earlier this month, the country's deputy interior minister, Maciej Wasik, told Polish radio: 'We have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario and [we have] been taking steps so as to be prepared for a wave of up to a million people.' Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack 'very, very quickly', with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraine's border The alleged invasion plans, reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel, are said to detail specific routes that might be taken by individual Russian units and were analysed by the Secret Service, the CIA and the Pentagon before being handed over to President Joe Biden's government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held an emergency call with Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov to discuss the crisis yesterday, after the 'extremely detailed' plans stoked fears of war in eastern Europe. He warned his Russian counterpart that further aggression from Moscow would be met with a 'resolute, massive and united transatlantic response'. Mr Blinken had said that the crisis had reached a 'pivotal moment', adding that there continues to be 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation', including new forces arriving close to Ukraine's borders. But speaking during a live broadcast yesterday, Mr Zelensky told the US: 'If you have 100 percent-certain information about a Russian invasion of Ukraine, please share it with us'. Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured left on Friday) and US President Joe Biden (pictured right on Wednesday) held a high-stakes phone call today as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days He added that he realised 'such risks do exist' and that his country remains ready to take any measure necessary and 'from any border.' German chancellor to fly to Ukraine and Russia to try to defuse tensions amid invasion fears German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent and Germany has called on its citizens to leave Ukraine as quickly as possible. Ahead of his first visits as Chancellor to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Mr Scholz renewed his warning to Russia, as well as his advocacy of continuing diplomacy in multiple formats. '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,' he told the German parliament's upper house on Friday. 'But at the same time that also includes using all opportunities for talks and further development.' Russia has concentrated more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and launched a series of military manoeuvres in the region, but says it has no plans to invade the nation. Moscow wants guarantees from the West that Nato will not allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members, and for the alliance to halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. The US and Nato have flatly rejected these demands. Mr Scholz has repeatedly said that Moscow would pay a 'high price' in the event of an attack, but his government's refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine or to spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia have drawn criticism abroad and at home and raised questions about Berlin's resolve in standing up to Russia. Germany's reluctant position is partly rooted in its history of aggression during the 20th century when the country's own militarisation in Europe during two World Wars led many post-war German leaders to view any military response as a very last resort. Despite this historic burden, experts say it is of utmost importance now that Mr Scholz stresses Germany is in sync with its European and American allies, especially when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Markus Ziener, an expert with the German Marshall Fund, said: 'Scholz has to convey a very clear message in Moscow, and it can really only be: There is unity and oneness in the Western alliance. There is no possibility of driving a wedge into the Western alliance, and that must be understood in Moscow. I think that's the most important message he has to convey there. 'At the same time, he has to make it clear that the costs are high. That's basically the message that is most likely to catch on in Moscow as well. So a military invasion of Ukraine has significant consequences for Russia.' Advertisement After the Foreign Office's warning for British citizens to leave, the first haul of visibly relieved British families arrived at UK airports yesterday, including a medical student from Birmingham and a couple with a young daughter, who landed at Gatwick airport. The student said the call for Britons to flee Ukraine caused 'quite a panic' and a rush to return home. Ali Haider said after landing at Gatwick Airport from Kyiv on Saturday: 'I'd been in two minds about coming back because of the advice coming out by the British Embassy, about the amber alert, red alert. 'A lot of people, a lot of students were waiting for the red alert, and it happened yesterday. Once that happened, everybody booked their tickets and left as soon as possible.' The 21-year-old from Birmingham said his university, the Dnipro Medical Institute in Dnipro, a city in central Ukraine, had advised students to 'get out as soon as you can'. He said around half the students at the university are British. Mr Ali said: 'I think the main thing that people were getting worried about as well is, because it's along the Dnieper River, a lot of the people were saying, if Putin wants to suffocate Kyiv, push his warships along that path as well.' The student said he had paid 210 for his one-way flight ticket and thought prices would get much more expensive over the next three days as more people rush out of the country. He said he was hoping to return to Ukraine by June to continue his studies. Mr Ali said Ukrainians' opinions were split on the likelihood of a Russian incursion, but that the perception that Western media were blowing the crisis out of proportion was changing. He said: 'The Ukrainians are generally very laissez-faire as in terms of people, but the last couple of days they've started to get worried. And when that happens, alarm bells should be ringing.' Another British citizen arriving at Gatwick on the same plane said Ukrainians did not seem worried. Paul Meakin, 51, from Poole in Dorset, his Ukrainian-British wife Svetlana, 36, and their daughter, who had spent a week in Ukraine to attend a funeral, said most passengers on their flight had been Ukrainian, not British. Asked about people's attitudes there, the IT company chief said: 'You wouldn't even know. They don't care, that's what came across.' That sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian Pasha Honcharuk, 24, from Kyiv, who said he was 'not too worried' and that he would have stayed home if it were not for work in the UK. He said: 'All news channels tell that there will be war but I don't think so.' But a Ukrainian business analyst, who did not want to be named, said 'of course everybody's worried' about the threat of war. But she said this had not influenced her pre-existing decision to move to London from Kyiv for work. While many of the 6,000 Britons in Ukraine have already fled via air or west into Poland, there have also been reports of British families with newborns becoming trapped in the country waiting for the correct documentation. Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror. Douglas was born weighing 9lbs by cesarean section, and he and his mother are in a Kyiv hospital. Mr Stewart, originally from Edinburgh, and his family now face an anxious wait to see if they can get out in time. Meanwhile, Ben Garratt and his wife Alice - both from Queen's Park in London - are also trapped waiting for their surrogate-born baby to receive documentation. Relieved: Paul Meakin, his wife Svetlana and their daughter (pictured left) arrive at Gatwick from Kiev, Ukraine, after being urged to leave the country amid mounting tensions with Russia. Pictured right: Haider Ali, 21, from Birmingham, is all smiles as he arrives safe and sound at Gatwick from Ukraine, where he studies at a medical university Ken Stewart, 54, and his wife Tania, 36, (pictured together) are stranded as their baby Douglas does not yet have a passport, according to The Mirror Daniel Williams, 45, who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife The couple moved to Kyiv in December where their son was born thanks to the 'very different surrogacy laws' in Ukraine that allow for a swifter IVF and surrogacy process. Mr Garratt said he and his wife are growing increasingly concerned after the Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to encourage UK nationals to leave. Another British man - Daniel Williams, 45 - who is originally from the Isle of Wight and now lives in Kyiv as a business investor, has a four-month-old daughter with his Ukrainian wife. They are also stuck in the country, he has said. Mr Williams' wife has a valid travel visa, but their baby does not yet have a British passport or a Ukrainian passport to get to the UK by commercial means.' Jeremy Corbyn could be de-selected and blocked from standing as a Labour candidate at the next election in a move which would re-ignite the party civil war over his time in office. The former Labour leader has sat as an independent MP since October 2020 after refusing to apologise for claiming that allegations of anti-Semitism during his time in office were inflated by his opponents. Now attempts are being made to block him from representing Labour in Islington North even if he says sorry - a condition of his readmittance to the parliamentary party. Mr Corbyn has represented the London seat with a comfortable majority since 1983 and is likely to win even if - as he has threatened - he ran as an independent. Any effort to formally block him from being a Labour candidate would trigger an almighty row with his supporters who remain on the backbenches, as well as thousands of grassroots hard left activists. It would also infuriate leftwing union leaders like Sharon Graham of Unite, the trade union most closely linked to Mr Corbyn, and see other MPs quit the party. But it might also give his successor Keir Starmer a way of putting clean air between himself and his predecessor before voters go to the polls, showing it was no longer the party of Corbyn and his associates. Allies of Sir Keir told the Sunday Times that an apology by Mr Corbyn would now be too little, too late and and they would try to block him from standing for Labour officially. 'We are determined to bring this to a head. The current position is not sustainable,' they told the paper. The former Labour leader has sat as an independent MP since October 2020 after refusing to apologise for claiming that allegations of anti-Semitism during his time in office were inflated by his opponents. Allies of Sir Keir told the Sunday Times that an apology by Mr Corbyn would now be too little, too late and and they would try to block him from standing for Labour officially. Under rule changes agreed weeks ago, the party's national executive committee (NEC), which is controlled by Starmer loyalists, has more say in which candidates can stand at elections. They have power to decide who is on the longlist of candidates who could be selected to fight a seat at an election, which could happen as soon as next year. Mr Corbyn was suspended from Labour in October 2020 after claiming the scale of anti-Semitism had been 'dramatically overstated for political reasons' by opponents inside and outside Labour, along with the media. His suspension was later overturned by the party's National Executive Committee but he has not had the party whip - that allows him to represent it in the Commons - returned. While he remains a Labour Party member, Mr Corbyn has sat as an independent in the Commons ever since. He has already signalled his readiness to stand in his Islington North seat as an independent. But last month reports suggested he is being urged by his loyal inner circle to formally set up a new party. They want him to base it on the Peace and Justice Project he set up after stepping down as Labour leader in April 2020. It raises fears that leftwing Labour MPs could quit to join his upstart organisation, impacting on its ability to replace Boris Johnson's Tory administration at the next election. Sir Keir launched an astonishing attack on his predecessor last week, 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 is taking part tonight in an online rally entitled No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion, which will accuse the UK and US of 'ramping up the threat of war'. In an article for the Guardian today, 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.' Advertisement Erin Jackson became the first African-American woman to be crowned Queen of the Olympic ice rink. The 29-year-old speed skater of West Jordan, Utah, took the gold medal in the womens 500m speed skating race. The new star of speed, who ranked 24th at her first Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea four years ago, beat Japans Miho Takagi and Russian Olympic Committees Angelina Golikova, who had to settle for silver and bronze, respectively. Jackson said after her victory: 'I wish I could describe how I feel. It is amazing.' Erin Jackson became the first African-American woman to be crowned Queen of the Olympic ice rink rin Jackson of the USA celebrates after winning the Women's Speed Skating 500m event at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games Jackson, who ranked 24th at her first Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea four years ago beat Japans Miho Takagi and Russia's Angelina Golikova Jackson only began speedskating in September 2017, but quickly exceeded all expectations This medal means so much. It has been a tough couple of years and a tough beginning of this year. For this to come around like this, I am so happy. Jackson had declared it her ambition to increase racial diversity in speed skating on arriving in Beijing. She added: I realize people kind of look [up] to people who look like them in terms of what they feel like they can do.' So when people watch the Olympic Winter games and Roller Derby and other forms of skating, they might not see a lot of people of color out there.' Erin had declared it her ambition to increase racial diversity in speed skating on arriving in Beijing She said she realized people look up to competitors who look like them in terms of what they feel like they can do Jackson skates to victory to win the gold medal on day nine of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at National Speed Skating Oval Jackson is the first American woman to win the event since Bonnie Blair in 1994 Im looking forward to being one of those people the other young kids and people of color can look at and say hey shes out there doing it so we have some representation. Her story is a remarkable climb to gold. She only began speedskating in September 2017. She exceeded all expectations by qualifying for the South Korean Olympic Winter games in 2018. She said she wasnt expecting to qualify of the Olympic trials, although it was an ambition of her to be a member of team USA. 'I just didnt see it happening this quickly, she added. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit the campaign trail in Texas this weekend where she told the crowd that the Lone Star State flipping blue is 'inevitable' while endorsing two Democratic candidates there. 'Texas turning blue. Inevitable. Inevitable! It will happen. The only question is when,' the New York progressive representative said on Saturday. 'We are going to fight for a living wage. We're going to make sure we unionize the hell out of this state,' she continued, claiming that their support of Medicare for All, unions and reproductive freedoms all contribute to her backing Ocasio Cortez, 32, said that she feels if the deeply red state of Texas can flip, then the entire country will follow. Texas is the most populous red state, holding 38 Electoral College votes and 36 representatives in the U.S. House. The House split of Texas representatives is currently 23 Republican and 13 Democrat. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was in Texas on Saturday to rally for two Democratic candidates in their House races. She said if Democrats can flip the Lone Star State blue, then the rest of the country will follow She was in Texas campaigning for Democratic Congressional candidates Jessica Cisneros (left) and Greg Casar (right) on Saturday AOC posted a video of her dancing with a masked woman on Sunday She tweeted along with the video 'Ted Cruz could never', in taking aim at the Texas Republican senator Cruz shot back on Sunday with a response slamming AOC for not wearing a mask in the video but being around others who were wearing masks and backing mask mandates. He also tweeted another post simply stating: 'Nice mask' Some of Texas' cities have turned increasingly blue recently, especially areas like Austin where young populations are moving in droves from other states. But Republicans insist that Hispanic voters' recent embrace of Republican ideals could help keep the state red. Ocasio-Cortez was in San Antonio on Saturday supporting Jessica Cisneros and Greg Casar's campaigns, saying: 'Here's what is exciting about Jessica's race and Greg's race, is that we flip Texas, we flip the country.' Her endorsements, however, are in districts that are already held by Democratic candidates meaning rather than flip the seats she is hoping to hold them to keep her party's razor thin majority in the House. Cisneros is looking to unseat incumbent Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar in Texas' 28th Congressional District, meaning that his potential victory there would not see any change in the makeup of the delegation. Casar is running for Texas House District 35, which is currently held by retiring Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett. AOC poses with supports during a 'Get Out the Vote' rally on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas In 2019, Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz said during a Christian Science Monitor breakfast that the party cannot afford to lose Texas to Democrats. 'If we lose Texas, it's game over. I don't believe Texas will turn blue but central to that is we're going to have to work to communicate and turn people out.' On Sunday, AOC posted a video of her dancing maskless next to a woman in a mask to some Spanish music with the caption: 'Ted Cruz could never.' The two have had an on again off again Twitter spat ever since Ocasio-Cortez was elected to Congress. Cruz responded to her latest attack with: 'True that.' 'Only Dems can be such shameless mask hypocrites,' he added. 'Dance while you make the 'little people' mask up.' He also included the hashtag: 'Rules For Thee But Not For Me'. Right wing protesters showed up to AOC's rally on Saturday, February 12, 2022 'Here's what is exciting about Jessica's race and Greg's race, is that we flip Texas, we flip the country,' Ocasio-Cortez said at the Saturday rally Casar is running for Texas congressional district 35, which is currently held by retiring Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett Cisneros is looking to unseat incumbent Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar in Texas' 28th Congressional District Earlier on Sunday, Cruz shared a clip from his podcast The Verdict where he was discussing mask mandats and how Democratic politicians are balking the rules while enforcing them for the general population. 'Elitist Democratic politicians from Stacey Abrams to Barack Obama to Eric Garcetti to Gavin Newsom to Nancy Pelosi don't think the same rules apply to them that they want to force on everyone else!' he tweeted along with the clip. He also posted about AOC's dancing in another tweet on Sunday where he simply said: 'Nice mask.' Cruz has represented Texas in the Senate since 2013 and isn't up for reelection for a third term until 2024, when the country will also vote for the next president. In the 2020 election, Texas voted 52.1 per cent for Donald Trump's reelection and 46.5 per cent for Biden to take his place. In 2016, Texas went 52.2 per cent for Trump, showing virtually no difference in support between the four years. If both candidates are victorious, they would not see a change in the makeup of Texas' congressional delegation considering their districts are already blue. But Democrats need to hold onto every single seat to make sure their razor thin majority is not lost in the 2022 midterms In pushing for unions in Texas, AOC hit home with saying: 'We're going to make sure that not one dime is made exploitatively across any worker, especially the undocumented.' Migration has been at the center of U.S. politics for the last several years and especially has affected Texans as the southern border is overrun with illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers. Ocasio-Cortez has mixed results when it comes to endorsements and usually goes for backing the more progressive candidate to help move the Democratic Party even more to the left. A Canadian bank has frozen $1.1 million in donations to Freedom Convoy protesters through a crowdfunding platform as the anti-mandate movement drags into its third week. Toronto-Dominion Bank made the move after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued an order barring the dispersal of convoy donations made through GiveSendGo, which has raised more than $9.2 million for convoy supporters. A spokeswoman for the bank confirmed the funds were seized in accordance with last Thursday's court ruling. 'TD has asked the court to accept the funds, which were raised through crowdfunding and deposited into personal accounts at TD, so they may be managed and distributed in accordance with the intentions of the donors,' Carla Hindman told the Globe and Mail. Despite the provincial government making it illegal to donate to GiveSendGo's trucker campaigns, the crowdfunding platform said it has no plans to back down. 'Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo,' the company tweeted. 'All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns.' A Toronto-based bank has frozen $1.4 million in money transferred from a fundraising platform to a bank account in accordance with a recent Ontario Superior Court ruling. Freedom Convoy protestors are pictured in Surrey, British Columbia on February 12, 2022 Toronto-Dominion Bank said it froze donations from that were transferred to individual bank accounts Thousands of truckers descended in Ottawa on January 29 in protest of a new federal mandate that requires long-haulers to be vaccinated against Covid in order to re-enter the country. Unvaccinated Canadian drivers will be required to quarantine upon return to the country. It's the latest financial snafu for the convoy after Gofundme earlier this month froze $5 million US dollars in donations, claiming it wanted to determine how the funds would be used. It was provided with an explanation by the organizers and two days later, the crowdfunding site unlocked the account allowing donations to continue and released $1million in donated funds. But it was frozen again when donations neared $8 million US, after days of political pressure from left-wing politicians who have blasted the truckers as 'mercenaries.' Donors have since turned to GiveSendGo to support convoy participants. The platform's Support-a-Trucker campaign has amassed more than $583,000 US in donations, while the Freedom Convoy 22 campaign reached more than $9.27 million US, more than half its $16 million US goal. 'Money raised will be dispersed to our Truckers to aid them with the cost of the journey,' campaign organizers said. 'Funds will be spent to help cover the cost of fuel for our Truckers primarily, and will be used to assist with food and shelter if needed.' The convoy said in an update Saturday that it was challenging the provincial court's decision to freeze donations transferred into individual accounts. 'Once again the repeated actions by governments to prevent your donations from getting to the Ottawa truckers shows the importance of this fight for freedom,' organizers said in a statement posted to GiveSendGo. 'The best way is to continue donating to help the truckers here on the ground and not request a refund.' GiveSendGo's Support-a-Trucker campaign has amassed more than $583,000 US in donations, while the Freedom Convoy 22 campaign reached more than $9.27 million US, more than half its $16 million US goal The crowdfunding platform said it has no plans to back down. 'Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo,' the company tweeted 'All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns' Supporters of the truckers have vowed to stop doing business with TD after learning it froze donations. 'Due to the unethical and quite frankly illegal actions of @TD_Canada regarding the money theyre attempting to hold belonging to the fundraising efforts for the trucker protest I will be terminating all business relationships with @TDAmeritrade and urge others to do so as well,' tweeted @Jokerstars_CEO. 'Dangerous precedent,' added @beautifulwood. 'Whoever disagrees with this and has @TD_Canada accounts, close them in support of freedom.' Others backed the bank, tweeting: 'I will have to investigate whether I can move some money, or some business over to TD. I want to support a bank that supports a strong & united #Canada.' Twitter users were split on TD's actions, with some vowing to stop doing business with the bank, and others saying they plan to support it Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com Fox News Privacy Policy Freedom Convoy truckers have on Saturday continued a six-day standoff in Windsor, Ontario as they attempted to 'hold the line' on the Ambassador Bridge leading to the US border. Windsor police said in a statement Sunday that they arrested several police for mischief and towed vehicles as they worked to clear the protest. Other cities including Ottawa also faced an influx of protestors as around 4,000 had been reported by police on Saturday. Officials with the Ottawa police initially communicated to protestors earlier on Saturday to threaten arrests and fines if they did not clear the scene by midnight. A Canadian judge also previously asked the protestors to move by 7pm but failed to get them out. In addition, other demonstrators have also blocked borders to the Canadian province of Manitoba at the Emerson Port of Entry, which is shared with North Dakota as well as Coutts Crossing in Alberta, which brings truckers into and out of Montana. The problems have fed into current issues linked to the supply chain crisis as a shortage in auto parts have caused vehicle companies to temporarily shut down. Lindsey Graham is urging his ally Donald Trump to stop promoting conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was rigged, claiming on Sunday that the ex-president is 'hurting his chances' of re-election by doing so. It comes the same day as a new poll shows Republican voters are torn on whether they even want Trump as the GOP nominee in 2024 -- and even fewer Democratic voters who want President Joe Biden to run again. But according to Graham, the Republican presidential nomination is 'his nomination for the taking' -- unless he keeps making his 2020 loss the main focus of his platform. 'I am not contesting the 2020 election. I'd like to reform the system. The problems we found in 2020 need to be addressed. But the 2020 election is over for me,' the South Carolina Republican senator said on ABC News' This Week. 'He has a great chance of being president again in 2024, if he'll start comparing what he did as president versus what's going on now and how to fix the mess we're in. If he looks backward, I think he's hurting his chances.' While he hasn't formally announced a re-election bid, the former president has dropped numerous hints that another campaign was at least on his mind. Graham, one of Trump's most vocal supporters in the Senate, was recently lambasted as a 'RINO,' or Republican In Name Only, by the ex-president for breaking with him on the Capitol riot. Graham suggested to ABC News again that he may not support McConnell as Senate GOP leader if he doesn't have a 'working relationship' with Trump Sen. Graham tells @GStephanopoulos that former Pres. Trump has a great chance" of being elected again in 2024, but warns that if he continues to talk about the 2020 election, I think it hurts his cause and, quite frankly, it hurts the Republican Party. https://t.co/5jIwAMZYbo pic.twitter.com/C7eKpcXsCV This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 13, 2022 Trump at a Texas rally last month pledged to pardon his supporters who were arrested for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The remark earned instant bipartisan backlash. Graham, without mentioning Trump by name, released a statement declaring: 'All Americans are entitled to have a speedy trial and their day in court, but those who actively engage in violence for whatever political cause must be held accountable and not be forgiven.' ABC host George Stephanopoulos asked Graham about their recent public falling out and questioned how the GOP senator thinks Trump could change course now. 'Well, here's my statement about the president's situation right now. He's the most dominant figure in the Republican Party. I think Biden's approval ratings are in the tank because his policies are not working,' Graham said without addressing Trump's insult. 'For the president to win in 2024, he's got to talk about the future. He's got to talk about how to fix a broken border, how to repair the damage done through the Biden economic agenda and how to make the world a safer place.' He added that continuing to push claims the 2020 election was rigged in Biden's favor would have ramifications for the entire party. Graham's warnings to Trump come as a newly-published poll indicates that just 50 percent of Republican voters want the ex-president to run again in 2024 Meanwhile Democratic voters are growing even more distant from President Joe Biden 'I do believe, if he talked about what he's capable of doing and remind people what he did in the past, he has a chance to come back,' Graham said. 'If he continues to talk about the 2020 election, I think it hurts his cause and, quite frankly, it hurts the Republican Party.' Another prominent Republican lawmaker to break from Trump over the January 6 pardons was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called the event a 'violent insurrection.' Since Trump left office, McConnell has become a favorite punching bag of his and in recent months the ex-president has reportedly worked behind-the-scenes to gin up support to topple McConnell from his position at the head of the Senate GOP. Graham said on Sunday, 'any Republican leader in the House or the Senate has to have a working relationship with President Trump, because most Republicans like President Trump's policies.' He previously suggested he may not support McConnell if he failed to reconcile with Trump. 'A lot of us wish he would look forward, not backward. But he's very popular because he stands up to all the things that most Republicans believe need to be stood up to,' Graham said of the ex-president's popularity. But it appears not all Republicans feel the same as the ones on Capitol Hill do, according to CNN's new survey released on Sunday. Trump continued to push his election fraud claims at a rally in Texas last month where he also pledged to pardon his supporters who were arrested for storming the Capitol last year if he ran and was re-elected president The January-into-February poll revealed that 50 percent of registered Republicans and Independent voters who lean to the right would vote for Trump to be the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. However 49 percent said they'd prefer a different candidate. Among Republicans Trump's support is slightly higher, with 54 percent saying they hopes he runs again. But just 38 percent of GOP-leaning Independents felt the same. The lackluster sentiment for their party's top figure is shared by Democrats -- even more of whom are hesitant about a second Biden term. Just 45 percent of Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters said they wanted Biden as their nominee in 2024. Fifty-one percent prefer a different candidate to take up the president's mantle. Similar to Trump, registered Democrats are slightly more receptive to another Biden ticket. However unlike Trump he fails to capture a majority of their favor -- only 48 percent said they'd back another run. The share of left-leaning Independents who would support Biden is around 33 percent. Ahn Cheol-soo, right, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol, left, the presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, appear before the second TV debate among four of the presidential candidates, held at local broadcaster MBN in Seoul's Jung District, Friday. The other two candidates included Sim Sang-jung, on the back, of the Justice Party, and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Joint Press Corps Presidential race enters final stretch with candidate registrations Sunday By Jung Da-min Minor opposition People's Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo officially proposed fielding a single presidential candidate to main opposition People Power Party (PPP) candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, Sunday, in a bid to ensure a "landslide victory" against the ruling party. His proposal came as the race for the March 9 presidential election enters the final stretch with most candidates of different parties completing candidate registration, Sunday, the first day of the two-day registration period of the National Election Commission (NEC). Four major candidates, including Lee Jae-myung of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Yoon Suk-yeol of the PPP, Ahn of the People's Party and Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party, have registered their candidacies. With only about three weeks left ahead of the election, the prospect of a unified candidacy between the two opposition conservative parties Yoon and Ahn has risen as the biggest variable in the presidential race. On Sunday, Ahn held a surprise press conference to propose the unified candidacy to Yoon, floating the idea of conducting a primary of the two candidates based on public opinion polls. Although Yoon and the PPP welcomed Ahn's proposal, they opposed the primary based on public opinion polls and called on Ahn to make "a courageous decision," which was seen as an indirect call to back Yoon's single candidacy. Currently, the two mainstream candidates, Lee and Yoon, are in a neck-and-neck race in opinion polls, with Ahn coming in third. The unification of Yoon and Ahn, if achieved, is seen as a winning formula for the opposition bloc, but the result is unpredictable when the two sides are at odds over how to achieve that goal. Ahn said a unified candidacy would be the only way for either of the candidates to win the election by a landslide to demonstrate overwhelming public support for a leadership change and political reform of the country, especially when the current ruling DPK has a supermajority in the National Assembly. Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, speaks during a surprise press conference to announce his proposal for a unified candidate to the main opposition conservative People Power Party and its candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, held online through YouTube, Sunday. Captured from YouTube He added: "Even if an opposition candidate beats the ruling party candidate in a neck-and-neck race, it is highly likely that the president would have little power." Ahn also said a primary based on public opinion polls would assure fairness to both candidates and their supporters, as well as other members of the public who have remained undecided over their preferred candidate. "An overwhelming election victory is possible if both candidates first present their political visions and reform tasks as their election pledges to the members of the public, unify their candidacy through the primary based on public opinion polls and then form one team behind the single candidate and a running mate whoever wins the primary," Ahn said. "Then the two candidates would be able to work together after the election victory, to make the next administration a successful one." At odds over method Responding to Ahn's message, PPP spokesman Lee Yang-soo said: "We see the principle of unification of the opposition parties presented by candidate Ahn as a positive call reflecting the people's aspirations for a leadership change. However, the method proposed by candidate Ahn, which he referred to as a 'national primary,' runs the risk of going against the public's demand for the leadership change." The PPP spokesman said the gap between the approval ratings of Ahn and Yoon is already large and such a primary based on public opinion polls could be abused as a measure to divide the opposition bloc by the DPK and supporters of Lee. "We expect candidate Ahn Cheol-soo would make a courageous decision for the unification of the opposition bloc by respecting the people's aspirations and great cause for a leadership change," the spokesman said. The PPP's Yoon also said later in the day that he positively views Ahn's proposal and he would review the national primary method he proposed, but said the proposal has left much to be desired without giving further explanation. Yoon Suk-yeol, right, the presidential candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, shakes hands with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence ahead of their closed meeting at Signiel Seoul in Songpa District, Sunday. Courtesy of People Power Party In a survey of 1,001 adults of their preferred presidential candidates conducted from Feb. 8 to 10 by local pollster Gallup Korea, 37 percent of the respondents said they support Yoon, followed by Lee at 36 percent and Ahn at 13 percent. When there has been no surefire winner predicted in recent polls of the presidential hopefuls including the Gallup poll, the candidates have engaged in their last-ditch campaigning. DPK's Lee has been trying to expand his support base by appealing to swing voters and centrists. Lee recently held a series of meetings with veteran conservative politicians including Kim Chong-in, former interim chief of the PPP, former lawmaker Yi Sang-don and former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, delivers a speech during his visit to a local market in Seogwipo city on Jeju Island, Sunday. Yonhap PPP's Yoon has focused more on appealing to the younger generation in their 20s and 30s through different campaigning strategies including uploading YouTube videos targeting young voters. Sim of the Justice Party has focused on promoting the rights of social minority groups including workers subject to poor conditions, women struggling to achieve social equality and the disabled fighting for their basic rights. Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party, speaks during a policy conference with health and welfare counselors at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Joint Press Corps Auschwitz-Birkenau, near the town of Oswiecim, in what was then occupied Poland Auschwitz-Birkenau was a concentration and extermination camp used by the Nazis during World War Two. The camp, which was located in Nazi-occupied Poland, was made up of three main sites. Auschwitz I, the original concentration camp, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, a combined concentration and extermination camp and Auschwitz IIIMonowitz, a labour camp, with a further 45 satellite sites. Auschwitz, pictured in 1945, was liberated by Soviet troops 76 years ago on Wednesday after around 1.1million people were murdered at the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz was an extermination camp used by the Nazis in Poland to murder more than 1.1 million Jews Birkenau became a major part of the Nazis' 'Final Solution', where they sought to rid Europe of Jews. An estimated 1.3 million people were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, of whom at least 1.1 million died around 90 percent of which were Jews. Since 1947, it has operated as Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which in 1979 was named a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Treblinka, near a village of the same name, outside Warsaw in Nazi-occupied Poland Unlike at other camps, where some Jews were assigned to forced labor before being killed, nearly all Jews brought to Treblinka were immediately gassed to death. Only a select few - mostly young, strong men, were spared from immediate death and assigned to maintenance work instead. Unlike at other camps, where some Jews were assigned to forced labor before being killed, nearly all Jews brought to Treblinka were immediately gassed to death The death toll at Treblinka was second only to Auschwitz. In just 15 months of operation - between July 1942 and October 1943 - between 700,000 and 900,000 Jews were murdered in its gas chambers. Exterminations stopped at the camp after an uprising which saw around 200 prisoners escape. Around half of them were killed shortly afterwards, but 70 are known to have survived until the end of the war Belzec, near the station of the same name in Nazi-occupied Poland Belzec operated from March 1942 until the end of June 1943. It was built specifically as an extermination camp as part of Operation Reinhard. Polish, German, Ukrainian and Austrian Jews were all killed there. In total, around 600,000 people were murdered. The camp was dismantled in 1943 and the site was disguised as a fake farm. Belzec operated from March 1942 until the end of June 1943. It was built specifically as an extermination camp as part of Operation Reinhard Sobibor, near the village of the same name in Nazi-occupied Poland Sobibor was named after its closest train station, at which Jews disembarked from extremely crowded carriages, unsure of their fate. Jews from Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the Soviet Union were killed in three gas chambers fed by the deadly fumes of a large petrol engine taken from a tank. An estimated 200,000 people were killed in the camp. Some estimations put the figure at 250,000. This would place Sobibor as the fourth worst extermination camp - in terms of number of deaths - after Belzec, Treblinka and Auschwitz. Sobibor was named after its closest train station, at which Jews disembarked from extremely crowded carriages, unsure of their fate The camp was located about 50 miles from the provincial Polish capital of Brest-on-the-Bug. Its official German name was SS-Sonderkommando Sobibor. Prisoners launched a heroic escape on October 14 1943 in which 600 men, women and children succeeded in crossing the camp's perimeter fence. Of those, only 50 managed to evade capture. It is unclear how many crossed into allied territory. Chelmno (also known as Kulmhof), in Nazi-occupied Poland Chelmno was the first of Nazi Germany's camps built specifically for extermination. It operated from December 1941 until April 1943 and then again from June 1944 until January 1945. Between 152,000 and 200,000 people, nearly all of whom were Jews, were killed there. Chelmno was the first of Nazi Germany's camps built specifically for extermination. It operated from December 1941 until April 1943 and then again from June 1944 until January 1945 Majdanek (also known simply as Lublin), built on outskirts of city of Lublin in Nazi-occupied Poland Majdanek was initially intended for forced labour but was converted into an extermination camp in 1942. It had seven gas chambers as well as wooden gallows where some victims were hanged. In total, it is believed that as many as 130,000 people were killed there. A convicted bank robber who goes by the nickname 'Creeper' confessed to stomping to death the notorious leader of a child porn ring at a Michigan federal prison three years ago. Adam 'Creeper' Wright, who was serving 13 years at the Federal Correctional Institute in Milan, signed a plea agreement last week admitting that he kicked and stomped kiddie porn leader Christian Maire, 40, on January 2, 2019, in the fatal attack by the bank robber and two others. He showed no emotion, pleading guilty to second-degree murder, according to the Detroit Free Press. Wright faces up to 27 years for the killing at his sentencing in June. 'He has expressed great remorse for what he did,' Wright's attorney, Jim Thomas, told paper Friday. Maire, the father of two, was killed weeks into his 40-year sentence after being convicted of luring underage girls into video chat rooms and enticing them to disrobe, perform sex acts and encouraging them to cut themselves. Adam 'Creeper' Wright, seen here holding up a bank, pleaded guilty to fatally stomping child pornographer Christian Maire in a Michigan federal prison. He faces 27 years for the killing Christian Maire was sentenced to 40 years in a Michigan prison in December for creating 'The Bored Group'. He was convicted alongside eight other members of the group Maire wasn't just killed by 'Creeper,' according to the plea agreement. Alex 'Sniper' Castro, 41, shanked the kiddie pornographer with a homemade shiv and, with the help of Jason 'J' Kechego, 40, they hurled him down a flight of metal stairs, the court documents said. 'Defendants brutally murdered another inmate and severely assaulted other inmates and prison staff while in a federal prison,' federal prosecutors wrote in a filing last week. 'Their brazen and violent acts were on display for their fellow inmates to see, causing them to fear possible repercussions of cooperating in any manner with this investigation and prosecution.' 'Creeper' and 'Sniper' warned other inmates not to snitch or a similar fate would befall them, the feds said. 'Castro and Wright shouted out warnings of potential future violence toward other inmates,' assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Dawson wrote in her filing. Castro and Kechego's cases are still pending. Maire was the head of a group of nine other men that called themselves 'The Bored Group.' Fellow pornographer Michael Figura, 36, was also attacked in the 2019 prison fight, sources told The Detroit News. Maire was taken to the hospital and died the same day. Figura and three other inmates were also seriously injured. Maire, who was from New York, and his crew used fake photos of teenage boys on websites like Periscope, YouNow, and MyLOL.com, to flirt with more than 100 young girls between the ages of 10 and 17 across the country and coax them into compromising acts and self-harm. Prosecutors said that they preyed on vulnerable girls, some of whom had were suicidal. The group was brought down by the FBI in 2017 after a five-year run. During Maire's sentencing, some of the victims had a chance to confront him about the damage he had done to them. 'Thinking back to those days causes me to cry myself to sleep, wondering when the monsters will stop haunting me,' one victim told the judge, according to the Detroit Free Press. Maire broke down in tears during his sentencing, the newspaper reported. 'I'm really so ashamed of myself and all the harm I've caused my victims,' Maire told the court. 'I never knew I could sink this low ... but I am sick. Pornography led me down a very dark road. If I was here as a parent instead of a defendant, I would be devastated.' One of Maire's victims had predicted his death at his sentencing less than a month before he was killed. 'He's going to get the hell beaten out of him,' she told the Detroit Free Press in December 2018. They used fake pictures to lure more than 100 young girls to private online chat rooms, where they manipulated them to strip, masturbate, and perform other sex acts on camera A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a South Asian woman had hair torn from her scalp in a racially aggravated attack. The assault took place outside East Croydon Railway Station, south London, at around 6.45pm on December 18 when the 31-year-old victim got off a Route 119 bus. Scotland Yard said she had her hair pulled by the suspect, resulting in a portion being ripped from her scalp. The suspect then punched her in the back of the head causing her to fall. Police said the victim sustained facial injuries in the prolonged attack. A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault against a 31-year-old woman outside East Croydon Railway Station at 6.45pm on December 18 On Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said a 16-year-old male attended a south London police station and was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. The teenager remains in custody. Scotland Yard released a picture of a male they wanted to speak to in connection with the incident on Saturday February 12. Detective Constable Becky Hughes said in a statement yesterday: 'Tackling violent crime, especially against women and girls, remains our main priority. 'This was an entirely unprovoked assault which continued whilst the victim was lying on the ground.' Advertisement Freedom Convoy organizers have agreed to try to get truckers to move their rigs from residential streets in Ottawa in a backdoor deal with city mayor Jim Watson. The first potential break-through in the 16-day deadlock was revealed in letters between the civic leader and Tamara Lich, who is president of Freedom Convoy 2022. She said in a letter: The truckers here in Ottawa have always been about peaceful protest. Many of the citizens and businesses in Ottawa have been cheering us on but we are also disturbing others. That was never our intent. The Freedom Convoy Board agree with your request to reduce pressure on the residents and businesses in the City of Ottawa. We have made a plan to consolidate our protest efforts around Parliament Hill. We will be working hard over the next 24 hours to get buy-in from the truckers. We hope to start repositioning our trucks on Monday. As stated in your letter, we look forward to working with authorities to ensure the safe movement of our trucks to their new locations. Please reach should you have any questions. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the issues raised by the truckers. Watson had written to Lich saying: The protests in our city, and the occupation of certain residential districts by a large number of trucks, is now entering its third week. Our residents are exhausted and on edge, and out small businesses impacted by your blockades are teetering on the brink of permanent closure. I dont believe these harmful effects on our community and its residents were the intended consequences of your protests. Thats why I am writing to ask that you remove your convoy and its trucks from all of our residential neighborhoods I ask that you immediately seek the support of the truckers to follow this path. Stephanie Ravensbergen, 31, was posted in her family's truck in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday. She came to support her aunt and uncle, who have parked their semi in the streets since the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions mandate protest. She opposes vaccine and mask requirements and said it's important for schoolchildren to see their friends' faces and emotions At least 400 truckers were parked in Ottawas historic Confederation Square on Saturday night as 'Freedom Convoy' protests continued. Above, a truck passed Ontario Provincial Police officers and demonstrators on the Toronto-bound QEW highway after crossing the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario on Saturday A group of Freedom Convoy supporters gathered around a makeshift campfire across the street from Canada's Parliament Hill early on Sunday morning. Some of them traveled hundreds of miles to join the protest If the truckers follow this request, it would moving an estimated 100 rigs from their current location. The move was revealed as Federal minister Bill Blair warned the Canadian government could invoke special emergency powers to bust the blockade. He also called the lack of enforcement inexplicable and the police need to do their job. Blair, who is Emergency Preparedness Minister, said: We have an emergency act that.. there has been a near constant and vigorous examination of those authorities and whats required. He added on CTV show Question Period: When circumstances exceed the capacity of the provinces to manage it under their authorities, were quite prepared to use additional authorities that are available to the deferral government. Were prepared to use every took available to us, including emergency powers. This is a critical situation for the country. Ottawa mayor Watson said on the same show that theres no question that control has been lost in Canadas capital. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to chair a meeting of his countrys Incident Response Group on Monday. The developments also came after at least 200 Ottawa residents fought back against the occupation by blocking shipments of fuel into the Red Zone. They formed a human chain to prevent vehicles carrying jerry cans of diesel reaching the area. Veterans cleared snow and ice off the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during protests against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Saturday Protesters were forced to end their occupation of the busiest bridge from Canada to the United States on Sunday morning after police in Windsor, Ontario, started arresting demonstrators and towing away vehicles. Police swept through the convoy around 7am, following a standoff that began Friday evening when a Canadian judge issued a 10-day injunction making it unlawful to block Ambassador Bridge which connects Windsor with Detroit. Protesters in trucks, cars and vans have blocked traffic in both directions since Monday, choking the supply chain for Detroit's carmakers. Overnight on Saturday, 400 truckers parked their rigs in downtown Ottawa and braved temperatures plunging to a dangerous negative 24 Fahrenheit with the wind chill factor. Thousands of supporters thronged the scenic streets, festooned in the Canadian flag and creating a carnival atmosphere with impromptu street parties. One of the biggest was outside the Parliament Building - with a stage directly across from Prime Ministers window. Despite clearing the key bridge on Sunday morning, however, officials kept Ambassador Bridge closed to traffic. Protesters lingered in the vicinity of the bridge after their forced removal, however, gathering on sidewalks and in parking lots of local businesses. One small group convened at a Shell gas station with a couple of men in a pickup truck who were blasting Twisted Sister's 1984 protest anthem, 'We're not going to take it.' Christian Muntean, 45 - from Windsor, Ontario where the Ambassador Bridge is the busiest crossing point between the US and Canada, is currently in the Canadian capital, and said: We will win. There is no way back. I wont give up. Sitting in the cab of his immaculate yellow Peterbilt truck, the single dad added: Ive been here for the last three weeks. And I will stay until the end. The end will be when the government, Trudeau, lets us chose what we want. To let us chose what we want to put in our bodies.' 'Im not vaccinated. Thats my choice. But Im losing my livelihood because of it. Muntean said he will have lost 20,000 Canadian dollars if the stand-off lasts another week. Cowgirls on horseback joined the tuckers, laborers, and protesters rally at Parliament Hill in Ottawa in -24F temperatures to support the 'Freedom Convoy' supporters A protester on horseback joined the demonstration in Ottawa on Sunday. A tense standoff at a U.S.-Canadian border crossing crucial to both countries' economies appeared to be dissolving peacefully Saturday as Canadian police moved in to disperse the nearly weeklong blockade and demonstrators began leaving without resistance This my truck and I usually travel to the US, back and forth, back and forth. Now I cant do it because Im not vaccinated, he said. I normally use the Ambassador Bridge twice a week. Im losing a lot man, $20,000 a month. I am angry and disillusioned. But people are kind. They give us food, water and occasionally some money to help out. A Ukrainian trucker who has been driving in Canada for 10 years was equally defiant. He refused to be named, but insisted: Ive been here for two weeks and Im not going anywhere. I havent been vaccinated but thats up to me, my personal choice. Its going to be extremely cold tonight but Im not bothered by that.' 'This is more important than surviving freezing temperatures- this is about our freedom of choice and our livelihoods. I am losing at least $1,000 a day being here but Im staying.' A cop policing the thousands of Canadian flag-waving protestors joining the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa has admitted to DailyMail.com: They are in control no doubt about that. Demonstrators in Ottawa continued to drastically outnumber the city's entire 1,480-strong force on Sunday, with officers now reduced to standing by and watching as around 4,000 people are now part of the occupation. In fact, there appears to be a growing element of sympathy among some officers for the truckers and others who woke up on Sunday morning after enduring bone-chilling overnight temperatures of negative 24 Fahrenheit with wind chill. Asked if he believed police would move in to smash the demonstration in Canada's capital city, he replied: 'No, I cannot see that happening. 'It doesn't matter how many boots we have on the ground, they have more. 'It's going to be up to these people, and I guess the politicians, when this ends.' The officer, who would not be named, continued: 'We're doing the best we can, but we are outnumbered, overwhelmed and exhausted - especially on the weekend when lots of people who are not part of the actual trucker convoy have come down here. 'Our priority is to keep the peace and make sure everyone is safe. 'It's less about enforcement. I can't go around focused on violations for openly carrying alcohol and stuff like that that isn't hurting anyone. We can't start taking away fuel and water and the things these people need to survive.' The cop also emphasized that using all his department's resources to police the burgeoning demo would leave the rest of the city vulnerable. 'People don't realize that this is a city of 1 million people and this is happening in a few blocks of downtown and only about 6,000 people live in the core,' he told DailyMail.com. A wall of signs, flags and other showings of support for the truckers was displayed at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday Hundreds turned out at a rally in Ottawa to back the 'Freedom Convoy' 'We have to continue responding to calls all over the city so we can't pull everyone down here. 'We are stretched. Vacation times have been suspended and everyone is doing overtime. We come here to a hotel and get a few hours of sleep and a shower and then we're back out on the street. 'We're away from our families. I feel like we're doing what we can with what we have to make this safe for everyone no matter what side you're on.' He made his views plain as the truckers' protest over a Canadian government mandate - forcing them to be fully vaccinated when they return from their regular runs to the United States - continued to spread across the country. Directly across from the Parliament Buildings, five men and a woman gathered around a makeshift campfire on Sunday morning amid the cacophony of noise from running truck engines and generators on day 16 of Ottawa's 'Red Zone' occupation. More than 400 trucks are clogging the streets of the city. They all backed up the view that cops are now standing well back and in some cases actually helping the demonstrators. Will, 50, who refused to give his last name and is not a trucker, traveled 310 miles from Guelph, Ontario, said: 'From what I can tell, they want to be here less than we want to be here. 'They're walking around, they're saying 'hi' to people, they're fist-bumping people not all of them but I'd say that a good 75 percent of them are just miserable.' The hardy protestor and his group slept out in the grueling cold with the others and has been in Ottawa three weeks. He continued: 'At the very beginning the police were trying to do things to dissuade everybody. Take gas, take wood. Make up a couple of lies here and there, put it on the news. 'Now, I haven't seen anybody get a ticket. 'There's too many people. If they kept taking the gas you can't get no heat. If they take the wood, you can't heat. And there's kids here, too. If somebody freakin' died in their truck' 'I don't think the police could stop it. I don't think they could do it. But the army could. However, they're not going to fire on civilians. And I'm in it for the long haul, as long as I can stay.' His fellow group member John, 57, who hitchhiked 225 miles from North Bay, Ontario, weighed in: 'Even if they took every person off the grounds they still have all those trucks. Counter-protesters gathered in support of vaccines and mandates as a larger group of people against COVID-19 measures has grown into a broader anti-government protest in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday Anti-mandate protesters demonstrated in the snow during a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, on Saturday Demonstrators in Ottawa continued to drastically outnumber the city's entire 1,480-strong force on Sunday, with officers now reduced to standing by and watching as around 4,000 people are now part of the occupation 'It's not a win. How do you win it? It would take months to make it a win because you still have vehicles that you have to move.' John said he lost a glove and a cop came to the rescue. 'He saw me sleeping me on the steps and he brought me gloves with heating pads in them, said the demonstrator. 'I can't even publicly thank him for it because he would lose his job or have some sort of blowback. It's a shame.' He added: 'Look, if Canadians who are known the world over for being polite can get this well organized and riled up, then I'm certain folk in the US would take it to a different level.' A joint command center has now been set up between The Ottawa Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A statement from the Ontario force on Saturday said this was to beef up enforcement that had been limited by 'safety concerns arising from aggressive, illegal behavior by many demonstrators' and 'limited police enforcement capabilities'. It added: 'We have a plan to end this unlawful occupation and await necessary reinforcements to do so.' Ottawa City councilor Diane Deans, chair of the police services board, has admitted: 'They (police officers) have been working very hard under very stressful circumstances. 'Everyone in OPS is extremely tired. This has gone on for 16 days with right now no end in sight, and they need help and resources.' Ottawa mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency in the city last week. His spokesman Patrick Champagne called the protest an 'unprecedented insurrection, which is now national and international in scope'. Saturday saw many of the thousands of demonstrators and their supporters partying to loud music right outside the office window of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Street vendors had set up stalls selling Canada flags and were doing a brisk trade with people who draped them over their shoulders to continue the almost carnival-like atmosphere. Firework displays on a nearby street went on past midnight. As demonstrators woke up on Sunday morning, music continued to blare from various locations around the static trucks. But amid the revelry, truckers whose livelihoods depend on crossing the border to the US, the atmosphere over the weekend was more somber. Drivers who parked their rigs in Ottawa's historic Confederation Square continued to denounce Trudeau and remained defiant despite the lack of facilities and temperatures. Beryl Vertue, the renowned British television producer known for bringing Sherlock Holmes to the screen, has died aged 90. Across her varied career, Vertue progressed from secretary to talent agent before establishing herself as an award-winning producer of TV and film through her company Hartswood Films. The influential media executive was nicknamed 'Sherlock's godmother' by the show's star Benedict Cumberbatch for her role in bringing the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adaption to the BBC. Her company was also behind the hit sitcom Men Behaving Badly, which ran for six series in the 90s and enjoyed a spin-off in the US. 'It's with the heaviest of hearts that we have to share the sad news that mum/Beryl passed away peacefully last night,' her daughters and Hartswood Films co-producers Sue and Debbie said in a statement. 'It wasn't Covid, it was just her nearly 91-year-old body saying enough is enough.' The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Dawn French led the tributes to the late producer, tweeting: 'Beryl Vertue. Mighty & marvellous. A huge loss.' And Amanda Abbington, who starred as Mary Watson in Sherlock, wrote: 'Desperately sad to hear the news about the wonderful and incredible Beryl Vertue. 'She was a powerhouse of a woman. She used to grab my cheeks and squeeze them really hard for being 'a funny girl'. Which coming from her was the biggest compliment. 'She will be so very missed.' The influential media executive was nicknamed 'Sherlock's godmother' by the show's star Benedict Cumberbatch (right) for her role in bringing the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adaption to the BBC (From left to right) Presenter Heida Reed, Amanda Abbington, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue and Steven Moffat, winner of the Radio Times Audience Award for 'Sherlock', and presenter Eleanor Tomlinson pose in the winners room at the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards at Theatre Royal on May 10, 2015 in London, England Beryl Vertue, the renowned British television producer known for bringing Sherlock Homes to the screen, has died aged 90 (Vertue pictured in 2018 at the Women in Film and TV Awards) Vertue's career started when she was asked by Steptoe And Son writers Ray Galton (C) and Alan Simpson (L) to type up their scripts in the early 1950s Vertue was made an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2016 for her work in the TV industry. Vertue is pictured being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London (L to R) Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue, and Steven Moffat of Sherlock Holmes pose in front of the winners boards at the Philips British Academy Television Awards held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on May 22, 2011 in London, England Vertue's career started when she was asked by Steptoe And Son writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson to type up their scripts. When in the mid-1950s the pair set up Associated London Scripts (ALS) with Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes, she began finding work and negotiating fees for figures such as sitcom scriptwriter Johnny Speight and actor-comedian Frankie Howerd, in effect becoming their agent. She also had success selling shows such as Til Death Us Do Part and All In The Family to the US market. In 1967, music manager and impresario Robert Stigwood bought a majority stake in ALS and Vertue became managing director of his new company RSO. She founded Hartswood Films in 1979 and it would go on to produce shows including the hit 1990s sitcom Men Behaving Badly starring Martin Clunes, Neil Morrissey, Leslie Ash and Caroline Quentin, as well as Sherlock and Dracula starring Danish actor Claes Bang. In a 2016 interview, Vertue said it took a few years for Hartswood Films to get off the ground. 'I began to lose confidence,' she recalled. 'I thought: I can't do it. Then I happened to see a piece of paper on a desk - God must've put it there or somebody - some blurb from a publisher, and there was this book ''Men Behaving Badly.'' 'I thought I'll send off for that, it's a funny title, it might be a film... I read the book and then thought it's a TV series, that's how it began.' Vertue's daughter Sue followed in the TV industry as a producer and is married to writer and producer Steven Moffat, former showrunner of Doctor Who and co-creator of Sherlock. Vertue was made an OBE in 2000 and a CBE in 2016 for her work in the TV industry. In 2004, she received Bafta's Alan Clarke award for outstanding creative contribution to television. And March 2012 saw her honoured with the lifetime achievement gong at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. In 2016, Cumberbatch presented her with a lifetime achievement prize at the Women In Film And TV Awards. Vertue's daughters Sue and Debbie said: 'We were there so the passing was as good as one could hope for. Nothing wrong with her brain - even earlier this week she was grilling us both about work. 'It's really impossible to believe that she has gone though, because I know we're not alone in thinking that somehow she'd go on forever. She meant so much to so many.' Famous names including Dawn French and Benedict Cumberbatch paid tribute to the TV producer Beryl Vertue with her Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medal, following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London, 2016 'She wasn't just our mum, she was our best friend, our mentor, our adviser, our role model, our holiday companion, our giggle-maker and our boss! She adored her family and was so proud of us all. She also adored her career and spending time with everybody.' 'She loved a glass of wine at lunchtime, she loved asking the common sense question, she was often the last person at a party, she didnt suffer fools, she was fair, she was kind, she was fun, she was stubborn, in fact she was the total package and we will miss her beyond words.' 'She was more than a mother to us - she was also a friend. To many in the industry she was more than a friend - she was often a mother.' Tributes have flooded in for the legendary producer, including from Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss, who launched the show on the BBC with Moffat. Gatiss today tweeted: 'Beryl Vertue. What a life. An extraordinary legacy. From Goons to Rag & Bone Men, Daleks to Consulting Detectives. She saw it all and did most of it. 'But foremost - a wonderful woman, a loyal colleague and an absolute scream. She was loved.' In 2016, Vertue was presented with a lifetime achievement prize at the Women In Film And TV Awards Tributes to Vertue have flooded in, led by Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss. Gatiss today tweeted: 'Beryl Vertue. What a life. An extraordinary legacy. From Goons to Rag & Bone Men, Daleks to Consulting Detectives. She saw it all and did most of it. 'But foremost - a wonderful woman, a loyal colleague and an absolute scream. She was loved.' Charlotte Moore, the BBC's chief content officer, hailed her impact on the British TV industry. She said in a statement: 'Beryl Vertue enjoyed an extraordinary career as one of the most influential women in British broadcasting. 'A patron of British comedy and drama, she was a producer known for her great tenacity and charm - and she literally helped shape the TV industry as we know it today. 'She was always incredibly kind and generous with her advice. She was an inspiration and a true role model for all women in television.' And Alistair Petrie, who portrayed Major James Sholto in Sherlock, added: 'The truly great Beryl Vertue has left us. What a human being. What a creative and extraordinary life force. She will be missed by so many.' Vertue is survived by her two daughters. The US has temporarily halted avocado shipments from a violence-ridden Mexican state after an American health inspector was threatened, Mexico's agriculture ministry said Saturday. The abrupt suspension of the key guacamole ingredient - which came a day ahead of this year's Super Bowl - came after a health official received a threatening call to his cell phone, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development said in a statement. The health worker had been carrying out an inspection in Uruapan, a city in Michoacan, a gang-plagued region that's among Mexico's deadliest states. It has for decades been used as a drug-trafficking hub and the situation has only worsened amid frequent armed struggles for power between rival cartels. Health officials did not disclose the specific nature of the threat, but it was serious enough to pause imports pending the results of an investigation by the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and and Department of Agriculture, the statement said. In the past six weeks, Michoacan have exported more than 135 thousand tons of avocados to the US, the Mexican government said. The state is the world's largest avocado exporter. Michoacan growers in 2019 began taking up arms to protect themselves against thieves and drug cartels robbing them of their 'green gold,' using AR-15 rifles to defend themselves against deadly cartels The US government put a pause on avocado imports from Michoacan state after one of its health inspectors received a threat via cell phone Mexican drug cartel members have been for years threatening members of the lucrative avocado industry. Michoacan growers in 2019 began taking up arms to protect themselves against thieves and drug cartels robbing them of their 'green gold,' using AR-15 rifles to defend themselves against deadly cartels. Soaring US consumption has lifted the region out of poverty in the past decade, with Mexico in 2020 exporting more than $2.7billion US of the fruit, according to Statista. But the cash flow has also brought growing rates of extortion, kidnapping, and avocado theft. The situation has become so dangerous that hundreds of avocado growers have formed a self-defense group called Pueblos Unidos to protect their fields. A a bullet hole is pictured on the window of a house, in El Aguaje, Michoacan in Mexico, on February 9, 2022, a region that's become overwhelmed by drug violence It isn't the first time the US Department of Agriculture's officials have been threatened. In August 2019, a team of inspectors were 'directly threatened' in Ziracuaretiro, a town just west of Uruapan in Michoacan. While the agency didn't specify what happened, local authorities said a gang robbed the truck the inspectors were traveling in at gunpoint. The US lifted a ban on Mexican avocados in 1997, decades after the ban was implemented in 1914 to prevent weevils, scabs and pests from entering U.S. orchards. The dangerous situation in gang-controlled Michoacan was again highlighted in January, when footage showed drug cartels using drones to drop explosives onto inhabitants of a Tepalcatepec forest. It was the latest demonstration of unchecked violence in the region as the drones, controlled by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, rained down explosives on the shacks. Footage from the attack emerged just weeks after the nearby city of Chinicuila in Michoacan reported that roughly half of its population fled, many illegally into the US, to escape the cartel's violence. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has hinted QR code check-ins could soon be scrapped despite his state government insisting they will remain. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the premier admitted the check-ins were 'under very active review'. 'The use of QR codes is under very active review at the moment, as are all our rules,' he said. 'We hope to make some announcements very soon.' 'Now that we've hit the peak of Omicron, now those cases are coming down, we do have some room to make some refinements and adjustments.' Mr Andrews's comment comes a day after treasurer Tim Pallas dismissed hopes the measure could soon be ditched. Daniel Andrews has hinted QR code check-ins could soon be scrapped despite his state government insisting they will remain Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the premier admitted the check-ins were 'under very active review' 'I think it is apparent that people are getting a little complacent around QR codes,' he said on Saturday. 'The important thing to bear in mind, however, is that they do serve a vitally important part of the architecture for the vaccinated economy.' Victorian residents appear to be using the QR code check-ins fewer times than before with check-ins falling by half since December. Some 45.6 million check-ins were recorded in the final week of November before the figure dropped to a weekly average of 20.3 million in February. Mr Andrews said Victoria aimed to be in lockstep with NSW on rules and the state's northern neighbour was planning to ease check-in requirements by the end of February. Queensland has already scrapped check-ins at venues where proof of vaccination is not required, such as supermarkets, retail outlets, hairdressers and gyms. 'We don't have many rules on at the moment but we can further streamline those,' Mr Andrews said. Victoria's density limits also being reviewed, he noted. Victorian Liberal-Nationals opposition MP David Southwick urged the government to make the changes. Victorian residents appear to be using the QR code check-ins fewer times than before with check-ins falling by half since December Victoria's density limits also being reviewed, premier Daniel Andrews noted on Sunday 'We are now in the third year of the pandemic - it's ridiculous that small businesses are still facing thousands of dollars in fines for a system that is now effectively redundant,' he said in a statement. Victoria on Sunday reported 18 COVID-19 deaths and 7,223 infections. Of the new cases revealed, 4,859 were detected through rapid antigen tests and 2,364 via PCR lab testing. Health authorities say the state is now managing a touch under 55,000 active cases in total. There are 465 people in Victorian hospitals, 22 fewer than the day before. Of these, 181 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care, 17 of them currently requiring ventilation. Victoria on Saturday achieved a 50 per cent triple vaccination rate for eligible recipients and Mr Andrews encouraged people to keep lining up for a booster. With hospitalisations having halved since late January, the Victorian government has moved to lift a 'code brown' pandemic alert issued for the health system. Some 45.6 million check-ins were recorded in the final week of November before the figure dropped to a weekly average of 20.3 million in February The unprecedented alert was implemented in January as hospitals and health services came under increasing pressure due to the Omicron wave and saw urgent services further cut back and staff leave postponed. The measure has been in place for more than three weeks and will be lifted at midday on Monday. 'Next week is the fourth week and we're confident that while still going to be very, very busy that we are in a position to safely lift the code brown alert,' Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters on Friday. Non-urgent elective surgery will also be ramped up from this week, allowing private hospitals in metropolitan areas to perform up to half of all elective surgery and those in regional Victoria can do 75 per cent. All other public hospitals in Melbourne will continue to be restricted to emergency and urgent elective surgery, with the health minister to consider further easing next week. Thousands of homes were left without electricity last night after a power outage hit areas across North West London and Hertfordshire. Residents took to social media to report the power outage to UK Power Networks after their homes were affected at around 6pm yesterday. UK Power Networks confirmed that 38 postcodes across London and Hertfordshire, including Wembley, Stanmore and Harrow, had been affected by the power cut. They assured homeowners their electricity would be restored 'between 8.30pm and 9.30pm'. But they later updated the advice, warning some homes could still be without power until 12.30am. The power cut was restored at around midnight, according to UK Power Networks. Homes were left without electricity after an unplanned power outage hit North West London One resident shared footage of their street which had been plunged into darkness after the power outage hit the Wembley Park area The huge power cut hit 38 postcodes across London and Hertfordshire yesterday evening In a message on social media UK Power Networks confirmed that areas in North West London had been affected by a power cut Last night UK Power Networks said the power cut was caused after 'an underground electricity faulted the high voltage network' and that engineers were investigating the issue. National Grid ESO said in a tweet: 'We apologise for the disruption to consumers in North West London who have been disconnected this evening. 'Some have already been reconnected and engineers are working hard to ensure that all consumers are reconnected as soon as possible.' Homeowners took to social media to report the power outage and ask others about the issue. One person asked: 'Just had a power cut in HA8 for 20 odd minutes. All phone lines and mobile networks were down too. What happened?' While another person added: 'Power cut in HA8. Any information please?' Elsewhere another commented: 'Power cut in WD6 3. Power went off about 10 minutes ago.' UK Power Networks confirmed the postcode areas that have been affected by the power outage Residents have been taking to social media to report the power outage to UK Power Networks after their homes were affected at around 6pm today Meanwhile one resident shared footage of their street which had been plunged into darkness after the power outage hit the Wembley Park area. In a message on Twitter UK Power Networks said: 'Sorry for the disruption. We have lost power to a large area and have staff on the way to resolve this for you. 'The estimate at the moment is to have you back on between 20.30 and 21.30.' UK Power Networks confirmed that the following areas had been affected: CB25 0, EN5 3, HA0 2, HA0 3, HA0 4, HA1 2, HA1 3, HA2 0, HA3 0, HA3 5, HA3 7, HA3 8, HA3 9, HA7 1, HA7 2, HA7 3, HA7 4, HA8 4, HA8 6, HA8 7, HA8 8, HA8 9, HA9 6, HA9 7, HA9 8, HA9 9, HAO 2, HP1 3, IP20 9, NW7 3, NW7 4, NW9 8, NW9 9, SS5 5, UB6 0, W3 9, WD6 3, WD6 4. MailOnline has contacted UK Power Networks for comment. Britons with spouses in Ukraine have spoken of their worry for loved ones' safety and told of feeling 'frustrated' at being unable to see them as the threat of a Russian invasion looms. British people in the country are being urged to leave immediately following updated advice from the Foreign Office on Friday evening, which said to 'leave now while commercial means are still available'. Gary Smith, 53, from Newcastle, met his wife Helen, 55, in 2012 and has regularly flown to and from Ukraine to visit her, but now faces an anxious wait for their reunion. Gary Smith with his wife Helen. His wife has no plans to leave, given a visitor's visa could take weeks to secure Jez Myers, 44, a business consultant who has split his time between Manchester and Kyiv since 2018, cannot return to the country as planned to see his Ukrainian partner Helen is Russian but has lived in Ukraine for more than 30 years, and now works there as a university lecturer. Speaking to PA agency, Mr Smith said: 'I'm here and she's there, and I can't do anything about it. 'That's the frustrating part - the ball is in Putin's court. I'm more worried than her, I said to her: "I'm worried for your safety."' Mr Smith added that he is simple left 'praying' as his wife has no plans to leave, given a visitor's visa could take weeks to secure. 'She's got a life there now, her life is in Kharkiv,' Mr Smith explained. 'I'm just praying to the big man,' he said of the prospect of war. 'If the Russians do invade - God forbid they do - it'll be a long time before I see Helen.' Helen is Russian but has lived in Ukraine for more than 30 years, and now works there as a university lecturer Jez Myers, 44, a business consultant who has split his time between Manchester and Kyiv since 2018, cannot return to the country as planned to see his Ukrainian partner. They will now have to face Valentine's Day apart, and Mr Myers has told of his concern at the lack of clarity for the future. He said: 'I was due to fly back tomorrow morning... but it would be naive at best to not follow the FCDO's advice. 'I'm worried and I'm worried for her safety. 'We're now spending Valentine's Day apart, and she's having to make decisions around contingencies...Does she go to Lviv, where it's going to be very busy, but possibly a bit safer? Does she fly out to Poland?' 'There's just a lack of clear information.' 'For a Brit, you should leave the country - and if you have a Ukrainian partner, they should apply for a visa. 'But my partner, she's faced with this situation (and thinking): "Well this is my country, this is my home. Do I stay and fight?"' Mr Myers stressed that for many Ukrainian spouses, there is more to think about beyond fleeing the country. He added: 'She's going, "if I leave the country, I'm leaving behind my mum, my dad, my brother, my grandmother". 'There's absolutely that helplessness felt by Ukrainians.' Airlines today began suspending flights to Ukraine and the country's government reportedly banned entry to Russian citizens over fears of an invasion and the threat of hit squads and saboteurs trying to enter the country. Dutch carrier KLM announced it was stopping flights to and from the country until further notice, amid sensitivity in the Netherlands to potential danger in Ukrainian airspace following the 2014 shooting down of jetliner MH17 as it flew over territory held by Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people aboard died in the disaster, including 198 Dutch citizens, while Russia was widely condemned as being responsible. Germany's Lufthansa also said on Sunday it was considering suspending flights. There was further upheaval yesterday as Ukrainian carrier SkyUp was forced to divert a flight to Moldova as the leasing company which owned the plane refused to let it enter Ukrainian airspace. Airlines today began suspending flights to Ukraine. Pictured: Passengers are seen boarding a plane out of Ukraine on Sunday after foreign nations including the UK and the US warned their citizens to get out while they can International fears of a large-scale Russian invasion now risks closing transport routes out of Ukraine. Avianews warned that Ukraine could soon become a 'no-fly zone' for commercial aircraft. According to the publication, unless an agreement is made between the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and international insurers and airlines, Ukraine will gradually be closed to air traffic. It also emerged that remaining commercial flights to and from Ukraine face being grounded from tomorrow. Jenny Morrison has become the centre of a social media firestorm as outraged Australians slam the nation's first lady for her comments about sexual assault survivor Grace Tame. Appearing on 60 Minutes, Mrs Morrison expressed her disappointment in Ms Tame's behaviour during an Australian of the Year function at The Lodge in Canberra last month. The activist, who has been critical of the Morrison government's handling of sexual assault matters, was famously photographed in a frosty exchange with the prime minister. Despite Ms Tame's personal reservations, Mrs Morrison said she was 'disappointed' by the interaction and Ms Tame should have displayed 'manners and respect'. Jenny Morrison has come under fire after saying sexual assault survivor Grace Tame should have hidden her displeasure towards Scott Morrison at an event last month 'I just found it a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,' she said. 'I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in. I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.' Mrs Morrison added that she wants her daughters to 'grow up to be fierce, strong, independent, amazing people' but she thinks 'they can still do that and show kindness to other people and be polite and have manners'. Many Aussies were left outraged Mrs Morrison's suggestion the sexual assault advocate hide her emotions, while some felt she had a point. 'Grace Tame does not lack manners,' Women's Agenda contributing editor Georgie Dent Tweeted. 'She rejected the deeply ingrained and toxic expectation on women to smile even when theyre deeply uncomfortable and she acted with integrity. The 2021 Australian Of The Year shared a frosty exchange with the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra last month (pictured) 'I will be delighted if my daughters have one 100th of Grace Tames dignity.' Former Liberal MP Julia Banks issued a message to Mrs Morrison, who she 'met briefly'. 'I know Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins. I know and have worked with Scott. I know a lot of people who work[ed ]with him. 'To Jenny (who Ive met briefly) I say "with manners & being polite" - everyone I know is disappointed in him.' Walkley Award-winning investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr blasted Mrs Morrison's 'insensitivity'. 'So Jenny Morrison says shes disappointed by Grace Tames lack of manners. Australia is disappointed in Jenny Morrison being utterly self absorbed and hugely, woefully devoid of intelligence or sensitivity,' she tweeted. Another woman said: 'I'm disappointed that Jenny Morrison still has no real understanding of what Grace Tame has been through and what she stands for.' Poll Is Jenny Morrison right to say Grace Tame should've been polite to the PM? Yes, Tame was so disrespectful No, Tame can do whatever she wants Is Jenny Morrison right to say Grace Tame should've been polite to the PM? Yes, Tame was so disrespectful 976 votes No, Tame can do whatever she wants 358 votes Now share your opinion Others pointed out Ms Tame appeared friendly towards Mrs Morrison, and the icy greeting was only targeted at her husband. 'When Jenny Morrison says Grace Tame did not show manners, she was talking about how she treated Scott. She smiled and was friendly with Jenny,' one person wrote. However, some sided with Mrs Morrison, agreeing with her opinion. 'Good response,' one woman said of Mrs Morrison's comments. 'Grace Tame has admirable qualities but needs to learn some basic manners and respect for other people.' 'God forbid a wife stand up for her husband! How dare she!' another added. 'Had to be said Jenny. Well done,' a third social media user commented. Jenny rapidly climbed to the top trend on Twitter on Monday morning as Australians weigh in on the Morrison family's behind-the-scenes exclusive interview with Channel Nine. While Ms Tame is yet to formally comment on the latest incident, she has responded by liking posts online criticising the interview and the Morrisons. Former Liberal MP Julia Banks issued a message to Mrs Morrison, who she 'met briefly' One of social media posts described the interview as 'propaganda' while another read: 'Everyone I know is disappointed (in Scott Morrison).' A third liked post described Mr Morrison as a 'Villain' and Ms Tame as a 'Hero'. Ms Tame was seen giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance during the January 25 event. After the exchange made headlines, Ms Tame explained her reasons for not suppressing her disappointment towards Mr Morrison. 'The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders,' she wrote on Twitter. 'It is dependent on hypocrisy. My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen in fact I have worn the consequences of civility for the sake of civility.' At the time, Mr Morrison responded to the controversy saying he always greets guests 'with a smile' when they are welcomed into his home. 'When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and theyre always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate,' he said. The Prime Minister has been on the receiving end of much criticism over the past year from Ms Tame, who was awarded the Australian of the Year title in 2021 for her campaigning efforts on behalf of victims of sexual abuse. The pair's relationship has been rocky since Ms Tame first began her tenure, with the advocate claiming Mr Morrison whispered 'Well, gee, I bet it felt good to get that out', after she made her powerful acceptance speech last year. Soon afterward, Ms Tame took up the cause of Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal Party staffer who said she was sexually assaulted inside Parliament House and accused the Morrison government of covering it up. When Mr Morrison later apologised to Ms Higgins for her experiences, citing advice from his wife and consideration of his own children, Ms Tame hit out at him and said 'it shouldn't take having children to have a conscience'. Earlier this month, Ms Tame revealed in a bombshell speech at the National Press Club she received a threatening call in August from a senior member of a government-funded organisation urging her not to criticise the PM ahead of this year's election. The 27-year-old said the call reminded her of threats from her 58-year-old maths teacher who raped her when she was 15. The Morrison government has apologised and has launched an investigation into the incident. Korean short track skaters wave after their second place finish in the women's 3,000-meters relay final during the short track speedskating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Sunday. AP-Yonhap Korea skated to silver in the women's 3,000m short track relay at Beijing 2022 on Sunday, collecting its third consecutive medal in the event. The team of Choi Min-jeong, Lee Yu-bin, Kim A-lang and Seo Whi-min finished behind the dominant Netherlands at Capital Indoor Stadium for South Korea's third medal in short track and its fifth overall in Beijing. This was the second silver medal in Beijing for Choi, who'd finished second in the women's 1,000m on Friday. Korea started the 27-lap race in fourth place and stayed in the back of the pack for most of the way. The Netherlands and China went back and forth for the top spot. With 12 laps to go, South Korea briefly moved into third place in a tightly-contested race, with Canada not too far behind in fourth. Police and community members in Hampton, Virginia, are continuing to search for missing four-year-old Codi Bigsby after a childs jacket was found in a field behind his father Cory's apartment, where he was reportedly last seen on January 31. Hampton police searched the area with a K9 on Friday and confirmed finding the jacket, which was blue and appeared dirty, along with tire tracks on the ground. The discovery comes a week after police arrested Codis father Cory and charged him with seven counts of child neglect after he admitted to investigators that he left his young children aged 5, 4 and 2 at home alone on numerous occasions dating back to December, Hampton police wrote in a statement on February 3. Hampton police said that Cory Bigsby confessed to leaving the children at home alone as he visited several locations over a two-hour period in the evening on January 25, according to a criminal complaint seen by local news station WAVY. Police are continuing to search for Codi Bigsby, 4, after a boy's jacket was found behind the apartment where he was reportedly seen last A community member reportedly found the jacket, which was covered in mud, and reported it to police The jacket was found along with tire tracks in a field behind his father Cory's apartment, where he was reportedly last seen on January 31 Codi's father Cory Bigsby was arrested on February 3 after admitting to police that he left his children alone on multiple occasions Bigsby told police that he last saw Codi at 2am on January 30, but reported him missing when he woke up the next morning at 9am and did not see him Cory Bigsby reportedly said the children were too much of a burden to take with him so, the complaint says, he left them home alone with no way on contacting him and no means of contacting emergency services if needed. Bigsby was denied bond at a Tuesday hearing in the Hampton Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. A probable cause hearing on his child neglect charges is set for April 15. On learning about Bigsbys alleged child neglect, the Hampton Police Division also named him a person of interest in his sons disappearance. We have covered a tremendous amount of ground, spoken to hundreds of citizens, and followed every possible lead, Hampton police wrote in a press release. This is not the conclusion of the investigative process we will continue to do everything in our power to find Codi, they added. Bigsby told police that he last saw Codi at 2am on January 30, but reported him missing when he woke up the next morning at 9am and did not see him. But police said they are considering that Codi may have gone missing before his fathers account and that they dont believe he wandered off on his own in the middle of the night. "The evidence doesn't match what we've been told. So we need to investigate further," Hampton Police Chief Mark Talbot told reporters on Friday. "The investigation does not indicate that he was abducted. There's just no reason to believe it. We certainly are open to that as a possibility. It is not likely," he added. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and his actress girlfriend Rosario Dawson have split after almost three years together, sources claim. A source close to the A-list couple told People that Dawson and Booker have decided to put an end to their relationship, but remained in good terms and considered each other 'good friends.' The pair reportedly met at a fundraiser for then-Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous in 2017. Dawson, 42, was in a relationship at the time, and when they reconnected months later in 2018, Booker was eager - yet nervous-, to ask for her phone number. 'I had one of those really awkward experiences. I am United States Senator, and I had to get up the courage to walk up to her and ask her for her phone number,' Booker, 52, told CNN at a Town Hall in March 2019. 'I had trouble asking for her phone number...I think I said something really stupid like, 'Uh, how would I get in touch with you?' And she mercifully said something like, 'Oh, you want my phone number?' And my insides were like, 'Hell, yeah!' Booker told the Washington Post that same year. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and his actress girlfriend Rosario Dawson have called it quits after almost three years together, pictured in 2019 Dawson and Booker were first spotted flirting at the Broadway show Dear Evan Hanson, with Booker allegedly singing 'I love you' to Dawson while they took pictures with the cast backstage. Rumors soon emerged that the Senator and The Mandalorian actress were together. In February 2019, Booker confirmed he was in a relationship but declined to say who her partner was. 'I'm dating somebody really special,' he told the radio show The Breakfast Club,'I got a boo.' Dawson then confirmed the relationship to TMZ in March that year, adding that she was grateful to be with somebody she 'respected, admired and loved so much.' Rumors that they had broken up first emerged in November last year, with two sources telling Marie Claire the power couple had decided to go their separate ways due to their conflicting schedules and the distance. Above, Dawson and Booker on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon A sourced told People the couple is no longer dating but they remain 'good friends.' Above, Booker and Dawson visit SiriusXM Studios on February 07, 2020 in New York City By April 2019, Booker was making appearances on Dawson's Instagram feed, with her more than a million followers hyping up the romance. Appearing on RuPaul's talk show in 2019 amid his bid to become the Democratic Presidential Nominee, Booker even ventured to suggest the couple could get married. When RuPaul remarked that, if elected, Booker would be the first unmarried President in a long time, the Senator said things could change. 'The swearing in isn't until the 21st of January, 2021. You never know what might happen between now and then,' Booker said at the time. During the three-year romance, the couple often appeared together at red carpets and Booker's event for his Presidential campaign. To maintain the relationship alive with their busy schedules, the couple would reportedly FaceTime each other and meet weekly. In May 2020, as Booker embarked on his campaign, Dawson sold her California home and moved with him to New Jersey. 'This is the first time in my life I've really lived with somebody and obviously Rosario and I are enjoying and adjusting to that, right?' Booker told BuzzFeed at the time. 'I have not done that, really, as a bachelor, where I actually sit at a table and just, like, breathe and eat a meal,' he added. Rumors that they had broken up first emerged in November last year, with two sources telling Marie Claire the power couple had decided to go their separate ways due to their conflicting schedules and the distance. Booker had been working in Washington to support Biden's Build Back Better plan, while Dawson had been working on several projects. Jailed former NRL star Jarryd Hayne is due to find out the outcome of his appeal against his sexual assault convictions. The 33-year-old was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault without consent of a woman in her NSW Hunter bedroom on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final. The ex-Parramatta player faced a retrial after his first ended with a hung jury. He was jailed in May for five years and nine months with a non-parole period of three years and eight months. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal heard his conviction challenge in November, when Hayne's lawyers argued for an acquittal or a third trial. The disgraced footy star (pictured with his wife Amellia Bonnici) is set to learn whether he will be released from prison His barrister Tim Game SC put forward four appeal grounds including contending the jury was given 'profoundly wrong' legal directions. Justice Helen Syme's directions of law were 'flawed in almost every possible way', he argued. While prosecutor Brett Hatfield admitted the language could have been tighter, he said 'perfection is not required'. Another ground was the overruling of evidence admitted into the first trial, which Mr Game said explained the complainant's state of mind in her 'abiding interest in having sex with Jarryd Hayne'. Hayne (pictured with wife Amellia Bonnici) was sentenced to a non-parole-period of three years and eight months He also disputed a 'highly prejudicial' outburst from the woman in the first trial when she yelled 'no means no' under cross-examination, played before his second jury and likely to bring about a 'very sympathetic response'. But the Crown argued the woman appeared very deflated and flat directly after this exchange, and her monotone responses would be incongruent without viewing the preceding moments. Both trials were told Hayne had left his friend's bucks party to meet up with the woman and forcibly performed oral and digital sexual intercourse on her. 'I do not accept the offender did not know or did not hear the victim telling him she did not want to have sex with him,' Judge Syme said. Chief Justice Tom Bathurst and Justices Helen Wilson and Ian Harrison are due to hand down their decision on Monday. Scott Morrison's wife has revealed the most distressing personal attack upon her since becoming Australia's first lady was a tweet from Magda Szubanski. The comedian took to Twitter last April to compare a picture of Jenny Morrison and the Prime Minister signing a condolence book for Prince Philip with the religious extremists who feature in the popular Margaret Atwood novel and TV series, The Handmaid's Tale. During an interview with 60 Minutes' Karl Stefanovic, Jenny said she believed the Kath and Kim actor had taken things 'too far'. Mrs Morrison said she had learned to deal with criticism since her husband became the nation's leader - but admitted she was caught off-guard by this particular tweet. 'I can take a joke, like I can take a joke,' she said. 'I've had to be independent and strong because of the life that I live with Scott. But sometimes, it's just like, really?' Scott Morrison's wife has slammed Magda Szubanski over a tweet that compared the couple to religious extremists from the popular book 'The Handmaid's Tale' Ms Szubanski took to Twitter in April 2021 and posted a photo of Scott Morrison signing a condolence book for the late Prince Philip while his wife stood behind him Szubanski had said that the picture looked like a scene from Margaret Atwood's dystopian thriller. In the book, women are uneducated, subservient to men and ruled by Bible-touting dictators. 'I genuinely thought this was a photoshopped Handmaid's Tale meme,' Szubanski wrote. 'But no. It's 21st Century Aussie life.' Karl Stefanovic, who conducted the interview, described the incident as the most 'distressing' attack on Mrs Morrison during a time in office. Stefanovic echoed the comments to Mrs Morrison and added: .'She said it's part of the job, you sign up for it.' Mr Morrison jumped in to defend his wife saying any political digs should be made towards him and not his family. 'It's part of my job,' he said. 'It's never part of the family's job.' Following the tweet, Ms Szubanski doubled down on her comments and said they were a restrained way of drawing attention to the fact that she thinks elements of 'far-right' Christian conservatism are increasingly present in politics. 'That was a mild way of drawing attention to the fact I do have concerns about, and trust me this is not about the majority of Christians, but the element of the far-right,' she told A Current Affair in April. 'And - they are really going to come for me now - I think that is a concern. 'I think that is quite legitimate to say in this country. I don't like extremes of any kind is my stance.' Following the tweet, Ms Szubanski doubled down on her comments and said they were a restrained way of drawing attention to the fact that she thinks elements of 'far-right' Christian conservatism are increasingly present in politics Margaret Atwood's 1985 classic is set in a totalitarian state called Gilead where single women are kept as sexual slaves for reproduction purposes, while married women are only taught how to sew and bow to the whim of their powerful husbands (pictured, the book has been turned into a smash-hit series that is available on Stan) Online trolls take aim at Scott Morrison and his family Scott Morrison (pictured left) posted this photo of him with his daughter Lily (right) cooking a curry to Facebook, but both of them were quickly subject to comments from online trolls Scott Morrison and his family have been frequently targeted by online trolls. On February 5, Mr Morrison posted a photo showing his daughter Lily, 13, helping him make a chicken and eggplant curry. The post was soon flooded with comments saying it was actually taken three or four years ago. The Australian leader regularly posts pictures of himself making Indian or Asian-inspired food in the industrial kitchen at Kirribilli House Victorian Senator Jane Hume took to Twitter to defend the PM, saying: 'If you are one of the people on here attacking the Prime Minister's daughter, for any reason, it's time to take a good hard look at yourself. 'It's shameful. Imagine that was your child. Abuse isn't acceptable period, let alone of children. Be better.' While most of the comments on Mr Morrison's Facebook page were attacking him rather than his daughter over the cooking picture, some also aimed their barbs at Lily. 'Kid needs a hair tie,' wrote one. 'Funny because that's an omelet the kid's making, and that curry came from the takeaway,' said another. Advertisement Szubanski the actress added: 'I am extremely restrained about what I say on Twitter, but there are some opinions that I will voice. 'In terms of the increasing presence of the religious right in politics in this country, then I will say something.' Szubanski has not publicly commented since the 60 Minutes show went to air. Mr and Mrs Morrison are evangelical Christians and have made no apologies for their strong beliefs, with the Liberal leader having met his future wife at a Christian youth camp. Margaret Atwood's 1985 classic is set in a totalitarian state called Gilead where single women are kept as sexual slaves for reproduction purposes, while married women are only taught how to sew and bow to the whim of their powerful husbands. It has since been made into a successful TV series aired on SBS. Women in the book and show are also covered from head to toe in long, plain-coloured dresses and watch their husbands carry out official duties. During the 60 Minutes interview, Jenny revealed she believed her husband can remain in the top job as she shared extraordinary details about their relationship for the first time, including how he dumped her as a teenager for another girl. The prime minister's wife Jenny Morrison has revealed a rare insight into the family (pictured with daughters Lily, left, and Abbey, right, as well as the family dog, Buddy) Scott Morrison briefly left Jenny for another girl when they first met as childhood sweethearts (pictured are the couple while dating) It's been a torrid start to 2022 for Mr Morrison, who has been ambushed with one political scandal after another in recent weeks as his popularity wains in the lead up to the federal election. But Jenny Morrison refuses to give up hope as she fronted cameras in a wide-ranging tell-all television interview after being rolled out as her husband's 'secret weapon'. The mother-of-two candidly revealed a rare eye-opening insight into their lives, including when she first met her husband at age 16, when he initially dumped her for another girl. The Prime Minister's most annoying habits of being messy and married to his demanding job of leading the country were also brought to light. In a personal moment, Jenny expressed her disappointment in sexual assault survivor Grace Tame's behaviour during an Australian of the Year function at The Lodge in Canberra, saying she should have displayed more 'manners and respect' after being welcome to their home. Scott and Jenny Morrison (pictured on their wedding day) recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary The Morrisons were childhood sweethearts who first met at Luna Park before running into each other against a Christian youth camp and finally starting to date aged 16. Mrs Morrison recalled for the first time ever how the pair briefly split up after they first started dating, before the future prime minister finally came to his senses. 'He broke up with me because he was keen on another girl,' she told 60 Minutes. The bombshell revelation sparked shock from reporter Stefanovic. Her husband sheepishly replied: 'Oh, I was an idiot. It was a stupid decision. We fixed it pretty quick.' Mrs Morrison was asked what she would say to her 16-year-old self, laughing as she replied: 'Run!'. 'It's been a long time but I know him better than he knows himself.' The Handmaid's Tale is available to stream exclusively on Stan. A pice of space debris expected to crash into the moon on March 4 is not part of a SpaceX rocket, as initially thought, but a booster from a Chinese spacecraft sent to the moon in 2014. The item now floating near the moon was first identified as part of a SpaceX rocket by Bill Gray, the developer of the astronomical software Project Pluto. He thought it was the booster from a rocket launch in February 2015, which sent a weather and Earth observation satellite named DSCOVR into orbit for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But on Saturday, Gray got an email from Jon Giorgini of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory explaining that the trajectory of that rocket didn't go 'particularly close to the moon,' Gray wrote on his blog, which prompted him to look again and land on a different explanation. The news that a SpaceX booster may be crashing into the moon made headlines, considering that a reusable rocket booster is a huge selling point for SpaceX founder Elon Musk's Falcon 9 rockets. A piece of space debris expected to hit the moon on March 4 is not a SpaceX booster, as first thought, but a booster from a Chinese experimental mission from 2014 The booster helped launch the Chang'e 5-T1 spacecraft, a precursor to the Chang'e 5 mission which collected moon samples and brought them back down to China The official Chang'e-5 lunar probe (above) launched on November 2020 from Wenchang, Hainan province, China. The booster that will hit the moon was part of an experimental mission launched in 2014 News of the rocket's impact with the moon was first reported by Ars Technica. Mark Robinson, a professor of earth and space exploration at Arizona State University, told the New York Times last month that the item is believed to weigh about four tons and is traveling at 5,700 miles per hour. It's expected to carve a crater about 65 feet in diameter on the surface of the moon. The piece of space junk doesn't belong to SpaceX, but to China. The Chang'e 5-T1 was an experimental spacecraft launched in October 2014 in preparation for the official Chang'e 5 mission, which launched in 2020 and made China the third country to bring back samples from the moon after the US and the Soviet Union. The mission is part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Gray wrote that the mission's booster was first seen floating in space in March 2015 by the Catalina Sky Survey. Because the booster had gone past the moon two days after the SpaceX DSCOVR launch, he said that he and other astronomers 'came to accept the identification with the second stage as correct.' Bill Gray initially thought the booster belonged to a 2014 SpaceX launch, but was alerted that the explanation didn't match the trajectory of the mission. The booster is expected to hit the moon at 5,700 mph and make a crater 65 ft in diameter The 2020 Chang'e 5 lunar mission made China the third country to bring back samples from the moon after the US and the Soviet Union 'The object had about the brightness we would expect, and had showed up at the expected time and moving in a reasonable orbit,' Gray wrote. He noted that space junk sometimes goes unidentified, and that putting a name to the items floating around in space often takes substantial 'detective work.' Giorgini of NASA emailed Gray on Saturday that the explanation was unlikely because of DSCOVR's trajectory, which prompted Gray 'to look for earlier space missions that might account for the object.' He looked at the 'preceding candidate launch,' which was the Chinese Chang'e 5-T1 experimental mission. 'It's unclear when the Chang'e 5-T1 booster would have gone by the moon, but four days after launch would be a reasonable ballpark estimate. Running the orbit for WE0913A further backward, I got a lunar flyby on 2014 October 28...which is a quite close lunar flyby at about the right time,' he explained. The booster on a crash course with the moon was first thought to belong to a SpaceX launch from 2014, which sent a NOAA earth observation satellite into earth. Above, a Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center on February 3 Gray added that he should've noticed that the SpaceX explanation was wrong in hindsight. 'Assuming no maneuvers, it would have been in a somewhat odd orbit around the earth before the lunar flyby,' he said of the Falcon 9 booster. 'At its highest point, it would be near the moon's orbit; at its lowest (perigee), about a third of that distance. I'd have expected the perigee to be near the earth's surface. The perigee seemed quite high.' The perigee is the point of least distance from the Earth. The initial, erroneous news that the booster belonged to SpaceX caused a stir, with some taking issue with the environmental impact of space junk in general. Space.com notes that it's more 'environmentally friendly' for a dead rocket to end up on the moon rather than through Earth's atmosphere, where it turns into metal oxide particles as it re-enters. 'The Moon also lacks an atmosphere to shield it from space debris, so it is accumulating naturally occurring impact craters all the time,' according to the website. In March 2013, a half-metric-ton asteroid rock going about 10 times faster than the current booster about to hit the moon hit the surface and caused a 19-meter crater. In the past decade, NASA's lunar impact monitoring project has spotted hundreds of other smaller impacts, including ones caused by chunks of rock weighing as little as half a kilogram, Space.com reports. Two of about 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites that were brought down by a geomagnetic storm a week ago can be seen disintegrating over Puerto Rico in stunning new footage. The obliterated satellites 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. 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 Marco Langbroek, a satellite expert from Leiden University in the Netherlands, 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 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 Earth's 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. 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. Bankrupt Katie Price will face the High Court today after reportedly failing to 'fully engage' with creditors to repay her 3.2million debt. The reality star, 43, is currently facing a probe into how she funds her 'luxury lifestyle' despite being ordered to millions of pounds of debts accrued by her company Jordan Trading Ltd, The Sun reports. Today the court will review how she is paying debts accrued by the firm, which oversaw her perfume and make-up lines. Earlier this year a source claimed Price, who was declared bankrupt in 2019 and ordered 12,000 a month to settle her debts, had 'not been engaging fully in paying creditors'. That is despite her reportedly earning hundreds of thousands of pounds in brand deals and a reported 45,000 for her Mucky Mansion show on Channel 4. The hearing, pushed back from December, comes just 48 hours after the former glamour model joked about buying a 'flash' new car in an Instagram post. The reality star, 43, is currently facing a probe into how she funds her 'luxury lifestyle' despite being ordered to millions of pounds accrued by her company Jordan Trading Ltd, The Sun reports Katie Price (pictured with her mother and sister in an Instagram post today) will face the High Court about how she repaying debts On Saturday Price took to her Instagram Story to share a picture of herself riding her beloved horse Wallis and joked that she was keen to find a motor that is 'flash like him' A source previously told The Mirror trustees were 'casting the net far and wide to assess how much money is coming into Katie's coffers' and were preparing a dossier of deals Price had made ahead of her hearing. Jordan Trading Ltd was set up by Price in 2003 to oversee the star's perfume and makeup lines, but in 2017 an application was put in to wind up the company as Price tried to sort out her finances. The mother-of-five was declared bankrupt in 2019. She vowed to pay back 12,000 a month to creditors of the firm through an individual voluntary arrangement. The bankruptcy meant Price, once worth a reported 45million, faced losing her 2million 11-bedroom mansion. She took out a second mortgage on the property in 2015, but faced monthly payments of 12,300. Price was hit with a repossession order on the property in November last year. Sources told The Sun at the time that she has failed to repay a debt of more than 500,000 on the property. Following years of incomplete renovations, the house was nicknamed the 'mucky mansion' with Price even showcasing the extent of the mess on her reality series My Crazy Life. This year Channel 4 confirmed the release of Price's new documentary 'Mucky Mansion' would go ahead as planned. The new show follows Price as she tries to repair the house which has been in disarray after various mishaps, including fly tipping, floods and a fire. Last month the former glamour model was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and two-year driving ban for flipping her uninsured BMW X5 into a hedge while disqualified and under the influence on a country lane near her home in West Sussex on September 28. Price was handed a suspended prison sentence because she complied with a requirement to attend the 6,800-a-week rehab centre. The former glamour model was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and two-year driving ban for flipping her uninsured BMW X5 into a hedge while disqualified and under the influence. Pictured, Price arriving at Crawley Magistrates' Court in West Sussex in December 2021 This year Channel 4 confirmed the release of Price's new documentary 'Mucky Mansion' Following her court appearance, Price released a statement saying she was 'incredibly sorry' and 'sincerely grateful nobody was hurt'. Drink-driving campaigners said they were 'gobsmacked' by the 'unbelievable' sentence, but the judge said Price would avoid going to jail because she completed a stint at celebrity rehab clinic The Priory and had stayed out of trouble. Speaking on Good Morning Britain after her sentencing, the mother-of-five said she was 'dealing with it'. She said: 'The events were really traumatic. It's been traumatic after, so I'm not ready to talk about it yet. 'But what I will say is that I went to the Priory and I've made the decision finally to see a therapist every week, forever, to deal with the traumatic events that led me to getting into that car. 'I'm very good at hiding things but when I'm ready to talk about it then I will come on to talk. There's reasons why I got in that car and my mental state but when I'm ready I will. 'I feel ashamed about it all. There are reasons that I am still dealing with now. It's a new year but I'm still dealing with it, people shouldn't judge people, there's always reasons for things.' The reality star, who is currently facing a probe into how she funds her lifestyle, will review how she is paying debts at the High Court Yesterday Price took to her Instagram Story to share a picture of herself riding her beloved horse Wallis and joked that she was keen to find a motor that was 'flash like him'. 'I love him,' she captioned the video originally posted by a friend at the stables. 'I've had him 14 years and he still acts like a five-year-old.' She added: 'I'll make sure my new car will be flash like him.' Last week it was reported that Price's family want her to seek help over her 'erratic' behaviour in the weeks leading up to an arrest on Friday. The reality TV star and ex-glamour model posted a defiant message on Instagram saying she 'still has her sparkle and drive' after she was released on bail from Worthing police station. It was later revealed she could face five years in prison for allegedly breaching a restraining order. The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancee Michelle Penticost a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages', MailOnline revealed yesterday. In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited' In her Instagram post, Price wrote: 'I still have my sparkle and drive, looking forward to this week big announcement coming so excited.' Police investigating the alleged offence have apparently confiscated Price's phone following a 12-hour interrogation before her release yesterday, The Mirror reports. A source close to her family told The Sun that they wanted her to go back into rehab, saying: 'Katies been having a tough time recently and her behaviour in the past couple of weeks has become slightly erratic. 'She has been lashing out on social media and even had a pop at Peter Andres wife Emily MacDonagh and claimed shed stopped her daughter from visiting her in rehab. 'Her family wanted her to go back into the Priory for a while to get past her demons as shes done so well previously when she had been there. 'However this isnt something Katie wanted to do. 'They know how lucky she was that she didnt go to prison. Her family is distraught. They want to do everything they can to help and protect Katie. But this time if the accusations are correct, she really hasnt helped herself and the situation is looking bleak.' Price, who was handed a five-year restraining order forbidding her from contacting Ms Penticost directly or indirectly in 2019 after hurling a 'tirade of abuse' at her, could now face up to five years in prison if she is charged and found guilty. Sussex Police said a woman in her 40s was arrested at a property in Partridge Green, West Sussex at around 12.15am on Friday night. She has been released under investigation. The 43-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breaching her restraining order after she allegedly branded her ex-husband Kieran Hayler's fiancee Michelle Penticost (pictured together) a 'gutter sl*g' in 'abusive messages', MailOnline revealed yesterday A spokesman added a report had been made at 5.45pm on Friday in relation to an alleged breach of a restraining order. Later on Saturday, Katie Price was seen being driven out of Worthing Police station by her fiance Carl Woods and has been pictured being driven around again today. She was seen on the back seat of a Mercedes, with her hand on the headrest, as her fiance drove the vehicle. Price, who lives in 'Mucky Mansion', is banned from contacting Mr Hayler's girlfriend Michelle Penticost either directly or indirectly under the terms of a five-year restraining order imposed in 2019 after she verbally abused her in a primary school playground. Price admitted in 2019 to verbally abusing Ms Penticost and her friend Andrea Quigley after young children and a teacher witnessed her hurling a 'tirade of abuse' including shouting 'f****** c***' multiple times at both women. According to the Sentencing Council the maximum sentence for breaching the protective order is five years in prison. Miss Penticost is understood to have contacted Sussex Police on Friday to complain that Price had sent Mr Hayler 'abusive' messages aimed at her. Sources claimed the messages branded Miss Penticost a 'gutter sl*g' and a 'c***ing we piece of s***', according to The Sun. They added: 'The words were absolutely vile.' Mr Hayler and his fiancee were understood to have been interviewed by police in their home before Price was taken into custody. She has been released under investigation. Miss Penticost, 39, was said to have been left 'devastated and threatened' following the alleged messages. 'At 5.45pm on Friday (21 January) police responded to a report that a suspect had breached their restraining order,' a force spokesman said. 'Officers arrested a woman in her 40s who has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.' fracking bosses have slammed the Governments perverse double standards as Britain battles the energy crisis. The accusation comes as the only company to ever drill shale wells in the UK, Cuadrilla, revealed last week it has been ordered to plug and abandon its sites. A moratorium on fracking for natural gas has been in place since 2019 after drilling triggered tremors that exceeded a regulators limit. But industry executives have called the decision purely political, pointing to the fact that geothermal projects that can cause bigger earthquakes have since been allowed to go ahead. Energy company Cuadrilla was told by the Governments Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to seal two horizontal shale wells drilled near Blackpool (pictured) The row has intensified as spiralling wholesale gas prices have piled pressure on household bills while the UK has become more dependent on foreign imports. Yesterday it emerged more than 30 Conservative MPs and peers including former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost have written to Boris Johnson urging him to lift the fracking ban. In a letter to the Business Department, seen by the Daily Mail, fracking licence holder Aurora Energy Resources called the Governments approach to different industries as discriminatory. The company also said it was unsure whether the Business Department has within its team sufficient expertise to meaningfully respond to the issues we have raised. Fracking involves pumping a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into the earth to crack shale rock and release trapped gas. Aurora highlighted seismic events at a geothermal energy site in Cornwall where 19 quakes that would have surpassed fracking limits were recorded between August 2020 and February 2021. Aurora claims modelling for the project says it could cause quakes of up to 5.0. The Business Department said it did not regulate geothermal projects. Cuadrilla last fracked in Lancashire in 2018 and 2019. It was ordered to stop work after a 2.9 magnitude quake. Environmentalists welcomed the decision to cut ties with fracking in the UK. Pictured: Anti-fracking protesters demonstrate outside Lancashire County Hall in 2015 Aurora chief executive Ian Roche said: The continued ban on hydraulic fracturing for shale gas has been shown to be driven solely by politics and not by science. The development of the UKs shale gas resources would increase security of supply, offset expensive imports, create jobs in northern England and provide much-needed tax revenues. 'The failure to recognise... the importance of natural gas in both the current and future energy mix and putting UK consumers at the mercy of expensive imports, when domestic solutions exist, is a political failure. An industry source told the Mail: If it was genuinely about seismicity then everyone would have to play by the same rules. The economic case is there, the environmental case is there politicians are just spineless on this issue. A study has claimed the UK is sitting on an estimated 1,300trillion cubic feet of shale gas, which could cover supply for 50 years. Others dispute this, estimating there is 80 per cent less shale gas below the UK than first thought, and it would last only ten years. The Business Department said: We ended support for fracking on the basis of scientific evidence, showing it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability and size of tremors associated with fracking. Shale gas remains unproven as a resource in the UK. Thousands of people in London were left without electricity last night as a National Grid fault hit homes in Stanmore, Harrow, Wembley and Borehamwood. Most had power restored by late evening. An Anglican PR chief defended himself last night after he claimed there were some good things about colonialism. Gavin Drake also controversially told the Church of Englands General Synod that the UKs history means it carries with it a power that other areas do not. And he quoted a former bishop in Borneo who told him the Church should stop apologising as if it wasnt for colonialism, wed still be headhunters. Mr Drake is communications director for the Anglican communion, one of the largest Christian communities in the world with more than 70million members from over 165 countries. His comments prompted criticism on Twitter and a member of the Church of England who was watching the debate said: I was astonished to hear those words coming out of his mouth. I had to play it back to make sure that a middle-aged white man in a linen suit had really just said colonialism had its plus points which, given his role, is quite extraordinary. Gavin Drake, communications director for the Anglican communion, has defended himself after claiming there were some good things about colonialism Bishop Bolly, who Gavin Drake quoted as well as also controversially telling the Church of Englands General Synod that the UKs history means it carries with it a power that other areas do not. Mr Drake yesterday said he was trying to make the point that the British Empire is a part of Englands history and gives it additional influence and soft power in other parts of the world. He added: I stand by things I said but I dont stand by other peoples interpretations of it. When I say there are some good things about colonialism, probably a better way of putting it is that history can be put to good effect. Im not a defender of colonialism at all. Bishop Bolly [the Borneo bishop he quoted] was entitled to his view. His initial comments came during a debate at General Synod about proposals to give Anglican leaders from churches around the world greater power in choosing the future Archbishop of Canterbury. Some critics argued this could be seen as colonial or may appear to elevate the role of the Archbishop internationally. In the debate, Mr Drake, a former director of communications for the Church of Englands Diocese of Lichfield, said: A former bishop of Kuching on the north-west corner of Borneo told me he wished the Church of England would stop apologising for colonialism. He said if it wasnt for colonialism, wed still be headhunters. There are some good things about colonialism as well as bad things. His comments received support yesterday from Nigel Biggar a regius professor of moral and pastoral theology at Oxford University and author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning. He said: There was a very highly competent cadre of government officials imbued with a high level of knowledge of how to run a country. British colonies were, more or less, expertly run. Professor Biggar caused controversy in 2017 when his article, headlined Dont feel guilty about our colonial history, received a backlash from students and fellow academics because it highlighted some positive aspects of Britains colonial past. Yesterday he claimed: British colonialism was not essentially racist, exploitative, or oppressive and it spent itself in defeating the murderously racist empires of Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. Mr Drake last night said his remarks had been made perhaps clumsily... in my hastily half-written speech which was half-delivered online while dosed up on drugs fighting Covid. Nearly 700 more women in England could die from breast cancer as a result of the pandemic, a study shows. Delays to screening caused by lockdown restrictions mean hundreds more are likely to lose their lives. Researchers warned many cancers that would have been picked up during routine checks will have progressed while women were made to wait. And further hold-ups due to clearing the screening backlog will add to the problem. Nearly 1.5 million women in the UK had routine mammograms delayed by up to seven months between July 2020 and July 2021. Researchers from the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency and Queen Mary University of London calculated this will mean thousands of extra cases of breast cancer that probably would have been detected during screening, instead only being diagnosed once women have developed symptoms and the tumour is more advanced. Nearly 1.5 million women in the UK had routine mammograms delayed by up to seven months between July 2020 and July 2021 Leading cancer charities last night called for more details on how the Government plans to tackle staff shortages that are affecting services. Baroness Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said the findings were utterly devastating. She added: This research highlights the tragic consequences of the disruption caused by Covid-19 for breast cancer. Its now a matter of life and death that the government addresses this backlog as an immediate priority. It needs to urgently boost the cancer workforce. Dr Jodie Moffat, head of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, said: Breast screening services are back up and running, which is great. But getting through the backlog is challenging because of a lack of NHS capacity. We need clarity about how the extra money promised to the NHS is going to be used to tackle these chronic workforce shortages. Last September, the Government pledged an extra 5.4billion over six months to help the NHS cope with pandemic backlogs. More than two million women in the UK undergo annual breast cancer screening and the checks are credited with saving 1,300 lives each year. But within months of the pandemic beginning in March 2020, the NHS was forced to put most routine breast X-rays on hold. The latest study, published online in the British Journal of Cancer, is one of the first to calculate precisely what impact the delays are likely to have on the breast cancer death toll. Researchers looked at the number of women affected by screening suspension and for how long and estimated the proportion of cancers that would have been missed due to checks being put off. They estimated 2,783 cancers in England would shift from screen-detected to symptomatic disease, as a result of the programme disruption. An optimistic scenario, they said, where the backlog is cleared quickly, could mean just 148 additional breast cancer deaths. A more pessimistic outlook puts the extra death toll at 687. Researchers warned: Its likely the true numbers are closer to the upper end of the range. There will be delays in diagnosis which may have a substantial negative impact on womens breast cancer survival for the next ten years. Advertisement Hilary Clinton's former aide Huma Abedin was pictured stepping out for New York Fashion Week, where she sported a neutral assemble to brave the snow falling on the city to catch Ulla Johnson's Sunday morning show. Abedin wore a striped, loose jacket and gentle smile as she appeared in public days after her ex-husband Anthony Weiner's announced the launch of his new radio show. The 45-year-old - who recently released her tell-all book Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds - attended the Astor Hall event with actresses Sarita Choudhury, Katerina Tannenbaum and Sofia Black D'Elia. Choudhury, 55, is an English actress who most recently played Seema on the Sex and the City spinoff, And Just Like That. Abedin appeared at ease during the event, which was held to give fans a glimpse of Johnson's Fall 2022 lineup. Huma Abedin was pictured attending Ulla Johnson's show at Astor Hall on Sunday as part of New York City's Fashion week. Abedin (far left) attended the event with (from second from left): Sarita Choudhury, Katerina Tannenbaum and Sofia Black D'Elia Although best known for her political work, Abedin is also ensconced in the world of high-end fashion and has frequented the circles of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour for years. Just days after dumping her sex pest husband in 2016, Abedin hosted a fashion show with Wintour to benefit the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton. She and Wintour hosted a total of three fundraisers for Clinton that year, including one in Paris. On Sunday, she appeared polished in an understated look during her return to the fashion scene, and accessorized her outfit with brown suede pumps and hoop earrings. As Abedin returned to the runway sidelines, her ex returned to the spotlight with the launch of a new radio show with Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa called 'The Left Versus The Right' Last December, Abedin revealed she knew her marriage to Weiner was over after a photo of him sexting in bed next to their sleeping son went public. Although best known for her political work, Abedin is also ensconced in the world of high-end fashion, having been frequenting the circles of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour for years Huma is pictured at the show with Sarita Choudhury, an English actress who most recently played Seema on the Sex and the City spinoff, And Just Like That In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash to promote her new book, 45-year-old Abedin revealed she weathered years of her sex pest husband's scandals before filing for divorce in 2017. Her perspective on the doomed marriage changed after a photo emerged in 2016 of Weiner lying next to his then-four year-old son. In the snap, Weiner is lying shirtless on his back, showing off a bulge in his white boxers. 'I did kind of reach my breaking point,' Abedin said. 'For so long I was saying, I don't understand why can't you just knock it off. This was my final straw.' The photo - the third sex scandal for Weiner - prompted an investigation from child services during a time when Abedin was traveling extensively as part of Clinton's presidential campaign team. She said she was questioned by social services workers about whether the situation might have been avoided if she was a more 'present parent.' 'I was one of those working mothers who constantly felt torn between leaving for a campaign trip and taking care of my child and I think a lot of working mothers can relate to what that feels like that,' she told Bash. 'It was one of the hardest things I've had to endure in those closing days of the campaign.' Hilary Clinton's former aide Huma Abedin says she stood by her sex pest husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner, despite mounting sex scandals Abedin told CNN's Dana Bash that she reached her breaking point in 2016 after discovering Weiner was sexting in bed next to their sleeping then-four-year-old son Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10 Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10. 'I tell my son I love him so many times a day, I want him to feel that he is loved, that he is cherished, that he is supported,' she said. 'I do believe a lot of anger we don't understand in adults, so much of it goes back to the experience they had as children. For me, my single most important job is parenting this little boy.' She said although he's likely not yet aware of the magnitude of the scandals, the boy was previously taunted after Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in November 2017 for sexting a 15-year-old North Carolina girl. 'When Anthony was sent away, [our son] was teased a little bit about that but he's really handled it well,' she said. 'We do know that, we've shared things with him and we will continue to do that, as you know, he ages in an appropriate way. 'We believe we should always be sources of truth for him.' The photo of Weiner in bed with his son prompted an investigation from child services during a time when Abedin was traveling extensively as part of Hilary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign Before filing for divorce, Abedin stood by her man - who she married in 2010 - through two previous sexting scandals that she said forced the family into hiding. 'The first few years of Anthony and I living in this together, I felt as though we were in a bit of a bunker,' she said. 'There was the outside world [but] I wasn't sure who I could trust or who I could talk to. 'It gave you a a sense of insecurity; I would read about things I had supposedly told friends in confidence.' Weiner, then a New York congressman, was a rising political star until May 2011, when a photo of a man's crotch was sent from his Twitter account to a young student. The Democrat at the time claimed his account was hacked, but in June of that year tearfully admitted that he took and sent the crude image. Weiner destroyed his political career through a series of sexting scandals, but Abedin stood by his side until the third strike More intimate Weiner selfies emerged later that year as Abedin was pregnant with their son, who was born in December 2011. The scandal died down and in 2013 Weiner made a run for New York City mayor, claiming he was a changed man. He led the polls until a second scandal broke after his ex-partner Sydney Leathers sent compromising pictures of him to thedirty.com. The misconduct didn't just ostracize Weiner; it also hurt the reputation of his wife, she said Sunday. 'We were both shunned from certain society events,' she said. 'We were both asked to not show up at charity and food bank. It increasingly led us to be in this isolation together.' Although they're now divorced, Abedin said she's had to push her animosity toward Weiner aside to best co-parent their son Jordan, now 10. 'I tell my son I love him so many times a day, I want him to feel that he is loved, that he is cherished, that he is supported,' she said. 'I do believe a lot of anger we don't understand in adults, so much of it goes back to the experience they had as children. For me, my single most important job is parenting this little boy.' She said although he's likely not yet aware of the magnitude of the scandals, Jordan was previously taunted after Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in November 2017 for sexting a 15-year-old North Carolina girl. 'When Anthony was sent away, [our son] was teased a little bit about that but he's really handled it well,' she said. 'We do know that, we've shared things with him and we will continue to do that, as you know, he ages in an appropriate way. Abedin is reflecting on the scandals as she promotes her new book, 'Both/And: A life in Many Worlds' 'We believe we should always be sources of truth for him.' Before filing for divorce, Abedin stood by her man through two previous sexting scandals that she said forced the family into hiding. 'The first few years of Anthony and I living in this together, I felt as though we were in a bit of a bunker,' she said. 'There was the outside world [but] I wasn't sure who I could trust or who I could talk to. 'It gave you a a sense of insecurity; I would read about things I had supposedly told friends in confidence.' Weiner, then a New York congressman, was a rising political star until May 2011, when a photo of a man's crotch was sent from his Twitter account to a young student. The Democrat at the time claimed his account was hacked, but in June of that year tearfully admitted that he took and sent the crude image. More intimate Weiner selfies emerged later that year as Abedin was pregnant with their son, who was born in December 2011. The scandal died down and in 2013 Weiner made a run for New York City mayor, claiming he was a changed man. He led the polls until a second scandal broke after his ex-partner Sydney Leathers sent compromising pictures of him to thedirty.com. The misconduct didn't just ostracize Weiner; it also hurt the reputation of his wife, she said Sunday. 'We were both shunned from certain society events,' she said. 'We were both asked to not show up at charity and food bank. It increasingly led us to be in this isolation together.' Industrial disasters should no longer be condoned It is disappointing to see a court deliver a no-guilty verdict on a former head of a thermal power plant company who was indicted on charges of professional negligence in a high-profile case of a worker's death. On Thursday, the Seosan branch of the Daejeon District Court acquitted Kim Byung-sook, former CEO of Korea Western Power Co., of charges that his negligence of safety rules led to the death of subcontracted worker Kim Yong-gyun. The worker was found dead Dec. 11, 2018, after getting stuck on a coal conveyor belt at the power plant in Taean, 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul. His death sparked public outrage over the company's failure to abide by safety rules. It also prompted the amendment to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in order to protect workers from industrial disasters. Yet, the court decision is raising questions about the judiciary's willingness to get tougher on businesses for their disregard of safety standards. The court turned down the prosecution's request of a two-year jail term for the ex-CEO of the company. It said the defendant cannot be held accountable for professional negligence, although it acknowledged that there were no sufficient safety measures for subcontracted workers. What a nonsensical ruling. Instead, the court gave an 18-month jail term, suspended for two years, to Baek Nam-ho, former chief of Korea Engineering and Power Services, a subcontracted firm to which Kim Yong-gyun belonged. It also handed down a suspended prison term or a fine to 12 other defendants. In a word, the court ruling was too light to punish those responsible for the workplace mishap. Many legal loopholes still exist. The district court was not able to apply the revised Severe Disaster Punishment Act to the Kim case because the strengthened law went into effect last month. Any firms hiring five or more workers are subject to harsher punishment for their violation of safety rules under the strengthened law, starting Jan. 27. Therefore fatal industrial disasters, which took place before the enforcement of the changed law, cannot be dealt with more sternly. Nevertheless, the court decision demonstrated that the nation still has a long way to go to shake off its notoriety for recording one of the highest industrial disaster and mortality rates among OECD member states. Last year industrial accidents claimed the lives of 828 workers, almost twice the OECD average. Last month alone, 36 workers died due to such disasters. Recent cases included three deaths in a landslide which took place at Sampyo Industry's quarry in Yangju, northwest of Seoul, Jan. 29. Four workers were killed and four others injured in an explosion at a petrochemical factory of Yeochun NCC in the southern city of Yeosu, Friday. It is a pity that deadly industrial disasters have continued to take place despite the toughened law which calls for a minimum one-year prison sentence or a fine of up to 1 billion won ($833,000) on employers for causing workplace disasters. The authorities should step up a crackdown on any violators with heavier punishment. They also need to ensure that companies faithfully follow safety regulations. Most of all, state-run enterprises and large businesses should no longer try to pass the risk of industrial disasters on to subcontractors. Now, their corporate cultures should change to better protect workers. NSW and Victoria have recorded their lowest number of daily Covid-19 cases this year. NSW reported 6,184 new infections on Monday, marking a significant drop on the record low 6,686 recorded on Sunday. The state reported another 14 deaths. Hospitalisations have increased to 1,649 - up from 1,614 - and ICU rates have jumped to 100 - an uptick from 93. Victoria also recorded its lowest daily cases for the year with 7,104 new infections and two deaths. NSW has recorded its lowest number of daily Covid-19 cases this year with just 6,184 new infections Thousands of NSW nurses will walk off the job this week for the first time in a decade as part of a long-running campaign for better staffing and pay Hospitalisations have remained steady at 465 while ICU rates have risen to 66 - a spike from 62. Thousands of NSW nurses are determined to walk off the job this week for the first time in a decade as part of a long-running campaign for better staffing and pay. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association General Secretary Brett Holmes says the strike will impact 150 public hospitals when nurses strike from 7am on Tuesday. The timing and length of the action will vary from hospital to hospital and skeleton staff will remain at work to ensure patient care. Mr Holmes said it was 'really painful' for nurses to take strike action but they had to send a strong message to Premier Dominic Perrottet. 'If he doesn't listen there will be tens of thousands of nurses who are considering their future,' he told Sydney radio 2GB on Monday. The union has been pushing for minimum staff-to-patient ratios. 'We need a health system where there's a guarantee that there are enough nurses and midwives on every shift, not just on average over a seven day period,' he said. NSW hospitalisations have increased to 1,649 - up from 1,614 - and ICU rates have jumped to 100 - an uptick from 93 Nurses are also unhappy with the government's 2.5 per cent a year pay offer, which Mr Holmes described as 'a complete insult' to nurses who put themselves on the line every day during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Nurses and midwives have done everything possible to try and keep people alive and the government basically slapped them in the face with this,' he said. Mr Perrottet says 2,800 nurse graduates last week began working in 130 hospitals to boost the workforce. 'Our frontline workers during a pandemic have worked incredibly hard and I want to give them as much support as I can and we're working through those issued with the union,' he told 2GB. Asked if he was prepared to review the current pay offer he replied: 'absolutely'. He no doubt expected it would warm the hearts of his hosts when, after meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle last June, Joe Biden compared the monarch to his mother. I dont think shed be insulted but she reminded me of my mother... the look of her and just the generosity, the President said before he boarded Air Force One for Brussels. While the Queen may have enjoyed the compliment, one wonders if his mother would have been quite so happy. For it has just been revealed that Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, known to the family as Jean, was far from a fan of Her Majesty. According to a British TV script writer, Georgia Pritchett, Mr Biden confided how on a trip to the UK, his mother was mortified to hear that the Queen had reportedly once stayed in the same hotel where they were billeted possibly in the same room and bed. A scriptwriter on the comedy drama series Veep, Pritchett had gone to see Biden, then U.S. vice president, to discuss his appearance in a special scene as a surprise for Barack Obama, a big fan of the show. Noticing I was English, he changed the subject to how much his mother hated the English, she recalls in her autobiography, My Mess Is A Bit Of A Life. In speeches, the President rarely misses a chance to mention tough and proud Mrs Biden, just as he rarely misses an opportunity to refer to himself as Irish even describing himself as the only real Irishman in the 2020 election His parents were Irish and she had written several poems about her hatred of the English. He went off to find them and returned with hundreds of poems describing how God must smite the English and rain blood on our heads. Pritchett continued: He also told me that when his mother visited the UK she had stayed in a hotel where the Queen had once stayed. She was so appalled that she slept on the floor all night, rather than risk sleeping on a bed that the Queen had slept on. I admire anyone whose principles come between them and a comfy bed. Jean Biden, nee Finnegan, died aged 92 in 2010 having had what Mr Biden has described as a profound and formidable influence on him. The obvious question is, could that influence have meant some of her unvarnished anti-British sentiment rubbed off on the U.S. President? And, if so, could it affect the relationship between Britain and America? After all, as the world holds its breath over Ukraine, the need for solidarity between these two long-standing allies in the face of Russian aggression is more vital than ever. So far, the UK and U.S. have been as one over the Kremlin, although it can hardly be forgotten that British politicians and defence chiefs assumed the same to be the case in Afghanistan only for them to accuse Mr Biden of pulling out last summer without any consultation and showing alarming indifference to the views of the UK. Could that casual disregard have been inherited from an Anglophobic mother? Mr Biden remembered her as a comfort, and defender and teacher of American values, as he grew up the oldest of four children in the industrial city of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Joe Biden attend the president's ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle in June last year In speeches, the President rarely misses a chance to mention tough and proud Mrs Biden, just as he rarely misses an opportunity to refer to himself as Irish even describing himself as the only real Irishman in the 2020 election. The White House hasnt commented on his mothers reported antipathy towards the English but Mr Biden has previously admitted that old prejudices die hard among his Irish family members. And that may not be entirely surprising given that his Irish ancestors left for America at the height of the great famine in the 1840s and 1850s, when the devastating effects of potato blight were exacerbated by British government economic policy. Two families through which Mr Biden claims lineage the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth left Ireland for a new life in the U.S. during this period and ended up settling in Scranton. Mr Bidens great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, was reputedly a member of the notorious Molly Maguires, a violent secret society of Irish immigrant miners that partly inspired the villainous gang in the Sherlock Holmes story The Valley Of Fear. Even though his ancestors left Ireland some 170 years ago, Mr Biden whose Secret Service code name is Celtic has clung to Irish Catholic roots that can be very useful in U.S. elections. And ever since he was elected president in 2020, that Irish identification has stoked fears that it might make him rather less well-disposed towards a post-Brexit UK than his Anglophile predecessor Donald Trump. It certainly seemed that way when, during the last presidential election, Mr Biden dismissed a BBC reporter, saying albeit with a grin: The BBC? Im Irish! That brush-off was recalled when he clashed with Boris Johnsons Government over the Northern Ireland peace deal. Mr Biden forcefully made clear that any trade deal with the UK depended upon respect for the [Good Friday] Agreement and preventing the return of a hard border. Period. Mr Biden has, however, said he still believes the UK has a special relationship with the U.S. Others, looking much further back, have pointed out that in 1982, as a member of the U.S. Senates Foreign Relations Committee, the future president proved a staunch supporter of Britain over Argentinas Falklands invasion, pushing through a resolution insisting the U.S. government stand by our closest and oldest ally. Quite what his mother had to say about her sons public support for the UK has never been reported but, while Irish-American financial support for the IRA was once a serious issue, Mr Biden has always tried to treat his own familys anti-British prejudice as a bit of a joke. On his fathers side, two great-grandparents were also born in Ireland, although the Bidens were primarily of English and French extraction. The Finnegans were fond of their Irish grudges, and they didnt easily let one go, Biden wrote in his autobiography, Promises To Keep. To illustrate this he recalled a maternal great aunt named Gertie once telling him in his youth that your father is not a bad man. Hes just English. He has also admitted that his mother was worried that as his political career progressed and he met the worlds top leaders he might let the side down with the Queen. Biden first met the monarch as a young senator. Just as he was leaving for the airport to fly to the UK, he recalled in a 2013 speech, his mother phoned him. Joey, be polite but do not kiss her ring, Biden told his audience she had instructed him, adding, as laughter broke out among listeners: Swear to God. Mr Biden repeated his mothers concern about showing undue deference to the Queen in his autobiography, this time recalling: When I told my mother I was going to have an audience with the Queen of England, the first thing she said was: Dont you bow down to her. He went on: Remember Joey, shed say, youre a Biden. Nobody is better than you. Painting his mothers defiance as one of spirited refusal to kowtow to power rather than a hatred of the British, Mr Biden also said shed told him not to be obsequious to the Pope either when he met him. However, its difficult to imagine Mrs Biden a staunch Roman Catholic reacting so violently to the idea of sleeping in His Holinesss former hotel bed as she reportedly did over the Queen. Described by genealogist Megan Smolenyak (who investigated Mr Bidens roots) as quintessential Irish-American, Jeans father, Ambrose, was a newspaper librarian while her mother was the daughter of a state senator. Mr Biden has recalled how while at a grammar school run by nuns, one of them had once mocked his stuttering. His mother just 5 ft 1 in stormed into the school and told the nun: If you ever speak to my son like that again, Ill come back and rip that bonnet off your head. The Queen may have got off lightly. Two days after his father's funeral, Bill Reeves noticed his sister Louise had changed her profile picture on the messaging service WhatsApp. 'There was a lovely picture of Dad with me and Louise as kids that we'd put on the order of service,' he recalls. 'She had used the picture but cut me out, so it was just her and Dad. I thought it was a bit of an odd thing to do.' Two days after his father's funeral, Bill Reeves noticed his sister Louise (pictured) had changed her profile picture on the messaging service WhatsApp It made a lot more sense later that same February day in 2019. At about 6pm, an email arrived in Bill's inbox from a solicitor. It contained a copy of his father's will, the details of which came as something of a shock to him. Contrary to a version drafted in 2012, in which father Kevin Reeves's estimated 100 million estate was to be split between Bill, Louise and other family members, this new will, dated 2014, left the vast majority not to mention his beloved Rolls-Royce Phantom to 35-year-old Louise. And, save for 200,000 in personal effects, 47-year-old businessman Bill had been cut out entirely. 'Just like in the photo,' he says. 'Changing it was her way of letting me know she had done me. It wasn't a coincidence. It was twisted. I could honestly hardly believe my eyes.' The discovery proved to be the start of an extraordinary, rancorous three-year legal battle in which Bill, convinced that his 'ruthless' sister had tricked their father to change his will in her favour, determined to get it overturned. Bill Reeves pictured outside High Court. He said: 'Louise could have everything she wanted. But she wanted more' It was a dynastic dispute among warring siblings to almost rival the plot of hit TV series Succession, except that this drama was set not in New York but in rather less glamorous Southampton. Late last month, Bill's fight culminating in a three-week trial with 47 witnesses ended in victory when a judge found that the 'very materialistic' Louise probably 'engineered' the will and had not proved that her father knew and approved its contents. As Bill puts it: 'Louise could have everything she wanted. But she wanted more.' It means the family must now default to Kevin's 2012 will, which translates into an estimated 27 million share each for Bill, Louise and their half-sister, and about 10 million each for the two children of Bill's estranged older brother Mark, 51. Already a multi-millionaire in his own right, Bill insists that the court case has never been about the money. 'It was about right and wrong,' he tells the Mail in this, his only interview. 'Dad would be turning in his grave at everything that has happened. 'He hated wasting money, and Louise has seen to it that we have spent millions on lawyers. And he would have hated seeing what has happened to the family.' The price of justice has certainly been at the expense of family relationships, with a fault line down the middle unlikely ever to be bridged. As in Succession, this is a large and blended family. On one side are Bill and the two children of his brother Mark. Firmly on the other side are his sister Louise, brother Mark, their mother Patricia and 40-year-old Lisa Murray, Kevin's daughter from a secret affair. Kevin Reeves holding a young Louise with Bill as a boy. Kevin was a brook-no-fools character who had overcome tough beginnings to become an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur As Bill acknowledges, it is unlikely any of them will speak again. It is a dramatic turn of events even for a family that Bill admits is no stranger to acrimony. Father Kevin was a brook-no-fools character who had overcome tough beginnings to become an extraordinarily successful entrepreneur. The court heard he was orphaned as a boy and raised in a convent before leaving school at just 12. Through hard work and force of character, he developed a vast property investment business in the Southampton area where all the extended family except Mark still live today as well as maintaining a significant portfolio of equities. After Kevin married Patricia in 1968, sons Mark and Bill came along in the early 1970s. Although Kevin's more substantial wealth arrived when the children were older, life was comfortable, and when Bill was ten years old the family moved to a large detached home on several acres of land, known as the White House. Yet Kevin was otherwise frugal with his money. 'With his background he wasn't the kind of guy to have staff or buy expensive things other than as an investment,' says Bill. 'He didn't like to spend money unnecessarily.' The exception was his beloved white Rolls-Royce, his pride and joy, and the horses he bought to roam on his extensive land. With only a four-year gap between them, Mark and Bill were close as children, and Bill would often accompany his brother when he played with friends. 'As we got older, Mark became more of a nuisance who tested Dad's patience,' says Bill. 'He used to say he didn't think he'd end up anywhere good.' Louise came along 11 years after Bill and was described in court by Bill's barrister, Constance McDonnell, QC, as a 'Jekyll-and-Hyde character', although Kevin initially doted on her. For Bill, the age gap meant they did not grow close until Louise was older. 'For a long time she was just my annoying little sister,' he says. 'But I always had a good relationship with her.' Yet family life could sometimes be volatile. Kevin's prolific womanising caused tensions with his wife, and when their marriage finally came to an end after 23 years in 1991, Mark, and Bill, then 16, moved out to live with their father, while five-year-old Louise stayed at home with Patricia. 'I wonder sometimes if some of what happened goes back to that time,' Bill says. Certainly tensions arose between Louise and her father over her prolific spending as she got older. 'She was always going to Harrods and splashing the cash Dad would go mad,' he says. 'Once she spent 100,000 on a car.' Further pressure on the family came when it was revealed that the siblings had a half-sister, Lisa, now 40, the product of an affair Kevin had with a family friend. 'Lisa used to come to the house as a girl but we didn't know her true identity,' says Bill. The truth emerged when Bill was in his late 20s. 'It didn't bother me but Louise hated her from day one,' he recalls. 'She was jealous. It was kids' stuff really, but they never got on at all. Lisa was very wary of her.' A further rift came when Kevin ordered Mark to leave the home he then shared with his wife Adeline and their two young children. Evidence heard in court revealed that the 'unpleasant' Mark had beaten up his wife in front of their children, leaving Kevin, who adored his grandchildren, feeling he had no choice but to intervene. 'He couldn't stand by any more and see what was happening,' says Bill. Mark and his father subsequently went to court to fight over a family business that Kevin had set up for his three children. 'Dad spent 3 million just to get the company back and after that, he and Mark never spoke another word,' says Bill. 'It's why Dad cut him out of the will.' Bill said of Louise: 'She was always going to Harrods and splashing the cash Dad would go mad' (file photo used) Their mother Patricia, by then divorced from Kevin, sided with Mark, as did Louise, who at the time worked as a hairdresser. Bill tried to focus on his own business. With the help of a 40,000 loan from his father, he set up what would become one of the leading commercial van sale and hire sites on the South Coast, as well as developing property interests. By 2000, Bill's success had enabled him to buy his own sprawling woodland estate in Hampshire, complete with a 2,000 sq ft self-contained annexe and triple garage. It was into this annexe that his sister Louise moved with their father Kevin in 2011. Bill says: 'Dad's health had deteriorated and we thought Louise could help look out for him and administer his medication, although it didn't really work out like that. 'She wasn't there that much but she still wanted to make sure she was in charge.' Nonetheless, everyone rubbed along well enough, or so Bill thought. 'We were all one big, happy family,' he says. A year after they moved into Bill's annexe, Kevin, then 64, drew up the will in which he allocated an 80 per cent share to be divided equally between Bill, Louise and their half-sister Lisa. The remaining 20 per cent would skip Mark and go straight to his children: Ryan, 25, and 23-year-old Ria. Bill continued to enjoy a close relationship with his father, holidaying abroad with him and even offering to donate a lung when it was suggested that Kevin's worsening emphysema might mean he needed a transplant. Not once during their time together did Kevin mention a new will, and nor did Louise. It was only after Kevin's death in February 2019, at the age of 71, that Bill receive the bombshell news via email: Louise would get 80 per cent Lisa 20 per cent. 'We were in shock,' Bill recalls. 'And straightaway we knew there was no way that what was in there was right.' Further drama unfolded as Bill tried to make sense of what had happened: Bill claims that within days of his father's funeral, Louise by then living elsewhere had rounded up Kevin's beloved horses to be sold for meat, before subsequently sending Bill a letter accusing him of trespassing on her land when he went to visit his father's grave, on a 40-acre site Kevin had gifted to all his children. She also evicted Kevin's grandson from his 160,000 home, which was part of a property portfolio and held in trust. Reluctantly, Bill felt he had no choice but to take his sister to court. Equally hard to stomach was that Louise was being firmly supported by their mother Patricia. Through hard work and force of character, Kevin developed a vast property investment business in the Southampton area (file photo used) While upset by his mother's decision to take his sister's side, Bill was not surprised and says it lies in ancient battle lines. 'Mum's animosity goes back to when she and Dad separated when we were young,' he says. 'Since then, she had aligned herself with anyone she felt stood against him like Mark. And as Louise had fallen out with Dad herself in the past, she saw her as a more natural ally. 'It has been horrible and upsetting. In court she accused me and her grandkids of lying. The way she talked about the kids was just terrible.' Mark who was deemed 'aggressive and unpleasant' by the presiding judge gave evidence against his own children. Bill's sentiment about this fact was reflected by the judge, who in his summing up said: '[Mark] made it perfectly clear that, like their grandmother, he hated them.' There was certainly no shortage of accusation and counter-accusation, with Bill claiming his 'materialistic' and 'dominant' sister had worn their father down into a position where he felt he had no choice but to change the will in her favour. Central to his case was that his father could not have been aware of the contents of the will, as he was illiterate, couldn't spell his own address and even struggled to copy letters and words from printed texts. Louise denied this, arguing that in any case the will had also been read aloud to her 'tough' father, who had left her the lion's share of his estate because he saw her as the 'heir to his empire'. It was a claim Mr Justice Michael Green did not accept when delivering his judgment at the end of January: while rejecting the notion that Louise had bullied her father, he ruled that she had 'pulled the wool over his eyes' so he did not know what was in the will. Contrary to a version drafted in 2012, in which father Kevin Reeves's estimated 100 million estate was to be split between Bill, Louise and other family members, this new will, dated 2014, left the vast majority not to mention his beloved Rolls-Royce Phantom to 35-year-old Louise (file photo used) He went on: 'I believe that Louise is a risk-taker, and she can be manipulative. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. 'I believe that she was prepared to take the risk, because the prize was so great, of being found out by the deceased in relation to the 2014 will and she would have taken the consequences.' He also excoriated Louise's solicitor Daniel Curnock, calling him 'reckless and quite possibly dishonest'. It was the vindication Bill had been waiting for, although he insists his team took little pleasure in the verdict, other than in a sense of justice being restored. This week, Mayus Karia, solicitor-advocate from London's LLP Solicitors, who represented Bill, told the Mail he was delighted to have achieved justice in the face of the seemingly impossible. 'The first thing I said to my clients when I took this case on, and on seeing their predicament, was the words of Nelson Mandela 'it always seems impossible until it's done',' he says. 'We left no stone unturned in this complex, heavy High Court litigation. We are now taking instructions in relation to instigating contempt of court proceedings against Ms Reeves and her solicitor Mr Daniel Curnock.' So it seems there may be yet another chapter in this story of family warfare and greed. Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow has taken a thinly-veiled dig at Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kylie Jenner for naming her newborn son Wolf. Heavily pregnant Tammy, whose six-year-old son is also named Wolf, posted to Instagram just hours after Kylie announced her son's name on Saturday, uploading a photo of herself and her son captioned: 'My Wolf'. Fans took this to be a direct swipe at Kylie, who famously unfollowed Tammy back in 2019 following the blonde's romance with her ex Tyga. Keeping up with Tammy? Australian influencer Tammy Hembrow (left) has taken a thinly-veiled dig at Keeping Up With The Kardashians star Kylie Jenner (right) for naming her newborn son Wolf - six after Tammy gave her son the same name 'Lmfao ofc [of course] Tammy would after the name announcement,' one fan commented beneath her post. 'The original Wolf,' another wrote, while a third added: 'You were first!' Daily Mail has reached out to Kylie for comment on this matter. Bizarrely, it isn't the first time the Hembrow and Kar-Jenner clans have borrowed each other's baby names. I did it first! Heavily pregnant Tammy, whose six-year-old son is also named Wolf, posted to Instagram just hours after Kylie announced her son's name on Saturday, uploading a photo of herself and her son captioned: 'My Wolf' Announcement: Kylie welcomed her son baby Wolf Webster with fiance Travis Scott earlier this month As pointed out by Instagram page Influencer Updates, Tammy's sister Emilee used the name 'Storm' as a middle name for her son Gabriel, ten months after Kylie welcomed her daughter Stormi. Further, Emilee also gave her son Jamal - who was tragically stillborn - the middle name Reign, which happens to be the name of Kourney Kardashian's son, Reign Disick, seven. And Emilee's four-month-old daughter Giselle also has the middle name Dream - the same name as Rob Kardashian's daughter, five. Hmm! Fans took this to be a direct swipe at Kylie, who famously unfollowed Tammy back in 2019 following the blonde's romance with her ex Tyga. What's in a name? As pointed out by Instagram page Influencer Updates, Tammy's sister Emilee (pictured) used the name 'Storm' as a middle name for her son Gabriel, ten months after Kylie welcomed her daughter Stormi Kylie and Tammy were in good pals years ago. In 2018, Tammy was invited to Kylie's 21st birthday celebrations in America, but made headlines for all the wrong reasons after she collapsed at the exclusive event and had to be wheeled out face-down on a gurney. Tammy later claimed she was suffering from exhaustion when she collapsed on the dance floor. Birthday drama: In 2018, Tammy was invited to Kylie's 21st birthday celebrations in America, but made headlines for all the wrong reasons after she collapsed at the exclusive event and had to be wheeled out face-down on a gurney Despite the drama, Kylie and her sisters initially stuck by Tammy, with her continuing to work as a model for Khloe Kardashian's clothing brand Good American. Things took a turn in February 2019, when Kylie unfollowed the model on Instagram, after a string of reports she recently 'hooked' up with her ex-boyfriend Tyga in Australia. Although Kylie stayed noticeably silent on the rumoured hook up, the social media snub appeared to make her feelings on the subject very clear. Awkward! Tammy is perhaps best known for being stretchered out of Kylie's 21st birthday party in 2018 - but the famous family stuck by her, including Khloe Kardashian (pictured) who went on to cast Tammy as a model for her brand Good American It is believed Tammy got intimate with Tyga during his Australian tour in January 2019, with the model spotted on the side of the stage at several shows. However, Tammy's sister and spokeswoman Amy Hembrow later claimed the pair were 'just friends' and things had been 'taken out of context'. Tammy has since found love with fiance Matt Poole. The couple are expecting their first child together. Anna Heinrich and Tim Robards are one of The Bachelor's few success stories. And Anna, 35, has now revealed a surprising detail about her dating life before meeting Tim Robards on the Channel 10 dating show nine years ago. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald this week, Anna confessed: 'I didn't have a boyfriend before I met Tim.' Who knew? The Bachelor star Anna Heinrich, 35, (right) has revealed that she'd never had a boyfriend before meeting Tim Robards , 36, (left) on The Bachelor nine years ago 'I didn't want them to see who I was. I was scared they'd tell me I wasn't good enough,' the mother-of-one continued. Anna said that she felt insecure and was 'scared' to show them who she 'really was'. The blonde beauty confessed that she'd struggled with self confidence for a long time, and that going on The Bachelor in 2013 forced her to get to know someone. 'I was scared they'd tell me I wasn't good enough': Anna said that she felt insecure and was 'scared' to show men who she 'really was' 'I couldn't run away and it allowed me to be a lot more open in relationships,' she added. It comes just weeks after Tim, 39, told Daily Mail Australia that the couple are hoping to sell their Rose Bay apartment to buy a bigger house in Sydney to accommodate their growing family. 'We're not in a mad rush to sell, but we're having a look at whether the market wants it for what we want to sell,' he said. 'We love the area, so it's going to be hard to move. Sale: It comes just weeks after Tim, 39, told Daily Mail Australia that the couple want to sell their Rose Bay apartment to buy a bigger house in Sydney to accommodate their growing family 'But at some stage down the track, we would like to have a second kid. There's nothing on the way right now, but down the track it would be good to have something a little bit bigger.' He went on to praise the harbourside suburb, saying it would be a compromise on location should they have to move elsewhere in the city. 'At the moment we've got beautiful views, and the location - we've got cafes across the road, and just a walk away from the water, which has been amazing during lockdown,' Tim said. Luxurious: The marble kitchen has luxurious appliances including a Smeg gas cooktop and an integrated fridge/freezer 'There is going to be a compromise that if we want more space, we're going to lose the view and the location. 'But at the same time, we're still so lucky we've been able to have that time here.' Tim, who is an ambassador for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation' s Burpees 4 Brain Cancer initiative, said the couple definitely want to stay in Sydney because Anna's family is nearby and Tim's 'aren't too far away' either. The pair are already proud parents to gorgeous one-year-old daughter Elle. Location: The boutique apartment is located on a block of six, just a stone's throw away from the Rose Bay Wharf and restaurants When asked how many children they want in the future, Tim said: 'I think one for each of us. Probably two kids will be enough. 'I'm one of three, and Anna's one of three, but I feel like at the moment there's enough people in the world, we don't want to bring too many in. 'And with the price of Sydney housing at the moment, if you need to have a four-bedroom house... every kid you bring in would be a couple of extra million dollars to support them, with a bedroom and to put them through school.' The couple's Rose Bay property was already extensively renovated prior to its purchase in 2018. Spacious: The property also has timber floors in the living spaces and high-quality carpet in the three bedrooms Tim and Anna, who met on The Bachelor in 2013 and married in 2018, purchased the townhouse in 2016 for $630,000, realestate.com.au reported. The pad, located in the luxurious Portavilla complex, was completely new at the time and only recently built. Tim also recently listed his other investment property: a four-bedroom townhouse in Aspley, in Brisbane's north. The chiropractor purchased that townhouse in 2016 for $452,500. Her life has truly been lived in the fast lane initially as daughter of the Le Mans-winning 5th Earl Howe, then as wife of dashing but doomed Formula One driver Piers Courage, and ultimately as third and last bride of outlandish casino king and zoo owner John Aspinall. Now, at the age of 77, Lady Sally Aspinall has, I'm told, suffered losses running into millions of pounds, after falling victim to an alleged fraud in what is described as a sickening breach of trust. 'The person responsible has been systematically robbing her, forging her signature,' my informant tells me. Lady Sally Aspinall has, I'm told, suffered losses running into millions of pounds, after falling victim to an alleged fraud in what is described as a sickening breach of trust. Pictured: Lady Sally with late husband John Aspinall The alleged fraud happened in London over a number of years, where the fraudster took advantage of the fact that Sally has not been in the best health. Sally now spends much of her time in South Africa where she is cared for by her son Bassa, 49 her only child by Aspinall. John Aspinall left more than 90 million when he died in 2000, aged 74. He bequeathed most of his fortune to Sally and Bassa, and to Damian and Amanda, his children by first wife, Jane Gordon Hastings. Sally now spends much of her time in South Africa where she is cared for by her son Bassa, 49 her only child by Aspinall Other beneficiaries were his stepsons Jason and Amos Courage Sally's sons by her first marriage to old Etonian brewing heir Piers, who died at 28 in an horrific accident in the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix. Sally and her family decline to comment on the loss of the money. But longstanding friends have always been in awe of her stoicism in the face of adversity: first, in the aftermath of Piers' death and, later, in 1995, when her eldest son, Jason, was paralysed from the chest down when his motorbike was hit by a car making an illegal turn. John Aspinall left more than 90 million when he died in 2000, aged 74. He bequeathed most of his fortune to Sally and Bassa, and to Damian and Amanda, his children by first wife, Jane Gordon Hastings. Pictured: Aspinall with then-wife Sarah in 1974 During her marriage to Aspinall, Sally became inured to reversals of financial fortune, on one occasion selling her jewellery to keep the family afloat. 'John took the view that objects and pictures were for the good times,' she reflected. 'In the bad times, they went.' But being the victim of a protracted alleged fraud may test even her fortitude and that of her family beyond breaking point. The person accused of the fraud did not wish to comment to The Mail on Sunday. Police confirmed they were investigating but no arrests have been made. Jo Wood tells me that living in the countryside has relieved her of the pressure to have Botox, as she's not getting out so muc Jo Wood tells me that living in the countryside has relieved her of the pressure to have Botox, as she's not getting out so much. 'It doesn't seem as important as when I was in London and going to events all the time,' she says. Maybe that's just as well as Jo, 66, ex-wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, has had some disasters over the years. Once, after a night of dancing, the Botox she had around her eyes started to affect the rest of her face, leaving her with a crooked smile for six weeks. However, I'm not convinced Jo has cracked the habit just yet, as she adds: 'I need to go and have my little dark marks taken off my face.' And why not She claimed to be suffering 'financial hardship' when she picked up a speeding fine a few months ago. But judging from these glamorous holiday snaps, Lady Eliza Manners seems to have solved whatever cash flow issues persuaded magistrates to halve her 100 penalty. The 24-year-old daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland has been living it up on the 600-acre Albany estate in the Bahamas, described as one of the most exclusive in the world, where accommodation starts at 2,000 a night. And she has been taking full advantage of the ocean-front property, enjoying walks on the beach, cocktails at sunset and frolics in the sea. Life's a beach: Lady Eliza, posting from the exclusive Caribbean resorts Eliza, whose family seat is Belvoir Castle, shared photos of her break on Instagram, captioning one of them 'How's your Monday going?' as she posed on the sand. In October, she was convicted of driving her Audi at 47mph in a 40mph zone on the M4. She wrote to magistrates asking for a reduction to the penalty, claiming it would cause 'cash flow issues', and escaped with a 50 fine. Eliza, a regular at Claridge's and private clubs such as Annabel's, lives in a Notting Hill flat said to be worth 700,000. In October, she was convicted of driving her Audi at 47mph in a 40mph zone on the M4. She wrote to magistrates asking for a reduction to the penalty, claiming it would cause 'cash flow issues', and escaped with a 50 fine The tooth hurts, Toff Poor Georgia Toffolo. She went to the dentist expecting to have four wisdom teeth taken out but was told she had only three. Toff, 27, went into a private hospital in London to have the teeth out, at the same time as a friend who, bizarrely, was having the same op. Feeling a bit sore yesterday, right, she told me: 'Chipmunk doesn't quite cut it! Very swollen.' Poor Georgia Toffolo. She went to the dentist expecting to have four wisdom teeth taken out but was told she had only three During the week she shared a video of her swanky hospital room, saying: 'I've just checked in. It's nice! In the loo they've got really nice toiletries. 'It's quite jokes that my friend is having it done at the same time.' Toff went in because she had one impacted wisdom tooth. Facing a general anaesthetic to have it out, she decided: 'I thought, I'm going under, may as well have them all out.' A strange kind of wisdom Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly intending to keep Anton Du Beke as a judge on the BBC ballroom dance contest this year, replacing Bruno Tonioli. Bruno, 66, appeared on the American version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, last year, but pandemic travel restrictions made it difficult for him to fly back to the UK for the British edition, with Anton, 55, taking his place. Bruno was expected to make a return to the panel this year, particularly after fellow show star Craig Revel Horwood, 57, said the 'chemistry is a bit flat without' him, but it has now been claimed show bosses are favouring Anton. Moving on: Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly intending to keep Anton Du Beke, 55, as a judge on the BBC ballroom dance contest this year A BBC source told The Sun: 'We have been told Anton's contract as a judge is going to be renewed. The bosses were really happy with his performance. It also hasn't escaped their notice his salary is considerably lower than Bruno's. 'Bruno has been an integral part of Strictly for more than a decade, and there is a huge amount of affection for him from those on the show. 'This decision will ruffle some feathers, not least with Craig, who has been a very, very vocal advocate for welcoming Bruno back. But the bosses' attitude is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". International star: Bruno, 66, appeared on the American version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, last year, but pandemic travel restrictions made it difficult for him to fly back to the UK MailOnline has contacted representatives for Anton and Bruno for comment. The BBC declined to comment on the story. Last year Craig said he was keen to see Bruno back on the panel this year as he believes the panel is 'flat' without him. A source told The Sun in November: 'Craig feels the chemistry is a bit flat without Bruno. He brought some pizzazz and expertise to the panel.' Winner: A BBC source told The Sun : 'We have been told Anton's contract as a judge is going to be renewed. The bosses were really happy with his performance' The source added: 'Craig would love for his pal to return next year and thinks it's possible now that the world is opening up. 'They have a spark that is difficult to recreate. 'But Anton has a strong fan base and there is definitely a camp who would like him to stay.'. Selin Mengu created quite the spectacle when she stepped out for a night out with her Married At First Sight co-stars on Saturday night. The mother of one, 32, who hails from Sydney's Western Suburbs arrived in a white Rolls-Royce, stepping out of the car only to be greeted by a frenzy of photographers. There was certainly no missing Selin, who commanded attention in a multicoloured 90s-inspired mini dress with matching gloves. Living the high life! Selin Mengu, 32, (pictured) commanded attention as she arrived in a flashy $1.2M Rolls-Royce during a wild night out with her co-stars on Saturday night Selin rounded out her bold ensemble with a pair of black ankle-high boots and a black Marc Jacobs satchel. The executive assistant oozed confidence as she greeted her co-stars Jack Millar and Al Perkins before walking into Double Bay hot spot Sinaloa. Brides Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco were also in attendance. Nice! The Married At First Sight bride who hails from Sydney's Western Suburbs, stepped out of the car only to be greeted by a frenzy of photographers Turning heads: There was certainly no missing Selin, who commanded attention in a multicoloured-90s inspired mini dress with matching gloves Stopping traffic: Selin stopped traffic when she unexpectedly pulled up in a $1.2M Rolls Royce Phantom driven by Prestige Hire Australia The glamorous brides arrived hand-in-hand as they rushed past photographers. Domenica, 28, showed turned heads as she showed off her incredible physique in a skimpy crop top and matching skirt. The pint-sized makeup artist added height by wearing a pair of white platform slides. Smile for the paparazzi! The executive assistant oozed confidence as she greeted her co-stars Jack Millar (left) and Al Perkins (right) before walking into Double Bay hot spot Sinaloa Incoming! Brides Domenica Calarco (left) and Ella Ding (right) were also in attendance Dom wore her blonde locks out and relaxed and appeared to be wearing a neutral palette of makeup for the outing. She accessorised her look with a blue and red coloured Louis Vuitton satchel. Meanwhile, Ella made sure all eyes were on her as she flaunted her impressive figure in a monochrome comic print set. Stylish: Domenica, 28, showed turned heads as she showed off her incredible physique in a skimpy crop top and matching skirt The Melbourne-based beautician, 27, wore her long brunette tresses out and relaxed. As always the pretty star's make-up was immaculate and as well as having her eyes accentuated with plenty of eyeliner, she wore a splash of red lipstick. The group were later spotted partying with Brent Vitiello who made a style statement in an all-black ensemble, as they made their way to a second venue. Stylish: Meanwhile, Ella made sure all eyes were on her as she flaunted her impressive figure in a monochrome comic print set Hello! The group were later spotted partying with Brent Vitiello (pictured) who made a style statement in an all-black ensemble, as they made their way to trendy new hotspot Eros Slick: Brent, 33, looked suave in a black button up shirt which he paired with black pants and quarter high boots The 33-year-old looked suave in a black button up shirt which he paired with black pants and quarter high boots. Al looked effortly stylish in a striped shirt which he teamed up with white pants and matching sneakers. The 26-year-old Bondi-based groom was seen playing with his wedding ring. Married At First Sight continues on Sunday at 7pm on Nine Ready to party: Al looked effortly stylish in a striped shirt which he teamed up with white pants and matching sneakers All smiles: Jack appeared happy and relaxed as she threw a peace sign to a photographer They're two of Australia's most talked-about adult models. So it was only a matter of time before Steve Irwin's 'hot' niece Rebecca Lobie, 33, and Married At First Sight star-turned-OnlyFans model Hayley Vernon, 34, crossed paths. On Saturday, the two bombshells spent the day together as they attended a party held by tobacco tycoon Travers 'Candyman' Beynon's at the Candyshop mansion in Queensland. Wet n' wild! Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' Rebecca Lobie, 33, put on a raunchy display with Married At First Sight star turned OnlyFans model Hayley Vernon, 34, as they partied at the Candyshop mansion in Queensland on Saturday Hayley and Rebecca were joined with a bevy of bikini-clad models who were also living it up at the famous party house, based in Helensvale, Queensland. Former reality TV star Hayley, donned a tiny triangle bikini with matching G-string bottoms. Meanwhile, busty mother-of-two Rebecca- who is the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy and her husband Frank Muscillo - opted for a raunchy white one-piece which was transparent on the side panels and included a plunging neckline. Living it up! The two bombshells spent the day together drinking and partying by the pool in skimpy swimwear Cheeky: At one stage, Hayley placed her hand on Rebecca's posterior Friends in high places: The pair posed alongside multimillionaire tobacco tycoon Travers 'Candyman' Beynon (centre) In between dips in the luxurious pool, the twosome sipped beverages and danced on the patio. At one stage, the brunette and blonde duo posed for photos with multimillionaire Travers. In another photo they were seen admiring the 49-year-old's physique. Daring to bare! Former reality TV star Hayley, donned a tiny triangle bikini with matching G-string bottoms. Meanwhile, busty mother-of-two Rebecca- who is the daughter of Steve Irwin's sister Joy and her husband Frank Muscillo - opted for a raunchy white one-piece which was transparent on the side panels and included a plunging neckline Wild! In between dips in the luxurious pool, the twosome sipped beverages and danced on the patio Other stunning models were also in attendance, with many rushing to millionaire tobacco tycoon's side to show off their ample assets for the photo opportunity. It appears there was a theme as all attendees either wore red, black or white. Known for her raunchy glamour photos Rebecca became an adult model sensation in July last year after she launched her own subscription-only content platform. In good company: Hayley and Rebecca were joined with a bevy of bikini-clad models who were also living it up at the famous party house Hold on tight! Some of the girls struggled to stay afloat while on a blow-up mattress Not shy: Other stunning models were also in attendance, with many rushing to millionaire tobacco tycoon's side to show off their ample assets for the photo opportunity Meanwhile, Hayley has been pocketing thousands of dollars since becoming an OnlyFans creator in August 2020. In September last year, Hayley was overcome with emotion, as she recalled how much her life has changed for the better since beginning her OnlyFans career. The Instagram model, who has earned 'over $600,000 in 12 months' from creating X-rated content on the subscription site - broke down in tears on social media as she proudly exclaimed: 'I f**king did it' to the camera. 'I could never have imagined or dreamt about the life that I've got now. Not in a thousand years did I think I'd be this incredibly blessed, and to be living how I'm living.' Then Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks in Darby, Pennsylvania, June 17, 2020; while Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a meeting with Russian athletes and team members at the Novo-Ogaryovo State Residence outside Moscow, Jan. 31, 2018, in this combination of file pictures created June 7, 2021. AFP-Yonhap President Joe Biden told Russia's Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause ''widespread human suffering'' and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but ''equally prepared for other scenarios,'' the White House said Saturday. It offered no suggestion that the hour-long call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe. Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond ''decisively and impose swift and severe costs'' if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House. The two presidents spoke a day after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end Feb. 20. Russia denies it intends to invade but has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, encircling Ukraine on three sides. U.S. officials say Russia's buildup of firepower has reached the point where it could invade on short notice. The conversation came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. U.S. officials believe they have mere days to prevent an invasion and enormous bloodshed in Ukraine. And while the U.S. and its NATO allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting punishing sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe. ''President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,'' the White House statement said. The call was ''professional and substantive'' but produced ''no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks,'' according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters following the call on condition of anonymity. The official added that it remains unclear whether Putin has made a final decision to move forward with military action. Yuri Ushakov, Putin's top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days ''the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity.'' He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but ''this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader.'' A person walks during snowfall by a WWII memorial, in Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, Feb. 12. AP-Yonhap Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions. Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe. In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy in the Ukrainian capital. Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine. Canada has shuttered its embassy in Kyiv and relocated its diplomatic staff to a temporary office in Lviv, located in the western part of the country, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Saturday. Lviv is home to a Ukrainian military base that has served as the main hub for Canada's 200-soldier training mission in the former Soviet country. The timing of any possible Russian military action remained 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. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that ''further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.'' Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. ''We are not afraid, we're without panic, all is under control,'' he said. Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement. ''We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs'' anti-tank and -aircraft weapons they said. ''Welcome to hell!'' U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions Saturday. Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. Embassy's military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified ''appropriate means,'' the ministry said. Ukrainian servicemen take part in drills held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the settlement of Kalanchak near the border with Crimea, Feb. 12. Tass-Yonhap Gal Gadot and her husband Yaron Varsano are gearing up for a busy time of the year. So before their 'busy and hectic' schedules kick in, the couple decided to enjoy some quiet time together in the great outdoors on Saturday. The Wonder Woman star documented their weekend getaway by sharing three photos, including one where she gave her man a sweet kiss on the cheek. One last hurrah: Gal Gadot gave her husband Yaron Varsano a kiss on the cheek as they enjoyed one last quiet day together before stepping up their schedules Gadot, 36, can be seen wearing a gray overcoat over a burgundy turtleneck shirt, and her dark tresses pulled back off of her face in a ponytail. 'Since the next couple of months are going to be so busy and hectic we decided to spend this beautiful Saturday outdoors in the winter sun,' she confessed of their time together, adding that they're 'taking some family time off before diving in to some incredibly exciting new projects.' Varsano, who's a businessman and real estate developer, squinted his eyes under that winter sun in the photo dressed in black coat over a matching hoodie. One with nature: The Wonder Woman star also shared a photograph of a lake they passed during their casual stroll together in the great outdoors Hugging it out: The actress also posted an image of the shadow as they shared a hug The Israeli actress and model also posted a photograph of a lake they passed during their stroll outside, as well as an image of the shadow of the couple as they shared a hug. So far it's not known exactly what new projects the couple will be directing much of their attention to over to over the course of the next two months. But Gadot has been confirmed to have signed on to no less than three new films, including the international spy thriller, Heart Of Stone, opposite Belfast actor Jamie Dornan, according to Deadline. Busy: So far it's not known exactly what new projects the couple will be directing much of their attention to the next two months, but Gadot is slated to star in three new films, including Heart Of Stone, To Catch A Thief and a live-action adaptation of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs She's also set to star in a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock romance thriller To Catch A Thief, and serve as one of the producers along with her husband, according to The Wrap. Gadot has also been confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter to be among the cast of Disney's live-action adaptation of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs to play the Evil Queen alongside such actors as Andrew Burnap and Rachel Zegler, who will play Snow White. The mother of three is currently stars in Kenneth Branagh's mystery film Death On The Nile, which is based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. Gadot and Varsano have been married since 2008, and share three daughters: Alma, 10, Maya, four, and Daniella, seven months. Rylan Clark shared an upbeat selfie and gave a thumbs up on Saturday after he was rushed to hospital with a mystery illness on Friday. Taking to Twitter the presenter, 33, partially covered his face as he posed for the photo and was wearing casual attire. Rylan previously told fans that he is on the mend but will once again be forced to miss out on his BBC Radio 2 show on Saturday. Positive: Rylan Clark shared an upbeat selfie and gave a thumbs up on Saturday after he was rushed to hospital with a mystery illness on Friday He captioned his latest coy update: 'Resting - see you all soon!' Rylan looked like he was taking time out to relax in the snap as he lounged on a sofa and had his headphones in. Despite covering his lower face, Rylan looked healthy and as though he was recovering well. It comes after earlier in the day on Saturday Rylan shared a fun throwback stating he's hopes to have a 'lovely day'. He shared the message alongside a sweet throwback clip from his stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. Worrying! Rylan revealed on social media on Friday morning that he was rushed to hospital for an 'extended time' with a mystery illness Current Mood: It comes after earlier in the day on Saturday Rylan shared a fun throwback stating he's hopes to have a 'lovely day' In the clip Rylan is seen in the Diary Room as Big Brother asks him: 'What are you hopes for tomorrow, Rylan?' Sat with a yellow flower in his hair, he answers: 'Just have a lovely day. If I have a row, I have a row. But just have a lovely day.' Rylan captioned his latest update: 'Current mood' as fan rushed to support the radio host with gushing comments and sweet messages. Resting up! In the clip, he answers to Big Brother: 'Just have a lovely day. If I have a row, I have a row. But just have a lovely day' as he is forced to miss out on another radio show on Saturday One fan commented: ' Keep that beautiful smile on your face and just know how much positivity you bring. To quote you 'You stay safe and You Stay Well'" Another added: 'Aww I hope you have a lovely day too gorgeous, sending you the biggest hug!' Other followers admitted that they would miss Rylan's usual radio show as they sent their well wishes. Well wishes! Fans rushed to support him as one joked: 'Get well soon. Love your radio show. What am I going to do on Saturday when I'm doing some Destroy It Yourself in the garage' A third fan penned: 'Get well soon. Will miss you on the wireless tomoz.' Whilst another playfully said: 'Get well soon. Love your radio show. What am I going to do on Saturday when I'm doing some Destroy It Yourself in the garage.' The post comes as Rylan revealed that he was rushed to hospital where he stayed for an 'extended time' with a mystery illness. Rylan 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 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: He 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' Married At First Sight stunners Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco are certainly lapping up their time in the spotlight. The reality TV stars were spotted pouting and smiling at photographers as they headed out together in Sydney on Saturday. Clearly in good spirits, the duo were seen walking down the footpath hand-in-hand before catching up with male pals and boarding a private yacht. Friends: Married At First Sight brides Ella Ding, 27, (right) and Domenica Calarco, 28, (left) were all smiles as they stepped hand-in-hand before getting on a boat in Sydney with male friends Ella, 27, flaunted her impressive figure in a monochrome comic print set. The beautician wore her long raven tresses out and in loose waves. Her make-up was immaculate, featuring eyeliner, red lipstick and bronzer. Outing: Clearly in good spirits, the duo were seen walking down the footpath hand-in-hand before catching up with male pals and boarding a private yacht Wow! Ella, 27, flaunted her impressive figure in a monochrome comic print set Chic: Ella's make-up was immaculate, featuring eyeliner, red lipstick and bronzer Domenica, 28, meanwhile showed off her incredible physique in a skimpy crop top and matching skirt. The makeup artist added height by wearing a pair of white platform slides. Dom wore her blonde locks out and and appeared to be wearing a neutral palette of makeup. Alright in white! Domenica, 28, meanwhile showed off her incredible physique in a skimpy crop top and matching skirt. Glowing: Dom wore her blonde locks out and appeared to be wearing a neutral palette of makeup Feeling hungry? Ella clutched an Uber Eats paper delivery bag She accessorised her look with a blue and red coloured Louis Vuitton satchel. At one point of the outing, the MAFS brides were joined by two male friends who were each carrying bottles of booze. Daily Mail Australia understands that Ella was in Sydney attending a family friend's birthday. Pals: At one point of the outing, the MAFS brides were joined by two male friends who were each carrying bottles of booze Invitation only! Daily Mail Australia understands that Ella was in Sydney attending a family friend's birthday Be careful! Domenica and Ella were seen taking their time walking onto the luxury boat Domenica and Ella appear to have formed a tight-knit friendship since filming the Channel Nine dating show last year. Ella has been labelled the 'Martha Kalifatidis of Married At First Sight 2022' thanks to her stunning looks and glamorous wardrobe. The brunette made her big reality TV debut last month, marrying male model Mitchell, 26. Who knew? Domenica and Ella appear to have formed a tight-knit friendship since filming the Channel Nine dating show last year Breakout star: Ella has been labelled the 'Martha Kalifatidis of Married At First Sight 2022' thanks to her stunning looks and glamorous wardrobe 'The dating world is pretty brutal,' she said in her intro. 'I feel like I've tried and done it all, and what I attract is f**k boys [and] commitment phobias,' she said at the time. 'I haven't had a boyfriend, like someone to call my boyfriend, in nine years,' she admitted. Married At First Sight continues on Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine He's known for his opulent designs and meticulous attention to detail. So it was no surprise that Australian haute couture designer Alin Le' Kal pulled out all the stops when it came to planning his own wedding last month. The couturier, who famously appeared on Real Housewives of Melbourne, married his fiancee Hind in an enchanted forest-themed soiree at Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom - complete with extravagant decor, a star-studded guest list and multiple wedding dresses. Inside Australia's biggest wedding: Celebrity designer Alin Le' Kal (right) has married his bride Hind (left) in an extravagant soiree, complete with custom-made chandeliers, famous guests and a '$1million price tag' 'We were inspired by trees, natural beauty and an elegant, royal feel,' Alin told Daily Mail Australia. The breathtaking decor included 40 custom-made chandeliers and birdcages that were transported to Melbourne from Sydney for the event. Floral installations by luxury floral stylist John Emmanuel and custom-made 'trees' made from live fresh foliage festooned the sprawling function room, while a bespoke monogrammed dance floor gave the room a regal ambience. Not doing things by halves! He's known for his opulent designs and meticulous attention to detail. So it was no surprise that Alin pulled out all the stops when it came to planning his own wedding last month Wonderland: The couturier, who famously appeared on Real Housewives of Melbourne, married his fiancee Hind in an enchanted forest-themed soiree at Melbourne's Plaza Ballroom - complete with extravagant decor, a star-studded guest list and multiple wedding dresses Regal: As expected, Alin created Hind's bespoke bridal look, creating not one but two gowns for his queen to wear As expected, Alin created Hind's bespoke bridal look, creating not one but two gowns for his queen to wear. The first gown was worn to the church ceremony and featured hand-beaded pearl detailing and wave-inspired pleating, while the second was a blush ballroom gown with white beading and a square neckline. Hind was also dripping in diamonds by Melbourne jeweller Anton Jewellery for her big day. Having their cake and eating it, too! A towering, multi-tiered wedding cake surrounded by flowers and lit candles made for a grand centrepiece Floating on a cloud: The pair shared their first dance on the custom monogrammed dance floor covered in ethereal smoke Alin meanwhile looked sleek in a custom black suit and bowtie. Other extravagant details included Maserati cars hired for the day, a private violinist, a towering wedding cake and a smoke machine. While Alin and Hind have remained mum on just how much they spent on their nuptials, Daily Mail Australia estimates that the newlyweds spent at least $1million on their lavish bash. Fit for a queen: Hind was also dripping in diamonds by Melbourne jeweller Anton Jewellery for her big day Attention to detail: Alin created outfits for his entire wedding party Stunning: The first gown was worn to the church ceremony and featured hand-beaded pearl detailing and wave-inspired pleating, while the second was a blush ballroom gown with white beading and a square neckline Alin and Hind's guest list also included some familiar faces, including Real Housewives of Melbourne stars Gamble Breaux, Pettifleur Berenger, Lydia Schiavello and Simone Elliott. Alin and Hind worked with acclaimed wedding planner Diane Khoury to make their dream nuptials a reality - a decision that Alin said made all the difference. Diane is well known for styling headline-making celebrity events, including footy star-turned-businessman Lou Zivanovic's nuptials to wife Olivia Milazzo last year. 'My best advice to couples that want to throw a big lavish wedding is to plan ahead and really have someone there to coordinate and organise your whole event,' he advised. 'Our wedding planner was asking questions that we had never thought of asking if we were to do it on our own.' Unique: A violinist perched on a platform wearing a long gold dress serenaded the couple Opulent: While Alin and Hind have remained mum on just how much they spent on their nuptials, it is estimated that the newlyweds spent at least $1million on the lavish bash Styling: Alin and Hind worked with acclaimed wedding planner Diane Khoury to make their dream nuptials a reality - a decision that Alin said made all the difference While Alin is based in Victoria, his designs can be found in exclusive boutiques across the globe, including in Paris. He also recently opened his newest store in Melbourne's South Yarra. Ove the years, he has amassed an international celebrity following, dressing the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, Paris Hilton, Julia Morris and Sophie Monk. Advice: 'My best advice to couples that want to throw a big lavish wedding is to plan ahead and really have someone there to coordinate and organise your whole event,' he advised Channel Seven have begun casting for a local season of the iconic cooking show Kitchen Nightmares. The network is currently on the hunt for restaurants who 'need rescuing' for the brand new season, which soared to popularity in the UK and the US while fronted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. TV Blackbox report that it's not expected that Ramsay will front the Australian version, meaning an iconic Aussie chef could be taking the reins. Coming soon: Channel Seven have begun casting for a local season of the iconic cooking show Kitchen Nightmares - although it's not believed the show's original host Gordon Ramsay (pictured) will be fronting the Australian series The casting call reads: 'Does Your Restaurant Need Rescuing? 'A renowned celebrity chef and restauranteur is on a mission to rescue struggling restaurants across Australia with a new series of Kitchen Nightmares, on Channel 7. 'You will receive expert advice to revive your restaurant dreams, renew your passion and reinvigorate your menu. 'So, if your business is struggling, your staffs appetite for success has faded or your food has lost its flavourAPPLY NOW!' Fiery: Kitchen Nightmares was iconic in its time, and saw Chef Ramsay have multiple fiery meltdowns on camera as he attempted to revive failed restaurants from ruin It concluded: 'With our help, we could turn your restaurant into the hottest spot in town!' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Seven for further comment. Kitchen Nightmares ran in the UK for five seasons between 2004 and 2007, before returning for a one-off season in 2014. It also ran from 2007 to 2014 in the US on Fox, with the network also showcasing Ramsay's next series, Hell's Kitchen. Kitchen Nightmares was iconic in its time, and saw Chef Ramsay have multiple fiery meltdowns on camera as he attempted to revive failed restaurants from ruin. It's not the only cooking show Seven are reviving, after it was announced October the network were set to resurrect My Kitchen Rules. He's back: Manu Feildel (pictured) will return to My Kitchen Rules as a judge in 2002 Manu Feildel will be at the helm of the show, however controversial anti-vaxxer Pete Evans won't be returning. Manu, 47, told The Daily Telegraph in December: 'I am a little sad I suppose. Pete and I are great mates and nothing has changed there. 'We have worked together for a very long time and I love the guy. The fact he won't be sitting next to me is not my choice.' Manu went on to say that he does not know who will star on the show alongside him, but some big names are in the mix. 'I am not sure yet who will be joining me. There have been some international names floating around,' he said. Married At First Sight bride Tamara Djordjevic has been copping backlash for her 'villain' edit on this year's season. And during a break in filming in Sydney, the 29-year-old looked tense as she stepped out for a casual stroll alongside a Channel Nine minder. Tamara, who is paired with hospitality specialist Brent Vitiello and described retail workers as 'below' her, donned skin-tight activewear that showed off her trim figure. All okay? Married At First Sight's opinionated bride Tamara Djordjevic (pictured), 29, looked tense as she stepped out for a stroll in Sydney during a break in filming The operations manager wore white bike shorts that accentuated her slender legs and a grey cropped zip-up jacket that offered a glimpse of her toned tummy. She added a pair of pristine white sneakers to the look, and also wore a face mask. Tamara's blonde locks were swept up into an effortless ponytail, and she appeared tense, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Revealing: The operations manager donned skin-tight activewear that showed off her trim figure Trim: Tamara wore white bike shorts that accentuated her slender legs and a grey cropped zip-up jacket that offered a glimpse of her toned tummy She was joined by a Channel Nine minder, who usually accompany the reality stars when they head out during breaks from filming. Meanwhile, Tamara recently refuted claims she is the 'villain' of her season after making a series of snobby remarks. Tamara has described retail workers as 'below' her and mocked people who 'drive ugly cars'. Company: She was joined by a Channel Nine minder, who usually accompany the reality stars when they head out during breaks from filming Demeanour: Tamara's blonde locks were swept up into an effortless ponytail, and she appeared tense, crossing her arms in front of her chest However, she told Now to Love on Wednesday that she's just an unfiltered person. 'I have different sides to my personality. Hopefully people have a better understanding of me,' she said. Tamara admitted people often get upset with her brutal honesty in real life. Backlash: Meanwhile, Tamara recently refuted claims she is the 'villain' of her season after making a series of snobby remarks Remarks: Tamara has described retail workers as 'below' her and mocked people who 'drive ugly cars' 'When you first meet me I'm hard to take. I come out with whatever I'm thinking,' she said. 'It's not always taken the right way unless you know me, and my personality it can be quite hard to take in.' Tamara acknowledged she copped a lot of backlash for saying retail workers don't have 'ambition', but hinted viewers didn't see the full 'context' of her remarks. 'It is really quite upsetting [to see] that was blown up to what it wasn't,' she said, adding that a lot of her wedding to Brent wasn't shown. Response: However, she told Now to Love on Wednesday that she's just an unfiltered person. 'I have different sides to my personality. Hopefully people have a better understanding of me,' she said 'We actually had quite a funny wedding and that part of the conversation stemmed from talking about what we're looking for in a partner.' She explained she'd dated unambitious men before and they didn't 'understand' her stressful lifestyle. During the MAFS season premiere, Tamara shocked her 'husband' Brent by saying she could never date someone who works in retail because it's 'below her'. Disbelief: During the MAFS season premiere, Tamara shocked her 'husband' Brent Vitiello by saying she could never date someone who works in retail because it's 'below her' It was just the beginning of the drama, however, as Tamara repeatedly clashed with the 33-year-old on their wedding day. 'He does seem like an average kind of guy. Average just isn't for me. I'm not average. I don't do average,' the surgically-enhanced blonde told producers. Her audition tape was also aired on Tuesday's episode, in which she described herself as a 'b**ch' and complained about men who drive 'really ugly cars'. They're both enduring failed marriages on the 2022 season of Married at First Sight. So it's no surprise that both Anthony Cincotta and Holly Greenstein appeared tense during filming, as they were pictured leaving their accommodation in Sydney for solo outings without their other halves. Anthony, 38, who is 'married' to Selin Mengu, looked absolutely ripped as he stepped out in a loose-fitting vest top, where his bulging biceps took centre stage. Tense: Anthony Cincotta appeared downcast during a solo outing, as he filmed Married at First Sight alongside his on-screen wife Selin Mengu The tense-looking father-of-one kept his head down as he waltzed down the stairs, teaming his look with a pair of black shorts, a face mask and grey sneakers. Meanwhile, Holly, 36, was joined by a producer as she took a stroll around Sydney's CBD during filming. The producer tried to avoid Holly - who is paired with Texas-born Andrew Davis on the show - from being photographed by placing an arm in front of her face. Holly appeared downcast as she walked the streets in gym gear as she enjoyed some fresh air. Solo walk: The father-of-one kept his head down as he waltzed down the stairs, teaming his look with a pair of black shorts, a face mask and grey sneakers Guarded: Meanwhile, Holly, 36, was joined by a producer as she took a stroll around Sydney's CBD during filming - who tried to hide the downcast bride from view with her arm She wore a black vest top and tiny shorts for the occasion, and sported minimal makeup on her face. Both couples' marriages have been nothing short of disastrous since they walked down the aisle on MAFS. Anthony and Selin have argued multiple times since tying the knot, with the hunky wrestler storming out of their honeymoon after his bride called him a 'princess' during an altercation where he felt 'vulnerable'. Casual chic: Holly wore a black vest top and tiny short for the occasion, and sported minimal makeup on her face Selin told producers: 'I did make the comment. What did I say? Like "Smile, princess," or something like that. Then he carried on and started calling me a bully. 'And how he reacted, it's definitely not how a man should react.' They then had a second blow-up argument during a task about rating the other based on level of attraction, which again resulted in Anthony leaving their apartment to sleep alone away from his bride. Despite their arguments, the couple both agreed they wanted to stay during Sunday's commitment ceremony in order to work on their marriage. Inked: Anthony showed off his muscular physique as he enjoyed a stroll to clear his mind Not happy: Holly couldn't raise a smile as she sauntered down the road in her fitness attire Meanwhile, Holly's husband Andrew shamed his wife Holly for her performance in the bedroom earlier in the month, saying he'd had 'better one-night stands' after they consummated their marriage. Holly asked her American husband during an honesty-box challenge: 'Do you feel any sexual chemistry with me?' Taking a minute to think about his response, Andrew responded: 'Holly, I enjoy sex. I enjoy sex all the time. I enjoy it in random places, at random times.' Not getting along: Anthony and his on-screen 'wife' Selin Mengu have argued multiple times since tying the knot, with the hunky wrestler even storming out of their honeymoon after she called him 'princess' during an altercation where he said he felt 'vulnerable' Awkward: Meanwhile, Holly's husband Andrew Davis (pictured) shamed his wife Holly for her performance in the bedroom earlier in the month, saying he'd had 'better one-night stands' after they consummated their marriage 'I know I have the right equipment and I feel like I know how to use that. But I feel like when we were intimate you weren't there,' he added. 'You were not physically there. I didn't feel intimacy. I didn't feel connected to you, so it wasn't enjoyable for me. If I am being completely honest with you. 'I've had one-night stands where the partner was more into me than you were into me. If I just wanted to get off I could just do that by myself.' The couple aren't expected to last much longer in the experiment, with Andrew initially voting to 'leave' during Sunday's commitment ceremony - before changing it to 'stay' at the last minute. Married at First Sight continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now Channel Ten and Seven may be rivals, but the networks' stars are the best of friends. On Sunday, Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell was joined by Studio 10 presenter Sarah Harris for a lunch with friends. In photos shared to Instagram Stories, Michael, 38, and Sarah, 40, posed together for a selfie. Fun-day: Channel Ten and Seven may be rivals, but the networks' stars are the best of friends. On Sunday, Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell was joined by Studio 10 presenter Sarah Harris for a lunch with friends. Both pictured A second image showed the pair joining a group of pals at a table decorated with white flowers. Also present at the luncheon were Weekend Sunrise news reader Sally Bowrey and The Kyle and Jackie O show's Brooklyn Ross. Likewise attending were Weekend Sunrise nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo, luxury lodge chain owner Hayley Baillie and Michael's boyfriend Daniel Burgess-Wise. All in: Also present were Weekend Sunrise news reader Sally Bowrey, The Kyle and Jackie O show's Brooklyn Ross, Weekend Sunrise nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo, luxury lodge chain owner Hayley Baillie and Michael's boyfriend Daniel Burgess-Wise It comes after news Michael may be stepping away from the Channel Seven morning show. According to Private Sydney, he is currently eyeing potential offers in the U.S. However, no decision has been made yet, with Pell confirming that his current contract with Seven is 'in negotiation'. Daily Mail Australia has reached out for comment. Offers: It comes after news Michael may be stepping away from the Channel Seven morning show. According to Private Sydney , he is currently eyeing potential offers in the U.S. Pictured with Ed Sheeran This isn't the first time that the talented producer has almost headed over to the States. In 2019, the Herald Sun reported that Pell had 'expressed interest' in relocating to America, prompting Seven bosses to offer him an annual salary of over $1million to stay at the network. Pell is rumoured to be one of the top paid executives at Seven and produces up to 24 hours of live television every week. Victoria Justice put on a busty display on Saturday as she attended the star-studded Homecoming Weekend Super Bowl event in West Hollywood, California. The 28-year-old actress showed off her ample assets in a figure-hugging navy long sleeve top from Mugler which featured mesh panelling. Victoria completed her jaw-dropping ensemble with black leather trousers and a pair of thick heels. Stunning: Victoria Justice put on a busty display on Saturday as she attended the star-studded Homecoming Weekend Super Bowl event in West Hollywood, California The Fun Size star sported hoop earrings and a couple of rings that accentuated a dark black manicure. Victoria's glossy brunette hair was sleek and simple, styled with a side part and worn straight. The former Nickelodeon personality tucked one side behind her ear for an effortlessly sleek look. Stylish: The 28-year-old actress showed off her ample assets in a figure-hugging navy long sleeve top from Mugler which featured mesh panelling Wow! Victoria completed her jaw-dropping ensemble with black leather trousers and a pair of thick heels And Victoria wasn't the only star to pose up a storm at the event as Nicole Scherzinger flaunted a new look debuting a very short hairstyle with Karrueche Tran. The Pussycat Doll, 43, looked effortlessly chic in a shimmering crop top that highlighted her ample assets. Meanwhile, actress Karrueche, 33, rocked a see-through bodysuit with yellow spotted over-the-knee black boots. All smiles: Victoria's glossy brunette hair was sleek and simple, styled with a side part and worn straight Hot: The former Nickelodeon personality tucked one side behind her ear for an effortlessly sleek look Nicole completed her stunning ensemble with an off-white blazer worn loosely over her shoulders and displayed her toned pins in a maxi skirt with a slit. She accessorised with stilettos, a purse and tasteful silver jewellery, including matching rings and earrings. Model Karrueche dazzled in the slinky outfit as her black underwear was on full display. The show will air on Tuesday 22nd at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub Kate Garraway showed her inner strength as she said she is finding a new way to be in love with husband Derek Draper after he fell seriously ill with Covid in a first look at her new documentary Kate Garraway: Caring For Derek. In an advert for the ITV programme, the Good Morning Britain host, 54, said: 'I'm very protective of people seeing him vulnerable but this is the reality of life for people that are caring. 'The person he is now, in many ways, is a stranger.' Tough: Kate Garraway, 54, said she's finding a new way to be in love with husband Derek Draper, 54, after he fell seriously ill with Covid in Kate Garraway: Caring For Derek first look Life Stories presenter Kate is starting to accept the changes in her life with Derek, 54, as he slowly recovers, adding: ' If we have a love and he can be a dad to the children in a whole new way, that's life isn't it.' Derek was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and doctors put him into an induced coma. He did not return home for more than a year and Derek, who has been battling serious health problems since, has at times felt suicidal. Road to recovery: In a new advert for the ITV programme, Kate said: 'I'm very protective of people seeing him vulnerable but this is the reality of life for people that are caring' Adjusting: Life Stories presenter Kate is starting to accept the changes in her life with Derek as he slowly recovers Kate is seen at home with Derek and their children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, in the promo, and is seen lifting Derek in and out of a special bed. In other shots, Derek is seen sitting in a wheelchair as he shares some quality moments with his family. In an interview with todays You magazine, the TV star admitted her relationship with the political lobbyist turned psychotherapist has changed since he was struck down by the virus in March 2020. Difficult times: Kate is seen helping Derek in and out of his bed as he uses special equipment in the advert Changing relationship: Kate said of Derek: 'The person he is now, in many ways, is a stranger,' as she spoke of how he is after falling ill with coronavirus Family time: Kate is seen at home with Derek and their children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, as the loved ones spend some quality time together Im not sure that weve ever fallen out of love, but I think a new path is emerging, a new way to be in love, said Kate. He puts huge trust in me. He just says, Whatever you think, which is wonderful, but I do get quite tearful about it. I think, God, I hope Im worthy of that trust. But Ive got his back. That is a relationship in itself, isnt it? How many times do couples have doubts about each other? Husband and wife: Kate has found a new way to be in love with Derek (pictured together in December 2019) as he continues his slow recovery from the ravages of coronavirus 'Thats a positive thing to come out of this, to have that certainty of each other. He and I are very close. Kate won a National Television Award last year for Finding Derek, a moving documentary that detailed her familys plight during his 13 months in hospital. I still sense that in him, says Kate of Derek's past suicidal thoughts. But now I think he believes he can get better, but until we know how, its challenging. The presenter, who has been Dereks principal carer since his release from hospital last April, says that although her husband is often lost and confused, she is buoyed by flashes of his former self. Its an emotional rollercoaster, but if it is gruelling for me, its even more so for him, Im sure, because hes living with it, she says. As much as it impacts on the children and myself, being in his body must be so much worse. The show will air on Tuesday 22nd at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub. Feature: Gazan chef seeks to spread Chinese food culture in local community 10:39, February 13, 2022 By Sanaa Kamal ( Xinhua Ibrahim Badwan, a chef, displays a Chinese dish at Mzaaq center for culinary arts education, in Gaza City, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ibrahim Badwan, one of the most famous Palestinian chefs in the coastal enclave, is leading a new trend in his local community -- cooking Chinese food. For many years, the young Palestinian man used to work at famous and prominent restaurants as he specialized in making various kinds of Arab and international dishes. Two years ago, Badwan, as well as all Gazans, were forced to stay at home when the Hamas-run local authorities imposed a full lockdown on the region to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The 30-year-old chef told Xinhua that he decided to invest leisure time in learning new international dishes that he would prepare after the lockdown was over. "The Chinese dishes were among my new interests. I like this cuisine so much as it contains all healthy ingredients," the chef said, adding "then I came up with an idea to learn more about this new cuisine, mainly as it is a different one from what our people are used to." The chef explained that the Palestinians thought that the Chinese dishes were mainly based on insects, cockroaches and killed animals like monkeys, donkeys, dogs, and others. The reality is entirely different, he said. "I found that Chinese food is very nutritional and is also very balanced and provides everything your body and metabolism needs," he added. Chinese cuisine is rich in vitamins and proteins, as it relies heavily on vegetables, meat and fish, and rice. Vegetables are widely included in most Chinese dishes and they are not fully cooked in order to retain their nutritional benefits and distinctive fresh taste. The young chef was determined to spread the culture of Chinese cuisine among Gazans and joined several online workshops. "I spent about a year learning my new dishes... Once I finished cooking, I took photos of them and posted them on my Facebook and Instagram with their names and ingredients," the young man said while he was standing at his kitchen ready to prepare a Chinese dish. "At that time, I have prepared lots of famous Chinese dishes, such as spring rolls, noodles, wonton soup, kung pao chicken, shrimp and fish dishes, as well as many other delicious dishes," he recalled. When he published his Chinese recipes on Facebook, he received hundreds of comments, with some asking how he managed to integrate them into the Palestinian culture. "I answered their questions and told them about the benefits of Chinese food, which is very healthy and delicious. The only thing we need is to accept other cultures and try them, then we will taste new food and recognize a new culture without even leaving our area," the man added. Now, he organizes dozens of workshops to teach others how to prepare Chinese food and adopt it at home to enjoy its rare and unique taste. Samah al-Masri, a Gaza-based woman in her 30s, was one of the chef's students. She told Xinhua that she was happy to adopt a new recipe on her food table, after finishing her lessons with Badwan. "Some Chinese dishes are compatible with the Palestinian culture, especially those characterized by spicy taste," the woman said, adding that "the Chinese cuisine is healthier and helps us keep our weights." The young chef hopes to open a restaurant in Gaza specializing in Chinese cuisine, and have the opportunity to import all Chinese ingredients from broad to let Gazans enjoy its original taste. It is difficult for Gazans to find all the Chinese ingredients in the coastal enclave, which pushes them to find alternatives. "Gaza is a tourism area and someday we will have a chance to live in peace and we will receive the tourists around the world, then I will let them enjoy these dishes for sure," the chef said. Ibrahim Badwan, a chef, prepares Chinese dishes at Mzaaq center for culinary arts education, in Gaza City, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Ibrahim Badwan, a chef, displays Chinese dishes at Mzaaq center for culinary arts education, in Gaza City, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Ibrahim Badwan, a chef, prepares Chinese dishes at Mzaaq center for culinary arts education, in Gaza City, Feb. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Anti-vaccine mandate and anti-government protesters demonstrate on Highway 15 near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing on the U.S.-Canada border between Washington State and Surrey, British Columbia, Feb. 12. AFP-Yonhap A standoff between Canadian police and protesters blocking a key bridge to the United States continued Saturday, more than seven hours after authorities moved in seeking to end the blockade of the important trade corridor. Demonstrators opposing the government's strict pandemic restrictions have occupied the Ambassador Bridge for the fifth straight day, snarling international trade and prompting President Joe Biden to call for an end to the siege. But there was still no sign when traffic would resume. While police have successfully pushed back protesters from the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, more people were streaming into the area and the operation appeared to have stalled. As the afternoon dragged on, some Canadians questioned what was behind the delay, given the order issued by a court on Friday to end the blockade and the imposition of a state of emergency declared by Ontario authorities. "It would essentially send a message that the state is not able to retain control, where it's attempted to do so," Michael Kempa, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, told CBC News. "The longer this drags on, the longer people have the idea that what they are doing is not an illegal protest," he said. The Ambassador Bridge is North America's busiest land border crossing. Since Monday, protesters in trucks, cars and vans have blocked traffic in both directions, choking the supply chain for Detroit's carmakers. The "Freedom Convoy" protests, started in the capital Ottawa by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, entered its 16th day on Saturday. It has morphed into a wider protest against COVID-19 curbs, with people joining in with smaller vehicles, including cars, vans and pick-up trucks. Early on Saturday, Windsor Police urged demonstrators to act lawfully and peacefully. Officers in black uniforms with yellow vests moved behind the demonstrators' vehicles and, accompanied by police cruisers, slowly advanced on the protesters, pushing them back from the bridge entrance. The number of demonstrators had thinned to roughly two dozen early Saturday from about 200 Friday night. "We are opening up this intersection to traffic. If you fail to comply with our instructions you will be arrested," police told the crowd via a loudspeaker. Protesters moved back in a noisy but peaceful retreat, dismantling tents and barbecues. But since then, police have not progressed, witnesses said. Ottawa Police said they were waiting for reinforcements to end the "unlawful occupation" in the capital. Demonstrators there "exhibited aggressive behavior towards law enforcement" and tore down a fence that had been erected around the National War Memorial. Protests have spread to three border points: the Ambassador Bridge, strangling trade between the two countries, and two smaller crossings in Alberta and Manitoba. Canadian police have said the protests have been partly funded by U.S. supporters, and Ontario froze funds donated via one U.S. platform, GiveSendGo, Thursday. Toronto-Dominion Bank has frozen two personal bank accounts into which C$1.4 million ($1.1 million) had been deposited in support of the protesters. A demonstrator walks by tear gas on the Champs Elysees in Paris, Feb. 12, as the so called "Convoi de la Liberte" arrived in the French capital. AFP-Yonhap The protests have inspired similar convoys and plans in the United States, France, New Zealand and Australia. In Paris, French police fired tear gas at demonstrators on the Champs Elysees avenue Saturday shortly after a convoy carrying protesters against COVID-19 restrictions made it into the capital. In Canada's financial capital Toronto, police blocked main roads leading to the central business district, ahead of a planned protest Saturday. A convoy of motorists in the United States is planning to head to the waterfront in Port Huron, Michigan, in support of protesters in Canada. Another U.S. group said two separate vehicle convoys will converge this weekend at the Peace Bridge, another U.S.-Canadian border crossing in Buffalo, New York. Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, General Motors and Toyota Motor Co all have announced production cuts. Companies have diverted cargo to stem losses amid production cuts. The estimated loss from the blockades just to the automobile industry could be as high as $700 million, based on IHS Markit's data, which put the daily flow in vehicles and parts at $141.1 million day in 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under pressure from opposition party leaders to intervene. Trudeau is scheduled to chair a meeting of his top advisors Saturday, called the Incident Response Group, to discuss the situation. (Reuters) remaining of SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second left, observes a vaccination site set up to protect staff members from COVID-19 at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Feb. 12. Japan is considering easing its stringent border controls amid growing criticism that the measures, which have banned most foreign entrants including students and business travelers, are hurting the country's economy and international profile. AP-Yonhap Japan is considering easing its stringent border controls amid growing criticism that the measures, which have banned most foreign entrants including students and business travelers, are hurting the country's economy and international profile. ''I plan to look into easing the border controls,'' Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Saturday. Kishida did not provide a timeline or other details and said he will make a decision based on a scientific assessment of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, infection levels in and outside Japan, and quarantine measures in other countries. Currently, most of Japan is under virus-related restrictions but infections have shown little signs of slowing. Nationwide, Japan reported nearly 100,000 new cases in the latest 24-hour period, including 18,660 in Tokyo. The current border measures are scheduled to remain in place until the end of February. Japan has become one of the world's most difficult countries to enter and critics compare it to the locked country, or ''sakoku,'' policy of xenophobic warlords who ruled Japan in the 17th to 19th centuries. The current border rules allow in only Japanese nationals and permanent foreign residents, and have raised the ire of foreign students and scholars who say the measures are unfair, unscientific and force talented visitors to go to other countries. Hundreds of thousands of them have been affected, and critics say the rules are also hurting Japan's national interest. Frustrated students have started gathering outside Japanese diplomatic compounds around the world to protest. Japanese and foreign business groups have also protested the government, saying the prolonged border closure has affected investment, business deals, product development and deliveries. Experts also say the border policy is further delaying recovery in Japan's pandemic-hit economy. Kishida unveiled his plan to consider easing border controls Saturday after visiting Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, where he observed quarantine areas and a worksite vaccination rollout for airline workers. Kishida's government is scrambling to accelerate COVID-19 booster shots, after facing criticisms over a delayed decision to cut intervals between the first two shots and a third to six months from an initially planned eight. Only about 8% of Japan's population have received their third jabs. Kishida has set a target to give 1 million doses a day by the end of February. The government has also faced criticism over its failure to keep Omicron out of U.S. military bases, where Japan has no jurisdiction. American troops fly directly into the country without observing Japanese quarantine requirements and they were not tested for weeks, until Tokyo asked them to be. Many of the Japanese public, however, are supportive of the tight border controls as they think troubles such as the pandemic come from outside their island nation. Kishida's stringent border controls are widely seen as politically motivated to gain public support for his governing party in the upcoming July parliamentary elections. Kishida has taken a lesson from his predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, who stepped aside after only a year in office partly due to his administration's perceived weak handling of the pandemic. (AP) HYDERABAD: Lack of social ethics and basic understanding of drainage upkeep, coupled with scant regard for the civic rules among the so-called VIPs living in the upscale colonies in the city seem to have pushed the municipal administration in a predicament over desilting of nalas, something imperative to prevent monsoon adversities. Though the municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao directed officials to take up the annual desilting of nalas on priority prior to the monsoon to prevent the city from urban flooding, VIPs residing in posh areas like Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Shaikpet and Venkateshwara Colony have been allegedly objecting to it. Only in these VIP areas, as many as 71 works out of 352 works have been pending. Despite inviting tenders three to eight times by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the contractors are not willing to take up works, claiming that the residents are objecting to it. Officials said after desilting, the silt would be deposited on the wayside for drying. Only after drying the silt, contractors would cart it and the payments would be made. Authorities said the residents were objecting to the desilting since their premises would wear a shoddy look. They said even if the nalas were not desilted, the residents in the area would not face much problems as they were residing in the upstream area of the city. During monsoon or on heavy rains, only low-lying areas would be completely submerged. "We tried to convince the residents to co-operate but our efforts went in vain. Though bureaucrats and influential people including city Mayor Gadwal R. Vijaylakshmi reside in the area, none is co-operating for the vital annual nala desilting," said a GHMC official, requesting anonymity. Despite introducing annual nala desilting from the 2019-20 financial year, the corporation managed to desilt a mere 40 per cent of works. As the silt has been choking free flow of water in nalas, the corporation decided to desilt nalas for 365 days. Interestingly, the corporation, which managed to desilt 55.87 per cent of nalas in two months during 2017 desilted only 20.12 per cent of nalas during the 2021-22. The nala desilting which is aimed at minimising the inundation during monsoon did not serve its purpose even after introducing annual nala desilting. When asked about the same, GHMC authorities said desilting alone would not prevent urban flooding. Officials said it was only aimed at keeping the drains clear for smooth water flow. A senior official said the residents in prime localities were not even cooperating with the conventional silting claiming that the areas would look shoddy apart from stench emanating from it when the silt was dry. He said nala widening in the core city would be an uphill task and it could not be done if there was a strong political will. The official informed that out of 352 works, tenders had been finalised for 281 works and for the remaining works, the state government's intervention was needed. Asked about the status of nala widening under Strategic Nala Development Plan (SNDP), the official refused to comment. Rao stated that the employees deserve higher salaries as the credit for the states development across spheres goes to employees. (Twitter) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday said that state government employees were currently drawing salaries that were higher than those of central government employees. He said that the government would further increase their salaries in the coming years. Rao stated that the employees deserve higher salaries as the credit for the states development across spheres goes to employees. He said that everyone, from the chief secretary to the lower-level employee, had toiled hard, which helped the government to accomplish development targets and implement welfare schemes effectively. The Chief Minister was addressing employees after inaugurating the new integrated collectorate complex in Bhongir. "No one had ever thought that Bhongir would become a district one day. No government in the undivided Andhra Pradesh had created new districts despite repeated demands and requests. All the states in the country, except the undivided Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, have created new districts. We have increased the number of districts from 10 to 33 and this has resulted in the rapid development of all regions in the state," he said. Rao mentioned booming land prices in Yadadri and Bhongir areas after the formation of Yadadri-Bhongir district. Once the renovated Yadadri temple is opened, this area will witness unprecedented growth, he said. "The dream project of Hyderabad-Warangal industrial corridor will become a reality. All the areas that fall within this corridor will emerge as growth centres. The upgradation of Bhongir, Jangaon, Hanamkonda, Warangal and Medchal as districts will contribute to a massive development," Rao said. HYDERABAD: Continuing with his blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government at the Centre, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao accused the BJP of turning Bengaluru from Silicon Valley of India into Kashmir Valley by raking up hijab controversy. Addressing a public meeting in Bhongir after inaugurating the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) district office on Saturday, the Chief Minister went all guns blazing at the Prime Minister and the BJP and said the sooner the nation got rid of the BJP government, the better it would be for the country. Terming the Modi's regime as 'utter-flop government', the Chief Minister said Modi had gone mad and that was why he was bringing mad policies one after the other from farm laws to power reforms. Rao demanded that Modi and BJP national president J.P. Nadda dismiss Assam Chief Minister Hemant Biswas Sharma for his offensive comments on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. Chandrashekar Rao warned Modi that he would soon expose Centre's corruption, adding that he got information on corrupt deals of a few union ministers. He also came down heavily on Modi for his recent remarks in Rajya Sabha on Telangana formation. "Why are you raking up the state bifurcation issue now? What are your intentions behind it? I suspect some threat to our state. Telangana people will remain cautious and foil such attempts. KCR alone cannot fight. I will propagate the Centres failures in Hindi, Urdu and all other languages. Already, people are calling me over phone and sharing details of rampant corruption at the Centre and by a few MPs," the Chief Minister said. Rao said the country needed a progressive government and not a 'communally driven government' adding that West Bengal Mamata Banerjee spoke to him over phone on Friday to discuss this issue. He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also consulted him on the need to bring a progressive government. Mr Prime Minister, is this the culture in your party? Is this the Hindu religion? Is this our country's culture? One of your Chief Ministers is asking a politician who the latter's father is. As an Indian, I'm ashamed and I feel like crying. This is not a good thing for the country, Rao remarked. He further questioned if this was what was taught by Hindu epics. You (BJP) are bad people. I request BJP chief Nadda ji that if you are honest and believe in dharma, dismiss the Assam Chief Minister. Can a Chief Minister talk like this? There's a limit to everything, Rao added. Referring to Hijab row in Karnataka, he said if the peaceful atmosphere of the country was disturbed, no investments would come nor employment opportunities be created. What is happening in Karnataka? Women and girls are being harassed in the name of religion. Bengaluru, the Indian Silicon Valley is being turned into Kashmir valley with religious fanaticism If the eco and peace fabric of the country is ruined, who will come forward to invest and create employment opportunities, he said. He categorically stated that Telangana would not implement power reforms proposed by the Central government as the cost of free power to farmers was borne by the state government. Describing the repealed agriculture laws as a crazy idea of Modi, Rao said they were withdrawn keeping in mind the Assembly polls in five states. Referring to the hardships faced by the migrant labourers during the first Covid-19 wave, Rao claimed that it was due to unthoughtful lockdown announced by the BJP government at the Centre but they were now accusing those who helped migrant labourers to reach their homes by arranging trains and buses of spreading Covid virus. Though he wanted to confine to Telangana for its development, some forces were provoking him to take a plunge into national politics, he said as justification to play a role at the Centre. HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday announced that he would not hesitate to set up a national party if the people believed that would help India get rid of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and send it packing in the next general elections. Declaring that the BJP must be rooted out of the country, Chandrashekar Rao told at a news conference that whatever change that needed to happen, should come from the people who must be made aware of the ways in which the BJP was destroying India. The Telangana Chief Ministers pronouncement of possible new political alignments in the country comes amidst increasing political heat generated by a sustained, and what appears to be a no-holds-barred battle against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chandrashekar Rao said the political realignment that could rid the nation of the BJP governance would emerge as the days go by. What kind it will be, in what manner, whether a national party or a front, it will be known in the days to come, he said. One thing I promise you, the Telangana Chief Minister said, I will play a major role in the force that will emerge. He said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a telephonic conversation with him, asked him to go to Bengal, and said she was willing to come here. I also have to go to Mumbai to meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister, he said, hinting things were getting serious on putting together an anti-BJP coalition. He also declared that he would not let go of the slandering of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, until the BJP apologised for the remarks made by Himanta Biswa. Chandrashekar Rao said there was nothing wrong in Rahul Gandhi asking for proof of surgical strike by India across the border in Pakistan. Yes, half the nation believes it has doubts about it. I too am asking for proof. If anyone questions the BJP government, they threaten to use CBI and the Enforcement Directorate against them. Let them do so if they want as claimed by state BJP leaders. I have nothing to hide. Gold only shines better after it is put through fire, Chandrashekar Rao said. Launching a direct attack on Modi, the Chief Minister called the Prime Minister a liar, and showed a video of Modis comments while launching Mission Bhagiratha programme in the state. Modi then said that the Centre was supplying power to states at the rate of Rs 1.10 per unit, which was an outright lie. The Centres power production and reforms ensured that Telangana was getting cheap power instead of at Rs 11 to Rs 11.50 a unit. We kept quiet as we invited him and he was our guest, he said. I am asking with folded hands, has your government, Modiji, ever given power at this rate to any state? Why are you misleading people of the country with lies? Chandrashekar Rao said. Everyone in the BJP is a liar, from the state BJP president to the prime minister. This is Jhoot Nirbhar Bharat, he said. Industrial production tanked in the country from 4.4 per cent in September last year to 0.4 per cent in December. Is this the Make in India that Modi talks about? As many as 33 people, most of them from Gujarat Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and so on - the state from where Modi comes, cheated banks and ran away to London and elsewhere where they are picnicking. There is large scale corruption in the Rafale fighter aircraft deal. India bought 36 Rafale at $9.4 billion. Indonesia bought 42 for just $ 8 billion. We will expose everything. We will take this battle to Delhi. Why should we be silent when the country is being destroyed? he said. He also came down heavily on Union minister G. Kishan Reddy saying the latter was accusing him of not understanding the Union budget. "We understand it very well. It is he who does not. Subsidies have been cut for fertilizers, rural employment, and now the Centre wants to force states to purchase solar power from companies set up by BJP cronies and says only if we buy solar power, then the states will be allowed to get the 0.5 per cent additional FRBM funding. We are willing to lose Rs 25,000 crore on this front over the next five years but will not allow metering of agricultural pump sets, or remove subsidies," he said. For now, I am being polite with Kishan Reddy as he is from our state. Next time, if he continues to speak as he pleases, I might not be, the Chief Minister said. Goa will vote on Monday to decide the fate of 301 candidates who are in the fray for 40 Assembly seats, for which all preparations have been made. Traditionally a state with bipolar politics, Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other smaller parties vying to make a mark on the state's electoral scene. To check the spread of Covid-19, voters will be provided hand gloves at the polling stations, an election official said, adding that more than 100 'all-women' polling booths were set up in the state for the convenience of female voters. As many as 81 flying squads were operational across the coastal state, he said. Also Read | Will Goa trust Congress's vocal for local? The prominent candidates include Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP), Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat (Congress), former CMs Churchill Alemao (TMC), Ravi Naik (BJP), Laxmikant Parsekar (independent), former deputy CMs Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), late CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar and AAP's CM face Amit Paleker. Over 11 lakh people are eligible to cast their votes on Monday. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Chief Electoral Officer Kunal said the average number of eligible voters per booth in the state is 672, which is the lowest in the country. The Vasco Assembly constituency has the highest number of 35,139 eligible voters, while the Mormugao seat has the lowest number of voters at 19,958, he said. Also Read | Goans love for BJP to be put to test on Valentine's Day The Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) are fighting the election in alliance, while the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has tied up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) to contest the polls. The Shiv Sena and the NCP had also announced their pre-poll alliance, while the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is contesting without a tie-up with any other political party. The Revolutionary Goans, Goencho Swabhimaan Party, Jai Mahabharat Party and Sambhaji Brigade are also in the poll fray, besides 68 independent candidates Kunal said the required manpower and machinery have been deployed at the polling booths, as per guidelines of the Election Commission of India. We are committed to ensure there is a level-playing field for all candidates. We are also monitoring the preparations by all polling officers," he said. There are 105 all-women polling booths, also called as the 'pink booths'. Earlier, we used to have one pink booth in every constituency, the official said. There are eight polling booths managed by differently-abled people, while 11 are eco-friendly booths (discouraging use of plastic), he said, and appealed to all the voters to come out and exercise their franchise. Various agencies seized Rs 11.48 crore during surveillance to prevent the misuse of money in the run-up to the polls, Kunal said. The state had recorded 82.56 per cent turnout during the 2017 elections. The Congress had at that time won 17 seats, while the BJP bagged 13. The BJP had then quickly stitched up an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government in the state. The BJP, which has not entered into any pre-poll alliance this time, is trying to retain power in the coastal state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among others, campaigned for the saffron party in Goa in the last one month. Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the BJP's election in-charge in the state. The Congress has fielded 37 candidates, while its ally GFP has fielded three. Senior Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi campaigned for the party in the coastal state. Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram has been looking after Congress' poll strategy along with senior leader Dinesh Gundu Rao. Check out latest DH videos here As CBI registered its "biggest" bank fraud case of Rs 22,842 crore against Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard Ltd, Congress on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of running a "loot and escape" flagship scheme for "bank fraudsters" and questioned the delay in taking action despite it flagging the scam in 2018 itself. BJP MP Varun Gandhi too waded into the controversy saying those who steal thousands of crores of rupees easily get bail but poor farmers and shopkeepers pay the price. Varun, who has been commenting against his party on issues related to farmers and unemployment, tweeted, "if the farmer or small shopkeeper of the country is unable to repay the loan of even thousands of rupees, then he will be attached or he will be forced to commit suicide, but those who steal thousands of crores easily get bail and these people take money at arbitrary cost. After giving, they return to their splendid life." Also Read CBI books ABG Shipyard, directors in Rs 22,842 crore loan fraud The CBI on February 7 registered a case against ABG Shipyard Ltd and its then Chairman and Managing Director Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal among others in a bank loan fraud case valued at Rs 22,842 crore. There was no response from ABG Shipyard Ltd. Claiming that bank frauds of Rs 5.35 lakh crore took place in the last seven years that wrecked the banking system, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Modi government permitted brazen embezzlement of public money. He said there was a delay of five years in registering the case despite the liquidation of ABG Shipyard starting in 2017 and it took the SBI to file two complaints in November 2019 and August 2020 to get a case registered by the CBI, that too after months of delay. "Does this not prove complicity, collusion and connivance of those sitting in the highest echelons of power in the Modi government?" Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed. Also Read CBI files FIR against Gujarat firm for Rs 632 crore `bank fraud' The Modi government is running a 'Loot and Escape' flagship scheme. The lists include Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Ami Modi, Neeshal Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya, Jatin Mehta, Chetan Sandesara, Nitin Sandesara and many others with close connection and affection to the ruling establishment. Rishi Agarwal and others are the new 'gems' of the 'Shehenshah'." He also alleged that ABG Shipyard Ltd was allotted 1,21 lakh square metres of land in 2007 by the Gujarat government when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister but the CAG has found that the state government gave undue favours to the company by allotting land at Rs 700 per square metre, while the price of land was Rs 1,400 per square metre. Despite the CAG report, he alleged, the state government under Modi then proceeded to allot 50 hectares of land to ABG Shipyard in Dahej but the project was shut down by ABG Shipyard in 2015. Surjewala also claimed that ABG Shipyards Rishi Agarwal had met with Modi during Gujarat Vibrant Summit and promised an investment of Rs 22,000 crore but it was never realised. He said the liquidation process of ABG Shipyard was initiated on 1 August 2017 and Congress has on 15 February 2018 "warned" about the "scam" allegedly committed by ABG Shipyard. He said the bank accounts were declared as fraud on 19 June 2019. "On 8 November 2019, the SBI filed a complaint to CBI for registration of FIR. Despite the apparent fraud and swindling of public money, CBI, SBI and the Modi government proceeded to complicate the entire matter in bureaucratic wrangling and file-pushing. This happened for years as the public money went down the drain and fraudsters gained," he alleged. The SBI filed a second complaint on 25 August 2020 and after a delay of five years of the "fraud", the CBI lodged a case, he claimed while alleging that it was "intriguing" that the SBI in its second complaint had exonerated all bankers. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Slamming Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security during his visit to Punjab, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday wondered how a Chief Minister who could not provide a secure route to the Prime Minister keep the state secure. "CM Channi is dreaming of forming a Congress government in Punjab again. A chief minister who cannot provide a secure route to the Prime Minister of India, can he provide security to Punjab?" Shah said at an election rally in Ludhiana. The Union Minister was referring to the security breach on January 5 that left Modi stranded on a flyover in Ferozepur for around 20 minutes. Also Read | Previous government in Uttar Pradesh casteist, Modi worked for welfare of all: Amit Shah "Channi has no moral authority to rule for a second term as he cannot keep the state secure." Promising to open Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) branch offices in Punjab, the state where the heroin smuggling along the international border is high as it shares a 553-km barbed-wire fenced border with Pakistan, the BJP leader said if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is voted to power in the state, it would set up the NCB branches in four districts to curb the menace of drugs abuse. "The NDA would also constitute an anti-drug task force in all districts," he said. Hitting out at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Shah said: "Kejriwal has nothing to do with Punjab's safety, only NDA can protect the state." He called upon the people to vote for the BJP-led alliance for stability, development, and good governance of the state. Also Read | Work on National Cooperation Policy gathering pace On religious conversions, Shah said it was one of the major issues plaguing. "Religious conversions of Sikhs and Hindus are a major issue in Punjab. The Congress government led by Charanjit Channi or AAP can't stop these conversions. There is only one party that can stop such conversions -- the BJP." Targeting the Congress, he said no one can forget the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. "It still brings tears to the eyes. Channi should explain this sin committed by the Congress." Pleading the electorates to give one chance to the NDA to serve the state, Shah said the people of Punjab have already given multiple chances to SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) and the Congress. "Now they should give a chance to the BJP if they want the place to be in safe hands and to uproot the drug and other mafias in the state." In the fray for 117 seats in Punjab are two prominent parties -- the ruling Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, and two alliances -- the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party (SAD-BSP) and the BJP-Punjab Lok Congress. From 1997 onwards, SAD had fought all the elections in the state in alliance with the BJP, winning three Assembly elections, till September 2020 when the former objected to the three now revoked contentious farm laws and walked out of the NDA in protest. Check out the latest videos from DH: People wearing face masks walk at a downtown street in Hong Kong, Sunday. AP-Yonhap Hong Kong reported 1,347 new daily COVID-19 infections on Sunday, down from the previous day's record, but the spread, with 2,000 more suspected cases, threatens the city's overstretched healthcare system, authorities said. The surge in coronavirus cases, the biggest test yet for Hong Kong's "dynamic zero-COVID" strategy, comes a day after the government said China would help the city with testing, treatment and quarantine capacity. Authorities warned food supplies into the city may be disrupted, after some cross-border truck drivers tested positive for coronavirus, but said they were doing everything to get the situation back to normal "as soon as possible." People wearing face masks walk past some red lanterns at a downtown street in Hong Kong, Sunday. Hong Kong residents expressed growing frustration this week after new, tighter coronavirus restrictions went into effect, imposed by city leaders in line with Beijing's zero-COVID policy. AP-Yonhap Hong Kong imports 90 percent of its food, with the mainland its most important source, especially for fresh food. Consumers have felt shortages of some imported goods, including premium seafood, due to stringent flight restrictions. Health authorities in the city of 7.5 million people reported 1,347 new coronavirus infections, down from Saturday's 1,514, but they told a news conference there were about 2,000 preliminary cases. The rapid spread of the outbreak was overwhelming healthcare facilities, they said. Local media had reported that the city would report a record 3,000 infections, including the preliminary cases. "For those in a stable condition, please wait patiently. Please heed our appeal," said Hospital Authority official Larry Lee. Hong Kong's No. 2 official, John Lee, said on Saturday there were no plans to lock down the city, where schools, gyms, cinemas and most other venues are closed. Social gatherings are limited to two people, restaurants close at 6 p.m. and it is rare to see anyone without a mask. Most office employees have reverted to working from home. Residents queue up to get tested for the coronavirus at a temporary testing center for COVID-19 in Hong Kong, Sunday. AP-Yonhap With a limited footprint in Punjab, the BJP is hoping it would garner some political traction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to spin the narrative around national security during his first rally on Monday in border state Punjab. Punjab is among the few states where the Modi juggernaut was halted even when the saffron brigade swept the country under Modis leadership twice in a row. The political dynamics have undergone a sea change between then and now. Captain Amarinder Singh would match up to, if not neutralize Modis narrative centered on national security and the need for robust central leadership. Also Read | How can a CM who couldn't give secure route for PM keep the state secure: Amit Shah on Channi The former Congress old warhorse would echo similar sentiments while airing the increasing threat from across the border, even if it meant supporting Modi on the issue. The posturing on the issue of national security helped Congress. Now with Captain fighting the election as a BJP ally, the national security narrative appears largely one-sided. This juxtaposed with BJP and Captains barbs against Congress chief Navjot Sidhu over his Pakistan connection, the rhetoric being built around the issue of national security by BJP could offer the NDA-led alliance some electoral gains. The issue cross border infiltration and narco-terrorism have remained central to the debate on national security, even as Punjab chief minister Charanjit Channi has discounted the threat from the border. Its unlikely that the BJP and its two allies in Punjab will muster up any significant electoral gains. Both Captain and the BJP are looking to leverage strength given that both have been abandoned, the former by his party and the latter by its senior ally, the Akali Dal. The BJP is positioning itself around the Modi fame to seek a comeback. The saffron party which for decades played second fiddle as a junior alliance partner of the SAD (Badal) in Punjab is now heavily betting on new faces to gain some political advantage for the upcoming election on February 20. As an ally of the Akali Dal, the BJP remained confined to 23 seats out of 117 in Punjab as part of the seat-sharing arrangement. In this election, the party is contesting 65 assembly seats, while Captains Punjab Lok Congress is contesting 37 seats. Check out the latest videos from DH: The Kanpur administration has hit upon a novel idea to create awareness and encourage people to cast their vote when the district goes to polls on February 20. Citizens in Kanpur will receive a message "Kanpur Votes On Feb 20" when they purchase milk packets and bread packets from next week, in a plan formulated by district magistrate Neha Sharma, who convened a meeting with bread manufacturers and milk and processed milk companies over the idea. Also Read Which slogans will lead to victory this time around in Uttar Pradesh? The proposal was supported by the GST and food safety department, while manufacturers and bakers have assured that around 2.5 lakh houses of the city would get a message for a week about the voting. The district magistrate has sought active cooperation from the representatives in this campaign. The idea was to encourage more voters to cast their votes. The representatives from various government departments and bread and milk manufacturers will target 2.5 lakh families per day to create awareness among them. Meanwhile, to ensure a hundred per cent voting the district administration flew a voters awareness air balloon at Kargil park in Moti Jheel on Saturday. Watch latest videos by DH here: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday dubbed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as two sides of the same coin. Owaisi, the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and Hyderabad MP, made the remark while addressing an election rally. "Yogi (Adityanath) and Akhilesh (Yadav) are two sides of the same coin," said Owaisi while seeking votes for the candidates of Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha so that former UP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha could be made the UP CM. While likening Akhilesh Yadav to Yogi Adityanath, Owaisi did not explain how the two leaders were similar. Also Read | A girl in hijab will be countrys PM one day, says AIMIM chief Owaisi He, however, had been asserting in the past that both Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav could become UP CMs on "charity votes" of 19 per cent Muslims, far outnumbering the votes of nine per cent Yadavs. The Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha was launched as a pre-poll alliance of AIMIM with little-known Jan Adhikar Party of former Uttar Pradesh minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and an all-India body of government employees of the backward, Dalits, and minority community, founded by Kanshi Ram in the 1970s. Farrukhabad goes to the polls in the third phase of the seven-phase UP assembly elections and votes on February 20. While addressing the meeting, Owaisi termed elections as a battle for social justice and said, "We have to win this battle (for social justice) through voting." Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav raises Hathras teen's 'forced' cremation to target BJP, says first phase 'poured cold water' on Yogi Adityanath Attacking the BJP, he accused the party of meting out step-motherly treatment to Farrukhabad district. Despite all the MLAs of the district belonging to the BJP, no development work was carried out by this double-engine government in the district, Owaisi alleged. Owaisi had launched the new pre-poll front, Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha on January 22, promising two chief ministers and three deputy chief ministers for Uttar Pradesh, if the new front is voted to power. Out of the two CMs, one will belong to the backward classes and the other to the Dalit community, he said, adding the state will also have three Dy CMs, with one belonging to the Muslim community. Owaisi, however, had offered no explanation under what provision of the Constitution he will have two CMs for a state. Check out the latest videos from DH: Plagued by infighting and battling anti-incumbency and rebellion by several leaders after being denied nominations, BJP is banking heavily on 'polarisation' to retain the hill state of Uttarakhand, which goes to polls on Monday. Congress, on the other hand, is hoping to cash in on the perceived resentment among the people over rising prices, unemployment, large-scale migration from the hills, illegal mining, and interference of the government in the administration of temples and shakti peethas. That the BJP was banking on the polarisation to win the state was evident when chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared that his party would consider implementing a uniform civil code in the state if it returned to power. Also Read | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami promises Uniform Civil Code in state if re-elected The saffron party leaders also, during the election campaign, raked up Congress' plan to set up a Muslim University in the state and gave leave to the Muslims on Fridays during the latter's regime aiming to polarise the electorate along communal lines. BJP has also been facing rebellion from its leaders who were denied nominations and were in the fray as independents. As many as 12 BJP leaders were contesting against official candidates as independents. They included Rajkumar Thukral from Rudrapur seat, Tika Prasad Maikhuri from Karnaprayag, Mahaveer Singh from Dhanolti, Jitendra Negi from Doinwala, Dheerendra Chauhan from Kotdwar, and Manoj Shah from Bhimtal. A senior BJP leader admitted that the state government failed to effectively showcase its achievements to the electorate. He also said that changing three CMs in four months did not send a "good message" to the people. Also Read | Uttarakhand set to go for 5th Assembly polls; future of 631 candidates to be decided "If we lose, it won't be because the Congress has done anything good but because we did not perform as per the expectations of the people," the leader told DH from Dehradun. Congress' campaign centered mainly on issues concerning the common people and almost all top leaders of the rising price rise, unemployment, migration, and illegal mining in the state. Former CM and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat even called Pushkar Singh Dhami the 'khnana mantri' (mining minister). Congress, however, was also facing rebels on around half a dozen seats. Political analysts say that the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had made the contest multi-cornered at some places. BSP was also a force to reckon with in Haridwar at least. Polling on all the 70 assembly seats would be held on Monday. Check out the latest videos from DH: From a gender reversal to an intimate documentary about the lives of transgender people, the 72nd Berlinale film festival offers some new visions on what it means to be a man or a woman. Europe's first major film festival of the year opened on Thursday with Francois Ozon's "Peter von Kant", a gender-flipped adaptation of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1972 movie "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant". And the gender-bending theme will continue throughout the 11 days of the festival, taking place in a truncated format this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the Italian documentary "Into My Name", screening in the Panorama sidebar section, director Nicolo Bassetti follows the lives of four friends in Bologna at various stages of the transition from female to male. Nicolo, Leonardo, Andrea and Raffaele talk intimately about their lives, childhood experiences, partners and the process of transitioning, and dream of one day going on a hiking trip together. Elliot Page, the Oscar-nominated star of "Juno" who came out as transgender in 2020, was enlisted as an executive producer on the film. Bassetti, inspired by his own transgender son Matteo, 27, said his aim was to depict a "sense of the richness of humanity, especially if you don't see it through binary lenses". The process made him realise that "I really had to stop trying to make assumptions about what it is to be a man or a woman and... what it is to be heterosexual or homosexual", Bassetti told AFP. "These distinctions are really outmoded and not applicable anymore," he said, adding that he instead "tried to see the beauty" in transgender people. Also shown in the Panorama section are "Swing Ride" and "Beautiful Beings", two more films that offer a new perspective on gender norms. In "Swing Ride", an Italian film directed by Chiara Bellosi, a 15-year-old girl has her horizons broadened when she meets a fairground worker named Amanda who refuses to conform to gender stereotypes. "Beautiful Beings", an Icelandic film written and directed by Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson, explores the damage that can be caused by rigid masculine codes of behaviour. Young misfit Balli, 14, meets three boys his own age, but their new friendship threatens to turn ugly as they are drawn down a dark road in a world saturated with toxic masculinity. In the Forum section of the Berlinale, Brazilian offering "Three Tidy Tigers Tied a Tie Tighter" follows the lives of three young non-conforming queer friends during a fictional future pandemic in Sao Paolo. And in the Generation 14plus category, the Portuguese short film "At Sixteen" explores the desire and insecurity sparked in a teenage protagonist when she sees two girls kissing. In another nod to a non-binary future, the festival will this year for the second time award a gender-neutral best acting prize, doing away with the distinction between men and women. For Bassetti, the division of people into fixed genders is "really just a period in human history", one that is transitory and "by no means what it's always been like". "Obviously you can allude to Greek myth with its many variations on non-binary understandings of how the sexes work," he said. "But there are many other examples in other cultures that are not as strictly binary as we in western Europe have been for the past few hundred years or so." With "Into My Name", Bassetti wants to show people they do not have to submit to "the performance of masculinity or femininity", codes of behaviour that have "become more questionable to many people". "There really is just one human race and we all belong to that," he said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: By Tony Halpin, Jenny Leonard and Ilya Arkhipov US President Joe Biden tried to send Vladimir Putin an ultimatum about the consequences of any invasion of Ukraine in an hour-long conversation that left both sides at an impasse and Russias intentions unclear. Biden warned his counterpart in Moscow that Russia would face severe costs. For his part, the Russian leader accused the US of failing to provide him with security assurances he needs to back down. The Kremlin characterised the talks as business-like and balanced. Briefings by both sides afterward stuck to familiar talking points, providing few clues on where things go from here. Read more: Thousands march in Kyiv to show unity against Russian threat Biden told Putin during the conversation -- their first direct exchange since late December -- that the US remains ready to find a diplomatic solution to the tensions over Russias military buildup near the Ukrainian border. The US has ratcheted up its rhetoric, asking Americans to leave Ukraine while making clear it wont send in troops. US officials continue to say they do not know Putins final intentions. Still, a senior administration official, speaking after Saturdays call, said there was a distinct possibility that Russia may proceed with military action and there had been no fundamental change in that view. The talks took place in an atmosphere of unprecedented hysteria by American officials about Russias allegedly imminent invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. Putin told Biden that US responses to his demands for security guarantees dont address the Kremlins key concerns about preventing further NATO expansion, Ushakov said. The White House and the Kremlin said Putin and Biden agreed their officials would stay in contact in the coming days. The Pentagon on Saturday denied Russias claim that a US submarine was intercepted in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands. There is no truth to the Russian claims of our operations in their territorial waters, Navy Captain Kyle Raines, a spokesman for the US Indo-Pacific command, said by email. Read more: Putin tells Macron invasion claims are 'provocative speculation' The US and UK say Russia has massed about 130,000 troops close to Ukraine, raising fears of a potential three-pronged assault including from Crimea and via Belarus in the north. NATO has moved to reinforce defenses in eastern European member states. Russian officials accuse the West of undermining the countrys security by drawing Ukraine closer to NATO and say troop movements on Russian territory are an internal matter. Putin spoke separately with the leaders of France and Belarus on Saturday prior to his call with Biden. Russia and Belarus on February 10 started their largest joint military drills in Belarus for years, including near the Ukrainian border, while six Russian landing craft have been moved to the Black Sea for naval exercises that begin Sunday. The land exercises are due to end February 20. Both countries have said the drills are purely defensive and that forces will return to base once they are finished. Ukraine has also begun military exercises in parallel. otential actions by Russia could include causing a provocation in Ukraines eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting for years against separatists backed by Moscow, or attacking the countrys capital, Kyiv, Western officials familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified speaking about such a sensitive topic. They stressed that Putins final intentions were not known. The US has also been working with European countries on a package of potential sanctions to be imposed on Russia in the event of an attack on Ukraine. There have been some differences though on how hard to hit Russia and in what areas, especially for European nations like Germany highly dependent on Russian gas. US hysteria has reached a peak over Ukraine and the Kremlin believes American officials are spreading false information in the media about Russias intentions, Ushakov said. Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday discussed what the Kremlin in a statement called provocative speculations that Russia plans an invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin also said that prerequisites are being created for possible aggressive actions of the Ukrainian security forces in Donbas. Ukraine has repeatedly denied it intends to seek to regain control of Donbas militarily. Putin told Macron he had no offensive intention, an official from Frances Elysee told reporters after their call. We have no sign that he will go on the offensive. That said we are being very careful, the official added. Macron on Saturday also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the diplomatic flurry continues to find an off-ramp to the tensions with Russia. The Russian president has yet to reply formally to the US proposals on security in Europe. Those proposals were made in response to Moscows demands for guarantees including that NATO never allow Ukraine to join and that the military alliance pull back its presence in eastern Europe. Speaking after a call on Saturday between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a senior State Department official said Lavrov indicated Moscow would provide its official reply soon. Russia has said that the Western proposals so far do not address its core concerns. Scholz is due to visit Putin in Moscow on Tuesday for talks, a day after he goes to Kyiv. Biden warned after a February 7 meeting with Scholz in Washington that we will bring an end to the Nord Stream 2 natural gas-pipeline project from Russia to Germany if Putin ordered an invasion. Watch the latest DH videos: Also read: Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden plan high-stakes phone call in Ukraine crisis Check out DH's latest videos Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's close friendship with President Vladimir Putin and lucrative business dealings with Russia have for years been reluctantly tolerated at home. But as war clouds gather over Ukraine and allies question Germany's resolve, Schroeder is increasingly seen as potential liability to new chancellor and fellow Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, fuelling calls for a clean break with the pro-Kremlin lobbyist. "Schroeder is a burden to Germany's foreign policy and to his old party," Der Spiegel weekly wrote. "He has clear goals. Not for his country, but for himself." Schroeder's recent warning to Ukraine to stop its "sabre rattling" was met with widespread disbelief in Germany, even among longtime friends within the centre-left SPD party. Also read: Biden warns Putin of 'swift and severe costs' if Ukraine attacked Last week's announcement that the 77-year-old is set to serve on the board of Russian state energy giant Gazprom did little to calm tempers, as did the revelation that Schroeder held talks about Russia with an SPD interior ministry official last month. The controversy comes at an awkward time for Scholz, who faces a major test next week when he travels to Moscow for his first in-person talks with Putin since taking office. Scholz has been accused of being slow to step into the diplomatic fray in the Ukraine crisis, and of muddying Germany's message of being united with allies against the Russian threat. After much prodding from the United States and other allies, Scholz recently toughened his stance on possible sanctions should Russia invade Ukraine, including halting the Gazprom-owned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. It was Schroeder, chancellor from 1998-2005, who signed off on the first Nord Stream pipeline between Russia and Germany in his final weeks in office, and he currently heads the Nord Stream company's shareholders' committee. He is also chairman of the board of directors of Russian oil giant Rosneft. In a TV interview, Scholz denied being influenced by Schroeder ahead of the Moscow trip. "I haven't asked him for advice, he hasn't given me any either," he said. "There's only one chancellor, and that's me." Also read: Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden plan high-stakes phone call in Ukraine crisis Putin and Schroeder appear to have built "a genuine friendship, based on trust" back when Schroeder was in power, political scientist Ursula Muench told AFP. But "it's problematic when a former chancellor uses his past political activities and contacts to make money," she said. Germany's SPD has historically championed close ties with Russia, born out of the "Ostpolitik" policy of rapprochement and dialogue with the then Soviet Union, devised by former SPD chancellor Willy Brandt in the 1970s. Successive chancellors continued the policy to varying degrees, including Scholz's centre-right predecessor Angela Merkel who focussed on the economic benefits of dealing with Russia -- a strategy known as "Wandel durch Handel" in German, or "change through trade". But even among German politicians sympathetic to Russia and its longstanding grievance over NATO's expansion, patience with Schroeder -- who famously celebrated his 70th birthday with Putin in Saint Petersburg -- is running out. SPD veteran Rudolf Dressler told Spiegel that Schroeder's behaviour was "embarrassing", and urged the party leadership to ask Schroeder to refrain from commenting on political matters in public. Also read: Its navy lost, Ukraine girds for Russian warship drills Opposition politicians and those from the SPD's junior coalition party, the liberal FDP, have called for Schroeder to lose his privileges as ex-chancellor -- including an office with staff and a driver. German taxpayers should no longer "finance Russian lobbying", MP Volker Ullrich from the conservative CSU party told Bild newspaper, suggesting Gazprom pay for Schroeder's upkeep. Sudha David-Wilp, deputy director of the German Marshall Fund think tank in Berlin, said the latest Schroeder saga was "a distraction" in the Ukraine crisis, but nothing new. "Everybody knows where Schroeder stands, everybody knows where he is getting his source of income from," she told AFP. More interesting is how Scholz and the SPD choose to navigate relations with Russia in the future, she said. "Is there now an understanding that 'Ostpolitik' or 'Wandel durch Handel' is a thing of the past? Or will they keep using the same formula?" she asked. Check out DH's latest videos A tense standoff between Canadian police and protesters opposing Covid-19 restrictions was set to continue on Sunday, as a court order and threats of arrest have failed to end a blockade of a key Canada-US border crossing. President Joe Biden has asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to use federal powers to the end blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, North America's busiest land border crossing. Since Monday, protesters in trucks, cars and vans have blocked traffic in both directions, choking the supply chain for Detroit's carmakers. Despite a court order to end to the occupation and a state of emergency imposed by the province of Ontario, home to the city of Windsor, police have failed to disperse the crowd and resume cross-border traffic. Police moved in early on Saturday, pushing protesters back from the foot of the bridge, but more people streamed into the area in the afternoon and the operation appeared to have stalled. Late on Saturday, Windsor Police arrested a 27-year old man for a criminal offence in relation to the demonstration. "I am very hopeful still that police can ... try and get to these folks in a reasonable way and have them understand that it's time to move on," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told CBC News. "We can no longer afford as a country to keep it closed." The bridge carries about $360 million a day in two-way cargoes - 25% of the value of all US-Canada goods trade. Concrete barricades have been set up in front of the police near the bridge to keep protesters from reclaiming any ground. The "Freedom Convoy" protests, started in the national capital Ottawa by Canadian truckers opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border drivers, entered its 17th day on Sunday. But it has now morphed into a rallying point against broader Covid-19 curbs, carbon tax and other issues, with people joining in cars, pick-up trucks farm vehicles. Protests erupted across several cities in Canada on Saturday, with some 4,000 people in downtown Ottawa. Financial capital Toronto had some 1,000 demonstrators, though the police had shut key access roads to the central business district. In the west, hundreds of protesters chocked intersections along Pacific Highway with vehicles leading to the Canada-US border crossing in South Surrey, British Columbia. Several, camped out near the border crossing, vowed to stay as long as is needed" until all Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Strangling bilateral trade, protests have spread to three border points, including the in Alberta and Manitoba. Canadian police have said the protests have been partly funded by US supporters, and Ontario froze funds donated via one US platform GiveSendGo on Thursday. Ford Motor Co, the second-largest US automaker, General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp all have announced production cuts. Companies have diverted cargo to stem losses during the cuts. The estimated loss so far from the blockades to the auto industry alone could be as high as $850 million, based on IHS Markit's data, which puts the 2021 daily flow in vehicles and parts at $141.1 million day. "This is the busiest border crossing, so it's not just automotive," Mayor Dilkens said. "We are talking about things that impacts the entire nation here. That's why finding a resolution is so important." Watch latest videos by DH here: Canada's Ontario province declared a state of emergency on Friday, amid the ongoing trucker protests against Covid mandates, Premier Doug Ford told reporters. "I will convene Cabinet to use legal authorities to urgently enact orders that will make crystal clear it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and service along critical infrastructure," Ford said in a press briefing. Also Read | Trucker protests in Canada: What you need to know Ford also pledged new legal action against protesters, including fines and potential jail time for non-compliance with the government's orders. Check out DH's latest videos: Iraq's top court banned a veteran Kurdish politician from the country's presidency on Sunday, citing lingering corruption allegations. Hoshyar Zebari, a former foreign minister and longtime Iraqi diplomat, had been a front-runner competing against the sitting president, Barham Salih. In Iraq's political system, parliament votes to pick the president who in turn appoints the prime minister. Zebari's bid was supported by powerful Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose bloc emerged as the winner in the October 10 parliamentary elections. Sunday's ruling is likely to prolong a standoff between factions over who should be the country's next president and prime minister. Also Read | Iraq's Sadrist bloc boycotts session for electing next president The Federal Supreme Court last week temporarily suspended Zebari's nomination after four lawmakers filed a petition. That decision delayed the parliament vote to choose a new president that was scheduled for February 7, because many members boycotted the session in support of Zebari. At a press conference held following Sunday's court verdict, Zebari said court's decision was politically motivated and called it an injustice." The corruption allegations against him stem from his time as finance minister, when he was dismissed in 2016 over alleged graft. He was never convicted. Zebari is the nominee for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for the position, competing against Salih. Salih now has a greater chance of retaining his position, unless the KDP replaces Zebari with another nominee. The KDP holds 31 seats in Iraq's 329-member Parliament following the October election, which is the higher than any other Kurdish party. Saleh represents the KDP's main rival in Iraqi Kurdistan, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The court also decided that Barham Salih maintains his position as president until the election of a new president. Check out DH's latest videos: A middle-aged man was stoned to death and his body was hung from a tree by a mob for allegedly desecrating a religious book in a remote village in Pakistans Punjab province, police said on Sunday, a gruesome incident that has sparked nationwide outrage. The incident took place in Jungle Derawala village, in Khanewal district, situated 275-km from Lahore on Saturday evening, where locals had gathered after their Maghrib (evening) prayers, following announcements that a man had torn pages of the Holy Quran and had set them on fire. The police had arrived in the village before the incident, but the mob had outnumbered them. They seized the victim from the SHOs custody and tied him to a tree, after which he was lynched, eyewitnesses said. Over 300 men had gathered at Masjid Shahmuqeem Muaza in Jungle Derawala village, where they tied a middle-aged man with a rope before stoning him to death. Later, they hung his body on a tree, police officer Muhammad Amin told PTI. He said two policemen, who tried to bring the body down from the tree, were injured when mob began throwing stones at them. "Police tried to take the injured man into custody, but we were outnumbered by the mob, and they killed him. They chanted religious slogans and attacked the two policemen who tried to bring the victims body down from the tree. Once fresh reinforcements arrived in the village, they shifted the body to a mortuary," Amin said. According to BBC Urdu service, the victim was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed (son of Bashir Ahmed), who was a resident of Bara Chak village. The villagers said that the victim was mentally unstable and stayed out of the house for several days. A number of videos have surfaced on social media in which the enraged mob can be seen torturing the man and hanging his body on the tree. Some had even tried to burn his body, according to the videos that are circulating online. Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan submitted a preliminary report of the incident to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. According to the report, a case was registered against 33 suspects and 300 unknown persons while sections related to heinous crimes and terrorism were also added. Chief Minister Buzdar has issued directives that all requirements of justice must be met and said no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Police have registered an FIR against 300 people. Of them, 62 have been arrested so far and raids are being conducted to nab the remaining culprits, Amin said. The detained accused also included the prime suspects. The police will conduct forensic analysis of available footage to identify more suspects. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday expressed anguish over the incident and said the culprits involved in the lynching will be "dealt with (the) full severity of the law" along with police officials who "failed in their duty". We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands and mob lynching will be dealt with the full severity of the law, he tweeted a day after the incident. Khan said he has sought a report from the Punjab police chief on the actions taken against perpetrators of the lynching. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had "repeatedly pointed out" the destructive extremist elements present in the education system. "This problem is one of rule of law and one of social decline as well. Be prepared for great destruction if the school, police station and pulpit are not reformed," he warned. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari condemned the incident and said it should not go unpunished". "Punjab government must immediately take action against the police that watched it happen and the perpetrators. Laws exist - the police must enforce these laws and not allow mobs to rule the day," she said. She also shared a statement from Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, who condemned the incident and called for action against the perpetrators. Pakistan has extremely strict laws against defaming Islam, including the death penalty, and rights campaigners say they are often used to settle scores in the Muslim majority country. The brutal incident comes a little over two months after a Sri Lankan executive of a garment factory was lynched and his body torched by angry supporters of a hardline Islamist party that attacked the facility in Pakistan's Punjab province over blasphemy allegations. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Nepal's ruling coalition lawmakers on Sunday filed an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher JB Rana over allegations of corruption. Spokesperson of the Parliament Secretariat Rajnath Pandey said that the impeachment was registered at 11 am. Rana, who had assumed the post of Chief Justice on January 2, 2019, has been suspended from his post following the registration of impeachment motion against him at the House of Representatives. A total of 98 lawmakers from ruling alliance including Law and Justice Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu, Nepali Congress Whip Pushpa Bhushal, CPN-Maoist Centre Whip Dev Gurung and CPN-Unified Socialist lawmaker Jeevan Ram Bhandari have signed the proposal to impeach the chief justice. There is a provision for automatic suspension of the chief justice with the registration of the impeachment motion. Speaking to the media, Gurung said that the impeachment was registered against the top judge because the court was not functioning properly and there were charges of corruption against the chief justice. There are 21 charges labelled against the chief justice in the motion. The charges include being unable to safeguard democracy, human rights, rule of law, judicial independence and impartiality. He has also been charged with exposure to excessive distortion, inconsistencies and corruption. The impeachment motion comes in the wake of more than three-month-long agitation by Nepal Bar Association against the chief justice after one of his relatives was appointed as minister in the Deuba cabinet, who had later resigned after it sparked controversy. If the motion is passed by at least two-thirds majority of the total number of the members of the House of Representatives, the chief justice shall be relieved of his office. Meanwhile, senior Justice Deep Kumar Karki has been appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 2017, a motion of impeachment was filed against the then Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Amid mounting warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come any day, the Pentagon said Sunday that the latest top-level US-Russian contacts did not provide "any cause for optimism." Pentagon spokesman John Kirby offered a grim assessment of the one-hour phone conversation Saturday between US President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. "It's certainly not a sign that things are moving in the right direction. It's certainly not a sign that Mr. Putin has any intention to de-escalate. And it's certainly not a sign that he is recommitting himself to a diplomatic path forward," Kirby told "Fox News Sunday" when asked about the lack of fundamental change after the call. Also Read | Biden-Putin call inconclusive as Ukraine tensions jump "So, it does not give us any cause for optimism." US officials in recent days have issued a series of increasingly blunt warnings that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, and foreign countries have been rushing to evacuate their nationals. US national security advisor Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday that "a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now." Sullivan used some of the most specific -- and chilling -- language yet employed by an American official, warning that an invasion is "likely to begin with a significant barrage of missiles and bomb attacks... so innocent civilians could be killed." That, he said, would be followed by a ground invasion in which "innocent civilians could get caught in the crossfire." Sullivan said Russia might yet opt for a diplomatic solution, but its forces near Ukraine's borders are "in a position where they could launch a military action very, very rapidly." The growing drumbeat of warnings has infused diplomatic contacts with a sense of intense urgency. Biden was set to speak to President Volodymyr Zelensky "in coming hours," the Ukrainian leader's office said Sunday. And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was preparing to leave for talks in Kyiv and Moscow, vowed "tough" and immediate sanctions by Germany and its NATO and European allies should a Russian attack threaten Ukraine's "territorial integrity and sovereignty." Tensions are now at a "very critical, very dangerous" point, a German government source told reporters. In London, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace expressed concern that diplomacy was having any effect. "The worrying thing is that despite the massive amount of increased diplomacy, that military build-up has continued," he told the Sunday Times. "It has not paused, it has continued." Check out DH's latest videos: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that his country would not join any camp in global politics as he asserted that Islamabad's strategic direction was to "maintain relations with everyone", amid mounting tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine and increasing Sino-US rivalry. "We do not want to be in a position that implies as if we are a part of a certain camp," Prime Minister Khan said while interacting with journalists, former diplomats and representatives of think-tanks in Islamabad. Khan also rejected the impression that Pakistan was more inclined towards China than any other country, saying the country's strategic direction was to "maintain relations with everyone". To a question, the prime minister said that he believed that Rawalpindi - the Headquarters of the powerful army which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 74 plus years of existence was also clear about Pakistan's strategic position. The Pakistan Army has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy. It is not for the first time that Khan has said that he would not follow the US and China in case of a new Cold War. Earlier this month, Khan said that Pakistan wanted to play the role of bringing together the United States and China because "another Cold War" would not benefit anyone. The relations between China and the US are at an all time low. The two countries are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including trade, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea and human rights. Last month, National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf also said that Pakistan would not follow any camp in global politics. Also, Pakistan has also maintained a discreet silence over the issue of Ukraine, while urging for a peaceful solution of the issue. Russia has deployed over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine Border. US President Joe Biden has warned that the US and its allies would respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs if Russia invades Ukraine. Talking on Afghanistan, Khan said the international community had a consensus over the issue. "Europe and all the neighbouring states of Afghanistan agreed to avoid a humanitarian crisis there and stressed upon de-freezing of Afghans assets," he said, adding that the US also had realised the situation. President Biden signed an executive order on Friday allowing $7 billion in frozen assets from Afghanistan's central bank to be distributed for humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country and to victims of the 9/11 terror attacks. Talking about the domestic challenges, Khan highlighted red-tapism as one of the hurdles in reforming the country. He said that the empowerment of provinces at the cost of the federal government had also created problems. Khan said that only a government having a two-thirds majority in parliament can bring revolutionary changes in the country. He also said that his recent visit to China will accelerate work on the ongoing projects of the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that seven projects under the CPEC had been completed so far, while the number of joint working groups had increased from seven to 11. Watch latest videos by DH here: The Swiss voted on Sunday to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the hazardous products, partial results showed. Nearly 56 percent of voters and 15 of Switzerland's 26 cantons backed the near-total tobacco advertising ban, according to official results after all ballots had been tallied in 22 cantons. "We are extremely happy," Stefanie De Borba of the Swiss League against Cancer, told AFP as the results became clear. "The people have understood that health is more important than economic interests." Switzerland lags far behind most wealthy nations in restricting tobacco advertising a situation widely blamed on hefty lobbying by some of the world's biggest tobacco companies headquartered in the country. Currently, most tobacco advertising is legal at a national level, except for ads on television and radio, and ones that specifically target minors. Some Swiss cantons have introduced stricter regional legislation and a new national law is pending but campaigners gathered enough signatures to spur a vote towards a significantly tighter country-wide law. Opponents of the initiative, which include the Swiss government and parliament, had argued that it goes too far. "This initiative is extreme," said Patrick Eperon, a lobbyist with an employer organisation and a spokesman for the "No" campaign. By banning basically all tobacco advertising in the name of protecting children, "it infantilises adults", he told AFP before the vote. His concerns echo those voiced by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world's largest tobacco company, which, like British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco, is headquartered in Switzerland and has helped fund the "No" campaign. "This is a slippery slope as far as individual freedom is concerned," a spokesman for PMI's Swiss section told AFP. "(It) paves the way for further advertising bans on products such as alcohol or sugar," he said. Jean-Paul Humair, who heads a Geneva addiction prevention centre and serves as a spokesman for the "Yes" campaign, flatly rejected that comparison. "There is no other consumer product that kills half of all users," he told AFP. Campaigners say lax advertising laws have stymied efforts to bring down smoking rates in the Alpine nation of 8.6 million people, where more than a quarter of adults consume tobacco products. There are around 9,500 tobacco-linked deaths each year. While they backed the effort to ban most tobacco advertising, Swiss voters were not convinced by a number of other issues on the ballot Sunday as part of the country's direct democratic system. Partial results showed they had flatly rejected a bid for a blanket ban on all animal testing, with nearly 80 percent opposed. All political parties, parliament and the government had opposed the initiative, arguing it went too far and would have dire consequences for medical research. Switzerland has rejected three similar initiatives by large margins since 1985. Researchers say medical progress is impossible without experimentation, and even the Swiss Animal Protection group has warned against the initiative's "radical" demands. Swiss authorities say the country already has among the world's strictest laws regulating animal testing. As the laws have tightened, the number of animals used has fallen in recent decades, from nearly two million per year in the early 1980s to around 560,000 today. In another animal-themed vote, first results indicated that inhabitants in the northern Basel-Stadt canton have massively rejected a bid to afford non-human primates some of the same basic fundamental rights as their human cousins, with over 75 percent opposed. Among the other issues on Sunday's slate, partial results also showed that some 56 percent of voters had rejected a government plan to provide additional state funding to media companies, which have seen their advertising revenues evaporate in recent years. Check out latest DH videos here US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts were meeting Saturday in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests. Blinken gathered in Honolulu with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. Defense chiefs from the three countries last week said North Korea's recent missile tests were destabilising to regional security. Some experts say North Korea is using the weapon's tests to put pressure on President Joe Biden's administration to resume long-stalled nuclear negotiations as the pandemic puts further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions. Also read: Moon Jae-in warns of 'crisis' if N Korea restarts long-range missile tests Biden's administration has offered North Korea open-ended talks but has shown no willingness to ease the sanctions without meaningful cuts to the country's nuclear program. The tests also have a technical component, allowing North Korea to hone its weapons arsenal. One of the missiles recently tested the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile is capable of reaching the US territory of Guam. It was the longest-distance weapon the North has tested since 2017. North Korea appears to be pausing its tests during the Winter Olympics in China, its most important ally and economic lifeline. But analysts believe North Korea will dramatically increase its weapons testing after the Olympics. The recent tests have rattled Pyongyang's neighbours in South Korea and Japan. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who helped set up the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, said last month that the tests were a violation UN Security Council resolutions and urged the North to cease actions that create tensions and pressure. Also read: North Korea calls for economic growth, improved lives despite 'persevering struggle' The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the country's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. Blinken arrived in Hawaii from Fiji, where he met with Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and other Pacific leaders to talk about regional issues, especially the existential risk posed by climate change. It was the first visit by a US secretary of state to Fiji since 1985. He started his Pacific tour in Australia, where he met his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. The four nations form the Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter China's regional influence. Check out latest videos from DH: Senior US officials on Sunday said they could not confirm reports that US intelligence indicates that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine on Wednesday, but they repeated warnings for Americans to leave Ukraine immediately. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan repeated that a Russian invasion could begin any day and the United States would try to deny Russia the ability to surprise the world with a "false flag" operation as a pretext for an attack. Read: Poland preparing for potential influx of Ukrainian refugees "We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begin -- a major military action could begin -- by Russia in Ukraine any day now. That includes this coming week before the end of the Olympics," Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" when asked about the possible Wednesday timing. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby also on Sunday declined to confirm reports on the Wednesday timing. "I'm not in a position to confirm those reports," Kirby said during an interview on "Fox News Sunday". Kirby also said a Russian military action could take place any day. "And again, these assessments are coming from a variety of sources. And not, not exclusively just inside intelligence, but also what we're seeing in plain sight," Kirby said. "More than 100,000 troops now continue to be arrayed against Ukraine's border." Also Read: Ukraine sees no point closing airspace amid Russia tension, says official Their comments came amid a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at trying to resolve the West's standoff with Moscow over Ukraine to avoid military action. US President Joe Biden, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, was due to speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, US and Ukrainian officials said. Both Sullivan and Kirby repeated warnings for Americans to leave Ukraine. "What we've seen just in the last 10 days or so is an acceleration of that buildup and movement of Russian forces of all varieties, closer to the border with Ukraine, in a position where they could launch a military action very, very rapidly," Sullivan said. He added that the United States and its allies "will defend NATO territory, we will impose costs on Russia," in the event of a Russian attack. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The high court in London granted Swiss bank UBS permission to take control of Vijay Mallya's London property, which overlooks Regents Park, on January 18. The bank claimed Mallya had failed to repay a 20 million pound mortgage that had been issued with the mansion as collateral, prompting the bank to issue a possession order for the over 30-bedroom residence. A favourable order by the Supreme Court of Bahamas on 11 February, less than a month after that ruling, means that UBS will have access to enough funds to repay the mortgage and any associated interest. The order allows Vijay Mallya's mother and children to be named as beneficiaries of the three Balaji Trusts, which are registered in the Bahamas and have more than enough money to pay off the UBS mortgage. Read: Vijay Mallya gets 'last chance' to defend himself in PMLA case, asked to appear in SC on Feb 24 Balaji One Three-Gift Settlement, Balaji Two Three-Gift Settlement, and Balaji Three Three-Gift Settlement are all trusts registered in the Bahamas, with Black Stone PTC Limited serving as trustee. Mallya's children and mother, who live on the property, were to be shown as beneficiaries in order to secure the court's authority to use the money to pay UBS. The development offers a glimpse into the complicated web of trust funds and tax havens that high-net-worth individuals use. The outcome of the Bahamian court's decision is that Mallya would be entitled to keep his London property. Mallya's ability to turn around adversity is also demonstrated by this development. Despite exhausting all legal alternatives, Indian agencies were successful in having him extradited in British courts, and Mallya remains in the UK due to an asylum plea. While it is true that Mallya (or rather Rose Capital Ventures, which on paper owns the London property) did not repay the mortgage, it was revealed during the proceedings that the bank had sufficient security to cover the loan amount. However, because it included the complicated structure of trusts registered in the Bahamas, it necessitated a new series of court actions before the funds could be released. After the January 18 ruling, Mallya said that UBS has cash in excess of the mortgage, but that using cash in the Trust requires a Bahamian court order, according to a report by Moneycontrol. Also Read: Tax issue and pandemic delay liquidation process of UB Engineering The Supreme Court of the Bahamas granted permission to Birchwood Hills Inc, which is owned by the Balaji One Three settlement, to enter into a loan and mortgage agreement with Rose Capital Ventures Limited for the "sole and exclusive purpose of repaying the amounts payable to UBS" earlier this week. This is the second time Mallya has used deft manoeuvring to keep UBS from acquiring the property. Rose Capital was allowed to enter into a mortgage deal with another company incorporated in a tax haven by Justice Teare of the High Court in London in March 2020. However, while Indian banks resisted the plea to declare Mallya bankrupt, it does not appear that they are opposing the proceedings in the Bahamas court in the same way. Mallya has been declared bankrupt by the court, and the State Bank of India has filed a letter with the Bahamian court through its lawyer TLT LLP to protect its interests. The main players in the Bahamian court were his son Siddhartha Mallya and daughters Leana and Tanya Mallya, as well as Mallya's mother Lalitha Mallya, who were all named as prospective beneficiaries of the trusts. Sidhartha Mallya appeared before the court in person, which may indicate the importance of this application to save the London property. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday criticised West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for proroguing the Assembly session termed his action as one that goes against established norms and conventions. In a series of tweets, Stalin also said the symbolic head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. The TN CMs attack comes amid a battle his government is engaged with Governor R N Ravi over a bill that seeks exemption from NEET for students from the state. Also read: Proroguing Assembly: What it means and under what circumstances does it happen? Stalin, who ensured that a Bill returned by the Governor was re-enacted by the Assembly within a week, has been attacking Ravi in his speeches during the campaign for urban local bodies seeking to know how can an appointed person return a Bill passed by representatives of 8 crore people of the state. The act of West Bengal Governor to prorogue the WB Assembly Session is without any propriety expected from the exalted post and goes against the established norms and conventions. The 'symbolic' head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. Beauty of democracy lies in extending mutual respect to each other, Stalin said. The 'symbolic' head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. Beauty of democracy lies in extending mutual respect to each other. (2/2) M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 13, 2022 Within hours, Dhankhar posted a response on his verified Twitter page terming Stalins statement as extremely harsh and hurtful. Find it unusually expedient to respectfully invite indulgent attention of TN CM @mkstalin that his extremely harsh hurtful observations are not in the least in conformity with facts- attached order. Assembly was prorogued at express request, he wrote. WB Guv: Find it unusually expedient to respectfully invite indulgent attention of TN CM @mkstalin that his extremely harsh hurtful observations are not in the least in conformity with facts- attached order. Assembly was prorogued at express request @MamataOfficial @rajbhavan_tn https://t.co/A8WI28j2NS pic.twitter.com/CReAqvaGFj Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) February 13, 2022 Dhankhar had on February 12 prorogued the Assembly maintaining that his action came at the request of the state government. However, the move led to speculation whether it was yet another fallout of the tussle between Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Check out latest videos from DH: With the BJP struggling to negotiate with its own organisational differences, and the Left and the Congress becoming regularly irrelevant in West Bengal politics just before the corporation and municipal elections -- the Trinamool Congress seems to have emerged as the biggest enemy of Trinamool Congress. The ruling party has bagged three municipalities even before the filing of nominations is over, but that has raised several questions within the party, challenging not only the supremacy of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but also exposing the chinks within the party that are likely to become bigger in the days to come. The internal differences within the party came to the fore following a Facebook post by a young Trinamool Congress leader Debangshu Bhattacharya, considered to be close to Abhishek Banerjee. Bhattacharya wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday: "Some people create disturbances in the elections because of their narrow personal gains and that is resulting in unrest in the local body polls. The police should be given 100 per cent free hand and if needed double number of central forces should be deployed in the municipal polls." Also read: Mamata Banerjee dissolves all existing posts in Trinamool Congress Bhattacharya was definitely indicating the ongoing controversy of the walkover in three municipalities -- Budge Budge, Sainthia and Dinhata -- where Trinamool Congress grabbed power even before the nominations were over. Bhattacharya further wrote: "If there is one 2018 then another 2019 is not far to come. Every time it will not be 2021." He was indicating at the panchayat elections of 2018 when Trinamool Congress grabbed 34 panchayats without any contest and, according to him, the result was evident in 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP won 22 Lok Sabha seats -- the highest it has managed in the state so far. The youth leader also said that the party will not be able to perform like it did in the 2021 Assembly elections when it swept the polls over with 234 seats. "The people will not forgive even if they go with folded hands. Those who create unrest will 'make a setting' with the ruling party, but the workers and the supporters will have to face the backlash - they will die," he added. Though the Trinamool leadership is considering the uncontested wins as the organisational and the political weakness of the opposition, particularly the BJP, the post by Bhattacharya is indicative of the growing resentment within the party. Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said, "The opposition was elated after getting 38 per cent votes in the Assembly polls but in the last seven/eight months, they were only seen quarrelling with themselves. They have not been able to come to any help of the common people. They have failed to find candidates for even their own party." Though Chatterjee tried to put up a brave face and blamed it on the opposition, insiders in the party feel that the differences between the older version and the newer version of Trinamool are becoming apparent with each passing day. Also read: Amid speculations of a rift with nephew, Mamata forms new working committee More importantly, Chatterjee's version comes in direct conflict with the promise made by party leader Abhishek Banerjee. Abhishek Banerjee had announced that the civic polls will be peaceful and will be done in a democratic manner, but leaders close to him said that he failed to keep his promise not only in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections but also in the upcoming civic polls where cases of threats and kidnapping of candidates are in abundance. The situation went to an extent that there were strong indications in view of the ongoing differences between the senior leaders of the party, including Mamata Banerjee herself and I-PAC -- while Abhishek Banerjee is likely to leave the organisational responsibilities of the party and continue to work only as the MP of Diamond Harbour. Abhishek Banerjee is likely to make the announcement after the Goa Assembly polls scheduled on February 14. Either on the polling day, or the day after. As a result, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Saturday dissolved all the existing posts and formed a 20-member national working committee after a meeting with some senior party leaders at her Kalighat residence. The names of the new office-bearers will be announced later by Banerjee herself. "The Trinamool chief might have deferred the problem by dissolving all the existing posts, but this is not a solution. She will have to find an alternative mechanism to create a bridge between the old and new leaders of the party, else the problem will again crop up in a different form. The present decision to dissolve all the existing posts will give her some time, but it will be a thing to watch how she handles the party in this crucial situation," a senior party leader said. Check out latest videos from DH: Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results By Fergal O'Brien, Tim Loh and James Paton The era of coronavirus restrictions is fading away, but that doesnt mean Covid-19 is gone. Governments are racing to scrap the last remaining pandemic measures, eager to reset the world after two years of dramatic upheaval. Even slow-mover Germany is planning to unwind curbs next week, despite setting records for infections on a daily basis. Officials say data and science are behind the decisions, but politics, as well as weariness and frustration, are mixed in too. Also Read | Previous Covid infection may improve performance of antibodies While the world has changed since early 2020 and new approaches are justified, health officials warn that the virus remains part of our reality. Its still circulating, new severe variants could emerge, or next winter could spark another seasonal surge. To them, governments appear to be rushing toward something that isnt quite the finish line. Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist at the World Health Organization, says its foolish now to drop all precautions. With the exception of China, which is sticking to Covid-zero policies, caution is a hard sell after two years of restrictions that disrupted everything from work to shopping and travel. The most severe measures -- economically crippling lockdowns -- pushed businesses underwater, workers out of jobs and triggered massive government borrowing to shore up economies. Its also clearly about much more than money. Almost 6 million people have died, and the grief of mourners was made harder by restrictions that cut loved ones off from each other and curtailed funerals. The pandemic battle has also pitted politics against science. It fueled protests -- like the trucker blockades in Canada over vaccine mandates -- and became tangled up with the ideological differences that have deepened divisions in society. Also Read | Why dont most people with Covid need to test for another 30 days? It was very disappointing to see the attack on scientists and science, Swaminathan said in an interview on Bloomberg Quicktake. It got stronger over the course of the pandemic, and it has a potential to do a lot of damage. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson accelerated easing plans this week, announcing that Englands final curbs would end later in February. Norway and Denmark have already ditched most restrictions. In South Africa, where the omicron variant was first identified before spreading at light speed around the world, self-isolation rules have been scrapped. The UK offers a prime example of the multiple factors at play right now, and why some worry that governments are moving too fast. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES ONLY ON DH Yes, the countrys vaccine rate is above 80%, more than half of the population is boosted, and hospitalizations have fallen sharply since their December peak. But tied up with the move to call time on the pandemic are accusations that Johnson is trying to distract from a scandal about rule-breaking lockdown parties that are threatening his future as leader. As governments offer voters the lure of normality -- or freedom as some like to call it -- anger remains, many of it linked to vaccination. France risks being hit with fresh protests this weekend similar to the ones in Canada that have disrupted businesses. Among public-health experts, theres concern that politicians have missed the lessons from the crisis, particularly the on again-off again curbs, and will be caught flatfooted if and when a relapse hits. Also Read | 'Mask mandates didnt make much of a difference anyway' For the past two years, we have misused the opportunity of the spring and summer, where behaviour limits transmission, not to make good on the hard-earned control from harsh lockdowns, Stephen Griffin, a virology professor at the University of Leeds. The promises around there not being a need for further restrictions in the future have proven hollow. Given the uncertainty about fresh Covid variants, potential spikes in infections and the risks of future pandemics, authorities will need to be ready, according to Richard Hatchett, who leads the Oslo-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. Its likely the case that the public will be able to enjoy some well-deserved relaxation as omicron subsides, but its incumbent on governments not to forget that we dont know whats coming next, Hatchett, a former White House adviser, said in an interview. Also Read Spain ends outdoor mask mandate as coronavirus surge ebbs Expanding home-testing, improving ventilation in public buildings, increasing efforts to track mutations and developing better vaccines and drugs that can work against a broad range of variants and other diseases are all part of the toolkit. The bottom line is that from a government perspective, from a risk-management perspective, we have to make investments with an assumption that we might have a bad scenario, even if its less likely, Hatchett said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Daily new Covid-19 cases in the country dipped below 50,000 after around 40 days, taking the country's virus tally to 4,26,31,421, while the active cases declined to 5,37,045, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. India logged 44,877 infections, while the death toll climbed to 5,08,665 with 684 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. A total of 37,379 people had tested positive for the infection in a day on January 4. The daily Covid-19 cases were recorded less than one lakh for seven consecutive days CORONAVIRUS UPDATES ONLY ON DH The active cases comprise 1.26 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has further improved to 97.55 per cent, the ministry said. A reduction of 73,398 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. India crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. Check out latest coronavirus-related videos from DH: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met the Indian community here and appreciated their key role in shaping the country's positive image in Australia and in the new phase of bilateral ties. Jaishankar visited Australia from February 10 to 13 on his first trip to the country as external affairs minister. He attended the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States on Friday. Jaishankar appreciated the role of the Indian community in shaping India's positive image. Also Read | India, Australia vow to work together for inclusive growth in Indo-Pacific: EAM Jaishankar "So appropriate to conclude my Melbourne visit meeting the Indian community. Their role in shaping India's positive image is commendable. Key partners in this new phase of our ties," Jaishankar tweeted. Melbourne has a vibrant Indian community with Indian-born migrants making up 3 per cent of the city's total population. Since 2001, the number of Indian-born migrants in Melbourne has more than tripled. On Saturday, India and Australia pledged to work together for building more trusted and resilient supply chains and ensure broad and inclusive growth in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Also read: Current situation at LAC due to disregard of written agreements by China, says Jaishankar At a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Marise Payne after their bilateral meeting, Jaishankar said he spoke at length with Payne about regional, multilateral and global issues, besides discussing developments in South Asia, Southeast Asia and in strategically vital Indo-Pacific region. Jaishankar will also make a bilateral visit to the Philippines from Sunday. This will be his first visit to the Philippines as external affairs minister. He will hold talks with his counterpart, Teodoro L Locsin, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and meet with the political leadership in the Philippines. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Chief Ministers of states ruled by Opposition parties will meet soon in New Delhi to discuss constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors in their states. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin made the announcement on his social media pages on Sunday following a telephonic conversation with his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee. The announcement by Stalin comes close on the heels of a confrontation with Governor R N Ravi on the issue of exemption from NEET for students from Tamil Nadu. DMK and its mouthpiece Murasoli have been mounting an attack against Ravi on various issues, including his action of indirectly batting for Hindi. Beloved Didi Mamata Banerjee telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states, Stalin said, adding that Banerjee was suggested for a meeting of Chief Ministers of opposition-ruled states. Also Read | Stalin dubs Dhankhar proroguing Assembly sans 'propriety' She suggested a meeting of Opposition CMs. I assured her of DMKs commitment to upholding State autonomy. Convention of Opposition CMs will soon happen out of Delhi, Stalin said. DMK has been upset with Ravi for the delay in approving the NEET Bill and sending it for Presidential consent the Bill was passed in the Assembly on September 13, 2021 and had even demanded his resignation. The DMK, which is ideologically opposed to the post of Governor, has in the past taken objections to the constitutional head of the state interfering in the functioning of the government even when it was occupying the Opposition benches. Stalins social media post also came on the day he came under criticism for tweeting against West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on the issue of proroguing the state assembly without any adequate information. After Stalin said symbolic head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution, Dhankhar responded by terming the CMs statement as extremely harsh and hurtful. Check out the latest videos from DH: Stating that she will fight tooth and nail in support of hijab (headscarves) in educational institutions across the country, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the BJP was hell-bent to divide this country. BJP wants to polarise the situation to get benefits in elections and it (hijab ban) looks like a conspiracy to keep the Muslim girl child away from education, she said while addressing a press conference here. I fear BJP won't stop at hijab and they will come for other symbols of Muslims. For Indian Muslims it is not enough to be an Indian, they have to be BJP as well, firebrand PDP chief alleged. Read | BJP 'jittery'; raking up Hijab row: Salman Khurshid On Srinagar girl Aroosa Parvaiz, who topped class 12 board exams recently, and has become a victim of online trolls from not covering her head, Mehbooba said, Hijab does not define anyone's religious identity and shouldn't be worn just for the sake of it. The hijab controversy started towards December end last year when a few Muslim students were denied entry to a government pre-university (PU) college in Udupi in Karnataka. As a counter, some Hindu students turned up wearing saffron scarves. On the prevailing situation in Kashmir, the PDP chief claimed that revocation of Article 370 further complicated the issue. The BJP led government at the Centre has no alternative other than to talk to Pakistan for resolution of issues including Kashmir, she said. An impression that the Kashmir issue was over after revocation of article 370 has proved totally wrong on ground. One of the serious repercussions seen at the international level is that India is being isolated internally, she claimed. About the Delimitation Commission's second draft report, she alleged that the Commission has appeased the BJP only by advocating something that is totally unacceptable to all. The report aims to pitch one community against another in J&K, something BJP likes, she added. Asked J&K government figures that the investors were coming to the region, the former CM said, When people of J&K are feeling caged in a fortress and there is a total monitoring of all in one, how can investment help. They are even monitoring our thoughts." Watch latest videos by DH here: Congress General Secretary In charge UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday attacked UP Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath for his comments on alleged differences between Gandhi siblings. Commenting on the issue she said, "I can sacrifice my life for my brother and he can give his life for me, so where is the difference." "Yogiji must be talking of BJP and the rift between him, Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah," she added. Also Read | Amarinder replaced as his govt was being run by BJP from Delhi, says Priyanka The Congress General Secretary is campaigning in Punjab where she is scheduled to address three rallies in support of the party candidates. The Congress has picked up incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate in a bid to "woo" Dalit voters, which has 32 per cent vote share in the state. In his brief helm of 111 days, Channi built an image of the common man's Chief Minister by extensively touring the state, occasionally performing 'bhangra' on the beats of a 'dhol' at public functions, favouring tea at roadside eateries while narrating couplets to the masses, besides accepting 'siropas' (religious robes) enroute by stopping his cavalcade. The key opponents in the state -- the AAP, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) combine and the BJP in alliance with Amarinder Singh's new party Punjab Lok Congress and the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, the fledging coalition of farm unions -- are making an issue out of the Congress CM's face. Check out the latest videos from DH: The children of a man, who was declared a Pakistani national by a court here and has been languishing in a detention centre for seven years as the neighbouring country did not accept him as its citizen, have moved the Supreme Court seeking his release. Mohammad Qamar, 62, was arrested on August 8, 2011 from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and was held guilty by a court here for overstaying his visa. He was sentenced to three years and six months in jail and a fine of Rs 500. Having completed his sentence on February 6, 2015, Qamar was sent to the Detention Centre at Lampur in Narela here on February 7, 2015 for deportation to Pakistan. However, the Pakistan government did not accept his deportation and he is still languishing at the detention centre. A bench of justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant was told by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh that if Qamar is released on reasonable restrictions, he will apply for Indian citizenship as his wife and five children - three sons and two daughters - are all Indian citizens. The bench said, We have gone through the file, what can be done in this matter? Anyway, we are issuing notices to see what is happening on the issue of citizenship. Issue notice, returnable in two weeks. It sought response from the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government and listed it for hearing on February 28. Parikh said that Qamar has been languishing in a detention centre for the past seven years after completing his sentence and he can be released to reside with his family. According to his daughter and son, who have moved the top court through advocate Srishti Agnihotri, their father Qamar alias Mohammad Kamil was born in India in 1959. He (Qamar) had gone with his mother from India to Pakistan as a child of around 7-8 years in 1967-1968 on a visa to meet his relatives there. However, his mother died there, and he remained in Pakistan in the care of his relatives, the plea of habeas corpus filed in the top court said. It said that Qamar, on attaining adulthood, came back to India on a Pakistani passport in around 1989-1990 and got married to Shehnaaj Begum, an Indian citizen, in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Out of this wedlock, five children were born, the plea said, adding that Qamar has no documentary proof to show that he had gone with his mother to Pakistan in around 1967-68 and his mother died there and therefore, his story has not been believed. Nevertheless, the undisputed fact is that he came to India around 1989-90 on a passport of Pakistan and did not renew his visa due to lack of education and, subsequently, got married here, it said. In Meerut, he was doing menial jobs and residing there along with his family, who all have Aadhaar cards issued by UIDAI, the plea said. Initially, Qamar filed a plea before the Delhi High Court in 2017, praying for his release so that he can stay with his family. During arguments, his counsel had submitted that Qamar would apply for Indian citizenship in accordance with law and also make a representation to the respective authorities giving particulars of all the family members who would stand security in case he is released from the Detention Centre. The High Court, in its order dated March 9, 2017, disposed of his plea directing that his representation be considered as per law. Qamars son, as per the order of the High Court, made a representation to civil authority on August 11, 2017, under the provisions of the Foreigners Act to allow his father to reside with his family and take proper steps for registering him as an Indian citizen and also for getting proper medical treatment for his illness. However, on getting no response to the representation, Qamar's daughter filed a representation dated September 11, 2018 before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) praying for a direction to the Centre and Civil Authority under the Foreigners Act, 1946 to release her father and allow him to reside with his family in Meerut with reasonable restrictions. To the representation, a reply of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Branch, Delhi on December 21, 2018 before NHRC said that the matter is pending consideration with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The plea said, meanwhile, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the top court on April 13, 2020 passed an order in the suo motu petition where it directed the Centre to release foreigner detainees who have been under detention for two years or more on certain terms on furnishing a bond in the sum of Rs. 5,000 with two sureties of the like sum of Indian citizens. It said that Qamars son moved Centre requesting to release their father in the wake of the top court's order but despite repeated phone calls, there was no satisfactory reply. Once again, Qamar' children moved the High Court seeking relief on the grounds of orders of the top court, where the Centre submitted that it was prepared to take a humanitarian approach for releasing the father of the petitioners, but Uttar Pradesh was not willing to do the same. It had put on record the reply of the UP government which said that Qamar is divorced from his wife and therefore, there is no justifiable ground for him to live in India and his release from the detention centre is not recommended. Thereafter, the High Court said that the petitioners should approach the Supreme Court for relief as the matter of pending release of detainees from the detention centre was before the top court. Watch latest videos by DH here: From making memes using clips from popular Bollywood movies to Instagram reels to conducting interactive sessions online, the Delhi Police is tapping into the latest social media trends to connect with the public, spread awareness about cyber and financial crimes, and showcase its citizen-centric initiatives. On February 3, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana interacted with Delhiites on Twitter, informing them about the new initiatives launched by the force, among other things. On February 4, the Delhi Police held a live 'Ask Me Anything' session on Twitter focusing on cyber safety. Making the most of Valentine's Week craze, in a post on the occasion of Promise Day on February 8, the police appealed to people to make a promise to themselves to dial emergency number 112 if they see anyone in distress. Behind this creative work is the Delhi Police's Social Media Centre, which is supervised by the Special Branch unit. The Social Media Centre team comprises youngsters from creative and technical backgrounds. None of them is aged above 35, officials said. The team keeps track of social media trends, watches the latest Bollywood movies and follows the news to be able to create engaging content. It also analyses the public feedback to its work, they said. The idea, the officials said, is to connect better with the public so that they do not hesitate to approach the police for help and convey things in a language they will easily understand. "The Delhi Police aspires to continue informing and empowering the people it serves. Social media is one of the greatest tools for mass communication and public relations we have today. We are glad to tap into this opportunity in an effective way. It's in line with our citizen-centric approach," Asthana told PTI. "Social media is not only the future but the present of information flow. For us, it is a way to take policing to the last mile and give citizens 24x7 accessibility to us," he said. The Delhi Police's Twitter handle has 6,83,000 followers, while the Instagram handle has only 4,011 followers. In the coming months, the focus will be on generating awareness about cybercrimes and the safety of women and children, among other important issues of public interest, the officials said. There are also plans to create more content for Instagram, including Reels, to improve engagement, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Suman Nalwa said social media is an excellent way to communicate and exchange information. "We invite people to come forward and use it (social media) to know more about us and the services provided by us. We encourage people to participate and make full use of this opportunity through our AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions, infographics and messages," she said. The Delhi Police is also using social media to check rumour-mongering and the spread of fake news. Information related to important events and sensitive crimes is now promptly posted on its Twitter handle with district officers sharing updates to prevent rumours or fake news from spreading. "In the new age, it would be a missed opportunity if we do not adapt to social media. The Delhi Police has a modern, forward-looking and progressive approach and it also has more responsibilities being responsible for the national capital and handling different challenges on a daily basis," a senior police officer said. To tackle fake news, another officer said, the first step is to identify it, issue a rebuttal, share the correct information and appeal to the public to prevent anti-social elements from disturbing peace and harmony. Posts that used clips from Bollywood movies or popular film dialogues to educate the public about the importance of wearing face masks or protecting OTP for banking transactions, etc., have been able to catch people's attention and received a good response, the officials said. To depict the importance of wearing a mask to contain the spread of viruses, the police recently used a clip from the popular Hindi film "Main Hoon Na" wherein actor Satish Shah's character is seen spitting while having a conversation with actor Shah Rukh Khan's character. Among the various social media initiatives launched by the Delhi Police are 'Ask Me Anything' and Live Twitter sessions and 'Know Your Delhi Police' quiz session. Another such initiative is 'Kissa Khaki Ka'. As part of this, stories about 'Bravehearts of Delhi Police' are shared on social media to boost the morale of police personnel and tell people about the daily challenges faced by them. Check out DH's latest videos: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) for three more fiscals till 2025-26 with a central outlay of Rs 26,275 crore with the bulk going to equip forces to tackle troubles in Jammu and Kashmir, north-east and naxal-infested states. Under the scheme, provisions have been made for expenditure on internal security, law and order, adoption of modern technology, assisting states for narcotics control and strengthening the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in the country. The approval for extension came following the initiative taken by Home Minister Amit Shah to "modernise and improve" the functioning of police forces of states and union territories, an official statement said on Sunday. Read more: Women in police 'abysmally' low, set up 1 all-women PS in each district: Parliamentary panel A central outlay of Rs 18,839 crore has been earmarked for security related expenditure for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency affected north-eastern states and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas. For modernising state police forces, Rs 4,846 crore has been earmarked while another Rs 2,080.50 crore has been approved for developing "operationally independent high-quality forensic sciences facilities" in states and union territories for aiding scientific and timely investigation. A central outlay of Rs 350 crore has been approved for raising of India Reserve Battalions/Specialised India Reserve Battalions while Assistance to States and Union Territories for Narcotics Control, which is being continued, will get Rs 50 crore. Besides this, to implement the National Policy and Action Plan for combating LWE, which has resulted in a decrease in naxal violence, six LWE related schemes with a central outlay of Rs 8,689 crore have been approved. These schemes include Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Most LWE Affected Districts and Districts of Concern to consolidate the gains Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs led by senior Congress MP Anand Sharma has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to put the information in public domain about the states that are leading and lagging in the modernisation process. "This will create a sense of competition and put pressure on the States lagging behind to perform better. The Committee also observes that the issues behind the under-utilisation of funds by the States also need to be identified," the report 'Police - Training, Modernisation, Reforms' tabled in Parliament last week said. It has suggested that the MHA should consider constituting a committee which can visit the underperforming states and assist/advise/persuade them to "utilise the funds in a planned manner, otherwise the situation in these states may take a long time to show improvements". The panel also recommended that the MHA consider re-inclusion of "mobility and construction of police infrastructure including housing" under the 'Assistance to States for Modernisation of Police'. This will help in increasing the number of vehicles for operational needs and also improving the housing satisfaction level of police personnel. Watch the latest DH videos: Records related to alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, which were being handled by the erstwhile State Human Rights Commission, are locked up in a room since the panel was wound up after the state was downgraded into a Union Territory in August 2019, according to an RTI reply. An application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act was filed by activist Venkatesh Nayak, who had sought to know the number of complaints pending before the commission as on October 31, 2019, when The Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act, 2019 came into force. The reorganisation bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories, which resulted in the winding up of autonomous bodies such as the State Human Rights Commission and the State Information Commission as central laws took over. Also Read | Security forces bust terror module by arresting 7 Al-Badr members from J&K's Baramulla Responding to Nayak's application, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has said it has no information related to the records of the erstwhile panel. In response to his first appeal, the Jammu and Kashmir administration said after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union territories, the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Human Rights Act, 1997 (the State Act) was repealed. With the repeal of the Act, the General Administration Department wound up the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission, it said. "All the records of the commission were locked in a designated room at the office premises of the erstwhile Human Rights Commission, Old Assembly Complex, Srinagar. The employees of the erstwhile commission were deputed and adjusted in different other departments. "The records of the commission were not formally handed over to the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and as such are not accessible to the department," the response said. "As the records of the erstwhile State Human Rights Commission are not accessible or available to the public authority of the department nor are under the control of such authority and the information sought by the appellant is connected to such records, suffice it to say that the required information to this extent is not held by the public authority," it added. Check out latest DH videos here Setting up cyber cells in all districts and cybercrime help desks, mapping of cybercrime spots and establishing specialised cells to monitor darknet as well as recruitment of IT professionals to the police force are among a slew of measures recommended by a Parliamentary panel, as the country faces a surge in cases and cybercriminals adopting new modus operandi. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home, led by senior Congress MP Anand Sharma, said the cybercriminals are actively using the dark web and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) but the police strategies are "still evolving." "No police force can live up to the contemporary challenges without upgrading itself with advanced skills and supplement with adequate resources," the multi-party committee said. Also Read Cops, buck up on cybercrime probes Seven states and union territories Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Goa, Mizoram, Ladakh and Lakshadweep do not have a single cyber cell while Karnataka, which boasts of being the country's Silicon Valley, has just one cyber cell, while Uttar Pradesh has just two. Across India, states have set up 376 cyber cells and 262 social media monitoring cells as of January 1, 2020. Concerned over the rising rate of cyber crimes, the panel said it is important for the police to stay updated on the new modus operandi and technology adopted by criminals and recommended that the Ministry of Home Affairs should ask states to set up cyber cells in all districts. The states should map cyber crime spots, which will help in the quick detection of crimes. The panel also wanted states to upgrade existing cells to set up dark web monitoring cells as well as social monitoring cells. With the investigators not well versed in cyber technology, some states are using the service of external cyber experts and the panel has recommended the induction of technical experts into the police force along with traditional recruitment. "The committee recommends that the MHA may encourage states/UTs to recruit qualified cyber experts/IT professionals to assist in detecting, monitoring, preventing and investigating cybercrimes," the panel said in its report 'Police -- Training, Modernisation, Reforms' tabled in Parliament last week. Also Read Update your Chrome browser now, warns Cert-In While acknowledging the constraints faced by the police in investigating cybercrimes, the panel also recommended creating a volunteer help group of IT experts from the civil society who can contribute to devising methods to track cyber thieves and bring them to justice. Demanding that a specialised training programme on cybercrime be conducted, it said traditional police training is not sufficient to deal with the "tech-savvy" criminals. "Both the Central and state governments need to get together on the same boat, to tackle the growing menace of cybercrime," the report said, emphasising the need for proper training. At present, the National Digital Crime Resource and Training Centre (NDCRTC) at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Academy set up in 2015 is conducting courses for police forces in areas like disc forensics, mobile forensics and call detail records analysis, windows forensics, network forensics, dark web, open-source intelligence, blockchain, social media analysis and investigation of digital payment frauds. So far, the NDCRTC has conducted around 290 courses and trained more than 8,800 officers in the last five years from around two dozen organisations. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea by the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras High Court's order for the CBI probe into suicide of a 17-year-old student, allegedly due to pressure for religious conversion. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi would take up on February 14 the special leave petition filed by the state through the DGP. The state government challenged the validity of orders passed by a single-judge bench of the Madurai bench of the High Court, which also made stinging remarks against the Tamil Nadu government and Thanjavur district police over their attempts to derail the investigation. The petition filed by advocate Joseph Aristotle questioned the order, against the police and the Education Minister who ruled out conversion angle in the case. Also Read | Tamil Nadu schoolgirl dies by suicide; alleges attempted forced conversion in video 'confession' The father of the deceased also filed a caveat urging the top court not to pass any order in the matter without granting him a hearing. The 17-year-old girl, studying at the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti, consumed poison on January 9 and died on January 19 at a hospital. Her video alleging the hostel warden had attempted to convert her to Christianity, had gone viral on social media. The girls father filed the petition on January 21 seeking a CB-CID probe but he, subsequently, sought a probe by CBI. Her case was also raised by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in a PIL in the top court, claiming the Centre and States have failed to control the menace of deceitful religious conversion, though it is their duty under Articles 14, 21, 25 of the Constitution. His PIL sought a direction to the Centre and States to control fraudulent religious conversion and those carried out by intimidation, threat, deceit, and through gifts and monetary benefits. Check out latest DH videos here Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of posing a threat to federalism by thrusting its agenda upon the nation and the latest being the one-nation-one-registration initiative. Opposing the Centres One-nation-one-registration initiative announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, recently, the CM said this latest move, like the new education policy and slogans like one-nation-one-country is nothing but an attempt to turn the country into a unitary state. This will not benefit the people. That is why we are advocating state autonomy for India to flourish, he said and reiterated the DMKs catchphrase autonomy for the state and federalism at the Centre (maanila suyatchi, mathiyil koottatchi). Addressing a virtual election rally at Tiruppur from here, Stalin said he would make this slogan on state autonomy and federalism at the Centre heard all over India. Social justice and state autonomy are the great ideologies that the Dravidian movement gave to this country. I have committed myself to the task of ensuring social justice bloom throughout the country (through the All India Social Justice Federation, which he proposed to launch soon), he said. He had already written to over 50 leaders to be part of the federation and several political parties including the Congress and many state organisations have expressed willingness to participate in the initiative, he said. The next phase of action would begin once the election in the five states get over, Stalin said. He said the Union Government must act in accordance with the federal spirit of the nation and empower states. But federalism is under threat today as the BJP-led government is creating an environment divesting all powers of the states, he alleged. This, he claimed, is evident by the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act and several anti-people policies. Check out DH's latest videos The tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra will complete the full five-year term despite the opposition BJP's attempts to destabilise it, state Congress president Nana Patole said on Sunday. Patole's remarks came days after BJP leader Chandrakant Patil predicted a "political earthquake" in Maharashtra after results of Assembly polls in five states, including crucial Uttar Pradesh, will be declared on March 10. "The BJP dreams of toppling the MVA government every day, but for the last two years, this dream has not been fulfilled. This is the reason behind BJP's frustration. Every few days a new date for the government's fall is being announced, but the fact is that the MVA government is intact and will complete its full five-year term," Patole told reporters. Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan said workers of various parties, including ally NCP and opposition BJP, joined Congress on Sunday. The entry of these workers will strengthen the Congress' base in Jintur, Selu and Kinwat areas in the Marathwada region. He said Rs 80 crore has been allocated for the development of Parbhani city and Rs 50 crore for Selu, also in the Parbhani district. He said since Congress is performing very well in all the five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the BJP has been criticising the party. "The opposition is trying to destabilize the Maharashtra government. But we will not let them succeed. I appeal to Congress workers to strengthen the party's base in Maharashtra," the former chief minister said. Patole and Chavan were speaking to reporters after inducting several workers of BJP, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and AIMIM from Marathwada in the Congress fold at a function organised at the state Congress office in Mumbai. Interestingly, Congress shares power with NCP in the Shiv Sena-led MVA dispensation. The MVA came to power in November, 2019. Selu municipal council president, deputy president and all 24 corporators, Parbhani ZP members as well as corporators from NCP, BJP, AIMIM and other parties from Aurangabad and Nanded districts, and workers and office-bearers of these parties joined the Congress in the presence of Patole and Chavan. Various office-bearers of Parbhani Congress were present. Many workers and local leaders of BJP and NCP from Kinwat and Mahur talukas in Nanded, the home district of Ashok Chavan, also joined Congress. "Leaders of various parties across Maharashtra are crossing over to the Congress party. Many leaders and office-bearers of Nationalist Congress Party and Bharatiya Janata Party are willing to join the Congress," Patole said. He said, unlike other parties, Congress doesn't make any false promises to lure people to join the party. Patole said a large number of workers from other parties are joining the Congress from the Parbhani district. "All those who have joined the Congress today will strengthen the organisation in Parbhani, Nanded and Aurangabad districts," he added. Check out latest DH videos here With just about 5 per cent of Indias 2.8 crore disabled receiving a pension, social workers have demanded widening of the social security net for disabled individuals and recognition of poverty as one of the main barriers for the community to improve their lives. Their demand comes ahead of a major international meeting that doesnt include elimination of poverty and hunger in its agenda while discussing disability issues. The second Global Disability Summit will take place virtually from February 15 to 17 with support from the governments of Norway and Ghana and International Disability Alliance. Experts pointed out that many of the gains made in reducing poverty and increasing equality and literacy over the last few decades were lost due to Covid-19 and persons with disabilities are high among the populations affected adversely by the pandemic. Despite this, the global discourse on disability does not recognise poverty and hunger as major barriers for persons with disabilities, Disability and Development Consortium, a non-governmental organisation, said in a statement. Unlike the governments food (ration) and employment (MNREGA) support that are governed by laws, there is no legislative back up behind the social support in the form of a pension. As a result, the amount of disability pension remains low and almost stagnant over the last 15 years with diminishing value, said activist and social worker Aruna Roy. The standard poverty indicators, explained economist Jean Dreze, did not take into consideration the special needs of a disabled person. If one takes into account the expenses due to disability, the poverty rate among the disabled shot up to 47 per cent, he added. The experts pointed out that the central government largely abdicated its responsibility in providing social security to the disabled individuals and the pension they receive largely comes from state governments funds. Check out latest DH videos here 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. 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. 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. These findings are published in Astronomy & Astrophysics journal. "The discovery shows that our closest stellar neighbour seems to be packed with interesting new worlds, within reach of further study and future exploration," said Joao Faria, a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco, Portugal, in a statement. Proxima d 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 system 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. At just a quarter of the mass of Earth, Proxima d is also the lightest exoplanet ever measured using the radial velocity technique, surpassing a planet recently discovered in the L 98-59 planetary system. Watch the latest DH Videos here: In the first big auction season of the year in March, Christies is set to offer the seminal collection of Indian art belonging to the influential Indian-American couple, Mahinder and Sharad Tak. The sale, titled The Visionary Collection of Mahinder and Sharad Tak, will be part of the South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art live auction by Christies in New York on March 23 during Asian Art Week, when important auctions and exhibitions of Asian art are held in the Big Apple. Though the total number of works on offer in the sale has not been disclosed yet, the preview of the auction has already begun. A selection of works was shown in London earlier this month, while private viewings will be held in Mumbai between February 20 and 25. The final preview of the select works will be held just days before the sale, in New York from March 18 to 22. The collection has been put together by the couple over the past half-century and has become one of the most important Indian art collections in North America. We are honoured to be able to offer a selection of works from their storied collection for sale this spring, said Nishad Avari, head of sale, South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art at Christies. Highlights include major paintings by Bhupen Khakhar, Manjit Bawa, Arpita Singh and Sayed Haider Raza with impressive exhibition histories, appearing at auction for the first time. The most important highlight of the upcoming auction is a 1984 oil on canvas by Bhupen Khakhar (1934-2004), titled The Banyan Tree. It is estimated to be between $1,800,000 and $2,500,000 (approximately Rs 13.5 crore and Rs 18.8 crore). At that estimate, it is likely to set the auction record for self-taught Khakhar, who is widely regarded as Indias first pop artist. Untitled (Devi) by Manjit Bawa (1941-2008), a 1993 oil on canvas is also one of the top-billed works on offer. It is estimated to fetch between $600,000 and $800,000 (approximately Rs 4.5 crore and Rs 6 crore). Other important lots on offer include major paintings by the countrys evergreen popular masters such as SH Raza, MF Husain, Arpita Singh, Rameshwar Broota, Jogen Chowdhury and Jagadish Swaminathan to name some, all of whom are or were great friends of the collectors. Mahinder and Sharad Tak are well-known as philanthropists and are the leading members of the strong Indian-American community in the US. Mahinder is a radiation oncologist who also served in the US Army and retired as a colonel. An MBBS from Lady Hardinge College, Delhi, she moved to the US to specialise in radiation (oncology). She was soon married to Sharad Tak, an electrical engineering graduate from IIT-Bombay who received a Master of Science in computer science from the University of Buffalo. The duo has been involved in fund-raising campaigns for prominent Americans such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former president Barack Obama. The couples home in Bethesda, Maryland, is renowned for housing works by the Whos Who of modern Indian art. (The writer is a New Delhi-based editor, writer and arts consultant) Watch the latest DH videos: Indias GDP growth rate has been slowing consistently since 2016, thanks to consistent economic policy mistakes made by the Union government, starting with demonetisation. It hurt the non-farm unorganised sector MSMEs, as it hurt agriculture (third year running, after two years of drought in 2014 and 2015). Between them, these sectors are responsible for over 80 per cent of Indias employment. Poor planning and hurried implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the mid-2017 also did the same. Further, the falling absolute levels of merchandise exports in US dollar value each year (from 2013-14 to 2018-19), a first since 1991, destroyed jobs, including the unorganised sector, which accounts for 40 per cent of exports. The result was not just falling aggregate demand and GDP growth. The absolute number of unemployed also rose to 30 million, from 10 million in 2012. This was a 45-year high, two years before the Covid-19 outbreak. Poor management by the Centre during the pandemic added almost 10 million unemployed to the 30 million in just two years. The Modi government had promised the youth two crore new jobs annually. Asked about this in early 2019, when employment was at a 45-year high, the prime ministers answers were typically dilatory and diversionary. Also read: Not right to say govt has not done anything on job front, says Nirmala Sitharaman He claimed, as he did recently in Parliament, that jobs rose because Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) enrollments rose. One big limitation of EPFO-based payroll data is the absence of data on unique existing subscribers (or contributors). Employees keep leaving and rejoining new places of work. This is the main reason for large and continuous revisions in EPFO enrolment. The government cannot claim that these are additions to jobs; it cant even claim an increase in formal jobs since it is impossible to estimate net annual additions. Next, the PM claimed that Mudra loans to individuals created jobs. The government has relied upon Mudra Yojana to get banks to hand out loans to small borrowers. In 2018, when the economy was stagnating, Mudra was publicised as a job-generation scheme. Modi said in Parliament, We gave loans to 13 crore (130 million) youngsters through the Mudra scheme. The reality is revealed by the government's own Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data. These loans are obviously given to self-employed people, which is a vulnerable form of informal employment. Between 2017 and 2020, the worker participation rate (i.e., share of working age actually working, especially for males) stagnated. Most Mudra loans are for males, and the share of those self-employed among men fell. In other words, in absolute terms, the self-employed fell: so Mudra proved useless in creating jobs. From 4.35 per cent of Mudra advances in 2016-17, bad loans shot up to 9.3 per cent in FY19, as political parties organised camps to canvass loans for their supporters. In 2019-20, Uttar Pradesh was the second-largest in sanctions, while Bihar was well ahead of Gujarat and neck and neck with Maharashtra. Finally, a third claim by the PM runs as follows. In response to a question about Indias job crisis, Modi asked his interviewer: "If a man selling pakoras outside (your) TV office takes home Rs 200 at the end of the day, is that not employment?" (January 2018) Also read: India witnessing 'great churn' in its labour force The PM believes that earning Rs 6,000 a month for a family of five should suffice. If we project the official poverty line of India to 2019-20, the income for a family of five would be Rs 7,340. That would still mean "selling pakoras" yields earnings 18 per cent below the urban poverty line income, and even less than the lower rural poverty line (monthly spending). The Union Budget proposes to create six million jobs over the next five years, presumably through a combination of the capital expenditure undertaken by it last year and in FY23 and the Performance-Linked Incentive Scheme initiated in 2021. The following should demonstrate how seriously the government underestimates the job challenge: Some 5-6 million youth join the labour force looking for work each year. Second, there are already about 40 million openly unemployed, who have reasonable levels of education. Third, there was already surplus labour in agriculture in early 2020. Covid factor To the 200 million, another 32 million were added as that number reverse-migrated to villages to escape from Covid. This reversed a trend in place for 15 years. Starting in 2004, for the first time since independence, non-farm job growth had pulled enough workers out of agriculture to reduce the absolute number of farm workers. Finally, there are the underemployed, who dont find enough work (40 hours a week), although they are willing and looking for work. The Centre, when criticised for ignoring or being ignorant of the monumental challenge responds: "Unemployment existed before we came, has always existed, and why did the previous regimes not solve it?" Fair enough. But this government inherited only 10 million unemployed; the number is now 40 million. It inherited only 2.1 per cent unemployed; why was it 6.1 per cent in 2018? The previous government was creating 7.5 million new non-farm jobs and reduced the absolute number of workers dependent on agriculture a defining characteristic of structural change India must go through. The employment rate (or share of the working population in the total population, which is constantly rising) has fallen from nearly 43 per cent in 2016 (already low by global standards) to 37 per cent in just four years. And despite the much-touted Make in India, why have manufacturing jobs another feature of structural change in a developing economy fallen by nearly half, from 51 to 27 million, in a matter of four years? Also read: Only 25 per cent workers found working at MGNREGA sites in Jharkhand: Audit report Ripple effect The ripple effects of growing unemployment are multiple. First, absolute poverty had increased for the first time by at least 15 million between 2014 and 2020; more became poorer since Covid. Second, this depresses private consumption (56 per cent of GDP), which reduces aggregate demand for all goods. Governments can take actions to create jobs. First, fill vacant posts of teachers in government schools/universities, for doctors and nurses, for police and judges. Second, immediately initiate an urban employment guarantee programme in small cities. Third, allocate more funds to state governments for capital expenditure, so they can create local infrastructure, which is more labour-intensive than the Centres capital expenditure on national infrastructure. Fourth, the Centre needs to come up with a horizontal strategy for labour-intensive manufacturing, focused on MSMEs, to supplement its Performance-linked Incentives for capital-intensive ones. Finally, more and effective spending on cluster development for Indias 6,500 clusters will support jobs in MSMEs. (Santosh Mehrotra is Research Fellow, IZA Institute of Labour Economics, Bonn, and former Director General of Planning Commissions research institute; Tuhinsubhra Giri is a JNU Phd) Check out DH's latest videos The hijab controversy could not have come at a worse time for Karnatakas students. The annual examinations are just two months away, and this period is when a large chunk of the syllabus is covered and exam preparations are underway. Experts say such incidents are bound to affect children, especially those from marginalised communities. Developmental Educationist Dr VP Niranjanaradhya said that it was natural that such developments will impact the students in schools and colleges. The impact will be two-fold - psychological and academic, he said. While psychological aspects could trigger anxiety and emotional responses ahead of time, academically they could struggle to learn topics that they were supposed to. The phenomenon will not be restricted to children in regions where protests have taken place. "All students will be anxious. However, those who were involved will be more anxious," he said, accusing the state government of victimising the children using politics. Also read: Politics over dress code blights students' lives He feared that Muslim girls could be the worst hit as there were chances that their family could ask them to stop education. "The students too could fear physical and mental harassment," he said, adding that they were more vulnerable compared to others. A H Almas, one of the six students from Government Girls PU College, Udupi where the first protest demanding hijab took place said that the month-long protests have taken a toll. Recently, she alleged that her number along with that of five other protesting girls were leaked by the college. "I am under so much mental harassment that I am unable to study," she said. Noting that just a month was left for final exams, Shruthi (name changed), a student of Government PU College, Rabkavi Banhatti, Bagalkot district, lamented that unnecessary politics was eating into the limited time available. "College is yet to complete the syllabus. and there is a teacher shortage. No one is protesting for these issues," she said. Many of her classmates, she said, were anxious and worried about their performance in the exams. "Such unnecessary incidents take a toll," Shruthi added. Students from colleges of Mandya worry that they are losing confidence in their studies. Armugam, a final year BA student from Mandya, says that though he is preparing to write exams in March he is not able to concentrate. "I am finding it difficult to see my own friends fighting against each other," he said. A lecturer of an aided college worries that learning will go for a toss due to the issue. "We are worried about our students' future as their focus has turned towards identity politics," he said, adding that the issue will have a rippling effect. DH reached out to several professors from state run universities for their views on the issue. They refused to comment. Check out DH's latest videos Over the past week, the notion of college has changed for Shanmukha (name changed) and his friends. What once was a place of learning has become a divided house. He says of the 105 students in his class, 50 started sporting saffron stoles from February 4, protesting against the hijab-wearing Muslim students. By February 7, all five Muslim classmates (both male and female) stopped attending college. Those students who were neutral were also offered stoles and asked to join the march against the hijab. I accepted the stole as I didn't want to hurt my friends, but I slipped it into the bag and went straight into the classroom as wearing it would mean opposing the rights of my Muslim friends," says this final year degree student in Mandya Government College. But what bewilders Shanmukha is the sudden transformation of his friends, who turned aggressive campaigners overnight. "In all these years, we haven't even demanded improving infrastructure in the college, forget campaigns," he says. Like some other educational institutions in Karnataka, this college has seen a sudden burst of student activism in the last ten days centred around the hijab issue. Read more: US says ban on hijab violates religious freedom Shanmukhas classmate Rajesh (name changed), who wore the saffron robe, justifies his action: Our classmates never wore the hijab before. They started only after the Udupi incident and I feel it affects the harmony in college. He refers to the six students of Government Women's PU College in Udupi, who have been fighting to attend classes wearing the hijab since last December. Most Muslim women will remain illiterate if the Court or government makes it mandatory to remove hijab in classrooms, says A H Almas, a science student and one of the six girls protesting from Udupi. We are asked to choose between faith and studies. When the constitution allows us to practise both, why are we being told to choose one? she asked. More than a month after the Udupi incident, on February 2, the Government PU College, Kundapur witnessed a group of students wearing saffron stoles to oppose hijab-wearing Muslim students in the name of competing rights. In a weeks time several colleges across the state saw Hindu students confronting their hijab-wearing Muslim college mates by sporting saffron stoles. There was a build up to what started in Udupi, where a Muslim party is coming into prominence as a response to the communal tension spread by the right-wing politics. The Udupi incident is driven by local politics. Those who sensed an electoral opportunity perpetuated it. Now it has become a religious symbol vs a political symbol, says A Narayana, professor, Azim Premji University. It is difficult to see a pattern in its spread to other places but its escalation was expected given the aggressive Hindutva politics that the ruling BJP in Karnataka is increasingly relying on, he says. Also read: Hijab row: Decision on reopening PU and degree colleges likely on Feb 14, says Karnataka Minister Reports of saffron stoles being distributed in different colleges only substantiates this view. For instance, reports indicate that leaders of a Hindu fringe group are responsible for the demonstration at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College in Udupi, where saffron petas were used to protest against hijab. Opposition parties have alleged that in Shivamogga and Sagara, the son of a minister distributed stoles to the students. Many students who wore the stoles have no clarity about their fight or what would be the outcome of these protests. The Campus Front of India (CFI), the student outfit of Social Democratic Party of India, has been vocal on providing legal and moral support to the protesting girls in Udupi. We are a student body and whats wrong in supporting students? CFI state president Athaulla Punjalkatte asks. Students wearing saffron stoles in protest against hijab was a game played by pro-BJP outfits to mislead the court and build a false narrative, he says. The campaign against hijab-wearing Muslim girls took a vicious turn on February 8 in Shivamogga, Bagalkot and Mandya. Saffron-clad male students heckled a hijab-wearing student at PES degree college in Mandya, while confrontations in the other two districts turned violent. On February 9, the state government announced holidays for colleges and Classes 9 and 10. The first victims of the dress code row and the hate campaign are government and aided colleges. The principal of a college where the protest unfolded is in despair when he says they are forced to tabulate the number of students from each community after the incident. Some colleges have taken certain steps. The incident came as a rude shock to us. Ours is a truly democratic institution and we cant allow such incidents to happen at any cost. The first step we took was to counsel 15-20 students who were instigated by outsiders, says K S Vijay Anand, chairman of the PES Degree college. Young minds DH spoke to 30 students from different communities in Mandya, including those from colleges which witnessed this communal politics which is largely alien to the district. While a majority of them are confused and just want to return to a normal college life, irrespective of who wears what, some Hindu students both girls and boys do have a new-found resentment for hijab. Muslim students both female and male say they are not able to comprehend the situation and do not know how to respond to the development. M Veena, principal of Sahyadri Commerce College & Management, Shivamogga is of the view that students of the college are influenced by protests that broke out in Udupi district against the hijab. Most of the students who protested were first year students and they sought permission to wear saffron stoles in classrooms, as Muslim girls are allowed to attend classes wearing hijab. I tried to convince them that the government issued an order banning both. Later, I also asked Muslim girls not to wear burqa or hijab in classrooms. But they were determined to wear hijab citing it is their fundamental right. One of the parents of a Muslim student arrived at the college and promised that their children would abide by the college rule, she says. The Muslim students have been wearing hijab in classrooms for the past several years. There was no objection then, she says. Read more: Shabana Azmi blows holes into Kangana Ranaut's hijab row argument Murthy Bheemarao, State coordinator of Bharathiya Vidyarthi Sangha, argues that the protests of the magnitude witnessed in the state against hijab is impossible to be organised by the students alone. This definitely has larger political backing. What is unfortunate is that the students are being divided in the name of religion. Will they be able to go back to classrooms and face their friends after this clash? he asks. Bengaluru-based lawyer Vinay Sreenivasa says, There are several issues here; the first being a certain kind of majoritarianism. This will have a deep impact. Earlier, they were just students and classmates. Now they will start seeing with a communal lens. The government must answer why they let the situation reach this stage. Yashpal Suvarna, vice-president of Government Womens PU College, Udupi, argues that wearing the hijab is not a religious practice. Muslim men are forcing Muslim women to wear it. Muslim women want to be free like women from other communities but they are put in the cage with many restrictions. Many educated Muslims support the BJP as they are happy with the Centres stand against triple talaq, he says. Suvarna, who is eyeing a BJP ticket from neighbouring Kaup in the upcoming Assembly election, says he never tried to make it a political issue. Some communal forces, including CFI, made it a big issue. This is being done to portray India as anti-Muslim and get international funding for their activities, he says. Political analyst Muzzaffar Assadi says that the issue has now garnered international attention. We should read it from an international perspective. This will be used to project India as a country where the rights of women and the minorities are hindered, he says. Political awareness Reactionary protests have coloured the lives of these students. Without clarity or a strong democratic foundation, the youth wings of larger political parties only serve to provoke students to serve a larger political agenda. This is making us hollow ideologically, as there is no awareness of the democratic set up, diversity and the struggles for a just society. Without proper awareness and knowledge dissemination, we fail to understand the importance of discussions and discourses, and are provoked by the slightest trigger, says Rudresh Mourya, a Bangalore University student who is associated with Students Federation of India. The current protests have shown the volatile nature of students engagement with politics. Social media has only aggravated the situation. The parties which have successfully played politics by creating a sense of insecurity and a narrative of injustice are now employing this strategy to politicise educational institutions. The society as a whole has failed to create constitutional and political awareness in young minds, says A Narayana. While the parents of Muslim students are hoping that the current situation will not keep the girl children away from schools, parents of the Hindu students are perplexed to see the sudden aggressiveness in their children and wish that this will not have adverse effects on their future. As the controversy continues with politics at its core, students are waiting for the court judgment. And their parents feel the need for a social solution. (With inputs from Akram Mohammad, Shruthi H M Sastry in Bengaluru and Nrupathunga S K in Shivamogga) Convection in the equatorial region had temporarily slowed down over the past 24 hours until mid-day today. This type of variation in activity is quite common. But now activity has started again with an increased in convective clouds in the monsoon trough. The tropical depression located to the northeast of St Brandon has picked up strength over the last few hours and has now reached the Moderate Tropical storm intensity. It has therefore been named Dumako. It is moving in a general west-southwesterly direction at about 25 km/h. At 1900 hours it was located at about 145 km almost to the North of St Brandon. While moving in a west-southwesterly trajectory, it is expected to pass at about 130 km to the north of the Island tonight. 2. Evolution of the weather systems for the next three days a. Most weather models agree that MTS Dumako will continue to move in a west-southwesterly track for the next 24 hours. The system will then move towards the west heading towards Madagascar. MTS Dumako does not represent a direct threat to Mauritius. b. A low pressure is evolving far to the southeast of Diego Garcia. Another marked low is evolving in the Australian area of responsibility. Both of these systems are likely to intensify. However, models are not consistent regarding the intensity and displacement of the above two systems. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Goa will vote on Valentines Day this year and what will be put to test is its love for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power in the tiny coastal state for the past 10 years. As the D-Day draws closer, the election spotlight appears to have veered away from the relatively new players in the states political arena like the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress, with the ruling BJP and the Congress once again emerging as the two horses leading the race to power in Goa. The February 14 assembly polls will see the BJP contesting all the 40 seats for the first time in the state assembly elections. But the BJPs decision to dip their fingers in all the constituency pies, need not necessarily be construed as a measure of confidence within its ranks. The ruling BJP had won just 13 seats with a vote share of 32.48% in the 2017 state assembly elections. The BJP had a lacklustre performance despite the fact that the states former Chief Minister and the partys chief strategist, Manohar Parrikar, was the Union Defence Minister at the time and at the forefront of its election campaign. Also Read | Congress will cross majority mark in Goa, act immediately to form government: Rahul Gandhi Ahead of the 2022 state assembly elections, however, the BJP appears to be weighed down, not only by the anti-incumbency factor, but also the raging dissent within the party over imported candidates. The absence of Manohar Parrikar, who passed away in 2019, is being felt by the party, which has been left red-faced with a series of rebellions. The most high-profile rebels are Parrikars own son Utpal and former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who are contesting the Panaji and Mandrem assembly seats, respectively, as independent candidates. According to BJPs Goa election in-charge Devendra Fadnavis, the party had not discarded Utpal, but the son of the late leader himself had quit it. Utpal Parrikar was not denied a ticket. We have given him the option to contest in two constituencies. One of them was a traditional BJP bastion, but he wanted to contest from Panaji in particular. He rejected both assembly constituencies. We are sad that he is not with us, Fadnavis said. The Congress, which had won 17 seats in 2017, was pushed into a desperate corner, as 15 of its MLAs left it over the past five years. The party is now contesting for 37 assembly seats and appears to have found a fresh burst of energy ahead of the final leg of campaigning, with 80% of its candidates being new faces. It has allied with the Goa Forward Party. The Congress has adapted to the demands of the people. We have given 80% tickets to the newcomers, we have kept defectors at bay and ensured that traitors within the party are thrown out, claimed state Congress president Girish Chodankar. Also Read | Modi distracting people of Goa from real issues: Rahul The Congress also allotted a large chunk of tickets to new faces, because its old guard jumped ship in scattered bunches not just to the BJP, but other parties too like the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress. While the AAP and the TMC, with their aggressive political recruitment and social media presence, had threatened to make considerable inroads into the anti-BJP vote share, the two parties appear to have gone off the boil in the final stretch of the campaign. Both parties seem to have the edge in one or two constituencies out of the 40 assembly constituencies which go to poll. The AAP and the TMC, however, can claim credit for setting the tone for the 2022 assembly election campaign, thanks to the long list of freebies, which the two parties sought to lure the voters with. The AAP is going into the polls alone, while the TMC is in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party led by the wily Dhavalikar brothers, Sudin and Deepak. While the AAP promised free electricity, unemployment doles to voters, the Trinamool Congress followed suit with unemployment doles as well as financial doles for women and low interest loans for youth. Also read: Modi targets Nehru, Congress over delayed liberation of Goa The freebie bonanza frenzy initiated by both parties, also forced the mainstream parties, the Congress and the BJP, to make similar promises. The Congress has promised to extend the Nyay scheme which allocates Rs. 6,000 per month to economically backward families, the BJP has promised three LPG cylinders free-of-cost to domestic consumers annually. The other dark horse in the fray is the nativist Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), which is making its debut in the elections. Founded by 37-year-old Manoj Parab, the outfit has made preservation of Goan identity as its main poll plank based on key poll promises like reservation of land and jobs for native sons of the soil. Set against the backdrop of unemployment, the RGP, which has gained sizeable traction in both the Hindu and Catholic youngsters, is contesting in 38 assembly seats. While the party does not appear to have gained the critical mass to win seats, its maiden presence has triggered anxiety over which mainstream partys vote bank it is likely to breach. Check out DH's latest videos My first date with her went awry. It was too confusing! How to react? What happens on a date with a woman? How do I keep her interested? What should I talk about? All these questions were on my mind, laughs Aarti*, a 32-year-old tech-support executive from Bengaluru, recalling her first date with a woman. That first meeting was indeed awkward, but there were enough sparks between the two of them to meet again. The maturity and intellect didnt match which is exactly what I fell for, Aarti says of her girlfriend, who is older than her by 10 years. She admits that she had always been attracted to people from different genders and was always curious about what it would be like to date a woman. Aarti installed Bumble, a dating app, and casually swiped right on a few women without really knowing what she was expecting. Unlike Aarti, her date was experienced and confident and knew what she wanted. The two of them arent exactly together, but for Aarti, its good enough for now. Her casual exploration of a different relationship was exactly the change she had been seeking in her life. She is that change I wanted. We dont have many romantic gestures between us, but I feel there is some romance that has lasted for a while now. I dont identify myself as a person who is only attracted to women but people (irrespective of their gender). Would she be open to meeting more women? Absolutely, winks Aarti, who likes to keep it fun and light for now. But fun and light are not words Priyank*, who recently came out as gay, likes to use. The 30-year-old isnt dating anyone in particular right now. But Priyank often uses apps like Grindr or Tinder to meet others from the community. Before the pandemic struck, many LGBTQ+ people met at bars or restaurants or at events organised by the LGBTQ+ groups in cities. Or you could also travel to seek romance. I was recently in Goa where the gay community was strong and tight with a great sense of friendship and romance all mixed in together, says Priyank. Love is love An event is where Raga Olga DSilva, London-based entrepreneur and co-founder of Speaking Minds, met her partner, Nicola Fenton, in New Zealand years ago. We started talking then and havent stopped talking since! Raga chuckles. Now living in the UK, Raga has been with Nicola for nearly 16 years and recently proposed to Nicola on stage during the Masala Podcast show. Nicolas response to the proposal, which was recorded live, is classic. Log kya kahenge? she replied, drawing peals of laughter. The couple is due for a summer wedding later this year. And they intend to celebrate by walking 100 km on the classic Camino de Santago trail in Spain. How do they keep the romance alive after all these years? We have been dating for 15+ years. We never stopped dating! We make an effort to date. Its not that dating should end just because you have fallen in love. When we go on a date, and we do that often, we make it a point to talk about ourselves not the groceries, bills, or the children. As a couple, we take that conscious decision that you have to give time, says Raga. Doing things together comes naturally to them. They go on long hikes into the woods, where they have passionate discussions on politics and try to create as many experiences together as possible. Ragas children from her previous marriage adore Nicola. Her ex-husband is supportive, and Raga says he remains a part of their extended family. Do Raga and Nicola fight at all? We do fight a lot. Just like any other couple! Raga exclaims. But the key that keeps them together is that their value system is the same. Both of them are committed to creating a world of compassion, where all love is simply that: love. Love is something that Priyank confesses he is still seeking. Hook-ups are common, but what about romance? Ive barely had a couple of short relationships. Both of them involved dealing with my partners own slightly traumatic histories, he says. But he observes that class divides can blur and become weaker among gays. Recently, in Mumbai, I was alone getting a drink when the server spotted Grindr on my phone and approached me. I waited seven hours at the bar for his shift to end, and we went on to get dinner and spent a lot of time together. Dating apps all the way One thing that both Aarti and Priyank had in common was their use of a dating app. With physical meet-ups being rare due to Covid-19, many from the LGBTQ+ community use dating apps now more than ever before. Sunali Aggarwal created As You Are or Aya, a queer dating app, to solve one of the communitys biggest challenges: safety. Aya manually verifies profiles and offers unique features such as a group chat with interest-based groups and a community platform called WE. For Sunali, the app is more than just meeting dating needs. Its about building an ecosystem for the community to thrive. Sunali is a passionate advocate for the LGTBQ+ community, and while she admits that theres a lot to be done, there are small changes that do make her happy. Our activists, artists, and filmmakers have been very vocal about LGBTQ+, and thats leading to a lot of awareness. You won't see people dying of a heart attack on seeing an LGBTQ couple engage in PDA! For her, romance is natural, but difficult to pursue solely on dating apps. But its fun to see how some couples are living together. I heard one story where two women lived together as cousins so that their landlord did not bother them. But after Section 377, they told their parents and the landlord, and eventually, everyone came to terms with it. It has been three years since the Supreme Court struck down Article 377 a red-letter day for the LGBTQ+ community in India. Are there enough representations of queer love? Not at all, Sunali says. Going down on both knees to propose is an image that you imagine only between a man and woman. Thanks to our movies, its difficult to modify this visual to something between two queer people! Marriage between people of the same sex is still illegal in India. But while Raga and Nicola plan their wedding in the UK, marriage is not something on Priyanks mind. Not just yet. I have seldom thought about marriage, he admits. For him, its more about finding a partner for what he calls the day-to-day stuff. One thing I appreciate about the gay community is that friends can become lovers, and lovers can stay friends. Things feel more fluid, he says. Aarti is still flirting with the idea of queer love to consider a more serious relationship. A game of hide-n-seek For Raga, dating can be a beautiful world if your perception of dating is that it brings joy, fun, and magic. Dating in India for the LGBTQ+ community is often a game a game of hide-and-seek. I know of those who had to hide. Or introduce their partner as their best friend. When Nicola and I were dating in India, we often had to create stories to not get a twin bed, she chuckles. Richa Vashista, a therapist working at the intersections of gender and sexuality, says: It can be very challenging if either party is still in the closet. Straight couples may vent about their relationships to their friends or family members. However, it can be difficult to get that support if queer people are not out to their social circle and/or their partner isnt out yet. This could make them seek out social support from other queer individuals or turn to each other for support. This can make them more empathetic and compassionate and they are also able to communicate better with each other to resolve conflict. In the LGBTQ+ community, while romance can be still romance, it often comes with a caveat. Richa Vashista notes that unless a partner identifies as aromantic, most people consider romance an important part of the relationship. Each couple has their own little rituals or ideas of romance whether it is sending good morning texts to each other, sharing a cup of tea together in the evening, going on weekly dates, or bringing each other flowers. Even in India, many gay and lesbian couples have their own ideas of romance, but they may not be able to make open or public displays of romance due to social pressure, Richa explains. Romance isnt high on Priyanks list, like Aarti. Gay romance for me was an alien concept until recently, Priyank confesses. Romance was very rarely a part of the equation for me. It took me a long while to realise that I can date men in a relaxed way. For Priyank, romance is finding a feeling of safety in the other person, which Aarti echoes. That safety is what Sunali is trying to create with Aya. Safety. Freedom. Space. Whats the difference? Because thats the common message from all: romance in the LGBTQ+ community is about creating a safe space one where they can express their love freely in all the ways they want to. And perhaps, have a lot of fun while doing so. Some names have been changed on request. Ukraines president has played down intensified warnings of a possible Russian invasion within days, saying he has yet to see convincing evidence. Volodymyr Zelenskys comments came even as the US warned of more Russian troops pressing closer to Ukraines borders and some airlines cancelled or diverted flights to the country. The White House said US President Joe Biden would talk later on Sunday with Mr Zelensky. Valentyna Konstantynovska, 79, holds a weapon during basic combat training for civilians, organised by Ukraines National Guard in the Donetsk region The Ukrainian leaders repeated statements urging calm among his people while Russian forces surround his country on three sides in what Russia insists are military exercises grew this weekend, with Mr Zelensky questioning strident warnings from US officials in recent days that Russia could be planning to invade as soon as the middle of next week. The US picked up intelligence that Russia was looking at Wednesday as a target date, according to a United States official familiar with the findings. Were not going to give Russia the opportunity to conduct a surprise here, to spring something on Ukraine or the world, Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, told CNN on Sunday, about the United States warnings. We are going to make sure that we are laying out for the world what we see as transparently and plainly as we possibly can, he said. An instructor in Kyiv shows a woman how to use a Kalashnikov assault rifle The US has largely not made public the evidence it says is underlying its most specific warnings on possible Russian planning or timing. The Russians have deployed missile, air, naval and special operations forces, as well as supplies to sustain an invasion. This week, Russia moved six amphibious assault ships into the Black Sea, augmenting its capability to land on the coast. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday that Russia had well over 100,000 troops along Ukraines borders, and actually, over the last few days, even more. Mr Kirby cited a mosaic of intelligence the US had gathered, but gave no details. We have good sources of intelligence and theyre telling us that, you know, that things are sort of building now to some crescendo opportunity for Mr Putin, he said. Mr Zelenskys comments this weekend indicated frustration at the warnings from Washington, as he tried to minimise damage to Ukraines economy during the crisis. We understand all the risks, we understand that there are risks, he said in a live broadcast. If you, or anyone else, has additional information regarding a 100% Russian invasion starting on the 16th, please forward that information to us. In an hour-long call on Saturday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Biden said an invasion of Ukraine would cause widespread human suffering and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but equally prepared for other scenarios, the White House said. It offered no suggestion that the call had diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe. US President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday Reflecting the Wests concerns, Dutch airline KLM has cancelled flights to Ukraine until further notice, the company said. And the Ukrainian charter airline SkyUp said on Sunday that its flight from Madeira, Portugal, to Kyiv was diverted to the Moldovan capital of Chisinau after the planes Irish lessor said it was banning flights in Ukrainian airspace. Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov told The Associated Press that Ukraine has not closed its airspace. But Ukraines air traffic safety agency Ukraerorukh issued a statement declaring the airspace over the Black Sea to be a zone of potential danger and recommended that planes avoid flying over the sea between February 14 and 19. The Putin/Biden conversation, following a call between Mr Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Department of Foreign Affairs statement on Ukraine travel advice Statement Following intensive consultations overnight and this morning with EU partners in Kyiv and Brussels, and with other partners, the Department of Foreign Affairs has upgraded travel advice for Ukraine. We advise against all travel to Ukraine and ask citizens currently in Ukraine to leave immediately by commercial means. The updated travel advice is at dfa.ie/travel. Any Irish citizens requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs at +353 1 4082000. In common with the Embassies of partner states, the Embassy of Ireland in Kyiv will remain open, with a small number of essential staff remaining. That situation will be kept under review. The Department has been in direct contact with all of those scheduled to travel to Ukraine for surrogacy purposes in recent days. The Department will continue to provide support to each of these individuals and families with advice relevant to their particular situation. We remain in ongoing contact at senior level with EU partners, as well as the UK and the US, regarding the wider political and security situation in and around Ukraine. ENDS Press Office 12 February 2022 Previous Item | Next Item Mozilla has decided to end its long crusade against Meta and its privacy policies, choosing to instead partner with the company over preserving online user safety.Well, I cant say that Im surprised; a big part of 2020, the Me Too movement, and my childhood years with my relatives was realizing that literally every single entity in the world inherently possesses the ability to disappoint and let you down. There are articles that can be found on this very tech journal, penned by me praising Mozilla for its active criticism and private investigations against social media platforms owned by tech giant Meta. I wasnt the only one either, since Mozilla had actively employed the general populace in many of its researches and investigations, hoping to land a firm hand against the company in terms of its practices against its own community. Between Frances Haugen and her leaked documents circling in, along with reprimands from multiple different countries, the time seemed ripe to finally reprimand Meta for its sins in a much more permanent matter than an inconsequential Congressional hearing. Of course, nothing of the sort happened and now Mozilla is actively partnering with what it had set out to destroy.The reasons behind this partnership sound noble enough. In a blog post, Mozilla revealed that it has been at work with a team from Meta, looking to integrate a new form of conversion measurement for advertisements on the latters platforms. Labelled the Interoperable Private Attribution, or IPA, advertisers can now measure the impact that their campaigns have across the likes of Facebook and Instagram, but without directly broaching user privacy. IPAs intend on doing so by creating aggregates of information; instead of individual browsers sending online history and user interactions to some third party company, averages will be calculated across multiple devices and that mean data will be provided. All sounds like a brilliant idea, if not for one tiny, minuscule issue. The company that Mozilla is partnering with is Meta.Id only ever trust Meta as far as I could throw it, and considering how Meta is either a massive brick building or just a metaphysical concept denoting said building, the overall result is not that far at all. I have absolutely no doubt that Meta will either find a new loophole, or actively ignore the usage of IPA, leaving Mozilla back at square one; or rather, even further back as the company has managed to lose a lot of the goodwill that it built up attempting to combat Facebook.Read next: Meta Tries to Tackle Radicalization With New Redirect Initiative Nearly two years into the the pandemic many are feeling COVID-19 fatigue and crave a return to normalcy. (Amy Shortell / The Morning Call) As the most recent COVID-19 surge declines, mask mandates and other precautions have started to lift, but Lehigh Valley health experts caution that it is too soon to assume the two-year pandemic is over. Case rates across Pennsylvania are down compared to recent peaks, although the numbers are higher than they were this time last year, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In the past seven days, 33,252 additional coronavirus cases have been recorded by the DOH, equating to a daily average of 4,110 cases per day, down 45% from a week ago, and down 86% over the last 30 days. Advertisement Last week, a number of Lehigh Valley school districts announced they would move to mask optional policies. That move comes as New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut ended their statewide mask mandates in schools. After two years, some are ready for the pandemic to be over and to return to normalcy. Advertisement If now, two years later, we havent reached the medical end, it is clear were very nearing the psychological end, said Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. People almost have no alternative but to move forward from a mentality standpoint. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens top medical adviser for the coronavirus, said the United States is certainly heading out of the full-blown pandemic phase of COVID-19, during a Tuesday interview with the Financial Times. Fauci said he hoped there would be an end to all pandemic-related restrictions in the coming months, including mandatory wearing of masks. He added the federal government may soon be able to take a lesser role in monitoring COVID-19 spread. 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, Fauci said. There will also be more people making their own decisions on how they want to deal with the virus. But Dr. Alex Benjamin, chief infection control and prevention officer for Lehigh Valley Health Network, said though there are things to be optimistic about, he and other experts are watching as the current surge recedes. As a network, we always have to be prepared for what potentially could happen, Benjamin said. I think everyone will sort of keep one eye open when they sleep in terms of cases going down in the region. Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, infectious disease expert for St. Lukes University Health Network, said although omicron cases are going down, no one knows what will happen. Is this another period of calm before the next storm? Because obviously, weve already had five of those. We dont know that, Jahre said. Will there be a new variant that will come back and hit us? Again, we dont know that. Will it become low-level endemic or will it just burn itself out? No one knows that, but everybodys got certain thoughts on that. Jahre said as more people embrace this Im so over this attitude, the Lehigh Valley and the country could enter a dangerous phase where too many people throw all caution to the wind. Advertisement People are understandably tired of all of this. They really feel that now that the numbers are dropping, its time to resume life as normal, Jahre said. Theres still reason to have a cautious approach to this disease, particularly for those who have underlying risk factors. Schools ease restrictions Lehigh Valley schools and colleges, some of which have had the strictest precautions during the pandemic, have started easing their policies. Lehigh University is still requiring students and staff to wear masks indoors, but the Bethlehem university did remove its 25-person indoor gathering limit because of declining case numbers. Earlier this month, the Diocese of Allentown dropped its mask mandate at its schools. The diocese had been requiring masks since August. Starting Monday, Parkland schools will switch to mask optional, Superintendent Mark Madson announced, citing numbers trending in a positive direction. The district also ended contact tracing and quarantining for asymptomatic students and employees, except for unvaccinated household contacts. Bethlehem Superintendent Joseph Roy said the district is weighing its mask requirement as cases plummet. The school board is set to meet Monday. Advertisement The numbers are really moving in a positive direction, Roy told parents in a YouTube video Wednesday. Before this month, out of the districts 13,000 students, an average of 85 per day were sent home with symptoms, Roy said. Thats dropped down to 50 students being sent home during the first eight days of February. Masking has been a contentious issue among school boards and parents. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told Reuters the agency continues to endorse universal masking in schools. We have and continue to recommend masking in areas of high and substantial transmission that is essentially everywhere in the country in public indoor settings, Walensky said. Lehigh Valley health experts differ on mask mandates and other mitigation efforts. Benjamin, with LVHN, said there needs to be an exit strategy when it comes to COVID-19 mitigation strategies, but decisions to roll back mask mandates or other measures should take into consideration the risk for vulnerable populations. Advertisement I think about essential workers, who are exposed to people in the community all the time as part of their work. If we stop a mask mandate, if they stop wearing masks, maybe were taking away protections for those people, Benjamin said. Benjamin said there arent any solid metrics to determine when its a good time to lift masking restrictions. General markers like community cases, cases per 100,000 and 7-day averages can help inform decisions they are at best only a piece of the puzzle. Jahre said it is an appropriate time to start thinking about rolling back mitigation measures like mask mandates on a case-by-case basis. He said it is up to those at high-risk, including the elderly, those with diabetes and obese people, to keep taking steps to protect their health. St. Lukes recommends people with these or other factors that put them at risk for severe COVID-19 take necessary precautions to protect themselves, including choosing to mask in public places. For businesses that have struggled for two years amid shutdowns, crowd restrictions and staff shortages, the end cant come soon enough. Advertisement Ben Fileccia, senior director of operations for the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, said he is cautiously optimistic about the end of the pandemic nearing. Even though occupancy restrictions have ended, there are still challenges across the industry, including labor shortages, supply chain issues and surging costs of goods, he said. And many restaurant owners are still struggling financially. Whether guests were sick and staying home or being overly cautious, or the staff was out sick, we saw a lot of restaurants have been closed just to lack of staff, he said. But it looks like cases are dropping significantly and we hope the worst is now behind us. Now is the time when we have to start looking at recovery. Fileccia said diners have been returning in droves to restaurants. Iannelli, with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, isnt surprised. I think the mentality now is that, without facing imminent disaster tomorrow, people have had enough, Iannelli said. And theyre trying their best to vaccinate, we know we have medications that can do somewhat better, but they almost have no choice psychologically but to move forward. Not the end just yet But health officials are wary. Advertisement Though the load placed on hospitals by COVID-19 patients is lessening from where it was just weeks ago, LVHN is still seeing a substantial number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Jahre said when talking about this pandemic, better doesnt always mean good. Its important to note, in this country as a whole right now, were leading the world in deaths and most of that is omicron, Jahre said. Were talking about 2,500 deaths a day and thats also being reflected in our own community; were still seeing people die on a daily basis. Chrysan Cronin, director of the public health program and a Muhlenberg College professor, said work needs to be done, including setting objective metrics and benchmarks to determine when the virus is under control. Cronin added the possible long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection are only starting to become more understood. Even with mild cases, some people are experiencing lasting heart problems, respiratory problems or neurological issues long after their infection ends. Cronin said hastily pulling back mitigation measures while the Lehigh Valley is only exiting the ongoing wave may ultimately backfire. Advertisement She said it may end up like a situation where someone takes antibiotics for an infection and then chooses to stop as soon as they start feeling better, instead of continuing to take the medicine as prescribed the infection can come back worse than before. Its like saying what we were doing actually worked, so lets stop, Cronin said. Were going to find ourselves right back to where we were. Senior journalist Eugene Tauber contributed to this report. Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com. Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, TD, will lead a major Irish agri-food trade mission to the Gulf Region. Commenting on today's trade mission, Minister McConalogue said: "I'm delighted and honoured to lead the first physical trade mission in the post COVID world. The Gulf Region is a strategically important market for our food exports and Bord Bia has done tremendous work in developing the region. "This trade mission reflects the ambition in the Food Vision 2030 strategy to further develop valuable market opportunities for our quality, safe and sustainable food produce. I believe that the Gulf region offers significant value growth potential for Irish food exports "I'm excited to meet buyers in the region and tell them of the world class food producers by our exceptional farm families as well as our innovative processors and marketeers. "The Gulf Region is the food crossroads of the world and we will take every opportunity to tell the great story of Irish food." The busy schedule will encompass Gulfood 2022 in Dubai, one of the worlds largest food fairs, a two-day trade mission to Saudi Arabia, and will conclude with the Ministers participation in the Food, Agriculture and Livelihoods week at EXPO 2020 in Dubai, where Ireland is one of 85 countries with a national pavilion. The mission will include Government meetings in Dubai and Riyadh; engagements facilitated by Bord Bia with Irish food companies and their trade customers; and encompass meetings and events across the dairy, meat, prepared foods, and the horse-racing sectors. As well as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland will participate in the trade mission, which has been organised in close cooperation with the Embassies of Ireland in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Minister McConalogue concluded: In recognition of the importance of the Gulf region, my Department has appointed an agricultural attache to the Embassy of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates. "I hope that this mission will serve to build on and promote Irelands global reputation in agri-food; which is built on foundation of Irish family farms, producing quality and sustainable produce. Agri-food exports to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were over 155 million last year, dominated by dairy products, but with significant growth in exports of prepared consumer foods. This case may bring renewed hope to the skinny label practice. In the recent opinion of Amarin Pharma v. Hikma Pharms. U.S. (No. 20-1630-RGA-JLH), the District Court of Delaware dismissed Amarins complaint against Hikma for induced infringement of three patents when Hikma used a skinny label to carve out a patented indication. However, the court held that Amarin sufficiently pled to proceed with the complaint against an insurer, Health Net, for induced infringement. To prove induced infringement of a patent, a complaint must plead three elements: (1) existence of direct infringement, (2) a defendants knowingly inducing the infringement and (3) the defendants specific intent to encourage the infringement. In GlaxosmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (No. 2018-1976), the Federal Circuit overturned the District Court of Delawares ruling for Teva and twice confirmed that substantial evidence supported the jurys findings of induced infringement when Teva used a skinny label to carve out a patented use, as discussed in a previous Alert. This new case, which was filed in the same district court between the Federal Circuits two GSK decisions, arose from Amarins Vascepa icosapent ethyl drug, approved for treating severe hypertriglyceridemia (the SH indication) and cardiovascular risk reduction (the CV indication). Amarins three patents are directed to methods for using the drug for the CV indication. Hikma received FDAs approval to sell a generic version for the SH indication only and carved out the patented use. Amarin sued Hikma for inducement infringement and argued that Hikmas label and public statements instruct physicians to use the generic product for the patented indication. Regarding Hikmas label, Amarin argued that the label contains a notice regarding side effects for patients with cardiovascular disease and does not state that the generic version should not be used for the CV indication or that the effect of icosapent ethyl on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia has not been determined (the CV limitation). The court sided with Hikma regarding the warning as to side effects and stated that this is hardly instruction or encouragement. The court noted that the Federal Circuit has previously rejected the argument that generic labels must contain a clear statement discouraging use of the patented indication. According to the court, the plaintiff must show the defendants affirmative act to induce, such as recommending, encouraging or promoting an infringing use, and the lack of a CV limitation on the skinny label does not plausibly teach cardiovascular risk reduction. Regarding Hikmas public statements, the court stated they did not support actual inducement. For Hikma's press releases stating that its product is the generic equivalent to Vascepa, the court noted that an advertisement about a generic equivalent does not expose Hikma to liability based on GSK. Amarin argued that Hikmas press releases also cited the sales figures of Vascepa including the sales of the patented indication. The court stated that such a citation might be relevant to Hikmas intent, but Amarin did not plead an affirmative inducing act. Amarin argued that Hikmas website states that Hikma's generic is AB rated in the Therapeutic Category: Hypertriglyceridemia, which is broader than the indication (only severe hypertriglyceridemia) in the label and includes infringing uses. The court concluded that without instructions as to the infringing uses, this is not enough to induce infringement, and such a statement does not rise to the level of encouraging, recommending or promoting taking the generic drug for the patented uses. In addition, the court ruled that Amarins complaint plausibly alleged that Health Nets knowledge of the asserted patents and affirmative acts, such as the insurers formulary placement and prior authorization process, could plausibly show specific intent to induce another to infringe. According to the court, for example, the insurers prior authorization form listing the patented indication for the generic drug and placement of the generic drug on a preferred tier can be inferred as the insurers specific intent and encouragement for infringement. This case may bring renewed hope to the skinny label practice. However, this case and the Federal Circuits GSK case still bring uncertainty and confusion. Case-specific, fact-based and detailed analysis is needed to determine whether a generic companys skinny label fully carves out a patented use, and promotional materials need to be scrutinized to mitigate potential infringement risk. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder to health insurers, who should watch for potential risk when a generic drug has a skinny label. For More Information If you have any questions about this Alert, please contact Frederick R. Ball, Patrick C. Gallagher, Ph.D., Jiazhong (Jason) Luo, Ph.D., any member of the Life Sciences and Medical Technologies Industry Group, any member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group or the attorney in the firm with whom you are regularly in contact. Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm's full disclaimer. Use the Next > above to go through gallery This luxury detached residence and separate garage in Ballybarrack, just outside Dundalk, is spread out over C.3,842 sq.ft, with a separate gym and swim spa with a four seat Jacuzzi all providing a unique proposition to any buyer. With a beautiful sweeping stairway up to the front door it really has the wow factor; on entering the property you will see that it is a very unique house set out over a number of split levels, on the lower ground level you have two bedrooms and a family bathroom. On the next level you have a large open plan kitchen living area with a walk in pantry, utility room, WC, second sitting room and 1st bedroom. Then up to the next split level you have the master suite with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite and the 5th bedroom. On the first floor you have a large playroom, Shower room and office. It also has beautiful sash triple glazed windows and air to water heating. Ballybarrack is only a 5 minute drive to the M1 Dublin/Belfast motorway and is in close proximity to Dundalk town with its endless selection of shops, retail parks, shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, cafes, bars, secondary schools, third level institute and all other necessary services and amenities. Blue Sky are the selling agents for this fabulous home, with a guide price of 650,000. Contact Jacqueline for further information. North Andover, MA (01845) Today Cloudy and damp with rain this morning...then becoming partly cloudy. High 56F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. A Sunday morning fire at an Allentown apartment building displaced one person from their home. About 9:30 a.m., city firefighters responded to Walnut Manor, an eight-floor apartment building in the 1500 block of Walnut Street, fire Capt. John Christopher said. When crews arrived, flames were showing from the balcony of a sixth floor unit. Advertisement Our guys were able to knock it down quickly, Christopher said, adding a third alarm was struck due to the number of firefighters needed to evacuate residents, many of whom are older and have mobility issues. They had that thing knocked down in like 15 minutes. Incident command has requested a 3rd alarm assignment for the Walnut Street apartment fire. pic.twitter.com/WPPaOPa0I5 Allentown Fire Department (@AllentownFD) February 13, 2022 Firefighters evacuated residents from the fifth through eighth floors to a community room in the lobby of the building, he said. The fire was mostly contained to the balcony of the sixth-floor unit, with minimal damage to the door. A vacant apartment below it, on the fifth floor, sustained some water damage. Advertisement The housing authority, which owns the property, is making arrangements to shelter the resident, Christopher said. Two people, including the resident of the affected apartment, were taken to a local hospital for evaluation, Christopher said. The other person was taken for an unrelated medical issue. No serious injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Morning Call reporter Molly Bilinski can be reached at mbilinski@mcall.com. Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor Patrice Caldwell is watching and waiting this week to see if the New Mexico Legislatures budget bill, House Bill 2, will rectify a history of inequities in New Mexico college funding that have disadvantaged ENMU, compared with other New Mexico four-year colleges. While ENMUs enrollment grew from 4,114 in 2006 to 6,014 in 2016, she said, funding through the New Mexico Higher Education Department did not keep pace. The state did not have the funding, she said. But even with more education money available, ENMU figures show ENMU at the bottom of the list on funding based on New Mexico Higher Education Department formulas. In 2021, ENMU received $8,015 per student, ENMU figures show. On a per-student basis, the figures show ENMU at the bottom of a list of seven state-supported four-year colleges. The highest per student funding was given to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, which received $18,890 per student. The University of New Mexico, the states largest at 18,832 students in 2021, received $10,480 per student, and the next-largest, New Mexico State University, 11,852 students, received $10,240 per student in 2021. Caldwell said legislators have been made aware of ENMUs funding dilemma, and she is hoping that with the state expecting a watershed year of high revenue as oil and gas income has soared, the history of inequity in funding for ENMU might be reversed this year. We are not asking that funding be cut for any other colleges, she said, but ENMU seeks to get a fair share of funding among the states universities. In January, the ENMU Alumni Association launched a letter-writing campaign to state legislators to make them aware of the funding inequity. Im sure that is going to help, Caldwell said. In addition, the ENMU Board of Regents passed a resolution asking the Legislature to bring a prompt resolution of this decades-long inequity by adjusting ENMUs funding. Caldwell said on Friday that the under-funding issue was brought to the attention of legislators and Higher Education department officials in legislative interim committee meetings, and there was recognition of the issue. The current 30-day legislative session ends Thursday, and Caldwell said ENMUs leadership is hopeful. Caldwell is also hoping for passage of an Opportunity Scholarship bill that would increase support for students seeking college degrees. That would be a very good advantage, she said. Candidate for vice president Duterte-Carpio, 43, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, speaks at a proclamation rally in Bulacan Province, the Philippines, Feb. 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Campaign for presidential election formally kicked off in the Philippines on Tuesday, three months ahead of the voting on May 9 to choose a new president that will lead this Southeast Asian country in the next six years. At least 67.5 million Filipinos have registered to vote, including 1.8 million voters overseas. They will also elect the vice president, about 300 lawmakers, and over 18,000 positions as local officials. There are 10 presidential candidates and nine candidates for the vice president. According to surveys, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64, the son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, is leading in the opinion polls. Trailing behind him are 56-year-old incumbent Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, Manila City Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and five others. The presidential aspirants each made a pitch on Tuesday to woo the votes of Filipinos. "My dream is to unite all Filipinos. I believe that a united people will recover from the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic," Marcos Jr. said during a proclamation rally attended by some 25,000 people in Bulacan province near Metro Manila. "We will go far if we are united," Marcos Jr. said, vowing to "make the Philippines proud." Robredo, who kicked off her campaign in her hometown in Naga City, rallied the people to join her to make changes. "Please join us in this fight. If you give me a chance, you will be my partner," she told her supporters. Pacquiao told his supporters in his hometown General Santos City on southern Mindanao island that he would haul to jail the corrupt officials. He promised to provide families with a better livelihood. "I will make sure that families square three meals a day and the children get an education," he added. For Domagoso, he promised to shatter inequality and find quick actions to ensure that people have houses, education, health, jobs, and equality. "The future of your children depends on this fight," he said in a rally held in Manila. In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, will run for vice president as the running mate of Marcos Jr. Duterte, whose six-year term ends in June, has yet to endorse any presidential candidate. Like in past elections, some candidates already started campaigning on TV, social media and radio months before the campaign season started. As early as October last year, presidential aspirants have begun crisscrossing the archipelago to dole out goodies and cash, launch TV promotions and roll out social media advertising programs. The candidates' names and pictures are displayed on giant billboards along major highways. However, unlike in the past, the candidates are not expected to barnstorm cities and towns, croon love songs, hug babies, and dance on stage to win votes. The Commission on Elections has imposed restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, barring politicians from entering houses, crowding, handshakes, hugs, kissing, or any actions involving physical contact. Even taking selfies and photographs, activities that require proximity with people, as well as distribution of food and drinks, are prohibited. With the COVID-19 threat, the candidates are expected to be more prominent in digital platforms and hire social media savvy advisers to woo the youth, who comprise more than half of the total registered voters. Meanwhile, the crescendo of campaign rhetoric and mudslinging is also expected to intensify in the coming days as the three-month campaign unfolds. Presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 64, the son of former President Ferdinand Marcos, speaks at a proclamation rally in Bulacan Province, the Philippines, Feb. 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) ''I started back in 2008. I left my job just before the big recession, and my partner and I went to London, and I started a course over there in violin making and repair.'' Kevin Harrington is a former civil engineer from Cork, and since 2008 he has working full time making and repairing instruments, in particular harps. He completed training in building violins but, after being encouraged to look at building harps, found his passion was in this area. ''I got a set of plans and made my first harp, and then I was just absolutely hooked, you know, I absolutely loved making it.'' Kevin says that building a harp from scratch takes a month. He sources his materials from a variety of places-the main part of the harp's heart is Irish wood, with materials for other parts imported from Estonia, Latvia or Finland. Kevin says that building a harp from scratch takes a month. In 2012, his wife took up a job in Dublin, which led them to move to Wicklow, where Kevin built a workshop until moving back to Cork in 2021. Initially, Kevin said that he struggled financially after leaving his job as a civil engineer to build musical instruments. ''Leaving a very secure job like that, and with the instrument making and the harp making, you're kind of, you're slowly, building up a reputation getting more orders. But at the moment, it's kind of looking good, really, financially wise.'' The pandemic undoubtedly impacted Mr Harringtons business and he said that his phone did not ring for orders for a number of months. In normal times, Kevin would have travelled to music and art festivals and exhibitions throughout the year to market his harps and sell them. I would typically get an order from each of these festivals.'' Now restrictions have eased, he hopes to see these festivals return. Talking about the quality of the harps, he said he believes that some excellent instruments are made in factories. However, he believes that there is a good appreciation of the musical instruments made by one person from start to finish. As communities across the country see the downslope of the most recent Omicron-driven surge of COVID-19, cases are falling quickly in Franklin Across China: Italian century-old tire manufacturer thrives in China Xinhua) 10:47, February 13, 2022 SHANGHAI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- In the fifth year of his working in Shanghai, Giuliano Menassi decided to stay in China for the Spring Festival holiday. As the senior vice-president for the Asia-Pacific region of the renowned Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli, the Italian also celebrated the company's 150th birthday in a festive mood. Jan. 28 marked the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Milan-based Pirelli, and the company chose to hold a feast in Shanghai. With a big screen lit up in Lujiazui that read "Pirelli 150 years anniversary" and "Happy Birthday," the company expressed its faith in the Chinese market. Pirelli has been operating in China since 2005 with a tire production facility first set up in east China's Shandong Province. "China is such a dynamic market," said Menassi. "It is also one of our key growth markets, so we always take it very seriously." Having worked for Pirelli for 35 years, Menassi had taken charges in different countries and regions, while the Chinese consumers left deep impressions on him. "Their demand is leading the development of global consumer industries, especially the electric vehicle industry," the Italian said. Pirelli had also applied its electric vehicle tire-making technology in China's local industrial chain. Ning Gaoning, chairman of Chinese chemical firm Sinochem Group, said Pirelli's businesses in China had achieved considerable development after being invested by Sinochem in 2015. At present, the company owns three factories and one R&D center in China. Focusing on high-end tire manufacturing, it had localized production of cutting-edge technologies. In the fourth China International Import Expo in 2021, Pirelli had also participated with its newly developed CYBER TYRE system which could give cars a sense of touch by allowing them to identify or predict potentially hazardous situations and allowing the vehicle to promptly intervene. "The changes and speed of innovation of the Chinese market have prompted Pirelli to constantly introduce new technologies, products, and services," Menassi said. The company had also benefited from the resilience of China's economy after the breakout of COVID-19. As China quickly recovered from the epidemic, factories in China provided support for the company's performance. "China is not only the important engine to boost the global economy but also a promising land where enterprises can develop," said Menassi, adding that Pirelli will try hard to celebrate more birthdays in China. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's fund market took a hit in January, with the distribution number and shares witnessing a decline amid market corrections, according to financial information provider Wind. Last month, a total of 148 funds were established, down 39.59 percent from December, while the shares of funds issued came in at 118.82 billion, down by 60.87 percent compared with that of December. The average distributed shares of each fund was 803 million, the lowest since January 2021, showed Wind data. Chinese stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.66 percent to close at 3,462.95 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.55 percent lower at 13,224.38 points. Washington, MO (63090) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 65F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. The governor wrote a memo to state employees this week asking for patience and expressing confidence his pay plan will succeed Gov. Mike Parson responds to a media question during a press conference on May 29, 2019 in Jefferson City. Pictured with Parson is his spokesperson, Kelli Jones. This Dec. 8, 2015 file photo shows Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sitting in St. Peter's Basilica as he attends the ceremony marking the start of the Holy Year. Retired Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, for any grievous faults" in his handling of clergy sex abuse cases, but admitted to no personal or specific wrongdoing after an independent report criticized his actions in four cases while he was archbishop of Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan takes a question from a reporter as he give an update about the ongoing talks with Russia at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) International grain markets already rattled by the COVID-19 pandemic may become even more unstable in the coming months as the threat of war b Cent , the company that last year helped Jack Dorsey auction an NFT of his first tweet for $2.9 million , is temporarily halting most transactions to address rampant sales of fake and plagiarized tokens. In an interview published on Friday, Cameron Hejazi, the CEO and co-founder of the company, told Reuters Cent stopped allowing users to buy and sell most NFTs on February 6th. It continues to operate its Valuables marketplace, the place where people can purchase non-fungible tokens of tweets, but thats about it. "There's a spectrum of activity that is happening that basically shouldn't be happening - like, legally" Hejazi told Reuters. He said Cent has tried to ban bad actors but compared the effort to a game of whack-a-mole. Every time we would ban one, another one would come up, or three more would come up, Hejazi said. Last month, OpenSea, one of the largest NFT marketplaces on the internet, said more than 80 percent of the tokens recently created through its free minting tool involved plagiarized work, fake collections and spam. The admission came after the company had tried to limit the number of NFTs users could mint for free. After reversing the decision, the company said it was working on several solutions to deter bad actors. Before Januarys announcement, artists and photographers had complained for months that the company hadnt done enough to address the issue of plagiarism. "I think this is a pretty fundamental problem with Web3," Hejazi told Reuters. In the immediate future, he said Cent may introduce centralized controls to facilitate a reopening of its marketplace. The company could then later explore more decentralized solutions to the problem. Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government Inamullah Samangani speaks during an interview in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government Inamullah Samangani on Sunday criticized Washington's "unfair" decision to compensate the victims of 9/11 terrorist attacks with Afghanistan's assets. "The recent decision of U.S. President Joe Biden on the handling of the foreign exchange reserve of Afghanistan is a hasty, unfair revenge, which demonstrates the United States extreme darkened morality," Samangani told Xinhua. Following the pullout of its troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, the United States has frozen nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars worth of assets of Afghanistan's central bank, which worsened the economic crisis and poverty in the war-torn Asian country. In a decree issued on Friday, Biden reportedly ordered the allocation of 3.5 billion dollars from the assets as damage to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and diverted 3.5 billion more dollars to the Afghans as humanitarian aid, without the consent of the Taliban-run administration. "The Americans after suffering a military defeat now are stamping their moral defeat by taking such an unfair decision. The Afghan assets cannot be paid as compensation or humanitarian assistance by the Americans to Afghans as they are Afghanistan's assets," Samangani said. With regard to Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, Samangani said, "everyone knows that no Afghan was involved, no attacker was Afghan, the planes used in the attacks didn't belong to Afghanistan, and the territory from where the attacks were launched didn't belong to Afghanistan." "Taking compensation from Afghanistan assets is utterly unjust and unfair," the official said. Samangani accused the United States of committing crimes against Afghans during its 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, saying the U.S. troops have killed more than 100,000 Afghans. Millions of Afghans have been arrested, injured and displaced, and "who should pay compensation to them?" Samangani said. "The richest country in the world is stealing from the pocket of the world's poorest country," he said. Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government Inamullah Samangani speaks during an interview in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) This past January, astronomer Bill Gray said that the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket would collide with the Moon sometime in early March. As you might expect, the prediction set off a flurry of media coverage , much of it critical of Elon Musk and his private space firm. After all, the event would be a rare misstep for SpaceX. But it turns out Elon and company are not about to lose face. Instead, its more likely that fate will befall China. Thats because Gray now says he made a mistake in his initial identification of a piece of space debris he and other astronomers dubbed WE0913A in 2015. When Gray and his colleagues first spotted the object, several clues led them to believe it was the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that carried the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations DSCOVR satellite into deep orbit that same year. The objects identification would have probably gone unreported in mainstream media if astronomers didnt subsequently discover it was about to collide with the Moon. Back in 2015, I (mis)identified this object as 2015-007B, the second stage of the DSCOVR spacecraft, Gray said in a blog post he published on Saturday that was spotted Ars Technica . I had pretty good circumstantial evidence for the identification, but nothing conclusive, Gray added. That was not at all unusual. Identifications of high-flying space junk often require a bit of detective work, and sometimes, we never do figure out the ID for a bit of space junk. We may have never known the actual identity of the debris if not for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer Jon Giorgini . He contacted Gray on Saturday to ask about the identification. According to Giorgini, NASAs Horizons system, a database that can estimate the location and orbit of almost half a million celestial bodies in our solar system, showed that the DSCOVR spacecrafts trajectory didnt take it close to the Moon. As such, it would be unusual if its second stage were to stray off course then and hit the satellite. Giorginis email prompted Gray to reexamine the data he used to make the initial identification. Gray now says hes reasonably certain the rocket thats about to collide with the moon belongs to China. In October 2014, the countrys space agency launched its Change 5-T1 mission on a Long March 3C rocket. After reconstructing the probable trajectory of that mission, he found that the Long March 3C is the best fit for the mystery object thats about to hit Earths natural satellite. Running the orbit back to launch for the Chinese spacecraft makes ample sense, he told The Verge . It winds up with an orbit that goes past the Moon at the right time after launch. Gray went on to tell The Verge that episodes like this underline the need for more information on rockets boosters that travel into deep space. The only folks that I know of who pay attention to these old rocket boosters are the asteroid tracking community, he told the outlet. This sort of thing would be considerably easier if the folks who launch spacecraft if there was some regulatory environment where they had to report something. Victoria's Secret is heading to the Metaverse, and it's bringing its PINK brand along. In tweets earlier today, trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis revealed that Victoria's Secret has filed four new applications for digital collectibles and media created with blockchain technology and online clothing and media for use in "virtual environments." Link to tweet about VICTORIA'S SECRET Link to tweet about PINK "Victoria's Secret is clearly preparing their trademarks for the new era of the Metaverse," Mr. Kondoudis says. Mr. Kondoudis adds that the trademark filings "clearly indicate that Victoria's Secret intends to participate in the Metaverse selling virtual goods and services, in online and virtual worlds." "These new trademarks also provide VIctoria's Secret with extra protection in the event others attempt to use the brand online in an unlicensed way," Mr. Kondoudis opined. The San Antonio Police Department is investigating a slaying after finding a man shot dead early Sunday morning in the Chilis parking lot off northwest Loop 410, officials said. Police said they received calls from two individuals reporting a major accident. Once the officers arrived on scene, the callers told them they had heard several gunshots and then saw a vehicle enter the restaurants parking lot, police said. Election primaries draw more partisan voters, resulting in candidates on the ballot for the general election who do not necessarily represent the mainstream. Once elected, these officials find it difficult to find common ground to move the legislative agenda forward. This aggravates political polarization and reinforces partisan gridlock. To reflect broader representation in our elected officials, more mainstream voters need to participate in party primaries. Texas needs leaders who reflect the entire spectrum of ideologies and will work across the aisle to make the Legislature and other government offices more functional. If you are an eligible voter, I urge you to cast a ballot, even if you dont strongly identify with a political party. You should carefully consider the candidate choices and participate in one of the primaries (or conventions for the Libertarian and Green parties). In the upcoming March 1 joint primary election for the Democratic and Republican parties, each party will choose its candidates for several important statewide seats, including governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Republicans and Democrats will also choose their candidates to face off in November for district-based congressional and legislative offices, the State Board of Education, judicial seats and county offices, including county judge, commissioners and various courts. Texas is a state with open primaries, allowing voters to cast their ballots in either partys primary without prior registration with the party. The party that voters choose for the primary election does not register the voter with that party. However, in the case of a runoff election, the voter will get the ballot for the party the voter chose in the primary election. To help you make informed choices, the League of Womens Voters nonpartisan Voters Guide, which includes early voting sites and responses by candidates to important questions, is available in public libraries throughout Bexar County. The guide covers down-ballot candidates who are often unfamiliar to voters. You can access the electronic Voters Guide at vote411.org to see responses to additional questions and responses from candidates who missed the print deadline. You can compare the candidates on your customized ballot, mark your choice and print the list to take with you to the poll, making voting more efficient and safer, given the pandemic. Being prepared with voting choices will allow those casting a ballot in person to be in and out of the polling place in less time. This is the first election being conducted after the states voting restrictions law was enacted last year. The new law and new procedures are creating confusion, especially for voters who opt to vote by mail. The league website, lwvsa.org, is a comprehensive nonpartisan resource to guide you through this process. The League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, right, knowledge and the confidence to participate. Theres so much at stake in this election. Early voting runs through Feb. 25, and the election is on March 1. You can vote at any polling place in the county. Lets make democracy work for all of us get out and vote! Madhu Sridhar is the president of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area. SAN ANTONIO (AP) A federal judge on Friday night handed Texas' elections overhaul a partial defeat days ahead of 2022's first primary over rules that criminalize encouraging voters to get a ballot by mail. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio is limited but orders Texas not to enforce that narrow part of the law against Harris County, which in 2020 sought to send more than 2 million voters mail-in ballot applications during the pandemic in the state's largest Democratic stronghold. Texas was expected to appeal the decision, which comes just days before early voting begins for the first-in-the-nation primary on March 1. 'EASY TO VOTE': Texas county officials decry new voting snags Texas has some of the nation's most restrictive rules surrounding vote-by-mail, generally making it only available to voters who are at least 65 years old or have an illness or disability. Under the new law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in September, an elections official who solicits mail-in ballot applications from voters could face felony charges punishable by six months in jail. The lawsuit was filed by officials in Harris County who have described feeling hamstrung to help Houston voters navigate the new law. The ruling also applies to the Austin area, where opponents joined the suit. Public officials should be able to recommend that option for folks who are eligible to vote by mail, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said. He criticized the new Texas law as keeping these voters in the dark and discouraging them from voting by mail. HARRIS COUNTY BALLOT GUIDE: 7 things to know about Texas mail-ballot voting Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The new Texas law also bans 24-hour polling places, drive-thru voting and empowers partisan poll watchers. WEST HARTFORD Superintendent Tom Moore said the district will lift its mandatory school mask mandate at the end of the month. Many have written to me this week to let me know their thoughts on masks in school, Moore wrote in a letter to parents. There is no one unified opinion, be it among parents, teachers or students. The reality now is that the Department of Public Health has stated that in many places in Connecticut, it is the right time, and safe, to move away from mandatory masking. Moore said the districts high vaccination rate among students is among the reasons he feels comfortable removing the mandate. When we look closer at the situation here in West Hartford, I am so thankful for all that has been done by our community in order to make our children and families safer, Moore said in the letter. Our vaccination rates are within the top five of any community in the state, far outperforming state and national averages for school-aged children. Moore said that 94 percent of their 12- to 17-year-old students are fully vaccinated, with 98.5 percent of them having had at least one shot. Among the younger age group of 5- to 11-year-olds, 64 percent of students have had their first shot, with almost 60 percent of them being fully vaccinated, Moore said. With these high vaccination numbers, and with cases plummeting in our schools out of over 11,000 staff members and students, we currently have a dozen cases as well as the immunity gained by so many having been exposed to omicron, March should be a time when West Hartford Public Schools can move to optional mask wearing, Moore wrote. Moore said that if needed, the Board of Education is able to create a new mask mandate. I know that if things take a turn for the worse in terms of case numbers, hospitalizations, or dangerous new variants, our Board of Education will convene and create a new mask mandate for West Hartford Public Schools, as the decision is ultimately theirs, Moore said to parents. He also said the district will continue to implement mitigation strategies and continue to report cases to the public. They will also continue to supply masks to students and staff who choose to continue to wear them. Moore also added that since transportation is covered under different federal guidelines that students and adults will still need to wear masks on school buses. The Welsh government must establish a new tenant working group to ensure proposed agricultural policy works for the full range of tenancy and rental agreements in Wales. The call was made at the NFU Cymru tenants seminar, held on Thursday 10 February, which set out a number of key challenges faced by farmers who do not own the land they farm. The Welsh government plans to phase out the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and phase in the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) from 2025. But the farmer panel said it was vital that tenant farmers in the country were able to access this future support on equal terms amid fears they could be disadvantaged. Figures show that up to 30 percent of land farmed in Wales is through formal and informal tenant agreements. Chaired by Wrexham beef and arable farmer Will Evans, the event set out challenges such as gaining landlords permission for SFS agreements if they are multi-year, and where they are prevented from undertaking certain actions under the terms of their tenancy. The risk of landlords seeking to secure future SFS payments for themselves was highlighted, given that Welsh governments proposed scheme centres on the delivery of mainly environmental actions. Several speakers also raised the risk of future policy driving widespread land use change to meet tree planting targets, warning this could also lead to existing tenancies not being renewed and limited opportunities for the next generation of farmers. It would also have significant ramifications for rural employment, communities and the Welsh language in the future, the session was told. Speaking after the event, NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: If future policy does not work for the tenanted sector, it does not work at all. There is a need to design future policy around the broad range of land tenure that exists in Wales, including tenancy and rental agreements, so that farmers are not left behind in farm policy reforms. It is important to recognise that many tenants are on short term Farm Business Tenancies and lets, and proposals represent a significant shift from having management control of land on the 15 May to be eligible for the BPS, as they do currently." Mr Jones said the union was also concerned that some farmers may not be able to demonstrate sufficient management control of the land they farm to secure contracts for future support and may lose out. NFU Cymru has long been clear future support should be targeted at the active farmer the person who takes the business risk associated with food production. "It is the person who farms the land that should secure future support payments," he said. In England, the recently announced Tenancy Working Group will provide tenant farmers an opportunity to make sure post-Brexit schemes work within agricultural tenancies. A report will be published by the group later this year, Defra said in late January, setting out the main conclusions and providing a set of recommendations to government. THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has been accused of illegally moving 170 000 voters from their original constituencies and wards in the voters roll to be used for the March 26 by-elections in a move which activists say could affect the credibility of the polls. Activists, Team Pachedu, which has been analysing the voters roll for the by-elections in comparison with the one used in the 2018 polls, expressed concern over the anomalies, saying Zec was illegally changing electoral boundaries without notifying voters as stipulated by the law, a move which critics say would disenfranchise voters. Team Pachedu said a total of 170 867 addresses that were in the 2018 voters roll have been edited by Zec between 2018 and 2022, with Glen View South having the highest number of edited addresses (19 758), followed by Mangwe, Lupane East, Zaka East, Luveve, Kuwadzana and Chiredzi North. Zec has also moved many people from Glen View South constituency to Harare South constituency. The mass movement of voters across constituencies and wards when addresses have not changed implies that Zec is illegally changing electoral boundaries, Team Pachedu said on Twitter. One typical illegal movement involves hundreds of voters from Zvimba East to Glen View South (Chirangano Car Park Tent). For multiple voters in Chitungwiza South constituency, Zec has changed their former 2018 wards, yet their residential addresses have not changed at all. Who did Zec inform before making these sweeping changes in wards as required by the law? After the 2018 elections, Zec created new polling stations and some of them are 6301HRE2807 C, Glen Norah (728 voters), 6301HRE3103 C, Glenview South (671 voters), 6301HRE3202 C, Glen View South (669 voters) and 5801KWE1402 C, Kwekwe Central (669) without informing anyone as required by the law. Chief elections officer, Utoile Silaigwana yesterday told NewsDay that citizens or organisations affected by the changes should approach Zec district offices. Can we see the claims because we havent received any complaints to date? You are very aware that the voter registration exercise is still underway, and so we can only have the correct information when it has been completed, Silaigwana said. On its official Twitter handle, Zec stated: Polling stations are allocated according to proof of residence furnished by the voter. A voter has an option to transfer his/her registration to an area of preference provided they submit the requisite documents. Zimbabwe Election Support Network board chairperson Andrew Makoni said the trends were worrying as it could disenfranchise voters. Yes, it disfranchises voters as many will fail to vote because their wards have changed. Only Zec can provide the reasons why some voters may have been moved from one constituency to the other, and in this case from Glen View to Harare South as alleged. However, it is possible for a voter to change his ward or constituency if, for example, they migrate from one ward or constituency. In that case, it is the voter who approaches Zec seeking a transfer. Zec cannot do so on its own. Elections Resource Centre programmes manager Solomon Bobosibunu said: We are in the process of analysing the voters roll and will shortly be able to comment on the alleged movement. On the overall, registered voters cannot be changed without their consent. There must be an explanation as to why those changes were effected without the knowledge of the voters. If these are true, they damage the credibility of the voters roll and ultimately the outcome of the election. Citizens Coalition for Change treasurer-general David Coltart said the anomalies in the voters roll were not surprising as it was clear that it was creating a pathway for rigging of elections. He said there was need for Zec to be independent and free from the ruling Zanu PF party and military control such that it retains the ability to carry out its electoral mandate as a national body. I am not surprised. The reason Zanu PF was happy to have by-elections now was because it knows the results are easier to manipulate. Through its proxies in Zec, they can manipulate the voters roll to import voters from constituencies which do not have an election to those which do, Coltart said. On election day, it is easy to bus those voters in because there wont be observers. So if discrepancies are found, it will be part of this grand scheme to subvert the will of the electorate in the coming by-elections. Newsday To move forward their federal lawsuit, Manassas parent Tasha Nelson and 11 other Virginia parents of students with disabilities filed a motion in federal court Thursday seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that would make masks optional in public schools. Their motion asks the federal court to take immediate action to prohibit Youngkin and his administration from enforcing Executive Order 2 and instead allow Virginia school divisions to keep masking requirements in effect when needed to make it safe for their children to attend school. The motion comes as the debate about masks in schools heats up in Richmond. On Friday, a state House committee approved Senate Bill 739, which would give parents the option of sending their students to school without masks regardless of local school board policy. The bill was approved on Wednesday, Feb. 9 by the Democratic-controlled state Senate. Its not clear when the law would take effect, but Youngkin has said he is eager to sign it once it reaches his desk. The 12 families, all of whom have children with medical conditions that put them at a high risk of serious illness due to COVID-19, initially filed their lawsuit challenging Youngkins Executive Order 2 in federal court in Charlottesville last week. +2 Manassas mom, 11 other Va. families file federal lawsuit challenging Youngkin's mask order Tasha Nelsons 10-year-old son, Jack, is a social kid who loves science and seeing his friends every day in his fourth-grade classroom in Manassas. Jack, who has cystic fibrosis, can only attend school in person, his mom says, because the City of Manassas is among 70 Virginia school divisions that continued universal masking despite Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order allowing parents to choose to send their kids to school without masks. The federal lawsuit asserts that the executive order violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act both of which say public schools cannot exclude students with disabilities or deny them equal access to their education. The laws also require public schools to provide reasonable modifications to allow students with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their public education. The lawsuit also alleged a claim under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 because ARPA requires that schools comply with Centers for Disease Control guidelines -- which recommend universal masking in public schools -- and the governors executive order prevents that. Nelsons 10-year-old son, Jack, has cystic fibrosis which causes long-lasting, irreversible lung damage and limits the ability to breathe over time. It also puts him at a greater risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. Jacks physician team at Johns Hopkins Medicine advised that Jack, who is vaccinated, can attend his City of Manassas elementary school as long as universal masking is in place, Nelson said. Parent Meghan Dufrain, who has a 7-year-old son who has cystic fibrosis, also joined the federal lawsuit. Her son attends Cumberland County Public Schools. She said she pulled her son and his two siblings out of school because without universal masking, [T]he risk is too great for my son. I hate that they are missing educational opportunities and social engagement, but I cant risk his life, she added. Parents of students with disabilities say Youngkins executive order makes them choose between their childrens education and their health and safety. For that reason, the petitioning parents filed the motion for preliminary injunction to ask the federal court to order the governor and the attorney general and others not to enforce the executive order until the case is completed, according to Eve Hill, one of plaintiffs attorneys. Hill is a partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy and is one of the nations leading disability rights attorneys. We are very concerned that some school districts have already waived their mask mandates and others may at any time. The governor may start enforcing it at any time, Hill said in an interview with the Prince William Times. We cant wait long enough for it to go all the way through the courts. An immediate temporary restraining order will provide the safest pause for all concerned as the legal cases work their way through the court system, said Kaitlin Banner, one of plaintiffs attorneys and deputy legal director of Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs, in a press release. The lawsuit is the third filed in recent weeks challenging Youngkins effort to allow parents to decide whether their kids wear masks in schools, and the only one filed in federal court. Seven Virginia school divisions, including Prince William County schools, prevailed in a joint lawsuit earlier this month that challenged the executive order as an illegal overreach of executive power over local school boards. Arlington County Circuit Court Judge Louise DiMatteo ruled Friday, Feb. 4 in favor of the school boards and temporarily blocked Youngkins executive order, allowing the school boards to keep their universal mask mandates in place until a final order is issued. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Chesapeake parents against the Youngkin administration, the Chesapeake School Board and others in an effort to fight that school division's decision to comply with Youngkins mask-optional order on procedural grounds. Hill said the Youngkin administration has not yet responded to their initial complaint. She said that the timeline of the federal case is unclear but that she would like the case to proceed quickly, adding: We would like to be heard as soon as possible." Hill said the plaintiffs are eager to argue the case. I want to be clear. Were not saying that every school has to do universal masking. We are saying that when they have students with disabilities that require universal masking, then [school districts] have an obligation under the ADA to do it. And the executive order is preventing them from meeting their ADA obligations and that cant stand. Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@gmail.com Oak Hill, WV (25901) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 61F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Food enthusiast and traveller Rupali Dean comes to the rescue if you forgot to book a romantic meal for Valentines Day Want to break that cliche of romantic dinners? Or simply forgot to make a reservation? Or, really, a last-minute date came through? Lunches and dinners are sure to be all booked out and oh so overly done Here are the best breakfast, brunch and high tea places in Saadi Dilli to profess your love in a special way! Breakfast At Elan, The Lodhi Delhi Focusing on fresh and seasonal menu options, Elan offers an extensive range of flavours from across the globe. Overlooking lush lawns, the patio area is one of Delhis premium alfresco dining destinations. The picturesque setting (main image) makes for a great spot at which to charm your beloved over a romantic gastronomic rendezvous with extravagant a la carte offerings. Do not miss ordering the Bircher Muesli with Grated Apple and Hazelnuts; its one of the best this side of the Matterhorn. The French Toast with Seasonal Fruit Compote, Ricotta Cheese and Honey is equally divine, as is the Bagel with Cream Cheese, Onion and Capers. Round it all off with a cold pressed orange juice or a deep red beetroot juice and the excellent coffee. Have you made any plans for Valentine's Day gifts this year? If you're looking for a unique and out-of-the-box way to surprise your loved one, The Bronx Zoo has a few alternatives that will blow your mind away. "Even if you don't always have the proper words, you can still give people goosebumps," the website of the famed Bronx zoo says. "Name a roach for your valentine because roaches are everlasting." Yes, the purpose of this exercise is to make it that permanent. This is the eleventh year of the zoo's successful Name a Roach programme, in which you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after someone important for an amount of $15. According to the zoo's website, the money will go to Wildlife Conservation Society, a non-profit organisation. A Valentine's Virtual Encounter with a Madagascar hissing cockroach was also available, but those popular meet-and-greet possibilities have since sold out. Not only that, but other goods like roach socks and roach beanies have sold out as well. "For us, naming a roach is Valentine's Day tradition. Roses and chocolates fade away, but roaches last a lifetime - just like our love!" explains Susie, a roach enthusiast who has bought from the programme. It's a long-lasting present. After all, the site reminds us that "roaches are everlasting." To commemorate the gift, you'll receive a certificate. Here Are Other Quirky Ideas For Valentines Day A $10 "endless love" name-a-roach pin can be purchased at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It includes a digital certificate and, of course, a roach's name. The Cry Me a Cockroach campaign at the San Antonio Zoo is aimed at naming cockroaches after those who "truly make 2021 difficult," such as an ex, boss, or, why not, a bestie. You can put your ex's name at the bottom of a litter box at The Nebraska Humane Society's litter box promotion. The Texas Zoo has a variety of living things that can be named after someone special. So, which one are you trying this year? Also Read: Valentine's Day gifts to make the woman in your life love you more MOSCOW, Feb. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sputnik V is playing the key role in the vaccination campaign in Mexico's capital with over 3 million citizens of Mexico City already administered the Russian vaccine. The first component of Sputnik V (Sputnik Light) is also increasingly used in the city's revaccination campaign as a booster. Sputnik V accounts for 40 percent of all COVID vaccines given to people in Mexico City, according to Eduardo Clark, General Director of the Digital Agency For Public Innovations (ADIP) of the City of Mexico (CDMX). (LINK: https://www.milenio.com/politica/comunidad/sputnik-v-vacuna-rusa-utilizada-cdmx-autoridades ) City of Mexico will also extend the use of the first component of Sputnik V (Sputnik Light) as a booster for 30-39 aged group from February 14. (LINK: https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/cdmx-aplicara-vacuna-covid-refuerzo-astrazeneca-sputnik-personas-30-39-anos/). It had earlier started administering the one-shot Russian Sputnik Light as a booster to the 40-49 aged group. Sputnik V creates stronger and longer lasting immune response against COVID (including the Omicron variant) than many other vaccines, which is further strengthened by Sputnik Light booster. Sputnik Light is based on human adenovirus serotype 26 and is the first component of Sputnik V vaccine. Sputnik Light has been approved in more than 30 countries with a total population of over 2.5 billion and Sputnik V - in 71 countries with a total population of over 4 billion people. A unique comparative study[1] conducted at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Italy by a team of 12 Italian and 9 Russian scientists led by Francesco Vaia, Director of the Spallanzani Institute and Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya Center has shown that Sputnik V vaccine demonstrates more than 2 times higher titers of virus neutralizing antibodies to Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant than 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine (2.1 times higher in total and 2.6 times higher 3 months after vaccination). The study was conducted in the equal laboratory conditions on comparable sera samples from individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V and Pfizer with a similar level of IgG antibodies and virus neutralizing activity (VNA) against Wuhan variant. Sputnik V showed significantly smaller (2.6 times) reduction of virus neutralizing activity against Omicron as compared to reference Wuhan variant than Pfizer vaccine (8.1-fold reduction for Sputnik V in contrast to 21.4-fold reduction for Pfizer vaccine). The lower efficacy of mRNA vaccines against Omicron as well as the quickly waning efficacy of mRNA vaccines against COVID can be addressed by using Sputnik Light as a universal booster. Based on the data collected by the Spallanzani Institute and results of previous studies, heterologous ("mix & match") boosting with Sputnik Light is the best solution to increase other vaccines' efficacy and extend the booster protection period as optimal adenoviral platform configuration provides better protection against Omicron and other mutations. Sputnik Light has already shown strong results used as a booster in "mix & match" trials. For example, in Argentina a combination study of Sputnik Light with vaccines produced by AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Moderna and Cansino has demonstrated that Sputnik Light induces stronger antibody and T-cell response as compared to homologous regimen (two shots of the same vaccine). The study conducted in five provinces showed each "vaccine cocktail" combination with Sputnik Light had provided a higher antibody titer on the 14th day after administering a second dose when compared to original homologous (same vaccine as first and second dose) regimens of each of the vaccines. Sputnik Light and Sputnik V and have been developed using a safe technology that has been widely studied for over 30 years and have not been associated with rare serious side effects such as myocarditis or pericarditis. The highest safety and efficacy of Sputnik V and Sputnik Light was demonstrated in more than 30 studies and real-world data publications from more than 10 countries. Sputnik V and Sputnik Light can be stored in a conventional refrigerator at +2 +8C for 6 months, making them available globally, including in remote territories, without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure. [1] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.15.22269335v1 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1698158/Russian_Direct_Invest_Fund_Logo.jpg BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China will on Monday release January figures for foreign direct investment, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In December, FDI was up 14.9 percent on year. Indonesia will provide December numbers for retail sales; in November, sales climbed 10.8 percent on year. New Zealand will see January results for food prices and also for its Performance of Services Index from BusinessNZ. In December, food prices were up 4.5 percent on year and the service index had a score of 49.7. 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. THE opening of schools comes into full swing today when Form One classes join the rest of the learners, with teachers also expected to resume their normal duties. Schools opened for the First Term of the year last Monday, but Form One classes had not opened as the learners were still securing secondary school places. The separate opening day for Form One classes was caused by the delay in writing the 2021 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Grade 7 exams due to Covid-19. Grade 7 results only came out on February 4 and learners used them to secure Form One places. Following the release of Grade 7 results, the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry gave parents and guardians a week to prepare for todays opening day. The transition of the Form One classes is expected to coincide with normalcy returning to the education sector after teachers unions directed their members to return to work and give negotiations a chance. Teachers had declared incapacitation, resulting in some not reporting for duty last week. Yesterday, Form One pupils that secured places at boarding schools started going to their new schools, while some are expected to leave today. A Chronicle news crew observed some schools demanding that the learners bring their own mattresses, something that never happened in the past. A parent with a child at George Silundika High School Mr Nkululeko Moyo said it had been a hectic week for them, as they prepared for their childrens return to school. He said the school demanded that all learners bring new mattresses as part of the Covid-19 mitigation measures. Our budgets were really affected. We were hoping to spend at least US$700, but the list kept on growing and we ended up spending almost US$1 000. We had to buy mattresses, something that we had not budgeted for. The school said because of Covid-19, the learners cannot use old mattresses, said Mr Moyo. We are confident that the children will learn unlike what was happening last week. Even officials at George Silundika High School assured us that teachers are there and everything is in order. Hopefully, there wont be any hurdles. In two weeks, we will be going for orientation at the school and thats when we will see for ourselves the state of affairs. Another parent with a child at Solusi Adventist High School Mr Makhosi Ngwenya said the delay in reopening schools gave him enough room to prepare for his childs transition to secondary level. It was difficult, but we managed to be ready mainly because the holiday was long and we managed to work on our budget. We are happy that there is normal learning at Solusi High School. We expect that our children will learn because a lot of time has already been lost, said Mr Ngwenya. Mrs Phumulo Ngwenya, who has a child at Empandeni High School, said she secured a Form One place for her daughter last Monday. She said she had been gradually preparing for schools opening. We used the online application system and the responses were delayed as we were still waiting for results. So, when the Grade 7 results were released, we secured a place for her. And being a parent knowing that you are preparing for your child to go to school, you would have done one or two things, she said. But the good thing is that the school included uniforms in its list so we didnt have to run around when schools opened. It wasnt that difficult, but, of course, we faced some challenges as there is nothing easy at the moment. Mrs Ngwenya said parents made a lot of sacrifices and they hope their children will not encounter any setbacks. Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) last Friday said it was in talks with Government so that suspended teachers are not subjected to disciplinary measures. The hugely followed teachers union urged members to return to work. Thus, we plead with members, in particular those within school environs or are within reach, to give our learners a chance to go back to school and commence lessons as soon as practically possible, read the Zimta statement. On Tuesday last week, Government announced a 20 percent review of civil servants salaries and starting next month the workers will each get US$100 converted from their Zimbabwe dollar pay. Government has also resolved to pay school fees for up to three teachers children to the maximum of 20 000 per child. In making the salary adjustments, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Government remains committed to improving civil servants salaries as the economy improves. Chronicle This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. SALEM Oregon regulators would gain new authority over water hauling under a bill aimed at fighting illegal marijuana production. Companies that sell and haul water would face new record-keeping requirements under House Bill 4061, as well as criminal and civil penalties for violating those rules or for selling to illicit marijuana growers. The bill would also criminalize pumping groundwater to irrigate illegal cannabis without a water right. Under the record-keeping rules, both water haulers and those who buy their water for irrigation would need to track certain information about usage and location. While that may seem redundant, the point of those provisions is to cross-check the information, said Rep. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, chair of the House Agriculture, Land Use and Water Committee. Because theres been a lot of deceit and lying that has been going on with hauling water for illegal uses, thats a chance to catch inconsistencies, he said. Prosecutors would retain the ability to charge people who violate the new law with lesser crimes or to forgo charges for example, if its clear a person made an innocent mistake, Helm said. What we are really trying to do is give law enforcement some reasons to investigate water hauling that may be suspicious on the front end, he said. This should not catch up law-abiding folks in the net. Mary Anne Cooper, vice president of government affairs for the Oregon Farm Bureau, said the bill should avoid unintended consequences for legitimate water users. Most water in the agriculture industry is hauled for stockwater uses, not for irrigation, she said. Its not economically practical for plants other than marijuana. It would never pencil for hemp or any other crop, Cooper said. One of the original ideas for the bill was to prohibit water hauling entirely, but that was scrapped as lawmakers learned about the legitimate uses of hauled water, Helm said. Meghan Walstatter, interim executive director of the Oregon Cannabis Association, objected to a portion of the bill that would create additional licensing requirements for legal marijuana growers. We are not the problem, she said. The regulated market should not have to go through more steps to prove they are good actors, Walstatter said. Helm said that a planned amendment to HB 4061 aims to resolve those concerns. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora yesterday got a rude awakening when a paltry crowd attended his partys official launch of its campaign ahead of the March 26 by-elections. An estimated 300 people turned up for the rally, but a statement issued by the party claimed 5000 attended. Mwonzoras party is contesting the polls under the MDC Alliance banner after side-lining Zimbabwes mainstream opposition party led by Nelson Chamisa under controversial circumstances. Chamisas formation last month dumped the MDC name and is now known as the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The rally in Harares Highfield yesterday was being hyped as the stage to demonstrate that Mwonzora was the leading opposition figure in Zimbabwe. It was billed to start at 10am, but the party leader only arrived at the venue in the high-density suburb around 3:30pm as there were only a handful of people. It was speculated that he delayed his arrival because he was hoping that there would be an improvement in attendance. Independent Norton legislator Temba Mliswa said the small crowd showed that Mwonzora faced an uphill struggle as he tries to outmanoeuvre Chamisas CCC and Zanu PF. For Mwonzora today should be a reminder that he has work to do, Mliswa said on Twitter. As I have always argued, the electorate isnt obtuse or naive. It knows what it wants and he has the onerous task to make people believe that he can be a genuine opposition leader. Mwonzora told ZBC that he was shocked by images on social media showing a paltry crowd. He believes that over 5 000 people attended the rally. Im very excited by the turnout, Mwonzora was quoted saying. I was shocked the social media was circulating pictures without people, but now we can see for ourselves 5 000 plus. Besides the ruling party, no other party can have such numbers without being forced or enticed by money. After having a leadership clean-out, we are now having leaders who follow the party ideology and out of 12 seats we expect a minimum of eight. Most of the seats fell vacant when Mwonzora recalled MDC Alliance legislators after accusing them of joining a rival party. His party failed to field candidates in three of the constituencies that would be up for grabs on March 26. At yesterdays rally, most of the people were clad in red t-shirts emblazoned with the late Morgan Tsvangirai portraits with only a few wearing Mwonzoras white branded t-shirts. A high quality PA system churned out Paul Madzores songs at the rally. Madzore is a member of Chamisas CCC. There was a scuffle at the end of the rally as some people demanded refunds for transport fares, which could be an indication that they were from other suburbs of Harare. In his address, Mwonzora reserved his venom for Chamisa and CCC, accusing them of adopting an Islamist terrorist group slogan. The claim has already been dismissed as false after it was first made by the state-controlled media. There are people whom we recalled from office because of incompetence and they are pleading to be returned again, he said. You should vote for someone who has outwitted both (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa and Chamisa. That person is me. There is no other party that is going to use our party symbols and colours. The MDC party is ours. Mwonzora is accused of doing Zanu PFs bidding, but he denies the claims. Standard Sydney, Feb. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Namibia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW The policy has continuing objectives though to 2029, while the associated Implementation Action Plan includes programs through to 2024. These various measures are intended to reduce the digital divide by facilitating investment in IP-based services, and encouraging the take-up of services. Mobile network coverage has increased sharply in recent years. By the beginning of 2021, 3G infrastructure provided 89% population coverage while LTE infrastructure provided 79% coverage (compared to only 40% a year earlier). Developments with 5G were set back by unsubstantiated public concerns over the health implications of the technology, though the government has requested the regulator to speed up its 5G development strategy. The increase in the number of mobile broadband subscribers seen since 2018 has partly been attributed to MTCs 081Every1 campaign which is intended to provide national coverage and to improve data rates over its 3G and LTE networks. Phase 1 of the project was completed by June 2020, while Phase 2 was essentially complete by early 2022. Phase 3 is due to be completed by September 2022. The work undertaken by MTC contributed to the 8.5% increase in the number of mobile broadband subscribers in the year to June 2021, reaching 1.877 million. The regulator noted that continuing growth in the sector has also been supported by the popularity of prepaid internet-enabled SIM cards compared to the use of PCs and laptops. Key developments: Paratus and MTN Namibia sign national roaming agreement aimed at quickening the pace of LTE rollouts; Namibia to be connected to Googles Equiano cable system; New SIM card registration rules are put in place; MTC completes its IPO; Telecom Namibia upgrades its VSAT hub to provide more reliable connectivity for users in remote areas; Government calls for the regulator to speed up 5G development strategy; Government launches the National Broadband Policy and Implementation Action Plan, aiming to provide a universal 2Mb/s services by 2024; MTC nears completion of Phase 2 of its N$1 billion 081Every1 network expansion project; Report update includes the regulators market report for 2020, market data to June 2021, operator data for fiscal 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Telecom Namibia; Mobile Telecommunications (MTC); Cell One (Leo, Orascom); Powercom; MTN Business Namibia; MWEB Namibia; Africa Online Namibia; Internet Technologies Namibia; iWay Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Namibia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Gloucester, MA (01930) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High near 50F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Goshen, IN (46526) Today Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. High 58F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Zanu-PF Bulawayo province has said it is confident of winning seats in the upcoming March 26 by-elections as it seeks to use the opportunity, once elected to improve the lives of citizens and continue spearheading economic growth. The province streamed the launch of the ruling partys campaign presided over by President Mnangagwa in Harare on a big screen at Pumula terminus on Saturday. The ruling party is bracing to reclaim Pumula and Nkulumane constituencies as well as other local authority seats which had been held by the opposition before their in-house disorder saw them recalling each other from parliament and council. The partys provincial spokesperson Cde Archie Chiponda said the province was now in full campaign mode after the launch by the President. What we did as a party in each province, we managed to stream the launch from the Epworth (in Harare) rally on big screens. The point was for solidarity countrywide in the roll out of our by-election campaign. Going forward, now that the President has officially launched, it means we are now in full campaign mode. We are now definitely forging forward with our campaign with all our tactics and strategies, said Cde Chiponda. He said cities have been run down by the opposition hence their aim to reclaim the seats and improve the lives of citizens as well as work towards economic growth. The message has been quite emphatic from Zanu-PF. One of our mantras is ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo so now is the time for economic development. We are focused on building the economy and improving the lives of people and that is the message we are taking to the people. If you look at the local authority set up, there is no way the people of Zimbabwe will vote for the opposition in any city because they have run them down. We are glad because the electorate has seen that voting the opposition was a wrong move so going forward, they need to give Zanu-PF a chance and we will definitely improve peoples lives, said Cde Chiponda. Pumula youth chairperson Cde Elvis Dube said they were raring to go and will work hard to ensure the party wins the constituency. I am happy with the launch of the campaign by the President for the by-elections. We as the youth now have a theme that says akusalalwa koBulawayo sokusentshenzwa like what the President is doing. So, what we now want to first do is to follow what the President is emphasising, which is economic development. As Pumula constituency we have a candidate, Phumulani Nsingo and we are confident he will win, said Cde Dube The ruling party supporters who attended the virtual rally also received party regalia. Chronicle Grand Haven, MI (49417) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Rolls-Royce, Porterbrook and Chiltern Railways have put a hybrid diesel-battery-electric train that reduces CO 2 emissions by up to 25% into passenger service in the UK. The HybridFLEX train is powered by two mtu Hybrid PowerPacks and is operated by Chiltern Railways on the route between London Marylebone and Aylesbury. Together with the leasing company Porterbrook and Chiltern Railways, Rolls-Royce has converted a Class 168 DMU into the HybridFLEX train. The partners are proving that existing rail vehicles can be used in a climate-friendly way without the need to install complex and expensive new infrastructure. It is the worlds first regular passenger operation with mtu Hybrid PowerPacks, of which 13 have already been ordered. The mtu Hybrid PowerPack combines the advantages of battery and diesel-powered trains. Trains with mtu Hybrid PowerPack can also be operated on non-electrified routes purely electrically and thus locally emission-free, for example in urban areas or in stations. The Hybrid PowerPack combines a diesel engine, which complies with the EU Stage V emissions directive, with an electric machine, which can be used either as an electric motor or generator, and an mtu EnergyPack battery system, which stores the energy recovered during braking. In pure electric operations, drive noise is reduced by about 75% (20 dB(A)). Recuperated braking energy is stored in a battery, the mtu EnergyPacks. In the HybridFLEX, the batteries are mounted under the floor of the vehicle. A new type of driver assistance system, the mtu Intelligent Drive Manager, is being used on this train for the first time. It ensures that the drive system automatically switches to all-electric operation in emission- and noise-sensitive areas such as cities or train stations. The driver does not have to intervene. The Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems with its mtu products and solutions brand, is leading the companys way towards net zero as a provider of low-emission drive and energy solutions. A proposed merger of two Manhattan elementary schools with sharply differing student demographics and enrollment numbers is stirring up debate over race, gentrification and education in the East Village. To some parents and the city Department of Education, the plan to combine P.S. 19 and East Village Community School located just three blocks apart on E. 12th St. makes perfect sense; to others its nothing short of a takeover. Advertisement The East Village Community School on E. 12th St. in Manhattan. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) East Village Community School, whose students are majority white and wealthier than the district average, is so overpopulated that teachers are forced to hold therapy sessions for students with disabilities in the hallway. Public School 19, where students are overwhelmingly Black, Latino and poor, is so under-enrolled that an entire hallway of classrooms sits mostly unused. Advertisement Public School 19 on First Ave. in Manhattan. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) Combining the two schools in P.S. 19s building, as the DOE has proposed in a plan set to come up for a vote this week, would address both schools enrollment needs while boosting long-running efforts to foster racial and socioeconomic integration in lower Manhattans District One, supporters say. We have an over amount of enrollment, we need the space, they have a lot of space, said Francesca Barreiro, the Parent Association president at EVCS. Just being merged together, it would be a phenomenal thing for these young minds. DOE officials argue that P.S. 19 has shrunk so much that it can no longer offer a wide range of extracurricular options, while EVCS boasts a wealth of afterschool activities including a rock band, marching band and musical theater. But while some P.S. 19 parents support the plan, another group is pushing back, arguing that their schools identity will be lost and the Black, Latino, low-income and disabled students the school has dedicated itself to serving will get short shrift. This feels like David and Goliath, said P.S. 19 parent Rodney Lee. This big school with 300 kids, mostly white, taking over a small school thats mostly Black and Latin. Its not a merger at all, its a takeover. This is gentrification again. Its just frustrating and you feel powerless. Rodney and Kara Katwaroo-Lee with their daughters, Priya, 10 (left), and Jayanti, 3, outside of Public School 19 on First Ave. in Manhattan. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) P.S. 19s enrollment has been falling for more than a decade. In 2006, the school taught roughly 400 students, but the number has steadily shrunk, with the pandemic accelerating the decline. The school currently has 176 kids 80% of whom are Black or Latino, and 70% of whom are poor in a building DOE officials say is equipped for 577. Loyal parents say despite the anemic enrollment the school has been a lifeline, particularly for the students with disabilities who now comprise 40% of the schools population. Advertisement East Village Community School has taken a virtually opposite path as its neighbor. The school went from an enrollment of under 200 in 2006 to a high of 330 in 2019, driven by a boom in white, middle-class families signing up. The school is now 30% Black and Latino, and about 30% poor. Parents say the overcrowding is untenable, with kids forced to receive crucial services in noisy hallways and storage rooms getting repurposed for musical space. Left to right; Rodeny Lee, 54, Priya Lee, 10, Kara Katwaroo-Lee, 45, Jayanti, 3, Shirley Penafiel, 32, Anahi Hernandez, 5, Kai Fuentes, 5, and Anthony Fuentes, 45, outside of P.S. 19 at 185 1st Ave, Manhattan, New York, are concerned with elementary school P.S. 19 merging with the East Village Community School, Thursday, February 10. (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) DOE officials made their first attempt to address EVCSs space woes in 2019, proposing a merger with Public School 34, another nearby school with almost exclusively Black, Latino and low-income students and long-standing enrollment challenges. The plan was nixed after protests from P.S. 34 parents. Some P.S. 19 parents say the current proposal should meet the same fate. Advertisement Why couldnt you [the DOE] help our school ... when our enrollment was declining? asked Kara Katwaroo-Lee, who has a child with a disability at P.S. 19. The optics appear that we have an overcrowded white school, so the solution is to take over the Black and Brown school. DOE officials say they did work with P.S. 19 to stanch the enrollment losses by asking the local Family Welcome Center to spread the word and adding several sections of pre-k classes, but that there was low demand for those seats. Proponents say the merger could help address long-standing, stubborn racial and socioeconomic segregation in District One, which covers the Lower East Side and East Village. P.S. 19 families critical of the plan say theyre not opposed to more school integration, but worry that the new combined school will continue to attract white, middle-class families while crowding out Black and Latino students. Our families ... will eventually be pushed out, said P.S. 19 Parent Association president Shirley Penafiel. Our diversity statistics will look good the first year, but in the long run it will not help us. The East Village Community School (Shawn Inglima/for New York Daily News) Barreiro, the EVCS parent, who is Black, said she empathizes with those concerns. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > I like to see different cultures come together but I do think we have to hold DOE accountable for maintaining and supporting the combined schools newfound diversity. A DOE spokesman said keeping a racially and socioeconomically diverse student body is a primary concern for EVCS principal Bradley Goodman, who will likely take over the merged school because P.S. 19s principal is retiring. The combined school would also likely vote on a new name, DOE officials said. School and district leadership are working to make the proposed merged school a welcoming environment and home for every student, with a guarantee of access for siblings and current pre-k students at P.S. 19, and will ensure the school has the resources and programs necessary to meet the needs of a diverse student body with diverse needs, said DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer. There are also more immediate concerns about how the differing cultures and educational philosophies of the two schools will mesh. EVCS has a reputation as a progressive school where kids refer to teachers by their first names and participate in morning singalongs. P.S. 19, meanwhile, has cultivated a distinct focus on kids with disabilities, offering small class sizes and specialized programs. DOE officials say the hallmarks of each school, including a specialized program at P.S. 19 for kids with autism, will remain while parent working groups continue to hash out new approaches. The new PTA will include parents from both schools, officials added. Advertisement The proposal is set for a vote at this weeks meeting of the Panel for Education Policy. Flashback: the birth of TouchWiz and the many, many platforms that it ran on In early 2007 Samsung introduced the F700. Not its first touchscreen phone, but it was the first where the company put concentrated effort into crafting an attractive, functional touch UI. Well, at least compared to the dreary PocketPCs of the period. The result was Croix, French for cross. Looking at the UI grid, you will immediately see why its called that. The interface won an IF design award, a year after the LG Prada won the same award (as you may remember, the Prada was the first phone with a capacitive touchscreen). Samsung F700 running the Croix user interface Yes, the mid-2000s saw a Cambrian explosion of touch interfaces. Croix reminds us of Sonys XrossMediaBar that was first featured on the PS2 and later became the default on the PS3, PSP and several of Sonys phones. But this kind of grid based, up-down, left-right UI always felt like it was designed with a D-pad in mind. Croix was also used on the stylish Samsung P520 Armani, which was launched at Giorgio Armanis show at Milan Fashion Week. If you want to learn more about Samsungs collaborations with fashion brands in the past you can, but todays focus is on touch interfaces. Despite the glamor and early acclaim won by Croix, this is more or less where its story ends. Samsung had prepared something even more ambitious to replace it. This came in mid-2008 with the arrival of the Samsung F480, sometimes known as Tocco, but you may recognize its other name better TouchWiz. Indeed, this phone had the first incarnation of the touch UI that would adorn Samsung phones across many platforms and many years. Samsung F480, aka Tocco, aka TouchWiz The F480 had a 2.8 resistive touchscreen with 240 x 320 px resolution. It was stylish with a back panel textured to look like brushed metal and a faux leather flip. If you insisted on a fashion label, Samsung collaborated with Hugo Boss to create a special edition of the phone that came with a Bluetooth headset. Thats 2007 fashion for you. Samsung F480 Hugo Boss edition TouchWiz got one thing right from the start widgets are a great way to allow users to customize the look and functionality of their phones. There were widgets on non-touch phones too, of course, and they did a fine job displaying information but not such a fine job at letting the user interacting with them. With a touchscreen, a music player widget could show Play, Stop, Next and Previous buttons and you would instinctively know how to use them. A gallery widget could let you browse through images easily and so on. TouchWiz had widgets from the start The F480 was a feature phone neither touchscreens nor widgets make a phone smart. And TouchWiz continued to be used on other feature phones throughout 2009 with the likes of the hybrid Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH. It had a 2.8 AMOLED touchscreen (with Gorilla Glass no less), but also had a slide-out keypad. A capable 8 MP camera and other cool features, this one is worthy of its own article. There was also the Samsung S5230 Star, aka Tocco Lite, which funnily enough had a larger 3.0 display. Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH Samsung S5230 Star TouchWiz wasnt exclusively a feature phone interface, however. It tried to make Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional more touch friendly for the Samsung i900 Omnia in 2008 and it tried to do the same for Symbian S60 rel. 5 for the Samsung i8910 Omnia HD in 2009. The native interfaces of both OSes were always better with a stylus than with a finger, so there was good reason to try and improve on them. Samsung i900 Omnia Samsung i8910 Omnia HD The venerable Samsung S8000 Jet was a phone with an AMOLED display and a powerful 800 MHz processor that intimidated the smartphones of the day (weve covered it in a previous Flashback). The extra power of its Qualcomm chipset allowed it to run TouchWiz 2.0, same as the Omnia HD (whereas the S8300 UltraTOUCH ran version 1). Samsung S8000 Jet If you know your Samsung history, you will know that the companys first Android phone arrived around the same time in 2009. You would think that it put TouchWiz on top of Androids UI as many Galaxys did after it, but that wasnt the case the I7500 Galaxy actually ran pure Android. It wouldnt be until TouchWiz 3.0 that Samsungs custom UI would make its way to Android and it did so with a splash the original Galaxy S was the first Android to run TouchWiz. It was a great phone with a lasting legacy, recounted in a previous installment. But just as it happened with SuperAMOLED, the Galaxy S wasnt the first TouchWiz 3.0 phone the Bada-powered Samsung S8500 Wave beat it to the punch both times. TouchWiz was also part of Badas successor, Tizen. Samsung I9000 Galaxy S Samsung S8500 Wave If youre keeping count, TouchWiz appeared on six different platforms. It tried to unify the experience across Samsung offerings at a time when it was juggling multiple OSes. Of course, these days TouchWiz is most remembered as Samsungs Android skin and while it was well liked at first, opinions started to turn against it in the later years. Samsung would finally replace TouchWiz with One UI, first unveiled in late 2018. While One UI is much better, we cant help but admire what TouchWiz achieved few UIs have lasted 10 years before. KZ is a Chinese brand that has become well-known in the IEM segment for its affordable and reasonable-sounding earbuds. We covered the popular KZ ZSN Pro X in our budget IEM roundup and found them to be the best of the bunch. The company has now teamed up with Crinacle to launch the CRN. Crinacle is a revered reviewer and critic in the audio industry and runs a database of over 1000 tested IEMs on his website. Recently, he has taken to doing collaborations with IEM brands to come up with products that have been tuned to his liking. KZ now joins this list of brands that includes Moondrop, Fiio, Fearless Audio, and See Audio. The interesting thing about the CRN is that they had previously been launched as the KZ ZEX Pro without the branding, even though it's the same product. Crinacle revealed later that this was a social experiment to see how the product would be reviewed without his branding before releasing the version with his name on it. So even though this review will refer to the product as KZ x Crinacle CRN or just CRN, it's also applicable to the ZEX Pro as the two are identical, minus the Crinacle branding on the latter. So what is this product, then? The CRN are a pair of affordable IEMs. While KZ tends to have its own tuning for its IEMs, the CRN has naturally been tuned by Crinacle, with the goal to have a more balanced sound profile with a bit of bass. That sounds like an instant improvement over the typical KZ IEM and it may very well be the case. Let's see, however, how the CRN actually perform. Update: Since publishing this review, Crinacle has distanced himself from the CRN due to his disagreement with how the drivers are tuned (more on this below). However, while he no longer approves of the product in principle, the earbuds remain the same and thus the review below remains valid. Design and build The CRN are a first of their kind earbuds from KZ featuring a triple driver design comprising of an electrostatic, dynamic, and balanced armature driver in each earbud. To be specific, it's a 6.8mm electret electrostatic driver, 10mm dual magnet dynamic driver, and a Knowles 30095 balanced armature driver. For a brief explanation of all the driver types, an electrostatic driver works by vibrating a membrane suspended in an electrostatic field. A constant (and usually high) voltage is passed through the membrane, which then moves based on the changing electrostatic field from the conductive grids on either side. An electret electrostatic driver has a constant and usually small voltage pre-applied to the membrane and thus does not require a powerful external power supply to work. This makes it suitable for form-factors like IEMs. A balanced armature driver, on the other hand, works by moving a diaphragm by attaching it to a reed or armature, which is suspended in a magnetic field. By magnetizing the reed, it can be made to move up and down, thus moving the attached diaphragm. A dynamic driver is a simple conical diaphragm attached to an electromagnet (voice coil) and placed in front of a permanent magnet. All these driver types have their advantages and disadvantages, so they are usually reserved for handling different parts of the frequency spectrum using crossovers. In this case, the dynamic driver handles the bass region, the balanced armature the mid-range, and the electrostatic driver the high-end. Update: While the above is true in theory, as it turns out the BA and electrostatic drivers in the CRN are extremely dampned to the point of being barely audible. The only driver you are mostly hearing is the dynamic driver and as such KZ's claim of this being a triple-driver IEM is misleading. This is the reason for Crinacle's disowning of the product, as he was under the impression that it's a proper triple-driver design. To contain all the drivers, the shell of the CRN is on the larger side. The outer cover of the shell is made out of zinc alloy while the part that sits inside the ear is translucent resin. Build quality is good and the earbuds feel well-made regardless of the price. The CRN come in two colors, rose gold, and black. The gold model has clear resin instead of the translucent on the black. The earbuds feature a standard 2-pin connector. The bundled cable is relatively easy to get on, although the L/R marking on the cable isn't easy to see so make sure you get it right as you have to attach the cable yourself the first time. Play a test tone if you aren't sure you got it right. The cable itself is pretty good. It's not too thick nor too heavy, doesn't maintain kinks and folds easily, and also doesn't have any appreciable microphonics. You can choose to buy the CRN with a choice of two cables, one with and the other without a mic. The mic version also has a single button to play/pause playback and pick up/cancel calls and works fine on both iOS and Android. Aside from the cable, the only other things you get in the simple packaging are the three sets of earbuds in different sizes. These are standard silicone ear tips; no fancy foam here. Comfort Despite the awkward-looking shape, the CRN were quite comfortable inside my ears. The resin shell has carefully designed indentations to go around the contours of your outer ear cavity. Whether these fit your ears exactly will depend and it's possible not everyone will find them comfortable. The shape of the earbuds relies heavily on guessing the size and shape of your ear so it's quite likely that it will miss the mark for some users. The supplied earbuds are also soft and comfortable on the ears. They also create a really good seal, bringing down the ambient noise levels quite a bit without involving any software trickery. Performance Audio quality Update: Regardless of the truth about the driver situation mentioned above, the analysis below is unchanged and remains valid. The CRN have been tuned to deliver a mostly neutral sound but with a bass boost. The resultant sound is pretty much as it says on the tin. The bass tuning and performance is one of the better ones I've experienced on IEMs in this price range. Most often, the bass boost starts much earlier in the frequency range, which tends to also lift lower mids and upper bass frequencies, resulting in a very mid-bass heavy sound that can be boomy and unpleasant. The CRN bass boost starts at around 200Hz and it's really only below 100Hz that it kicks in. This produces a cleaner and purer bass boost shelf that lets you enjoy your bass frequencies without affecting the rest of the sound. The bass on the CRN isn't as upfront and in your face as from a typical mid-bass boosted IEM. It really comes down to the sort of music you listen to because not all music has a lot of energy below 100Hz so at times it feels like there isn't much bass boosting happening. This does work quite well for the most part as music that is generally not intended to be bass-heavy is left largely untouched aside from a bit of added warmth. On the other hand, tracks that are bass monsters can absolutely revel in that surfeit of low-end energy as they thump and slam to glory. Bass delivery remains clean and distortion-free and the drivers are able to deliver the sound quite well without bottoming out. The bass also never feels overtuned; the intent was clearly to enhance and not overwhelm. The mid-range performance is great. The response across the range is incredibly even, which means all frequencies in this range are getting exactly the amount of energy as they should in the recording. Vocals have a great presence in the mix along with percussion and string instruments coming through beautifully. If anything, it's the nature of the balanced armature drivers that sort of taints the sound a bit. BA drivers don't have the most natural tonality or timbral characteristics and you get this slight nasal or metallic tone to some of the vocals and instruments. It's only something you really have to pay attention to notice, however. Treble performance is also really good. Most of the treble range is really even and although there is some unevenness in the higher ranges it doesn't really come through in the sound. For the most part, treble on the CRN has just enough energy, brightness, and sparkle that the recording demands and almost never feels shrill or shouty. The sound does seem to roll off around 15k, though, so you're not going to get much out of your high-resolution recordings, not that most people can hear above that, anyway. Technical performance isn't as impressive and more indicative of the price bracket we are in. Resolution and detail definitely feel lacking here compared to more expensive models and also rare exceptions like the Moondrop SSR, which are similarly priced but can resolve much more detail. The imaging performance is quite good for IEMs, no doubt helped by the strong upper mid and treble performance. Soundstage is expectedly underwhelming. Regarding sensitivity, you really can just drive these using the headphone jack or dongle on your phone. While most of my testing here was done using a Shanling UA2, the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter was also perfectly capable of driving these earbuds with plenty of volume to spare. These are sensitive enough to expose any background noise that may be present in your source. Microphone The CRN can be configured with or without a microphone. My recommendation would be to not get the microphone as it's just not very good. The sound is awfully quiet for some reason and I wasn't really sure if it was just my unit or an issue with the cable. If you don't get the cable with the mic, you always have the option of getting a different cable with a better mic. Verdict The KZ X Crinacle CRN or the ZEX Pro are priced at around $36. These are exceptionally good value IEMs with one of the best tunings I've heard in this price range. They stand head and shoulders over their competitors in this price range, many of which actually come from KZ itself but don't sound nearly as good. The technical performance could be a bit better and the microphone is an afterthought but neither is a dealbreaker. Those were the only times I was reminded of the price of these things because it was really hard to tell otherwise. Even things like the build quality and the supplied cable are really well done. I also found them to be quite comfortable to wear but your mileage may vary on that. Overall, the CRN get a strong recommendation from me and are absolutely worth your consideration. Thanks to Headphone Zone for providing the review unit. The Samsung Galaxy S22 trio arrived earlier this week to take their spots as the rulers of the Korean company's bar phone lineup. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ both get updated main cameras and slightly changed sizes, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the first Samsung phone to come with a built-in S Pen since the Note20 Ultra in 2020. Galaxy S22 and S22+ now fit their positions better The Galaxy S22 and S22+ come with revamped camera setups compared to their predecessors, including a significantly larger main sensor and proper telephoto cameras instead of relying on digital zoom from a 64MP sensor. Those along with the new chipsets that bring a major boost to computational photography promise to bring significant boost to image quality. But arguably the bigger change is the slight tweak to screen sizes and dimensions that make these two fit better within the lineup. Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ The Galaxy S22 is more than half a centimeter shorter than the S21 in addition to being slightly narrower. That brings it closer to the Galaxy S10e than its predecessor, and makes it the first truly compact Samsung flagship in three years. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ has shrunk a bit too, helping it distance itself a little better from the Ultra member of the lineup. It likely won't entirely avoid the anonymity stemming from being the middle child, but it may be seen as a viable choice for those finding the Ultra too large instead of merely serving as a consolation for those that find the top dog too expensive. Samsung Galaxy S22+ The flatter frames of the S22 duo compared to the Galaxy S21 and S21+ also make them feel a bit more compact even if they hurt grip a bit. And along with the Gorilla Glass Victus (a new plus version at at that) fronts and backs they also have a more premium vibe. Galaxy S22 Ultra - king of the S-series and protector of the Notes The Galaxy Note series is seemingly gone for good, but its legacy lives on. Last year we had the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold3 support the S Pen, but with no built in holster on either phone few people bothered getting one. The Galaxy S22 Ultra embodies the spirit of a Galaxy Note far better and even its design is more akin to the Note 20 Ultra than the S21 Ultra. With the second half of the year flagship spot reserved for the foldables it's better to have a best-of-both worlds Note and S-series flagship than no Note at all. In fact it might be better this way even if there weren't foldable to worry about. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra The top Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models were becoming redundant, with the sole difference being the addition of an S Pen slot. The S9+ and Note9 had the exact same camera setups, S10 5G and Note10+ had nearly the same setups (slightly different lenses) and the S20 Ultra/Note20 Ultra only had different telephoto units. With the S22 Ultra, Samsung is also pivoting back to more aggressively curved screen and boxier overall shape. There's a good reason for that too - the S Pen silo means it can't be tapered like the S21 Ultra. Jury is still out on Galaxy S22 Ultra camera With the S22 and S22+, the main cameras are updated to a large 50MP sensor with improved OIS. The telephoto cameras are also natively 3X telephoto now compared to the previous 64MP hybrid solution of the S21 and S21+. So it's quite reasonable to expect them to do better photos and videos than thtier predecessors. The S22 Ultra, on the other hand, has largely identical camera hardware. In fact, the only differences are the smaller sensors on its telephoto cameras. However we all know the importance of computational photography for the image quality of modern smartphones. Samsung says its software tweaks brings a significant improvement to lowlight photography and videography, but we won't know for sure if it's true until the reviews come out. We are also yet to see if those software improvements trickle down to the Galaxy S21 Ultra as well. Software updates can now compete with Apple Android smartphone makers have shown interest in making their devices last longer with firmware updates lately, but none more so than Samsung. The company not only surpassed the previous standard of two major Android upgrades, but also often releases the monthly security patches before even Google updates its Pixels. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Samsung follows by offering four years of One UI updates and five years of security updates. Only Google promises that kind of support and it only includes three major updates. The past seven days delivered plenty of new hardware, a large chunk coming at the Unpacked event on Wednesday. It was far from the only event, however, with 5 other makers announcing new devices. And we've prepared the following quick recap to make sure you haven't missed any. The week began with a Tecno Pop 5S - a budget solution for developing markets. The phone has a basic 5.7" LCD, two cameras on the back and an Android 10 (Go edition) OS. The chipset comes with a quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM and this whole ensemble costs the equivalent of $110 in Mexico. Tecno Pop 5S in Light Purple and Deep Blue The following day we saw the arrival of Honor 60 SE. The phone is officially part of the Honor 60 series, but its look from the back reminds us more of an iPhone 13 Pro. The 60 SE comes with a Dimensity 900 chipset and 66W fast charging, and an aggressive pricing starting at $345. Honor 60 SE Infinix brought its first 5G smartphone. The Zero 5G is the first phone with next-gen connectivity, and just like the Honor 60 SE, it has a Dimensity 900 chipset and a familiar design of back. This time it follows the Oppo Find X3 Pro formula rather than one of Apple's blueprints. The vivo T1 5G arrived in India as a third member of the T1 family and the first to make it out of China. The unique camera island on the back holds a 50MP main shooter, while the chipset is Snapdragon 695, which is rather rare sight. Its price begins from INR14,999, which is around $200, and is good news for the Indian country - 5G phones are getting cheaper right in time for the commercial rollout that is expected this year. The week's big announcement is undoubtedly the Unpacked event Samsung hosted on Wednesday. We saw a trio of Galaxy S22 flagships, as well as three Galaxy Tab S8 tablets. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ come as refined versions of their 2021 predecessors. Both phones are slightly smaller and come with improved cameras and brighter displays. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was the star of the show. Key specs such as cameras and battery capacity remained unchanged, but the new S series top dog now has an S Pen within its body effectively taking the place of the Note series from yesteryear. The Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and are certainly the most capable tablets on the Android side of the fence. The vanilla Tab S8 is the only one of the three with a TFT panel, while the other two adopted large Super AMOLED displays. The trio supports 45W fast charging, which in theory can get a battery from 0 to 100% in just 82 minutes - that's super quick for an 11,200 mAh battery of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The week was wrapped with the Realme C35 - an affordable handset with a 50MP main camera and a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging. It is currently available only in Thailand, but we expect it to reach other markets soon. There was also one more announcement and it came from us, the people behind GSMArena.com. We launched our new project ArenaEV.com in an attempt to do for electric vehicles what we have done for phones in the past 22 years. Advanced search Toggles to switch between the different drivetrains It is a website that catalogs all the EVs and provides the latest info in the world of tomorrow. The design is intentionally similar to GSMArena.com, where users can compare cars, browse specifications and images, and read the news. The Galaxy Note is dead, long live the Galaxy S22 Ultra! We knew it was coming, but was it actually a good move to drop the Note line and absorb its trademark feature into the S-series? No, it wasnt, judging by the results from last weeks poll. The majority would have preferred if Samsung kept the S and Note models separate. If nothing else, having a second launch near the end of the year was a boon for holiday shoppers with money to burn but few ideas. But that time slot is now owned by the Z foldables. About a third of voters dont see it that way, though. If the phone was named Galaxy Note22 Ultra instead, they would have treated it as just another Note launch and it being called S22 Ultra instead is a minor to insignificant issue to them. Others see it as a bigger issue, however. As some commenters pointed out, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is almost a separate model line on its own, while the S22 and S22+ are quire similar, differing mainly in screen and battery. So maybe Samsung should have kept the Note name to acknowledge the gulf in the S-series spec sheets. Anyway, the popular opinion is that the Note series should have been kept separate and there are a few good reasons. We mentioned that the best Galaxy camera is on the large, expensive Ultra. Speaking of prices, the Note10 and Note20 series were divided into flagship Plus models and slightly cheaper vanilla phones. Unfortunately, you cant have an S22 Ultra Lite, so its straight to the top of the price charts if you want a stylus. We published a hands-on review of the three phones yesterday, including hands-on videos with the Galaxy S22 and S22+ as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. We plan to do more in-depth reviews soon, so stay tuned for those. Leading up to today, the message was all over social media: whos going to be your valentine? As joyful as this holiday is for some, sometimes it could also be a lonely reminder to those not in relationships. Sometimes it is hard to be single, not having anyone to share something special with at all, you dont have to constantly pay attention to someone, said Gage Camacho, a Father Duenas Memorial School junior. Camacho says he views Valentines day as a sweet holiday meant for couples and that he most likely would enjoy the holiday more if he had a partner. For others, the holiday doesnt really have an impact on them. I dont really feel lonely on that day since all my friends are also single, said Patricia Ilao, a Notre Dame junior. Dominique Rivera, a sophomore at John F. Kennedy High School, says she feels indifferent about the holiday, but appreciates the discounts she gets on chocolate during this time of year. Being single isnt a bad thing. It allows you to see your worth from your perspective. Even if you are not in a relationship, you can still celebrate Valentines day. The most important thing is to put yourself first. Indulging on more sweets or fancy foods as a way to celebrate and treat yourself is also great too! Rivera said. There are many ways to spend the day: treating yourself to chocolates, hanging out with your friends, or even spending time by yourself. Most people seem to think that this holiday is only applicable to those in relationships. In reality, it is a day for everyone to celebrate love, no matter what type it may be. For Joanna Laguana, a junior at Academy of Our Lady of Guam, Valentines Day is a day for her to celebrate the love she has for her family and friends. I believe that some of the best ways to celebrate Valentines Day as a single person is to reflect, remember, and recognize the relationships that one has, had, and or may have in the future, Laguana said. The Guam Waterworks Authority, which collects about $110 million from its customers each year, cant afford to pay Core Tech International $220 million over a land dispute, according to water agency General Manager Miguel Bordallo. Bordallo said also that GWA would be unable to borrow enough money to pay Core Tech. One option would be to triple Guams water rates to pay Core Tech, but it is unclear the Public Utilities Commission would allow that to happen, Bordallo told the Superior Court of Guam in a Feb. 4 declaration. A household that uses 5,000 gallons of water per month currently pays $62.77. Tripling that would cost $188.31 per month, with $125.54 to pay Core Tech. Land dispute Core Tech, which in 2015 acquired ancestral land in Dededo, claims it now owns the land that has been used since 1980 to operate GWAs Northern District Wastewater Treatment Plant. Core Tech wants: $130 million in damages; monthly rent and interest, retroactive to 1980; and monthly rent payments until the government of Guam vacates the premises. According to GWA, that could cost a total of $220 million if Core Tech wins its court case. Superior Court of Guam Judge Elyze Iriarte last November ruled Core Tech has an ownership interest in the property and can continue to pursue its claim in Superior Court. Flawed certificates The Department of Land Management and GWA have argued that Core Techs ownership claim is based on flawed certificates of title issued by Land Management in 2010, and that Guam law prohibits the wastewater plant site from ever being transferred to private ownership. Land Management has asked the court for permission to change and revoke those certificates of title. The federal government in 1980 gave GovGuam a lease to maintain and operate the wastewater plant, which was built on 13 acres of military land within the 862-acre Air Force communications annex. The federal government later returned 3,213 acres of excess federal land to the government of Guam, including the communications annex. The Guam Ancestral Lands Commission deeded 257 acres of excess federal land to the estate of Jose Martinez Torres, including part of the communications annex. Torres estate The Torres estate in September 2007 sold 252 acres of its ancestral land to Kil Yoo Yoon, for $21.4 million. Yoon in 2008 subdivided the property into eight smaller lots, and in January 2010 deeded the land to his company, Younex Enterprises Corporation. Core Tech acquired the property in May 2015, for $178.1 million, after Younex defaulted on its mortgage with Core Tech, documents state. Core Tech attorney Vanessa Williams in January told the court GWA failed to reserve an interest in the returned excess federal land before ownership reverted to GovGuam for eventual return to its original owners. GWA failed at every turn. GWA now is trying to correct decades of mistakes at the enormous expense of Core Tech International Corporation, namely the $178 million Core Tech paid for this property, Williams stated. GWA wants to appeal Iriartes decision to the Supreme Court of Guam, but Iriarte has not agreed to pause the Superior Court case to allow for an appeal. Irreparable harm To support its request for a pause in the case, GWA recently filed additional briefs with Iriarte, arguing that her November ruling that Core Tech has an ownership interest will cause irreparable harm and therefore must be addressed by justices. The Nov. 30 order appears to recognize some sort of private interest in this public facility and has raised a number of issues that I am reviewing that could harm GWA and the public interest, beyond the immediate and obvious financial burden that will have to be borne by current and future ratepayers to satisfy a judgment against GWA, Bordallo stated. It could set back GWAs efforts to comply with federal Clean Water Act requirements, resulting in millions of dollars in fines, Bordallo stated. Iriarte set a March 4 deadline for Core Tech to respond to GWAs latest filing, and a March 18 deadline for GWA to reply to Core Techs response. If the Supreme Court of Guam hears GWAs appeal, it will have to decide whether Associate Justice Robert Torres should be allowed to participate. Torres in January filed a notice of potentially disqualifying facts, stating the disputed property was owned by his great-grandfather, Jose Martinez Torres. I do not believe the past ownership of the property by my late great-grandfather disqualifies me from sitting or acting as a justice in this case. I have no personal bias or prejudice about any of the parties, and I do not believe my impartiality might reasonably be questioned under these circumstances. However, I provide notice of such facts in the interest of transparency and best interest of justice, Torres stated. Guam Public Library System Director Kris Seerengan wants to use his position to improve the island that has become his home. Originally from Sri Lanka, Seerengan became the library director in June 2021. I was a board member for a while, he said. I saw the needs, and they called me to help so Ive been helping them. He learned about Guam through a University of Guam professor, Robert Stahlnecker, who was teaching at Lakpahana Adventist College where Seerengan was a student. Sheerengan said Stahlnecker talked about Guam so much, it inspired him to move here. Its something similar to Sir Lanka, Seerengan said. The professor told me, If you want to go to school, go to Guam. And I have zero regrets coming here, Seerengan said. I loved this place, he said. I loved the people and I decided to stay. Seerengan attended the University of Guam, where he graduated in 1983 with a degree in business management and a minor in library science. Seerengan said he worked in the private sector for a while, but he eventually decided to become a teacher. He worked as a computer science teacher at Southern High school, and he moved to John F. Kennedy High School in 2008 became the schools librarian. While at John F. Kennedy High School, he was instrumental in helping launch an automation system for the 41 school libraries. Now, he plans to update the public library system as well. He wants to make digital resources more accessible, update the website and upgrade the collection of materials. I am so thankful that Im part of this community and I want to do something for the community, he said. Ive been very active in the library science field, and I have so much passion for it. New York states COVID-19 numbers continued trending in the right direction, with statewide hospitalization figures at the lowest level in nearly two months, Gov. Hochul reported Saturday. The number of hospitalized patients fell below 4,000, a figure unseen since Dec. 19, and overall hospitalizations were down 69% from a Jan. 11 peak of 12,671 New Yorkers, the governor added. Advertisement In the last week, the hospitalization dropoff was nearly 30% across all regions of the state although another 60 COVID deaths were reported statewide on Friday, she said. The states total pandemic death toll stood at 67,779. Gov. Hochul at a COVID-19 briefing in the city Wednesday. (Don Pollard) New Yorkers should be proud of our continued progress in bringing down the numbers since the Omicron peak in January, but this is no time to let up, the governor said. The vaccine is our best defense, and its safe, effective and doctor-recommended for all New Yorkers age 5 and up. Advertisement In New York City, the seven-day average of cases per 100,000 residents dipped from 26.9 on Wednesday to 22.73 on Friday, according to the latest numbers. More than 7 million city dwellers have now received the vaccine and a booster shot. Guam Department of Educations summer school program will likely be mandatory for students receiving the lowest grades, according to Deputy Superintendent Joe Sanchez. Based on Guam DOEs new grading policy, 20% of the islands public school students are receiving Proficiency Level 1 or lower grades the equivalent of a D, Sanchez said. Proficiency Level 4 grades are equivalent to a standard letter A grade; Level 3 is equivalent to a B grade and Level 2 is equivalent to the letter C grade. Once approved by Superintendent Jon Fernandez, parents of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who fall within the Level 1 category will be notified that their children have to go to summer school. Were looking for those students who are either achieving Level 1, and below, or just need additional help, said Sanchez. The federal office confirmed for us that we can use the federal funding and it is possible for us to make it mandatory. High risk The education department is focusing on students considered high risk. Students who score at the lowest level tend to have challenges outside of school, according to Sanchez. In some cases, school attendance officers visit homes and talk with families. Not all students and parents can be located. Sometimes, theyre either homeless or theyre transient, not living in the same place, Sanchez said. Mayors also help find families, even making home visits themselves. This is not something new. This is stuff that was done throughout the entire pandemic, Sanchez said. When we first had the pandemic, we had several thousand students that were unaccounted for. If abuse is uncovered, the department notifies authorities. Normally, Guam DOE would have about 1,500 students in the summer school program. Last summer, but that number jumped to a record 6,000. Sanchez said the department is prepared to maintain that number and accommodate any additional students who may enroll. Like last year, Guam DOE will open up the summer program to students who want to accelerate their learning. A potential rider approaches Guam Regional Transit Authority buses as the drivers wait for passengers at the Hagatna Pool parking lot June 16. Sports featured Special Sunday Gwinnett's Super Bowl connection: Bengals' C.J. Uzomah, Cam Sample aiming for title Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87), a North Gwinnett grad, walks onto the field during the Super Bowl LVI Opening Night Fan Rally at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87), a North Gwinnett grad, screams during player introductions before the AFC wild card game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96), a Shiloh grad, during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 21, 2021. Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96), a Shiloh grad, during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 21, 2021. Christopher Hanewinckel/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87), a North Gwinnett grad, runs after a reception against the Tennessee Titans during a AFC Divisional playoff football game at Nissan Stadium on Jan. 22, 2022. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87), a North Gwinnett grad, speaks during the Super Bowl LVI Opening Night Fan Rally, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cam Sample (96), a Shiloh grad, uses his phone as he arrives at Los Angeles International Airport prior to Super Bowl LVI You would be hard-pressed to find a man happier about the Cincinnati Bengals reaching the Super Bowl than Troy Hobbs. Hobbs does not work for the Bengals, and most fans in Cincinnati do not know his name. But he is a direct link between two Bengals, playing a vital role in developing both. Two players will represent Gwinnett County in Super Bowl LVI, and Hobbs coached both of them in different roles at two schools. He was the wide receivers coach at North Gwinnett High School when C.J. Uzomah was playing for the Bulldogs, and then took the job as the head coach at Shiloh High School, where he coached defensive end Cam Sample. Ive had a chance to text both of them in the last couple weeks trying to get a picture of the two of them because I want to put it up in my office, Hobbs said. I am thrilled for the two of them. Great families, both kids. Cam Samples dad was on my touchdown club board when I was at Shiloh. I am just excited for both of them. First was C.J., who was at North Gwinnett from 2007-2010. Uzomah played some quarterback with the Bulldogs, but head coach Bob Sphire and his staff started moving him out wide as the focus from college recruiters ramped up. (Uzomah) was clearly the best athlete in the program, especially in that age group, Sphire remembered. He was a quarterback there for a long time because he was the best athlete, but I knew his future was at receiver. In a way everything has come full circle for Sphire, who now coaches in his native Kentucky at Highlands High School. The school is across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, meaning he is coaching a few short miles away from one of his former players living out his NFL dreams. What is really cool is Im sitting in my house in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and I can look out one angle of my complex and see Paul Brown Stadium, Sphire said. This is huge Bengal country; this place is buzzing. Ive had some reporters over in the Cincinnati area reach out to me. He recalled the 2008 Class AAAAA state playoff game against Lassiter High School where the best athlete nature of C.J.s game was on full display. Sphire asked his quarterback Scott Hosch what the play should be on a critical third down. The answer was short, but emphatic. He looked at me and said, Throw the damn ball to C.J., Sphire laughed. Hosch who went on to play quarterback at Harvard and is now a graduate assistant at Northwestern was more than comfortable playing the C.J. card whenever he had to. We just knew we could trust him, Hosch said. I can agree that story happened because it happened multiple times. Theres your get-out-of-jail-free card throw it to C.J. Uzomah committed to Auburn, where he moved to tight end and caught seven touchdowns. He was a member of the 2013 team that advanced to the National Championship Game his junior year and was a finalist for the Mackey Award as the nations top tight end in his senior season. The Bengals drafted him in the fifth round, and his role has gradually increased since 2015 from sparingly used blocking tight end to becoming one of the focal points of the offense. Over a decade after his days in Suwanee on a third-and-goal early in the playoff opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow pulled a Hosch and threw the ball to CJ in a playoff game. Uzomah caught it for a touchdown, the first touchdown of the Super Bowl run. I was rooting for him so hard in the earlier years of his career where he had some injuries and the team was always struggling, Hosch said. You never knew if he was going to get his chance. Its so cool to see the talent we always knew was there; its finally in the spotlight. Ive rooted for him the whole time. It looked like injuries were going to derail Uzomah at the most significant moment of all when he left the AFC Championship Game with an MCL sprain. But on Monday night at Cincinnatis send-off rally, he put any thoughts of missing the game to bed when he whipped the crowd into a frenzy by removing his knee brace and throwing it into the air. Im feeling great, Uzomah told the media on Tuesday. Its been a grind. A lot of early mornings, a lot of late nights of just rehabbing and fighting through some stuff. But I feel really good. On the other side of the ball is Sample, a rookie out of Tulane. Like Uzomah, he did some positional adjusting in high school. He started his high school career as a linebacker, but the coaching staff quickly realized he was better suited to play defensive end. I thought I was a running back; in fact I was a running back in middle school, Sample told the Daily Post in an exclusive interview. When (Shilohs) staff came in they said I was not a running back, and they moved me. In fact they said I was anything but a running back. While he knows his days as a ball-carrier are long behind him, he still likes to joke with his teammates about his days as a running back. Ive got the old film, Sample joked. I can go pull it up. The film speaks for itself. Dreams of pulling a William Perry and scoring a rushing touchdown in the Super Bowl as a defensive lineman aside, Sample was reluctant to make a move away from linebacker at Shiloh. It took a former NFL player Shiloh defensive line coach Walt Curry to help him transition. When (Ryan) Andrews took the (head coach) job he was trying to play linebacker, Curry said. I told him he needed to put his hand in the dirt. He didnt want to, but he finally bought into it. I knew he was a hard-working kid, and everything he did had to be done right. The man who originally had the idea to move him to defensive end was not Andrews or Curry, but Shilohs defensive coordinator at the time, Waymond Jackson. And much like Uzomahs move to wide receiver, it was about trying to give Sample the best chance of making it at the next level. When I saw him he was around 225 (pounds), Jackson said. And just seeing his frame and knowing his frame, I thought he was going to grow into a defensive end. I said, Lets go ahead and move him there now instead of wasting him at linebacker. He was a little resistant; he enjoyed playing linebacker. But we kind of sat him down and explained the benefits to him. Those benefits helped Sample earn some attention from college recruiters, although he only had four offers coming out of high school. The first man to notice him was Jimmy Lindsey, Georgia Southerns defensive line coach at the time. It was actually after I timed him in the 40 (yard dash) and he ran a 4.6 at 240 pounds, Lindsey said about when he remembers knowing Sample could play at the next level. I was like, weve got something. I knew he wasnt heavily recruited Georgia Southern was like his first offer. I felt like he was a diamond in the rough. Although he was already well into his time as a defensive end when Andrews took over the Shiloh head coaching job from Hobbs, Samples play still quickly caught his attention enough to become a sort of measuring stick for his teammates. I know this is going to sound crazy, but if you had to put a perfect player together from the intangibles, it would probably be him, Andrews said. He didnt give you an attitude; he was going to play hard. If you had to rip him he understood why he was getting ripped and he never took it personal. Sample ended up with offers from Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Southern Mississippi and Tulane, eventually signing with Tulane and head coach Willie Fritz. Sample amassed 10 1/2 sacks and 162 tackles in 41 games with Tulane, working his way into the 2021 NFL Draft as a fourth-round selection. Hes just a solid person, said Kevin Peoples, Tulanes defensive line coach at the time and current Missouri defensive line coach. If I had a kid and I dont, but if I had a son I would want him to be like Cam. Just the way he takes care of business, the way he treats people, the way he carries on and I truly mean that. Some people say athletes shouldnt be role models, but Cam Sample is a role model who happens to be an athlete. Both players still carry a lot of the same personality traits in the NFL as they did in high school, and it is a lot of the reason both have found success. Cam is just an easy-going kid, Andrews said. Thats the way hes always been. Uzomah is the same person he was at North Gwinnett, which comes to the benefit of everyone around him. Whether it was telling the media during Super Bowl week he was going to take a bath in Cincinnatis famous Skyline Chili if the Bengals won, or the story both Hosch and Hobbs told of the time he dressed as Buddy the Elf before a high school game, people feel Uzomahs presence in every room he enters. C.J. is one of those guys where if hes not at practice, you know within the first 45 seconds on the field, Sample said. Hes talking, hes joking with everyone hes the real energy of the team. Hes just a real good guy to be around and a great football player. A guy you want to have on your team. When Uzomah and Sample take the field on Super Bowl Sunday, it will be a snapshot in Gwinnett County football history. Two players on opposite sides of the ball and from opposite ends of the county, but still proudly representing the area. And outside of Cincinnati, Gwinnett County, Georgia might be rooting for the Bengals more than anywhere else. Or at least, Sample hoped so as he concluded the interview with a brief comment. Everyone who gets the paper better be rooting for the Bengals! Haiti - NOTICE : ISOC launches an ICT funding program, call for projects "The Internet Society" Haiti Chapter (ISOC-Haiti) continues to advocate for high-speed Internet service, essential to access vital services such as education and employment while expanding economic and entrepreneurial opportunities for all. ISOC-Haiti launches this week its funding program for its members to contribute to the development of access services to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Haitian citizens In a rural area. Become a member of ISOC : https://cutt.ly/VyAzXA0 This funding program aims to encourage members of the most remote areas of Haiti in their projects within their respective communities because the Haitian chapter continues to decentralize its activities to give members of the capital and those of provincial towns the same chances of getting involved within the association to defend a fair and humanitarian vision with regard to access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) The projects are about topics like : The Internet in education; Child safety online; Internet of Things; Affordable internet access; Cybersecurity; Digital accessibility; ICT skills to empower women; Encryption; Development of technical capacities; Literacy (teaching and promoting the use of the Internet); Scientific research on Internet access; Economic opportunities linked to the Internet; Community networks; Technology and the environment... To apply, complete the online form in collaboration with at least three members: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTjmqNcEcbcjOQSFust2qzv4ZFauYHwmtyRVDZ_Iuy0HhafA/viewform The deadline to apply is February 28, 2022. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34672-haiti-technology-haitians-dissatisfied-with-internet-access-services.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32693-icihaiti-isoc-haiti-10-exceptional-members-winners-of-the-leadership-and-voluntary-commitment-2020-award.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32037-haiti-technology-mobile-money-to-fight-poverty-in-haiti.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31325-icihaiti-flash-2-online-workshops-on-community-networks.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30877-icihaiti-notice-120-training-scholarships-in-internet-community-networks-open-registrations.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Environment : Mapping the areas essential to the maintenance of life As part of their mission to protect, manage and restore the environment, the Ministry of the Environment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have published the results of the second phase of "Mapping nature for people and the planet, a project aimed at identifying essential life support areas in Haiti Essential Life Support Areas (ELSA). The first phase of this project was launched in March 2021, with a proof of concept study reviewed by national experts during a first workshop held from 2 to 23 March 2021. Download report of the first workshop : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Haiti-Consultation-1-Standard-file.pdf ELSAs are essential areas for conserving critical biodiversity and providing humans with essential ecosystem services, such as carbon storage, food, fresh water, water filtration and disaster risk reduction. By using this tool to process geospatial data, Haiti applies rigorous scientific methods to identify ELSAs based on national priorities and set specific goals for their protection, management and/or restoration. This process is one of the ways the country is working to advance national and international commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. During the project's second workshop, held in June 2021, Haitian stakeholders co-created in real time the first iteration of the Haitian map of critical life sustaining areas that reflectsnational priorities and realities. Note that this exercise is one of the first of its kind in the world. Download Report of the 2nd workshop: https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Day-1-UNDP-CO-Final.pdf Based on the results of this second phase, representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, UNDP and UNDP-Haiti met in October to finalize the ELSA map for the country, which is now available. Project work will explore how the tool and final maps can support the implementation of key projects in Haiti, such as: By 2027, areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed in a sustainable manner; By 2030, the rate of forest and agroforestry coverage will have increased respectively by 6%, baseline 2019, and by 30% through endemic and native forest and fruit species in strategic watersheds and landscapes of the country; By 2025, rare, threatened and vulnerable species will benefit, for the most emblematic of them, from a targeted intervention regime centered, where appropriate, on recovery, reproduction and reintroduction; By 2025, a national system of functional terrestrial protected areas and up to representing 20% of the territory's cover is completed and the reduction of pressures on inland water ecosystems: in particular water towers , waterfalls and other inland wetlands (lakes and ponds) significantly reduced. This ongoing work in Haiti inspires similar initiatives in other countries engaged in identifying their ELSAs, including but not limited to: South Africa, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru... HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... PM / Montana, negotiations have not started Saturday February 12, Ted St-Die, Magali Corneau Denis and Ernst Mathurin members of the Montana Agreement Monitoring Office (BSA) following the meeting the day before with Prime Minister Henry https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35941-haiti-politic-laborious-meeting-between-the-pm-and-a-delegation-of-the-montana-agreement.html specified to the media, that the negotiations had not started yet. "Some things that were said have been clarified. Then we agreed on the principle of negotiation..." The next meeting on Monday is very important "we will have to define the criteria and the content of the negotiations, the agenda, the time that will be devoted and the conditions" specified Ted St-Die. "If we reach an agreement on the protocol, negotiations will begin," concluded Ernest Mathurin. Swearing in, the CSPJ requires a law degree The Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) in a circular sent on February 11, 2022, to the Heads of Jurisdiction requires that the law degree diploma duly signed and registered be presented for any swearing in by Students/Lawyers and no longer as previously on simple presentation of an exit thesis defense certificate. HUEH, work stoppage announced The staff of the various services of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti (HUEH), announces a work stoppage of three days from Monday, February 14. This work stoppage, which could turn into a strike, aims to force the authorities to recharge the debit card granted to employees, which has been empty for several months. Sunday February 13, 2022, Richardson Viano (19) the first Haitian skier at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, 35th in the world in Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35688-haiti-jo-beijing-2022-d-24-the-skier-richardson-viano-will-defend-the-colors-of-haiti.html participated in the "Men's Giant Slalom" event according to the official website, he achieved a time of 18.15 with a difference of +2.13 in stage 1, but did not cross the finish (Did not Finish - DNF) in intermediate stages 2 and 3 he fell during his descent, as a result he did not could not take part in the 2nd round and was not classified. Next "Men's Slalom" event on February 16, 2022 1st round of the event: 10:15 a.m. - 2nd round: 1:45 p.m. (Beijing time) See also: https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35688-haiti-jo-beijing-2022-d-24-the-skier-richardson-viano-will-defend-the-colors-of-haiti.html 87 judges appointed Friday, February 11, the Prime Minister informed that 87 judges have just been appointed in the 18 jurisdictions of the country and announced the upcoming opening of registrations for the choice of judges of the Court of Appeal in the 5 major jurisdictions of the country. HL/ HaitiLibre Hartford City, IN (47348) Today Rain and thunderstorms. High 69F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit A teenager died after a BMW struck him in a convoluted Brooklyn intersection Saturday, police said. The 17-year-old, identified by family as Terah Sauveur, was walking in the roadway at Kings Highway and Avenue K in Flatlands just after 7 p.m. when the car struck him, cops said. Advertisement Medics rushed Sauveur to Brookdale University Hospital, but he could not be saved, officials said. NYPD Highway Patrol Collision Investigation Squad officers collect evidence on Kings Highway near Avenue K on Saturday evening. (Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News) Parallel to four-lane Kings Highway are two service roads, which run in each direction and allow vehicles to access side streets around the hectic six-way intersection with Avenue K. Advertisement A black BMW sedan with temporary Pennsylvania license plates was left at the scene with a partially shattered windshield and extensive damage to the front driver side bumper. The driver stayed on the scene and was not immediately charged, police said. The crash was still under investigation Saturday night. Reporter Daisy Nelson is an alumnus of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She was born and raised in Lake Havasu City. She is a multimedia journalist and layout designer. Follow her Twitter account @daisylaree_ to see her reporting process. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. City, county proceed with caution on how theyll spend ARP money Hendersonville City Manager John Connet opened the citys information meeting on American Rescue Plan money with an observation about how unprecedented the program is. Ive been in local government for 35 years and never have I received a gift of this magnitude from the federal government, he said. Specifically, the city will receive $4.5 million in ARP money, half already deposited in the city treasury and half next year. The city is using the in-person and Zoom-available meeting plus an online survey to gather input on how residents want the money spent. If the attendance at last weeks public meeting at the City Operations Center is a guide, nonprofit agencies are signaling the most intense interest in where the council sends the money. Agencies from the Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab downtown I have 300 mouths to feed every day, director BJ Ramer said to Interfaith Assistance Ministry sent leaders to find out how they can apply for grants. Think first of long-lasting, high impact on vulnerable populations, Connet said. We want to be transformative, we want to be catalytic and we want to impact the greatest number of people, he said. We want to focus on the disadvantaged and the greatest number of folks in those categories. Local government bodies are allowed to spend ARP money to: Contain Covid-19 and address other public needs Invest in water and sewer infrastructure Grant premium pay for essential workers Replace revenue lost because of the pandemic Address negative economic impacts that people or businesses have had. Examples include housing assistance, food assistance, home repair and weatherization and job training. Ineligible categories include contributing money to rainy day funds or pension funds, debt service, general infrastructure spending and paying legal settlements or judgments. The council has already signaled its desire to give premium pay to essential employees and to identify and replace lead pipes in the city water system, Connet said. Identifying homes or businesses served by failing septic tanks is another potential use of the money. We can spend this money to extend sewer lines into those areas to move people from a private septic tank system into public sewer, Connet said. Whether the money can be spent on parks or for development of the Ecusta Trail is a little less certain. Originally there was some question whether it can be used for recreational activity, Connet said. In the final rule we have a little bit more leeway. The next step in the process takes place next month when the City Council uses public input and its own priorities to set goals and objectives. In the next two months, the city will refine the applications nonprofit agencies can use to apply for ARP money. In May the council is expected to set funding priorities. All ARP money must be appropriated by December 2024 and spent by December 2026. Meanwhile, Henderson County commissioners took the first formal step Monday night in adopting a set of policies to guide ARP spending. They heard from a Etowah resident who urged the board to be transparent in how it spends ARP money and also noted that no money had been spent yet. (Henderson County has allocated $500,000 to Pardee UNC Health and AdventHealth to support infusion treatment for Covid patients and the Mills River Town Council voted in November to spend $75,000 on premium pay for Mills River Fire & Rescue personnel.) The local government units have been cautious about spending the money because the U.S. Treasury Department did not issue its final rule until Jan. 6. Assistant County Manager Amy Brantley, Finance Director Samantha Reynolds and County Attorney Russ Burrell developed the first three of the numerous policy and procedure guidelines for spending ARP money, covering allowable costs, nondiscrimination and conflict of interest. The county is receiving $22.8 million in ARP money over two years. Board Chair Bill Lapsley said while he is frustrated that commissioners cannot more quickly allocate the money so that it can boost economic recovery, he also cautioned that running afoul of the federal rules could force the county to give back any money spent improperly. Commissioners adopted a 24-page document setting out rules for spending ARP money. Like the city of Hendersonville, Henderson County has not yet developed an application form that nonprofits can use to seek ARP funding. A TEENAGE boy from the Oratory School in Woodcote welcomed Prince Charles to Oxfordshire. Oskar Jordan-Barber, 17, is cadet senior under officer for the schools Combined Cadet Force and is also cadet to the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Marjorie Glasgow. He joined Mrs Glasgow at Astroscale in Didcot for a visit by Prince Charles. The company is developing technology to capture space debris and defunct satellites in space for removal and repair. The Prince used the occasion to call on nations to sign up to environmental deals for space as they had made a mess of this planet. Oskar said: It is a great honour and privilege to have had the opportunity to meet HRH the Prince of Wales. Major Scott Bosher, the Oratorys contingent commander, said: Oskars bearing and turnout were of the highest order for this important event. A number of visitors commented on how smart he looked. He should be very proud of his achievement. Oskar is the first Lord Lieutenants cadet from the independent school since it formed a cadet force. As well as accompanying the Lord-Lieutenant, Oskar also represents the cadet forces in public speaking. DURING the covid lockdowns, some people baked sourdough, others took to knitting. Henley artist Si Sapsford gave herself some even greater challenges writing her first novel and competing in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year competition. Although she didnt reach the final of the TV contest, she won her heat and also completed her book, a sort of whodunit which has now been published under her nom de plume, Si Harvey. Si, 57, who lives with her partner Guy Harvey, 14-year-old daughter Maude and cavapoo Bobby in Chiltern Close, was inspired to put pen to paper by a friends husband who had written a detective novel. She says: His wife was chatting to me and I thought, Its lockdown, why dont I have a go? and we both decided to. While Sis friend is still working on her manuscript, she completed her story in about eight months. It was something nice to do when I was walking the dog, she says. It really kept me busy. The resulting book is Murder at Meadowfields, a mystery for young adults but which will appeal to people of all ages. Set in rural Essex, the story follows amateur sleuth Lewis who teams up with treasure hunter Gracie to investigate the goings-on at Meadowfields Hall, a rather grand house. Needless to say, this involves a body, hidden treasure and a criminal gang. The writer used friends as guinea pigs to test her manuscripts. Si, who works as a university lecturer, says: They said, Oh, youve left too much hanging as I was thinking about a follow-up book. I had to rewrite the last few chapters after that but it was worth it. Sometimes you read it and reread and think, Got it right but you do need other people to have a look at it and make sure it makes sense. This isnt the first time Si has tried a new venture for she has had an eclectic career. After graduating from university with a science degree, she worked as a sailor for seven years. She crossed the Atlantic six times and the Pacific once, visited many countries and took part in several races. Si was at sea in January 1990 when she had a dramatic encounter that she was later to channel into her art, almost subconsciously. She explains: I was in Panama about two weeks after the Americans had invaded and it was a really dangerous situation but we didnt quite realise it. We hadnt even realised the Americans had invaded as wed been sailing. All the crew went ashore to do our food shopping and we got chased by this mob of Panamanians, who thought we were American. We went into the cathedral to seek refuge and thought wed be safe once we got inside but they followed us. We had to be rescued by the priest and a bunch of cleaners with brooms. Im sure they could have got us if they had wanted to but they didnt want to cross the priest they were all quite religious. Ever since then, Si has had a fear of crowds of people. Her resulting artwork was a mechanical furniture sculpture, called Civil Unrest, a whole room filled with chairs. Si has taken this installation to London and as far as Rio, where it exemplified the divide between rich and poor. She says: The piece was shown in the really rich area of Rio, the business district, and it was just after some landslides. The chairs are confronting the viewer and its about being on different sides of the divide. When the piece was shown in London, it also had meaning. Si says: It was about immigration and peoples fear of migrants coming across the border its trying to sort both sides of it, the situations and unknowns. It was only afterwards that I reflected on it and I realised it went back to [Panama]. Sis sailing career ended when she returned to the UK as her grandfather was ill and she wanted to spend more time with her family. She worked for engineering company Bechtel, co-ordinating sea and air freight to and from Kuwait for firefighting and rebuilding during the Gulf War. Si decided to take out a mortgage on a flat and then quit her job to got to art school. Since 2000, she has been a lecturer in fine art at the University of East London. She took part in Portrait Artist of the Year in 2020 and won heat 7 with a painting of Jordan Stephens of hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks. The pressure of having to paint his portrait in just three hours in front of the cameras was tempered by the fact that the musician had brought along his dog, a collie retriever called Spike. Si recalls: They say youve got three hours but theyre interrupting you every 10 minutes, so its really quite stressful. No sooner are you trying to judge whether you have got his eye in the right place than somebody stops you for a chat. Then youve got to try to get back to where you were in your thinking. I dont think anyone would have finished in that heat if we hadnt worked through lunch. And the dog? It just came in, laid down and didnt move, she says. Ive got a dog and I thought, I wish my dog was quite as peaceful. It was really nice. When the painting session had ended, the dog came over to her maybe because I smelt of dog. Jordans mother was so pleased with the painting of her son that Si gave it to her to keep. Si has now started work on a second book about two friends, a man and a woman, who have known each other since childhood. When the man goes missing, its up to the woman, reflecting on their shared childhood experiences, to step in and solve the mystery. Si says: Ill do 10-minute writing sessions and see what just pops out of my head. Its usually by pages 10 to 15, when Im writing something up, that I finally start getting an idea of where the plots going. I know where this story is going but not the ending and thats the fun bit as youre walking along trying to think about different things. It is a mystery. There is death in it and there are criminals but its not quite linear. Murder at Meadowfields is available to buy from the Bell Bookshop in Henley, priced at 7.99. www.bellbookshop.co.uk A gunman killed a rival after a fight at a Bronx baby shower only to be fatally shot with his own gun by the victims younger brother, cops said Sunday. The two men who wound up dead were inside a party at Webster Ave. and E. 198th St in Bedford Park when they got into a fight Saturday night, police said. Advertisement The two men who wound up dead were inside a party on Webster Ave. and E. 198th St in Bedford Park when they get into a fight Saturday night, police said. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Their fight spilled out onto the street, where Arnold Oliver, 24, allegedly shot 28-year-old Jamal Smith in the face about 11 p.m., cops said. The shot mans outraged friends then jumped the gunman, cops said. Smiths brother Wayne, also 28, managed to get the gunmans weapon away from him and shot him in the chest with it, according to police. Advertisement The Smith brothers were born 10 months apart and Wayne Smith turned 28 Saturday, the day of the slayings, police sources said. The brothers are from New Rochelle, Westchester County, while Oliver lived in Peekskill, also in Westchester, according to cops. Videos from the scene show a man brutally stomping one of the wounded victims as hes sprawled out next to another car. Another man can be seen cradling the other victim, screaming at police, Dont f-----g touch him! This s--t sounds like a whole movie, said a worker at a nearby deli who saw the violence unfold. This is a whole movie scene. This happens every other day. Its gunfights every time, Man. Police evidence markers on Webster Ave. and E. 198th St in Bedford Park, where two men were fatally shot Saturday night. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The deli worker, who gave only his first name, Prince, said the men were attending a baby shower in a second-floor event space above his store. They were definitely drunk off their a-s, drunk basically and started arguing, he said. When youre drunk with a firearm, you dont think straight. Medics rushed both shot men to St. Barnabas Hospital but neither survived. Police have not yet released either mans name. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Medics rushed both wounded men to St. Barnabas Hospital, but neither survived. Wayne Smith was taken into custody and charged with murder and weapon possession, police said. Advertisement He was held without bail following an arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court. Police on Sunday released a surveillance images of another man involved in the fight and are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. Police released surveillance images of another man involved in the fight and are asking anyone with information on him to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. (NYPD / DCPI) Prince said hes used to hearing about violence a couple of blocks away his store, but not right outside . Im surprised it happened right here, he said. But it couldve happened everywhere as long as there is a party. Alcohol, people arent in their right mind. With Thomas Tracy Greenville, TX (75401) Today Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then cloudy skies late. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Uniontown, PA (15401) Today Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 77F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Police step up enforcement to end truckers' protests in Canada Xinhua) 14:59, February 13, 2022 Mounted police officers are seen on duty on a closed street during an anti-mandate demonstration in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. Protesters gathered here on Saturday for another round of demonstrations in solidarity with the truck convoy protests in Ottawa. 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. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) OTTAWA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Canadian police stepped up enforcement Saturday to end truckers' protests, especially in Windsor, the Canada-U.S. border city and Ottawa, the capital city, as protests and demonstrations continued nationwide. Windsor Police tweeted on Saturday morning that they had begun enforcement actions against protesters opposing COVID-19 restrictions who blocked access to the Ambassador Bridge for most of the week. "The Windsor Police &its policing partners have commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge. We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully &peacefully. Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time," the tweet said. Ontario Friday declared a state of emergency to quell convoy protests, and it is now illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure, including international border crossings, major highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways. The Ontario Superior Court followed up with an injunction against the protests Friday night, giving participants until 7 p.m. to clear out. That deadline was largely ignored. Police were maintaining a heavy presence at the entrance to the bridge, a key trade border crossing between Canada and the United States where protesters brought traffic to a standstill, local media reported. In downtown Ottawa, police said over 4,000 demonstrators were present throughout the day. In a statement released on Saturday evening, police announced the establishment of an enhanced, Integrated Command Centre (ICC) in response to a significant influx of demonstrators into the Ottawa area and an escalation of the current occupation. "We expect that the ICC will result in a significantly enhanced ability of our police service to respond to the current situation in our city. The ICC will allow us to make the most effective use of the additional resources our policing partners have provided to us," the statement said. On Saturday noon, Ottawa Police released another statement, saying that they deployed all available officers on Friday night as protesters in the city "exhibited aggressive behaviour," including overwhelming officers and subverting law enforcement efforts. The police said 28 arrests have been made while 140 criminal investigations are underway, with officers collecting various information to assist prosecuting offenders. Another 2,600 tickets have been issued by bylaw officers in relation to what they call an "illegal occupation," according to the statement. Thousands of Canadian truckers and their supporters descended on Ottawa in late January to oppose the Canadian government's vaccine requirement for truckers crossing the border into the United States, which has the same policy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday the protesters need to understand "it's time to go home." However, the convoy protests and demonstrations continue nationwide. In Toronto, the largest city in Canada, more than 1,000 people gathered at Queen's Park near the Ontario legislature on Saturday to protest vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 public health restrictions. Protesters were seen holding Canadian flags and signs reading "freedom." Meanwhile, in British Columbia, the Pacific province in Canada, hundreds of protesters gathered at the intersection outside the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Surrey to demonstrate against COVID-19-related health measures and to support the truckers' "Freedom Convoy" protests. A team of police officers are seen on duty during an anti-mandate demonstration in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. Protesters gathered here on Saturday for another round of demonstrations in solidarity with the truck convoy protests in Ottawa. 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. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) A police car blocks a street to prevent protesting vehicles from driving in with a road closed sign in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. Protesters gathered here on Saturday for another round of demonstrations in solidarity with the truck convoy protests in Ottawa. 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. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) A woman was stabbed to death by a homeless man who followed her into her Lower East Side apartment building early Sunday and then barricaded himself inside her home, cops said. Neighbors called cops to the sixth-floor home in the building on Chrystie St. near Grand St. about 4:20 a.m. after hearing a womans cries for help. Police found the door barricaded shut but heard Christina Yuna Lee, 35, screaming inside. Advertisement It appears that she put up quite a fight, a high-ranking police source said. Neighbors called cops to the sixth-floor home inside the building on Chrystie St. near Grand St. about 4:20 a.m. after hearing a womans cries for help. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) After cops surrounded the building, the killer covered in blood briefly tried to flee via the fire escape then went back inside, police said. Advertisement Members of the NYPDs Emergency Service Unit gained access to the apartment after about an hour and 15 minutes and took the suspect, identified by sources as 25-year-old Assamad Nash, into custody. They found Yuna Lee dead in the bathroom, stabbed multiple times. Her landlord, Brian Chin, said she moved to the building from New Jersey about a year ago. A killer followed a woman into her Lower East Side apartment building early Sunday, stabbed her to death and then barricaded himself inside her home, cops said. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) Nash was taken to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation with charges against him pending. He is homeless, cops said. Investigators recovered surveillance video showing the suspect following Yuna Lee into her building, police sources said. Cops believe they may have been strangers to each other, the sources said. Nash has eight prior arrests, three of them still pending in Manhattan court, mostly for low-level offenses in the subway system, police sources said. He was freed without bail in three of those cases including a Sept. 28 assault case where he punched a man at a subway turnstile and a Jan. 6 arrest on charges of criminal mischief and escaping police custody.Nash was due back in court on all three outstanding offenses on March 3. Advertisement Chin said Nash should have been in jail and not on the streets to begin with and blamed criminal justice reform-minded politicians. This never should have happened, he said. This guy should never have been here, with the rap sheet he has. He shouldve been behind bars. He shouldnt have been on the street, and then this never wouldve happened. Chin called out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has faced harsh criticism for his soft-on-crime approach and rocky first month in office. From a landlords perspective, from storeowners perspective, were terrified of this, his policies and what not. Armed robbery of a store is now a petty larceny? What insanity is this? This guy, his rap sheet is a mile long, he should have been behind bars. Assault? Menacing? How is he out? This is outrageous. Weve been staunch members of this community and supporters of this community since we built it. And to see the destruction wrecked over one mayors term and one DAs term, its not just shocking and appalling, its outrageous just from a personal level as well. Yuna Lee was remembered in her apartment building as a friendly woman who always greeted her neighbors. Advertisement The girl is nice. She says hi in the hallway, said neighbor Chi Chun. The girl is a good girl. I remember her face she was beautiful, young. Another woman who lives in the usually quiet building said the neighborhood is in dire need of more proactive policing. We need things to be prevented, not just confronted when they happen, said Destiny, who asked to be identified by only her first name. Things like this dont happen in the building, but they do happen in this area. So its almost not surprising. It is terrifying, Destiny said. You just dont know what anybody is capable of.ENU A woman was stabbed to death by a homeless man who followed her into her Lower East Side apartment building early Sunday and then barricaded himself inside her home, cops said. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The building sits across the street from Sara D. Roosevelt Park, which for decades has been a magnet for crime, drug users and homeless people. The Daily News highlighted conditions in the park last year after a food delivery worker was stabbed to death just outside the park on Hester St. near Chrystie St. on Oct. 16. K Webster, the president of the Sara Roosevelt Park Community Coalition, said she recognized Nash from the area. Advertisement Its just awful. Ive actually seen that guy in the neighborhood. This is really pitting people against one another, she said. And it really is, in my opinion, cruel to allow somebody whos been that damaged to continue to do damage, both for the victim and for the person, for him. Cops have not yet released her name but have deemed the death a homicide. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) In light of the slaying, politicians across the city sounded off on the need for more effective mental health resources for at-risk individuals. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Once again, the Asian-American community has been devastated by an act of senseless violence, New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a statement. Decisive action is needed to prevent these attacks all levels of government must work together to deliver resources to reduce homelessness, bolster mental health services and protect vulnerable New Yorkers. In a tweet, Mayor Adams described the incident as the definition of horrific. The suspect is in custody, but the conditions that created him remain, Adams wrote. The mission of this administration is clear: We wont let this violence go unchecked. Although the NYPD does not believe the murder was a hate crime, state Sen. John Liu asked the city to provide relief to a fear-stricken Asian-American community. Advertisement Maybe this is a hate crime. Maybe this is not a hate crime, but this is another Asian woman. Another Asian woman has been brutally attacked in her own home. The Asian American Federation a nonprofit advocating for justice and opportunity for Asian immigrants across the city said they are working with police and local officials. Once more we are faced with a terrible tragedy, the nonprofit said in a tweet. We are talking to the NYPD & the Citys elected officials as we deal with the crisis. There is an ongoing investigation, & we urge our community to remain calm & reserve judgment until we get all the facts. The wrong person got booked for trafficking at this traffic stop. A Florida police officer got involved in a drug-planting conspiracy in exchange for sexual favors and a trip to Paris, according to his own department. Advertisement Niko Irizarry, a 25-year-old deputy with the Lee County Sheriffs Office, was arrested and fired, his boss Carmine Marceno said Friday. Irizarry was contacted by Charles Custodio, 37, who was seeking vengeance against an unidentified victim, Marceno said. Custodio promised Irizarry unspecified sexual favors and the Parisian vacation if Irizarry would help in the fentanyl-planting scheme, according to investigators. Advertisement Custodio had contacted a third man, 29-year-old Scott Snider, to plant the synthetic opioid in his enemys car, cops said. Then Irizarry pulled the victim over in a pre-planned traffic stop on Dec. 16 near Fort Myers. Nobody is above the law, and that includes our deputies, Marceno said Friday. Marceno did not say if Irizarry was ever compensated with the sexual favors and trip to France that Custodio had promised. Custodio and Snider were charged with trafficking fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy. Irizarry was charged with falsifying an official document. With News Wire Services Kimpton Hotel Born Denver, the anchor hotel for Denver's revitalized Union Station neighborhood, announced today the appointment of Keith Siebenaler as General Manager. Bringing more than 20 years of experience in guest services, front office operations, and hotel management to Hotel Born, Siebenaler will oversee all sales, marketing, operations, events and the overall guest experience for the property. Siebenaler has a history with the Kimpton brand, coming to Hotel Born from The Kimpton Schofield Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as General Manager for four years and prior to that, as Assistant General Manager at The Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, where he helped to facilitate the property's opening. Other roles Siebenaler has held in his career include Director of Operations at Hyatt Centric the Loop in Chicago, Ill.; Task Force General Manager and Assistant General Manager for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants in Baltimore, Md. and San Francisco, Calif; Director of Front Office Operations at Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown; Front Office Manager and Guest Services Manager at Fairmont Orchid in Big Island, Hawaii; and Assistant Director of Housekeeping, Guest Services Manager and Assistant Front Office Manager at Fairmont Millennium Park in Chicago, Ill. Siebenaler received a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University. After having visited Denver many times, he is excited to make it his home and embrace the Colorado way of life with his wife and three kids. A hospitality veteran with over 15 years of experience, Jimmy Sarfraz joins Signia by Hilton San Jose as general manager from Hilton San Jose and Juniper Hotel Cupertino, Curio Collection by Hilton in Cupertino, California, where he served as complex general manager. In his new appointment, Sarfraz plays a pivotal role in driving plans for the re-opening of the landmark hotel. He is responsible for all aspects of the two-tower property and will lead the team in hotel operations, from marketing and hotel administration to guest services and satisfaction. Prior to arriving in San Jose, Sarfraz was a hospitality consultant for various hotels in Malta. Before that, he held various Hilton leadership roles including hotel manager for the luxurious Conrad New York Downtown, Hilton's first Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in New York, where he formed part of the pre-opening management team and opened the hotel in 2012. Sarfraz has also held various hotel executive team roles outside of the U.S., including London Hilton on Park Lane and Hilton Malta. Among his long list of accomplishments includes overseeing multiple property refurbishments and renovations and serving as chair of the HBID board, board member of Team San Jose, an innovative partnership that promotes San Jose as a destination to stimulate economic development across the city's hotels, arts, venues, and San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau. The U.S. Travel Association announced today an inaugural class of 22 Emerging Travel Leaders representing a diverse cross-section of industry representatives. This new program was created to expand the exposure, knowledge and capabilities of rising travel leaders as they build careers in the travel and tourism field. The 2022 Emerging Travel Leaders class is: Amanda Baker , Visit North Carolina , Visit North Carolina Katherine Barnes , IDEMIA , IDEMIA Travis Binkley , Visit Orlando , Visit Orlando Christian Cadle , Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board , Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board Susana Carraza , Disneyland , Disneyland Megan Conway , Travel Portland , Travel Portland Amelia Deluca , Delta Air Lines , Delta Air Lines Lorne Edwards , Visit Phoenix , Visit Phoenix Maria Fabregat , Disney Signature Experiences , Disney Signature Experiences Jennifer Haber , Wyndham Hotels & Resorts , Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Petra Hackworth , Travel Oregon , Travel Oregon Drew Hays , Visit Austin , Visit Austin Christina Heggie , Google , Google Connie Kinnard , Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau , Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Mia Landrin , Carnival Cruise Line , Carnival Cruise Line Robin McClain , Destination DC , Destination DC Jacob Pewitt Yancey , VISIT FLORIDA , VISIT FLORIDA Dawson Pritchett , Visit Lauderdale , Visit Lauderdale Alix Skelpsa Ridgway , Arizona Office of Tourism , Arizona Office of Tourism Taylor Stanley , Visit Lake Charles , Visit Lake Charles Keith Stiff , Universal Orlando Resort , Universal Orlando Resort Armine Terzyan, Associated Luxury Hotels International The program advances an objective included in the National Chairs Platform, led by U.S. Travel Association National Chair and Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, to spur the development of a diverse, equitable and inclusive industry to lead travel into the future. One of the key facets of U.S. Travels long-term vision is to strengthen our workforce by identifying areas for career advancement and upward mobility, said Roger Dow, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO. By launching a program that intentionally provides access to highly skilled professionals and premier events, we are forging the next generation of leaders who will shape a dynamic and diverse future for travel. The Emerging Travel Leaders will participate in a year-long program of immersive experiences at U.S. Travel events, including at spring and fall board meetings, Destination Capitol Hill, and at a fall advocacy conference where they will connect with industry leaders and gain an understanding of U.S. Travels mission, values and culture. The program also provides U.S. Travel board members an opportunity to engage with developing and diverse talents. Chairmans Circle members of U.S. Travels board of directors are eligible to participate in the Emerging Travel Leaders program. Nominees were selected by the boards Governance Committee. An overview of the Emerging Travel Leaders program and a list of the 2022 class is available here. About U.S. Travel Association U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry. In 2020, travel generated $1.5 trillion in economic output and supported 11 million jobs, a drastic decline from pre-pandemic figures. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data. Officials of the California Lodging Investment Conference [CLIC], the only hospitality conference focused on the California hotel market, today released its final slate of speakers and updated its sponsor and exhibitor lists. Scheduled for March 10 at the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort, the one-day event is expected to draw approximately 300 attendees, including representatives from 11 brands, six lenders and other third-party hotel professionals. Prior to this update, we already were more than pleased with our existing roster of speakers and panelists, said Craig Sullivan, founder and president, [CLIC]. We have since added expert speakers from Virgin Hotels, Prospera Hotels, Kay Lang + Associates, Twenty Four Seven Hotels, the Latino Hotel Association and JMBM. Groups as varied as the International Hospitality Institute to Sonesta continue to sign on as sponsors as well. With this stellar line-up, we expect this to be one of our most informative and useful conference to-date. New Speakers include: Mike Castro, SVP, Franchise Sales and Development Select Service Brands US and Canada at Sonesta Hotels Vanessa Mange, Director of Acquisitions & Development, West Coast and Latin America at Virgin Hotels Allie Hope, Virgin Hotels Ajesh Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prospera Hotels, Inc. Swati Valbh-Patel, Senior Vice President of Development and Design of Prospera Hotels, Inc. Ron Kim, Chief Operating Officer of Prospera Hotels, Inc. Kay Lang, President and CEO of Kay Lang + Associates David Sudeck, Partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, LLP Ryan Mazelli, Managing Director, Commercial of Ygrene Energy Fund Gary Gray, Chief Investment Officer of Twenty Four Seven Hotels Lynette Montoya, CEO of the Latino Hotel Association New Sponsors include: International Hospitality Institute Sonesta Twenty Four Seven Hotels New Exhibitors include: G6 Beddingo HR Construction Group Kohost Corning Optical Communications The newly announced groups join such industry luminaries as Suzanne Mellon, senior managing director/practice leader, HVS; Jenny Redlin, founder and principal, Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.; Jackie Collins, senior director, Arthur J. Gallaghers Real Estate and Hospitality Division; and Glenn Haussman, president, Rouse Media. Discussion topics will include hotel brands, an overview of the California hotel market, hotel development, hotel lending and hotel investment opportunities. The conference also will announce Deal of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. About [CLIC] The California Lodging Investment Conference is the nation's only hospitality conference focused exclusively on the California hotel market. Now celebrating its 5th year, the day-long event draws some of the industry's largest and most well-known owners, operators, brands and hospitality-related experts in the world. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer (Bloomberg) -- Workers grew more uncomfortable about heading back to the office in the first week of the year and were much more likely to consider quitting if their employer demanded they return, a sign that companies efforts to get people back amid rising Covid caseloads face stiff resistance. The share of remote workers who would consider leaving their job if they were asked back to the office before they felt safe rose to 55% as of Jan. 6, up from 45% just a week earlier, according to pollster Morning Consult. More than 4 in 10 workers felt unsure about returning to the office, compared with 35% who said so on Dec. 30. Several street racers have been arrested in northwest Houston near Highway 99 and 290, the Vehicular Crimes Division of the Harris County Sheriffs Office said Saturday. The division said it made the arrests with help from helicopter units working for the office, according to a tweet. It did not say how many racers had been arrested. Many of the students in Mariela Ehlers classroom spoke primarily Spanish at home. As a bilingual teacher at Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, it was her job to teach them both English and Spanish. But when she looked at these children, she saw herself. She was the kid who spoke only Spanish at home before starting school. As a bilingual teacher, she often had to work double duty. She would send out parent newsletters in both English and Spanish, pay for students field trips and maintain constant communication with parents about their childs education. But at 50, coming off the straining COVID-19 pandemic, she retired last summer. I felt exhausted, she said. Over the course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have left the profession citing burnout and health concerns adding to Texas ongoing teacher shortage. Two new surveys show an increase in dissatisfaction with pay, workload, health and safety. Its a problem across the board, but in a state that is 39% Hispanic, one area is hit particularly hard: locating and retaining teachers who speak both Spanish and English. There are over 1 million English learners in Texas, according to the Texas Education Agency, and Hispanics make up more than half of the states student population. In the past decade, years before the pandemic hit, Texas was struggling to find teachers and has consistently struggled to fill bilingual teacher positions since the 1990-1991 academic school year, according to a recent University of Houston report. From 2010 to 2019, the number of teachers certified fell by about 20%, according to the report. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of bilingual certifications stayed steady with an average of about 4,000 a year, but administrators find it difficult to retain and recruit bilingual educators. The pre-pandemic teacher shortage Public school teachers in Texas have felt unsupported and treated unfairly even before the pandemic, said Bob Popinski, director of policy at the education advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas. The pandemic has only put more stress on teachers. Popinski said those high levels of stress on teachers coupled with being undervalued and underpaid is driving more teachers out. The average pay for teachers has not increased between 2010 and 2019; it instead decreased from $55,433 to $54,192, according to the report. In 2019, Republican lawmakers mandated raises for teachers in an $11.6 billion overhaul of public school finance. The bill also included a merit raise system aimed to help rural and high-need school districts attract talent. In rare cases, the program rewards Texas highest-rated educators with hefty pay raises that could balloon to a six-figure salary. The University of Houston report did not include the inclusion of the law. In a Charles Butt Foundation poll of 919 Texas teachers last year, 68% said they seriously considered leaving the profession in 2021, an increase of 10 percentage points compared to the year before. The future success of our state is linked to our ability to recruit and retain effective teachers, Popinski said in an email. It will be up to our local communities and state to begin developing new policies that help better attract, prepare, and retain our teachers. School districts over the summer faced large vacancies as the pandemic has exacerbated the issue. The Houston Independent School District, the largest district in the state, had more than 700 vacant positions last summer. That number is down to 192, still a large number of vacancies. To attract talent, schools have offered more pay and stipends, with Houston ISD approving a $2,500 sign-on bonus. In Waco, the school district increased base pay to over $50,000 last summer, and in Killeen, the district increased base pay to about $52,000. This week, a Texas American Federation of Teachers survey of 3,800 of its members found that 66% of educators throughout Texas said they have recently considered leaving their job. President Zeph Capo said teacher discontent has been festering for a long time and the pandemic only increased that feeling. In addition to long-neglected low wages and the stress of increasing workloads, the Omicron surge has created unbelievable chaos, Capo said in an email. Educators witness every day the devastating effects on our students when schools have staffing shortages. Its only going to get worse unless teachers concerns are addressed. The bilingual teacher shortage For Ehlers, the pandemic was the final straw. She had already been feeling overworked. Before the pandemic, she remembers some days she would not leave work until 9 p.m. As part of her bilingual instruction, Ehlers would teach in English for two days a week, then in Spanish for the other three days. But often, she would have to translate books and other lesson plans into Spanish on her own, and the constant shifting between virtual and in-person classes just added to her workload. I never wanted to cheat my students out, she said. Teachers across the state have had similar experiences to Ehlers, but in some instances, the struggles for bilingual educators begin even before setting foot in the classroom. To become a bilingual teacher, a person must take two exams and one of them is a five-hour-long Spanish proficiency exam. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Edith Trevino, founder and CEO of Dr. ET and Company, which provides review sessions on the Spanish proficiency exam, said when she first took the tests it completely drained her. This test is so hard, and I am a native speaker of Spanish and I struggled with it, she said. Trevino said helping people prepare for the proficiency exam can be demoralizing for them so its part of her job to push future teachers to keep going and letting them know that they can change the lives of many children. Bilingual teachers serve as an advocate, she said. They serve as liaison for culture and language. Andy Canales, executive director of Latinos for Education in Texas, believes one cause of the shortages is that only about 23% of Hispanic students were at or above criteria on a standardized test used for college admission. On top of that, Hispanics in college see that teachers dont have that high of a salary and would much rather look for higher-paying jobs that will allow them to take care of their families. Being able to master two languages is a massive benefit to a child, said Maribel Cantu, a mother of three bilingual children and a bilingual teacher herself in McAllen Independent School District. She has one child in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school. Cantu made the decision to enroll her children in a bilingual program at their schools in Sharyland Independent School District because she wanted them to continue practicing their Spanish while learning English. When she made that decision, she was asked if she was OK with her kids being labeled as English learners and she didnt understand why that was a bad thing. I dont consider it a label, she said. The one in the high school is completely fluent in both languages. Anywhere he goes, in any job he takes, because he knows two languages he is going to be worth a lot more. Disclosure: Raise Your Hand Texas and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. The Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. A Pennsylvania father will spend the rest of his life behind bars for torturing and starving his 12-year-old son, who died in 2018. Scott Schollenberger Jr., 43, of Annville, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges including criminal homicide, child endangerment and conspiracy for both counts. He and his fiancee, Kimberly Mauer, were both accused in September 2020 of locking their son, Maxwell Schollenberger, for years inside a small dark room, where they would beat and starve him. Advertisement Scott Schollenberger and Kimberly Maurer. The window shades were sealed shut with duct tape and metal hooks kept the room locked from the outside. Maxwell Schollenberger Authorities said Maxwell never received medical care, was not enrolled in school and was rarely seen by his siblings, who were otherwise treated well by their parents. They appeared to be healthy, well-adjusted and cared for, investigators wrote in a report on the case. Advertisement His naked body was uncovered by authorities on May 26, 2020. He was covered in feces at the time and sprawled across a dirty mattress that was also coated in human waste. Schollenberger was sentenced on Thursday to life behind bars without parole. Maurer remains jailed and is due to stand trial next month. With News Wire Services As many fans await the outcome of Major League Baseballs lockout, the Houston Astros holy superfans were running for charity this weekend alongside Catholic students in downtown Houston. The Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province or Rally Nuns as theyve been affectionately dubbed since the 2021 World Series were among 5,000 participants on a damp Saturday morning at the 17th Steps for Students 5K race organized by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. More on Rally Nuns: 'Rally Nuns' return to root for Astros in ALCS Game 6; throw first pitch The group of about 30 nuns ran among families and educators along the downtown route that began at the steps of Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on St. Joseph Parkway and looped around, returning to the intersection of San Jacinto and Jefferson. It is a very, very beautiful way to promote solidarity, Sister Maria Theresa said about the run. It is edifying for me and my community to participate because our sisters are serving at various schools in the archdiocese. More on HoustonChronicle.com: Bilingual Zumba and other upcoming fitness events in Houston The event raises funds for textbooks, tuition assistance and multimedia equipment in 56 Catholic schools in 10 counties in the region, according to the archdiocese. In addition, each school is given the final say in how the money will be used. More than $350,000 was raised in Saturdays event the first in-person run since last years virtual hiatus, said Jo Ann Zuniga, spokesperson for the archdiocese. Weve definitely seen an impact because of COVID, Zuniga said, adding that although Saturdays turnout was encouraging, the run previously had about 10,000 participants. We still are not back up to full blast. More from Joel Umanzor: Texas Guardsman accidentally shot, killed while off duty in south Texas Kevin Chappell, alongside his 9-year-old son Gavin, said his family has been participating in the event for the past five years and that the competition brings out the excitement for students. The kids really like to compete and get into it. He (Gavin) really wanted to run the 5k this year, Chappell said. He thinks Im crazy, Gavin said about his dad. Its been fun to see my teachers and friends all just running. Were having a fun time. For Sister Maria Theresa, the fame gained from the Rally Nuns during last years World Series is just an added testifying tool that can be used during moments like Saturdays 5k run. Its very important to be here, but the Astros recognition was a bonus gift for new promotion to evangelize, she said. joel.umanzor@chron.com Icarus, as far as we know, never lived in El Paso, but the mythical Greek heros ill-fated flight toward the sun is a handy metaphor for the recent political ambitions of Beto ORourke, Texas best-known Democrat and now a candidate for governor. Four years ago, the little-known three-term congressman representing a far-West Texas district had the audacity to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. To the surprise of Democrats and Republicans alike, he almost defeated the Republican incumbent. ORourkes energy and charisma as he campaigned in every Texas county, combined with an engaging facility with the issues, gave beleaguered Texas Democrats hope that he might lead them out of the wilderness of despond. Despite his narrow loss, Democratic eyes lit up when they realized that his spirited campaign had helped the party win 12 seats in the Texas House and two in Congress. He also raised $80 million, mostly from small individual donations. Suddenly a national figure, the defeated Democrat launched a presidential campaign. Like Icarus, he burned and crashed. Now, singed and perhaps humbled by that ill-fated effort, ORourke seeks to become the first Democratic governor of Texas since the late Ann Richards lost her 1994 bid for re-election to George W. Bush. One of five candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, hes by far the best known and certainly the best prepared to lead this state if Texans elect him governor. He has our enthusiastic endorsement in the Democratic primary. If Gov. Greg Abbott manages to vanquish challengers from the far right in his bid for a third term, ORourke also will be the candidate best equipped to hold him accountable for his seven years in office, even as he articulates a vision for Texas going forward. When he spoke via Zoom to the Chronicle editorial board last week from a motel room in the little East Texas town of Emory he emphasized what he called the big things, including jobs, expanding Medicaid, reducing property taxes and a world-class education system. He discussed maintaining Texas and Houstons pride of position as the energy capital of the world. Fossil-fuel technology is not going away anytime soon, he noted, but by expanding our leadership in wind and solar, as well as battery-storage technology, geothermal and hydrogen, we can nurture a strong economy. A forward-looking energy focus, the candidate maintained, can create more than 1 million jobs in the coming decades. We asked about challenges hes facing on the campaign trail this time around, how much, for instance, his infamous quote, hell yes, were going to take your AR-15 is still ringing in the ears of gun owners who might otherwise be inclined to vote for him but have the false impression that he doesnt support Second Amendment rights. Itll be an issue for some people, no two ways about it, he said. And yes, there will be folks who will come up, and they may have gotten a message from Greg Abbott that says that I want to take away everything that they own, including the butter knife. But he told us it gives him an opportunity to explain why he made that bold declaration in one of the presidential debates: Look, I don't know how you all would have reacted if 23 people in your community were slaughtered. If you were there, the day it happened and met the family members in the ICU waiting room who said, why in the world, Beto, does somebody need a weapon like this in our community? And why were we as Hispanics hunted down for the color of our skin or ethnicity or country of national origin? And what are you, Beto, gonna do about that? Those are serious questions. And he answered them, before a national audience and political opponents who will never let him forget it. We asked whether hes noticed less excitement from supporters on the campaign trail this go-around. Look, when Im in a park at six oclock, and its dark in December, and its, you know, 35 degrees in Amarillo, Texas, and 350 people show up as they did a month and a half ago, thats a good sign to me, he said. Still, hes gotten four years older since his punk-rocker political celebrity filled stadiums with fiery crowds and his lifelong nickname became ubiquitous on urban lawns and car bumpers. And hes figured out a few things: Maybe a lesson learned is, it cannot be about the person or the candidate, he said. It cannot center on a single human being. Its got to be about all of us, if were going to be successful. But first things first, ORourke must win the primary. He faces four challengers, none of whom has raised more than $10,000. Michael Cooper is a Beaumont pastor, civil rights leader and business leader who lost in the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor in 2018 and the U.S. Senate in 2020. Cooper, 56, delivers sound ideas in his down-home, East Texas baritone such as making vocational training a part of the curriculum starting in sixth grade. Richard Wakeland, 66, offers the strongest contrast to ORourke. He told the editorial board he is a conservative Democrat who will protect womens rights and the oil and gas industry, attempting to represent the middle of the political spectrum. He would secure our border with an economic wall, not a physical wall and protect Second Amendment rights. Two first-time candidates, Inocencio Barrientez, 71, a retired Seguin resident, and Joy Diaz, 45, a former journalist with KUT radio in Austin, did not screen with us. ORourke, of course, already has his sights set on Abbott, accusing the governor of incompetence, corruption and cruelty, during his seven years in office. He faulted the governor for his inability to keep the lights on in Texas during winter storm Uri, his handling of the pandemic and his efforts to restrict voting and encourage the proliferation of guns, among several far-right initiatives. Obviously, Democrats are not the party of power in this state, but a candidate as experienced, capable and eloquent as ORourke can force a conversation that Texas voters need to hear. When one party, Democrat or Republican, manages to dominate for decades, voters succumb to lassitude. Conversations grow stale and formulaic. New ideas wither. With ORourke in the race this fall, we look forward to a lively debate about real issues. Texas voters will be the beneficiaries. You might say overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles has been Bob Mitchells lot in life and his lease on life, too. His early years went something like this: Born in Houston at St. Joseph, he was in foster care until age 6, adopted at 7, his parents divorced when he was 8 and he was living on his own at 15, soon working the docks at the port of Houston to make a living. He worked his way through college, landed a job at Schlumberger and eventually became president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, a nonprofit that helps recruit employees to the region in sectors ranging from aerospace to health care. When Ellington Field was on the realignment chopping block nearly two decades ago, Mitchell says he and his nonprofit worked with then-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to save it and put it on the path to becoming the bustling airport it is today. We had Democrats and Republicans pulling together to make it happen, he told us, noting more than $240 million invested at Ellington, which went from hosting 300 troops on any given weekend to 6,000 today from every branch of the military. We asked Mitchell if that kind of success could happen today, in the current Texas political environment. Its going to hurt me to say this, but, no, he said, quickly adding, That dont mean I cant try. And if I try, maybe someone else will try. We cant keep going the way were going. Thats the essence of why Mitchell, 67, is running in the Republican primary for Senate District 11, and why he gets our hearty endorsement. We believe hed use his decades of experience to bring more jobs and opportunity to the state and to the southeast Texas district stretching from Pearland to Galveston. When the Obama administration canceled the Constellation crewed spaceflight program, and thousands of engineers faced layoffs, Mitchell says he sought help from the state in cross-training them and 80 percent secured new jobs. In recent years, hes been active in advocating for the coastal spine, or Ike Dike, underway to protect the region from catastrophic storm surge. Mitchell says his friend, veteran Republican Sen. Larry Taylor, asked him to run after abruptly announcing his retirement in November. We cant say for sure that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was behind the departure of the popular senator, who had garnered 60 percent of the vote in 2020 and whose 20-year reputation as an honest-broker working across the aisle was rare, if not downright antithetical to the cut-throat, highly partisan toxicity Patrick cultivates in the Senate. With Taylor out of the way, Patrick was quick to endorse state Rep. Mayes Middleton, 40, a wealthy oil and gas company president elected to House District 23 in 2018 who rose to chairman of the ultra right-wing Freedom Caucus and last year co-authored the bill that banned abortion in Texas after six weeks. Able to self-fund much of his campaign, Middleton reported $1.3 million cash on hand in late January while Mitchell reported $107,000. Middleton is a devoted soldier of the culture wars that dominate Austin politics and distract from important policy-making on things that affect ordinary Texans, such as property tax reform, keeping the lights on and improving schools. Middleton will serve Patrick obediently. But District 11 voters who want a senator who will serve them should stick with Mitchell. Like Taylor, Mitchell is deeply conservative, saying he believes in the sanctity of life and border security is his No. 1 priority: I think its absolutely criminal whats happening at our borders. His knowledge and decades of public service, including Gov. Greg Abbotts appointment of him to the Texas Aerospace and Aviation Committee and Gulf Coast Protection District, will serve the district well. Most importantly, he vows to continue Taylors legacy of bipartisanship and integrity. Dr. Robin Armstrong, 52, is another candidate who promised not to be under the thumb of any other elected official. The doctor, a longtime party activist, Republican National Committeeman and former vice-chairman of the Texas GOP, caused quite a stir, as he puts it, in the early days of the pandemic when he gave COVID-positive nursing home patients in Texas City the drug hydroxychloroquine, which wasnt approved for that purpose. We found Armstrong engaging but he trails in fundraising and Mitchells skills are better suited for the job. Then theres far-right activist Bianca Gracia, 50, who served as president of Latinos for Trump and claims to have the endorsement of the Almighty. She did not screen with us, but in comments and interviews online, she appears fond of conspiracy theories, including that Republicans colluded with Democrats to try and rig the 2020 election in Texas to improve their fundraising prospects. She said in a recent interview that Christians who dont vote for her will be held accountable because I have been appointed and assigned for this position and God is testing you all. If elected, she said shed be a little mini Marjorie Taylor Greene. As if Texas needed another. Mitchell is the best choice for Republicans who want a senator to be their voice, and no one elses. Middletons money presents a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for Mitchell, but then, hes heard that before. Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks opponents in the Republican primary make a few points with which we wholeheartedly agree. Patrick often mistakes photo-ops for policy making, he doesnt bring justice and mercy to the land, and when hard questions are asked by the public, the media, or the fellow Republicans challenging him for his powerful post leading the Texas Senate, he calls the questions stupid or hes nowhere in sight. Dan Patrick cant be found with a hunting dog and a Ouija board, primary challenger Daniel Miller told us. Thats about right. Wed like more authenticity in a leader, more fairness and more transparency and wed venture a guess that many Republican voters would, too. But at what price? The fact is, almost all of Patricks opponents in the GOP primary are running to his right. Two support a referendum on secession from the United States and one would if only he thought secession were feasible. Despite our frequent condemnations of Patrick, we endorse the lieutenant governor in this race. One challenger, Aaron Sorrells, 41, is a small business owner in Fort Worth who wants to eliminate the property tax, which he argues is immoral and forces homeowners to essentially rent their homes from the government. Hes got a point there. But he would replace lost revenue with a consumption tax that presents many more problems, especially for low-income folks, even though Sorrells claims his plan doesnt. I want to fight for Texans because no ones fighting for us right now, including January 6, where 76 prisoners of war are stuck in a DC cell and our state should be fighting for them, Sorrells said. As of September 2021, 78 people facing charges in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack were being held in jail after a U.S. court of appeals ruled judges could deny bond for defendants who pose a threat to an individual or communities. The vast majority of the more than 700 people charged were released before trial. Miller, 48, is the leader of the Texas nationalist movement calling for secession, also now referred to as Texit. The idea is so much cooler on a T-shirt than it would be in a bloody civil war. Miller says hed let the people decide on secession in a referendum and also try to pass a constitutional amendment banning property tax. Miller would attempt to replace lost revenue by getting rid of sales tax carve-outs, such as those for financial services and yachts. Todd Bullis, 59, who is a great fan of Miller, said, I grew up in California, hated California so much I wanted to get here before Texas seceded. He wants to bring a Biblical worldview into Texas government and abolish abortion. He, too, would eliminate the property tax and would solve the revenue problem by closing public schools. Bullis says he has adopted several children from the foster system and called Child Protective Services evil and wicked, so the agency is also on his revenue-saving chopping block. The evangelical churches of Texas, he believes, should do far more to get every child out of the system and into families. Candidates also running who did not screen with us: Trayce Bradford, 57, homeschools her children and is a grassroots conservative activist. Zach Vance, 35, calls for collaborating with the other side in a heartfelt campaign video and mixes possible Medicaid expansion with more typical Republican positions. Alas, in his last campaign finance report, Vance reported all of $76 cash on hand compared to Patricks $22 million. Conservative voters have no reason to believe any of these challengers can advance an anti-abortion, border security, tax-cutting, election integrity agenda more effectively than Patrick. Heres a brief recap from the past session: Abortion in Texas is now illegal once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Texans can carry handguns without a permit or any kind of training. A package of bills eliminated 24-hour voting and drive-thru voting, and added new ID requirements to voting by mail. Large Texas cities and counties that redirect police funds will be punished by the state. Teachers who want their students to learn about implicit bias or that slavery and Jim Crow had deep, long-lasting effects, may be punished. Transgender student athletes must compete according to the sex assigned at birth. Theres no question that Patricks deft, albeit ruthless, wielding of the Senate gavel has secured great victories on Republican priorities. Hes punished adversaries, neutered moderates and plays a long game. If re-elected, Patrick will consolidate his power even more and try to push the boundaries of the conservative agenda in the next session. But he wont take us as far as secession. At least, we hope. Imagine that youre transported to some faraway planet and its Election Day there. Curious about deep space democracy, you study the races and the choices for top law enforcement official catch your eye. Candidate A has 20 years experience as a judge, including a decade on the high court, shes well-respected and credible, and has an inspiring life story of rising up from humble means to great success. Candidate B has spent his entire incumbency mired in scandal and a cloud of criminal allegations. Hes been delaying trial for seven years on three felony charges related to securities fraud, including one charge he already admitted to on paper. On top of that, seven of his own high-ranking staffers blew the whistle to law enforcement, alleging corruption and abuse of office stemming from favors for a campaign donor. His lawyering skills are bumbling, losing high-profile cases important to his political party and filing a preposterous lawsuit to overturn a fair election that was tossed out of the highest court with whiplash speed. Members of his own party have asked him to resign. If that werent enough, he was once caught on camera pocketing somebody elses pricey pen in a courthouse security line. Yet, it seems Candidate B is favored to win. You shake your head incredulously murmuring, On what other planet could that guy keep his seat? Answer: on Planet Texas. Candidate B, of course, is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 59, whose taint has shamed his party, his state, desecrated the law-and-order principles many Republicans hold dear and led this editorial board long ago to call for his resignation. Since he has refused, Republican voters should fire him. Even those who can stomach allegations of criminal wrongdoing and an extramarital affair have to be vexed by his incompetence in executing GOP priorities, notably wasting millions on his fruitless snipe hunt for voter fraud and sloppy handling of a lawsuit challenging Obamacare that even Justice Clarence Thomas couldnt abide. Republicans cant trust Paxton to enforce the laws of this state when he wont follow them himself. Recently, he flat-out refused to comply with the Texas Public Information Act when newspapers across the state sought his cell phone communications while in Washington D.C. amid the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Candidate A, meanwhile, is former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, who promises to restore integrity to the Office of Attorney General on Day One. On Day Two, she says shell restore the qualified staff who left the office after reporting Paxton to the FBI for alleged bribery and other criminal acts. And Day Three? Well, this is Texas. She vows to start suing the Biden administration for government overreach. She had a solid reputation on Texas highest civil court, and in 2016, although she joined her colleagues in upholding Texas rickety school finance structure, she argued for reform in a concurring opinion, writing that Shortfalls in both resources and performance persist in innumerable respects, and a perilously large number of students is in danger of falling further behind. Guzman, 61, grew up in Houstons East End, daughter of a welder and a janitor who immigrated to this country legally. Another top priority for Guzman is to revamp one of the AGs major duties: collection of child support payments. Guzman vows to stand up for Texas families and children, for the unborn and the vulnerable, for veterans and working Texans, for law enforcement and those who demand election integrity. On border security, she suggests things that havent been tried, such as suing the federal government to get more magistrates down to the border to handle asylum cases. Those are solid conservative priorities that we believe Republicans can trust her to execute with honor and class, virtues that impress not only ordinary Texans but judges who consider the AGs arguments. I know how judges think, Guzman told us. If a lawyer loses credibility, what does that say about the arguments theyre bringing? How Guzman can be an underdog in this race boggles the mind. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, 45, grandson and nephew of former presidents, is riding the name-ID to far out-raise Guzman. But he cant compete on qualifications. Guzman points out that he only renewed his Texas law license in late 2020. Some of the uproar over Bushs handling of the Alamos redesign seems overblown; were not sure what superhuman Texan could herd those sacred cats. Our chief concerns involve his sluggish delivery of Hurricane Harvey funds and his agencys outrageously unfair snub of Houston and Harris County in allocating the first round of long-awaited flood mitigation aid. Of the more than $1 billion Bushs office dispersed, the most populous city and county in the state that had suffered the most deaths and damage during Harvey didnt get one cent. The culprit appears to be a metric that actually penalized areas that had more people. Even more troubling was Bushs deceptive excuses, at one point claiming that the feds came up with the metric, which the feds disputed, saying Texas had full responsibility and jurisdiction over who got money and how it was doled out. After days of harsh, bipartisan criticism, Bush pledged to give $750 million to Harris County but the whole ordeal isnt befitting of a candidate seeking a post that requires fairness and neutrality. As for Louie Gohmert, we had hoped the clownish, eight-term congressmans late entry into the race was but a cleverly written submission for the satirical publication The Onion. Alas, he really is running, touting his time as a district judge in Smith County, a stint on a Texas appellate court, as well as his hawkishness on the border. But even Gohmert, who is 68 and acknowledges that some consider him the dumbest guy in Congress, sounds sage when hes condemning Paxton: He deserves his day in court, but Texans shouldnt be punished for his actions, he says in a campaign video. Ill restore the rule of law and trust me, Ill be the woke mobs worst nightmare. Wed take that nightmare any day over the one Paxton has wrought. Luckily, we dont have to. Republicans who want to restore integrity, ethics and the rule of law to the Texas AGs office have a stellar choice in Guzman. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer There are those who believe Judge Frank Aguilar of the 228th District Court in Harris County is too quick to side with prosecutors arguments in court. But in a county whose criminal court judiciary turned over en masse four years ago, and where concerns about rising crime and lax bond decisions are widespread, we arent persuaded that Democrats would be wise to part company with a judge in their party with a tough approach to crime. Whether Aguilar wins or his opponent criminal defense lawyer Sam Milledge II does, the partys nominee can expect that question of how judges handle bond in violent cases to be central to the November general election. Those considerations aside, however, we believe Democrats should vote for Aguilar, 64, because hes spent his first term on the bench learning to be a better judge training the voters have paid for. His docket clearance rate has been 99 percent for cases in the previous 90 days, about average for all judges, and 86 percent for the previous year, a little better than average. He has about 10 percent fewer cases pending than average. A question for Republican voters in the March 1 primary race for governor: How far right must a candidate be to earn your vote? Another way of asking: Is there any room for bipartisan leadership? For compromise? The leading challengers of incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott want you to believe the only answer is no. Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas wants voters to unseat Abbott because the governor had the gall to declare an emergency in the face of a global pandemic that has, while appearing to ease now, already killed nearly 1 million Americans and more than 80,000 Texans. He shut down the state and put 3 million folks out of work on one day, Huffines tweeted Friday, adding that Texans will punish him for it. They remember when he said who was and who wasnt essential. And theyll be voting in the GOP primary. Former Florida Congressman Allen West is campaigning amid claims that Abbott is too weak at the border. The people on the ground know the truth, West said earlier this month. They know whats happening in Texas. They know that fact that youre not dealing with any of these things. Youre not dealing with the border. Then there is entertainer candidate Chad Prather, who on Friday offered this wisdom: If youre still wearing a mask youre a weak human. Its an outward demonstration of your pliability to government control. People have always had immunity issues but theyve never put a piece of paper on their face at the governments behest and called it safety. We believe Republican voters in Texas are smarter than that. The version of Texas theyve painted isnt reality. Its a kind of fever-dream Texas, where tough talk and nearly unhinged proposals pass for leadership. If sending thousands of Texas National Guard troops to the border to arrest asylum seekers for trespassing a foolish overreach, weve argued isnt tough enough for Huffines, then what would be? Actually, we have an answer for that, and it comes from candidate Danny Harrison, a small business owner in Dallas who says Abbott is too insulated from real voters to know their concerns. Hes mad about the pandemic lockdowns, too, claiming his business lost $399,000 because of the restrictions. If he were governor, Harrison would use troops, DPS officers and local police and if thats not enough, Id create my own militia to round up illegal immigrants across Texas and escort them back to the border and compel them to cross back into Mexico. Were not going to be spending thousands of dollars each to detain them, he said. Were sending them back. Surely voters see through this bluster and reject it. Just as they should reject as a light-weight Huffines, perhaps best known for his 2018 trip to Russia with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to secure, as Huffines later said, a promise from top Kremlin officials to never meddle in our elections again. That did the trick, were sure. And West? When you are too extreme for the Republican-led Florida legislature, you probably have no business asking Texans to entrust the leadership of their state to you. West, a decorated retired Army officer, was elected to Congress in 2010 on a tea party platform, and made waves by his explosive talk, such as calling President Obama a low-level Socialist agitator. Florida lawmakers redrew his district, throwing him into a tougher race which he promptly lost. When Abbott expanded early voting by a week to make it easier to vote during the height of the pandemic, West, naturally, sued to stop him and lost. His tenure as head of the Texas Republican Party ended amid controversy and conflict after just 11 months. We recommend Abbott unreservedly in the primary, despite our conviction that he failed at critical points. His inadequate response to the deadly Winter Storm Uri and the near-collapse of the states power grid a year ago is only the most egregious example. Another is his chest-thumping bravado in launching Operation Lone Star along the border despite that it has accomplished little more than clogging local jails and subjected guard members to shoddy conditions and late pay while they are away from their families. And his failure to take the coronavirus pandemic more seriously when it became clear he would be challenged in the primaries likely cost Texan lives. And yet on all of these issues, his GOP primary opponents complain Abbott did not go far enough. Harrison told us he should have left businesses free to decide for themselves whether to remain open, and at what capacity, during the pandemic. Let the free market decide, he told us. Thats fine in theory but free market principles were intended to govern commerce, not body counts. Sometimes, we grow nostalgic for another time in Texas, and another Greg Abbott. As hard as it is now to believe, Abbott was once hailed as a middle-of-the-road Republican who had helped make the Texas Supreme Court fairer after his appointment by Gov. George W. Bush in 1995. All the way back in the mid-90s, when he was just another Harris County district court judge, Abbott drew rave reviews from attorneys who appeared before his civil court. In 1995, a whopping 76 percent of respondents rated Abbott as outstanding. No other civil or criminal district judge came close. When he was first sworn in as a Harris County judge, a Chronicle reporter asked Abbott, who had been partially paralyzed years before when struck by a falling tree on a neighborhood jog, why he was eager to pursue public service. "You never know when a tree's going to fall on you," he said. In the time I'm here, I might as well do something positive. He got good marks during his three terms as attorney general. In 2014, when he was running against Sen. Wendy Davis to succeed Gov. Rick Perry, we praised Abbotts strong campaign, but stopped short of endorsing him, primarily because we feared hed be unable to resist the increasingly inflexible brand of conservatism taking root in the state party. The more conservative editorial pages of The Dallas Morning News endorsed Abbott, calling him a moderating force capable of guiding a realignment of his party away from tea-party era culture wars. We wish theyd been right. But they overestimated his strength, politically and personally. We wish Abbott would recall, from time to time, how he got here, and why, and that his goals for Texas, and for himself, used to be bigger than divisive social issues, blocking voter access and serving oil and gas donors. But we imagine its hard to remember that when hes got emboldened extremists nipping at his heals and screaming in his ear. Abbott is doing what he feels he must to survive but he must eventually ask: Will Texas, will our democracy, fare as well? We strongly recommend Republicans nominate Abbott in the primary and give him a chance to defend his record in the fall. Its not perfect, but it looks better every time Huffines and West start pulling at the fringes, and at the thinning fabric that holds us together as Texans. Other candidates in this race include Paul Belew, a Wise County attorney who wants to legalize gambling to reduce the states reliance on property taxes; Morgans Point medical marijuana advocate Kandy Kaye Horn; and Rick Perry, a computer engineer from Fort Worth. Judge Greg Glass has decades of experience as a criminal lawyer in Harris County, but hes fallen short of expectations on the 208th Criminal District Court bench. We recommend voters give his challenger, Kimberly McTorry, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, a chance to win the seat in the general election. While we recognize how difficult bond decisions can be for judges, particularly when the right to bail is enshrined in the Texas Constitution, in the case of Deon Ledet, a twice-convicted ex-felon, it is clear Glass made an egregious mistake. Prosecutors initially sought to have Ledet held without bail even though he hadnt been charged with a capital crime, arguing hed twice previously been convicted of a felony. A magistrate judge set bail at $40,000 initially; Glass subsequently agreed to a request from Ledets lawyers to reduce his bail to $20,000. Ledet immediately violated the terms of his pre-trial release, and when two Houston police officers showed up at Ledets home to serve an arrest warrant, he allegedly shot and killed Officer William Jeffrey. Glass, 73, told the editorial board his decision to reduce Ledets bond was a mistake. I really feel sorry for Officer Jeffreys family, its a horrible thing what happened, Glass said. If I could change it, I would. He said the experience has altered his steadfast belief in rehabilitative justice. He now denies bond to anyone with a bond forfeiture warrant. Yet that is not the only blemish on Glass record. He is one of the few district court judges who has both a below average 1-year and 90-day clearance rate. In the Houston Bar Associations judicial evaluation questionnaire, Glass scored poorly in all but one category. McTorry, 34, would bring a balanced perspective to the courtroom, having practiced on both sides of the docket. While she has only recently begun handling second-degree felonies as a defense attorney, we believe her trial experience as a Harris County prosecutor, where she handled thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases, makes up for that relative lack of experience. I believe in restorative justice, I believe in criminal justice reform, but I also believe that a judge should be equally as compassionate about the victims of crimes as they are about those who are accused of crimes, McTorry told us. A third candidate, Beverly Armstrong, 54, is a dedicated public servant, having served as a prosecutor for 15 years in both Polk County and Galveston County, but lacks criminal law experience in Harris County. When Texas Republicans decided to spare incumbent Democratic members of Congress during the redistricting process, the chances of a GOP candidate winning in the 29th Congressional District became slim. The majority-Latino district, which encompasses South Houston and Pasadena and snakes around the outer rim of northeast Harris County into Aldine, is represented by Democratic Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a two-term incumbent and former state lawmaker. Garcia has a massive fundraising advantage, with $455,768 on hand. It will take a Republican candidate who can pick off Democratic and independent voters to have a chance. We believe Lulite Ejigu, a real estate consultant, is the only Republican candidate who has the necessary cross-party appeal to win in a general election. Ejigu, 35, prides herself on not being a career politician. Shes a single mother and daughter of Ethiopian immigrants with an independent streak. Shes voted for Democrats in the past but was inspired to run as a Republican because she believes the Democratic Party has lost its way by consistently making campaign promises that go unfulfilled when they have power. Ejigu is running on diluting corporate power and making the Republican Party more inclusive to minorities. She said she began asking herself why she and those she knew best voted Democatic in the past. There was no place for us on the Republican side, Ejigu told the editorial board. If minorities are only to be on one side of the coin, how does that serve us when the other side is in power? Does that mean we're forgotten? How does that best serve our communities? Ejigus policy platform is starkly different than most Republican congressional candidates. Creating affordable housing tops her list of priorities. She wants to set up more Opportunity Zones, a tax incentive supported by both parties for individuals who reinvest unrealized capital gains into high-impact, long-term projects in high-poverty communities. In a city with the second-fewest homes available for the lowest income renters, we desperately need more voices in Washington advocating for quality housing. Rather than defund social welfare programs, which have been targeted for budget cuts by Republicans for decades, Ejigu wants to restructure them to give incentives for individuals to enter the workforce, reflecting her belief in the dignity of work. On energy policy, Ejigu understands climate change is a global crisis requiring diversifying the countrys energy sources. She wants to keep oil and gas as part of that equation, but said investing in renewable sources such as wind and solar are a must. Ejigu added that shed be a reliable vote in favor of any large-scale flood infrastructure project that could benefit the region. It was refreshing to hear Ejigu say unequivocally that President Joe Biden prevailed in the 2020 election. Ejigu said the discourse around the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol building and election integrity has turned so toxic that Republicans and Democrats simply shout past each other rather than engage in healthy debate. She believes she can be a bridge between the two parties. We have to have different opinions, and we can't close the door, Ejigu told us. We have to operate and move in love and hold space for each other. One of Ejigus opponents, Julio Garza, 53, does not share her opinion on the legitimacy of Bidens victory. He also told the board he believed the Jan. 6 attacks were staged. Other candidates in this race include Jaimy Blanco, 39, a real estate investor, and Robert Schafranek, 64. Neither candidate met with the editorial board. Blanco is running on fighting socialism and preserving individual liberties. Schafranek does not have a campaign website. It will be an uphill battle for any Republican to win against a relatively popular Democratic incumbent in a blue district. Ejigus pragmatic, center-right platform stands the best chance at pulling off an upset. Normally, we look at perennial candidates with a degree of skepticism. But in Mike Colliers case, he seems to be getting stronger as a candidate with each statewide run and ever closer to breaking Democrats decades-long losing streak. His business-friendly, open-hearted optimism also seems to be growing on Texans weary of divisive politics. In 2014, when no other Democrat ran for Texas Comptroller, Collier was crushed by Republican Glenn Hegar by 20.7 percentage points. Four years later, facing Dan Patrick in the lieutenant governor race, Collier lost by a margin of only 4.8 points, a mere 400,000 votes out of 8 million cast. In our endorsement of Collier in 2018, we wrote that the gray-haired, buttoned-up accountant and energy executive was in his element talking about solutions to property taxes, school finance and budget loopholes. He eschews divisive culture wars, but the last four years have renewed the urgency of his pragmatism. We have to fix the damn grid, and they havent done that, he told the editorial board recently, pointing to the Legislatures failure to require winterization of natural gas wells. Collier is a former Republican voter, though he was never active in GOP politics, and he has reminded us of one of Texas most respected lieutenant governors, Republican Bill Ratliff. Collier said it was former Houston Mayor Bill White who inspired him to become a Democrat because he is a very pragmatic leader who focused on solving problems as we Houstonians do in the business world. Before he can focus on the general election, though, Collier faces two impressive Democratic candidates in the primary. Michelle Beckley, 52, flipped a Denton County state House district in 2018 that was redrawn in 2021 to be favorable to Republicans once more. Her combativeness earned her special mention and derision in secret recordings of former House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. She was among the Democrats who broke quorum by flying to Washington D.C. to protect voting rights. Beckley points out that Collier has never won an election, though shes not likely to persuade moderate voters in the statewide general election. Carla Brailey, 49 and a sociology professor at Texas Southern University, has served as vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party for more than three years. She says that, with her grassroots connections, shell make sure more voices are at the decision-making table. As of Jan. 20, her campaign reported $23,000 cash in hand, about $8,350 more than Beckley. Collier told us hes raised over $1.6 million and is on track to surpass the $2 million he had last go around. Though thats still a paltry amount compared to Patricks war chest, Collier argues he came close to winning with an underfunded campaign last time, and this time, with a talented staff backing him up and fundraising outpacing his previous races, he can close the gap. Democrats can at least hope for a decent showing out of him. Collier talks about having won more votes in rural counties than Beto ORourke, who nearly unseated U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Collier spoke to us from Williamson County, where he grew up before the area began to be swallowed by Austin. He told us that behind closed doors, the rural Republicans he talks with yearn for a state government that partners with them on honest solutions to real problems. We do, too. Texans deserve nothing less. Collier is Democrats best chance for bringing the party back from the wilderness, and Texas government back from the fringes. Walmart is doing away with its mask mandate for those employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those workers, effective immediately, will need to wear masks on the job only if required by state or local governments, Walmart said Friday in a company memo. The update also applies to Sams Club workers. Advertisement The announcement which still supports vaccinated employees wearing masks if they so choose came on the heels of New York and other states saying they too would life indoor mask requirements amid decreasing cases of the more transmissible omicron variant. In this July 30, 2020 file photo, shoppers wear face masks as they leave a Walmart store in Vernon Hills, Ill. (Nam Y. Huh/AP) Walmart employees who are unvaccinated must continue wearing their masks until further notice, according to the outlet. Advertisement That mandate also applies to employees in pharmacies and other clinical care settings which involve direct patient and customer contact. Consumers shop as they wear a mask at a Walmart store in Vernon Hills, Ill., on May 23, 2021. (Nam Y. Huh/AP) Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > That isnt the only COVID-related policy that will be changing for Walmart employees. Beginning on Feb. 28, employees save for those in California, New York and Virginia will no longer need to take part in the daily health screening, though all workers are urged to monitor their own health and take appropriate actions ... before each workday. Those who are feeling under the weather, experiencing COVID symptoms, or are unvaccinated and have had close contact with someone who has COVID, are asked to stay home. The company on March 31 will also end its 2-year COVID-19 Emergency Leave Policy which provides paid leave for COVID-19-related absences in addition to our regular PTO policies, according to the memo. Walmart said the policy will remain in effect where required by state or local mandates or ordinances and for those employees whose leave is already in process as of March 31. The company assured full-time hourly, salaried and truck driving employees on short-term disability in connection with the virus will continue to receive benefits under their current plans. Walmart in the memo reminded employees that being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is still the best defense against hospitalization and death and encouraged those not fully vaccinated or those who have not yet received their booster dose to do so as soon as possible to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. One way to understand the long odds facing the winner of the Republican primary in the race to represent the 7th Congressional District is to peek at the fundraising totals among the seven candidates in the crowded field. No candidate reported more than roughly $8,000 in contributions as of the Dec. 31 filing period. The only candidate with more than a few thousand dollars cash on hand was Tina Blum Cohen, 63, and all of her funds were from a $50,000 personal loan. By contrast, U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, the two-term Democratic incumbent who is unopposed in her primary, reported $2 million cash on hand. This once competitive district became bluer when the Texas Legislature redrew boundaries and protected their majority by making other districts more red. Voters in the March 1 GOP primary should make their selection with those odds in mind. We believe a vote for Tim Stroud, a 49-year-old former Army medic, will go furthest and we recommend voters choose him in the March 1 primary. Stroud offered conservative but reasonable takes on pressing issues, including climate change and the future of the energy industry. He told us he strongly supported oil and gas but also supported investment in renewable fuels. He wants the subsidies given to green fuels to be fair to other segments of the industry and he believes Houston, and more broadly Texas, can become a central hub for climate crisis innovation. There are brilliant minds all over the world working on the energy transition, he said. We need to attract them to the United States and Texas. Lets use those minds right here. He also was unafraid to credit President Biden for supporting a Republican-led bill that helps veterans, even as he excoriated him for the way American troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan. Biden helped pass the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, he told us. This helps those who were injured during their service to find their road to recovery. Stroud has made helping veterans a priority since leaving his Army career, and pledges that if elected hell seek to serve on committees where he can continue that work. In this race, we also liked Johnny Teague, 58, a pastor, an author and, he told us, a full-time rancher. He was the GOP nominee in 2020 to face Rep. Al Green, whose Houston district is overwhelmingly Democratic. He wants to focus on the deficit and denounces all protests that turn violent. His views on fossil fuels were protectionist and less balanced than Strouds, however. Candidate Rudy Atencio, 45, said hes trying to find solutions without regard to politics on the left or the right, but insisted that Trump remains the legitimate president. Laique Rehman, 68 and a career oil and gas entrepreneur who believes America is sliding toward socialism, more wisely said Biden became the lawful president once Congress certified his election. Benson Gitau, a Kenyan immigrant with an impressive personal story and a tight focus on paring down the soaring national debt, lost us when he said a top priority will be to return the United States to the gold standard. Cohen, president of Blums Fine Furniture in Houston, and Lance Stewart, 40, did not screen with the editorial board. Cohens website says she splits her time between Houston and Los Angeles and looks forward to voting to re-elect Trump in 2024. Stewart quit the Navy after eight years in 2018, and has since opened two barbecue restaurants in Houston. His website stresses a pragmatic approach to solving problems, but we think Stroud is the best choice for GOP voters. High Point, NC (27260) Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High around 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. BCC Hosts Nursing Info Sessions PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Community College (BCC) will offer four virtual information sessions this month for students interested or enrolled in the Fall 2022 Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, four sessions for the Practical Nursing (PN) Certificate program, as well as four sessions for the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to ADN program. The one-hour sessions are held via Zoom. PN info sessions will be held: Monday, February 14 at 12 pm Thursday, February 17 at 5 pm Tuesday, February 22 at 11 am Wednesday, February 23 at 5 pm ADN info sessions will be held: Monday, February 14 at 1 pm Thursday, February 17 at 6 pm Tuesday, February 22 at 1 pm Wednesday, February 23 at 6 pm LPN to ADN info sessions will be held: Monday, February 14 at 2 pm Thursday, February 17 at 7 pm Tuesday, February 22 at 2 pm Wednesday, February 23 at 7 pm To register for an info session and view a list of Zoom links, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/nursing-info Completing an information session is mandatory for all nursing students. The sessions provide an opportunity for prospective nursing students to learn more about BCC's programs, the admissions process, prerequisites, immunization information and more. The BCC nursing program, which is approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, is a sequence of lectures, skills training, laboratory and clinical courses. Graduates are eligible to take the licensing examination to become either Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). The deadline for application to the fall 2022 ADN program is Friday, April 1, 2022. Last month, Americans observed the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, a tragic day in our history. However, by the crucial measure of the strength of civic virtue among our elected officials, another day, Feb. 13, should be highlighted as one of even greater consequence for the security and stability of our democracy. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, 43 Republican senators voted to acquit President Donald Trump of the charge of incitement of the insurrection, thereby thwarting a conviction by the required two-thirds majority. By not convicting and then disqualifying Trump from holding future federal office, those 43 senators single-handedly enabled one of the most destructive politicians in U.S. history to campaign again for president and to return to the White House for a second term. Advertisement Knowingly, on Feb. 13, these Republican senators placed partisan attachment to an authoritarian demagogue over the Constitution, the truth and the safety of the American people. In that crucial hour, they failed to uphold their sworn duty to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. In this image from video, the final vote total of 57-43, to acquit former President Donald Trump of the impeachment charge, incitement of insurrection, in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. (AP) The senators committed this grave error not on grounds of any reasonable interpretation of law or oath, but because they could not muster sufficient civic virtue within themselves to elevate the best interests of the nation over self-interest and party. Advertisement No American should think for a moment that civic virtue is an obsolete moral principle best left to the idealism of the classroom. No, it is the lifeblood of democracy, no matter the historic point in time. When this vital substance dries up in the leadership of a republican form of government, there is little hope for the preservation of freedom, justice, equality, rule of law and peace among the people. The reason for the surpassing importance of civic virtue in our elected officials is that no other deep element of government or human nature can possibly withstand the tempestuous aggressions of an authoritarian demagogue, like Trump, upon our democratic institutions and values. The principle of civic virtue, promoted as a sine qua non of democratic self-government since ancient Athens, has broad meaning and applications, including injunctions to citizens to honesty, respect, service, patriotism, benevolence, forbearance, self-sacrifice and courage. More to the point, though, in the case of U.S. senators casting a historic vote to hold an authoritarian demagogue from their own party accountable for overt efforts to overturn a free and fair election or to let him off scot-free the field of responsibility narrows chiefly to the twin duties of self-sacrifice and courage. We do not have to look far to find instances of the anguished exercise of these two duties in the Senate. Seven Republican senators on that day understood the depth of the authoritarian crisis confronting the nation and, searching their consciences, chose to lay down their political lives and reputations for the Constitution and the preservation of our democracy. Those senators were Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. That attack was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence, Collins explained shortly after her vote on Feb. 13, speaking truth to Trumps lies. Rather, it was the culmination of a steady stream of provocations by President Trump that were aimed at overturning the results of the presidential election. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Rather than defend the constitutional transfer of power, she continued, he incited an insurrection with the purpose of preventing that transfer of power from occurring. She concluded, My vote in this trial stems from my own oath and duty to defend the Constitution of the United States. Advertisement Sasse, in a statement issued the same day, underscored the fact that lies about an election outcome promulgated by a president conspicuously risk political violence and, as such, are sufficient grounds for conviction. Regarding Trumps two lies about a stolen election and Vice President Mike Pences authority to overturn the election, Sasse explained, Those lies had consequences, endangering the life of the vice president and bringing us dangerously close to a bloody constitutional crisis. Each of these actions are violations of a presidents oath of office. Five days later, Romney entered a statement into the Congressional Record asserting that it is the Senates responsibility to hold accountable those who abuse their office or threaten our Republic. He voted for conviction, he said, because I consider an attempt to corrupt an election to keep oneself in power one of the most reprehensible acts that can be taken by a sitting president. Feb. 13, 2021, marks a day to remember not because seven Republican senators roused the courage to put the Constitution and public safety before party and political self-preservation, but because 43 did not. Instead of standing up for our democracy and, vitally, for domestic peace, they recklessly empowered Trump to rise again as a candidate for the presidency. As a nation, with time, we should forgive the senators, but we must not forget. We must not forget that they held in their hands a constitutional power to permanently exclude an authoritarian demagogue from federal electoral politics. We do not yet know the full consequences of the senators votes that day, but we must hold them accountable for their dereliction of duty. Merritt is a political historian at Vanderbilt University and the author of the forthcoming book Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution. 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. MAM | Marketing A must-read ad & marketing book Political advertising and marketing case studies might be a bit of a bore for many. But once you pick up 'Don't Forget 2004 Advertising secrets of an impossible ELECTION VICTORY' by Jayshree M Sundar and start flipping through its pages, you can't put it down. Read More... MAM | Marketing Brands unveil their inner cupid ahead of Valentine's Day Love is in the air.. it is on your smartphone screen.. it is on the biggest hoardings, it is everywhere! It is that time of the year when romance takes centre-stage and whether one likes it or not, one cannot escape the blitzkrieg of mushiness coming our way. Read More... MAM | Media And Advertising HUL most prolific advertiser in week 5: Barc data With ad volumes of 5635.09 ('000s) FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) was the top advertiser in the fifth week of 2022 (29 January to 4 February) according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) data. Reckitt Benckiser grabbed the second position at 2359.58. Read More... MAM | Marketing Hockey India names Digital Latte as its social media agency Hockey India has announced the signing of Digital Latte as its new digital media agency for the management of its social media requirements. Digital Latte, a full-service creative digital agency, will be working towards presenting fresh digital ideas to push for engaging content on all social media platforms. Read More... MAM | Marketing Cars24's new campaign reveals MS Dhoni-proven formula to buy best cars Cars24, the homegrown e-commerce platform for pre-owned vehicles has launched its latest campaign 'MRL Pass Toh Gaadi First Class' featuring Indian cricketer MS Dhoni. The campaign brings focus to Cars24's recently launched Mega Refurbishment Labs (MRLs) in India and highlights the brand's commitment and leadership to provide quality cars to its customers. Read More... Almost every single day, a new discovery is being made in some part of the world with scientists, archaeologists and researchers revealing the secrets of the past. However, there are certain incidents, stories and unsolved mysteries that continue to riddle the mind of historians, despite spending years to investigate and research them. ALSO READ: Scientists Solve Mystery Of Bizarre 'Alien' Body Found 18 Years Ago Each of these incidents are peculiar in their own way and even the most renowned experts and investigators have been unable to solve them. From mysterious deaths and disappearances, let us take a look at some of the historical mysteries of all times. It was on February 10 that Italy's Mt Etna erupted sending giant plumes of smoke and ash, as high as eight to 10 feet, up into the sky. While the event in itself is not a rarity, the spectacular display of smoke, ash and hot lava created a skyscape like no other. It goes without saying that the photos of the natural event went viral with people from all over posting what they saw on Twitter. Twitter/CarloCassaniti According to National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology, there were no injuries reported and the lava flow, which reached an altitude of 6,500 feet, didn't really pose any threat to nearby villages. The eruption took place on the volcano's southeastern crater, and while Etna is Italy's most active volcano--it erupted twice in one month last year--eruptions with electrical discharge are rare. Some even likened it to the image of a Phoenix rising from the ashes: That Mount Etna eruption yesterday in Sicily looks like a Phoenix too pic.twitter.com/xcWMoJHC3Z RacketED (@derekcaraway) February 13, 2022 The following is the view from Tremestieri Etneo: The current eruptive episode at #Etna's Southeast Crater is continuing, with a gradual increase in the intensity of explosive activity and emission of a small lava flow onto the southwest flank of the cone. Views from Tremestieri Etneo, 10 February 2022 pic.twitter.com/L5uOjzZH4H Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) February 10, 2022 Even static electricity was seen making its way out from the eruption. It was a sight like no other for sure. El Etna en erupcion desde el pueblito donde estoy viviendo pic.twitter.com/v0GUhup3qq (@EmilianoSecoB) February 11, 2022 This was the view from space: Not a very clean shot since there is way too much humidity in Europes air at the moment but @astro_luca's home volcano #Etna is clearly smoking (and spitting lava as I learnt from the news) pic.twitter.com/gL5uNOkZUy Matthias Maurer (@astro_matthias) February 12, 2022 Here's the view from the Church of Santa Maria della Guardia: Eruption of the Etna Volcano in Sicily seen from the Church of Santa Maria della Guardia. (10 February 2022) pic.twitter.com/QpBuh0CVer Views of The Mediterranean (@LifeInTheMed) February 12, 2022 The following timelapse video from Weather Sicilia really puts things into perspective: Surreal, it is! For the latest from trending, click here. Facebook image (L-R): AP;Twitter/CarloCassaniti On Saturday, in what's being called the biggest such operation of its kind, Andhra Pradesh police set fire to over two lakh kilos of ganja at Koduru village in Visakhapatnam district. The seized ganja was almost worth Rs 500 crore. AP police tweeted the following, writing, 'In line with the mandate of GoAP & vision of Hon'ble @AndhraPradeshCM, APPolice launched on 1st Nov,2021 #OperationParivarthana to curb ganja menace. Inter state & inter departmental coordination meets have been conducted & the issue is being tackled with this Comprehensive Program.' Historic occasion in the annals of #APPolice: An unprecedented 2La Kgs of seized Ganja Destruction by #APPolice along with Drug Disposable Committee, Special Enforcement Bureau at Koduru(V),Anakapalli(M), #Visakhapatnam District.#MissionDrugFreeIndia @narcoticsbureau pic.twitter.com/IMHlPmilP2 Andhra Pradesh Police (@APPOLICE100) February 12, 2022 The move was part of Operation Parivarthana launched in November last year with the aim to curb ganja cultivation in certain areas in the state. #AndhraPradesh- Update from ground zero- I am in Koduru where AP police today burnt TWO LAKH KGS of dry #Ganja. This stock was seized over last one year and is estimated to cost at least 400 crore rupees at local market rate. Each heap has at least 10,000 kgs. (Thread) pic.twitter.com/Wumh5UuI2c Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) February 12, 2022 According to Times Now, The operation not only saw interstate and interdepartmental coordination, but it also took the help of satellite imagery and drones to make a crackdown of this scale a success. 2. #AndhraPradesh- This 2 lakh Kg Ganja burning is happening in the interiors of Koduru where there are no locals up until 4 kms. The nearest village has less than 300 people, says police. They have been asked to stay indoors. Youth volunteered to help police set this up. pic.twitter.com/D0VhkMuPuM Rishika Sadam (@RishikaSadam) February 12, 2022 Andhra Pradesh DGP Gautam Sawang put fire to the heaps of ganja with each holding at least 10,000 kilos. The entire stock is reported to have been collected over the past year. In yet another recent development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized nearly 800kg of drugs worth almost Rs 2,000 crore off the Gujarat coast. The contraband included 529 kg of 'very high-quality hashish (charas),' 15 kilos of heroin and close to 234 kg of methamphetamine. For the latest from trending, click here. Imagine your worst nightmare involving snakes coming to life, then double it. This flight from Kuala Lumpur sure had passengers feeling this way after a snake was found hanging out in the illuminated area of the plane. The Air Asia Airbus A320-200 was headed to Tawau, Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur. The short clip was originally tweeted by Hana Mohsin Khan, a commercial pilot. It's unclear whether she was manning said flight. Yikes! Snake on a plane! Either an escaped pet from passenger carry on/luggage or possibly climbed its way into the aircraft from the ground. Air Asia Airbus A320-200,Kuala Lumpur to Tawau. This dude happily stayed inside the illuminated area till plane was diverted pic.twitter.com/jqopi3Ofvp Hana Mohsin Khan | (@girlpilot_) February 12, 2022 Summing up exactly how any sane person would feel about snakes and planes, and snakes on planes, here's how these users reacted: Id have lost it and run off the flight. Good lord thr site of it freaked me out. Jeevika (@jeevika_shiv) February 12, 2022 I would freak out!! Sadho (@sadhosays) February 12, 2022 I hope Hissss flight was comfortable. TheBoringGuy (@NurulQuamar) February 12, 2022 Meanwhile, a man in Maryland, U.S., is said to have accidentally set his house on fire in an attempt to rid it of snakes. According to CNN, the man was trying to use smoke from burning coal to draw his slithery friends out of his house. Instead, the 10,000-square foot house was up in flames leaving the helpless guy with a $1 million bill from damage. For the latest from trending, click here. Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms. High 83F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Cloudy. High 61F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 47F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the United States believes Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine this week Kizmet Impact Capital chief executive James Tansey poses for a portrait in an undated handout photo. Responsible investing has seen tremendous growth in recent years, but many of the investments most focused on making a difference are still out of reach for average investors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Kizmet Impact Investing, *MANDATORY CREDIT* Gateway Technical College leaders recently celebrated the colleges official U.S. Department of Education-designated Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution status and outlined steps they will take to further meet the needs of an increasing number of Hispanic students at the college. Emerging HSIs are colleges which have reached a 15 to 24 percent Hispanic student enrollment level and have the potential to reach the full HSI designation threshold of 25 percent within the next few years, and Gateways Hispanic enrollment is nearly 24 percent. Gateway is one of two technical colleges and one of seven among all colleges in Wisconsin considered an emerging HSI. We are extremely proud and excited to be recognized as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, said Tammi Summers, Gateways vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. The HSI Advisory Team along with Gateways DEI Steering Committee will move forward with forming an HSI Task Force. The HSI Task Force will focus on the spirit of serving our Hispanic/Latinx students and creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. By incorporating culturally responsive practices throughout the college community, we ultimately impact the success of all students, not just students who are in our underrepresented populations. Multi-dimensional initiative Gateway began expanding its outreach and student services to Hispanic students leading up to the official launch of its HSI initiative in 2020. It was that year the college became intentional about looking at the application process, its data and creating a group to champion the HSI status and other related activities. Gateway hopes to attain HSI status by 2024. The college has undertaken a number of efforts to meet the needs of Hispanic students and to attain HSI status. A few of the many the many efforts include: The college has begun to translate several of its website pages and information pieces to Spanish. Many of the translated pages will provide information and resources for Spanish-speakers to help them better learn about the college and what it has to offer them. We are so excited to have these bilingual webpages available to our Spanish-speaking community, said Summers. Our college mission is: We deliver industry-focused education that is flexible, accessible, and affordable for our diverse community and having these webpages in Spanish demonstrates our commitment to being more accessible to our Hispanic/Latinx community. The website effort will provide a way for parents or families of prospective college students to more fully understand the college process by providing information in their first language, a valuable resource to those who are considering college and their future career. Yo Puedo College Day provides a way for Hispanic high-schoolers to find out more about Gateway. This has been a popular event and has introduced hundreds of students to Gateway and consider a college education. Gateway has a dedicated outreach specialist committed to sharing new opportunities at Gateway with its Hispanic community and collaborating internally to provide services in Spanish during recruitment events and activities. Gateway offers some of its HSED program courses in Spanish. Not all colleges offer coursework in Spanish, but Gateway and the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin (YWCA SEW) saw the need and pioneered the idea a couple years ago, making it possible for native Spanish-speakers to obtain their HSED. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Just a handful of city, county and school races are on the Tuesday, Feb. 15 primary election ballots across Kenosha County. But the primary is an important precursor to the April 5 spring election, which will have the highest number of contested races locally in over a decade and the first contested Kenosha County executive race in 20 years. Absentee voting has already been robust in Kenosha County compared to Racine and Walworth Counties. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, 4,157 absentee ballots have been returned and 581 in-person absentee ballots have been cast in Kenosha County. This compares to 606 absentee ballots returned and 62 in-person absentee ballots cast in Racine County and 452 absentee ballots returned and 114 in-person absentee ballots cast in Walworth County. Kenosha County Clerk Regi Bachochin said she expects a better than typical primary election turnout. Spring primaries tend to have about half the turnout that the spring election generates, Bachochin said. Though, with the countywide county executive race on the spring primary ballot, I expect to see the turnout a bit higher than other spring primary elections. Bachochin said the last contested county executive race was April 2, 2002, when former John Collins challenged incumbent County Executive Allan Kehl. That election had approximately a 23% turnout. With an increased awareness of the electoral process, community involvement and activism focusing on local elections, I hope to see at least a 20% turnout for this countywide primary, Bachochin said. The field of candidates in the following races will be narrowed Tuesday, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. County executive Electors across the county will vote for one of three candidates: District 16 County Board Supervisor Jerry Gulley of Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha County Clerk of Courts Rebecca Matoska-Mentink of Pleasant Prairie, or State Rep. Samantha Kerkman of Salem Lakes. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April 5 general election. The position comes with a four-year term and $117,838 annual salary. Gulley, chief communication officer at Health Tech Company EdLogics, said if elected he would be a leader with a public servants heart and a CEOs business acumen who would create a culture of data-driven decision-making, full transparency, and the highest level of integrity. He said this role calls for an executive, not a career politician as executive skills are very different from legislative skills, and he is the only non-partisan candidate. Matoska-Mentink, who has 20 years of experience in county government and budget management, said if elected she would engage in open and information gathering conversations with all stakeholders and would engage local municipalities and community partners and businesses to (identify) projects or issues that would benefit from collaborative measures. Before becoming Clerk of Courts in 2007 she was the office manager in the District Attorneys Office. Kerkman, who has represented the 61st Assembly District since 2001, said if elected she will serve with vision, passion, integrity, and a cooperative spirit. She said she brings over 20 years of experience working together with federal, state, and local leaders to solve problems and create opportunities for Wisconsin citizens, and has a reputation as eagle-eyed in saving money for Wisconsin taxpayers. District 16 County Board supervisor Electors who reside in Wards 1-5 in the Village of Pleasant Prairie will vote for one of three candidates: Amanda Nedweski, co-chair of Moms for LibertyKenosha County, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for parental rights; LaVerne Jaros, retired director of Kenosha County Aging and Disability Services; or James Kedrow, who withdrew from contention, but whose name will still be on the ballot due to the timing of his decison. The top two vote-getters will advance. This position comes with a two-year term and $6,526 annual salary. Jaros said if elected she would work to ensure honesty, integrity, service excellence and fiscal responsibility within county government and will listen, weigh facts, analyze costs and encourage collaboration and thoughtful decision-making. Nedwesdki said if elected she would work to address growing public safety concerns, ensure Fiscal accountability by increasing transparency in spending and reducing wastefulness, and improve human services, especially in the areas of mental health and long-term care. Kenosha District 6 alderman Electors in Kenosha Wards 7-10 will vote for one of three candidates: Incumbent Alderman Dave Paff; Brandi Ferree, a purchasing agent and estimator for MC Home Builders LLC; and Ryan Havron, who works in the construction industry and serves in the Wisconsin National Guard. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April election. This position comes with a two-year term and $6,000 annual salary. A profile on the candidates is running on page A5 in todays Kenosha News. Bristol School Board Electors in Bristol Wards 1-6, Pleasant Prairie Ward 16 and Kenosha Wards 54 and 55, will vote for no more than two of five candidates for School Board: JoDee Hale-Schmid, Tina Elfering, Stephen Grimm, Lauren Zimmer and Danielle Whitaker. The top four vote-getters will advance to the April 5 general election. The two seats come with a three-year term and $2,000 annual salary. Elfering said if elected she will work to restore the partnership and respect that Bristol School once had, ensure students have up-to-date curriculum, and to create the best working environment available for staff so they can focus on giving our children the best education possible. Grimm said if elected he would focus on financial responsibility, curriculum (including electives and STEM), technology and the support of teachers, staff and administration. He sees his expertise with budgets exceeding $75 million as an asset and would work to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent in the most efficient manner. Hale-Schmid said if elected she would ensure education and community/parent voice are at the forefront. She said she would work to improve communication and transparency and make sure we are taking care of our star staff and are making strides or changes where there are weak links that are negatively impacting the success and goals of the school. Whitaker said if elected she would work to foster a collaborative and healthy culture within our school, and community at large, while keeping sight of the humanity of every person. She said background in human resources and mental health can be a support to the administration as they seek to retain our current team and recruit additional staff. Zimmer said if elected he would work to create a safe and cohesive environment, where our children receive a high quality education, our staff are supported and given the proper tools to do so, all while we continue to listen to parents and community members input. He said board members should work together to support the administration in accomplishing these goals. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 13 Shares Share One year after the White House instated an executive order focusing on health equity and support for underserved communities, changes are in progress. But even with the positive news that the Omicron surge has peaked with the seven-day case average dropping, gaping holes in health disparities are still unanswered. Some hospitals and health care systems such as CoxHealth have hired diversity, equity, and inclusion directors. Others have publicly renewed their commitment to health equity through updated mission and vision statements, increased clinical training on racial disparities in health care, and professional development training. As professional nurses in a major hospital system in Chicago, we acknowledge that these efforts are much needed, long overdue, and commendable. But too often, these efforts are just window dressing without concurrent significant financial investment and a commitment to remove financial barriers to people seeking care. More is needed to advance health equity. As nurse practitioners working with some of the most affected groups, people historically underserved by the health care system and people experiencing homelessness, we see preventable disparities play out every day. The results for patients are damaging at best and catastrophic at worst. A major step would be for administrators in the health care system need to modify their insurance and third-party systems. Simply put, hospitals and health care systems are reimbursed for health care services via pre-negotiated contracts with third-party payers that represent insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. Health care providers are motivated to negotiate the most favorable reimbursement rates from these third-party vendors to support their bottom lines. Medicaid programs often reimburse at the lowest rates, thus making them less attractive to health care systems for third-party contracts. But this is exactly what makes the third-party payor system inequitable. The people who are historically underserved by the health care system are most often low-income, marginalized, often receive Medicaid or are uninsured. In 2021, 40% of Illinois Medicaid recipients in Illinois were children, 7% were people with disabilities, 8% were older adults, 46% were adults not represented in the other categories. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 18% of Illinoisians received Medicaid, and 7% were uninsured in 2019. The majority of non-elderly Medicaid recipients during 2019 were Black and Hispanic. Yet, because of limited Medicaid acceptance from health care providers, this means they also have the fewest options for care when they need it most. An Avalere Health study concluded that approximately 72% of Affordable Care Act plans have a narrow network of health care providers and hospitals from which to choose. Having a well-funded private system and an under-funded public system creates discrimination in health care, according to a recent Catalyst study. Even with the Affordable Care Act and state Medicaid expansion in place, many who rely on Medicaid and Medicare still face logistical barriers to accessing care. Someone can be assigned a provider that is completely inaccessible to them. Patients without a mailing address are often unaware of updates affecting their in-network health care provider or pharmacy. Most Medicaid Managed Care plans direct the person to a website, but that requires a computer and a stable internet connection, something not everyone has access to. Phoning customer service to change providers or address these issues is challenging as many dont have their own phones. Difficulties also arise with private pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, that contract with third-party vendors. Most Medicaid users do not have access to pharmacies within walking distance, and chances are if they do, they wont be able to get their prescriptions filled there. In Chicago, for example, many people using Medicaid are only able to pick up prescriptions at CVS pharmacies, that has 70 locations across Chicago, compared to Walgreens 110 locations. The vast majority of CVS locations are in the Loop area, with few on the South and West sides, where many Medicaid users live. More Walgreens pharmacies are in low-income areas where Medicaid users are more likely to live. Even if someone using Medicaid is able to access a provider quickly, it can be difficult to obtain their life-saving medications due to lack of access to transportation and co-pay amounts. If they have not received or lost their insurance card, there is no database for the pharmacy to access the Medicaid Managed Care identification number. Working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have established and managed a medical respite for people who are unstably housed and COVID-19 positive. While completing isolation, the care team addresses their chronic health problems by connecting people to primary care, ordering labs and imaging, and making referrals to specialty care post-isolation. Yet there are consistent challenges. Recently, a 63-year-old male arrived at the COVID-19 respite center with a life-threatening heart condition that was diagnosed weeks prior at a Chicago hospital. He needed a cardiologist and pulmonologist to evaluate and care for him long-term. He was sent to a hospital for evaluation due to a dramatic change in symptoms and was seen at an emergency room. He returned to the center with a list of specialty offices to call for appointments. The clinical team started calling that next day so he could begin with a new health care team, but his Medicaid Managed Care plan was not accepted at this local hospital. The hospital advised calling the phone number on his Medicaid card for help. It took the team almost two days to connect with a Medicaid plan representative to switch his assigned primary care provider. Then he waited another four days for his appointments. Some patients dont have phones, permanent addresses or email addresses that are required to confirm most medical appointments. The health care system disregards people who struggle with these presumed amenities. And worse, most people dont have access to trained health care professionals to help them navigate the system in real-time. This inequity impacts everyone because with so many roadblocks to care and treatment, health suffers, and health care costs skyrocket. Research shows that as of 2020, 63% of Americans support a single-payer system. The path to universal health care is fraught with political barriers and self-serving economic interests, but it is the best solution for all. Until universal health care is realized, and health care systems follow through on their health equity missions, policymakers and administrators must build the financial model and business case to accept all Medicaid plans. This is the only way to truly open health care doors to all. Terry Gallagher, Christina Manheimer, and Angela Moss are nurse practitioners. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Why is Covaxin not in the FDAs toolbox? [PODCAST] 42 Shares Share This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring. As a clinician who has received two Pfizer doses and a booster without any side effects, I wholeheartedly embrace vaccination to solve this pressing public health crisis. The key is for policymakers to identify the best tool for the job (i.e., Covaxin) and utilize it effectively to solve the widest-ranging public health crisis of the past century. Tayson DeLengocky is an ophthalmologist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, Why is the worlds first universal coronavirus vaccine not in the FDAs toolbox? Reflect and earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring. Did you know more than 65 percent of doctors are actively investing in remote patient monitoring? Thats because RPM is the fastest-growing segment in health care today. And for good reason: RPM boosts patient outcomes through preventative care. In fact, a recent study by the VA showed that implementing RPM at a practice can reduce hospital readmission rates by as much as 25 percent, saving more than $20,000 per patient in medical costs. If youre not investing in RPM, youre missing out. Luckily, Athelas can help you roll out RPM end-to-end. They provide devices to your patients, handle 100 percent of billing, and even provide a team of nurses to monitor patient vitals for you. All at zero net cost to your practice. Try out RPM for your practice by going to KevinMD.com/tryrpm. Did you enjoy todays episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Do you know someone who might enjoy this episode? Share this episode with anyone who wants to hear health care stories filled with information, insight, and inspiration. Hosted by Kevin Pho, MD, The Podcast by KevinMD shares the stories of the many who intersect with our health care system but are rarely heard from. 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! We could learn a thing or two from Kilkenny People of the Year Youth Award winner - Ebony Masuku. She is an inspiring young lady, who has challenges in her own life, but her aura oozes positivity. We were lucky that Ebony was able to attend the Kilkenny People of the Year awards to receive her award last November. Her family waited all day for her neurologist to confirm that it was safe to release her from hospital for the event. She made it and there wasnt a dry eye in the room that night when people heard about her strength and kindness. Winner Ebony Masuku been interviewed by Siobhan Donohoe at the Kilkenny People of the Year Awards 2021 They say volunteerism gives the volunteer a lot back in return. If you want any proof that there are good people out there, read on. From a young age, Ebony has been immersed in her local community Newpark Close, whether it was through dance or attending youth clubs. Her first main role in her community began at the age of eight in 2012, when she joined the Newpark Close junior litter warden group which was established by Frank Coady and the late Nora Webster. Ebony Masuku and Mayor John Coonan In 2013, the great work of the junior litter warden group was recognised by Keep Kilkenny Beautiful as they were awarded the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Further commendation came in October 2014 as they were awarded certificates by David Fitzgerald, the former chairperson of Keep Kilkenny Beautiful. The teen went on to develop the Group herself after the passing of its founder Nora Webster. Ebony is also Duty Head Girl in Loreto Secondary School and is currently self-teaching the leaving cert, with the aspirations of becoming a doctor someday. Throughout the pandemic Ebony has helped many people, be it teenagers with their mental health through her radio programme or calling to see the elderly. She can teach us all a thing or two about reaching your hand out and touching the hearts of others Ebony, why did you decide to restart the Newpark Close junior litter warden group? The group eventually dissolved as the members got older. Being part of the junior litter warden group equipped me with many essential skills for life such as leadership and responsibility skills. These skills came into play after the devastating passing of Nora Webster earlier this year in February. I decided to restart the junior litter warden group to continue the work and honour Nora. I reached out and got the backing of former Mayor John Coonan, Bernadette Maloney of Kilkenny County Council and Sheila Donnelly, Manager of Newpark Close Family Resource Centre. I stated Covid times are hard but something as little as kids' social distance picking up rubbish together can avoid the isolation felt by many as we feel the strain of covid-19. I was commended for her work in promoting environmentalism and social inclusion in her community. What made you reach out to your peers during the lockdowns? During the second lockdown I noticed how covid was affecting not just my local community of Newpark Close but also my fellow peers. I noticed the mental health of many of my fellow teenagers, in particular the mental health of my younger sister had deteriorated. I felt it was my responsibility as a fellow teenager to raise awareness about the impact of covid on teenagers' mental health. I decided to go on to the local radio KCLR (Kilkenny Carlow local radio). The interview had a great response from the local community, and I was asked to come back a couple of weeks later for an update interview once I had returned to school. During the Summer, I learned behind the scenes of the radio. From there it was decided that I would be given a regular interval in which I could film an interview of my choice. Every second Friday I continue to raise awareness about topics I feel are important as teenagers. Your community work did not stop there? After focusing a lot on young people, I decided it was also important to focus on elderly, sick and those with disabilities. I chose an area of houses for vulnerable people and decided to seek donations from shops to create hampers for these people. I received a vast array of donations. I witnessed them close to tears filled with gratitude because of a simple token. I think reactions like this highlight to me just how important volunteerism is. I also worked in a pharmacy for the past two years on a Saturday. This work allowed me to get to know more people in my community. Unfortunately, you got sick yourself last year just before Christmas and it was clear things would have to change. Yes, thats correct and currently I am still without a diagnosis and not allowed back in school. So, I am currently trying to self-teach for my leaving cert, with great support from the Loreto Secondary School. Im fainting a lot; for now they are calling them seizures. I am losing consciousness and then sometimes I'm not losing consciousness. Its scary stuff, because it came out of nowhere, it just happened one day when I was in class. I had to acknowledge that my illness is out of my control and to try to focus on the positives. This reminded me of how easy it is for us to dwell on the negatives in our lives and about ourselves. During the Christmas holidays and with January in sight, I began to think of how I could make a difference from the confines of my bed. Ebony spreading positivity on Blue Monday Is that why you decided to do something extraordinary on Blue Monday? I came across the term Blue Monday, the third Monday of the year. The third week in January is said to be the most depressing time of the year. With that in mind I created a video to try to promote a bit of positivity during this time. In the video I got people to say one thing they like about themselves. I then compiled all the videos together. The video contained people from all different walks of life including the current Mayor of Kilkenny - Andrew McGuiness. The video was shared across numerous platforms, and we received very positive feedback. I had a couple of people get in contact with me, explaining how this video helped them. That is my aim with these things, if they can help at least one person thats one less person feeling lost. Some of the young girls in the video said they like their smile. Theres a powerful message in that. You know, it's easy for us to look in the mirror and straightway pick out what's not nice, but I think it's nice that we can change the narrative and focus on the good things we have to offer. What would you like to take and keep from the time of the pandemic? Probably just how grateful I was for everything. I think the pandemic helped us all to realize not to focus so much on materialistic things and stuff, but more on family and friends and to make the memories, by living in the moment. What memories did you make? The pandemic was such a big time for me to grow as an individual. I think if you'd asked me this time last year to do an interview, I would have said no way. Former Mayor John Coonan nominated Ebony for the Kilkenny People of the Year Awards How did you feel about winning the Kilkenny People Youth Awards last November? I was just completely overwhelmed. I didnt even think I would be able to attend the event. I got the go ahead to leave the hospital half an hour before my make-up appointment! We found out who nominated me, it was former Mayor John Coonan and his wife, for my work in starting up the Junior Litter Working Group. They have been so caring and supportive with everything I've done, and I'm just beyond grateful to have them in my life. The award highlighted the importance of volunteering. It feels an emptiness within people. I suppose like the reactions I received when giving out the hampers to the elderly, some people were close to tears just to see and talk to someone. It was just a small token from one side and to see the impact it had on people; I can't even explain how happy that makes me feel. You don't have to give a talk in the United Nations or protest outside the President's house to make a difference. You just need to make the little changes, because sometimes it's the small changes that make the biggest difference. Ebony surrounded by family and friends at the Kilkenny People of the Year Awards 2021 UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has described a joke made by Jimmy Carr about the travelling community and the Holocaust as horrid. The comedian, known for his stand-up and roles on shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats, prompted criticism after a clip from his recent one-hour Netflix special, His Dark Material, was shared widely on social media. In it, Carr joked about the horror of the Holocaust and six million Jewish lives being lost before making a disparaging remark about the deaths of thousands of Gypsies at the hands of the Nazis as part of the punchline. Mr Javid told Times Radio the joke was horrid. He added: I think we all have a right to react to that, and one of the best ways anyone can react to that is show these platforms what they think about Jimmy Carr by not watching or listening to him, and that will send him a very strong message. The Traveller Movement, a charity supporting the traveller community in the UK, has launched a petition calling for Netflix to remove the segment of the programme which celebrates the Romani genocide. It said the joke in question was truly disturbing and goes way beyond humour. Not-for-profit organisation the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and The Auschwitz Memorial have also condemned the joke while calling on Carr to educate himself about the Holocaust. We've launched a petition to Netflix calling for the removal of the segments of His Dark Material which celebrates the Romani genocide. Join with us to send @NetflixUK a clear message: #StopTravellerHatehttps://t.co/cuNqYllYPn The Traveller Movement (@GypsyTravellerM) February 4, 2022 Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries suggested new laws could hold to account streaming sites including Netflix for airing jokes such as those made by Carr. Speaking on BBC Breakfast last week, she said: We are looking at legislation via the Media Bill which would bring into scope those comments from other video on-demand streaming outlets like Netflix. So its interesting that were already looking at future legislation to bring into scope those sort of comments. Fellow comedian David Baddiel, a close friend of Carr who has written widely about anti-Semitism, has also criticised him over the joke, describing it as mean-spirited and cruel. Carr issued a trigger warning to the audience at the beginning of his Netflix special and warned viewers it contained terrible things. According to The Mirror, he appeared to address the controversy during a performance at the Whitley Bay Playhouse on Saturday night. Discussing so-called cancel culture, he told the audience: The joke that ends my career is already out there. Carr and Netflix have been contacted for comment. A man who told Nenagh District Court that he had a microchip implanted in his thigh after an appendix operation suffers so much pain that only strong alcohol can alleviate it. Declan Foran with addresses at 68 Cormack Drive, Nenagh, and 38 Horan Hall, The Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded to a number of theft, criminal damage and public order offences. I get movement, like I get some force to get it out. It seems it might be extraterrestrial, Mr Foran told the court in relation to the microchip. Mr Foran, 50, pleaded to theft of a bottle of whiskey valued at 20.56 from Centra, Clare Street, Nenagh, on December 31, 2021. He also pleaded to stealing a gas cylinder valued at 35 from outside Maloneys shop, Tyone, on December 30, 2021, and causing criminal damage to Dr Pat Harrolds surgery at Tyone on the same occasion by throwing the cylinder through the front door. The damage amounted to 290. Mr Foran pleaded to being intoxicated in public and threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at Sarsfield Street, Nenagh, on December 10, 2021. The court heard he had been discovered by the gardai on the pavement and became abusive to the gardai and the general public. Mr Foran pleaded to a similar offence at Nenagh Hospital, Tyone, on December 13, 2021, when he was intoxicated and threatening hospital staff at the entrance to the hospital. He also pleaded to causing damage totalling 200 to Clare Street Pharmacy by breaking two windows in the premises on the same date. In his evidence to the court, Mr Foran said that on each occasion he had just wanted to get medication. It was like pushing a panic button. My body was wracked with pain. It was a cry for help, he said. The only way to tackle the torture is to take strong alcohol - at least a third of a bottle of whiskey to alleviate the pain, said Mr Foran. In relation to the incident at Nenagh Hospital, Mr Foran said that he thought Shannondoc was still on the hospital grounds and, again, he had only been looking for medication. He said all the incidents had been out of character. I had no choice. It was a desperate cry for help. Mr Foran told his solicitor, David Peters that he had a microchip implanted in his thigh following an operation on his appendix and something keeps pressing on him. Mr Foran, who is in custody since January 1, 2022, said that he had learned a lot since going into prison. I say my prayers every night. Judge Elizabeth MacGrath said the incidents all had the hallmarks of someone looking for help as they had occurred at a doctors surgery, a pharmacy and a hospital. Mr Peters asked for a probation report but said there was no point in releasing Mr Foran as there was no emergency accommodation available in Tipperary and Mr Foran would need to be able to attend a clinic. He suggested that his client be remanded for a further two weeks on consent to get the probation report through the Prison Service. Judge MacGrath remanded Mr Foran in custody until February 11, 2022 and ordered a probation report for that date. FERNANDINA BEACH A Florida law enforcement officer died in a two-car crash on Interstate 95 near the Georgia border, officials said Sunday. Agriculture Law Enforcement Officer James McWhorter, 31, was killed in the accident on Saturday night in Nassau County. He had been with the state agriculture department since 2019. Advertisement According to the Florida Highway Patrol, McWhorter was on patrol on Interstate 95 north of Jacksonville when he pulled in front of a southbound pickup truck from the median. The truck struck the patrol cars passenger side. McWhorter, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The four people in the pickup truck suffered minor injuries. Advertisement Officer McWhorter was an excellent officer and devoted to his family, co-workers and the public he served. We will miss him greatly and send our condolences to his family, friends and fellow officers during this difficult time, said Col. James Wiggins, head of the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said, Our hearts are with Officer McWhorters loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We are so grateful to him for his service to our state, and we owe him and his family a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. US ropes in Quad allies to fight two-front wars with China and Russia despite spent force 16:17, February 13, 2022 By Zhang Han and Wang Wenwen ( Global Times The sign is clearer than ever that the US is turning Quad into a tool to serve its own strategic goal of countering China and Russia simultaneously, observers said, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought the topic of the Ukraine crisis to the Friday meeting of Quad foreign ministers even though this group of US, Australia, Japan and India was formed for "Indo-Pacific" affairs and to target China. Blinken said the US must stand up with its allies for a rules-based system threatened by "Chinese aggression" and the world's response to the Ukraine crisis was being watched by "others," which Bloomberg said was a pointed reference to China's "expansion" in Asia. Blinken also warned that Russia is amassing more troops and an invasion of Ukraine could come "any time" though Kremlin had denied such intention and urged the NATO to restrain itself. Chinese experts believe Washington is trying to declare it is determined to fight and can win on two fronts - China and Russia - at the same time to emphasize the US' hegemonic status and try its best to mobilize as many allies and partners as possible to serve this strategic goal amid anxiety over unprecedented China-Russia relations. But they pointed out the Biden administration has seriously misjudged itself and the international situation because the US today, deeply split and plagued by domestic problems, has neither the capability to contain two major powers simultaneously, nor the leadership to maintain trust from allies. Drowning man On Thursday, US President Joe Biden urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately and warned "things could go crazy quickly" in an interview with NBC. The remarks were interpreted by Chinese observers as another hype of a "Russian invasion" threat to persuade its allies to join actions against Russia. The US plan worked to a very limited extent when Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said it "shared grave concerns" over Russian military buildup during his meeting with Blinken. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne also said "Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border has deeply concerned Australia and our allies and partners" despite the fact that Australia, very isolated in the South Pacific, has little contact with Russia and no interest on the issue. Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Friday that the US is eager to combine all its tools and mobilize US-led platforms to tackle the Ukraine crisis and China's rise all at once. Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday the US was more like a drowning man clutching at a straw. But the more the US wants to leave its own people and the world an impression that it can manage confrontations against China and Russia and maintain a US-led world order, the more embarrassing a situation it is in because its failures in domestic governance, in the democratic system, in overseas operations such as the Afghan withdrawal, are obvious to all. Chen also said mixing up the Ukraine crisis and Indo-Pacific strategy exposed US anxiety on the China-Russia relations "without a limit," which was further consolidated through a joint statement signed after the face-to-face meeting of the two top leaders on February 4 ahead of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Yury Tavrovsky, head of "Russian Dream-Chinese Dream" analytic center of the Izborsk Club, told the Global Times on Friday that the US under Trump overestimated its potential of waging two "cold wars" simultaneously and added "China front" to the already functioning "Russia front." Now Biden wants to rope in all liberal capitalist countries to shore up America's declining power, and the Quad, AUKUS and so-called summit for democracy are the manifestations. This way further divides the world and accelerates China-Russia partnership, the expert said. Sergey Biryukov, a professor at the Siberian Institute of Management in Novosibirsk of Russia, told the Global Times that as a result of their developing partnership, China and Russia have gained opportunities to contain the militarization of the region through the structures of Quad and AUKUS. Wills and realities The US wanted to tout the "China threat" in the Indo-Pacific and "Russia threat" in Europe, but lacked a clear mind on how much its allies would buy into it, experts said. The Quad itself is not a capable mechanism and can hardly yield any concrete results, not to mention Quad members are cautious of making Russia their target, Lu said. Japan, despite territorial disputes with Russia, won't take it as a priority and India won't see Russia as a target either. The US can get nothing more than verbal support on the Ukraine issue at the Quad table, experts said. Though India may have the motivation to create trouble for China via Quad, it has more to care about internal affairs, including the epidemic, supply chains and commercial technologies, experts said. The US may woo Japan to stir up trouble for China as the two East Asian neighbors are having some difficulties in bilateral relations. But Japan won't completely serve as a US tool and it has maintained dialogue channels with China to handle problems and manage conflicts. Australia appears to be the only loyal US follower in the bloc, betting all on worsening China-US relations like a desperate gambler and even mulling to expand their target to Russia, but the US won't appreciate Australia's sacrifice or compensate the losses when the US has a policy adjustment, experts said. Lithuania, a non-Quad country, sent its foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to Australia to seek more support for its stance amid spats with China. The country also has intense relations with Russia. Experts said the Baltic nation is tied so close to the US boat by some politicians that it has little flexibility to do what's beneficial for its people. Lu said the US sets fire everywhere to demonstrate its competence and attraction in front of allies, and uses whatever tools at hands to win the "two-front battle," but it has forgotten it no longer has the leadership to ask others to extinguish the fire. Allies have to think twice before making real commitments beyond rhetorical support for the US considering uncertainty in American domestic politics, namely the midterm elections and the 2024 presidential election, experts said. The latest F35 crash and nuclear submarine collision in the South China Sea reminded the public of how much the US can achieve amid its ambitious Indo-Pacific strategy, Lu said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Gov. Ron DeSantis said he did not support a House proposal that would shift $200 million away from 12 school districts that imposed face mask mandates last year a move Orange County school leaders called unfair, unprecedented and possibly unconstitutional. The House included the proposal in a budget plan that it will take up during a floor session Tuesday. The proposal would redirect the $200 million from the 12 Florida school districts that required students to wear masks and share it with the 55 that did not. Advertisement Orange County Public Schools could lose $16.5 million if the measure was adopted. The other districts that would lose money under Fines proposal are Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, as well as Alachua, Brevard, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Sarasota and Volusia counties. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, two weeks ago proposed the putting parents first adjustment, which would take money from the dozen districts that required masks earlier this school year. He said it was a way to hold districts accountable for bucking state rules. Advertisement Both DeSantis and Republican lawmakers oppose mask mandates and made a series of moves last year to block them, but the governor said Friday he would rather allow parents to sue school districts that had mask mandates than shift money away from them. My view would be lets not do that, DeSantis said during an appearance in Jackson County, when asked about Fines proposal. But what you could do is say any parent whose kid was illegally force-masked this year in Florida in any of those districts, they should have the right to sue if their kids have any negative effects of it, if they have speech problems, if they have emotional problems, physical problems, he said. They flouted the law and they should be liable for the consequences of their actions. Fine tweeted on Saturday his support for the governors suggestion. Grateful to @GovRonDeSantis for agreeing that we need to hold rogue school districts financially accountable for the abuse they inflicted on tens of thousands of our school children, he wrote. Fine told the Miami Herald he viewed DeSantis suggestion as another way of going after those school districts, some of which challenged the states ban on mask mandates in court. The Senate has not included Fines proposal in its budget, so it was not clear even before DeSantis comments if it would support in the full Florida Legislature. Democratic lawmakers and school leaders called Fines proposal unfair to districts that enacted mask mandates in good faith as a way to keep students and staff safe during the surge in COVID-19 cases that coincided with August school openings. They noted both national and local medical experts recommended masks in schools as the delta variant led to a sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations. In a letter to lawmakers sent last week, Orange County Public School leaders said that even when masks were optional at the start of the school year, more than 90% of OCPS parents sent their children to school wearing them, suggesting widespread support for the 60-day mask mandate the district imposed. That mandate ended Oct. 31. The proposal to take money from the districts would be an unprecedented punitive redistribution of money in the states school-funding formula that aims to equalize per-student spending across the state, said the letter from Superintendent Barbara Jenkins and Teresa Jacobs, chair of the Orange County School Board. Advertisement School districts have the right to challenge state rules they think are improper, as Orange and others did with the states face mask regulations, just as the DeSantis administration has the right to challenge federal rules it views as wrongly imposed, the letter said. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Fines plan could violate the state constitution, they added, by imposing fines in ways state law does not allow. Fine wants to take money based on the number of school administrators earning more than $100,000 each district employs. Jenkins and Jacobs said that could jeopardize 92 jobs, administrators who oversee a range of departments, from early childhood to curriculum to school safety to transportation. His proposal is unfair, unreasonable, and does harm to our community by taking state and local funding away that would be allocated to our school system, the letter said. Central Florida school districts that did not impose mask mandates would gain money. Lake, Osceola and Seminole county school districts could gain from $7.6 million to nearly $11 million each, according to the House budget proposal. Fine said all districts would still get more money this year than last but the 12 would get less. Advertisement I dont think its punitive. I think its holding people accountable, and I think it is saying that we expect the laws that we pass to be followed by all of our school districts, he said last week. News Service of Florida contributed to this report. lpostal@orlandosentinel.com Kokomo, IN (46901) Today Heavy rain along with thunderstorms this afternoon. High 69F. SE winds shifting to SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong reach out for a fist bump with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi at the end of a joint press availability following their meeting in Honolulu, Feb. 12. AP-Yonhap South Korea, the United States and Japan demonstrated a united front against North Korea's provocations via trilateral talks among their top diplomats in Honolulu, Saturday. Experts, in general, gave a positive assessment of the high-level session among the regional powers meant to find ways to engage with North Korea, especially its timing, despite no immediate breakthrough in sight. "Such a meeting is always good to exchange views considering there is a high probability North Korea will continue to test more missiles and maybe even an ICBM between now and April," said Harry Kazianis, senior director at the Washington-based Center for the National Interest think tank. The trilateral event among South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi followed seven North Korean missile launches in January, the largest number of such tests conducted by the North in a single month. Pyongyang has also threatened to consider restarting "all temporarily-suspended activities," possibly suggesting a resumption of its nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile testing. The North has maintained a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile testing since late 2017. Frank Aum, a senior expert on Northeast Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace, agreed the meeting may have been useful but that little progress would have been possible on how to engage with North Korea. "The meeting will be helpful to convey trilateral unity and strengthen trilateral coordination," he told Yonhap News Agency. "However, since Washington and Tokyo are not on the same page with Seoul on North Korea policy and since Tokyo and Seoul are still far apart on historical issues, there may be very little tangible outcomes from the meeting," Aum added. Kazianis too highlighted the importance of cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the U.S., saying, "All of the allies must be on the same page but also see if there is some way to create an atmosphere to get the DPRK to take a different path." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. The North Korean military conducts a missile test from a railway car, Jan. 14, in this photo provided the following day by the North Korean government. AP-Yonhap The North has shunned denuclearization negotiations since late 2019. It also remains utterly unresponsive to numerous overtures made by the U.S. since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Chung earlier said he and his U.S., Japanese counterparts will discuss ways to engage with North Korea. From left, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi speak during a press conference held after their trilateral foreign ministerial talks in Honolulu, Feb. 12. Yonhap The following is the full text of a joint statement issued by South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi following their trilateral foreign ministerial talks in Honolulu, Saturday. Joint Statement on the U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Ministerial Meeting The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong met today in Honolulu, Hawaii, to reaffirm the critical importance of strong U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation as we seek to address the most pressing 21st Century challenges. The U.S. Alliances with the ROK and Japan span decades, and our enduring friendship and shared values guide us in our efforts to achieve a prosperous and secure future. The 21st Century has brought not only new and unprecedented challenges but also tremendous opportunities for our three countries to work together. Underscoring the importance of trilateral cooperation as we navigate an increasingly complicated world, the Secretary and Foreign Ministers committed to expand cooperation and collaboration across a range of regional and global security and economic priorities. The Secretary and Foreign Ministers emphasized their three countries share a common view of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, and shared respect for the rules-based international order and pledged to further expand their cooperative relationships. The Foreign Ministers welcomed the United States' newly released Indo-Pacific Strategy. A total of 65 more people died from COVID-19 in Northwest Indiana in a one-week period, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health. Statistics updated Friday showed that there have been a total of 1,658 coronavirus-attributed deaths in Lake County, 513 in Porter County, 339 in LaPorte County, 63 in Newton County and 130 in Jasper County. Last Friday, Lake County reported 1,621 deaths, meaning an additional 37 people have died of the virus in the county in a seven-day period, statistics show. In a one-week period, Porter County reported 14 new deaths, LaPorte County recorded 12 more and Jasper County reported two more deaths. In total, COVID-19 has killed a total of 21,298 Hoosiers since the start of the pandemic, indicating an additional 404 deaths statewide in the last seven days, Friday data showed. State health records show a total of 1,932 Hoosiers were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Currently 20% of ICU beds are in use by coronavirus patients with only 15.3% of ICU beds in the state available. The color-coded classifications for Indiana's 92 counties now has 88 counties in the worst-possible red rating. The red rating indicates an uncontrolled spread of coronavirus, which is classified as 200 or more positive cases per every 100,000 residents. Lake County has shifted to the orange rating, indicating there are 100 to 199 new cases per 100,000 residents each week. Pulaski, LaGrange and Adams counties are the only other counties in the orange rating. Across state lines, a total of 7,713 residents in Calumet City and 6,698 residents in Lansing have tested positive for the virus. State health officials are urging Hoosiers age 5 and up to reduce their chances of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death by getting vaccinated against COVID-19, or by getting a COVID-19 booster shot for those previously vaccinated, as soon as possible. The free COVID-19 vaccine is available, in most cases without an appointment, at 1,488 locations across the state, including retail pharmacies, health clinics and hospitals. Records show that 56.3% of Hoosiers age 5 and up, the state's eligible population, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including 55.4% of eligible Lake County residents, 61% in Porter County, 55.9% in LaPorte County, 401% in Newton County and 46% in Jasper County. So far, a total of 1,689,829 people have received a booster shot statewide. A complete list of COVID-19 vaccine sites is available online at ourshot.in.gov. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Prime Minister of the Libyan government of national unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dabaiba, has stressed "the need to complete the roadmap that was agreed upon in Geneva, and the responsibility of all parties to create the appropriate conditions for the holding of national elections and a referendum on the Constitution during this year If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Badger High School family and consumer science instructor Jamie Lutz did not know what her students and colleagues were cooking up when they told her there was a water leak in her classroom that damaged some equipment. A few minutes later, Lutz was relieved to find out there was no water leak, no damaged equipment and the water leak story was only an excuse to get her into the classroom to receive a state award. Representatives from the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation presented Lutz with the Wisconsin ProStart Teacher of the Year Award, Feb. 1, during a ceremony which included students, staff members and representatives from local hospitality businesses, as well as a cheesecake dessert from Grand Geneva Resort. Principal Jennifer Straus said school officials wanted to keep the award a secret, so that is why they came up with the water leak story, and they knew that would probably encourage Lutz to arrive to her classroom as soon as possible. I think I almost gave her a heart attack, Straus said. Lutz said she is honored to receive the award and is glad no equipment was damaged, because her students were conducting a catering event with Lake Geneva Country Meats that weekend. The ProStart program helps prepare students for a career in culinary arts and hospitality management. The program includes classroom instruction, on-the-job training and culinary competitions. Lutz has taught the ProStart program at Badger High School for three years and previously taught the program at Westosha Central High School for five years. She said she enjoys teaching the program and helping students develop their culinary art skills. I want them to have the most opportunities they can with my programs, Lutz said. Receiving this award lets me know Im on the right track, and Im doing the right things to keep them going. Alex Vernon, manager for the Wisconsin ProStart program, said Lutz now will be nominated to receive the national ProStart award, which will be presented May 6 through May 8 in Washington D.C. He said all the state finalists will have an opportunity to attend an educational gathering in July in Las Vegas. Vernon said about 100 high schools in Wisconsin are involved with the state ProStart program. He said representatives from the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation select a state ProStart Teacher of the Year recipient each year. He said Lutz has been a valuable instructor for the program. It makes for a difficult decision, because we have a lot of awesome teachers, Vernon said. Jamie stood out to us and her dedication. She is just such a joy to work with in general, so were really lucky to have her in the ProStart program. Lutz partners with representatives with Lake Geneva Country Meats, Marcus Hotels and Resorts and other local hospitality businesses to help instruct her students and prepare them for culinary competitions. She said many of her students find jobs at area hospitality and food service businesses. Lutz said the classroom instruction, job training and culinary competitions help the students develop valuable life skills and prepares them for a career in the hospitality industry. It teaches them time management and communication skills. It helps them learn how to work under pressure and how to to stay organized, Lutz said. So it really teaches them all these valuable skills that they can translate to anything that they do later on in life, but at the same time have fun. Fourteen students currently are enrolled in Badgers ProStart program. Lutz said more students have become interested in the program during the past few years crediting television cooking show competitions for enhancing student interest. With the cooking competition shows, more students are interested in learning about the industry and looking at it as a way to challenge themselves, Lutz said. Through that, we can help turn it into a passion. Straus said Lutz does a quality job interacting with her students and helping them find employment opportunities in the hospitality industry. What I admire about Jamie is her dedication to the profession, Straus said. She has the community ties where she understands the needs of the community, and she makes sure our students have those real world experiences on a daily basis. Vernon said the ProStart program helps students learn which type of career opportunities are available in the culinary arts and hospitality industries. He said most students who participate in the program continue their education and establish a career in culinary arts and hospitality management. Some students dont know whats out there in the world of food and beverage, and theres so much out there, Vernon said. Theres so many opportunities, so its really cool to be able to let students explore, and thats what our program does. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Getting high yielding crops is possible, but it takes the right soil, the right timing and a little bit of lucky weather. Washington [US], February 13 (ANI): A recent research examined how sleep might be impacted by media use--such as watching movies, television, or YouTube videos; browsing the Internet, or listening to music--before bed. The study was published in the 'Journal of Sleep Research'. Also Read | Canadian Researchers Develop New Polymer Coating For Clothes That May Keep COVID-19, Bacteria at bay. It's not uncommon to hear people rant about becoming insomniac, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the early birds started staying up late into the night, binge-watching films or web series or scrolling through social media, as there was no other outlet during then. But how much does that impact our bodies? In the study, 58 adults kept a diary that recorded information related to time spent with media before bed, location of use, and multitasking. Also Read | Monkeys Can Also Choke Under Pressure Like Humans, Says Study. Electroencephalography--tests that detect electrical activity of the brain using small metal discs attached to the scalp--captured parameters such as bedtime, total sleep time, and sleep quality. Media use in the hour before sleep was associated with an earlier bedtime. If the before-bed use did not involve multitasking and was conducted in bed, it was also associated with more total sleep time. A long use of media was associated with later bedtime and less total sleep time. Sleep quality was unaffected by media use before bed. "If you are going to use media, like watching TV or listening to music, before bed, keep it a short, focused session and you are unlikely to experience any negative outcomes in your sleep that night," said lead author Morgan Ellithorpe, PhD, of the University of Delaware. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Alleging widespread rigging, the BJP on Sunday demanded that the civic elections in Asansol and Bidhannagar be cancelled and fresh polling be held. In a letter to the State Election Commission (SEC), BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar alleged that while widespread rigging took place during the polls on Saturday, police became a silent spectator. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Days After Eloping, Burnt Body of 18-Year-Old Girl Found in Fields in Muzaffarnagar; Two Family Members Detained . "We demand the polling in these two civic bodies be cancelled immediately and fresh polls ordered. We are not making such demands for Chandannagar and Siliguri as polling was not reduced to a farce in these two municipal corporations," he said. In the letter, Majumdar cited the Calcutta High Court's directive to the SEC to ensure free and fair polls. Also Read | Fire in Kolkata: Blaze Erupts at Shoe Factory in Phoolbagan. An SEC official said there were no plans to countermand the elections in Bidhannagar, Asansol, Chandannagar and Siliguri, and preparations were in full swing for counting of votes on Monday. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that by alleging rigging, the BJP was preparing grounds for reasoning the imminent defeat. "A section of the BJP is demanding the scrapping of the district committees, and Sukanta Majumdar is busy deflecting attention from the crisis within his party by making absurd demands," Ghosh told PTI. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The CBI has arrested two advocates and a businessman in its probe into alleged derogatory posts made online against judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, officials said on Sunday. Advocates M Chandrasekhar Rao and Kalanidhi Gopalakrishna and businessman Gunta Ramesh Rao were taken into custody on Saturday in connection with the cases being probed by the agency on the orders of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Also Read | Hijab Row: Making Uniform Compulsory Being Portrayed As Oppression of Muslims, Says Karnataka Minister BC Nagesh. The CBI has recently carried out searches at 10 locations, including office and residential premises of the accused and suspects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, wherein incriminating evidence was recovered, the central probe agency said in a statement. "The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered several cases/FIRs against the accused allegedly involved in intentionally targeting the Hon'ble Judges and Judiciary through interviews/social media/posts/speeches in on-line platforms, maliciously attributing ulterior motives in delivery of orders/judgements. The cases/FIRs have been registered on the orders of the Hon'ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh," the statement said. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 18-Year-Old Girl Raped on Marriage Lure in Vadodara; Case Registered. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 13 (ANI): Taking on the Congress party head-on for the third consecutive day in a spate of attacks for "questioning" the "patriotism" of Armed Forces of the country, especially late General Bipin Rawat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the grand old party "spared no effort" to "abuse and accuse" the former Chief of Defence Staff. Sarma also lashed out at Congress saying that the "disrespect" of the brave soldiers will not be tolerated anymore. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: One Dead, 37 Injured as Overcrowded Bus Turns Turtle in Chitrakoot. This is the third day of an unsparing attack on the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for "demanding proof" of the Surgical strike that the Indian Army conducted in September 2016 and the Airstrike that the Indian Airforce conducted in February 2019. "Congress spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat. From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such attitude won't be tolerated anymore," Sarma tweeted sharing the picture of the media outlets stating the various instances when Congress "questioned the abilities" of General Rawat. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Days After Eloping, Burnt Body of 18-Year-Old Girl Found in Fields in Muzaffarnagar; Two Family Members Detained . The Assam Chief Minister further hit out at Rahul Gandhi and said "India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa." "India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" tweeted Sarma. Sarma drew various political relations for his comments on Gandhi in an election rally in Uttarakhand recently. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao demanded resignation from the Assam Chief Minister for his remark. Besides, CPI leader D Raja also condemned his remark and asked for the Prime Minister's intervention into the matter. Following the political reactions to his remark, Sarma tweeted, "Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country." Sarma on Friday launched a blistering attack on Gandhi for demanding proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019 and 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. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji, Feb 13 (PTI) Goa has so far witnessed shifting of power largely between the Congress and the BJP, but poll observers feel that after the February 14 Assembly elections, smaller parties and new entrants are likely to play a crucial role in government formation. Also Read | Fire in Kolkata: Blaze Erupts at Shoe Factory in Phoolbagan. The observers said that the smaller parties may eat into the votes of major players in the fray. Also Read | Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2022: Vacancy For 11 Group B Posts; Check Details Here. A total of 301 candidates are contesting the election to 40 Assembly constituencies in the state. Apart from the traditional contenders - BJP and Congress - Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party (GFP), Trinamool Congress Party (TMC), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Revolutionary Goans Party, Goencho Swabhimaan Party, Jai Mahabharat Party and Sambhaji Brigade are in the fray. Besides, 68 independent candidates are also in the poll arena. Most opinion polls have indicated that no single party is likely to get a clear majority. Since the last four Goa elections - from 2002 - it was only once that any party crossed the magic figure of 21 in the 40-seat assembly. It was only in 2012 that the BJP managed to achieve that feat. Any party forming the government had to take help of smaller parties and independents. In the 2017 elections, the Congress had won 17 seats, while the BJP had bagged 13. But the BJP had quickly stitched up an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government in the state. This time, the BJP is battling a 10-year anti-incumbency. This is also the first assembly poll that the BJP is contesting without former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died in 2019. To add to it, the party is facing a rebellion. Utpal Parrikar, son of Manohar Parrikar is contesting as an independent from Panaji after being denied the ticket from the seat. So is former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar from Mandrem. The Congress is contesting in alliance with the GFP. While the Congress has fielded 37 candidates, three others are in the fray on ally GFP's ticket. However, this time the West Bengal-based TMC is also in the fray. It has taken several Congress and NCP leaders from the state into its fold. The TMC is contesting the polls in alliance with the MGP, a regional force with pockets of influence in north Goa. The AAP, which had contested all 40 seats in the 2017 Goa Assembly polls and lost 39, has made determined efforts this time. It has also wooed the dominant Bhandari community and named a chief ministerial candidate from it. The Shiv Sena and the NCP have formed an alliance in this state for the first time. There are regional parties like the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP). This youngest party in the state has fielded 38 candidates out of 40 in the state. Sanjay Kumar of Centre for the Study of Developing Societies said there is a clear four-cornered contest in the state - BJP, Congress, TMC and AAP. "With multiple parties in this fray, there is likely to be fragmentation of votes in the state. This is also because the size of Goa's constituencies is very small. So is the margin of victory," Kumar said, adding that it will be interesting to see who eats whose votes in each constituency. Sandesh Prabhudesai, researcher-journalist said it is not that Goa is seeing a multi-cornered contest for the first time. "But this time, there is a strong resentment against two main parties - the BJP and Congress. This is largely due to defections," Prabhudesai said. So there is likely to be a fractured mandate, he added. He said that it is necessary to keep a watch on the AAP and RGP as to whose and how much votes these parties will eat into. Some prominent candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP), Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat (Congress), former CMs Churchill Alemao (TMC), Ravi Naik (BJP), Laxmikant Parsekar (independent), former deputy CMs Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), late CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar and AAP's CM face Amit Paleker. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], February 13 (ANI): The fate of 301 candidates will be sealed in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) on Monday as voters in Goa will exercise their electoral rights to elect state Assembly representatives in 40 constituencies for the formation of the next state government. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is being challenged by the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Aam Admi Party (AAP) in a multi-cornered electoral contest in Goa. Also Read | LIC IPO: Draft Papers Filed With SEBI, Likely to Raise Up to Rs 63,000 Crore From 5% Stake Sale. Notably, Goa is facing its first Assembly elections after the death of the former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who had established BJP in the coastal state. The Panaji Assembly seat has its own importance in the electoral politics of the state. Former Union Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar, who had represented Panaji, had been a three-term Chief Minister of the state. On the other hand, Utpal Parrikar, son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar, is also contesting as an independent candidate from his father's Panaji Assembly seat against the BJP. Utpal Parrikar had resigned from the BJP after he was denied a ticket from the Panaji Assembly constituency. Also Read | Uttarakhand Assembly Elections 2022: Tear My Clothes, Put a Shoe Garland on Me But Vote for Me, Says BJPs Sanjay Gupta. The BJP has fielded the Congress party turncoat Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate from the Panaji seat. He had joined the BJP along with nine other MLAs in 2019 to help the incumbent Chief Minister Pramod Sawant gain stability in the state. Sawant is contesting from the Sanquelim constituency against Congress' Dharamesh Saglani while the BJP candidate from Margao seat, Manohar Ajgaonkar will is pitched against Congress nominee Digambar Vasant Kamat. There are three political leaders in the fray from Goa's Valpoi seat -- BJP's Vishwajeet Rane, Goan revolutionary party's Manoj Parab, and Congress' Manisha Shenvi Usgaonkar. From the St Cruz constituency, the AAP has fielded Amit Palekar, who is also its chief ministerial face, BJP's Tony Fernandes and Congress' Rudolf Fernandes. Michael Lobo who quit the BJP is contesting from the Calangute seat against the BJP's Joseph Sequeira. The BJP leader Chandrakant Kolwalkar is contesting from the Quepem constituency against the Congress candidate Ailton Da Costa. In particular, BJP is contesting Goa polls on all the 40 Assembly seats for the first time and fielded Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from the Sanquelim seat against Congress' Dharamesh Saglani. Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which the BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and three independents. The GFP and MGP each have three MLAs. The Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the House. The intense poll campaigning by all the political parties for 40 Assembly seats in Goa concluded on Saturday evening. The counting of votes in poll-bound Goa will take place on March 10. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad, Feb 13 (PTI) Gujarat on Sunday reported 1,274 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, raising its tally to 12,15,290 and toll to 10,808, a state health department official said. Also Read | Fire in Kolkata: Blaze Erupts at Shoe Factory in Phoolbagan. The discharge of 3,022 people during this period increased the recovery count to 11,90,271, leaving the state with 14,211 active cases, including 103 patients on ventilator support, he said. Also Read | Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2022: Vacancy For 11 Group B Posts; Check Details Here. "Ahmedabad led with 416 new cases, followed by Vadodara with 336, Surat 94, and Rajkot 56 cases, among others. Vadodara reported four deaths, followed by three in Ahmedabad, two in Surat and one each in Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, and Bhavnagar," he said. A government release said 78,107 people were given COVID-19 vaccine jabs during the day, which took the total number of doses administered in the state to 10.10 crore. One new case and two recoveries in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu took the tally to 11,400 and the number of people discharged to 11,367, leaving the Union Territory, which has seen four deaths so far, with an active caseload of 29. Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,15,290, new cases 1,274, death toll 10,808, discharged 11,90,271, active cases 14,211, people tested so far - figures not released. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Udupi (Karnataka) [India], February 13 (ANI): Udupi BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat on Sunday held a meeting with parents of school students and various political leaders at the Taluq office in Udupi, amid the ongoing hijab controversy in the state. Karnataka Police, PU College Development Committee Vice President Yashpal Suvarna, President of Udupi City Municipal Council and BJP leader Sumitra Nayak along with others were present at the meeting. Also Read | Indian Coast Guard Recruitment 2022: Vacancy For 11 Group B Posts; Check Details Here. The Hijab protests in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state 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 Udupi district. Also Read | Hijab Row: Making Uniform Compulsory Being Portrayed As Oppression of Muslims, Says Karnataka Minister BC Nagesh. 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. Meanwhile, 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. The Karnataka High Court on Friday uploaded the interim order passed in the petitions challenging the Hijab ban in colleges in the state. The hearing of the petitions will continue on February 14. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Katni (MP), Feb 13 (PTI) The bodies of two labourers were pulled out Sunday night from the rubble of an under-construction tunnel that caved in at Sleemanabad in Madhya Pradesh, officials said. After rescuing seven people, rescuers pulled out the bodies of Goralal Kol (30), hailing from Singrauli district in Madhya Pradesh, and Supervisor Ravi Masalkar (26), a native of Nagpur in Maharashtra, additional superintendent of police Manoj Kedia said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections Phase 2: BJPs Challenge to Hold on 2017 Gains, SP-RLD Hoping For Farmers Support. The health condition of the seven workers pulled out of the debris and admitted to the Katni district hospital, located about 30 km from the spot, was stated to be fine, officials said. Nine labourers got trapped after the tunnel of the Bargi dam canal project caved in late Saturday night in Sleemanabad, located about 450 km from the state capital Bhopal. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Nearly 794 Companies of Central Police Forces Deployed for Second Phase of UP Polls, Eight Seats Classified Under Sensitive Category. Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora who monitored the rescue operation from Bhopal told PTI that teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force and other personnel took part in the rescue efforts. Earlier, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to the Katni district collector and the superintendent of police about the incident. Chouhan directed officials to make arrangements for providing treatment to the injured labourers, Rajora said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, February 13: The second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, which will be held on 55 seats on Monday, will have the deployment of 794 companies of the Central police forces, according to the Election Commission. As many as eight seats have been put under the sensitive category that include Nagina, Dhampur, Bijnor, Asmoli, Sambhal, Deoband, Rampur Maniharan, and Gangoh. Also Read | Fire Breaks Out in Delhi Police Warehouse, Over 10 Vehicles Gutted. In the second phase, 4,917 polling centers have been kept in the sensitive category along with a total of 436 majras/localities. Out of the 794 companies of the forces, the largest chunk of 733 companies will be deployed for the security of the polling booth. Also Read | LIC IPO: Draft Papers Filed With SEBI, Likely to Raise Up to Rs 63,000 Crore From 5% Stake Sale. As many as 50 companies will be deployed for the law and order duty while three companies will be deployed for the EVM security. For security purposes, 6,860 inspectors and sub-inspectors of the Uttar Pradesh police have also been deployed along with 54,670 constables, 43,397 Homeguards, 930 PRD Jawans, 18 company PAC, and 7,746 Village chowkidars will be deployed for second phase security duty. Total 79 Model Code of Conduct violations cases were registered in second phase polling assemblies. As many as 586 candidates are in the fray for the 55-member Assembly seats in the second phase with two crore voters. The voting will begin at 7 am tomorrow and will end at 6 pm. The counting of the votes will take place on March 10. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Ajit K Jha Lalkuan (Uttarakhand) [India], February 13 (ANI): A day ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls, Congress leader Harish Rawat on Sunday said that nobody in the party has any objections on his name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Rawat said that the Congress is contesting the Assembly polls in Uttarakhand under his leadership. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 18-Year-Old Girl Raped on Marriage Lure in Vadodara; Case Registered. On the issue of him not being announced as the Chief Ministerial candidate unlike Punjab, Rawat said that "the move a strategic matter". Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, "I do politics of struggle, not power. The party has told me that the election campaign will be led by me. We are fighting to win the elections. Nobody in the party has any objections to my name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. No party member has expressed any objection to my name." Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 2 Held for Kidnap, Rape and Murder of 6-Year-Old Minor Girl in Awagarh. Stating that not announcing a CM face was part of the Congress strategy, Rawat said that "more than 40 per cent of the people want to see me as the CM candidate this time". Asked about the contradiction between his statements on presenting the Dalit CM in the state and and yet running for the post, Rawat said that he indeed wants to see a a Dalit CM in the state. "However, there is no deadline for the wish to be fulfilled," said rawat. "We need to get rid of some mentality after the 75 years of India's Independence. Following a change in Punjab, a Dalit CM face has been announced. I have prayed for the same for Uttarakhand. When you make such wishes, you do not give a deadline. But there is no time foundation for the prayer to become a reality. I have sought an opportunity from 'Ganga Maiya' that in the coming time, I can present a Dalit as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand," the Congress leader said. The former chief minister also hit out at Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and called announcement to implement Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand after he is elected to power, a "jumla". "It is not within his Constitutional right to implement UCC in the state," said Rawat. Rawat is in the electoral fray from the Lalkuwa Assembly seat in the Uttarakhand Assembly elections, which will go to the polls on Monday. However, the Congress had announced change of seats of the party's campaign committee chairman Rawat and four other leaders in its third list. The change has been done after the crisis within the party due to infighting among the leaders, as one of the working presidents of Uttarakhand Congress Ranjeet Rawat was uncomfortable with the Candidature of Harish Rawat from the Ramnagar Assembly Constituency. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court has said that a person who has not been named as an accused in an FIR cannot seek quashing of proceedings concerning another person in a criminal case. A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar made the remarks while hearing a plea seeking quashing of an FIR in the UPPCL Provident Fund investment scam registered at Hazratganj police station of Lucknow, which was initially probed by Uttar Pradesh Police but was later transferred to the CBI. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 18-Year-Old Girl Raped on Marriage Lure in Vadodara; Case Registered. The bench said, "It is not in dispute that the petitioners have not been named as accused in the said crime. If the petitioners have not been named as accused in the said crime, the question of quashing the stated FIR or the case, now under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arising from the said crime, does not arise as the petitioners will have no locus to seek such a relief." It added, "In other words, the petitioners not being named as accused in the said crime or the case now registered by the CBI on the basis of the said crime cannot be permitted to ask for quashing of the proceedings concerning some other persons (accused)." Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 2 Held for Kidnap, Rape and Murder of 6-Year-Old Minor Girl in Awagarh. The bench said in its recent order that the court does not intend to examine the relief sought by Hukum Chand Garg and others and added that they can take recourse to appropriate remedy as and when they are named by the investigating agency (CBI) in connection with the stated offence, now under investigation. The bench, however, added that the investigating officer of the CBI shall give 48 hours' advance notice to the petitioners before proceeding against them so as to enable them to take recourse to appropriate remedy, as may be advised. It said all contentions available to both sides are left open and clarified that this order is in the peculiar facts of the present case and the response filed by the respondents in this petition. The bench noted that on an earlier occasion, the court had noticed that a lookout notice was issued against the petitioners. "It is now clarified that the said lookout notice was issued by the local police (UP Police) investigating the crime at that time, which notice has lapsed with the passage of time," the bench said. The top court added that in that sense, the writ petitions filed by the petitioners to challenge the lookout notice would also not survive for consideration and it can be pointed out to the high court where the petition is pending. The case in question is popularly called the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) Provident fund investment scam and it was registered at the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow and probed by Uttar Pradesh Police. The CBI took over the investigation on March 5, 2020. Among those named were Praveen Kumar Gupta, the then secretary of UP Power Sector Employees' Trust, and Sudhanshu Dwivedi, the then director (finance) of the UPPCL. The prime allegations were that money was invested in private sector companies in a wholly illegal and malafide manner to earn huge illegal commissions in violation of the provisions of the Companies Act, Employees Provident Fund and provisions of the Indian Trust Act, 1882. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amritsar (Punjab) [India], February 13 (ANI): Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered prayers at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. Shah had addressed a rally here before visiting the Golden Temple. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: One Dead, 37 Injured as Overcrowded Bus Turns Turtle in Chitrakoot. At the rally, slamming the Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Shah questioned why did the Delhi Chief Minister have no Sikh representation in his twice-formed government. "Kejriwal ji you should reply to the people of Punjab of why did you not make a single Sikh minister even after your government was formed twice with an absolute majority in Delhi," he said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Days After Eloping, Burnt Body of 18-Year-Old Girl Found in Fields in Muzaffarnagar; Two Family Members Detained . "Whenever the BJP government is formed at the Center, the Sikh community has definitely been given representation in it," he added. Earlier, Shah had offered prayers at Valmiki temple and Durgiana Temple too. Prior to this, he addressed public rallies at Ludhiana and Patiala. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal also campaigned in the state today. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amritsar (Punjab) [India], February 13 (ANI): Ahead of Punjab Assembly elections, BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, offered prayers at Valmiki Temple and Durgiana Temple in Amritsar. Shah will shortly be addressing a rally at Ranjit Avenue here. Also Read | Hijab Row: Making Uniform Compulsory Being Portrayed As Oppression of Muslims, Says Karnataka Minister BC Nagesh. Prior to this, he addressed public rallies at Ludhiana and Patiala. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal also campaigned in the state today. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: 18-Year-Old Girl Raped on Marriage Lure in Vadodara; Case Registered. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, Feb 13 (PTI) The opposition RJD in Bihar on Sunday announced the names of 20 candidates for the elections to the Legislative Council in the state. While the RJD fielded candidates in 20 of the 24 seats from the local bodies' quota that fell vacant, it left the Bhagalpur seat to CPI. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections Phase 2: BJPs Challenge to Hold on 2017 Gains, SP-RLD Hoping For Farmers Support. "The list of candidates for the remaining three seats -- Nawada, Samastipur and Purnia -- will be announced very soon," RJD state president Jagdanand Singh said. Of these seats, 13 were held by the BJP, eight by the JDU, two by the RJD and one by the Congress. The seats are vacant since July last year and the elections are likely to be held soon. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Nearly 794 Companies of Central Police Forces Deployed for Second Phase of UP Polls, Eight Seats Classified Under Sensitive Category. After the seat-sharing talks with the Congress failed last week, the RJD decided to go solo in the MLC polls. In 2016, the Congress had contested four of the 24 seats, and managed to win one. However, the Congress wanted to contest six seats as a part of the alliance this time. The RJD nominated eight Yadav candidates, while five candidates belong to the Bhumihar community and four belong to the Kshatriya community. Besides, the party has named one candidate each from the Brahmin, Baniya and Muslim communities. Some of the candidates are Kartikeya Kumar (Patna), Anil Samrat (Bhojpur-Buxar), Rinku Yadav (Gaya), Krishna Singh (Rohtas) and Anuj Singh (Aurangabad). The CPI candidate in the Bhagalpur seat is Sanjay Yadav. Elected panchayat representatives such as ward members of Gram Panchayats, mukhiyas, Panchayat Samiti members, District Board members, and ward members of the urban local bodies will elect the MLCs from the local bodies' quota. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 13 (ANI): The Bengal BJP on Sunday demanded the cancellation of civic elections in Asansol and Bidhannagar and asked for fresh polling, alleging widespread rigging. "As the polls in Bidhannagar and Asansol were converted into a complete farce, the Bharatiya Janata Party calls upon the Commission to declare the same as null and void and order fresh polls", read BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar's letter to West Bengal State Election Commission. Also Read | Fire Breaks Out in Delhi Police Warehouse, Over 10 Vehicles Gutted. In a letter to the SEC, Majumdar alleged that while widespread rigging took place during the polls on Saturday, police were a silent spectator. "In the absence of paramilitary forces, Bidhannagar and Asansol witnessed large scale violence, wide spread rigging, booth capturing, intimidation of voters, polling agents being assaulted and forced to leave polling stations, etc. All these took place in the presence of the State Police, who were mere spectators. On many occasions, when false voters were detained, the state police facilitated their escape", stated the BJP chief in his letter. (ANI) Also Read | LIC IPO: Draft Papers Filed With SEBI, Likely to Raise Up to Rs 63,000 Crore From 5% Stake Sale. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], February 13 (ANI): A new research led by scientists at the University of Washington has indicated that a common mosquito species (after detecting a tell-tale gas that we exhale) flies toward specific colours, including red, orange, black and cyan. The mosquitoes ignore other colours, such as green, purple, blue and white. The researchers believed that these findings helped explain how mosquitoes found hosts, since human skin, regardless of overall pigmentation, emitted a strong red-orange "signal" to their eyes. The results were published in 'Nature Communications'. Also Read | Amazon Primes #LordOfTheRings Trailer Drops Today at #SuperBowl Latest Tweet by LetsOTT GLOBAL. "Mosquitoes appear to use odours to help them distinguish what is nearby, like a host to bite," said senior author Jeffrey Riffell, a UW professor of biology. "When they smell specific compounds, like CO2 from our breath, that scent stimulates the eyes to scan for specific colours and other visual patterns, which are associated with a potential host, and head to them." The results revealed how the mosquito sense of smell -- known as olfaction -- influenced how the mosquito responded to visual cues. Knowing which colours attract hungry mosquitoes, and which ones do not, can help design better repellents, traps and other methods to keep mosquitoes at bay. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Days After Eloping, Burnt Body of 18-Year-Old Girl Found in Fields in Muzaffarnagar; Two Family Members Detained . "One of the most common questions I'm asked is 'What can I do to stop mosquitoes from biting me?'" said Riffell. "I used to say there are three major cues that attract mosquitoes: your breath, your sweat and the temperature of your skin. In this study, we found a fourth cue: the colours red, which can not only be found on your clothes, but is also found in everyone's skin. The shade of your skin doesn't matter, we are all giving off a strong red signature. Filtering out those attractive colourss in our skin, or wearing clothes that avoid those colourss, could be another way to prevent a mosquito biting." In their experiments, the team tracked behaviour of female yellow fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, when presented with different types of visual and scent cues. Like all mosquito species, only females drink blood, and bites from A. aegypti can transmit dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. The researchers tracked individual mosquitoes in miniature test chambers, into which they sprayed specific odors and presented different types of visual patterns -- such as a coloured dot or a tasty human hand. Without any odour stimulus, mosquitoes largely ignored a dot at the bottom of the chamber, regardless of colours. After a spritz of CO2 into the chamber, mosquitos continued to ignore the dot if it was green, blue or purple in colours. But if the dot was red, orange, black or cyan, mosquitoes would fly toward it. Humans can't smell CO2, which is the gas we and other animals exhale with each breath. Mosquitoes can. Past research by Riffell's team and other groups showed that smelling CO2 boosts female mosquitoes' activity level -- searching the space around them, presumably for a host. The coloured-dot experiments revealed that after smelling CO2, these mosquitoes' eyes prefer certain wavelengths in the visual spectrum. It's similar to what might happen when humans smell something good. "Imagine you're on a sidewalk and you smell pie crust and cinnamon," said Riffell. "That's probably a sign that there's a bakery nearby, and you might start looking around for it. Here, we started to learn what visual elements that mosquitoes are looking for after smelling their own version of a bakery." Most humans have "true colours" vision: We see different wavelengths of light as distinct colours: 650 nanometers show up as red, while 450 nanometer wavelengths look blue, for example. The researchers do not know whether mosquitoes perceive colours the same way that our eyes do. But most of the colourss the mosquitoes prefer after smelling CO2 -- orange, red and black -- correspond to longer wavelengths of light. Human skin, regardless of pigmentation, also gives off a long-wavelength signal in the red-orange range. When Riffell's team repeated the chamber experiments with human skin-tone pigmentation cards -- or a researcher's bare hand -- mosquitoes again flew toward the visual stimulus only after CO2 was sprayed into the chamber. If the researchers used filters to remove long-wavelength signals, or had the researcher wear a green-coloured glove, then CO2-primed mosquitoes no longer flew toward the stimulus. Genes determine the preference of these females for red-orange colours. Mosquitoes with a mutant copy of a gene needed to smell CO2 no longer showed a colours preference in the test chamber. Another strain of mutant mosquitoes, with a change related to vision so they could no longer "see" long wavelengths of light, were more colours-blind in the presence of CO2. "These experiments lay out the first steps mosquitoes use to find hosts," said Riffell. More research is needed to determine how other visual and odour cues -- such as skin secretions -- help mosquitoes target potential hosts at close range. Other mosquito species may also have different colours preferences, based on their preferred host species. But these new findings added a new layer to mosquito control: colours. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 13 (ANI): A delegation of Tibetan parliament-in-exile has met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Amarendra Dhari Singh who raised the Tibetians issue in Parliament, and discussed the worsening human rights situation in the country by China. "Chinese have really crackdown not just on the Tibetians also on Uyghurs, Hongkongers and not just that but beyond its borders. It has gone to bullying kind of tactics with India and many other countries," Youdon Aukatsang, a fourth-time term elected member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPIE) told ANI. Also Read | China Grants Conditional Approval for Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 Pill. Earlier in February, Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra Dhari Singh had raised the issue in Parliament and said that Tibetans have never accepted the sovereignty and suzerainty of the Chinese. Speaking further, Aukatsang said that the human rights situation in Tibet has never been worst before. Also Read | New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta Urges Citizens To Leave Ukraine Immediately Due to Heightened Tensions With Russia. "Tibet has always been under crisis, not only us (Tibetians) but even human rights watch is demanding an immediate release of the political prisoners but the Chinese are not taking to it. At the beginning of the year, we had two political prisoners who died in prison," she added. She also said that people in Tibet are not allowed to carry a picture of the Dalai Lama. "We are not allowed to talk about anything against the Chinese, there is no freedom of speech and expression. There are CCTV cameras everywhere". Highlighting how China has postured itself in front of the world, a fourth-time term elected member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile said, "They brought Tibetians, Ughurs to showcase to the world that everything is a hunky-dory in China but it's not. Tibetians are being put through indoctrination to China, they are trying to totally assimilate us to their culture. We are being wiped out. We are becoming a minority in our own country." The delegation also thanked MP for raising the Tibet issue in the Parliament. "Tibet is really under tortures by the Chinese government, if you see ethnically, culturally, socially, there is nothing common between the Tibetian and the Chinese," Amarendra Dhari Singh said, adding that "I raised this issue on Parliament because I found that we are staying in a very unfriendly neighbourhood." Tibet was a sovereign state before China's invasion in 1950 when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) entered northern Tibet. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Paris [France], February 13 (ANI): As the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets in Paris to investigate terror-financing and money laundering and deliberate progress of Pakistan - the Baloch, Pashtun, Afghan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong communities living in exile in France will protest outside its headquarters in Paris on February 19. "This is to remind FATF of its commitments and stop Pakistan's role in terror financing and money laundering in the country and in neighbouring Afghanistan and its nexus with China that lobbies for Islamabad to be not held accountable," said a statement issued by Pakistani exiled journalist Taha Siddiqui. Also Read | Valentines Day 2022: Islamabad College Asks Students to Wear Hijab, Prayer Caps on February 14. The Paris-based watchdog placed Pakistan in the 'Grey-List' in 2018 on its performance to address international concerns on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CGT). Although Pakistan adopts the tactic of showcasing strict action against terror financing, terror organisations like the Lashkar e Taiba (now rebranded as the Jamat ud Dawa-JuD), Jaish e Mohammed (JeM), and the Afghan Taliban are continuing to function freely in the country and have been collecting funds. Also Read | China Imposes Curbs on Domestic TV Industry, Limits Performers Payment Not to Exceed 40% of Total Show Cost. Pakistan has been using its established and active money laundering networks in Africa and Europe not only for ordinary Pakistanis sending remittances but also for terror groups and the Pakistani intelligence to fund their activities abroad. The UK has put Pakistan on its high-risk list of countries due to its money laundering and terror financing activities since the money laundered through these networks is used to fund criminal activities. With anti-France sentiments growing in Pakistan, these active money laundering networks may be used by terror groups in Pakistan to facilitate terror activities in France. Pakistan has well-established and active drug trafficking networks in Europe and Africa, specifically in Mozambique, South Africa, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. In an earlier statement, the Dissident Club claimed that "The money generated through these networks is an important source of income for terror activities, and is used to finance militancy in Africa. In 2019, Europol busted a large organised criminal organisation and arrested more than 150 people who were working in trafficking drugs from Pakistan, China and Laos into Africa and then into Europe." It further added, "The FATF is dragging its feet on these issues in Pakistan due to China's considerable influence on the organisation. China's economic influence over the West consequently results in these FATF member countries also not holding Pakistan accountable for its activities in funding terror." China, a close strategic partner of Pakistan, has a poor record of compliance with targeted financial sanction regimes relating to terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and is also committing grave human rights violations in Xinjiang and other parts of China. "If the FATF succumbs to Chinese pressure and does not blacklist Pakistan, it will indirectly be responsible for the continued abuses against the people of these regions," said the statement. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 13: Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, whose daughter regained her eyesight after undergoing treatment at Kerala's Ayurvedic hospital, discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the opening of a branch of the same hospital in Kenya to provide better treatment to his country's people. Odinga, who was in Kerala recently, thanked Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala for restoring his daughter's eyesight. Odinga's daughter Rosemary was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2017. She had undergone surgery in Nairobi. But in the post-operative period, Rosemary complained of severe loss of eyesight. "I have suggested to them that they should come and set up a branch in Nairobi, Kenya and I am going to work with them to set up this centre," said Odinga. Ex-Kenyan President Raila Odinga Urges PM Narendra Modi To Bring Ayurvedic Eye Care Treatment to Africa and Use Indigenous Plants After Daughter's Recovery. Further, Odinga said that he even discussed this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him the spectacular story. "I have told him that we would be happy to work together. This will be called South-South cooperation to bring this technology to Africa," he said. Giving details of his visit to Kerala, the former Kenyan PM said: "I came to India for my daughter's eye treatment in Kochi, Kerala. After three weeks of treatment, there was a substantial improvement in her eyesight. It was a big surprise for my family that our daughter could see almost everything." "By using these traditional medicines, she finally has her eyesight back and this gave us a lot of confidence. I have discussed with PM Modi to bring this treatment method (Ayurveda) to Africa and use our indigenous plants for therapeutics," he added. The Kenyan leader also said that treatment at hospitals in Kenya, South Africa, Germany, Israel and China did not help in any significant restoration of sight. In 2019, Rosemary travelled to India and underwent treatment at Shreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital in Koothattukulam, Kerala. She felt that the Ayurvedic treatment that she received there was helping her. Underlining that his daughter Rosemary had travelled to several countries seeking treatment, the former Kenya PM said, "We have been impressed by the restoration of our daughter's eyesight after the treatment in Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala and traditional medicines actually work." "My daughter got sick about 3 years ago. She had haemorrhage as a result of which she was operated in Nairobi. In the process of that operation somehow they interfered with the optic nerve. She was treated in South Africa for 3 months but unfortunately she was not able to recover eyesight. We sent her to Israel again but no improvement showed. Then she came back to Kenya. Then again we sent her to China where she had further surgery again. It didn't help her in improving her sight. Then we sent her to Germany but that also was not successful," said the Kenyan leader. "When everyone was giving up, a friend of mine suggested an institution in India for Ayurvedic treatment where we could try. Then we decided to try it. We sent her to Kerala Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre at Koothattukulam in Kerala. In September 2019 she stayed there for 3 weeks. When they discharged her they said they she should continue medication," he added. Rosemary could see after wearing glasses. She was very excited that she has regained her sight. This was a pleasant surprise for my family, he said. Further, Odinga said that Rosemary was supposed to come back for review in 2020. Unfortunately because of COVID she could not travel for last three years. She was waiting and now finally we are able to come and last Monday we arrived and they told us there is a big improvement in eyesight. He noted that modern medicine has more or less surrendered that my daughter eyesight could not be restored but using these traditional medicines they have been able to restore her eyesight. Now she is able to go back to work and she is able to drive. It has given me a lot of confidence in indigenous medicine. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dera Murad Jamali, February 13: The cases of honour killing are on a surge in Pakistan as five people were killed for honour in Balochistan province on Saturday, reported local media. Three women and two men were killed in the name of honour in Jaffarabad, Mastung and Hub areas during the past one day, reported Dawn citing police. In the Goth Faqir Mohammad area of the Jaffarabad district, a man gunned down his young wife a nephew on Friday evening. While on the outskirts of Mastung town, a man and his wife were slaughtered. Pakistan's Shame: Honour Killing Whistleblower Shot Dead in Abbottabad. And in the Hub area, a woman, Mah Jan, was allegedly gunned down by her second husband on Saturday. It is the recent rise in the cases of honour killings in Pakistan. Despite the assurances by the authorities, such violence are on the rise in many regions of the country. With such cases, Pakistan is witnessing an alarming rise in the number of honour killings as it claimed 176 lives last year, mostly including women, according to the Sindh Suhai Sath, a non-governmental organisation. Last week, Dr Ayesha Hassan Dharejo and Advocate Farzana Khoso, the chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, of the organisation, said that 93 people were killed in such incidents in Kandhkot-Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki districts alone. According to the statistics compiled by the organisation, 27 people (23 women and four men) were killed in Kandhkot-Kashmore district, 26 people (14 women and 12 men) in Jacobabad district, 23 people (18 women and five men) in Shikarpur district and 17 people (14 women and three men) were killed in Ghotki district in 2021, according to Dawn. They pointed out that charge sheets were filed in 649 honour killing cases but only 19 of the accused were convicted. Those nominated in 136 cases were acquitted while 494 cases were pending a trial. They noted with concern that the conviction rate appeared to be around two per cent, and attributed the position to weak prosecution, slackness on the part of police and anomalies in the law and justice system. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], February 13 (ANI): Pakistan is finding out ways to overcome financial challenges and has sought China's help to build a semiconductor zone in the country to boost its self-sufficiency in modern gadgets. This is a key announcement made by Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry as Pakistan's economy is stagnant and the Imran Khan government is eyeing to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in every way possible. Also Read | China Grants Conditional Approval for Pfizer's Paxlovid COVID-19 Pill. Imran Khan's China visit -- first in the last two years -- points to Islamabad's financial dependence on Beijing, especially as the West continues to ignore Pakistan. "We want Chinese tech companies to come to Pakistan and make Pakistan a hub of semiconductors manufacturing," Fawad said in his interview with China Economicnet, reported the New International. Also Read | New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta Urges Citizens To Leave Ukraine Immediately Due to Heightened Tensions With Russia. The Imran Khan government is also considering requesting China to approve another loan to the tune of USD 3 billion in China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, known as SAFE deposits. His 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. Imran Khan, during a series of meetings with the executives of Chinese state-owned and private corporate sectors, underlined that Pakistan was offering a conducive environment for investment in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to a report, 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. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 13: The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre for the bank frauds allegedly committed by Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard owned by Rishi Agarwal and others for duping 28 Banks, including State Bank of India. The party alleged that the delay in the case proves 'complicity, collusion and connivance of those sitting in the highest echelons of power in the Modi government'. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "India's Biggest Bank Fraud in 75 years has taken place under Modi Govt's watch! 'Bank Frauds' of Rs 5,35,000 (5.35 lakh) crore in 7 years have wrecked our 'Banking System'!" Biggest Bank Fraud: ABG Shipyard, Its Directors Booked by CBI for Duping 28 Banks of Rs 22,842 Crore. He said India woke up to the rude shock of the biggest ever bank fraud of Rs 22,842 crore in the last 75 years. Post a 5-year delay, dilly-dallying and permitting brazen embezzlement of public money, the CBI has finally registered an FIR on 7th February 2022, against Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard owned by Rishi Agarwal and others for duping 28 Banks, led by State Bank of India. He alleged that the Modi government is running a "loot & escape" flagship scheme for Bank fraudsters. "The fraudsters lists include -- Nirav Modi, i.e Chhota Modi, Mehul Choksi, Ami Modi, Neeshal Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya, Jatin Mehta, Chetan Sandesara, Nitin Sandesara and many others with close connection and affection to the ruling establishment. Rishi Agarwal & others are the new 'GEMS' of the 'Shehenshah' "Complicity, collusion & connivance of those sitting in the highest echelons of power in the Modi Govt is writ large in India's biggest fraud," said Surjewala. The party questioned the delay on the part of CBI to file the case. The party statement said, "On 8th November 2019, State Bank of India filed a complaint to CBI for registration of FIR against ABG Shipyard's Rishi Agarwal & others. Despite the apparent fraud and swindling of public money; CBI, SBI & Modi Govt proceeded to complicate the entire matter in bureaucratic wrangling and file-pushing. This happened for years as the public money went down the drain and fraudsters gained. "Another intriguing facet is that ABG Shipyard was allotted 1,21,000 square metres of land in 2007 by Gujarat Govt headed by the then Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The CAG indicted the Gujarat Govt for undue favouring ABG Shipyard & Rishi Agarwal for allotting land at Rs 700 per square metre, while the price of land was 100% higher, i.e, Rs 1,400 per square metre. "Another amazing facet is that despite the CAG report, the Gujarat Govt headed by the then CM, Shri Narendra Modi proceeded to allot 50 hectares of land to ABG Shipyard & Rishi Agarwal in Dahej, Gujarat. The Dahej project was shut down by ABG Shipyard in the year 2015." Surjewala asked, "Why did it take 5 years after the liquidation proceedings of ABG Shipyard to lodge even an FIR for duping 28 banks of Rs 22,842 crore ?" (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2022 01:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ahmedabad, February 13: In an incident of sexual assault against minors, a 14-yer-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped by three men In Gujarats Ahmedabad district. The three accused are friends of the girls uncle. A complaint was lodged by the girls family. The accused were arrested by the police on Thursday. The three men managed to kidnap the minor girl easily as they were known to her family. Hyderabad Shocker: 35-Year-Old School Teacher Attempts To Rape Minor Girl In Chatrinaka, Arrested. The accused has been identified as Sagar Patel, Ragesh Dhanani, and Dhruvik. They work in a private company. According to a report published in The Times of India, the accused used to visit the girls home frequently and one day, sensing an opportunity, they raped the girl. After the incident, Dhanani used to blackmail the girl and pressurized her to establish a physical relationship with him. Dhanai even threatened the girl that he would defame her if she did not agree to his demands. As per the report, one day, when the girl was on her way to her tuition class, the three accused kidnapped the girl in a car and gangraped her inside the vehicle. Andhra Pradesh Horror: Minor Girl Raped And Impregnated by Maternal Uncle In Nellore. The girl narrated her ordeal to her family. The complaint was lodged in the matter on Wednesday. After getting the complaint, the police swung into action. The accused were arrested on Thursday and were sent to judicial custody. A detailed investigation has been launched into the matter. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 13, 2022 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Karnataka Congress leader Zameer Ahmed, while talking about Karnataka Hijab Row, said that women get raped when they don't wear Hijab. "Hijab means 'Parda' in Islam, to hide the beauty of women. Women get raped when they don't wear Hijab," Zameer Ahmed was quoted as saying. Watch Video Here: #WATCH | Hijab means 'Parda' in Islam...to hide the beauty of women...women get raped when they don't wear Hijab: Congress leader Zameer Ahmed on #HijabRow in Hubli, Karnataka pic.twitter.com/8Ole8wjLQF ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Unsafe seafood. Insufficiently refrigerated meats. Rusty shelving. Cooks without hairnets. Reports show Florida health inspectors cited President Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort with 15 violations in late January, days before the U.S. leader hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a diplomatic visit. Still, the state inspectors allowed the luxury resorts main restaurant and beach club grill to remain open as staff scrambled to make several immediate corrections. Among the high priority problems described as potentially hazardous were faulty fridges with meats stored well above the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, in the restaurants walk-in cooler, the duck and beef were measured at 50 degrees, while a ham was at 57 degrees. Other issues included smoked salmon being served without undergoing proper parasite destruction and a hand washing sink for employees with water that was not hot enough. Advertisement Stephen Lawson, spokesman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, said the violations were the result of a routine inspection and not prompted by any consumer complaints or food-borne illnesses. The infractions were corrected on site, and the establishment was immediately brought into compliance, Lawson said on Thursday. The January inspections were not the first time authorities have found problems at Mar-a-Lago. Over the last three years, records show the club has been cited 78 times for violations that included chefs handling food without washing their hands, dirty cutting boards, a slicer soiled with old food debris and an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the ice machine. Lawson said inspectors will return to Mar-a-Lago for another unannounced visit before the end of the year. The Trump Organization, which operates the familys business empire, did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment. The violations were first made public weeks ago, but received broader attention this week following a report in the Miami Herald. Trump is a frequent visitor to his private club in Palm Beach. The president often refers to the property as the Winter White House. He hosted a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping there last weekend, where Trump said the men shared a beautiful chocolate cake while discussing the U.S. cruise missile strike on Syria. ALSO United faces more questions as dragged passenger hires high-powered attorney North Miami cop charged in shooting of autistic mans unarmed therapist One sister faces early onset Alzheimers. The other plans to be with her for the journey Thousands of foreign-born women left their homes and lives to join Islamic State and marry its fighters. But now that the militant groups so-called caliphate is reduced to crumbled masonry and scorched rebar, many of them want to return home. Shamima Begum was a teenage schoolgirl in east London when she left home to join Islamic State; Hoda Muthana, an Alabama-born college student; Kimberly Gwen Polman, a 46-year-old single mom in Canada studying to be a childrens advocate. Now theyre held in a Kurdish-controlled prison in the hinterlands of eastern Syria, asking to be let back into their home countries. The women branded ISIS brides, using initials for the militant group, have become a focal point of fierce debate for governments worldwide: What are states responsibilities toward these women? A central question in that debate is what exactly did the women do in the caliphate? Were they cloistered housewives largely ignorant of the groups realities, or active participants in its genocidal acts? Women who fled fighting in Baghouz, Syria, stand in line at a makeshift screening point in the desert last month. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images) Advertisement Women initially did not join combat When Islamic State declared the establishment of its caliphate in 2014, it called upon all able-bodied Muslims to emigrate and engage in jihad, or struggle, to further its cause. Initially, for women, that didnt include combat, said Charlie Winter, a senior research fellow at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization at Kings College London. The role of the Muslim woman ideally was to be a wife and bear children, he said in a phone interview, and as a wife and a mother they were participating directly in jihad because theyre creating the next generation of fighters. While its militants were waging what Islamic State called offensive jihad blitz campaigns that saw the group put a third of Iraq and Syria each under its dominion -- women were to be bases of support for husbands, fathers and sons, one wife explained. Hayat Boumeddiene, the widow of Amedy Coulibaly, the Paris gunman who killed five people in two January 2015 attacks, offered advice for fighters wives during a interview in an Islamic State magazine. Be advisors to them. They should find comfort and peace with you, she said in an article in the February 2015 issue of Dabiq. Do not make things difficult for them. Facilitate all matters for them. As a wife and a mother they were participating directly in jihad because theyre creating the next generation of fighters. Charlie Winter, International Center for the Study of Radicalization Boumeddiene, who like her husband was born in France, is still at large and being sought by French authorities. Women did claim more operational roles in planning and combat outside Islamic State territories, said Devorah Margolin, a senior research analyst at the War Studies Department of Kings College London. But most women who traveled to the caliphate intent on reaching the battlefield were unable to do so. That changed to a degree as the group began to lose territory and many of its fighters were killed. It began to wage defensive jihad. By 2017 and 2018 they were proactively calling for women to engage in combat as well, said Winter. But there is little evidence women did so in large numbers. Winter said there had been rumors of women given explosives and weapons training, but Islamic State never confirmed these reports. There had been predictions women would increasingly take part in suicide bombings, since they generally have an easier time passing through checkpoints and whose faces could remain hidden under their garments. There was also precedence for their deployment: Abu Musab Zarqawi, the spiritual godfather of Islamic State, dispatched Sajida Rishawi with a suicide vest to the Hotel Radisson in the Jordanian capital of Amman in 2005. She failed to detonate her bomb but was caught by authorities after her husbands device killed 38 people. Some carried guns in the religious police force Islamic States religious police, known as the Hisbah, roamed its territory to ensure residents were complying with the caliphates harsh edicts. People found in violation faced imprisonment, whipping and amputation. An all-female police force known as the Khansaa Brigade was an integral part of the Hisbah. We saw women in the Hisbah. They were all armed, said Saad Ubaidi, who owns a beauty salon with his wife in Mosul, Iraq. Iraqi women had guns, but the foreigners carried ghadaraat, said Ubaidi, using the slang term for Uzi machine guns. Women played a vital part in the propaganda war Alabama-born Hoda Muthana joined Islamic State in 2014; she exhorted Americans to follow her lead. (Hassan Shibly) Women may not have fought on the battlefield, but they helped Islamic State spread its message. They were very much part of the propaganda machine of this state-building process, said Margolin, who is writing a report on womens role in violent Islamist groups for George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism. Women were some of Islamic States most active recruiters online, she said. Blogs and social media accounts ostensibly held by foreign-born female adherents advertised their lives as if they were in an Islamist utopia. They encouraged others to do hijrah, emigrate to the caliphate. Some would provide a guide on how to avoid being identified as someone traveling to Syria to join Islamic State. Others would suggest what to pack for life in the caliphate (makeup and Islamic clothing, according to one blogger), or offer quotidian details on how the group assigned housing to fighters and women. Others would cheer for the groups barbarism and gruesome tactics. Muthana, the Alabama-born student and daughter of a Yemeni diplomat who joined Islamic State in 2014, exhorted Americans to follow her lead. Soooo many Aussies and Brits here, she tweeted from her now-suspended account. But where are the Americans, wake up u cowards. She encouraged those who couldnt travel to Islamic State territory to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S. Veterans, Patriot, Memorial etc Day parades..go on drive bys + spill all of their blood or rent a big truck n drive all over them. Kill them, she tweeted. Baseh Hammo, a Yazidi woman who escaped enslavement by Islamic State and made it to a displaced persons camp in Iraq, shows some of the injuries she suffered. (Khalid Mohammed / Associated Press) Women took part in the enslavement of Yazidis In August 2014, the extremists surrounded Mt. Sinjar in northwestern Iraq. They began to hunt the Yazidis, an ancient religious minority long persecuted for their beliefs, which include elements of Christianity and Judaism. Islamic State viewed them as devil-worshipers. Thousands of Yazidi men were slaughtered; women and girls were kidnapped and driven away to be sold in markets or given as gifts. In their enslavement, the women and girls would be servants to the households wife and raped by the husband. One wife of an Islamic State member with a Yazidi enslaved in her household defended the practice in an issue of Dabiq. Her article was entitled Slave-girls or Prostitutes? The woman, who called herself Umm Sumayyah al Muhajirah, cited religious texts and the works of scholars to construct an argument for taking Yazidi women as concubines. And she dismissed reports of abuse, attributing them to devious and wicked slave girls who made up lies and wrote false stories. And whereas sex with a Yazidi slave is permissible, she adds, prostitutes in the West openly commit sin. Leave us alone with your burping, she wrote of people judging the slave practice. Pinning down what each person did will be difficult Renu Begum in 2015 holds a picture of her younger sister Shamima Begum during an interview in February 2015. The British girl ran away at 15 to join Islamic State and marry a fighter. (Laura Lean / AFP/Getty Images) Investigators looking for clues to the individual actions of each woman, away from social media, will have a difficult time gathering evidence admissible in a court of law. In the U.S., weve had 16 people who returned that we know of, 13 have been prosecuted in federal courts, so theres a system to do it, said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. But most of those were people who admitted their actions, he added. For those who dont, investigators using Islamic State documents, for example, have to have a rock-solid chain of evidence, which is difficult to establish in the chaotic environment of a war zone. Witnesses, often intelligence or security personnel, are often reluctant to testify in open court, and identifying women dressed in three-layer niqabs, the de rigueur face covering, will be unreliable. Even the social media presence these women maintained is being lost. Blogging sites like Tumblr or Wordpress, and messaging platforms such as Telegram, have aggressively shut down the accounts of Islamic State-affiliated users. In any case, said Margolin, the women probably werent lying when they said they had been mostly concerned with family matters, but that didnt absolve them of responsibility. Yes, they were wives and mothers, but what that means isnt like what we mean when we think of a housewife, said Margolin. As the bearers of the groups ideology for the next generation of fighters, she said, they were pursuing a higher objective. They represented, said Margolin, the future and permanence of Islamic State. A woman has described living the nightmare of a controlling and violent relationship with a former soldier which culminated in him repeatedly raping her. Niall Kennedy (31) of Standhouse Lawns, Newbridge, Co Kildare was convicted by a jury last December of 12 counts of rape on eleven different occasions in August 2017. He was also convicted of harassment on multiple occasions between February and August 2017 and of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, once in June 2017 and twice in August 2017. Kennedy continues to deny the charges and does not accept the jury verdicts. He has no previous convictions. After his conviction the State objected to his continued remand on bail but he was given bail under strict conditions. His victim said that during this period she was on high alert and feared retaliation. Kennedy's remand on bail was on strict conditions including that he no have contact with the victim,be of sober habits and maintain a daily curfew indoors overnight. Last month, a sentence hearing was adjourned after Kennedy's lawyers told the court their client was reported to have Covid-19. At a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Croke Park today/yesterday (FRI), Mr Justice Paul Burns made an order permitting publication of Kennedy's identity after the complainant told the judge that she was happy that naming Kennedy now would not disclose her own identity. Mr Justice Burns said that victim should not be identified, including inadvertently by reporting certain locational and workplace details related to the case. Garda David Connolly told Antonia Boyle BL, prosecuting, that the woman was in her early 20s when she met Kennedy in December 2016 on the Tinder dating app. They began a relationship soon after and exchanged Christmas gifts, the court heard. Gda Connolly said Kennedy than began turning up outside her place of work, or in a nightclub when the woman was out with friends. He would turn up uninvited, was constantly texting her and demanding that she send him photographs, Gda Connolly said. The woman found the level of communication "unbearable" and wanted to end the relationship. At one point she gave Kennedy 500 and asked to be left alone but he kept contacting her. At one point Kennedy sent images of an indecent nature to her mother's phone. While they continued in a sexual relationship, the court heard that Kennedy continued to harass the woman, including following her when she was on nights out with friends. On one occasion outside a Dublin nightclub, he showed up and threatened to kill one of her male friends. In August 2017, Kennedy told the woman to come to his house where he raped her, while calling her a slut and a whore and telling her that she deserved it." He told her that the only way "to make things up with him was to be in a threesome" and that she had to have sex with him 24 times, and also six times for every time he said she had sex with another man. He forced her to engage in anal sex while in a car; he masturbated on her chest and into her face. Reading from her victim impact statement the woman described the day she found the courage to fight back as "a day that will live with me forever". "I was a broken person. My life wasn't my own. Niall Kennedy was the person in charge of me." She said she became unaware of what was true and what was not. After her ordeal ended, she did not feel comfortable being out on her own and she would have friends walk her to her car. "My mind would play tricks on me, that he was looking down at me," she said. She now fears the phone and, at night now, she is on high alert. I have lost count the number of times I have changed direction to make sure I am not being followed, she said. She goes quiet some days recalling what happened but counselling had helped, as well as "the unconditional love of my parents". The woman described the trial as an experience she never wants to go through again and described her treatment by Kennedy's defence lawyers as "appalling". At the end of her statement the woman looked directly at Kennedy and said: "You appear to be indifferent to me. Today, I am proud of myself because I don't see myself as a victim any more. I survived. I fought back every day to get my life back." Three years ago, she met someone new but "it took me over a year to hold hands" for fear that Kennedy would see her, she said. She said that this new relationship has shown me that not all men can do what Mr Kennedy did to me". Desmond Hayes BL, defending, told the court that his client was aged 19 when he joined the Defence Forces but left in 2020 after failing a fitness test. He attributed "his current mental health" to this, his counsel Mr Hayes told the hearing. A forensic psychologist called as a defence witness told the court that the likelihood of Kennedy committing further sex crimes was "above average". Mr Justice Burns ordered Kennedy be taken into custody and adjourned sentence until February 21 next. Portlaoise College and their parents council have launched a new school fundraiser to create a wheelchair accessible outdoor gym. Spin for the Outdoor Gym aims to fund a new gym that can be used for PE classes and during lunch times. To celebrate the multicultural secondary school's 33 nationalities in its student population, each class will take turns to cycle 'through' a country, covering over 2000KM over 4 days from March 22 to 25. Family and friends of current students of Portlaoise College are invited to donate through a dedicated gofundme account. Link below story. If you are sponsoring a student please write down their name and class when donating to contribute towards student prizes. There are some great prizes on offer for the students who spin the hardest. The tutor class that raises the most will earn a class day trip to Castlecomer Discovery Park. Other prizes include an outdoor pursuit day trip, a class trip to SuperMacs and there is a great prize for the individual student who raises the most money, a HP Laptop. Portlaoise College principal is Noel Daly. As part of our inclusive ethos and to combat the negative effects of Covid 19 we decided to organise a fundraiser that brings students together in a positive way, celebrating the diverse cultures at Portlaoise College while working as one for the betterment of the school community, he said. Parents Council chairperson is Sinead Walsh. This is an excellent fundraising idea. The Outdoor Gym will complement the excellent extra-curricular programmes at Portlaoise College and will last for future generations, she said. See Portlaoise College's Spin for an Outdoor Gym fundraiser here. Valentines Day origins As Valentines Day approaches, we tend to think of it as a uniquely modern phenomenon. But it is centuries old, with origins that can be traced back to the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia. In the 5th century, the Christian church claimed it and 14 February became St Valentines Day. Valentines Day became associated with romantic love in 15th century France, but it was not until the 1790s that lovers sent pre-printed Valentine cards to each other. By the mid-1800s, printed Valentine cards were hugely popular, and became more so with the introduction of the Penny Black stamp and more affordable postage. In 1841, some 400,000 valentines were posted throughout England. What may be more surprising is that they were also popular in Ireland. Valentines Day in Ireland in the mid-19th century The mid-1800s in Ireland was dominated by the Great Famine, and counties like Leitrim were decimated. Through the 1850s, thousands continued to emigrate and the majority of those who remained eked out a living as labourers and servants, with low wages, little security and few prospects. Despite this, the county was transformed and a new middle class middle class of tenant farmers, landholders, professionals and traders emerged. Local newspapers carried advertisements for goods like coffee, whiskey, dentistry, coats, perfumes, clocks and watches. In January and February each year, ads would appear for Valentine cards. An ad in the Leitrim Gazette, published in Mohill through January and early February 1858 offers a 'beautiful assortment' of Valentines for sale in Robert Turner's shop. They range in price from one penny to five shillings. VALENTINES! A beautiful assortment of VALENTINES, varying in price from 1d to 5s, can be had of R. Turner, Mohill. Orders by post strictly attended to. Who sent cards in 1858? So who bought them? We may never know. Men labouring at work like spreading manure or planting potatoes might earn 8 or 10d a day, so would have to work an hour to buy the cheapest card; they would have to hand over a weeks wages to buy a 5 shilling card. They would certainly have been more affordable for a schoolmaster or schoolmistress, or a carpenter or nurse, or of course the few doctors, attorneys, and gentry who lived in the area. The ad on 30 January appears on the front page of the newspaper alongside articles about tenant rights and a great meeting at Milford between Lord Leitrim and his tenants. The front pages also report prices at Mohill Market, with oatmeal at 12s3d, beef 6d, bacon 7d, hides 3d, and butter at 7d per pound. The report from Mohill Petty Sessions listed a number of convictions for tippling in a shebeen-house'. The offenders were fined 5s each; they could have bought a high-end Valentines card. Some cards What did these cards look like? We cannot tell. We can only assume that they were similar to the cards that were on sale in Britain. The simple ones, and presumably the cheaper ones, were printed cards with messages that would not be unfamiliar today. Some were humorous, some were rude. The more expensive ones might have been handmade lace confections with applique flowers, or hand-painted images. We can only hope the recipients enjoyed them. Get in touch There has been little research on towns like Mohill and little is known about how they turned into thriving towns in the latter half of the 19th century. If anyone has original records that relate to shops, trades and professions from 1850-1875, especially ledgers, sales and order books, letters, photos, etc, please get in touch directly at fiona@loughrynn.net. To read some of Fionas previous research on the Famine era and Lord Leitrim, see www.loughrynn.net. Fiona Slevin grew up and went to school in Mohill and currently lives in Dublin. It is available at www.loughrynn.net Simon Harris has said the Irish Government does not believe that war in Ukraine is inevitable. But the Minister for Further and Higher Education said the situation in the country was being monitored on an hourly basis amid fears of a Russian invasion. On Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs updated its guidance to Irish citizens in Ukraine, advising them to leave immediately. The department has said around 50 Irish citizens have registered with their embassy in Kyiv. Mr Harris told RTEs This Week programme: The Irish position, the European position, the position of so many countries right across the world is that war is not inevitable. It is never inevitable until it happens and diplomacy should continue to be pursued. But every government also has a duty of care towards its citizens and it would be utterly irresponsible for the Irish Government not to pass on that best advice and best thinking to our own citizens. He added: Obviously Ireland is monitoring the situation on an hourly basis, including engaging with our European colleagues. If you see what is happening now across a number of European countries and indeed the United States, the advice seems to be quite consistent now about the importance of people leaving the Ukraine, or indeed if you were considering travelling to the Ukraine to not proceed in relation to that. We have a duty of care to Irish citizens to pass on the best advice and best thinking as we receive it. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney My colleague Minister (Simon) Coveney also spoke to the Irish Ambassador in Kyiv and Ireland will be continuing to maintain an embassy presence in Ukraine. If you are an Irish person living in Ukraine or an Irish person thinking of travelling to Ukraine the advice is clear, but do please also know you can link in with our embassy service there. There are about 50 Irish citizens registered with our embassy in Kyiv and Irish people are in Kyiv for a variety of reasons, some are working with international organisations, some with family connections, some there for business, some for medical reasons too. There are a variety of reasons why Irish people are in Kyiv and in Ukraine and different people will have different circumstances, but the advice from Government is clear, it is the advice you should not travel to Ukraine and if you are in the Ukraine the advice is to return home. A small number of Irish parents are currently waiting for babies to be born to surrogates in Ukraine. Mr Harris said: This is an extremely sensitive and challenging issues. I saw a figure of about 14 babies due to be born in a very short period of time. What we are doing is engaging at a foreign affairs level individually with those families. The death has occurred of Maureen Ivan (nee Kelly), Newtown, Castletroy and formerly of Shades Hair & Beauty. Maureen died peacefully, at home, in the care of her loving family. Beloved wife of the late Fred and dearest mother to Stephen & the late Monique, and loving partner of the late Ger McNamara. Dearly missed by her loving son Stephen, daughter-in-law Angela, son-in-law Mike, adored grandchildren Kate, Sophie, Dawn, Ericka & Adam, great-grandchildren Archie, Fred, Penny & Ivy, Angelas sons Simon & Gavin, her brothers Ray, Larry & Sean, close family & friends. Rest in Peace Reposing at Griffins Funeral Home, Johns Gate on Tuesday 15th February, from 5:30-7pm. Maureens Cortege will pass the family home to arrive at Mary Magdalene Church, Monaleen on Wednesday 16th February for Requiem Mass at 1pm. Mass will be live streamed here Funeral afterwards to Shannon Crematorium. House Private No flowers please; donations if desired to Milford Care Centre, Irish Cancer Society or Alzeihmer.ie Messages of sympathy may be expressed through the rip.ie condolences section (below), through the death notices section of our website: www.griffinfunerals.com or by post to Griffins Funeral Home. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The death has occurred of Sadie Gleeson, Beech Lodge, Bruree and formerly of Old Road, Grange. Sadie died peacefully in the care of UHL following a short illness. Pre-deceased by her husband Pa, son Mattie and twin baby daughters Niamh & AnnMarie, her parents Sarah & Jim Kirby, brothers Bill, Sean, Jim, Tom, Paddy, Mikey and sisters Kitty, Nellie, Mollie & Josie. Very deeply regretted by her brother Chris & sister Tessie, nephews, nieces, extended family and many neighbours and friends. May Sadie Rest in Peace. Reposing at Crosses Funeral Home, Ballyneety on Wednesday 16th February from 10.30am - 12 midday, followed by removal to the church of St Patrick & St Bridget, Grange for the funeral mass at 1pm and burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Please ensure that public health advice is adhered to at all times. For those wishing to express their condolences can do so in the condolence section. Letters of sympathy and mass cards can be sent to Joseph Cross and Sons, Ballyneety, Co.Limerick. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The death has occurred of Anne Fitzgerald (nee Tierney), Lynwood Park, Ballysimon Road and late of St Josephs Street and St Johns Hospital. Peacefully at Milford Care Centre. Beloved wife of John, dearly loved mother of Brian, Gillian and David. Sadly missed by her loving daughter-in-law Carol, Gillian and Davids partners, grandchildren Aidan, Phoebe, Kate, brothers Paul, Leonard and Derek, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family and friends. May she Rest in Peace. Reposing at Thompsons Funeral Home, Thomas Street on Tuesday evening (15th February) from 5.30pm to 7pm. Removal on Wednesday (16th February) to St Brigids Church for Requiem Mass at 10.45am with burial afterwards in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery Extension, en route to cemetery funeral cortege will pass Annes family home. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May they all rest in peace. To leave a message of condolence please click here ONE OF the breakout stars of Smother has been the youngest actor on set, Elijah OSullivan. The 15-year-old from Dublin, who plays Jacob, has strong Limerick links. Jacob kindly agreed to an interview with the Limerick Leader ahead of the finale of the hit show tonight (Sunday, February 13) at 9.30pm on RTE One. Elijahs dad Gearoid was born in Limerick city and his proud granny, two uncles and their families still live here. "My grandad Eddie O Sullivan was born in Limerick city, but he died before I was born. We visit as often as we can. When I was younger I loved to go to the playground in the Peoples Park," said Elijah. Despite filming Smother in Clare, Elijah says unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, he was unable to visit Limerick and see relatives. "Luckily, we saw my granny on our way to Clare during filming season 1 before the Covid lockdown and restrictions changed everything. Despite his tender years, Elijah has already been in three TV series and a film. And he isnt the only talented actor in the family as his brothers Levi and Isaac are no strangers to the camera either. "We all started in a local drama school called ITW at the age of five and discovered our love and interest in acting. We hope to be lucky enough to continue to be cast in future projects. "I would love to work with my brothers. Levi was in Smother season 1 but unfortunately, I wasnt in any of his scenes. My other brother Isaac was in Vikings and so was I but I was a Viking and he was a Saxon so we didnt have any scenes together!" One of the many talented actors he has worked with are Cillian Murphy and Eva Birthistle in The Delinquent Season. "Filming the movie was an incredible experience. Working with Cillian Murphy was brilliant. He is an amazing actor and was really friendly and helpful to me. Eva Birthistle played my mum and also played my brother Levis mum in the RTE series Amber a few years ago. Mark O Rowe who wrote and directed it was also fantastic to work with." Is it hard to balance school where he is in third year and acting? "Its never been too difficult to balance schoolwork with acting, actually Covid has helped because school had to go on online so I was able to access school work remotely. "Usually when youre on set you have some breaks between scenes, and sometimes it could be a few hours, or I may have a day off filming so I can get some work done then. We have most weekends off, so I can catch up on the weekends. But returning to Smother, what has the reaction been to the show by your school friends and teachers? "All my teachers and friends have been very supportive. A surprising number of them and their families have been watching it but until they told me I was unaware of how many of them watched it and it appears to be very popular." The car crash scene in episode 3 was one of the most shocking to viewers but not for the actors. Elijah said it was a fun shoot. "It was the first night of a week of night shoots and I enjoyed staying up to film all night. The subject matter obviously wasnt fun, and I found the scene where Jacob was upset seeing his mum being breathalysed and taken away quite emotional." Lastly, what was it like working with James, Elaine and Gemma Leah as your on screen family? "It is very enjoyable working with James, Gemma-Leah and Justine. We all get on great and have lots of laughs together." Tune in tonight on RTE One to see the finale of Smother A SPECIAL vigil is to take place this Sunday in a show of support for the family of the 12-year-old boy who died in a head-on collision on Friday morning. Wiktor Chojecki, from Newcastle West, lost his life when the Nissan Qashqai he was driving collided head-on with a lorry close to the village of Adare at around 2am on Friday. There was a minute's silence for the young boy at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick city this Saturday evening ahead of the Limerick hurlers' league clash with Galway. Ahead of the boys funeral Mass on Thursday, a vigil, In Memory Of Wiktor, is to take place in The Square in Newcastle West, tomorrow, Sunday, at 3pm. Dominika Hogan, a member of Polish community in Newcastle West, who is one of the organisers of the vigil, is asking those who intend on going to the ceremony to bring a balloon or two to release into the sky to remember the 12-year-old. Wiktors mother Ewa, and father, Bartosc, settled in Newcastle West after emigrating from their native Poland. Let's light up the sky for Wiktor, Ms Hogan posted on Facebook. The event, she wrote, is to show support to Wiktor's family and is a mark of respect for the child. Wiktor was a first year student at Scoil Mhuire agus Ide in Newcastle West, and was a past pupil at the local Gaelscoil ODoghair. Shortly before 2am on Friday, gardai and emergency services were alerted following a collision between a car and a lorry on the N21 at Rineroe near Adare. Wiktor, who was the driver and sole occupant of the car was fatally injured. The driver of the lorry, a man in his 40s, did not require hospital treatment. Wiktors funeral Mass is to take place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Newcastle West at 11.30am on Thursday. He will be laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle West following the Mass. May he rest in peace. THE price-hike of 300 in the cost of a single grave plot in Limerick continues to agitate and upset councillors. Now, councillors from the Newcastle West Municipal District have agreed that it should not be implemented and want the matter brought back before the full council. It is not in the budget. I certainly didnt pass that, declared Cllr Liam Galvin when he proposed the cost of a grave remain the same. The matter first came to light in January when Abbeyfeale undertaker, James Harnett, wrote to councillors expressing his concern and that of fellow undertakers. Mr Harnett pointed out at that time that the increase means that a double plot in council-owned graveyards in Limerick now costs 3,000 compared to 1,000 in Kerry and 735 in Clare. Yet, according to Cllr Jerome Scanlan, community cemeteries charge as little as 500 for a grave plot. There are over 3,000 grave plots currently available in the council-owned cemeteries according to Cllr Scanlan who argued that, where there is a plentiful supply, people should be allowed to buy a grave in advance. It would give older people a great sense of comfort, agreed Cllr Frances Foley who said the increase could not be justified. The price increase for graves should not be implemented, Cllr John Sheahan said but he also argued that a payment plan should be put in place for people who are not well-heeled. The last thing you want is to create apartheid in graves, he said. Councillors were told that income from graves had fallen from 652,645 in 2016 to 581,056 in 2021 while at the same time there had been increased demand for maintenance works. The construction costs of doing these works had also increased significantly, director of service Nuala Gallagher said in a written reply to councillors. The councils Burial Ground Strategy had been agreed in 2019, she pointed out. An increase in cremations would account for the fall in income, according to Cllr Sheahan who predicted that this trend would continue. AVAILABLE GRAVE PLOTS IN THE NCW MUNICIPAL DISRICT Abbeyfeale former Church of Ireland (60 plots) Reilig Ide Naofa Abbeyfeale (132 plots St Marys Abbeyfeale (28 plots) Ardagh (extension, 156 plots) Athea Holy Trinity (538 plots) Auglish (extension, 136 plots) Dromcollogher (181 plots) Feenagh (475 plots) St Itas Killeedy (257 plots) Kinard, Glin (new, 717 plots) Calvary NCW (298 plots) Springfield, Broadford (98 plots) Templeglantine (new, 148 plots) Tournafulla (60 plots) LOVE is in the air as couples far and wide prepare to thrust themselves into romantic gestures from the heart this Valentines Day. With the recent relaxing of Covid enforced restrictions, unlike last years full lockdown, lovers across Limerick will be looking to swindle and swoon, as one prominent Limerick florist has attested to. Though they may not be scientists, Flowers Forever in Raheen has been helping couples - young and old - with their chemistry since 1990, particularly in the lead up to February 14 each year. David Hannon, who runs the business with his Ballina-born wife and self-taught designer florist Rachel, confirmed that the best sellers on Valentine's Day will always be roses. Everything about Valentine`s Day incorporates the colour red, from flowers to cards to hearts, it`s all about love, he told the Limerick Leader. He added that Limerick men, for the most part, know what they want, while others are happy to go with the florists recommendations, usually a fresh flower arrangement or a bouquet. Limerick women on the other hand, are much more in tune with what they are looking for, the Raheen native confirmed. They even know the specific names of each flower they want, he added. Business has been booming in the run up to Valentines Day, with early mornings and late nights required to complete the quota of orders from hopeless romantics across the county. The majority of our customers know the early bird is always guaranteed to get what they want and in turn place their order well in advance of Valentine`s, he stated, dispelling the stereotype that most men leave it until the last minute. He has also had his say on whether he thinks Limerick people are romantic. Probably the most romantic, he said, adding that there is evidently a huge flower buying culture locally. Whatever you are planning this Valentines Day, David recommends implementing the art of surprise, which from his experience in store, seems to work the best. If there is one thing we have all learned from this pandemic it`s that life if for living, celebrating and enjoying, especially this Valentines Day, he added. The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency U.S. employees" to depart the embassy in Kyiv, and consular services will be suspended as of Sunday. The move comes after National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan late Friday said that the U.S. believes Russia could take offensive military action or attempt to spark a conflict inside Ukraine as early as next week, before the Winter Olympics in Beijing wrap up. Russia has repeatedly rejected charges it plans to invade Ukraine, accusing NATO of threatening its security by considering Ukrainian membership in the military alliance. On Thursday, tens of thousands of Russian troops began exercises with the Belarus military, miles from the Ukraine border. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak late Saturday morning, Washington time, according to a U.S. official; it will be the first direct conversation between the pair since Dec. 30. Top diplomats Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov also plan to talk on Saturday, and Putin will also speak by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron. Conflict could begin during the Olympics despite a lot of speculation that it could only happen after" the Winter Games end, Sullivan told reporters at the White House. 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." Our view is that we do not believe he has made any kind of final decision, or we dont know that he has made any final decision," Sullivan added, referring to Putin. A Russian assault would likely begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that would cause widespread civilian casualties, Sullivan said. He encouraged Americans to leave as soon as feasible. The U.S. military would not evacuate Americans in case of conflict, he said. I cant obviously predict what the exact shape or scope of the military action will be," Sullivan added. As I said before, it can take a variety of forms. It could be more limited, it could be more expansive, but there are very real possibilities that it will involve the seizure of a significant amount of territory in Ukraine and the seizure of major cities including the capital city." Once the Kyiv embassy closes a small consular presence will continue in Lviv, in far western Ukraine, to handle emergences, the State Department said in Saturdays advisory. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately using commercial or other privately available transportation options," the advisory said. Germany and the Netherlands were among other countries urging citizens to leave Ukraine. China urged its citizens there to pay close attention." Stocks fell and oil surged to the highest since 2014 as tensions continued to mount. The S&P 500 slid 2% and the Nasdaq 100 dropped more than 2%. Russias foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova hit back at Fridays U.S. comments on Telegram. The hysteria of the White House is more revealing than ever," she said. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any price. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving ones own problems." Oil Surges to $95 as Ukraine Tensions Stoke Supply Concerns The actions by Russia could include causing a provocation in the Donbas region, where Ukraines military has been fighting for years against separatists backed by Moscow, or attacking the countrys capital, Kyiv, officials familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified speaking about such a sensitive topic. They said any action could start as soon as Tuesday and stressed Putins final intentions were not known. Either move would represent a dramatic escalation after months of tensions over Russias military buildup near the Ukraine border. The U.S. and other nations estimate Russia now has 130,000 troops in the area. Any action inside Ukraine risks setting off the biggest conflict on European territory since World War II. The U.S. on Friday ordered an additional 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina to deploy to NATO ally Poland, according to a U.S. official, bringing the total number of U.S. forces there to 5,000. Sullivan said U.S. troops stationed in NATO nations are there for defensive purposes only. More than 80,000 U.S. troops are already in Europe, another U.S. official said. The biggest unknown remains the intentions of Putin himself. The U.S. does not know whether Putin has decided to implement such plans, people familiar with the matter said. In addition, the U.S. has not shared evidence underlining the assessments, they said. We are trying to stop a war, to prevent the war, to avert a war," Sullivan said. And all we can do is come here in good faith and share everything that we know to the best of our ability while protecting sources and methods." U.S. and Russian military leaders spoke by phone earlier Friday, Russias Interfax reported. The U.S. shared its assessment with key allies on Friday, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. On Friday, several countries moved to withdraw embassy staff from Kyiv, as well as advise citizens to avoid Ukraine and, if there, to leave the country. U.S. told allies in November that Russia had plans to build up troop numbers and military capabilities near Ukraines borders. Much of that assessment has come to pass. Officials have also reiterated they dont believe Putin has made a final decision on Ukraine. Recent U.S. warnings -- including that Russia planned to fabricate an attack on pro-Russia separatists to justify an attack -- have also not been accompanied by public details of the intelligence behind them. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. LONDON : Dutch national flag carrier KLM halted all flights to Kyiv and said it wont operate in Ukrainian airspacethe first major carrier to announce a halt in service as tensions between Russia and the West mount over Ukraine. The airline on Saturday cited a travel warning from the national government over risks to flying in the region. The airlines next flight to the Ukrainian capital, scheduled for Saturday evening, wont go ahead, the airline said, adding that it isnt clear when KLM will resume flights. The move follows new guidance from the Dutch government warning citizens not to travel to the country. KLM and others, including Germanys Deutsche Lufthansa AG, started rescheduling flights last month to avoid crews having to stay in the capital overnight due to safety concerns over the buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border. Lufthansa said Saturday that it is monitoring the situation in Ukraine, and is examining whether to suspend air traffic. A decision hasnt been taken, a spokesman said. It is currently going ahead with several flights planned into Ukraine later Saturday. The U.S. ordered most embassy staff to depart Ukraine after warning that a Russian military invasion could be imminent. Moscow also began withdrawing its diplomatic presence. Washington warned on Friday that Russia could launch a massive military operation against Ukraine in the coming days. Russia has denied it intends to invade its neighbor. For the Netherlands, home to KLM, the region is particularly sensitive. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was downed over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing 298 crew and passengers, many of them Dutch citizens. The incident was investigated by the Dutch Safety Board, which found that the jet was hit by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile. Ukraine and Dutch prosecutors have accused Russia-backed militants operating in the area of launching the missile. KLM has not been flying over the eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea since 2014. There are now no more KLM flights through Ukrainian airspace until further notice," the airline said. KLM always puts the safety of passengers and employees first in the conduct of its operation." An extensive security analysis by a group including Dutch airlines, intelligence services, the Ministry of Defence and other national departments had found that the region was no longer safe to operate in, the airline said. The move to cancel flights comes as governments including the U.S., the U.K. and the Netherlands have told citizens to evacuate Ukraine as quickly as possible. That poses a dilemma for foreigners trying to leave the country and for national carriers many depend on to get them out. KLM currently has no evacuation flights planned to repatriate citizens, according to a spokesperson. The ceasing of operations in Ukrainian airspace also adds to the complexity of navigating flight routes through Eastern Europe. Airlines started avoiding Belarusian airspace last year after a Ryanair Holdings PLC aircraft carrying a Belarusian dissident was rerouted to Minsk following what a United Nations probe said was a fake bomb threat. The incident, which some capitals called state-sponsored hijacking, triggered sanctions against the Russian ally. Airlines have typically used airspace in both Belarus and Ukraine on routes to parts of Asia and the Middle East, and have had to adjust flight paths, increasing the length of flights and cost of operating. Nina Shaw expected to spend the first few months of 2022 at award ceremonies celebrating her clients, a long list of luminaries that includes filmmakers Ava DuVernay and F. Gary Gray, as well as actress Yvonne Orji. The Hollywood lawyer also thought she might get back on the road, traveling for work and a long-awaited family trip to France. Instead, like so many people, she's still stuck at home. But when not battling a mild case of the omicron blues, Shaw is studying the impact of the pandemic on her clients. The last two years have accelerated a shift away from traditional business models, built around movie theaters and TV, and hastened the embrace of streaming. At first, streaming seemed like a blessing for most Hollywood talent. It created more jobs, led to more opportunities for people of color and enabled viewers all over the world to watch their work. But the pandemic has exposed some downsides too. Shorter TV seasons require people to work more to make the same amount of money. Virtual film festivals are struggling to generate as much interest for smaller projects. And while streaming has led to more opportunities for people of color in front of the camera, it has yet to change the composition inside the industry's c-suites. Shaw spoke with Bloomberg News about signing her first client, diversity in Hollywood and which streamer is most likely to begin sharing viewership data next. Q: How has the shift to streaming affected your clients? A: Streaming has opened up additional forums for talent. There's a lot more stuff in the pipeline. But, in some ways, talent has been less valued. Q: Don't people work more and get paid more? A: In episodic work, people are being paid more. But now we're talking about 10 episodes or eight episodes or a limited series. As opposed to the traditional world, where people did 20 to 24 episodes. If you had a hit, it was assured it would go five to seven years. Some people will spend their entire careers working on "Law & Order: SVU." Very successful streaming shows rarely go beyond three plus years. Even if your fee has gone up, you are still looking for more work. Restrictions with regard to exclusivity haven't changed. HBO doesn't allow actors to do other TV unless they can negotiate it out. Q: So Yvonne Orji couldn't do another show while she was doing "Insecure"? A: The HBO form deal doesn't allow HBO actors to do other TV unless they can negotiate it out. There is an exclusion for preexisting material. We're constantly negotiating. The flip side is, for some actors, it's good. They don't want to be on one show for more than two or three years. Q: Does that mean you just need to land on the right show? A: Big paydays, even on a network show that goes the distance, are not as big as when the audience was more concentrated. That's not to say people aren't making a lot of money. But back end on shows like "The Cosby Show" or "Two and a Half Men"- the system doesn't allow that anymore. There is such an incredible level of vertical integration. While there is a formula for how one's back end is calculated, it is a formula with limitations. Q: Is that why you see more actors trying to create their own companies? A: There have been people who've always done double duty in front and behind the camera. It still takes a special kind of talent to be able to do it. Reese Witherspoon is someone who has always aligned herself with really talented people as her partners. It allowed her to grow Hello Sunshine. Q: What keeps you up at night right now? A: We all thought somewhere towards the end of 2021 that we were at the tail end of Covid. We were all looking at this period as being one where we'd start to be free of restrictions and the additional costs incurred as a result. We didn't think this awards season would be as impacted as it was last year. All of Sundance will be virtual. Smaller films we represent will take the hit. Art-house films don't do as well when they don't get seen by those very appreciative festival audiences. The theatrical business just won't come back, "Spider-Man" notwithstanding. There's an audience for a certain kind of movie. What we're seeing is more of the same. The business accelerated in turning the tide towards streaming services and putting more fare directly in consumers' homes. We knew theatrical windows would be be shortened. We all thought it would happen over a longer period of time. Think about the beginning of 2020 when it all first happened. HBO Max, Paramount+, a lot of these were not up and running. Netflix and Hulu and Amazon had a big advantage, but those advantages will diminish. Q: Is there a pecking order in terms of which places your clients most want to work for? A: Maybe Netflix has a bit of an edge. The big difference about the streaming world is when you are in a traditional network or being broadcast in a certain time period, you are programmed in a block. A type of show made it on a network schedule at a certain time. For work from diverse talent, you had the opportunity to be in a broadcast medium where an audience could find you. People who weren't going to watch the block of Black comedies would never see your work. When Ava DuVernay released her limited series about the men formerly known as the Central Park Five, "When They See Us," it did remarkably well in Scandinavia. Before, if this was programmed by traditional legacy broadcasters, it might not even have been broadcast in Scandinavian countries. Flash forward to moments of social reckoning. Looking at big demonstrations in Scandinavian countries, I was thinking, "Do they understand it a little bit more because they saw 'When They See Us'"? One of the men went to England doing worldwide promotion. He's outside Buckingham Palace, and people are coming up to him. They know who he is. I can't imagine in traditional media that would have been the case. Q: Has the shift to streaming been good for people of color? A: There are more opportunities. Someone is saying this is good business. "The Old Guard" was a movie that worked well for us at Netflix with Gina Prince-Bythewood. Why wouldn't Netflix continue to work with her or more people like her? Q: You said you think more streaming services will disclose viewership to appease talent. Who is next? A: f I had to put money on it, I'd say Amazon before others. I don't see Netflix making full disclosures or Disney at all. They're trying to cut back on what they've paid talent. They don't want to open their books. The business is becoming more aligned with the values of the technology business. That is disturbing in and of itself. It is a predominantly white, male business. Q: What do you mean by they are trying to cut back? A: You saw it play out publicly in the Scarlett Johansson suit. She's been paid handsomely. But, wrongfully, they tried to argue she should be ashamed of how handsomely she's been paid, in a time like this, when people are struggling. If you could pay her like that, how much money did you make? It sent a signal to the talent community that we don't value relationships in the same way. Q: Will streaming services cut back on overall deals? A: It wasn't a lot of money relative to how much is in those companies. They were tremendously effective. You buy a lot of publicity with a Shonda Rhimes deal. You are sending a message to talent that you can be in our productions, and it doesn't diminish you. Q: There is a lot of chatter about the quality of programming at Netflix going down. Do you see any pendulum swing in how your clients view it ? A: No one walks through the door thinking I'll be doing anything other than my best work and A-list material. That's the nature of talent. No one wakes up and says, "I want to make a crappy movie." Q: Who is your longest-tenured client? A: A writer who is working now was my first client. His name is Bill Boulware. He is best known for co-creating "227," which is where a very young Regina King got her start. I met him on a blind date. At the end of the date I said, "I know we'll never go out, but if you ever need a lawyer." Posted by Liam on at 08:32 AM CST In one of the funniest sketches from the Robot Chicken specials lampooning the saga, a young Palpatine decides to go into politics after devising a plan to harvest and pave out a Gungan stash of eggs. They breed like yuppies, the future Sith says. specials lampooning the saga, a young Palpatine decides to go into politics after devising a plan to harvest and pave out a Gungan stash of eggs. They breed like yuppies, the future Sith says. The Villa Del Balbianello On Lake Como in Italy isnt only where Anakin and Padme begin dating in Attack of the Clones, but an important location in the James Bond franchise. Daniel Craig finally utters the phrase My name is Bond, James Bond in Casino Royale at the end of the film, where he visits the castle to get revenge for his lovers murder. Footage of Naboo celebrating the Emperors death was included in Return of the Jedi for the 2004 DVD re-release. A Gungan yells Wesa free!, but it's been confirmed that it was not Jar Jar. for the 2004 DVD re-release. A Gungan yells Wesa free!, but it's been confirmed that it was not Jar Jar. In Legends, it's said that the Naboo Army was formed a century before The Phantom Menace in order to thwart off Gungans when there was still tension between the two species. in order to thwart off Gungans when there was still tension between the two species. The Gungans themselves would often break into conflict, as before their unification the varying clans were frequently at war. Although Captain Tarpals is killed in The Clone Wars , he almost perishes in the Star Wars Tales comic short aptly named The Death of Captain Tarpals. , he almost perishes in the Tales comic short aptly named The Death of Captain Tarpals. The battle droid that Jar Jar pushes over when the army is deactivated at the end of The Phantom Menace is numbered 1138, a reference to George Lucass first film THX-1138 from 1971. from 1971. Former Jedi padawan Ferus Olin visits Naboo after Order 66 in the Star Wars: The Last of the Jedi book Death on Naboo to face the Dark-sided Valorum. book to face the Dark-sided Valorum. The non-canon Star Wars Tale short George R. Binks tells the comical story of Jar Jars father, a proud businessman who is embarrassed by his oafish son. In the third season of the classic Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin celebrates his promotion knighthood on Naboo with Padme, where it is implied that Luke and Leia are conceived. Hello there,fans! This week on the site, were looking at one of the most prominent planets from the prequel trilogy, Padme Amidalas homeworld of Naboo. If you havent already, make sure to check out our Expand Your Mind article first to read up on why the planet is so important within the franchise. Just make sure to stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, insights, videos, and information on the best merchandising content that youll want to get your hands on!Naboo was thoroughly fleshed out in the prequels, but it's a site that was frequently returned to throughout the Expanded Universe and. While the planet may seem peaceful from the offset, the Mid Rim world would rarely appear when it wasnt being threatened by a new evil. Here are some of our trivia Force Facts about Naboo.What do you think,fans? What are some trivia facts you know about Naboo? Did any of our Force Facts surprise you? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!Check out Rebelscum.com merch!Be sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms: On Thursday night, Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Beto ORourke visited Laredos La Bombonera at 2320 Jacaman Rd. to speak with voters about his campaign and also about how he would handle the problems with the states electrical grid. The visit by ORourke was his third to the city since he launched his campaign for governor last November and comes a few days after the latest winter storm weather hit the area. Prior to speaking to voters of the city, he spoke to LMT about his campaign and the electrical grid. Im returning for this visit to Laredo for this campaign that is less than three months old, as this city is so important for the future of the state, ORourke said. I want to make sure that I continue to come back to earn the votes of the people of Laredo, and I am interested in everyone Republicans, Independents, Democrats, everybody. I want to make sure that we are focused on the big things that I hear the people of Laredo talking about that we want to do better. (I want to talk about creating) more jobs and improving our schools, and the way we treat educators and school teachers, and do common-sense things like expand Medicaid so more people can see a doctor, more people can go to school, go to work and raise their families. ORourke also spoke about the problems with the electrical grid affecting the state all last year, which was the focus of his tour that was titled Keeping the Lights On: A Statewide Drive for a Brighter Texas. We are also here a year after Greg Abbott caused our electricity grid to fail, and three people from Laredo died because of this results, he said. We saw the people of this community lose electricity, lose heat, lose water and really struggle, and now we are paying higher utility bills because they are forced to clean up the mess that Greg Abbott made. I want to make sure that we all understand that, and that we also find a way to do better going forward. So I want to talk about what I want to do as governor and make sure that we can always keep the lights on in Texas. ORourke said he wants to accomplish things benefiting all Texans. He said he has spoken to several of the families who lost loved ones during last years storm. I have spoken to some of them. I spoke to a woman who lost her son, Marcus, from Laredo, and he actually had been in Houston, and he died in his apartment alone because we couldn't keep the electricity grid working in the middle of a winter storm, ORourke said. So, I reached out to Maria, who lives in Laredo, to have her tell me about her son, Marcus, who just sounded like a wonderful human being, and we are so sorry for her and her family for their loss. ORourke says as governor he would make sure nothing like this ever happens again. He believes under the current state administration another storm like in 2021 could cause the power grid to once again fail. The solutions he proposes to better equip the electrical grid of the state is to weatherize the gas supply in efforts to get the gas to the generators successfully to produce gas, to connect ERCOT with the national grid and to help out rate payers by sending them money instead of charging them more. He also said the prosecution of several individuals and companies who took away monies and caused this to happen should also be sought. The governor candidate says he was glad last weeks winter storm was not as severe and impactful as the one seen in February 2021. We are all so grateful that it was so mild, as it didnt get anywhere near as cold as it got last year and the storm didnt last as long as it did last year, and we didnt have as much precipitation and snow as we did last year, he said. I was here in Laredo last February, and I got to see for myself what this did to the community and to hear from people directly who still didnt have water in their homes and were struggling to get by and survive. I was not too far from here as I was in San Antonio this week when this last storm hit and it was nothing at all. Abbott praised the states power grid recently after it was largely unaffected by the recent winter storm. Texas' grid held up this time with enough extra capacity to power 3 million homes, Abbott said. At the height of power generation supply, more power was available to serve demand on the grid than was needed at the at peak demand during last years winter Storm Uri. Some experts attributed the grids success to the storms lack of impact. While last year saw a weeks worth of freezing weather and temperatures below zero in the state, this lasted only a few days and temperatures didnt have many days below 32 degrees for freezing, as the wind chill was the biggest factor temperature-wise. ORourke says that Texans dont seem convinced the grid is fixed, as many in the recent freezing weather conditions including many Laredoans went to local supermarkets and bought multitudes of food items and bottled water to stock up for the cold. He believes this is a new reality as many people fear what could happen if another major freeze happens in the state. I think this goes to show you that most of us here in Texas know that the grid is not fixed yet, he said. And even though, thank God, it didnt get as cold this year as it did last year, it really worried a lot of people, and I understand why because of what people went through last year, because we couldnt keep the grid on. It just reinforces how important it is that we make a change because if we do not we are going to continue to see that same level of anxiety in the people of Texas, and we shouldnt have to live like that. ORourke will face off against Inocencio "Inno" Barrientez, Michael Cooper, Joy Diaz and Rich Wakeland for the Democratic nomination in Marchs primary election. On the Republican side, Abbott is running for re-election against opponents Paul Belew, Daniel Harrison, Kandy Kaye Horn, Donald Huffines, Rick Perry, Chad Prather, Allen B. West. ORourke expressed how important the people of Laredo and all of South Texas are to deciding who wins the primary in March and the governorship in November. It is everything, ORourke said. There is a reason why I was here on the second day of my campaign. It was one of the first cities that I came to, and the reason that I keep coming here is because the voters in these communities are critically important to our chance to win this race. Thankfully we have so much support, so many volunteers and so many people who are working with us to make sure that we win, and so I keep coming back to be with them and encourage more people to get involved and to thank those who are already volunteering for us and supporting us. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com A teen almost ran over two migrants when speeding away from authorities, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Eduardo Rodriguez, 18, was arrested and charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, four counts of smuggling of persons for pecuniary benefit and two counts of smuggling of persons with likelihood of serious bodily or death. This week commenced Black History Month for all Americans. However, with a very minimal Black population, the border city of Laredo which is rich in culture does not quite embrace the celebration like other areas around the country. According to the most recent census, 0.5% of Laredos population is Black at least 1,200 citizens. And with a lack of representation around the area can mean a lack of widespread celebration for these individuals culture. At TAMIU, Dr. Donovan Weight is the Associate Professor of History in the Humanities Department. And he recently shared his knowledge and experience on what it is like to colonial history in Laredo. One of the things that Ive noticed is that the demographic of African Americans here is a lot lower, Weight said. And one of the things that I have noticed is when students come to me in my courses, a lot of the times they say they just didnt learn things about slavery, about the civil rights movement or about Jim Crow. Weight has noticed incoming students have somewhat of an inkling of Dr. Martin Luther King and when slavery was abolished, but they really dont have in-depth knowledge about the topic. He also notices the low interest students have in learning Black history. When I have offered classes here, Ive noticed that its kind of hard to make a class here on campus, to make enough students want to go if I do it on just a Black history topic, Weight said. So one of the things that I have done is incorporate other topics to try to cast a wider net so they get interested. I taught a class called Civil Rights Movement, and in that class I look at the Black Civil Right movements for half of the class, and then I teach the Chicano Movement for the other half of the class. And I do a compare and contrast and intersect where they worked together and when they went their separate ways, and that has raised a little bit more interest in the Black history element of the class. Weight says that students in Laredo have shown a disconnect with knowing how Black history pertains to them. There is a difference between comments made specifically to hurt people and comments made out of pure ignorance, which can explain some inherently racist comments Black people receive in the community. Because of this, Weight tries to show his students the importance of Black culture and everything it has brought to the country, as it is a critical component to todays national landscape. He recommends K-12 levels to explain to their students how Black history connects to their lives and how the previous experiences can be used to understand and benefit all. One of the reasons why I really enjoy African American history is because I really think the story of Black America is kind of the story of everything that is right and everything that is wrong in America in microcosm, Weight said. When we study Black history, we can see the best of the best in American History, we can also see the worst of the worst of American History. I think if we can get our students here in Laredo to see the connection in the things that this people were able to overcome in the situations that arose, how those situations arose and the effects that are still being felt because of it, then we can become more open to say, I understand a little bit better of what youre going through. Jordyn Rebeles is a student at Vidal M. Trevino School of Communication and Fine Arts. She says that her school is not having any activities celebrating Black History Month and shares the only way this topic has been touched is in her government class. Rebeles feels the subject is not talked about as much as it should be. as it is not something that happened long ago, but the lasting effects of oppression are still present. They dont teach a lot of things. The only thing that Ive heard about Black history in school is slavery. Everything else I learned on my own, Rebeles said. Its never been taught in a school. Its only about the slaves, slaves trade, how it was abolished and so forth. Its not talked about enough. We talk about history, but even our history is colonized, its white-washed. She feels one of the main reasons racism still prevails in Laredo is the dismissal of Black culture while only focusing on Hispanic culture. In past recent years, Black History is a subject that has been asked to be included and improved upon in the U.S. education system, with many Americans believing the conversation around the subject is inadequate. Rebeles recalls experiencing some inherent racism at school through comments other students have made. And although they may not know the gravity of these remarks, teachers allegedly didnt correct them. These behaviors may be a direct reflection of the absence of Black History taught in schools, resulting in generations of students not knowing that what they think or say may be incorrect and hurtful. We have to fight to have the right to wear our hair naturally. Its upsetting that some people forget just how easily oppressed we are because its so normalized, Rebeles said. Its hard to undo so many internalized ideals that are so deep-rooted, but the more people realize what they do is inherently racist, it becomes easier to put others into consideration. Rebeles said one of her courses included a book with a slur on it, recalling the uncomfortable feeling she had when her teacher took her out of class to communicate this to her. Another course reading included a lynching, in which the teacher did not warn the students of this occurrence. Rebeles adds this decision comes from individuals forgetting these events are traumatizing to a lot of people. We talk about mental health and how to approach people who might seem depressed or suicidal, but we dont really talk about how to approach people who might be traumatized by racial violence, and that includes Hispanics, Rebeles said. Calling people out when they say things that are inherently racist, or homophobic or transphobic is such a big start, especially during Black History Month. Rebeles expresses, noting the discrepancy in our education system banning LGBTQ+ books but not banning books with racial slurs. cecilia.trevino@lmtonline.com Courtesy /Laredo Fire Department A tractor-trailer hauling a tanker rolled over into a ditch in north Laredo late Friday night as workers continued Saturday trying to safely transfer its contents. The Laredo Fire Department stated crews reported Friday night at around 7:27 p.m. to the intersection of Springfield and Del Mar. They found a single-vehicle accident: a tractor-trailer hauling a tank that had rolled over. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection have announced that in preparations for the Abrazo Ceremony, traffic will be temporarily halted on Feb. 19 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge for the ceremony. Residents and visitors may make preparations prior to attempting to cross during the halting, which will start at 5 a.m. This year, vehicular traffic is being temporarily suspended at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge to host the Abrazo Ceremony, which is a Washingtons Birthday Celebration Association yearly endeavor in embracing the Mexican and American culture, said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. We strongly urge the traveling public to plan ahead and cross earlier, or later, to avoid unnecessary delays. The 5 a.m. halt will be due to the building of the stage used for the International Bridge Ceremony and the CBP stated regular traffic will resume at approximately 9 a.m. However, they also recommend for those crossing to make the trip prior to 5 a.m. if they plan to use the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge or use the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge opening at 6 a.m. Arguably the most heartwarming and time-honored event, the WBCA/IGNC International Bridge Ceremony Sponsored by La Posada Hotel, is sure to leave a lasting impression, the WBCA stated. The Abrazo Children/International Bridge Ceremony sees a pair of children from both Mexico and the United States hugging as a symbolic gesture of the bond between the nations in the middle of the international bridge. Dignitaries from both countries visit the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo community to take part in the ceremony as it leads up to the Anheuser-Busch Washingtons Birthday Parade. The goodwill is palpable in this powerful ceremony that embraces the friendship, appreciation and mutual respect shared by two nations, they stated. While proper credentials will be required to take part in the bridge ceremony, like every year prior, the parade will be open to the community as it has been since 1898. It will be hosted on South of San Bernardo and may see a similar turnout to previous years, which prompt early risers to set up their chairs to catch a front-row seat of the parade. The scene is no different today with thousands of people from all parts of Laredo and South Texas eagerly awaiting the majestic Clydesdale horses leading the parade with a colorful array of elaborately decorated floats and marching bands following behind, the WBCA said. The ceremonies are part of the time-tested Laredo tradition held throughout the month of February and the early days of March. On Friday, the WBCA Carnival opened its doors and will be shortly followed by the Founding Fathers Run, Pipes and Stripes Car Show, Princes Pocahontas Pageant and Ball during the weekend. cocampo@lmtonline.com Lockport, NY (14094) Today Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High 64F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. One hundred and forty years ago, on February 2, 1882, the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Granard, from the convent in Newtownforbes. They came at the request of the Parish Priest, to nurse and teach in the Workhouse which had been started in 1842. Very primitive conditions, plus dire poverty, deadly fever, death, no electricity and overcrowding made it very difficult for staff, but more especially for the patients and families who comprised the hundreds of inmates in the Workhouse. The Sisters rented accommodation in Springlawn and when additional members came they taught school in the stables. By degrees, the National School was built (1891) plus the Sacred Heart Convent (1894) - due in large part to the support and fundraising of the townspeople, the clergy, and overseas donations. All the while, the Sisters continued with home visitation, technical education in Continuation classes ( for older girls); running a farm which in later years supplied the Boarders with home grown produce. The Vatican 2 Council, which brought big changes in the church, lifted restrictions on Religious, and opened up a new and rich way of involvement in local and church groups. Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School was founded in 1947 with 24 girls. Numbers grew steadily and boys were added to the student body in 1959 with 12 boys. It was among the first secondary co-educational schools in the country. As new millennium moved on, many exciting developments happened, with the handing over of the schools to new management. Lay Principals, new extensions, B.O.M. growing numbers, technology and much more meant that education kept apace with national progress. We are heartened that the Faith tradition, the Mercy ethos, high and vibrant educational standards, have flourished strongly and steadily down the years in Sacred Heart Primary and Cnoc Mhuire Secondary schools. St Josephs Knitwear and Rath Mhuire Resource Centre were other ministries that the Sisters were involved in. The former served to give employment for 28 years and the latter continues to give a valued compassionate service in Granard and surrounding areas. Since Catherine McAuleys time in 1850s, Visitation of homes has been a big part of the Mercy ministry. Integral to connecting with others, the needs, anxieties and concerns of people will always be wrapped in our community and personal prayer. We acknowledge too, that failures, difficulties, hurts and omissions were, and are, part of our history. However we go forward in these uncertain times ( when our numbers are decreasing and our Convents closing), with a Hope to respond to the Mercy call in the best way we can. It has to be said that from the start in 1882, the Sisters relied upon, and welcomed the support from the people of Granard. As the years rolled by, the community received as much, in material generosity, loyalty and friendship as they gave. Service, volunteerism, collaboration, faith sharing, still pulses in the generations of Granard and parish community who continue to sustain, inspire, and befriend us, as we journey onwards. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. 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 && A prairie restoration project planned by Mankato on its southeastern border would be the largest in the area since Indian Lake, shown above, was brought back into existence by Blue Earth County nearly a century after it had been drained for farming. The revealing of George Russell's black overalls for the 2022 season, suggests Mercedes may retain the black livery which has been used since 2020. Mercedes have traditionally run a silver livery during their time in Formula 1, but changed to a black car in 2020 to support the fight for racial equality and diversity, which has been pushed by F1 chiefs during the last two years. However, Mercedes released images of Russell on social media where he was wearing the same black overalls which were worn by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in 2020 and 2021. The team will release their 2022 car next Friday on February 18, so confirmation of their livery for the upcoming season will be revealed soon. How will Russell do at Mercedes? Russell has replaced Bottas at Mercedes after multiple eye-catching performances at Williams where he was able to take a struggling car into the final part of qualifying. His front row start at the 2021 Belgian GP underlined his status as a potential future World Champion in F1, and he may gave Hamilton his toughest challenge yet. The all-British driver line-up is arguably the strongest on the grid and should Russell perform strongly at Mercedes, an inter-team rivalry may develop in a similar fashion to Hamilton's relationship with Nico Rosberg. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. New Zealand renewable energy company Contact Energy (Contact) released its interim financial results for the six months to 31 December 2021 today. Contact CEO Mike Fuge said the company had delivered a solid financial performance in the first half of the FY22 financial year and was investing in line with its strategy to lead New Zealands decarbonisation efforts. Financial performance Contact reported a statutory profit of $134m, up 72 per cent ($56m) on the same period last year. Operating earnings (EBITDAF) increased by $76m to $322m, up 31 per cent on the prior year. Operating free cash flow for the period decreased from $157m to $131m in the first six months of FY22, down 17 per cent year-on-year. Mr Fuge said: Its very pleasing to provide investors with a solid financial report card. Weve seen double-digit growth in our operating earnings and profit off the back of a period of strong hydro generation. While operating free cash flow is lower year-on-year, this is a feature of our generation asset mix. When it rains, operating earnings increase as we dont have to run more expensive thermal generation, but cash flow is impacted as we store the gas we purchased for use in the future. Weve also progressed a range of renewable energy projects across New Zealand and our retail business has continued to build market share in electricity and broadband. The Board has approved an interim dividend of 14 cents per share and this will be imputed up to 10 cents per share for qualifying shareholders and paid on 30 March 2022. Demand In line with Contacts decarbonisation focus, Mr Fuge said there had been strong demand for renewable electricity from forward-thinking customers. Were delighted to have secured long-term power purchase agreements with Oji Fibre, Pan Pac, Genesis Energy and Foodstuffs. Long-term contracts underpin sustainable operations, support additional renewable generation development, and can also displace thermal generation. These agreements will reduce carbon emissions and help keep electricity prices down over the long-term. The Southern Green Hydrogen project to investigate the worlds first large-scale green hydrogen plant in Southland with Meridian Energy is also progressing well. Potential development partners have been shortlisted and are engaged in a formal request for proposal process. Rio Tinto has recently indicated a desire to continue operating its unique low carbon smelter at Tiwai Point beyond 2024, when the current electricity supply contract concludes. Its early days, but we are encouraged that the smelters owner recognises it needs to play a larger role to help manage dry year security of supply in New Zealands electricity system, Mr Fuge said. In turn, this will lower system carbon emissions and enable the development of more renewable generation, which is positive for New Zealand. Renewable development On the renewable development front, the Tauhara power stations expected capacity has recently been upgraded from 152MW to 168MW. It is now expected to be completed in the second half of 2023, with an increase in the estimated costs of the project. We have encountered some COVID19-related headwinds, but overall the project remains on track. It will be a world-class renewable development that will be a foundation for New Zealands increased renewable electricity needs over the next decade, Mr Fuge said. Consent applications have also been lodged with the Waikato Regional Council for an extension of the geothermal consents at Wairakei post-2026, and land use consents have been lodged for a new 50MW geothermal power station development at Te Huka, near Taupo. Contact has also secured land access rights to build up to 600MW of wind projects across New Zealand, via its exclusive relationship with wind generation experts Roaring40s. And separately, an investigation is under way into the economics of a 100MW battery energy storage system investment. Retail Mr Fuge said there were encouraging results from Contacts retail business over the first half of the FY22 year. Weve seen total connections increase by 29,000 across electricity and broadband. A new time-of-use plan, Good Nights, was launched and has proven very popular with customers who are keen to have three hours of free power every night from 9pm. A new brand campaign launched in January, focused on the idea that home is the best place in the world, provides Contact with a platform to grow its commitments to the community, environment, and people. Outlook Looking ahead, Mr Fuge said Contact was committed to leading the decarbonisation of New Zealand. We are excited about the critical role that Contacts renewable electricity generation is set to play in the decarbonisation of the New Zealand economy over the next decade. Please see the links below for details HY22 Media Release HY22 Investor Presentation FY22 Interim Financial Statements HY22 Results Announcement Form Distribution Notice Source: Contact Energy Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: BIF acquires shares in ZeroJet Limited Morrison & Co completes acquisition of Infratil shares IKE Q4 and FY22 performance update Chorus amends syndicated bank facility Vector Limited Capital Bonds - Election Notice MOVE LOGISTICS BUSINESS UPDATE AND EARNINGS GUIDANCE Pacific Edge Full Year Result to be Announced 26 May 2022 VHP - Retail offer opens 3rd May 2022 Morning Report NZK FY22 Annual Report Advertisement At the same time, according to Ruzhentsova, some young patients still have fatigue, headaches, and a slight temperature rise."Such children should be under medical supervision, generally [under supervision of] a local pediatrician. If necessary, (they) should get an additional examination," she added.Ruzhentsova said earlier that the Omicron coronavirus variant causes a milder post-Covid syndrome than the Delta strain, the report said.A study by Case Western Reserve University, looked at health records of 80,000 kids and found the Omicron hospitalisation rate was 1 per cent. With Delta it was higher, at 3 per cent. But again, with a lot more infected kids, that 1 per cent turns into a bigger actual number.Long covid diagnosis is considered very rare in children. But some children across the US have reported an array of symptoms, ranging from headaches, stomach aches and dizziness, to fatigue, brain fog and mood changes, long after their initial infection. the Guardian reported.One Danish study published online in thein January included about 30,000 children aged 0 to 17, around half of whom had previously tested positive for Covid. For those ages six to 17, 0.8 per cent more Covid-positive children recalled having symptoms lasting more than four weeks, compared with a control group.Source: IANS Here is a man who likes to live and love on his own terms. Manav Kaul is a polymath who has eked out an unconventional career in the Indian film industry for himself - having debuted commercially with 2003s Jajantram Mamantram to now playing Manish Khanna in Netflixs The Fame Game alongside Bollywoods evergreen star, Madhuri Dixit. Where others get overwhelmed by the pressures that come with being a man of the arts, Manav coolly goes on about his craft, never once abandoning the desire to experiment, all the while exploring the uncharted depths of a man's feelings in order to truly imbibe his characters. Manavs treasure chest of emotions come from an array of struggles and personal experiences as a man, especially the romantic ones, which he graciously allowed us to comb through as we played with him a game of ADE - Agree. Disagree. Explain. The premise was simple, we posited a few statements to him, and he simply had to tell us if he agreed or disagreed with them, subsequently explaining his stance as well. Netflixs Fame Game was an experience of a lifetime for Manav Kaul. MK: For me, acting has always been a therapeutic experience, and everytime it would make me feel relaxed; like doing a 10-kilometre run or something. When I started understanding this whole idea behind Manish Khanna and a successful persons loneliness, I started to fall in love with this character. I remember texting Sri Rao late night, discussing the many layers that Manishs character had, and how with each scene I was seemingly touching something new. On the face of it, initially, I knew he was a Bollywood star kind of in love with Anamika Anand, but the moment I started performing the role was when I realised that he was one of the most complex characters Ive played. In fact when I finished the entire series, I started missing Manish Khanna a lot. Printed suit: Abraham & Thakore, Turtleneck pullover: Perona; Blazer and corduroy pants: Countrymade, Knit: Selected Homme Sexual Chemistry is unimportant if you love someone. MK: I disagree. The thing is, compassion is very important too, especially if youre in a long-term relationship. Being an amazing friend to your partner is the best thing that you can do - You tend to love spending time with them, enjoy getting up together in the morning and so on. But sometimes you get over the idea of being sexual with each other, which is normal (as the novelty wears off). Sex or Sexual Chemistry has to be discovered and rediscovered, and nowadays there are several mediums to do so as well. You can rediscover yourself and your partner again, and there are a thousand ways to find the spark. But I believe it is an important part of a relationship for most people. Dont you think? Cheating in a relationship is not a big deal. MK: That is controversial *breaks into peals of laughter*. Because I come from a small town, back in my younger days there used to be an adrishya varmala (invisible garland) in my mind whenever Id meet a girl, thinking every girl I met was the one for me. I ruined a lot of relationships because of that desperation. There was a film Id seen long back, where an old couple was celebrating the wifes 50th birthday together along a beach. She had confessed to her husband about sleeping with his best friend 20 years prior at a farmhouse party, as the secret had been eating her from inside. The husband replied that he had been aware of it all along leaving the woman shocked, as she had harboured guilt over that incident for over several years now. The husband then replied, But you know Ive never seen you that happy, how can I deny that happiness? You came back to me and I got happy because of your happiness. That particular scene changed my perception, and I started questioning why cheating or sleeping with someone else is so damn taboo or important that you ruin an entire the entire life time spent in a relationship. Manav Kaul doesnt believe in true love. MK: I dont think theres a one true love. I think you discover in retrospect, when you look back at life, the few people who were with you through all your ups and downs. That in my opinion is love. Theres so much going on in peoples lives, especially in a city like Bombay, where you cant predict anything. As we change, so does everyone else as well, and if despite all these fluctuations people still stick around for a long time, where you have the comfort to pick up the phone and call them at any given point, then that is what true love is. Suit and shirt: Suket Dhir;Printed suit: Abraham & Thakore, Turtleneck pullover: Perona Fame Games Manish Khanna was an easy character to play. MK: It wasnt easy at all. At all! Because first of all I dont understand the world that he belongs to. Manish is a huge star living in a huge mansion, when he goes out there are people screaming, almost like a Bollywood superstar. In a way, I dont entirely understand that despite vicariously experiencing it through theatre. I have met people after my plays who tell me that theyre crazy about my writing, so I have felt that kind of stardom in pockets. But the kind of stardom that Shahrukh possesses, and Shahrukh is the star, that is what Manish Khanna is. I may not necessarily understand that specific world, but luckily do totally get the inner world of Manish. So I had to rely more on the psyche of a person who understood that. So yeah, it was tough to crack but somehow I managed. Male Friendships Are Important For A Man Even When They're In A Relationship. MK: I agree. When a friend of yours gets into a relationship you should give space to that person because you want that person to get more comfortable with their partner, knowing eventually that they would come around. One thing that is true is that theres nothing like Male bonding. Male friendships are very important. For example, I love bike trips with my two friends, Kumud and Sam. We have done so many outings together - From Bombay to Leh and back, as well as several other bike trips to Uttarakhand and Ratnagiri as well. You stick to your comfort zones as far as these friendships are concerned, you can be humorous and you can be blah in these equations without any judgement. So I definitely understand that bond. Getting back with my ex-girlfriend is a good idea. MK: *laughs* I think all your exes after a certain time can become beautiful friends. Because what happens is that you end up going through a lot together. But you have to give it time, for time is a beautiful thing, it heals. Exes eventually can become good because they remind you of your youth, and the time you spent together. Printed suit: Abraham & Thakore, Turtleneck pullover: Perona Asli mard expresses his love honestly and freely. MK: Till 30, men dont even know who they are. After they hit 30 they start understanding themselves better. You understand it very late in your life. So by this time youve already built up so many layers of shells around yourself. All the ridiculous notions and ideals that we grew up with left us confused to an extent that when we met a girl for the first time, we didnt even know what to expect - we have no clue as to what she would want or what we want either. Singledom is underrated. MK: *laughs* This is the correct question for me. I think I like travelling a lot. I understood that late in my life - In the span of one life I want to be everywhere on this planet. And then I realised that I liked writing and acting a lot as well. So, anything that messes with these three things - travelling, acting and writing - I tend not to like it. In this fictional world that I created for myself, where I live, I dont want to be disturbed. Ive realised that I like being single, I like to be single so I can be flowing everywhere. I dont like responsibilities. Right now I can randomly go anywhere, take whatever decisions I want without a problem. I dont want someone else to be there with me taking on that ride all because I want that ride. I have been given one life and I want to squeeze all the experiences and essence from it, thats how I want to live. And I find that could be a selfish trait for someone else. So, because I am selfish, and have no qualms about it, I prefer being single. Daviess County Parks & Recreation has been working with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources to get the lakes at Yellow Creek and Panther Creek parks ready for fishing this year. Ross Leigh, parks director, said it began a few weeks ago with the state killing thousands of gizzard shad that were over-populating the lake at Panther Creek Park. There were too many of them for the lake, he said. So, the state came in with a chemical called rotenone that kills them. There were thousands of them. The state came back the next day and scooped them out. The shad were introduced into many lakes as a food source for game fish. But they multiply faster than they can be eaten. Leigh said a 2-year-old shad can lay 12,000 eggs, and a 4-year-old can lay up to 380,000. Theyre a bait fish, he said. Most people dont eat them. Leigh said the state workers came back recently and restocked each lake with 750 rainbow trout. In a few weeks, he said, theyll be stocking each lake with 900 catfish. The stocking is part of the states Fishing in Neighborhoods program to keep plenty of fish in 45 lakes in or near cities. Leigh said with grocery prices rising, Some people are fishing for food. It helps supplement their grocery shopping. The county, he said, wants to help them enjoy the experience. Each lake covers roughly six acres and is 12 feet deep at its deepest point. The lakes also have plenty of crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass, Leigh said. Fishing is free, but anglers must have a valid Kentucky fishing license, which costs $23 a year. People who are 65 and older or disabled can get a license for $12. People under age 16 dont need a license, the Fish & Wildlife website says. Leigh said on June 4-5, the state lets everyone fish without a license. He said the daily limit on fish in the lakes is five trout or four catfish per person. Keith Lawrence 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com In the past 40 years or so, a number of subdivisions have been built all around Owensboro, as people seek country living with some city amenities. But what goes into selecting the sites for the subdivisions, coming up with names for the development and names for the streets? Jagoe Homes has built 27 subdivisions in Owensboro, Bowling Green, Henderson, Louisville, Evansville, Huntingburg and Newburgh. Bill Jagoe, who owns the company with his brother, Scott, says, We look for growth trends, what services are available there (sewers, water, electricity), whether its a place we would want to live, if it has beautiful views, what its schools are like, what the environmental impact will be, can we keep it affordable, traffic patterns and topography. And, of course, if the property owner is willing to sell. In 2016, Jagoe Homes announced plans for Brookfield, a 131-home subdivision in the 1500 block of Daniels Lane. Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is in the 1200 block. We knew it would be successful because its near the hospital, Jagoe said. Its like living on Kentucky 54 without all the traffic. When it comes to naming subdivisions, Jagoe said, they look for names that have meaning for the area. McCutchan Trace in Evansville is named after both the McCutchan family that once lived on the land and McCutchanville, Indiana. Oscar Drive in that subdivision, Jagoe said, is named for a pet buried on the property. Bluegrass Commons in Owensboro celebrates the regions bluegrass music heritage, and the streets are named for such bluegrass artists as Doc Watson, Bill Monroe and Allison Krauss. In Whispering Meadows, streets are mostly named for trees and plants. The Jagoes did name one street there Mulberry Place, an homage to Owensboros famed red-light district of a century ago. Planning and zoning has to approve the names, Jagoe said. We search Google Earth for names to make sure there are no streets with that name here already. The one thing the family has never done, he said, is name subdivisions or streets after anyone in the family. Developer Gary Cecils Professional Properties and Construction LLC is developing a subdivision The Preserve on Millers Mill Road near Macedonia Baptist Church. It will have 21 home sites on tracts ranging from half an acre to three acres. All of the houses will be custom-built. Tim Allen, a spokesman for the company, said, Its a beautiful area. Its a pastoral setting. We plan to leave as many trees as we can. The site is close to Kentucky 54, he said, and has other roads going away from that busy highway for those who prefer less traffic. Owensboro is a tough market, Allen said. Theres not a ton of land that isnt in the flood plain. You want it to have the attributes that you want for the right terms and to be available. When we found the land for The Preserve, we went though a lot of names. We wanted it to sound like custom-built homes in a safe, quiet area. The street names in the subdivision are based on the initials of Cecils children. Bill Saalwaechter and his daughter Kirsti Stasers KSB Living is developing Park Haven in Thruston. Its next to Yellow Creek Park, which explains the name. Twenty acres came up for sale beside the park, so we bought it, Staser said. Thats a prime location for families. People of all ages live there. Retirees like the location for their grandchildren when they visit. She said a little more than a third of the lots have been sold. The street names, Staser said, are designed with a park theme Park Haven Bend, Creekwood Drive, Hollow Cove. MentalFloss.com says, The names of trees and numbers make up the greatest number of street names in the country, and the most popular U.S. street name is Second, because First Street is often replaced with Main Street or something similar. There are many interesting names for streets around the world. Porters Lake in Nova Scotia has three connecting streets named This Street, That Street and The Other Street. Sounds a little like an Abbott and Costello routine. Keith Lawrence, 270-691-7301, klawrence@messenger-inquirer.com Although Sri Lankan communities have different linguistic, cultural and religious entities, socially they all have close interaction with one another. by Dr Rifai Writing from London This deadly coronavirus has united all Sri Lankan communities. It gives us great pleasure and happiness to see different Sri Lankan communities are sharing and caring in this difficult time. It is lovely to see Buddhist temples are distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any discrimination. It is wonderful to see mosques distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any social discrimination. Likewise, it is pleasing to see churches are distributing food parcels to all communities without any discrimination. It is also pleasant to see that Hundi temples are distributing food parcels to all Sri Lankan communities without any discrimination based on religion or caste. It is very much pleasing to see a young Buddhist monk venture to help many poor tea plantation Tamil families in upcountry areas of Sri Lanka. It is wonderful to see all Sri Lankans come together in this difficult time. Humanism has prevailed over our racial or religious differences in this critical time. Different faith groups and their leaders have come together to work as one community to address the challenges of this deadly virus. Moreover, on the eve of Easter Sunday attack remembrance anniversary, many religious leaders from different faith groups came forward to condemn the brutal Easter Sunday attack on some Sri Lankan churches by some fanatic Muslim radicals. We are very much pleased to see Sri Lankan brotherhood and the national identity among all communities are blossoming in the air in Sri Lankan soil. Many religious leaders are working hard to build a strong unity among all Sri Lankan community. They all acknowledge there is no place for hatred and animosity in this modern world. Although, some media outlets and politicians are trying to sabotage this good initiative by interfaith groups, yet, people are supporting these good initiatives by religious leaders and interfaith groups. Sri Lanka is one of rare countries that has been blessed with multicultural and multi-religious communities in the world. This diversity in culture, faith and tradition beautifies our cultural heritage. Moreover, it enhances our regional and international relationships with many countries in the world. This diversity gives us more advantages and benefits culturally, politically and economically. Having four different religions in our Island is like having four types of flowers in a bouquet. Each flower gives different fragrances and yet when all are combined in one place it creates more aromatic setting. Likewise, our difference and diversity are an asset for this nation and yet, we do not recognize this due to our ignorance and lack of knowledge in world religions. We should gauge our cultural diversity from these positive perspectives rather than evaluating from negative perspectives. We should recognize different of cultures and religions are complementary not contradictory. Yet, each religious group are competing one another rather than mutually cooperating. There should not be any attempt to convert people from one religion into another religion by force by any groups rather we should develop a sense of mutual understanding and cooperation between all 4 religious people to work for the integrity and the welfare of this nation. We should see the cultural diversity as one of positive social phenomena. With the diversity in culture, religion and traditions we should build a strong Lankan identity. Look at Singapore or Malaysia. Different ethnic and religious groups live side by side without any problems and they managed to build up their national Identity. Singaporeans and Malaysians try to build their national identity beyond all their cultural or religious identity. Toady in major world cities like that of London or Washington hundreds of different ethnic and cultural groups live. This is the socio-economic reality of global village of our modern world. This socio-economic and communal interaction is unprecedented in human history. This is the reality today in our modern world and there is no other way to cope with this multicultural environment other than learn to live in peace and social harmony. There is no point in engaging in cross-cultural arguments and debate to widening the gap between communities. Please leave all those dogmatic and theological debates for experts and academics to discuss and debates. That is why we have some of the best universities and religious places in Sri Lanka. Let the experts in religious traditions discuss and debate all those differences in religion and culture. Do not bring those debates into public domains to confuse innocent people. To speak for religion or on behalf of any religion, the speakers must have some solid academic knowledge and religious training and yet, today in Sri Lanka anyone could speak for religion to spread misconception about any religion. This is unavoidable in this modern digital world. Anyone could pick up wrong information from Sheikh google or from any other unauthenticated sources of information. The Sri Lankan government has not yet introduced some strict laws on religious discrimination and hate speech. Outdated rules of law on religious freedom would not be enough today, it is high time that Sri Lankan government introduces some strict laws on this matter. Otherwise, it would be difficult to build a strong Sri Lankan national identity among Sri Lankan communities. This coronavirus has taught us that humanity is one. It did not discriminate between royal and poor families; it did not discriminate between rich and poor. It did discriminate between Muslims and Buddhists. It did not discriminate between Muslims and Hindus. All human species suffer today due to this invisible virus. This deadly virus sends a powerful message to humanity. It tells us to share and care one another. It tells us to live as one human family on earth. If we do not do that, we could bring a self-destruction on us. Security and peace are most important elements for the prosperity and development in our modern world. We do not have to be rocket scientists to know this elementary common sense in this modern world. Whoever sabotage peace and communal harmony should be punished in the greater national interest of Sri Lanka. I do not say this in any communal line rather I am saying this as a Sri Lankan. It could be a Muslim groups or Buddhist group or any other groups. It is not in the interest of Sri Lanka to promote radicalism or extremism. All kinds of extremisms are detrimental for the long-term stability and development of this nation. So, Sri Lankan government must take actions against all these radical groups. The Sri Lankan government has had experience of dealing with JVP and LTTE so, it should not hesitate to punish any radical group. Yet, the government must do this impartially. Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Christians have been living peacefully in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years. There is no point in arguing who came first and who came last to Sri Lanka. Such arguments would not benefit Sri Lanka at all. It is an undisputable reality today there are more than four different religious groups live in Sri Lanka. Even before colonial powers invaded Srilanka, different ethnical & cultural ethnic groups were living in Sri Lanka in peace and harmony: All these communities are closely interacted one another in many ways: in their work places, industries, paddy fields, business places, offices and in other working environments. This is the reality of day to day life of our communities in Sri Lanaka: In all most all cities and townships, we see that all these communities live together side by side: Tamils live next to Sinhalese and Muslims , Sinhalese live to next Muslims and Tamils. Muslims live next to both communities: each community participate in each others social- cultural events such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, birthday parties, funerals and other social events: each community share their happiness and sadness one anther. In festival seasons, foods and sweets are exchanged between Sri Lankan communities. People in many other countries do not have such close-tied relationship between communities. Look at some African countries people are fighting hundreds of years on tribal and ethnic disputes: Thanks to God we do not fight like that in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, Sri Lanka does not have any caste-divide as we see in India or some other African countries. Although Sri Lankan communities have different linguistic, cultural and religious entities, socially they all have close interaction with one another. Each community depends on others to meet necessities of day to day life. Muslims in large cities of Kalmunai and Kartharnkudi depend on Tamil builders and carpenters to build their houses and shops: In same way, Muslims in the South depend on Sinhalese builders & carpenters to build their houses: Likewise, Muslims traders depend on Sinhalese to trade their goods: I know many Muslim retailers go to village to village in Sinhalese areas to sell their goods: Similarly, many Sinhalese traders come to Muslims villages to sell their goods. In the same way, In Tamil areas Muslim lands are cultivated by Tamils and Tamils farmers are trading with Muslims. I recall these events to illustrate close social interaction of our communities in Sri Lanka. This is the social reality of our communities in Srilanka: To this extent communities are so closely interacted in Sri Lanka. This is one of the uniqueness of Sri Lanka inter-communal relationship. A Sense of humor, kindness, love and helping mentality is inherent in the mind and heart of majority of our Sri Lankan Communities. During the Tsunami, we have seen this unity and sense of humor and humanism. We have seen this feeling brotherhood many times in Sri Lankan history. Communities are ready to share and care in difficult times and yet, some politicians try to make use of divide and rule policy to make some political mileage. We should think first and foremost as human beings beyond our colour, ethnicity, language and religion. We may have different faith and different ethnic and linguistic back ground but one thing unites all of us that that is first and foremost we are human being and we all belong to human race and humanity and unfortunately we all forget to note this fundamental fact that unites us all. In addition to this we all hail from Sri Lanka and our Lankan identity should unite us all. No way could we live in a water-tight compartment in this modern world. Whether we like or not we all are depended on one another for our material needs today. Jaffna Tamil need Sinhalese in South to sell the agricultural products. We do not appreciate the beauty and richness of our multi-ethnic and cultural heritage in Sri Lanka. Each community learns a lot from other communitys culture, custom, tradition and way of life: Having different ethnical and religious groups is not detrimental for social and economic development of any country in modern world: Each community should help and support socio-economic developments of the country: If we are true patriotic Sri Lankans , we all should first and foremost think as Sri Lankans, beyond our ethnic, cultural and linguistic entity: The national interest of Sri Lanka should be given preference over ethnical and cultural preference: in another word: We all should think first as Sri Lankan then we should consider our ethnicity and cultural entity: this does not mean that each community assimilate into one community rather each preserves its own religious identity and yet works for the goodness of Sri Lanka. Be a true Buddhist or be a true Hindu or be a true a Muslim at the same time we all think as Sri Lankans: We should be proud to be Sri Lankans: We should work hard to develop our country collectively. Unfortunately, since the independence all our Srilankan communities have been living in water-tight compartments: Each community gave preference to its ethnicity over the national interests: Sinhalese nationalism, Tamil nationalism and Muslim exclusionism began to flourish in Sri Lanka: Even political parties were formed merely on the basis of ethnic interests over national interest. Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese political parties were formed exclusively to work on communal line: This trend has not only damaged national interest and development but indeed, such communal thinking has been a challenge for peace and harmony in Sri Lanka. Moreover, such exclusive mentality and social attitude is detrimental in many ways: Many times, such social attitudes end up in social prejudice and discrimination. I hope and pray that politicians, civil servants and policy makers think about this carefully when they make policies in this this cultural social environment of Sri Lanka. With early education about healthy relationships and boundaries, dating violence and abuse in general could be lessened in Kentucky where that state rates high for child abuse, said OASIS Youth Advocacy Counselor Maria Shyver, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Shyver said thats a perfect opportunity for OASIS and other advocacy groups to go into schools and other realms of the community to promote awareness about dating violence and talk about what healthy relationships look like. Shyver said dating violence and abuse, in general, is affecting youth at younger and younger ages. Abuse of youth and children, she said, is especially prevalent in Kentucky, with the state leading the nation in child abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, 47.7% of women and 19.6% men in Kentucky reported having some type of sexual violence during their lifetime, she said. In general, Shyver said, one-in-three youth ages 16 to 24 have or will be affected by abuse, whether it be mental, verbal, physical or sexual. With education, however, she said that impact to youth and children could be lessened, if children were to be engaged early on in education about healthy relationships and boundaries and through conversations with parents, caregivers or trusted others about the importance of healthy relationships. Thats huge, she said. With numbers like this in our Commonwealth, how can we not discuss these issues with our kids? I feel like if they had some education in middle school or at a younger age they would have some information about healthy relationships early on. It is important, she said, to break the taboo surrounding the topic of abuse and open a line of communication for children and youth about what healthy versus unhealthy relationships look like and how to approach someone about a potentially unhealthy relationship, whether it is their own or someone they know. Being able to start at an earlier age were not going to be talking about sexual violence or dating violence, but were going to talk with them about healthy relationships what is healthy and what is unhealthy with even their peers and friends, she said. Having a good foundation for what a healthy relationship looks like is just going to make them better dating partners and know what to look for as they get older and start to date. OASIS Executive Director Andrea Robinson said education and ensuring teens and children understand what healthy relationships look like is also vital to help prevent individuals from continuing a pattern of entering into abusive relationships. Kids that are witnesses to domestic violence it helps kids not even realize unhealthy relationships in their lives, but to speak up to a friend or a colleague experiencing abuse, she said. If we dont address it, then these kids grow up thinking that these unhealthy relationships are OK. Robinson said OASIS uses an evidence-based curriculum with teens and youth that was developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called Dating Matters, which is specifically designed to connect to and relate with teens and youth of certain age groups to ensure the material is appropriate and gets across. Part of the pushback, Shyver said, is that the topic of abuse is an uncomfortable one, and so many might shy away from it or make the excuse that it is not happening to their children or in their community. That, however, is not the case. It happens everywhere, she said. Its a big deal, and its happening younger and younger, she said. We want our children to be in healthy relationships, and we want to be in healthy relationships, so how can we change the cycle if we dont talk about it? Just for protection of our children growing up and having access to healthy, safe relationships. Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360 In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full We're sorry, but we're unable to locate the page you requested. The page may have been removed, renamed, or deleted. You can try searching for the topic using the search button in the right hand corner above. Snow days are complicated for superintendents. They're complicated to set up in the first place, but they also complicate the rest of their year. Schools are only given six "forgiveness days," when the school is allowed to close due to any reason that makes the school day either impossible to have or even dangerous. Snow days are the most commonly known, as the packed snow and ice make it dangerous for students and buses to drive there. However, snow days aren't the only things those days are used for. In the case of sickness or absence of staff, canceled days are taken from this same pool of forgiveness days. If the forgiveness days have all been used, the school can apply for a waiver with the Michigan Department of Education, which gives them three additional days if needed. With the three snow days in a row from Feb. 2-4, many of the county's schools have used up half of their forgiveness days. In the case of North Huron Schools, they've used up all of them. There have been several of what Superintendent Martin Prout calls "act of God days," including building problems, sickness, and lack of staff on certain days. "We've applied for the waiver before, made up days before, it depends on the given year," Prout said. Owendale-Gagetown Schools has used up four of its days so far, but Superintendent Terri Falkenburg has seen the string of recent snow days as a blessing in disguise, serving a dual purpose for her and the students. "It was a nice break from the mental stresses for both staff and students that have been a result of COVID," she said. "For me, I was able to utilize the time to catch up on the reports for the district. I do not get much time to do this during a typical school day without interruption, so I welcomed it." However, the days without school that go over the number of forgiveness days have to be made up for throughout the rest of the year, which can be accomplished through having school on Saturdays, among other ways. It all depends on how many days over they went. Prout recalled that North Huron Schools had to make up for 14 days once. "I've seen all kinds of scenarios," Prout said. 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Together, they connected with each other as they became more familiar with energetic points in the body known as chakras. About 15 people gathered for a lecture, discussion and exercises based on chakras. Instructor Keri Kenney welcomed them into a safe space, filled with relaxing music, peppermint and lemon essential oils, and an altar laden with snacks and water. Participants sat on the floor, supporting themselves with yoga mats and pillows, some stretched out, others with legs folded. A few brought journals to record their experiences and observations. Kenney began the workshop with a couple of breathing exercises and an explanation of her intentions, and outlined a community agreement to create a safe and brave space. She stated that one of the main aspects of yoga, in addition to breathing, is ahimsa compassion and non-judgement to oneself and other living beings. Kenney encouraged the group to be inquisitive and curious, explaining that it was all right if they left with more questions than answers. If we can create safety here in this (room), it gets contagious and you can create that outside of these doors, Kenney said. After introducing herself and getting to know the group, Kenney turned the focus onto the seven main chakras in the human body, which form a column of energy from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Kenney explained that breathing is an important part of yoga as well as accessing chakras. In addition, yoga movements can open up chakras, assisting in physical and energetic realignment. (Chakras are) not anything we can tangibly hold, but they still are a huge part of our health and wellbeing, Kenney said. Kenney, owner of Alignment 8 Yoga and Cycle of Midland, entered a partnership with Creative 360 in August 2021 after the pandemic shutdowns forced her to change her business model. Theyve allowed me to come in with my mission, with my teachings, in a really collaborative partnership with like-minded, like-hearted people, she stated. Were just about community and healing and resilience and giving people the ability to express the human stuff. Chakras 101 was the first in a series of sessions to be led by Kenney at Creative 360. The next event, Healing Through Chakras, is set for 1-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. A third session, Creating with the Chakras, is set for 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 and Saturday, April 23. Kenney will also host a Chakra Flow practice from 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 and Sunday, April 24 at Creative 360. No experience with yoga or meditation is necessary for anyone to attend any of the events. My biggest intention is that they learn to listen, love and liberate who they are independently, yet we get to do it in a way that we get to intersect together, and thats where the magic is, too, Kenney said. For more information about the chakra series and to register for the workshops, visit becreative360.org/classes or call 989-837-1885. MIDDLETOWN The power company that has purchased the NRG natural gas and oil plant on River Road says it will not pursue the prior owners plan to build a 375 megawatt fossil-fired facility, which drew opposition last year from environmentalists. In a statement, Generation Bridge, a subsidiary of ArcLight of Boston, said it intends to develop renewable energy and energy storage at the site. The expansion of the 1866 River Road plant was vigorously opposed last year by the Jonah Center and members of Middletowns First Environmental Collective Impact Network Project A Success. A number of concerns prompted individuals and members of the Jonah Center and others opposed to the plan to speak out, Middletown Energy Coordinator Michael Harris said. One of the objectives is, Connecticut supplies more than its fair share of regional electricity, he said. A lot goes out of state directly or indirectly. We suffer the consequences of a polluted area, and dont receive a benefit, because part of the surplus serves the rest of New England, he added. The River Road plant in Middletown is an obvious site for a storage facility due to the high-voltage transmission line associated with the site and due to the 200 MW of offshore wind currently being developed in Long Island Sound, which will require an updated grid and nearby storage capacity, ArcLight Managing Partner and Founder Daniel R. Revers said in a prepared statement. NRG, which was seeking air permits to replace two aging turbines at the plant, is a dirty peaking plant, meaning it only runs during times of high demand, Harris said. The system is especially taxed during the summer months, when people run their air conditioning as the system hits its maximum load, he added. It would have allowed the plant to emit up to 1 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year a net increase of 891,701 tons per year above the existing facility, according to the Sierra Club. That is equal to 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from current power generation in Connecticut, it said. The plant runs on turbines, which were built in the 1950s and early 60s, that run only for a few days in the summer, Hall has said. NRGs intention was to keep it operating 182 days per year, he added. It would have supported a new 375 MW fossil gas turbine generator at a time when the state is trying to wean itself from electricity generated by fossil fuels, Jonah Center for Earth and Art Executive Director John Hall wrote in his Jan. 29 newsletter. The issue is balancing electricity production with electricity demand, Harris said. As demand goes up, they bring on more power plants. The less efficient (and cost-efficient) plants run only for a short period of time when theres a more severe need. Kleen Energy, located nearby at 1349 River Road, runs a natural gas turbine which is a more modern plant, Harris said. The original proposal had been for the NRG plant to undergo modernization, however, that plan was tabled. The common council terminated the tax agreement with NRG energy last June. The city believes that theres a net benefit in the tax revenue received, Harris said. There are a lot of health penalties externalized and not figured into that accounting. I question the fact that its a net benefit, especially when the additional health costs of having the plant located in Middletown is considered, he said. It may not justify that tax revenue, he added. The plan would have increased particulate matter emissions, which are very damaging to the lungs, Hall has said. Most of these particles are very small and are easily inhaled, which causes lung damage, asthma and threatens respiratory health, he added. There is a great push nationally for less use of environmentally damaging fossil fuels. That calculus is like a can kicked down the road continually and were running out of time to address climate disaster, Harris said. This has to stop everywhere, not just the state. A similar situation recently played out in Killingly when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission agreed to a request by the regional electric grid operator ISO-New England to keep the proposed natural gas power plant out of its future plans, according to the Connecticut Mirror. MIDDLETOWN The new year is cruising right along, as we have reached Valentines Day in Middlesex County and throughout our great nation. Whether you are looking to celebrate by heading out for dinner and drinks or buying that special someone a nice gift, Middlesex County has you covered. From an amazing array of restaurants and bars, jewelers and candy stores and everything in between, our region is stacked with plenty of options. As we always do from the chamber, I would like to encourage everyone to support local businesses this Valentines Day, and visit one or more of our terrific local establishments spread throughout our region. Lets work together to ensure that 2022 is a strong year for our regional economy. Chamber activities This week is another busy one for the chamber team, with events and activities scheduled throughout our region. The main event is the kick off of our 2022 Legislative Leadership Series with Speaker of the House Matt Ritter Tuesday morning at the Inn at Middletown. I thank Updike, Kelly & Spellacy for sponsoring, especially our Legislative Co-Chairman, Rich Carella, and of course, Speaker Ritter, for visiting with us at this critical time. I also remind members and other interested parties to save Feb. 25 for our annual legislative breakfast at the Courtyard by Marriott, Cromwell. All 16 members of the General Assembly that represent Middlesex County have been invited to attend. We also just booked another Legislative Leadership Series event, this one with Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, on March 29. The chamber will continue to stay active and engaged in the 2022 regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly, officially underway in Hartford. This week also includes a variety of council, committee and division meetings for the chamber team. Our newly created events committee will hold its first meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. This group will work to evaluate past chamber activities and events with the goal of diversifying our programming. Wednesday morning features meetings of our Human Resource Council Steering Committee and the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission at 8 and 9:30 a.m. respectively. Thursday will feature a meeting of our Killingworth Division at 8 a.m. at the Killingworth Fire Department, as well as the Recovery Employment Program Steering Committee at 8 a.m. at the chamber office. The chamber Board of Directors will meet Thursday morning, and, in addition to regular business, will feature an appearance by state Attorney General William Tong, who will will discuss recent actions and events related to cybersecurity. Hell also answer questions on how businesses can best prepare to deal with these types of attacks. On Friday, our Legislative Committee will meet at 8 a.m., our Cruise Night on Main Planning Committee at 8:30 a.m., and our Affordable Housing Committee at 9:30 a.m. Were on the move! Three new businesses open On the business development front, I look forward to three exciting grand openings this week. On Monday afternoon, we will travel to Chester for the Celebration of Love Your Mental Health Art & Wellness Studio. Owner Kim Pita has created a fun destination in the village where visitors can gather, connect, create and purchase mindful treasures, artisan pottery and handmade goods. I look forward to joining chamber Chairwoman Maureen Westbrook, Chesters new First Selectwoman Charlene Janecek and other distinguished guests as we celebrate another terrific business in the village. We wish Kim all the best moving forward. On Tuesday, I will join Maureen, Portland First Selectman Ryan Curley, and other distinguished guests for the celebration of Burger Heaven & Smooth Acai. Burger Heaven & Smooth Acai offers dozens of burgers and sandwich options, bowls and smoothies, breakfast options and more. We look forward to celebrating this terrific new business with owner Matthew Carroll and his staff, and wish them great success in Portland. Friday morning, I will head back to Chester for the grand opening of The Village Bistro, which goes beyond great food and drinks with their mission to offer guests a unique dining experience featuring locally and regionally sourced menu items highlighting New American cuisine with a touch of European flair. Maureen and Charlene will join us once again. We wish Chelsey Feldcher and her team a long and successful future in town. MEWS+ open house In closing, I want to acknowledge that the MEWS+ is hosting an informational open house at The Hive Chester from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday evening. Attendees will learn more about the resources and opportunities that the MEWS+ and The Hive Chester offer to entrepreneurs, startups and home-based businesses, including work and event space, an online educational and networking community, pitch competition and incubator program. Attendees will tour the co-working and workshop space at The Hive, and will hear how these two terrific organizations have partnered on a sponsorship program for home-based businesses in the lower Middlesex County towns. I am so proud of the MEWS+ and its efforts to support entrepreneurship in Middlesex County. Our Community Manager Rebecca Mead continues to do a great job on this front, and we look forward to growing these efforts in 2022 and beyond. Larry McHugh is president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce in Middletown. HONOLULU (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts Saturday in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests. Blinken said at a news conference after the meeting that North Korea was in a phase of provocation and the three countries condemned the recent missile launches. We are absolutely united in our approach, in our determination, Blinken said after his talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. He said the countries were very closely consulting on further steps they may take in response to North Korea, but didn't offer specifics. The three released a joint statement calling on North Korea to engage in dialogue and cease its unlawful activities. They said they had no hostile intent toward North Korea and were open to meeting Pyongyang without preconditions. Hayashi later told Japanese reporters the three ministers had very fruitful discussion on the North. He declined to give details on additional measures they may take. North Korea has a long history of using provocations such as missile or nuclear tests to seek international concessions. The latest tests come as the Norths economy, already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling U.S.-led sanctions, is hit hard by pandemic border closures. Many see the tests as an attempt to pressure President Joe Bidens administration into easing the sanctions. The Biden administration has shown no willingness to do so without meaningful cuts to the Norths nuclear program, but it has offered open-ended talks. North Korea has rebuffed U.S. offers to resume diplomacy, saying it wont return to talks unless Washington drops what it says are hostile polices. The North bristles at both the sanctions and regular military exercises the U.S. holds with South Korea. The tests also have a technical component, allowing North Korea to hone its weapons arsenal. One of the missiles recently tested the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile is capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. It was the longest-distance weapon the North has tested since 2017. North Korea appears to be pausing its tests during the Winter Olympics in China, its most important ally and economic lifeline. But analysts believe North Korea will dramatically increase its weapons testing after the Olympics. The recent tests have rattled Pyongyang's neighbors in South Korea and Japan. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who helped set up the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, said last month that the tests were a violation UN Security Council resolutions and urged the North to cease actions that create tensions and pressure. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the countrys increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. Blinken arrived in Hawaii from Fiji, where he met with Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and other Pacific leaders to talk about regional issues, especially the existential risk posed by climate change. It was the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Fiji since 1985. He started his Pacific tour in Australia, where he met his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. The four nations form the Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter Chinas regional influence. Hayashi and Chung held a separate bilateral meeting Saturday for about 40 minutes before seeing Blinken. Japans Foreign Ministry said they reaffirmed the importance of cooperating together and with the United States to respond to North Korea and to achieve regional stability. The ministry said they also frankly exchanged views on ongoing disputes between the two countries, including wartime Korean laborers and sexual abuse of Korean women forced into sexual servitude by Japans imperial army. Chung proposed the two countries accelerate diplomacy to find solutions to the disagreements, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Blinken also met separately with Chung. He met Hayashi earlier this week in Australia. ___ Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. Former Mariners reliever Calvin Jones has passed away from cancer, as relayed by Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Twitter. He was 58 years old. Jones was taken by the Mariners with the first overall selection in the 1984 January draft. (At the time, there was a second entry draft in January, largely for those who had graduated in the winter.) After initially working primarily as a starter in the minors, he made more appearances out of the bullpen as he climbed the minor league ladder. He made his MLB debut in 1991, throwing 46 1/3 innings over 27 relief appearances with the Mariners. He put up an ERA of 2.53 and recorded a couple of saves. In 1992, he logged 61 2/3 innings over 38 games with an ERA of 5.69. Although that was his the end of his time pitching in the majors, he continued playing for another decade, spending time in the minors, the CPBL, the Mexican League and The Atlantic League. He finished his MLB career with an ERA of 4.33 and 91 strikeouts over 108 innings in 65 games. After his playing days were done, Jones worked as a scout for the Dodgers. This 2016 story from Scott Miller and Bleacher Report highlights how Jones was fundamental to the Dodgers making the franchise-altering decision to select Clayton Kershaw with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 draft. We at MLB Trade Rumors pass on our condolences to the Jones family, and Calvins many friends and fans. Ghana spends $200 million annually to import fish to shore up its fish requirements due to illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities which have contributed significantly to a decline in fish stocks, President Nana Akufo-Addo has said. To curb the menace of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities, Nana Akufo-Addo said a National Plan of Action is being implemented. Components of this plan, he indicated, include fish catch certification, reactivation and installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), automatic identification system (AIS) on vessels, port and beach inspections, and sea patrols. He added that Ghana also supports the principle of a global convention in this area. The Ghanaian leader said these on Friday, 11th February 2022, when he participated in the One Ocean Summit, held in Brest, France at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. Classfmonline.com System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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It said the government is rather opting to amend the controversial bill. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, was expected in Parliament last Friday to withdraw the Bill and reintroduce a substituted version for the houses consideration next Tuesday, February 15. But that did not happen. Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, speaking on the floor, revealed that the Finance Minister has rather moved to make some revisions to the existing Bill. We announced that there was going to be a withdrawal and relaying of the E-levy Bill, but it has become prudent to rather look at an amendment, considering the fact that the committee on Finance has done quite a lot of work. But Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu who opposed the motion, said, the current turn of events is in bad taste and wants the appropriate procedures followed. Last week, they said there will be a withdrawal of the Bill and a reintroduction of a new Bill on Friday. They seem to be talking about the amendment. Mr. Speaker, there is also something that is going on, and I think that we must express our disquiet about it. The E-levy Bill was introduced in this house and referred to the appropriate committee. My strong view is that even in the search and elicitation of views and inputs, it doesnt lie with the Finance Minister [to amend] the Bill], it lies with our Finance Committee. Previous efforts to discuss the bill on the floor of Parliament have not materialized. Currently, the national conversation has been around the government pushing through the controversial 1.75% electronic transaction levy estimated to rake in some $1 billion annually or going onto an IMF program. Some analysts have proposed seeking an IMF bailout as a better alternative amidst public disapproval of the E-levy, but the government has said it will have none of that. Others have also brushed off calls for the government to go under an IMF programme insisting that the options left for Ghana to consider are fiscal discipline, a reduction in wasteful expenditure, and the sealing of revenue leakages. citinewsroom Those who live in a glass house are supposed not to throw stones, this is what the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has forgotten. The president is so sensitive to criticism yet he continues to make life difficult for the common people since he became the president five years ago. It is not a law that the president of a country and his family has to live better than the common people. It is also not written in Ghanas constitution that the president has the right to force everything on the people even if the majority is against it or break down the life of others if they refuse to accept it. This is the type of government the common Ghanaians continue to experience since Nana Akufo Addo became the president of Ghana five years ago. Yet Akufo Addo has been so bitter to criticisms and now wants to use a dictatorship form of government to subdue the people. Imagine, despite the high rate of unemployment, crime, and corruption that has taken over the country, the president wants the parliament to pass E-Levy. Meanwhile, a mocking E-Levy birthday cake continues to make headlines this week. Why the people will not criticize the government? Those who live in a glasshouse and can't take a blow or criticism should avoid throwing stones at others Ghana is in dire straits, facing acute financial difficulties, due to corruption, therefore, this is a time the president has to avoid any reckless spending. Unfortunately, every effort to curb the president from incurring more debt to ease the suffering of the people has been abortive. In the latest report captioned Minority slams Akufo-Addo again over luxury foreign trip amid E-levy brouhaha, according to the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Presidents ongoing trip amounts to GH14,000 per hour, totaling almost GH5 million. How can any reasonable president do that to a country without criticism knowing that the aftermath will be severe political and economic consequences to the country? Despite these political blunders, the president wouldnt like to be criticized. The sad part of Ghana's woes is people supporting this nonsense without thinking of the children's future. What Akufo Addo is doing to the nation or Ghanaians shouldnt be viewed as an NPP and NDC political issue. Even if the NDC did make similar mistakes during the era of John Mahama, people should not be so ignorant to encourage that since the problems deepen the crisis. A typical example of "feed the stomach politics in Ghana" that continue to deprive the people's livelihood Akufo Addos bad governance, corruption, and incompetence do not have any direct consequences on the NDC and the NPP politicians but the entire Ghana nation or its citizens. Therefore, this is not a time tribal bigots should begin attacking the NDC for criticizing the NPP government. For our country Ghana to be a better nation, we shall continue to criticize any political party in power. This is quite simple Akufo Addo, if you don't want to be criticized, corruption is enough, instead of a Cathedral, build industries and factories and treat the youth right. Nigeria, the largest producer of cassava in the world, needs to adopt a new seed system approach to compete globally and keep the price of cassava-based foods stable and affordable in the country, experts have said. Speaking at a media parley at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Wednesday, Prof Lateef Sanni, the project manager of the institutes BASICS-II project, described cassava as the engine of economic growth and stressed that Nigeria must take advantage of the economic potentials of the root crop. Countries like Brazil, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and even Cambodia are reaping gold from cassava. These countries do not record less than 30 tons per hectare. However, farmers in Nigeria produce less than 10 tons due to poor performing seeds, Prof. Sanni said. According to him, the goal of BASICS-II project is to provide farmers with access to affordable, quality-assured seeds of improved cassava varieties in demand by local food and processor markets through the establishment of a commercially viable seed value chain. We are doing this using the seed system approach called the BASICS model. We are encouraging farmers to adopt new and improved varieties to improve productivity, raise incomes of cassava growers and seed entrepreneurs, enhance gender equity, and contribute to inclusive agricultural transformation, he added. In the words of the projects Advocacy, Promotions and Outreach lead, Dr. Godwin Atser, Improved varieties are key to changing that narrative of cassava. Adoption of improved varieties will increase cassava productivity, ensure food security, guarantee processors of quality raw materials, and hinder the spread of cassava crop diseases on farms. Apart from its economic and sustainability elements, Dr Atser said that the BASICS model had a job creation component. Today, we have hundreds of farmers across Nigeria and Tanzania that are engaged in cassava stem multiplication and marketing, he explained, adding that currently, the project has created over 400 of cassava seed entrepreneurs in Benue, Kogi, Abia, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. Dr Atser said that the project had strengthend links between with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), the countrys seed regulating agency. He noted that the country currently has two EGS companies IITA GoSeed, a private company owned by IITA, and Umudike Seed, a private firm owned by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI, Umudike, Abia state. Dr Mercy Diebiru-Ojo, a vegetative seed specialist and the General Manager of IITA GoSeed said that the Early Generation Seed Companies were responsible for multiplying the new varieties developed by the breeders in IITA, NRCRI, NextGen Cassava and other breeding programs. She said: At IITA GoSeed, we use new technologies to multiply the improved varieties and make virusfree stems available to the seed producers who will further multiply and sell to farmers. Our Semi Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology has helped us surmount the slow multiplication challenge we used to have in the past. Now we are multiplying virus-free cassava planting materials at a much faster rate such that within two years of release, the improved planting materials are commercially available. The Operations Manager for IITA GoSeed, Akinyemi Ibikunle, also stated that the business of making improved varieties available to farmers is also a very lucrative venture for those interested in cassava seed production. Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ghana have called on the Attorney-General Godfred Dame to ensure that the country does not return to a criminal libel regime. This follows the recent arrests of journalists and the prosecution of persons for making or publishing certain statements. According to the CSOs the use of criminal law enforcement and prosecution to regulate and punish speech will take the country through another criminal libel regime. A statement issued by the CSOs and co-signed by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), IMANI Africa, and the Africa Centre for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), said: We are deeply troubled by the growing use of the prosecutorial and judicial power of the State to punish criminally speech that allegedly falsely injures or damages the reputation of other persons or of an institution of state. The statement continued that: As a tool for regulating speech, the criminal law is fraught with the danger of politicisation and selective prosecution, as it leaves it to a party-aligned Attorney-General, an appointee who serves at the pleasure of the President, to determine which or whose allegedly false speech or publication to prosecute and which or whose speech to ignore. The CSO emphasised that: A return to the use of criminal law enforcement and prosecution to regulate and punish speech would take us back to a bygone authoritarian era where journalists and public speakers were jailed for politically disagreeable libel. The CSOs therefore called for the discontinuation of the case against the Executive Director of the Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson. We implore the Attorney-General to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Thompson and take steps to stop all persons acting under his authority from re-introducing in another guise the long-discredited and abolished criminal libel regime. It also urged media practitioners and users to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric that has contaminated our public square and airwaves, desist from knowingly or recklessly making or publishing false statements, and use, to the extent possible, the Right to Information Act and its processes to access information from public authorities. classfmonline.com Rt. Rev. Dr Lt. Col. (Rtd) Bliss Divine Agbeko, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Ghana has urged Christians to see life challenges as disguised opportunities. He, therefore, urged Christians to remain steadfast and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ when facing challenges. Rt. Rev. Dr Lt. Col. Agbeko said this in a pastoral letter to all agents and congregations of the church and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Ho. He called on the Christians to work hard to achieve "the greater, positive and progressive results you are anxiously expecting." The Moderator noted that the EPC needed to review certain administrative and bureaucratic constraints or bottlenecks, which were slowing swift actions and progress of work. He said the attitude of some agents of the church seemed they cared less about the general welfare and progress of the church except their interests. "Such individuals seem not to be in line with the vision, mission and ministry of the church," he said. Rt. Rev. Dr Lt. Col. Agbeko intimated that the realisation of the church's vision, mission and ministry called for sacrifice and selflessness. On the church's water project, he said the construction of an office and production complex was ongoing whilst six water reservoirs and four Koyo machines were bought, and two boreholes dug at the site. The Moderator appealed to members to donate generously towards the project, saying "the project when completed will augment the financial resources of the church and help find a solution to its unprecedented indebtedness saddling it." He said the church would be 175 years on November 14, this year and that a committee would be put in place to recommend activities for the celebration. Rt. Rev. Dr Lt. Col. Agbeko said the Standing Committee of the church in consultation with the Management Team had taken a proactive step in tasking producers of the "Agbenya La" Bible to produce 200,000 Ewe and 50,000 English and Twi customised versions for the Church to coincide with the celebration. GNA 13.02.2022 LISTEN In the ecosystem, there are two distinct groups; predator and prey. Among humans, these groups exist masqueraded as sexual abuser and survivor. But one group is left out - false accusers of sexual harrasment. False sexual harrasments and their miscarriage of justice are not novel. The Biblical Joseph was an example - finding his justice in a prison cell courtesy of his false accuser, his masters wife. It has seemed as though that singular act laid the foundation for false accusations. Sometime in 2020, a young man, Izu Mmadubueze, full of life had it snuffed out from him after he was added to a list of rapists by a Twitter Influencer, Nanichi Anese (@nanichianese). After he reached out to his accuser to clear his name, she confirmed there was no physical harassment but refused to retract her false claims. Izu resorted to ending his life with a tweet on July 17: Oh and if youre reading this, Im dead lol. Today, his accuser roams freely on the ground he lies in. Young Izu was not the only one dealt unfair cards by the justice system. In New Delhi, Deepak Sangwan, a differently abled man, shot himself in the neck after a woman and her father had lodged a false rape case against him. And just like Izu Mmadubueze, that was the last time Deepak Sangwans name appeared next to the police in the news. Sadly, even in advanced countries, the law doesnt protect victims of false accusations. In the UK for example, rape sentences get punishments intense as life imprisonment but when married Marianne Naughton made a false rape accusation against a man and ruined his life, all she had to do was forfeit work for 18 months and spend a miserly 10months in prison. And to intensify the punishment, an order of a 2,000 fine was paid to the victim. For clarity sake, what the UK law suggests is when you are raped, the assaulter is most likely put behind bars forever, which is great, but when your life is ruined by one false accusation you get justice by a 2,000 fine and some months in prison. Really? Often times, false rape allegations are a revenge tactic by a scorned lover or a cover up of a perceived embarrasing sexual encounter occurences in the cases of Izu Mmadubueze and the latter for Marianne Naughton. What then is the punishment for permanently putting a stain on innocent peoples names? This is where perjury comes in, so you would think. By definition, perjury is an offence of purposely telling a lie to incriminate the other party under oath. Now, I am aware perjury attracts a decent punishment for its offences. For example, in Nigeria, a person who commits perjury is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years and in the UK, 2-7years depending on the gravity. So why cant false allegations bear the same consequences as perjury? After all, they fall under the same category as telling a lie to miscarry justice. The law needs to do better. False accusations need to be held accountable to the highest extent. The severity of the consequences one should face has to directly be proportional with the amount of jail time/consequence the person being falsely accused would have had to face and not just be made to pay some fine. Jail time is not the only remedy for these predators. Laws should be made to register these reprobates as false accusers like those who are sexual offenders [have to] do. A clear warning sign. That way, they can walk the shoes of people whose lives they [would] have ruined. Money can be made back but a smeared reputation, no matter how reformed, will always have a dent. As such, the billion dollar question will false accusers get the punishment they rightfully deserve or will innocent victims keep getting hashtags? Claire Mom is a Nigerian journalist and a passionate advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights. She has worked under the Ripple Project by the Spotlight Initiative as a peer educator and is notable for speaking strongly against sexual and gender based violence. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @speakclairely_ Mensah Mental Health Rehabilitation Project (MEMHREP) as part of its regular activities, donated food items to Asonomaso Nkwanta Cooperative Blind Society at Ntonsu in the Ashanti region, Ghana. This is the 10th year MEMHREP, mental health NGO is putting smiles on the faces of our brethren who have a visual impairment. The items donated included drinking water, gallons of cooking oil, bags of rice, soft drinks, toilet rolls, and other food items. These items were large contributions from our supporting partners and the CEO of MEMHREP (Mr. Adu Gyamfi), who has been leading the mental health team of MEMHREP to help prevent, care and support mental health patients in Ghana. International Relations Officer of MEMHREP, Edward Ofosuhene while presenting over the items, explained to the Blind Society that being visually impaired could sometimes cause distress, hence MEMHREP decision to donate and support your society, which motto is Onuad, Onuad Na y to wit: brotherly love is the best. He said 2021 was a tough year for many people, especially persons with disability and vulnerable groups in society due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and statistics show there is a lot of increase in mental health issues during these pandemic years. We know the pandemic has affected everyone, but have we ever taken a few minutes to think of the mentally ill people on the streets and those who are disabled in one way or another. The team and with the help of our supporting partners, MEMHREP has educated and supported over 5000 persons with mental health needs during this year. As part of our core value of promoting and protecting the human rights of these vulnerable minorities in societies, we are here today donating in this generous way to support your course. Peter Kwateng, chairman of the Asonomaso Nkwanta Cooperative Blind Society expressed his deepest gratitude to the CEO and volunteers of MEMHREP for the invaluable essentials. We want to say a big thank you to MEMHREP. We never expected this kindness, as you help the marginalized in society God will also magnify Himself among you. We looking forward to a good cordial relationship with MEMHREP. Thank you and God bless you. MEMHREP solicits funds from all individuals and corporate bodies for this course. Currently, MEMHREP Team is working tirelessly to build an ultra-modern rehabilitation center for persons with mental health conditions at Nkwankwanua in Ashanti Region. When completed, it will provide shelter, medical care, and employable skills to the clients to reintegrate them into the communities. MEMHREP believes that mentally ill persons deserve to live healthy and safe life. But, this could be achieved through our collective efforts. Your support, in terms of the provision of logistics, finance, etc would be invested in our clients to achieve the desired results. MEMHREP, therefore, needs all kinds of support from individuals, philanthropists, and corporate bodies home and abroad to make the organization's dream of ridding our streets of mental patients a reality. The Ghana Police Service has refuted reports that the convener of social movement #FixTheCountry, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, can't be found. The Ghana Police Service wishes to point out that the story making rounds in some sections of the media that Mr Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor cannot be found is false and should therefore be disregarded. In our press release following his arrest, we stated clearly that Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command to assist with investigations, the Service said in a statement. Oliver Barker-Vormawor was arrested over a post on Facebook announcing a plot to stage a coup should the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) be passed. He will be arraigned on Monday, February 14, 2022. Earlier, the group had issued a statement over what they said was the disappearance of its member. They said, Mr. Barker-Vormawor could not be found after he arrived at the Kotoka International Airport from Portugal on Friday night. But the police denied the groups claims, saying the suspects family and lawyer were even given access to him. In our press release following his arrest, we stated clearly that Mr Barker-Vormawor was arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command to assist with investigations. We wish to assure the good people of Ghana that the police will continue to follow due process in the performance of our duties, the statement added. citinewsroom 13.02.2022 LISTEN Information reaching DGN Online indicates that there has been a clash between some youth of Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale, and the police in the Northern region, resulting in the shooting of two people. The clash which happened this afternoon started when a driver of an unregistered white salon car refused to stop for the police to carry out a routine check. DGN Online learned that the police on their patrols stop an unregistered vehicle but the driver refused to stop resulting in the police chasing the vehicle. One Musah, an occupant of the said vehicle told journalists that because they refused to stop they decided to rather move to the Lamashegu chief's palace for refuge. According to him, as soon as they arrived at the Naa Ziblim Abdulai palace compound, the police fired a warning shot which hit the driver in the waist by a female officer. When the driver shouted that they have shot him we all got down and runway, later when we returned we were told that they had rushed him to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), he said. This infuriated the youth in the area and they mobilized at the palace, where the driver of the vehicle was shot, to attack the police who also started firing warning shots that hit another person in the mouth. The victim was also rushed to the TTH for medical attention. The Lamashegu chief has not spoken about the incident at the time of filing this report. DGN online A 24-year-old man has been badly injured after he was allegedly shot by a police officer in Lamashegu, Tamale in the Northern Region. Citi News understands that the man was chased to the Lamashegu Chiefs Palace where he was shot by the officer for refusing to stop when he was ordered to do so. The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon [February 13, 2022], has resulted in the burning of car tyres and wood on some major highways in the Metropolis. Assembly Member for Lamakara, Abubakari Fuseini narrated the incident to Citi News. I received a call this afternoon, and so I rushed to the Chiefs Palace. The chief told me that one of the boys has been shot in there and had been taken to the Hospital. So I quickly rushed there, and I realised that the boy is my brother. I asked him what happened. He said they were going to town, and they saw the people, men, with arms who asked them to stop; but he said they didnt stop. They turned and were running with the policeman chasing them. They run to the place for safety, but the policeman shot at them. He shot the back of the vehicle, and it hit the thigh, he stated. The injured young man is currently said to be receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Earlier, some agitating youth pelted stones at the police patrol team who had come to the scene to restore calm. There is currently a joint police and military presence in the area to prevent an escalation of the violence. In a media interview, Chief Superintendent, George Yeboah Afari, the Commander, noted that the police officer at the centre of the disturbance has been taken to the Regional Police Headquarters for questioning. citinewsroom System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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According to him, the situation can best be seen as a creeping reintroduction of the Criminal Libel Law abolished years ago. The legislators concern is that the President under whose watch as Attorney General led to the removal of the law seems unmoved by the latest happenings. This according to Alhassan Suhuyini is defeating the very purpose for which the criminal libel law was repealed. It is indeed a shame that the President claims pride in his role in the repeal of the criminal libel law and today having to supervise a backdoor introduction of the criminal libel law. So what is happening is a dent in his record and the earlier he woke up to reality, the better for his image and the peace of this country, the MP said on the Big Issue on Citi FM/Citi TV. In 2001, the Criminal Code (Repeal of Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws) (Amendment) Act, 2001 (Act 602) was repealed. But there are now growing concerns about the resurfacing of the law following the prosecution of journalists over some media publications as against exercising free speech and expression. The Tamale North MP even believes the President has paid lip service to ensuring press freedom. If you juxtapose what the President has said about media freedom in the past to the developments we are witnessing under him as President, you wonder if this is just like the many things he has said to us that he honestly didnt seem to mean. He said them just because they sounded right but had no commitment to them, he added. Already, three Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), are demanding an immediate stop to what they say is the apparent resurrection of the long abolished criminal libel law in the country. The groups Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), IMANI Africa and the Africa Center for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), say their concerns follow the recent series of arrests and prosecution of individuals whose statements have been captured in sections of the media and are said to pose some security threat. In a joint press statement, the organisations were not happy with the manner some persons are being prosecuted, saying it has heightened fears over the possible return of the age-old criminal libel law in the country. We are deeply troubled by the growing use of the prosecutorial and judicial power of the State to punish criminally speech that allegedly falsely injures or damages the reputation of other persons or of an institution of state, the statement read in parts. Instructively, during the heyday of the criminal libel law in the 1990s, the criminal law was used in precisely the way it is now being used: to prosecute and punish journalists and public speakers for allegedly false or defamatory statements against certain family members or associates of the President, the CSOs further added. The CSOs, therefore, asked for the use of the various legal channels rather than the wanton abuse of power against the rights of the ordinary Ghanaian. citinewsroom February 13, 2022 The MoA Week In Review - OT 2022-013 --- Other issues: Propaganda: U.S. Battles Putin by Disclosing His Next Possible Moves - New York Times > For all the disclosures, the Biden administration has provided no evidence of the disinformation plots they say they have uncovered. < "Disclosure" MINUS "Evidence" EQUALS "Propaganda". Russiagate: Use as open thread ... Posted by b on February 13, 2022 at 13:22 UTC | Permalink Comments next page It is interesting to examine a serious dichotomy that exists in the disputed region in terms of the most critical component in the equation air traffic information and which Flight Information Region (FIR) is charged with providing the information. by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it ~ George Santayana The burning international crisis at the present time is the concern of the United States and its NATO allies (Canada and countries of the European Union) over the build-up of Russian troops on the Ukraine border, and the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine which Russia claims it has no intention of embarking upon. At the same time, Russia is increasing its military presence and engaging in military exercises particularly with Belarus - a State which borders Ukraine. There is also a threatening Russian presence in the Black Sea, which has prompted the United States to claim that Russia has amassed the necessary resources for an imminent invasion. On the Russian side is their justification for these provocative measures - that it is apprehensive of the further eastward expansion of NATO which is a threat to Russias security. Diplomacy aside, which all parties recognize as essential under the circumstances, and is taking place both with rigor and vigor, is the compelling need to avoid a repetition at all costs of what happened in 2014 to Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 which was shot down over Eastern Ukraine allegedly by militants supported by Russia. Malaysian Airlines Flight MH 17, operated by a Boeing 777 -200ER aircraft flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on 17 July 2014, and carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew, was shot down by a BUK surface to air missile over Donetsk Oblast in Eastern Ukraine, while at an altitude of 10,000 meters. Two thirds of the passengers on board were of Dutch origin. All those on board perished. On 9 February 2022 The United States Federal Aviation Administration issued an Information Note saying: Since late December 2021, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated. Russias military deployments and activities in the Russia-Ukraine border region, occupied Crimea, Belarus, and the Black Sea could enable Russia to conduct cross-border military operations with little to no warning. The increased force deployments and heightened rhetoricalong with uncertainty over Russias intentions and operational timelinesresult in an increasingly unpredictable situation. If cross-border conflict occurs, it may pose a direct or indirect threat to civil aviation This was an implicit warning to those engaged in commercial aviation, which brings to bear the question as to who is responsible for aeronautical safety under these circumstances. From a legal perspective, The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) identifies air routes but has no mandate or competence to issue warnings based on political and war situations. This is entirely dependent on the State concerned which has the responsibility to issue what is called a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) which advises aircraft which airspace to traverse and which not to. If a pilot traverses many airspaces, he/she has to consider all relevant NOTAMs. The Chicago Convention prescribes in Articles 9 and 12 the principle of the right of States to prescribe for reasons of military exigency or public safety, where aircraft should go and should not, in accordance with requirements set by such States. Article 12 on Rules of the Air provides that where flights over the high seas are concerned the rules prescribed under the Chicago Convention shall prevail. Those rules are contained in Annex 2 to the Convention. In case of war, these provisions could well be obviated by Article 89 which provides that in case of war, the provisions of the Convention must not affect the freedom of action of any of the contracting States affected, whether as belligerents or as neutrals. The same principle must apply in the case of any contracting State which declares a state of national emergency (which Ukraine has not, so far) and notifies the fact to the Council of ICAO. Technically, ICAO cannot take on the task of publishing advisories on navigation in airspace. That is not ICAOs job, which is clearly enshrined in Article 44 of the Chicago Convention. According to this provision, ICAO is only required to develop principles and techniques of air navigation and foster the development of air transport. Advisories are purely matters of State which have sovereignty over the airspace above their territories. This having been said, and State responsibility having been established by international law, it is interesting to examine a serious dichotomy that exists in the disputed region in terms of the most critical component in the equation air traffic information and which Flight Information Region (FIR) is charged with providing the information. After the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 over the Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine, The United States has warned that there were two dangers to civil aviation over Ukraine - the first being for operations near the Russia-Ukraine border in the UKDV/Dnipro Flight Information Region (FIR). The United States opined that in the event of hostilities the airspace on both sides could be exposed to potential weapons activity posing a risk to civil aircraft from misidentification or miscalculation. More importantly, on the preventive side, the secondary risk affected the UKFV/Simferopol FIR. The United States said that The risk here stems from aircraft potentially receiving confusing and conflicting air traffic control instructions from both Ukrainian and Russian Air Traffic Control (ATC). Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and installed their own ATC for the region. However, Ukraine is responsible for the provision of ATC in the UKFV/Simferopol FIR, and asks overflights to only speak to Ukrainian ATC. On 2 December 2021 The State Aviation Administration of Ukraine issued the following NOTAM: The responsibility for provision of ATS over the High Seas within Simferopol FIR was delegated to Ukraine by international agreements as approved by ICAO Council Decision of 17 February 1997 EUR/NAT96/38-ATS. In order to normalize the air traffic flows over the High Seas within Simferopol FIR and UTA Dnipro-South / UTA Odesa-South special procedures for gradual availability of ATS airspace for flight planning and operations have been established. On the same day, Russia issued its own NOTAM: All Notam in all series concerning Simferopol FIR, aerodromes and radio navigation aids within territory of republic of Crimea issued by Ukraine are not valid. The dilemma for pilots which ATC to listen to can be obviated by just avoiding the airspace in question as Canada did by issuing a NOTAM dated 19 January 2022: Airspace Security Warning Issued by The Department Of Transport. In Response to the volatile security situation in Ukraine. potential risk from heightened military activity and dedicated anti-aviation weaponry In the Crimean Peninsula, and threat posed by miscalculation and miscommunication. air operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are advised not to enter The Dnipropetrovsk (Ukdv) and Simferopol (Ukfv) FIRs. Conclusion Risk avoidance has been defined to involve the risk assessment technique that entails eliminating hazards, activities and exposures that place valuable assets at risk. In the case of civil aviation within the context of conflict zones this would mean eliminating hazards by avoiding the airspace over that zone entirely. Unlike risk management, which is calculated to control dangers and risks, risk avoidance totally bypasses a risk. The information to States on threats posed to their civil aviation over conflict zones would therefore have to be disseminated through policy and procedure, training and education and technology implementations. Therefore firstly, ICAO would have to, with the involvement of industry partners and other relevant players, establish the policy and procedure involved in information sharing. It would also have to consider the best way in which adequate training and knowledge can be passed on. In this context, it is incontrovertible that the most critical factor in achieving the objective of ensuring "the right information reaches the right people at the right time" would be the political will and commitment of every one of the 193 member States of ICAO. One of the cardinal principles enunciated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is that persons hors de combat and those who do not take a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for their lives and physical and moral integrity. They should, in all circumstances, be protected and treated humanely without any adverse distinctions. It is obvious that the protection referred to must come from the State and no one else. Dr. Abeyratne is a Senior Associate at Aviation Strategies International and Visiting Professor of Aviation Law and Policy at McGill University. He served at ICAO as Senior Legal Officer and Coordinator of Air transport Programmes prior to his retirement in 2013. Is it your expectation that Midland County will have to hold a bond election to build a new jail, a law enforcement complex or have another election to raise the sales tax to raise more revenue for county government? How big must county government get to operate effectively? Would you commit to not holding an election that raises taxes for the next four years? The recent Census revealed that Midland has grown dramatically over the last 10 years. The increase in traffic congestion, traffic accidents and the inability to get the service we were accustomed to in restaurants and more makes this very apparent. The fact is Midland County grew by 50,000 people between 2010 and 2020. With an increase in population that substantial comes a natural increase in crime, and criminals. When the 2010 census, results were announced, the division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that oversees jail standards, recommended Midland County have a jail with 500 beds. Prior to the COVID outbreak, the number of inmates housed in the Midland County Jail was near capacity most days, but the last two years have changed a lot of things. The pandemic created state restrictions regarding those who remained locked up versus those who let out on bond. The courts were shut down so only the most violent of the violent were being dealt with and jailed. Today, as we get back to a more normal system of justice, where all jail-able offenses are being jailed, the number of prisoners we house is going up. We are hopeful the rising rates of incarceration we are seeing wont exceed our current capacity. I have spent a good part of my current term supporting the Sheriffs department because the safety of our residents and businesses has been one of my highest priorities. Based on our growth, the new recommendation for number of beds needed from the TDJ is 750 with possible increase to 1000 beds. Whether we remodel our current facility, add on to what already exists or completely start over in a new location is still being determined, one way or another, Midland County will have to add new beds. Like any business, to make the smartest decision possible, we have engaged architects and engineers to lay out every scenario, including cost. As soon as they complete their work, we will make those public. The public will then have an opportunity to decide what they want, need and how to pay for it. The jail, its size and our growth are a part of a broader issue that neither my opponent nor some on the Commissioners Court seem to understand. Government is the size it is due to the fiscal policies of the Commissioners Court. While its politically expeditious for a candidate to say theyll never raise taxes, the candidates should have the business experience to show you, or at least tell you how theyll provide services while keeping taxes low. What will they cut? Will they let more prisoners out of jail, so they dont have to build a new one? Will they stop building roads? The reason Ive been able to keep our tax rate one of the lowest in the state is because as a fiscal conservative, lifelong Midlander and business owner, I view county management through that lens. For example, in our recent budget, I voted against across-the-board salary increases of $2.6 million because a merit-based system for making salary adjustments and a market-based system for public safety personnel makes great business sense. The harder you work, the greater your pay should be. This approach would help us keep taxes low and or make a dent in the costs of building additional beds. Moreover, think about this. When a candidate for public office also says they wont let the voters decide when to raise sales taxes and for what priorities, theyre saying two things. One, theyre saying voters arent smart enough to make decisions. And two, the candidate is saying they would rather make those decisions themselves -- sometimes behind closed doors and often without voter approval. For example, my predecessor who encouraged my opponent to run, spent over $30 million on the county courthouse without asking the voters. They might do things like that in California, but thats not how we operate in Midland. I prefer to let voters decide what voters want. My opponent prefers the opposite. The contrast couldnt be starker. Im asking for your vote. Muskogee, OK (74401) Today Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 66F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 54F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Large parts of Afghanistan face virtual famine. by AG Noorani Anyone who consults archival material of the sorry phase in Afghanistans international exertions, prior to Americas war on the hapless country, would be struck by the then Talibans regimes sincere and dogged efforts for a dialogue with officials of the US State Department. Formulae for dealing with Osama bin Laden were on the cards. They were rudely, repeatedly snubbed. There is a different situation today. But the Taliban who returned to power in 2021 have the same yearning for diplomatic recognition and dialogue with the great powers and some significant others. Once again, they are being ignored if not snubbed. Right now, Afghanistan faces calamity on a massive scale that is unknown even to our South Asian subcontinent, used as it is to the harrowing saga of sheer destitution. Large parts of the country face virtual famine. No words need to be wasted on insecurity of life in vast areas. The new Taliban regime would and could have been rendered amenable to persuasion if its requests for diplomatic relations were accepted. It has, of course, a lot to answer for; especially in the realm of human rights, and in particular, womens rights. Not surprisingly the standard bearer of human rights, the United States of America has turned a Nelsons eye on happenings in states that are rich in oil. The last century produced a hybrid animal in the realm of diplomacy a diplomatic agent to conduct dialogue without formal recognition as an ambassador. He was a product of the First World War. Pre-eminent among them was Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart. He described his ambiguities and turmoil later in his book Memoirs of a British Agent. That is just what he was dubbed agent to the Czarist, Kerensky and Bolshevik regimes. He wrote: [T]he Foreign Office insisted on keeping my own position as vague as possible. If in the House of Commons some irate interventionist wished to know why in the name of decency the British Government maintained an official representative with a government of cut-throats, who boasted of their determination to destroy civilisation, Mr Balfour, the Foreign Secretary or his Under-Secretary would then reply quite truthfully that we had no official representative accredited to the Bolshevik Government. On the other hand, when some revolutionary-minded Liberal charged the British Government with the folly of not maintaining an accredited representative in Moscow in order to protect British interests and to assist the Bolsheviks in their struggle with German militarism, Mr Balfour would reply, with the same strict regard for the truth, that in Moscow we had a representative an official with great experience of Russia who was charged precisely with these duties. His task was to engage and report to London where sheer ignorance ruled the roost. I could not share the general belief, stimulated by the opinion of nearly all the Russian experts in London that the Lenin regime could not last more than a few weeks and that then Russia would revert to Tsarism or a military dictatorship. Still less could I believe that the Russian peasant would return to the trenches. Russia was out of the war, Bolshevism would last certainly as long as the war lasted. I deprecated as sheer folly our militarist propaganda, because it took no account of the war-weariness which had raised the Bolsheviks to the supreme power. In my opinion, we had to take the Bolshevik peace proposals seriously. Our policy should now aim at achieving an anti-German peace in Russia. Rather futilely I sought to combat the firmly rooted conviction that Lenin and Trotsky were German staff officers in disguise or at least service agents of German policy. I was more successful when I argued that it was madness not to establish some contact with the men who at that moment were controlling Russias destinies. This is an accurate description of almost all such situations as the American White Paper on relations with China reveals. Diplomats who spoke the truth then were dubbed fellow travellers by Senator McCarthy who dominated Americans political dialogue in those days. America and Chinese diplomats conducted long and very useful talks at Warsaw. In 1972, president Richard Nixon visited a country whose state and government his own government had not recognised. History has vindicated his bold step. In the last century, a new form of dialogue came into being secret diplomatic exchanges between spy chiefs of both sides with the advantage of deniability. Afghanistan seeks an open dialogue with no peremptory demands on either side. The international community would gain and bring succour to Afghan lives by engaging with the Taliban. Both sides will profit thereby. And regional peace will be all the more secure for that. The writer is an author and a lawyer based in Mumbai. That corny country TV variety show Hee-Haw had a gag called, Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me. Sad sacks laid around a cabin porch and wailed in woebegone misery, If it werent for bad luck Id have no luck at all. That was a comedy sketch. But the man were about to meet could have sung those words and meant them. Because if anybody was ever born under an unlucky star, it was Ambrose Everett Burnside. Its not that Burnside was a bad guy. Far from it. But he couldnt have caught a lucky break had he paid for it. Born in Indiana in 1824, he grew up in Rhode Island. He later graduated from West Point. So far, so good. Then things went rapidly downhill. Burnside joined the Army in time for the Mexican War. Heading for the action south of the border, he was cleaned out by riverboat gamblers. Arriving after the fighting was over, he was stuck pulling guard duty in Mexico City. Switching to the cavalry, he spent the next few years chasing natives around the Southwest and was rewarded with an arrow shot into his neck for his efforts. In 1853, he went home, met a nice woman, and proposed. During the wedding ceremony, when the minister asked the traditional question, she answered, No, leaving him standing at the altar. Burnside then tried his hand at inventing, designing a modern repeating rifle. He founded the Burnside Arms Co. to produce and sell the gun ... whereupon his usual pattern of failure returned. Good as it was, the carbine was just too expensive for the cash-strapped U.S. government of the late 1850s. Burnside ran for Congress and, of course, lost. Then his gun factory burned down, and with it went all his money. To pay off his creditors, he sold the patents to his firearms right as the Civil War was about to erupt. Washington bought thousands of the guns, the guy who bought the patents made millions, and Burnside was left holding the bag. The War Between the States was the next stop on Burnsides path of failure, and where he really did it up big. He joined the Union army and quickly rose to major general Heres the thing about Ambrose Burnside: He naturally, and without effort, presented the aura of a guy who had it all together. When people met him, they thought, Wow! Its not that he tried to deceive anybody; quiet, decent, and gentle, he nonetheless gave off a confident vibe that left people in awe. But an officer who served under him said, You had to be around him for a while to realize he just wasnt that smart. He proved that with the blood of his soldiers in September 1862 at Antietam, when he ordered repeated attacks across a stone structure now called Burnsides Bridge. Some 450 Georgians on the opposite hilltop held off 14,000 Union troops for hours during charge after charge, killing many of them. A scout later discovered the Yankees could easily wade the creek downstream, avoiding the Rebel stronghold. Just weeks after that disaster, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Burnside commander of the Army of the Potomac. Historian Bruce Catton wrote, It was to Burnsides eternal credit that he told Lincoln he wasnt up to the job, and to Lincolns eternal discredit that he didnt listen. Burnside hurled the entire Union army uphill at entrenched Confederates waiting for it at Fredericksburg, Virginia. The result: 12,653 men were mowed down. He was then bounced from one second-tier command to another for the remainder of the war. The general was in Washington when Lee surrendered and decided to celebrate the wars end by seeing a play. You guessed it: He was sitting directly below Lincolns box in Fords Theatre when John Wilkes Booth crept inside it. In fact, the president was looking down at the time, and Burnside was among the last faces Lincoln ever saw. Surprisingly after his unbroken string of failure, Burnside returned to Rhode Island with his popularity intact. He was elected governor, helped found the National Rifle Association, and capped it off by winning election to the U.S. Senate. He died of a heart attack in 1881 at age 57. Burnside was unlucky one last time. Famous for the distinctive whiskers worn on his cheeks, people called the style burnsides. But he was denied his claim to fame. Somehow, the name was inverted: You and I know them as sideburns. If it werent for bad luck, Id have no luck at all. In Ambrose Burnsides case, truer words were never sung. Emily Taffel didn't pull the password plug when she divorced her first husband, and she didn't cut off the boyfriend who followed. Now remarried with four stepchildren, she continues as a model of civility when it comes to exes and logins. The 41-year-old woman and her first husband didn't have kids, much money or own a house when they divorced. What they did have were subscriptions to Netflix and Hulu. We each paid for one of them and share. That was literally our divorce agreement, Taffel said. It was written right in there. We're still doing it. When boyfriend Sam came along but the romance ended three years later, they maintained close ties and joint custody of additional services, sharing logins and the cost to this day among themselves and Taffel's ex-husband. Taffel and her current husband have added more and shared down the line over a decade after her first marriage ended. I know it seems crazy, she said. The ex-boyfriend and the ex-husband aren't friends, but through me everybody is very amicable. In this era of cybersecurity concerns and calls for multifactor lockdown of all things digital, that approach points to a thorny issue when love goes wrong: What to do about the logins? Nearly 8 in 10 Americans who are in a relationship share passwords across nearly every digital platform, ranging from social media to email and cell phone to mobile wallets, said Harold Li, vice president of the encryption service ExpressVPN. In the digital era, sharing passwords is a sign of trust and affection akin to the gift of a letterman jacket or an exchange of school locker combinations, he said. However, while it may seem like a romantic gesture at the moment, it poses serious risks to your personal privacy, which even the closest of relationships need. And when relationships end, whether romantic or of the friendship variety, he recommends a thorough digital divorce. Sisi Cronin, 33, is still logged in to her college boyfriend's Netflix account, with her own profile. While they don't live near each other, they remain friendly after going their separate ways when she was 23. One time about three years ago he sent me a kind of funny message saying, hey, Netflix has decided to limit how many people can be on, would you mind getting your own? And I just wrote back saying Id rather not. We haven't talked about it since, she said. When youve got all these different subscription platforms it's ideal to not be paying for all of them yourself, right? Nick Leighton of the etiquette podcast Were You Raised by Wolves equates the changing of shared passwords after a breakup to returning the sweater left behind by the ex. Be mindful of the fact that when a person discovers their login no longer works, itll be a clear reminder that the relationship is indeed over, which may cause hurt feelings, he said. In a relationship, asking someone for their password can make some people uncomfortable, so it's often better to wait until they volunteer to share rather than putting them on the spot. It should also be noted that sharing passwords might possibly violate the terms of service. Things don't always go swimmingly when logins aren't cut off post-breakup. Change the password. In the age of perpetual watch histories being widely available, nobody wants to know that their ex just watched `The Notebook' on Netflix. It stirs up all sorts of emotions," said John Capo, an assistant professor of communications at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Were they thinking about me when they watched it? Who did they watch it with? Why were they awake at midnight, anyway? Remember when we used to watch `The Notebook?' Brian Penny, 40, doesn't have the heart to leave an ex out in the cold on his HBO Max and Hulu accounts. She's struggling with work and it doesn't cost me anything, but it does show her name because she added herself as a profile," he said. "I do wonder what the next girlfriend will think about seeing another woman's name in my account. I've already reasoned I would say it's a cousin or friend. The digital safety provider Aura commissioned The Harris Poll last year to look into the issue of prioritizing shared streaming access over security, and found that one-third of American adults of more than 2,000 polled said they continue to access the sites of a partner or friend after the relationship ends. Eleven percent have let a former partner or friend use a streaming service, and 12% have had to explicitly ask a former partner or friend to stop using an account after the relationship ended. Its no secret that password-sharing is a way for consumers to get around the cost of paying for multiple services, said Hari Ravichandran, founder and CEO of Aura, in a statement. What consumers arent considering is that these behaviors make them vulnerable to digital crime when people outside your household even ones you trust have your passwords on their devices. Researchers have found a variety of reasons people maintain streaming ties after a breakup convenience, finances and post-breakup friendships among them. A downside: When a vindictive ex deliberately wreaks havoc with algorithms to mess up ads and suggested viewing, or creates a profile to rile up a current love interest. One sharer said the parents of an ex stayed logged into one of his sites for two years after they broke up and sent him a gift card out of the blue as thanks. Chandler Sterling shows up as a generic guest profile on the Netflix and Hulu accounts of a former long-term girlfriend. He also uses his parents' cable TV subscription with his Apple TV for access to pretty much anything, including sports. Yes, I'm 34, and yes, I make over six figures at my job, but I wont pay for something if I dont have to, he said. My ex has never directly confronted me about the guest profile on Hulu. On Netflix, she changed the guest accounts profile picture to the guy from the show `Lucifer,' so I think shes sending me a message about how she feels. ... I have zero guilt for all this cloak and dagger mooching." Penny said he wasn't sure if or when he would remove his ex. Our relationship didnt end well at all, he said. I think a part of me leaves it alone so she leaves me alone. The peace of mind is worth it. People making less than $35,000 a year may be more likely to have carotid artery stenosis, a leading cause of stroke, a new study found. Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing of the large arteries on either side of the neck that carry blood to the brain. The narrowing is often a buildup of sticky plaques. Known risk factors include high levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes. Previous research shows Black and Hispanic people have a lower risk of carotid artery stenosis compared to whites, and Native Americans have a higher risk. But prevalence according to factors other than race and ethnicity is less clear. To identify possible patterns, researchers evaluated electronic health records of a diverse pool of 203,813 participants in the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program. Half of participants were white, 20% were Black, 20% were Hispanic, 3% were Asian and the rest identified as other races or ethnicities. One in 10 had less than a high school degree and 36% had a household income of less than $35,000 per year. Overall, 2.7% of participants had been diagnosed with carotid artery stenosis. Among them, 7.3% had undergone revascularization, a surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to the brain. Those making less than $35,000 a year had 15% greater odds of carotid artery stenosis than those with a higher income. Lower income also was associated with 38% higher odds for carotid revascularization. The findings, published in the journal Stroke, will be presented Thursday at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference. "Having a lower income may affect people's food choices," said Dr. Helmi Lutsep, professor and interim chair of the department of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. She was not involved in the study. "They may not be able to buy healthy fruits and vegetables. And the more we learn about this, the more we can intervene and potentially change the pattern." Lutsep said the study offers further evidence that doctors should be considering health disparities and using what they learn about their patients to guide preventive care. When race and ethnicity were considered, Black and Hispanic participants had lower odds of carotid artery stenosis, echoing previous research. Black participants with the condition also were less likely to receive revascularization therapy. "That could be due to less severe presentations," said lead author Dr. Daniela Renedo, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. So-called volunteer bias, which leads to more healthy people enrolled, might explain the lower rates of carotid artery stenosis in certain groups, the researchers said. Even so, Lutsep commended the diversity of the study population, especially that 61% were women, because men are overrepresented in many stroke-related trials. But she also noted the potential for bias toward participants with access to computers in the All of Us Research Program, since enrollment appeared to be done mainly through its website. Plenty of questions remain, Renedo said. But researchers will soon have access to the All of Us participants' genetic information, and "we will use these data to better understand the interaction between social determinants of health and biological factors that ultimately lead to carotid stenosis and its consequences." The takeaway message for now, she said, "is that more attention should be given to the present health care disparities in this condition." Editors note: Part of a series examining the rise in domestic violence amid the pandemic. MERIDEN For survivors of domestic violence, the most difficult and most dangerous periods come when they decide to leave their abusers. It is not long afterwards when folks like Kye Raphael step in. Raphael is a case manager for the rapid rehousing program at Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis Inc., the primary domestic violence support agency in the greater Meriden area. Rapid rehousing is a support program that differs from emergency shelters. The goal is to help survivors find stability after leaving abusive and dangerous relationships. Establishing stability doesnt just mean finding and maintaining a safe place to stay. It includes retaining the ability to pay rent and buy groceries, and finding a path toward full self-sufficiency. Raphael works with clients who enter into the rapid rehousing program for 12 months. Safety planning Often when clients come in, especially to our emergency shelter, our first focus is to safety plan with them, Raphael said. Safety planning involves establishing priorities. So Raphael asks questions to determine where housing ranks among those priorities. If they identify housing as a top priority, thats when the process of rapid rehousing begins. There is no set timeline for how long it takes an individual to recover and move past an abusive or even violent relationship. That timeline can be complicated further when children are involved and when those children have seen the abuse firsthand. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the difficulties. During the early days, in the spring of 2020, lockdowns and the closures of schools and businesses led to isolation and a decreased ability for victims to escape abusers. Agencies like Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis have seen referrals related to domestic and intimate partner violence increase in 2020 and 2021. With those referrals came an increase in requests for rapid rehousing, which is a relatively new program at Chrysalis. Raphael began working with the agency in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a shutdown of many services statewide. While agencies that serve domestic violence victims did not shut, there was a time when they provided services remotely. One of Raphaels responsibilities as a case manager is forging connections with landlords and others in the housing community so that her agency can provide clients with a rehousing option. Raphael interfaced with clients and landlords via Zoom instead of making house visits. She wants to bring awareness to the sharp rise in reported domestic violence cases. Raphael said she would like to see that awareness followed with action to prevent there from being so many domestic violence situations that take place. After relocation During the 12 months that Raphael manages a case, she maintains constant communication with clients to ensure they are able to establish and maintain stability. The pandemic has impacted clients ability to do just that. A lot of the clients, survivors that we do receive are often families meaning they are now relocating with children, Raphael said. As a case manager, Raphael would often serve as an intermediary between clients and potential landlords who seek their own assurances. For example, landlords who may have been unable to collect rent when the eviction moratorium was in place, might now seek guarantees that rent will be paid. The clients Raphael works with have other challenges, some of them financial or related to mental health, that made leaving an abusive situation difficult in the first place. Each client Raphael works with will have a plan adapted just for them. Having a source of income is ideal, she said. But there may be situations where income is lacking, if a client is unemployed or unable to work for other reasons. During the 12 months that Raphael is managing a case, she and a client work together to find a solution that fits them. Prior to the 12 months ending, we do try to assure that there is a plan after, Raphael said. If there are any other circumstances or obstacles, then we would revise the program or extend it. The need for rapid rehousing already exceeds the agencys capacity to provide it. Chrysalis leaders are looking to increase their capability by hiring a second case manager, explained Linsey Walters, the agencys executive director. The agency applied for American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus relief funds to offset a loss of other federal funding, which dwindled during the pandemic. Chrysalis is using the funding to support its rapid rehousing program, subsidize apartments, and hire a second case manager. The rental assistance is generally provided on a tapered basis, covering the first month of rent, tapering down to 50% and 30%, depending on the needs of clients. The program as it stands has a maximum caseload of 10 clients and families. There is a wait list of other clients seeking housing. Finding a new normal In order to leave a violent relationship, you have to destabilize your entire life and find a new normal, said Amber Kelly, associate professor of Social Work at Quinnipiac University. That might be finding new housing. That new housing comes with challenges finding new routes to work and school for young ones and contacting landlords, for example. The onus is on you to keep yourself safe, Kelly said. We know violence tends to escalate when youre in the process of leaving. Kelly said networks and shelters that work on intimate partner violence have come a long way in recent years, leading to real attempts to provide comprehensive support services. Still that is not enough, Kelly said. The escalating cost of housing has also made it difficult for victims to relocate. This is a huge consideration. If youre having to make the decision to leave you have to find out, What are the resources available to me? she said. The level of services survivors need even after they are rapidly housed can vary, Kelly explained. For some survivors, it can be years before they are truly reestablished. To truly help survivors, they need support in all areas housing, school, employment, and so on. Providers and individuals in those systems need to have an understanding of what to look for and how to respond to survivor behaviors, Kelly said. If you or a loved one is a victim of domestic violence, resources are available through Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis 24-hour hotline. Call 203-238-1501 or 888-774-2900 for English or 844-831-9200 for Spanish. Other resources can be found through the Connecticut Domestic Violence Resource Hub. Visit CTSafeConnect.org or call 888-774-2900 for more information. mgagne@record-journal.com203-317-2231Twitter:@MikeGagneRJ Some 40 percent of Americans we are told, regard China, for the first time ever, as the greater threat to the United States, more than double the number who named Russia. by Victor Cherubim As Biden Administration is continuing to sound alarms on the Atlantic front, rallying its NATO partners for what it warns is an impending Russian invasion of Ukraine, as early as next week, The Times of India asks: Is the ongoing situation in Ukraine and Russia having any impact on crafting the Indo-Pacific strategy? U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks on the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy at the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia December 14, 2021. A US spokesman has asserted during a very recent visit of the Indias Minister of External Affairs, Hon. S. Jaishankar to Washington: The US is capable of handling multiple challenges simultaneously. He further stated, We are very confident of our ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. Although, India is a very different place, in many different ways than Australia, than other countries. All this comment came out because India has been drawn in to the QUAD, an alliance of US, Australia, India and Japan, forming another major defence partnership, similar to NATO in the Indo-Pacific region, to support its role in providing security against China, at the same time: supporting the continued rise to regional leadership of India, in South Asia against China. The US believes in forming strategic military alliances, NATO, SEATO (now defunct), QUAD, AUKUS among others, perhaps as defence, perhaps, as a show of strength. The US/China Strategy It is known that United States sees China as a more powerful American focus partly because of the Belt and Road initiative by China, its combined economic, military and technical might not only in the Indo-Pacific region, its economic coercion of Australia, the so called neighbours in the East and South China seas, let alone Taiwan, as well as the perceived impact China has in the globe of today. Americans may fear China over Russia. According to a US Strategic Document released by the White House recently, the focus now is on both Ukraine and authoritarian and assertive China, as the one competitor to the US, capable of mounting a sustained challenge to the so called stable and open international system. It purports to seek a confrontation and supports QUAD when necessary to covertly contain the influence of China. Some 40 percent of Americans we are told, regard China, for the first time ever, as the greater threat to the United States, more than double the number who named Russia. When it comes to cost burdens too Americans believe the countries in the Indo-Pacific region can be relied compared with their European Allies in NATO. Americans know, or seem to know, the full range of threats posed by China and expect the Biden Administration to channel their concerns with their Allies and Partners, which now includes, AUKUS and now India in QUAD. No one knows the real reason why the West fears the rise of China. Perhaps, of China turning capitalistic ideas to support socialist aims and the livelihoods of the so called Working Class? To be more exact, there is fear, anger and concern about Chinas success, even with the constraints of COVID-19. Besides, I need hardly mention the number of US affiliated Companies and Conglomerates located and doing business in China. With it all, the Wests image of China has been stuck in the past. They fail to acknowledge Chinas development and power within a century. Perhaps, the West is yet to realise China is essentially a different civilization, a threat to Western values? Three Point China Strategy To a laymans mind, China is pursuing a three point strategy. First, Medium term, maintaining a non-hostile external environment, in order to focus on domestic priorities. Secondly, expanding the reach of Chinese influence globally, particularly, in Africa, Latin America and among small island nations like Sri Lanka, for strategic reasons. Thirdly, Chinas actions are known to generate much reaction around the world. China is aware of the perennial question of Tibet, the Wests bogey of the human rights of the Uyghurs minority in Xinjiang. Of course, the unanswered question of the origin of COVID-19 and more recent boycott by some leaders and countries of the Winter Olympics 2022. Could this third strategy, be part of a bigger picture, the planned Chinas vulnerability? We hear of one sided claim that China has intentions of invading the LOC in Indian Territory. That Sri Lanka is controlled by the debt to China. Irrespective of same, there is quiet diplomacy in the Sub Continent, between India and China, between UK and China, between Sri Lanka and China? We need to be in the real world, not the blinkered one, if we want to understand international affairs? Would you believe, that much of Indias pharmaceuticals are exported to China and that trade and business interests, proliferate in each others activities. China attracts more Indian students in the Sub Continent. Both the leaders of India and China, have a common interest in raising their individual standards of living. The China Policy towards India and the West is consistent and stable. Beijings medium and long term strategic objectives are naturally the subject of discussion both in the West and in India. But China, too is playing a long game which the subject of another lengthy piece. San Antonio's real estate market is going to be hot this year. (Hotter than Austin!) And San Antonio rents aren't dropping. From finding your perfect new home to negotiating rent prices, searching for an apartment in San Antonio can be quite the experience. Taking inspiration from our sister publication SFGate in San Francisco, MySA is looking at local properties showcasing the best, worst, and everything in between in the Alamo City. Let's guess the rent. Last week's tiny one-bedroom with modern touches near the hustle and bustle of St. Paul Square was cute, but we're going more residential with this week's listing on the Northwest Side. This two-bedroom townhome at 5927 Prue Road is in a community called the Farmhouse on Prue and look to be brand-new, at least that's what the Craigslist post says. The townhome itself is only a four-minute drive from USAA's corporate campus. But how much will it run someone to live in this heavily suburban area? Let's dive in. Leave your shoes at the door, please. Craigslist Whoever furnished this space is taking "farmhouse" to heart with the rustic modern aesthetic. Leather couches aren't really my thing, but there's plenty of space to work with in this spacious living room. Craigslist The kitchen comes with stainless steel appliances and white quartz countertops complemented by a green tile back splash. Craigslist To get a look at the bedrooms and bathroom, we'll have to take a quick trip upstairs. Craigslist The bathroom fixtures are pretty standard but it's the little touches, like the white subway tile in the shower and the hexagon floor tile, that make this bathroom look a little more high-end. Craigslist The bedrooms have the same laminate wood tile throughout most of the house, which is a plus. Carpet requires more upkeep than most think. Apparently, each bedroom has its own bathroom. Craigslist We end on the backyard, which is pretty small, but it has a covered patio that is great for those outdoor dinners with friends. So how much will you pay for this cute townhome? The rent is listed at $1,800 a month with a $1,800 deposit. Average rent for a two-bedroom in the area go for an average of $1,150 a month, according to Zumper. A man in upstate New York is fighting to keep his emotional support pig NPR Red poets society: The Stasi Poetry Circles battle for hearts and rhymes The Irish Times What Driveling Times Are These! Laphams Quarterly She Used to Sing Opera Granta This Ancient Roman ceramic pot was probably a portable toilet, study finds Ars Technical The Alaska Highway: A subarctic road to prevent invasion BBC SpaceX just lost 40 satellites to a geomagnetic storm. There could be worse to come. MIT Technology Review Empty shops could be studios for next Bacon or Hirst, says leading curator Guardian Reading The Dawn of Everything from India: What if the past was a more enlightened place? Why King Tut Is Still Fascinating New Yorker. And see this Steve Martin classic: King Tut. Inside the murder of an oil heiress: One of the weirdest in Florida history NY Post The Enduring Power of the Charlatan Los Angeles Review of Books Why portraits have fascinated us for millennia BBC #COVID-19 Climate Change New Cold War So much of this is an outgrowth of Russiagate, of the lingering Democratic rage that it wasnt Hillarys fault that they lost the 2016 election but Putins. Sometimes they admit this explicitly:https://t.co/nD7j7Ir7o6 Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 12, 2022 Western media again deliberately omit that this march in Kyiv in #Ukraine is organized & led by far-right. Far-right chants Glory to Nation! Death to Enemies! & Ukraine Above All, organizations, leaders, symbols & red & black flags are not reported.https://t.co/Ewgd9PQSrN Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) February 12, 2022 Old Blighty Big Brother IS Watching You Watch Class Warfare IRS backlog hits nearly 24 million returns, further imperiling the 2022 tax filing season WaPo Biden Administration Supply Chain Sports Desk The Supremes Biden weighs appeal of 3 top candidates for high court AP Politicians in Robes New York Review of Books. Laurence Tribe. Larry minces no words in this takedown of Breyers claim that the Supreme Court is apolitical. Worth registering to leap the paywall to read this piece. Democrats en deshabille Biden overshadowed by Obama as the former president engages in unseemly politicking NBC Our Famously Free Press India Another scam in the making Dawn Syraqistan The Mayor of Istanbul Could Prove Dangerous to Erdogan Der Spiegel China? African Opportunities in China-Africa Relations The Diplomat Antidote du Jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. (Natural News) After Canadian government officials lied to convince crowd funder platform GoFundMe to try and steal as much as $10 million donated to help take care of thousands of truckers protesting insane COVID vaccine and other mandates, now they are moving to freeze millions more collected on Delaware-based Christian-themed platform GiveSendGo. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has granted a request from the provincial government to freeze access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the truckers convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa and at several border crossings, the CBC reported on Thursday. In addition, the premier for Canadas most populous province, Doug Ford, is trying to freeze the funds: BREAKING: Tyrant Doug Ford has sought a court order to freeze any and all funds going to the Freedom Convoy. This is how to be a dictator 101. pic.twitter.com/GKnH2jHi6Q Keean Bexte (@TheRealKeean) February 10, 2022 Today, the Attorney General brought an application in the Superior Court of Justice for an order pursuant to section 490.8 of the Criminal Code prohibiting any person from disposing of, or otherwise dealing with, in any manner whatsoever, any and all monetary donations made through the Freedom Convoy 2022 and Adopt-a-Trucker campaign pages on the GiveSendGo online fundraising platform, Ford said, sounding more like Chinese President Xi Jinping than the leader of a democratic society. This afternoon, the order was issued, the premier said. It binds any and all parties with possession or control over these donations. The Canadian governments threat and actions led to a fiery response from GiveSendGo. Know this! Canada has absolutely ZERO jurisdiction over how we manage our funds here at GiveSendGo, the company wrote. All funds for EVERY campaign on GiveSendGo flow directly to the recipients of those campaigns, not least of which is The Freedom Convoy campaign. 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. GiveSendGo (@GiveSendGo) February 11, 2022 By the time Ontario moved to cut off funding, donors had raised some $8.4 million for truckers protesting in Ottawa and thats after $10 million was raised on GoFundMe, which threatened to take the money and give it to left-wing charities like Black Lives Matter until it was threatened with legal action. Conservative Brief adds: On the Canadian governments word that the protest in Ottawa against COVID vaccine mandate for truckers had turned violent, GoFundMe blocked the distribution of those funds and initially stated it would donate them to charities of the platforms choice. But the company reversed that decision after a widespread uproar and said it would return donations to individuals who made them instead. Following GoFundMes actions, several Republican leaders vowed to get to the bottom of the platforms actions, with some accusing the company of attempting to defraud donors. It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing. I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices these donors should be given a refund, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Twitter. It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing. I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices these donors should be given a refund. Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 5, 2022 Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry also vowed to look into the platforms actions. I share the concerns of @WestVirginiaAG. My office will be looking into whether or not #GoFundMe violated our state law. If you are a Louisiana donor to the #FreedomConvoy, please contact my #ConsumerProtection Section! he said. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into GoFundMes actions as well. Today I sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking that the FTC open an investigation into GoFundMe into whether theyve committed deceptive trade practices, Cruz told Fox News Maria Bartiromo last week. 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. They are deceiving consumers and it is wrong, Cruz added. Sources include: BeckerNews.com ConservativeBrief.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) As parents around the country increasingly become fed up with left-wing hacks running school boards, more are beginning to take action against board members who refuse to listen to reason and respond to concerns. In particular, parents are outraged at the adoption of an explicitly anti-white critical race theory curriculum, ridiculous and pointless COVID masking and vaccine mandates and the inclusion of sexually inappropriate books and materials in school libraries that includes illegal acts of pedophilia. In fact, parents and activists have just served members of the Scottsdale (Arizona) Unified School District with surety bonds totaling $1 million (that is, 10 parents have filed bonds of $100,000 each, totaling $1 million for each board member) as they move to get rid of several policies. Watch: As Citizen Free Press noted: Leigh Dundas and Miki Klann speak to the Scottsdale Unified School District in Arizona. During the meeting, Miki declares her intention to file a claim against the Governors surety bond on behalf of the SUSD board members. Each member of the board will be charged with practicing medicine without a license, child abuse, segregation and inappropriate sexual material in the school libraries. Miki served each board member with 10 letters of intent by 10 different parents. Each claim carries a liability of up to 100K this means each board member carries a total liability of $1 million in the event that the claims are filed. Now the board members have 5 days to rectify the situation or the parents of SUSD will file the claim. In order to resolve the problem, the board members must: Remove all mask mandates and recommendations Remove all experimental treatment clinics and recommendations Discontinue the Critical Race Theory and GLSNEN.org agendas Remove all inappropriate sexual material from the libraries Former board president Jann-Michael Greenberg must resign In addition to inappropriate content, behaviors, and mandates, the SUSD board has had its problems in the past. For instance, in November the board met in emergency session and voted 4-1 to remove Greenberg from his post following reports that he distributed dossiers on parents who were showing up at board meetings and voicing opposition to its left-wing policies. The board voted to elect Patty Beckman as interim president. The dossiers included photographs and personal financial information on some parents, US News reported. We do not have all the facts at this time. To make a decision without those facts thats in the best interest of the district is simply not possible, Greenburg said. I strongly support the investigations that have been announced both publicly and privately. When I first saw the contents of the Google Drive and I saw my 8- and 10-year-olds photos, that was terrifying. And like, whats he doing? mother Amanda Wray told AZFamily.com. But he has pictures of my vacation home, property records. Im not a political opponent, Im an involved parent and that is threatening to me and it makes me wonder why and what he was planning to do with those photos, she continued, adding she was disgusted by what she saw. I think we identified 47 people that were background checked, divorce decrees, Social Security numbers, property records, mortgages, added Wray, who noted that the Google Drive included a number of cruel memes. In the case of one woman, Wray said that whoever created the dossier took her photos and superimposed it over a lynching and I can tell you, shes distraught by this and its disgusting. She went on to say she thinks some parents are being targeted because they sought to have Greenberg recalled over the districts manifestly stupid COVID-19 policies, according to AZ Family. Were not anti-mask, were not anti-vaccines. Theyve painted us that way because it fits their inflammatory narrative. Were all for parent choice and really, transparency, she said. Sources include: AZFamily.com CitizenFreePress.com (Natural News) Mark McGowan, the premiere of Western Australia, is upping the ante once again with his endless stream of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny. From now on, parents who are unvaccinated will not be allowed to enter state hospitals to visit their loved ones. This includes sick relatives and even the parents children. West Australian parents who are unvaccinated will be banned from seeing their own sick children in the states hospitals under the new strict laws drawn up by Premier Mark McGowan, announced a host on the Sunrise program (watch below). The tough new rules will come into play from January 31. Only those with exemptions from the vaccine or under compassionate grounds, including end-of-life visits, will be allowed to step inside the hospitals, which includes visiting their own kids. Western Australia bans unvaccinated parents from seeing their sick children in hospital. The media applauds exploiting desperate parents in their darkest hour. pic.twitter.com/bVQjoUYGQX Caldron Pool (@CaldronPool) February 1, 2022 Forced vaccination is medical fascism One of the men interviewed during the segment revealed that McGowan is in agreement with the prime minister who also believes that all Australians need to be forcibly vaccinated or else have their rights taken away from them. So, it becomes the ultimate test, doesnt it? this person asked. If youre unvaccinated and youre going to whats deemed a high risk area, i.e., a hospital or an aged care facility, the ability to go and see your loved one if youre unvaccinated may well be taken away from you. And could that be the trigger to make you change your mind? And I guess thats the force at play here. Its a tough decision, isnt it? What would a parent do? Confronted by that, would it make you change your philosophy? Maybe it would, and maybe thats what the government is banking on. The Herald columnist and blogger Susie OBrien agrees. She told the host and the man that she is all for this and that this is not about the rights of parents but rather about the rights of the sick kids and the rights of the elderly to stay as safe as possible at a time where we know were dealing with a very virulent strain of the disease. And if you are unvaccinated without a good reason, without a valid exemption, then you are going to find your movements curtailed, OBrien added smugly. I think this is what the government needs to do at this point to really shock and challenge people into it change their philosophy, change their action, and get vaccinated. Yeah, responded the host. Other states have had various forms of this and people have had time, I mean really, she snarled. Right now, the requirement only includes the first two injections and not the booster shots. That will be changing later on down the road, though, according to what was explained during the segment. Eventually, Aussies will need to take every booster that the government demands in order to remain in compliance. Oz is already looking like a communist paradise, wrote someone in response to the news. Communist = CON U MUST because thieving corrupt politicians (as opposed to the decent law-abiding ones) have nothing to offer but lies, pain and suffering. (They are to be found in every political party, but on the left theyre out in the open). In politics, as in life, the opposite of right is WRONG. The term left was invented to obscure this. Another pointed out that Australias current leadership is a load of garbage that desperately needs to be taken to the dump. Are they all commies (it will never change), or just enough to pass stupid laws (hopefully with a chance to repeal)? this same person asked. The latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: CitizenFreePress.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Representative Chip Roy of Texas has introduced a bill allowing service members who are discharged as a result of the coronavirus vaccine mandate imposed on the military by the Biden administration to be reinstated. Representative Roys bill, which is known as the Service Restoration Act, would also prevent military service members from adverse action because they opted not to get the jab, such as punishment, retaliation, forced mask-wearing, placement in sub-standard housing or disparate treatment. It would also allow any service members who are reinstated to count the time that they were discharged toward their retirement benefits and expunge any adverse action that was imposed upon them over their refusal to get the vaccine from their service record. Speaking to Breitbart News, Representative Roy said: Because of President Bidens power-hungry, anti-science COVID-19 vaccine mandate, hundreds of valuable American service members are being forced out of our military, taking with them years of subject-matter expertise, careers of selfless sacrifice, and lifelong dreams of military service. This is strategically foolish, profoundly un-American, and completely unacceptable. The bill would also prohibit federal funds from being used to require armed forces members to get the vaccine. So far, it has attracted seven cosponsors. However, the legislations chances of moving forward are pretty low considering the current Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. Service members fighting to keep their positions As of Wednesday, more than 700 service members had been discharged from the military over their refusal to get vaccinated, while thousands more are stuck in the process of appealing waiver denials. On Thursday, a judge extended a temporary ban on punishment for a pair of officers who do not wish to get the vaccine. A Navy commander and a Marine lieutenant colonel testified on the witness stand anonymously to protect their identities. They described their religious objections to getting the vaccine, saying that as practicing Christians, they believed getting the jab would introduce impurities into their bodies. They also voiced concerns about the fetal cell lines used to research and develop the jabs. The military, however, did not agree with their stance and denied both of them a religious exemption; they are now facing discharge if they do not get vaccinated. The Navy commander, who is in charge of 320 sailors on board a guided missile destroyer, said: I cannot knowingly put something in my body that I believe is a toxin. The 18-year veteran testified for more than hour, saying that his belief in keeping his body free of impurities extends to what he eats, watches and listens to; he also avoids medications. The lieutenant colonel, meanwhile, said that for her, it would be a sin to get the jab Because it would defile my body. Because my body is a temple of Jesus Christ. She has a degree in biology, and she said her stance is that the jabs are not in line with her beliefs. She was stopped from deploying to Bahrain following her refusal to get jabbed. She recently recovered from COVID-19 and has natural immunity. The two officers are now part of a lawsuit filed by the religious organization the Liberty Counsel. Last week, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday issued a temporary order that bans the military from disciplining the officers; the temporary order was extended until February 18 at the end of yesterdays day-long hearing. Unfortunately, the military seems unlikely to back down on its enforcement of the vaccine mandate. Department of Justice Attorney Amy Powell said: We would rather people not be in the military than place other service members at risk. Its a weak argument, however, when you consider the fact that vaccinated people are just as capable of spreading the disease as those who are unvaccinated. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com Military.com MilitaryTimes.com (Natural News) BLM founder Pamela Moses sent to 6 years in Prison for illegally voting. Moses pled guilty in 2015 to felony counts of tampering with evidence and forgery, as well as misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape. (Article republished from GreatGameIndia.com) Prosecution said the creator of the Black Lives Matter branch in Memphis was condemned to six years in imprisonment for fraudulently enrolling to vote in Tennessee. Pamela Moses, a 44-year-old activist, was sentenced to six years and one day in prison on Monday for registering to vote despite being unqualified due to felony charges in 2015, according to Shelby County District Attorney General. According to Amy Weirich. Judge Michael Ward convicted her of manipulating the probation authorities in order to acquire the ability to vote when he handed down the punishment. You tricked the probation department into giving you documents saying you were off probation, Ward said in court, the Washington Post reported. Moses pled guilty in 2015 to felony counts of tampering with evidence and forgery, as well as misdemeanor charges of perjury, stalking, theft under $500, and escape. Due to the obvious tampering with evidence accusation, she was sentenced to seven years of probation and was declared unqualified to vote in Tennessee. Moses claims that when she went to vote in 2019, she seemed to be under the belief that her right to vote had been reinstated. 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 testified at the hearing. Bede Anyanwu, her attorney, stated that his client intends to contest the sentence. She believes the sentencing was beyond the evidence that was presented, he told the Washington Post. Read more at: GreatGameIndia.com Police said a home intruder was shot and killed in West Palm Beach on Feb. 12. (Wayne K. Roustan) A man was shot to death after breaking into a house in West Palm Beach and awakening a sleeping couple, police said. The intruder, who police said was a man 38 to 40 years old, broke into the home through a window. The intruder turned on the light in the bedroom, which awakened the couple. An argument ensued, police said. Advertisement A 911 call at 4:16 a.m. reported the shooting on the 500 block of Avon Road. Officers found a man who had been shot inside. The couple, a 44-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, were not injured. Police said the couple did not know the intruder. Police withheld their names under Marsys Law, a Florida constitutional amendment that allows the names of crime victims to be withheld if they fear retaliation. Advertisement The intruder was transported by West Palm Beach Fire Rescue to St. Marys Medical Center, where he died. Police said his identity has not yet been confirmed. (Natural News) The only other thing Democrats and their supporters excel at other than exercising authoritarianism is hypocrisy, and there is a whole lot of it being spread around regarding the ongoing Freedom Convoy protests involving Canadian truckers. For the past two years, Democrats and their left-wing Marxist allies pushed for and enacted lockdowns of their cities and states citing the need to stop the spread of COVID-19, devastating their economies and destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans. Whats more, they were unabashed in their promotion of enduring lockdowns and unsympathetic about them because as elected leaders they never went without a paycheck or a meal. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans arrested or fined or jailed for the crime of trying to make a living were told that the economy was not nearly as important as saving lives. What a gargantuan load of manure. Fast-forward to the present day. Thousands of Canadian truckers fed up with a pointless COVID-19 vaccine mandate, especially amid an ongoing supply chain crisis that the Democratic enablers of pandemic lockdowns created in the first place, are protesting to get their government to drop the requirement. They are doing so by blocking one of the busiest international bridges between Canada and the United States. They know its one of the business crossings; they know that some $3.5 million in commerce per day crossed the bridge. Thats precisely why they chose to block it. But now, one of the biggest Democrat hypocrites of the pandemic, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who kept her state locked down until federal and state courts forced her to open up, is demanding action against the Canadian truckers because their protest is hurting Michigans economy. You literally cannot make this up. Online news site 100 Percent Fed Up reported: The woman who intentionally placed COVID-positive patients into nursing homes and assisted living centers with some of the most vulnerable citizens in her state while destroying the livelihoods of millions of Michigan, including tens of thousands of business owners with her draconian, unscientific lockdowns, is now telling Canadian officials how to deal with peaceful protesters who are simply demanding freedom from COVID mandates and restrictions in Canada. The blockade is having a significant impact on Michigans working families who are just trying to do their jobs. Our communities and automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture businesses are feeling the effects. Its hitting paychecks and production lines. That is unacceptable, Whitmer said in a statement. My message is simple: reopen traffic on the bridge. pic.twitter.com/EwDEn17sRA Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) February 10, 2022 It is imperative that Canadian local, provincial, and national governments de-escalate this economic blockade, she added, without suggesting how. They must take all necessary and appropriate steps to immediately and safely reopen traffic so we can continue growing our economy, supporting good-paying jobs, and lowering costs for families. So it was okay to crush the local economies and harm families for two years under government lockdowns, but when truckers block roads for four days, its terrorism? Its unacceptable harm to the economy? Its a bad thing? We are old enough around here to remember when protesting allegedly democratic societies was permissible to redress grievances with government (because the alternative to peaceful protesting violent attacks and civil war is a lot worse). But Whitmer isnt the only left-wing lunatic calling for drastic action against the truckers. CNN national security analyst and former Obama admin undersecretary of Homeland Security Juliette Kayyem is actually calling for violence against the truckers. 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, Kayyem wrote. Then she doubled down: 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. There certainly is fascism in America (and Canada), but its not coming from Trump supporters or conservatives; the left owns it. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com CharlieKirk.com (Natural News) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the Freedom Convoy truckers protesting against Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandates a fringe group. Luigi Grimaldi of the John Birch Society (JBS) begs to differ. During an interview with Alex Newman of the New American, Grimaldi revealed that the majority of Canadians actually support what the truckers stand for. This particular convoy is extremely important only because its well-received by the majority of Canadians. People here [in the U.S.] will love the truckers, he told the host of Conversations That Matter. The truckers are a very interesting demographic because they tend to be very conservative as a norm, and they wouldnt comply with the [vaccine] mandate. They started this, a lot of who cant get vaccinated. They wont do their jobs because they cant comply with the mandates, and theyre forced like myself to make that decision, said Grimaldi. So they got together and are starting from coast to coast and theyve converged in Ottawa. There [has] been regional support for the truckers [and for] removing the mandate. These are [coming from] a lot of Canadians. Grimaldi shared his experience participating in one of the Freedom Convoys stops in the village of Newbury in Ontario Province. We had over 4,00 people in various cars [and] trucks [doing] a circular route around the town. Along the route, we had been well-received [and also] along the underpasses to the [Ontario Highway 400]. We had a lot of people there waving flags. I brought my Dont Tread On Me Gadsden flag, and I saw a handful of those as well. He told Newman that the Freedom Convoy is very well received. This is a very enormous protest. Its been getting a lot of support among all Canadians. I believe that we may have hit a critical mass as far as support for removing these mandates permanently [is concerned], Grimaldi said. (Related: Poll finds majority of Canadians want COVID restrictions scrapped following trucker protests.) Freedom Convoy not a fringe group based on the show of support Despite the support the convoy received from Canadians all across the country, Trudeau slammed the protesting truckers as but a fringe minority. The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa are holding unacceptable views that theyre expressing. [They] do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other [and] who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, rights and values as a country, he told reporters during a Jan. 26 press briefing. Grimaldi disagreed. Its not true at all. The numbers speak for themselves. Its never been seen before in Canadian history, this amount of support to remove these mandates so this isnt a fringe, he said. These are everyday truckers, everyday Canadians, and theyre generally not very political. They just do their job, and then they dont expose themselves to anybody as far as disease is concerned because theyre in a truck all the time and theyre by themselves. Grimaldi also had strong words for the Canadian prime minister, who he called a globalist and the evil twin of French President Emmanuel Macron. He uses the same left-wing smear tactics, [and] I think were all tired of it. I mean, he was caught with blackface many times in photographs and so he has nothing to go by. Really, there are other things about him; you just got to dig a little deeper, he said. The JBS member and Freedom Convoy participant also lauded Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after Newman said he was in the Sunshine State. I wish we had the same governor; he seems wonderful, Grimaldi said. He also praised other excellent conservative governors such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem who took the path of health freedom instead of medical tyranny. More related stories: Ann Vandersteel lauds Freedom Convoy, slams Trudeau for dismissing protests significance Brighteon.TV. Gen. Paul Vallely lauds Canadians for standing up against tyrannical leadership Brighteon.TV. Canadas Freedom Convoy invokes waves of protests against Canadas COVID mandates. 50,000 truckers vow to stay in Ottawa until government lifts vaccine mandates. Watch Luigi Grimaldi talk about his experience participating in the Freedom Convoy. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. Visit Resist.news for more articles about the Freedom Convoy in Canada. Sources include: Brighteon.com TNC.news (Natural News) If tyranny and censorship is what musician Neil Young wants for Joe Rogan, then he must also face the music for what he said to Rolling Stones Melody Maker back in 1985. It was during the height of the AIDS epidemic that Young blasted homosexuals, blaming them for the spread of AIDS and expressing disgust at the idea of having to interact with them at the grocery store. You go to a supermarket and you see a faggot behind the f***in cash register, you dont want him to handle your potatoes, Young stated at the time. These statements are far more offensive than anything Rogan has ever said, and yet Youngs music is still on Spotify. One wonders: Should Young be banned from Spotify just like Stew Peters was? Even U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for Rogan to be censored for spreading misinformation. Should Young also be banned for spreading misinformation about queers and AIDS? Neil Young is a self-unaware hypocrite casting stones inside a glass house Even though Rolling Stone claimed, as of 2013, that Young has long since abandoned right-wing politics, there is no excuse, if the Left is going to remain consistent with its doctrines, that Young should be allowed to continue making money on Spotify or any other Big Tech platform. Young tried to make up for his 1985 statements about homosexuals by writing an anti-George H.W. Bush screed in 1989 called Rockin in the Free World. He also was one of the most vocal critics of son George W. Bush during the early 2000s. Perhaps this was penance enough, in the eyes of some liberals, to cleanse Young of his un-woke sins. Or perhaps he still needs to be held accountable for breaking the cardinal sin of exclusion and homophobia? People are funny, especially the self-righteous, wrote one person in response to the news about Youngs past anti-homo statements. I would actually prefer a clean, sane person handling and bagging my food than this filthy geriatric despot, wrote someone else about Young. Almost nobody on Twitter or anywhere else online had anything positive to say about Young, who is clearly a hypocrite casting stones inside a glass house. Dont forget that ol Neil sold 50 percent of his music catalogue to the Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which is half-owned by Blackrock, which also owns Pfizer, pointed out another about how Young has a vested financial interest in supporting the governments plandemic narrative, which Rogan put on blast. You dont think the owner of the music commanded the artist to do something nefarious like support censorship, do you? Follow the money, always. It comes down to that pretty much in every instance of silliness we are seeing in clown world today. He wasnt wrong about AIDS, suggested another. An op-ed recently published by the Financial Post denounces Young for maintaining a false persona of being a fan of freedom, not only for his Rogan-Spotify stunt but also for denying the freedom of oil workers, tech executives and big banks. The 76-year-old wants to kill off all fossil fuels, it turns out, even though an untold number of lives would be devastated by such a move. He infamously called on Barack Hussein Obama to halt the Keystone XL pipeline. Young also opposes the impact of Albertas oilsands on the Canadian landscape, comparing them to the dropping of the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. He was just listening to Fauci back then as well, commented someone else about Youngs AIDS commentary from the 80s. The good doctor misled everyone on the AIDS virus. More related news can be found at Libtards.news. Sources include: Twitter.com RollingStone.com NaturalNews.com 1 NaturalNews.com 2 FinancialPost.com (Natural News) Once again, the info-gatekeepers in the mainstream media the fact-checkers at the Associated Press, Reuters, etc., have served their purpose as disinformation outlets for the Deep State regime by lying about another aspect of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. According to Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter and author who has been following and tracking COVID-19 research and data since the pandemic began, a little-noticed report in the highly respected, peer-reviewed journal Cell reveals that mRNA materials from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines remain in lymph nodes for at least 60 days, while free-floating spike proteins circulate at high levels in the blood after vaccination. Thats not what the info-gatekeepers have been telling us. Vaccinated people infected with variants of Sars-Cov-2 produce antibodies biased toward the original and now extinct variant, rather than the one that has actually infected them, Berenson noted further on his SubStack account, noting that what he says is not a conspiracy theory. He added: Findings from a preprint in Cell, among the worlds leading scientific journals. Almost 50 researchers worldwide collaborated on the work, which Cell released online two weeks ago. The preprint has received little attention, possibly because it discusses the potential implications of its findings only obliquely. In discussing the fact that the mRNA hamper the immune response to new variants, the researchers offer extra doses as a potential solution. While the researchers still offer up booster vaccines as a way to compensate for relatively decreased binding to new variants (vaccine boosters have proven dangerous and ineffective as well, by the way), Berenson noted that, based on the research, the preprints findings destroy comforting fictions about the mRNA shots, including that the body quickly destroys the genetic material in the jabs, as Reuters and other fact-checkers have long insisted. Researchers writing in Cell note that the genetic materials actually remain in the body for up to two months 60 days. The mRNA vaccines cause the body to manufacture a large amount of spike proteins, and advocates for the vaccines have always argued that the proteins then remain bound to cells where they were made, Berenson noted. However, according to the researchers, they found that spike protein in the blood following mRNA vaccines were present and as high as those that were naturally produced after having the COVID-19 infection (again, making the vaccines for previously sickened people worthless). Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of the mRNA technology, discussed the production of harmful amounts of spike proteins caused by the vaccines with top podcaster Joe Rogan last month. The gain-of-function research behind the development of the bioweapon spike protein ultimately paved the way for the development of a similar, but different spike protein which is currently being used as mRNA instructions in the covid vaccine. The drug companies have an ethical obligation to prove that the spike protein in their vaccine is not toxic, said Malone as reported by Natural News. When he was asked about the decreasing efficacy of vaccines and boosters, Malone said he agreed that the jabs are actually leading to negative efficacy, as demonstrated in studies done by Danish researchers. As doses increase, individuals are becoming more prone to being infected by the virus. In Israel, where citizens are being pressured into getting a fourth vaccine dose, their B and T memory cells are being trained to attack a spike protein that has long since mutated, setting the vaccinated up for antibody-dependent enhancement, autoimmune issues and cancer, Natural News reported. Malone also warned that spike protein had a propensity to cause blood clotting, which has likely led to increases in strokes, heart attacks and other maladies related to the phenomenon. This is why this vaccine should not be mandatory at all. Sources include: AlexBerenson.Substack.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on Tuesday, February 8, predicted that the company will manufacture 120 million doses of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pill Paxlovid in 2022 30 million in the first two quarters and 90 million in the last two quarters of the year. The antiviral drug received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last December. Bourlas prediction came during the announcement of Pfizers revenue projections for 2022. It sounds like an admission that COVID-19 vaccines dont work as advertised as he basically said more people will need Paxlovid in the future. Why would people need the pills if the vaccines can really protect them from the disease? And why should people get the vaccine and risk suffering adverse effects if the pills can cure them? There are multibillion reasons why, at least from Pfizers perspective. The company expects the combined sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and Paxlovid to top $54 billion this year, which is more than 50 percent of the companys expected revenues of about $103 billion. The pharmaceutical giant predicted slightly lower 2022 revenues of $32 billion from the vaccine compared to 2021, but increased revenues of $22 billion from the COVID-19 pill. Pfizers 2021 profits doubled to $22 billion on the strength of its vaccine sales of more than three billion doses worldwide while the companys total revenues in 2021 increased by 95 percent over the previous year topping $100 billion for the first time in the companys history. According to Bourla, 2021 was a watershed year for Pfizer. Our successes in leading the fight against COVID-19 have not only made a positive difference in the world. I believe they have fundamentally changed our company forever, he said. The Wall Street Journal reported that the $36.8 billion the company made from its COVID vaccine alone was the highest annual sales total for any pharmaceutical product in history. The company engineered a number of recent acquisitions and partnerships to bolster its supply line of drugs and vaccines, including several partnerships announced in January to expand its growing mRNA business. In December 2021, Pfizer announced it would acquire Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $6.7 billion. Pfizer also said it had invested $25 billion on business development since 2019. Sarat Sethi, managing partner and portfolio manager at investment advisory firm Douglas C. Lane and Associates, told CNBCs Squawk Box that the promise of COVID vaccine boosters in the future made Pfizers balance sheet bulletproof. (Related: IT NEVER ENDS: How many doses of vaccine will be pushed for every new coronavirus mutation?) As Reuters reported, analysts forecast revenue of more than $6.6 billion for the Pfizer shot and $7.6 billion for Moderna in 2023 mostly from booster sales. They expect the annual market to settle around $5 billion or higher, with additional drugmakers competing for those sales. Pfizer sets sight on infants and toddlers Pfizer is also optimistic that the FDA will approve its vaccine for children six months to four years old. Bourla told CNBC he believes the FDA will authorize the companys COVID vaccine for children under five years old under a fast-track process that allows the agency to review the data as soon as researchers compile it in real time. I think the chances are very high for the FDA to approve it, Bourla said. Initial results of the Pfizer trial with children under five showed no positive effects from the vaccine. Still, the FDA invited Pfizer to submit the vaccine for approval. (Related: COVID-19 vaccine for all ages: Big Pharma to vaccinate infants soon.) The FDAs vaccine advisory committee is scheduled to meet Feb. 15 to consider approval of the shots for infants and toddlers. Big Pharma billionaires With billions at stake, it makes you wonder whether Big Pharma companies like Pfizer are in it to protect the people or to profit from them. Just a few months after the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, nine new billionaires have emerged from the pharmaceutical industry Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, co-founder and Chairman Noubar Afeyan, founding investor Robert Langer and early investor Timothy Springer; CanSino Biologics co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Zhu Tao, co-founder and Senior Vice President Qiu Dongxu and co-founder and Senior Vice President Mao Huinhoa; BioNTech co-founder and CEO Ugur Sahin; and ROVI Chairman Juan Lopez-Belmonte. They have a combined worth of $19.3 billion as of May 2021. Additionally, eight existing billionaires with big stakes in Big Pharma companies have seen their combined wealth increase by a staggering $32.2 billion just five months into the vaccine rollout. They are Zhifei Biological Chairman Jiang Rensheng and family; Serum Institute of India founder Cyrus Poonawalla; Tse Ping of Sinopharm; Zhifei Biological co-founder Wu Guanjiang; Thomas and Andreas Struengmann and their respective families who have stakes with BioNTech and Mega Pharma; Pankaj Patel of Cadila Healthcare; and Patrick Soon-Shiong of ImmunityBio. More related stories: FDA admits Pfizer antiviral oral drug paxlovid causes life-threatening reactions when taken with common medicines. Merck and Pfizers anti-covid pills are just another profiteering scam to exploit covid hysteria. The END of COVID VACCINES? Pfizer miracle pill prevents 9 out of 10 hospitalizations and deaths, according to clinical trial so why are vaccines necessary, then? Watch the video below to know more about the COVID pills. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Vaccines.news for more articles related to the coronavirus vaccines. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Oxfam.org Brighteon.com According to official satellite data, the number of trees chopped down in the Brazilian Amazon in January greatly outnumbered the number of trees deforested in the same month the previous year. The overall amount of land destroyed in January was five times that of 2021, making it the most since records began in 2015, according to BBC. Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, has been accused by environmentalists of enabling deforestation to grow faster. If we want to combat climate change, we need to protect the Amazon. Deforestation Trees are cut down for their timber and make room for crops to be grown to feed the world's food corporations. More than 100 states pledged to limit and reverse deforestation by 2030 at the COP26 climate change meeting in Glasgow last year. According to environmentalists, the latest satellite data from Brazil's space agency Inpe puts into doubt the government's commitment to safeguarding the country's vast jungle. Greenpeace Brazil's Cristiane Mazzetti adds, "The new data once again shows how the government's actions contradict their greenwashing initiatives." Greenpeace is urging supermarkets in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world to remove suppliers complicit in deforestation from their meat and dairy supply chains. Related Article: Amazon is Currently Experiencing the Worst Deforestation in 15 Years! Seven Times the Size of Manhattan In January, deforestation covered an area of 430 square kilometers (166 square miles), which is more than seven times the size of Manhattan. It's rare for loggers to cut down many trees at the start of the year because the wet season usually prevents them from getting into deep forests. The immense Brazilian rainforest acts as a carbon sink, absorbing large amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. However, the forest's ability to absorb pollutants decreases as more trees are chopped down. On the other hand, communities in the vicinity claim that to survive, they must exploit the forest for mining and commercial farming. Continous Destruction Simultaneously, Amazonian indigenous peoples battle to preserve the jungle and their traditional ways of life. Mr. Bolsonaro has eroded the region's safeguards and claimed that the government should exploit the territory to alleviate poverty. This degree of deforestation is a result of a lot of reasons. Some of these unlawful clearances are fueled by strong worldwide demand for agricultural commodities like cattle and soya beans and the hope that new legislation in Brazil would soon be implemented to legitimize and pardon land theft. According to the Brazilian government, total deforestation was lower in the twelve months between August of last year and January of this year than a year earlier. Given that President Bolsonaro has severely eroded legal safeguards since taking office in 2019, environmentalists say they are not shocked by the record. Mr. Bolsonaro was one of the world leaders who vowed to stop and reverse deforestation by the end of this decade at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow last year. Despite the shift in tone, political watchers contend that the policies on the ground have remained the same. Also Read: Ecuador's 'Major' Oil Spill Cause Devastating Effects in River and Protected Amazon Area For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! According to new research, overharvesting of the Great Barrier Reef's tropical sea cucumber is putting the marine animal in danger. Tropical sea cucumbers are in high demand in countries in East and Southeast Asia, and a decline in their population has prompted calls for better protection. Decline in Tropical Sea Cucumber Populations Due to Overharvesting Most sea cucumbers come from China where they are consumed. It is estimated that the global market for sea cucumbers is worth more than $200 million per year, according to Phys.org. A team from the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland led the research, which was published in Biological Conservation. Dr. Maria Byrne, professor of Marine Biology from the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences, said that sea cucumbers are earthworms or vacuums of the water, and that their role in reef health is important. Every year, abundant sea cucumber populations on unfished reefs remove tons of lagoon sediment from the water with their bodies. These species are in danger around the world, and their harvest on the Great Barrier Reef is particularly worrisome. There is a need for prudence and regulatory reforms based on fishery data acquired along Australia's principal sea cucumber fishing site on the Reef. Of the world's 16 endangered or vulnerable sea cucumber species, 10 may be found on the Great Barrier Reef. Data demonstrates that some of the world's most valuable species are in decline as a result of escalating and ongoing worldwide overharvesting. Also Read: Peptides in Sea Cucumbers May be Key to Get Glowing Skin Teatfish: The Most Affected Group of Tropical Sea Cucumbers Among tropical sea cucumbers, the teatfish are of particular concern because of their rapid demise. A strong legal foundation exists for restricting the collection and export of teatfish because they are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). White and black teatfish accounted for more than 20% of the Queensland fishery's total harvest in recent years. As a result of their high market value and low reproductive capacity, teatfish populations are at the greatest risk. Due to the removal of fisheries, the reef's inhabitants are unable to mate. Despite the fishery's reopening in 2019, black teatfish populations have not recovered since their fishery was halted in 1999 owing to overharvesting, as per Dr. Kenny Wolfe from the University of Queensland. On Dec. 20, 2020 a bright spot emerged when Environment Canada's Sussan Ley backed CITES listing and decided that black teatfish harvest would not be allowed in acknowledgment of their perilous status. A "wonderful win" for one of the 10 endangered or vulnerable sea cucumbers, but "additional policy interventions are needed to guarantee other sea cucumber populations don't start edging toward extinction," Ley said. Need for Government Protection According to Professor Byrne, conserving sea cucumbers requires strong statutory regulation. There has long been a non-regulatory-and thus non-binding-Performance Measurement System in place for the Great Barrier Reef sea cucumber fishery. As a result, the business has been harvesting sea cucumbers for decades without knowing how their harvests are affecting the sustainability of the stock. All tropical sea cucumber species harvested on the Great Barrier Reef require periodical stock assessments to be conducted within a legislative, regulated, and enforced policy framework, as per Science Daily. Only then would researchers be able to determine what a sustainable harvest is and identify species-specific treatments, in the hope of avoiding the local extinction of these ecologically important sea cucumber species on the Great Barrier Reef. Related Article: Sea Cucumbers Now the Face Of Aquacentric Organized Crimes For more news, updates about sea cucumbers and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! The Black Mountain has been known to be the version of the "Bermuda Triangle of Queensland" due to stories of the mysterious vanishing of animals and people. The Black Mountain, characterized by its granite boulder rocks, is located 25 kilometers from Cooktown in the state of Queensland, Australia. However, new research debunked the myths surrounding the Black Mountain disappearances. The research explained the disappearances and suggest there are concrete factors on why the disappearances occur. Black Mountain, the Bermuda Triangle of Queensland, Australia The mountain has been compared to the famous Bermuda Triangle, a triangle-shaped area in the North Atlantic Ocean wherein aircraft, ships, and people allegedly disappeared mysteriously, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Ocean Service (NOS). Despite the mystery behind the Bermuda Triangle, the US Navy and US Coast Guard claimed the disappearances within the Bermuda Triangle are a result of natural calamities and human errors, as per the NOAA - NOS. Like the Bermuda Triangle, the mystery of Black Mountain disappearances was rationally explained. Also read: Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved? 5 Mysterious Disappearances in the Infamous Triangle New Research Debunks Mystery of Black Mountain Disappearances New research in Australia reportedly indicated that such disappearances in the Black Mountain can be explained based on reality and real-world causes. Furthermore, the research claimed it has resolved the mysterious incidents of disappearances in the Black Mountain. The research team behind the recent discovery uncovered the mystery behind the Black Mountain by debunking some of the long-held notions surrounding the myths of the mountain, according to Bev Shay, a Cooktown-based historian, and the new research proponent, as per News Net Daily. The new research elaborated there are several scientific factors that made disappearances likely. These factors include the remoteness of the Black Mountain, the presence of crocodiles in the area, intoxication due to alcohol consumption, lack of swimming skills, and incidents of foul play. Black Mountain Disappearances Dating Back to the 1800s The Black Mountain has been the center of attention and human imagination due to unexplained disappearances back during the 1800s. The Black Mountain disappearances included early explorers, cattle, and horses who vanished without a trace. Prior to the new research, the unexplained circumstances or cause that led to the disappearances in the Black Mountain has sparked a wide range of believers spanning across several generations, thinking that the Black Mountain is mythical and similar to the Bermuda Triangle. Some of the instances of disappearances in the Black Mountain are the following, as per ABC News: 1800 - The infamous criminal Sugarfoot Jack and his accomplices were never seen again after fleeing to the Black Mountain following a shootout. 1872 - A delivery courier by the name of Philip Grayner disappeared while looking for his calf. 1882 - Police searched for two missing cattlemen, Harry Owens and George Hawkins, at the Black Mountain; one of the cattlemen returned and was unable to provide a coherent report. 1928 - A prospected named Q. Packer went missing while searching for gold or gemstones at the Black Mountain; his body was later found with a bullet on his head and to his rifle. 1932 - A traveler who went on hiking to the Black Mountain was reported missing and was later found dead due to unexplained causes. The Sacred Battlefield of Kalkajaka Known by traditional indigenous owners as Kalkajaka which translates to spear, the Black Mountain was once a so-called sacred battlefield between warring tribal clans over territorial disputes relating on contested hunting grounds. Furthermore, traditional indigenous owners also consider the Black Mountain as a sacred battleground for spirits. The mountain is not only a source of cultural mystery and legend among the indigenous tribes but they are also acknowledged by non-indigenous people, as per ABC News. Related article: Bermuda Triangle Mystery Solved? Experts Point to 'Killer Clouds' The natural phenomenon of climate change and global warming have haunted the contemporary era of potentially worst-case climate scenarios. These scenarios include worsening storms, weather disturbances, and rising sea levels due to the human-caused global heating effects. However, a new study suggests that the world can still meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change. This is possible based on climate scenarios and fast-changing technological innovations, including the production and affordable renewable energy, says the study. New Study's Optimistic Climate Prediction in the 21st Century Researchers stated that the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming and decrease the global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the 21st century are still within reach, as per a new study published in the Environmental Research Letters on Feb. 11. According to the new study's analysis, "apocalyptic" and worst-case climate scenarios relating to climate change and global warming are not likely to happen in the 21st century since the world can still reach the objectives laid out by the Paris Climate Agreement, as per Phys.org. The new study was conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The researchers compared climate scenarios acquired from the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The study's lead author, Roger Pielke, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado, said the new study provides optimism to our world's future concerning climate change and global warming. Pielke and the researchers of the study said that their projection of the climate situation in the 21st century may continue and pessimistic scenarios in the future are still possible. The researchers added that current data on climate scenarios must be continuously updated to provide accurate predictions. Also read: UN Report: Measures Against Climate Change and Global Warming not Sufficient Paris Climate Agreement The Paris Agreement (often referred to as the Paris Accords, Paris Climate Accord, or Paris climate agreement) is a legally binding international treaty on climate change agreed upon by more than 196 Parties or member countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) on December 12, 2015. One of the primary and most significant objectives of the Paris Agreement is for its member countries to plan and implement measures, especially in the energy, oil, and gas industries. These measures aim to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and their effect on the environment and atmosphere. Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases can mitigate or slow down the natural phenomena of the greenhouse gas effect, which pertains to global heating effects on Earth as greenhouse gases trap the Sun's heat in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the Paris Agreement specifically aims to decrease the global temperatures down to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in the 21st century. The temperatures are comparable to the global temperatures during the pre-industrial climate period. UN's Role in Ensuring the Paris Agreement is Achieved Since the Paris Agreement, the UN has regularly checked if members countries of the agreement are complying with the Paris Agreement's objectives. As a result, the UN is tasked to ensure that these objectives are being met by member countries. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), member countries of the Paris Agreement are required to report on their greenhouse gases-mitigating measures to enable the UN to track each countries' progress. Related article: How Climate Misinformation Through Social Media Worsens the Battle Against Climate Change DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Prosecutors told jurors that DNA links an accused serial killer with the slayings of three women 16 years ago when he was a criminal justice student at a local university. Prosecutors in Daytona Beach said during opening statements on Friday that DNA taken from Robert Hayes matches material found on the bodies of two of the three women, who were found shot to death by the same gun between December 2005 and February 2006. Hayes, 39, is also facing trial later for allegedly strangling a fourth woman in Palm Beach County in 2016. Advertisement According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, prosecutor Jason Lewis told jurors that Hayes was responsible for killing not once, not twice, but three times here in Volusia County. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Francis Shea, Hayes lead attorney, told the jurors that they would learn how long DNA lasts on a person and how tire tracks at one of the scenes led them to a junk yard, but did not explain how those are tied to the case. Advertisement The investigation into the deaths of Laquetta Gunther, 45, Julie Green, 35, and Iwana Patton, 35, was rekindled in 2016 after DNA found on the body of Rachel Bey, 32, near West Palm Beach linked their cases. All had worked as prostitutes. At the time of the Daytona Beach killings, Hayes was a student at the citys Bethune-Cookman University. Hayes was one of several men questioned in 2006 as a possible suspect based on a gun purchase similar to one used by the killer, but he told police he had given the gun to his mother and he wasnt arrested. His mother later told detectives he never gave her a gun. At the time of Beys death, Hayes was working as a chef in Palm Beach County. Investigators said in 2019 they ran DNA found on the victims through a genetic database used by people trying to find long-lost relatives and determined the killer was related to a woman with three half-brothers, one of them Hayes. Detectives testifying Friday told the jury they then put Hayes under surveillance and secretly confiscated a beer can and cigarette butt he discarded and, prosecutors say, the DNA from those items matched the killers. He was arrested. Newburyport, MA (01950) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some morning rain. High 51F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 44F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) questions Kelly Craft, President Trump's nominee to be Representative to the United Nations, during her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Craft has faced extensive scrutiny for her ties to the coal industry, as well as allegations that she was frequently absent during her time as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images) (Stefani Reynolds/Getty) Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida calls the Jan. 6 commission a complete partisan scam on CBS Face the Nation. This cannot go uncorrected. A Republican House member from Syracuse, N.Y., Rep. John Katko, negotiated with Democrats on establishing the committee. Republicans have undermined the committees efforts to get to the bottom of the invasion of the U.S. Capitol, to prevent the certification of President Bidens election and overthrow our government. Advertisement I dont know how long it took for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to regret pulling out of the agreement, but he blew the golden opportunity he was handed and instead has fought to quash subpoenas, limit witnesses and otherwise genuflect on Trumps behalf. The facts are inconvenient for Republicans, but they must deal with the consequences, and the only two Republican members, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, have by no means converted to the Democratic Party as they dig their teeth into the investigation with their colleagues. Rubio continues to demonstrate why hes a hindrance to the work of Congress. Voters need to boot him out of office in November. Advertisement Jay Margolis, Delray Beach (Editors note: Katko, ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, initially supported an investigating panel of five Democrats and five Republicans. He opposed the13-member select committee controlled by Democrats appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi). DeSantis detachment I just finished reading the Sun Sentinel and cant escape the hypocrisy of our governor and his relationship to reality. The Feb. 7 front page carried a heartbreaking account of the problem thousands are currently facing as rent increases force average working people out of their homes and apartments. The sub-headline read: Some no longer can afford their longtime homes as rents rise by as much as 40%. Juxtaposed was an article describing how our freedom-loving governor wants to change voting-by-mail requirements by mandating either a partial Social Security number or drivers license number. On one hand we have a very real problem that the governor is oblivious to, while his energy is directed at a problem that doesnt really exist. This is the same governor who touts Florida as a free state where citizens can do what they want without government interference. However, read the fine print and you see it doesnt apply to women and the right to decide what to with an unwanted or problem pregnancy. No such freedom for them. Again, playing to Trumps minions, Page 3 carried a story about how our disingenuous leader plans to focus on voter fraud while failing to do anything to stem the tide of dark money thats a real election problem. There are numerous other examples of how our governor doesnt give a Tinkers damn about the average Floridian. Its all about him. When will the people wake up and realize our governor is a fraud? Advertisement Mark Levine, Coconut Creek Praise for sheriff Re: The plain truth: Tonys lies make him unfit for sheriffs badge | Editorial It seems like every few weeks, its time for the Sun Sentinel to publish a negative and unflattering story about Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony. Weve heard it all before. Get over it folks, its a done deal. Sheriff Tony has served Broward County with dignity and professionalism for the past three years. I am not a fan of Gov. DeSantis, but this is one choice I applaud. George Roman, Hollywood Where morality ends If I go to a local Republican campaign office and throw a few bricks through the windows, can I claim Im not really committing a crime? Now that the horrors of Jan. 6 are being called legitimate political discourse by the Republican Party, where does morality begin for Republicans? Or has the party lost all semblance of morality? Lou Lifson, Boca Raton Pikeville, KY (41501) Today A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. High 87F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 64F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Thunderstorms likely in the morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 67F. 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. Adnan Yousif, Chairman of the Bahrain Association of Banks, was honored by Lebanon News Online in recognition of the years of experience and success that he has been able to achieve during his career, and his outstanding services to the development of the banking industry in Bahrain, the region, and the world, particularly Islamic banking. Yousif delivered a speech to Arab honorees during the ceremony, which took place in Dubai in the presence of prominent cultural, media, and economic figures from various Arab countries. He emphasised the durability of the Arab banking sector, praising efforts to address the difficulties surrounding it, primarily due to the exceptional health conditions imposed by the Corona pandemic. Many notable personalities who left a mark in their fields, including political, intellectual, economic, and cultural figures, were honored during the occasion. Yousif has over 40 years of financial and banking expertise. Between 2004 and 2020, he served as Executive Chairman and a board member of Al Baraka Banking Group, as well as President of the Arab Banking Union from 2007 to 2013, among other leadership positions. For his leadership role in developing and operating the world's largest Islamic banking group, he has received numerous international awards, including the 2004 and 2009 Islamic Banking Personality Award, the Leadership Excellence and Institutional Performance Award, the 2012 Arab Banking Leadership Excellence Award from the Arab Management Development Organization, and the 2012 Excellence in Achievement Award from the US Funding House Lariba. He has also received numerous honours, including: The First Class Order of Merit from His Majesty the Redeemer in 2011, the Presidential Medal of Excellence in Social Responsibility from the President of Sudan in 2015 and the 2015 Gold Award for Sustainable Development. He was also awarded the title of International Ambassador for Social Responsibility by the Regional Social Responsibility Network, the title of UN Commissioner for Preaching the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2016, and the 2017 Islamic Finance Personality at a ceremony World Islamic Finance Awards in Astana. Yousef holds an MBA from Hall University in the UK and an honorary doctorate in business administration from Al-Jinan University in Lebanon for his efforts in serving the Islamic economy. TradeAraabia News Service Longview, TX (75601) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially in the morning. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Longview, TX (75601) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially in the morning. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 82F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Cat eye syndrome (CES) is a rare congenital chromosomal disorder marked by various findings and results from a duplication of chromosome 22. Individuals with moderate dysmorphia to patients with severe abnormalities can all be diagnosed with CES. Characteristic features like iris colobomas, anorectal abnormalities, and preauricular anomalies affect about 40% of CES patients. Schachenmann et al. identified the genetic basis and mechanism of inheritance of CES for the first time in 1965. Image Credit: Vladimirkarp/Shutterstock.com Causes and symptoms Cat eye syndrome is a rare genetic condition caused by the short arm (p) and tiny region of the long arm (q) of chromosome 22 being duplicated three (trisomy) to four (tetrasomy) times instead of twice. The syndrome's name comes from the eye abnormalities that are commonly linked with it. Schmid Fraccaro syndrome, chromosome 22 partial trisomy/tetrasomy, and chromosome 22-inverted duplication are the different names for this condition. Patients with cat eye syndrome might have a wide range of phenotypes, ranging from minor to severe abnormalities, making diagnostic clinical criteria difficult to establish. Patients usually have a triad of iris coloboma, anal atresia, and a preauricular skin tag or pit. However, Berends et al. observed in their study that just 41% of CES patients possessed the triad, implying that diagnosing nearly 60% of the patients could be challenging. A high forehead, hypertelorism, epicanthus, and down slanting palpebral fissures are among the minor dysmorphias that have been recorded. Microphthalmia, cataract, strabismus, and Duane anomaly are some of the other ocular deformities mentioned. In severe cases, congenital cardiac abnormalities, kidney malformations, and gastrointestinal deformities have also been recorded. Although cognition is usually normal, 30% of patients have an intellectual disability. Preauricular skin tags and pits are the most common otologic signs in the majority of individuals. Low set ears and microtia, as well as conductive or sensorineural hearing loss, may be present. In about 30% of cases, mild to moderate mental retardation is observed, with no evident phenotypic difference between mentally normal and mentally retarded CES patients. Patients with almost normal phenotypes to those with severe abnormalities, including life-threatening congenital deformities, show a wide range of phenotypic variability with the syndrome. Anatomical asplenia, hemifacial microsomia, and Mullerian agenesis have all been recorded as unusual occurrences. The CES chromosome An extra bisatellited marker chromosome is present in cat eye syndrome. This leads to partial tetrasomy of euchromatic material from 22pter to 22q11. Breakpoints within band 22q11 create the usual CES chromosomes. A region that corresponds to the proximal breakpoint interval in the 22q11 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome) is the most prevalent breakpoint interval. Related Stories Rare disease diagnosis by 100,000 genomes pilot The smaller (type I) CES chromosomes are symmetrical, with both breakpoints in the proximal interval, whereas the larger (type II) CES chromosomes are either asymmetrical, with one breakpoint in each of the two intervals, or symmetrical, with both breakpoints in the distal interval, resulting in 1 or 2 extra copies of the DiGeorge critical region. The fact that penetrance and clinical symptoms are unrelated to the amount of supernumerary euchromatic material is noteworthy. The extra chromosome 22 is normally inherited from one of the parents. The likelihood of a carrier's progeny inheriting the marker chromosome is roughly 50%. Epidemiology There was no exact estimate of the likelihood of cat eye syndrome occurrence until recently, presumably because patients with some or all of the accompanying symptoms and indications are infrequently identified with CES or go untreated entirely. In Northeastern Switzerland, Schinzel et al. calculated an incidence of 1:50,000 to 1:150,000 people, with no gender preference. Diagnosis and treatment As cat eye syndrome has such a wide phenotypic range and the potential to damage so many organ systems, the overall prognosis varies greatly, from those who have very minor abnormalities to those who have deadly presentations. While the molecular size of the duplicated area varies depending on whether low copy repeat is the location of rearrangement, no link has been found between phenotypes and the size of chromosome 22 duplications. Karyotyping and FISH form the first line of diagnosis. To diagnose all the different manifestations of this syndrome, a thorough examination is required. A definitive diagnosis allows for the assessment of systemic problems and proper genetic counseling regarding the likelihood of recurrence in future pregnancies. A team of doctors and other healthcare professionals often provides medical management. Treatment for this ailment is determined by the indications and symptoms that each person exhibits. Congenital heart problems, anal atresia, cleft lip and/or palate, and skeletal anomalies, for example, may necessitate surgery. Physical therapy or occupational therapy may be recommended for children who have not reached their motor milestones (such as walking). Children with intellectual disabilities frequently require special education assistance. Although some severely affected babies die during infancy, the majority of people with cat eye syndrome do not have a shorter life expectancy. Unless they have serious symptoms, such as heart or kidney abnormalities, the majority of CES patients will have a normal life expectancy with proper care. References: Katz, B., Enright, J., Couch, S., Harocopos, G., & Lee, A. R. (2020). Atypical presentation of Cat Eye Syndrome in an infant with Peters anomaly and microphthalmia with cyst. Ophthalmic genetics, 41(6), 645649. https://doi.org/10.1080/13816810.2020.1814346 Hernandez-Medrano, C., Hidalgo-Bravo, A., Villanueva-Mendoza, C., Bautista-Tirado, T., & Apam-Garduno, D. (2021). Mosaic cat eye syndrome in a child with unilateral iris coloboma. Ophthalmic genetics, 42(1), 8487. https://doi.org/10.1080/13816810.2020.1839918 Alamer, L., Bassant, S., Alhazmi, R., & Alzahrani, M. (2019). Rare otologic presentation of cat eye syndrome. Annals of Saudi medicine, 39(6), 441443. https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.2019.441 Alsat, E. A., Reutter, H., Bagci, S., Kipfmueller, F., Engels, H., Raff, R., Mangold, E., Gembruch, U., Geipel, A., Muller, A., & Schaible, T. (2018). Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a case of Cat eye syndrome. Clinical case reports, 6(9), 17861790. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.1646 (2015). Cat Eye Syndrome. [Online] NIH- GARD. Available at: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/26/cat-eye-syndrome Further Reading Identifying adults who are ambivalent about vaccines early in a pandemic and finding community leaders who can help spread reliable information within their communities could help reduce vaccine hesitancy, according to a new University of Michigan study. These findings have important implications for public health messaging and planning. Fence-sitters are probably the people who are easiest to target for certain health promotions. said Abram Wagner, a research assistant professor of epidemiology at U-Ms School of Public Health and lead author of the report, which looked at changing attitudes towards traditional vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccine among US adults. For their analysis, researchers used data from the COVID-19 Coping Study, led by U-M professors Lindsay Kobayashi of the School of Public Health and Jessica Finlay of the Institute for Social Research. The longitudinal study seeks to understand how the pandemic-related control practices and policies are affecting the mental health and well-being of older adults. The study followed adults 55 and older living in the United States on a monthly basis from April 2020 through May 2021. It included data from 2,358 participants, and while the survey was not designed to be representative of the U.S. population, it provides actionable data for pandemic preparedness policies, the researchers say. Wagner said they were interested in this age group because older adults have a higher risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2. At the time we were conducting this study, whether they would get the COVID-19 vaccine was not necessarily a given, said Wagner, who added they wanted to see if there was a relationship between what participants thought about vaccines in general and whether they would get the COVID-19 vaccine specifically. Researchers first categorized each individual as an acceptor, ambivalent or rejector based on their attitudes towards vaccines at the start of the vaccine rollout. They compared these groups by sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, race, among others) and risk reduction behavior such as mask wearing and social distancing. At the beginning of the study, researchers identified 88.9% of the respondents as vaccine acceptors, 8.6% as vaccine ambivalent and 2.5% vaccine rejectors. By the end of the study, 90.7% of acceptors, 62.4% of the ambivalent and 30.7% of the rejectors had been vaccinated. Other key findings included: The vaccine-ambivalent were more likely to be Black and Hispanic. A CDC study had previously shown that vaccine rejectors tend to be white and of lower socioeconomic status. While the respondents attitudes towards vaccines varied, all groups expressed concerns over new vaccines and having potential serious adverse effects. The study supports previous research that shows the ambivalent feel strongly about protecting others. Lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among the ambivalent shows the wait and see approach seeks reaffirmation from community members. Understanding why some might hesitate to get the vaccine and identifying those who are ambivalent early on could help come up with strategies targeting these specific populations, Wagner says. The next time that we need to introduce a new vaccine into the population, we could quickly identify who these fence-sitters are. We followed them for a period of time and there was a strong relationship between their hesitancy in how we group them and their actual behaviors, he said. Also relevant for future pandemic preparedness, Wagner says, is focusing on who is delivering the message. It might be that we have to work through people outside of the health care system. Doctors and nurses can be really important people for introducing something to a community, but we found that not everybody is going to believe messaging from them. There are other community leaders that could help communicate like religious leaders, political leaders or even business leaders. I think itll be important to kind of think carefully about whos delivering the message. Abram Wagner, research assistant professor of epidemiology, U-Ms School of Public Health 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 range -; blood 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. 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." Shyam Gollakota, senior author, UW professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering 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 thing -; in 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 lower -; only about 40% of the time -; in 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. 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 worlds -; it'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. This research was funded by a Moore Foundation fellowship. New research to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2022, Lisbon, 23-26 April) shows that, although over time the number of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies falls in both previously infected and vaccinated patients, the performance of antibodies improves only after previous infection (and not vaccination). This difference could explain why previously infected patients appear to be better protected against a new infection than those who have only been vaccinated. The study, by Dr Carmit Cohen of the Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel, and colleagues, also found that, contrary to expectations, previously infected patients with obesity had a higher and more sustained immune response than overweight and normal weight range patients. While protection against re-infection lasts for a long time in SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients, breakthrough infections are increasingly common six months after vaccination. In this study the authors analyzed the humoral (antibody-induced) immune response in COVID-19 recovered but unvaccinated individuals for up to a year and compared it with those who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine (but no previous infection) over eight months. The study recruited previously infected-unvaccinated and double-vaccinated-never infected individuals from 25 March 2020 to 25 of November 2020 and closed in April 2021, just before the delta variant arrived in Israel. Those previously infected in this study had been infected by the original and alpha variants (and some cases of beta) of SARS-CoV-2, although it is not known which variant for each patient as the laboratory only gained the ability to sequence variants long after the study began. The researchers followed-up of 130 patients diagnosed with SARS-COV-2 using PCR testing. These patients had not been vaccinated and remained unvaccinated during the study. None of these patients were reinfected across the study period. Data were collected on acute (during infection and immediately after) as well as long term (after 6 weeks) symptoms. They compared anti-spike protein IgG and neutralising antibodies of these 130 recovered patients to 402 age and body mass index (BMI), matched individuals who were double-vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine but who had never had COVID-19. These double-vaccinated patients also remained uninfected across the study period; however, evidence had begun to emerge in Israel at this time (the second quarter of 2021) that double-vaccinated, never infected healthcare workers were experiencing 'breakthrough' infections at around six months after their second dose, whereas previously infected individuals that had not been vaccinated were not being reinfected. This study aimed to explore why. The avidity index (simply expressed as the quality of antibody performance) was compared at one and six months for sub-cohorts composed of 16 people who had recovered from COVID-19 and 22 never-infected individuals who had been double vaccinated. For recovered patients, questionnaires concerning symptoms including long COVID were also collected. The researchers found that the numbers of antibodies a month after vaccination were higher than those in the COVID-19 recovered patients. However, these numbers also declined more steeply in the vaccinated group. The avidity (antibody performance quality) index was higher in vaccinated individuals than in recovered patients initially. However, up to six months avidity did not significantly change in vaccinated individuals, whereas it gradually increased in recovered patients and potentially protected them from reinfection. Interestingly, and against expectations, the level (titers) of antibodies in recovered patients with a body mass index of 30 or higher (in the obese range) was higher at all time points when compared with those with a BMI under 30 (normal weight to overweight range), suggesting people with obesity who had been previously infected were better protected against future infection than those who were overweight or normal weight and had been previously infected. Of all recovered patients, 42 (36%) experienced long COVID symptoms including mental health (5%), neurological (9%), cardiovascular (5%) and respiratory (31%) manifestations. The authors conclude: "While the number of antibodies decrease with time in both COVID-19 recovered (but never vaccinated) patients and vaccinated (but never infected) individuals, the quality of antibodies increases following infection but not after vaccination. People with obesity have a significantly higher and sustained antibody-induced immune response following infection. These results provide specific characteristics of the immune response that may explain the differential protection against COVID-19 in previously infected compared with only-vaccinated individuals." Now that most people in Israel are vaccinated, it has become much more difficult to do any new study of never-vaccinated individuals. This team of researchers is now following a cohort of people recovered from the delta variant (specifically focused on families) and also a separate cohort recovered from the omicron variant. In these newer studies, they are examining both the humoral and innate immune responses (different parts of the immune system). Saudi Arabia's port infrastructure market has shown promising growth in historical years until 2019 and is expected to continue its growth over the next five years, mainly due to the rapidly increasing demands from the energy sector, said a report. The kingdom's port infrastructure market owes its growth to the factors like rapidly increasing demands for the better and efficient port infrastructure to maintain the shipment commercial, industrial or recreational, according to TechSci Research. The market is expected to register an esteemed growth on the account of expanding business through sea shipment and sales. The kingdom is one of the largest exporters of oil and petroleum and the expanding oil and petroleum industry is one of the major factors supporting the growth of the Saudi Arabia port infrastructure market in the next five years of forecast until 2026 it stated. According to industry experts, seaport is anticipated to hold the largest revenue shares of the market and assert its dominance over the market segments on the account of rapidly increasing demand for the seaports for the commercial and industrial supply chains. The country owes its economic growth to the seaports that are actively involved with the exports of oil and petroleum through the sea routes to other countries. Also, container terminals are expected to register significant growth in the upcoming five years on the account of growing demand for the port infrastructure management. Moreover, rapidly increasing demand from the energy sector is further substantiating the growth of the Saudi Arabia port infrastructure market in the next five years, it stated. Port terminals are anticipated to generate the maximum revenue shares of the market and dominate the segment on the account of regular shipments that dock. Moreover, the supply of oil and petroleum to the global countries is also carried out through these terminals, that are actively driving the growth of the Saudi Arabia port infrastructure market in the upcoming five years. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has ten major ports for the industrial and commercial utilization, namely, Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port Dammam, King Fahad Industrial Port Yanbu, King Fahad Industrial Port Jubail, Jubail Commercial Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, Jizan Port, Ras al Khair Port, Ras Tanurah Saudi Aramco Port, and Dhiba Port. The transportation from these ports solely accounts for the 70% of the countrys economy, stated the report from TechSci Research. The major players in the Saudi port infrastructure market include Zamil Operations and Maintenance Company, Gulf Stevedoring and Contracting, Arab Agricultural Services Company, Red Sea Marine Services Company, National Port Services, Gulf Construction Company for Cargo and Offloading Ltd., Global Marine Services Company, National Port Services Company, Saudi Maintenance Organization and National Ports Services Company (NPS). These market players hold larger shares of the market than the new market players. With the evolving technology, it is appropriate to say that the effective research and development of the technologically advanced instruments and methods to satisfy consumer demands would support the market growth and benefit the market players as well as the consumers. New market players may focus on the research and development to provide such products and services that satisfies the consumer demand as well as benefits the market players in building their brand value. Other competitive strategies include mergers & acquisitions and new product developments. "Saudi Arabia benefits largely from the sea trades and major consumer goods and retails are often supplied through the seaports. Infrastructure evolution is one of the major reasons that port infrastructure market in the country is growing," said Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm. "To further aid the well-organized trade activities, the consistent development is required. New market players may research and work on the advanced technology for the efficient working and effective monitoring of the ports in the country," stated Chechi.-TradeArabia News Service 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" 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, PhD, 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 tourism -; people 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. 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." Gudelia Rangel, PhD, co-director of the study and researcher at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and US-Mexico Border Health Commission The research team includes Britt Skaathun, PhD, assistant professor; Antoine Chaillon, MD, PhD, associate professor; Annick Borquez, PhD, assistant adjunct professor; Tetyana Vasylyev, PhD, assistant professor; Irina Artamanova; Alicia Harvey-Vera, PhD; Carlos F. Vera and Brendon Woodworth, all at UC San Diego, with Caroline Ignacio, PhD, 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 reduces the chances of HIV infection for persons at high risk. Jeffersonville, IN (47130) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 53F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. (Newser) They were a young family of four from India who froze to death while trying to walk from Canada into the US last month. The BBC digs into the story of the Patel family to try to understand how this came to pass, and one inescapable fact emerges: It was about 35-below zero the night they tried to walk from tiny Emerson, Manitoba, into the US, and the Patels were unfamiliar with temperatures that brutal. "Even on its coldest day, the Patels' home village in western India would not have reached within 10 degrees of freezing," write Holly Honderich and Roxy Gagdekar. The bodies of Vaishaliben, 37; wife Jagdish, 39; daughter, Vihangi, 11; and son, Dharmik, 3, were found together about 40 feet from the US border. All were wearing newly purchased winter clothes, but they didn't stand a chance that night, when they were more than 7,000 miles from home. This much is known: The Patels, who were in what might be considered the lower middle class in Gujarat, India, flew from India to Toronto around Jan. 12. They arrived in rural Manitoba about 1,200 miles away on Jan. 18, though how is unclear. Authorities believe they were using an informal network of human smugglers, of the same variety used by others in rural Indiathe story explores "an intense and pervasive social pressure to move abroad, with social status determined by connections in foreign countries." It's not clear where the Patels hoped to end up in the US, and the story notes they were unusual in one sense: In recent years, more people found in such situations have been trying to cross into Canada from the US, rather than vice versa. (Read the full story, which notes the arrest of a Florida man suspected of playing a role in the Patels' journey.) (Newser) In a strategy the US hasn't used on this scale since the Cuban missile crisis, the Biden administration is trying to disrupt President Vladimir Putin's planning in the Ukraine impasse by regularly releasing classified information showing what Russia's doing. The releases have covered troop movements, a purported scheme to create a pretext for an invasion, and reports that senior Russian officers are unsure about their president, the New York Times reports. One goal is to hamper Russia long enough to allow time for diplomatic efforts to end the crisis or for Putin to be convinced an invasion is a bad idea. "The hope is that the Russians are surprised about the allied knowledge of these things, and that they have an internal reaction," a Western intelligence official said, per CNN. "Usually, what you'd expect to see would be the Russians wondering if they have a mole." Learning what the US knows about the operations could make the Russians wonder whether they can maintain the secrecy and surprise they'd want in taking action, the official said. The US also wants to lay out any Russian plans for false-flag operations or invented pretexts to make those strategies more difficult to carry out. Making that information public also could hurt Putin's global standing and help build international support for a strong allied response. President John F. Kennedy released photographs of Soviet ballistic missiles installed in Cuba in 1962, to convince Americans, other nations, and the news media of the threat. In 2014, in a past Russia-Ukraine showdown, intelligence agencies kept President Barack Obama from releasing information about Russia's intentions. "We have learned a lot, especially since 2014, about how Russia uses the information space as part of its overall security and military apparatus," a National Security Council spokeswoman said, per the Times. "And we have learned a lot about how to deny them some impact in that space." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) An Air Asia pilot had to divert his Malaysian flight because of a lone passenger, but this time the ruckus didn't involve booze or masks. The passenger in question was a snake, and a pretty big one to boot, reports NPR. You can see for yourself via this TikTok video, which shows the real-life snake on a plane in an overhead compartment. "As soon as the flight captain was aware, he made the decision to divert the aircraft ... as a precautionary measure to fumigate the aircraft," says the airline's security chief, per New Straits Times. The flight had been en route from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau but touched down in Kuching instead. This is a very rare incident which can occur on any aircraft from time to time, the airline official tells CNA. At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk." Passengers were put aboard a different plane to complete their journey. The airline didn't specify what type of snake it was or what fate the serpent met upon landing. The Samuel L. Jackson flick Snakes on a Plane is 16 years old now, and these types of headlines have surfaced multiple times in the years since. (Read more snakes stories.) (Newser) A late-night melee led to four people being shot in Los Angeles, and two celebrities factor in the headlines. Rapper Kodak Black, 24, was among the four shooting victims who ended up in a hospital early Saturday morning, reports NBC News. Black, aka Bill Kapri, was shot in the foot during a fight outside a restaurant around 2:45am, law enforcement sources tell the Los Angeles Times. None of the shooting victims were believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. The other celeb involved is Justin Bieber, but only because he had been hosting a party in the restaurant, and the fight broke out as people were leaving. Police are still investigating what happened, but TMZ has video showing Black among a group of men fighting as a flurry of gunshots rings out and people run for cover. Black's hits include "No Flockin'" and "Tunnel Vision," though the Times notes he may be best known for being among the list of people pardoned by former President Trump (on weapons charges) as Trump left office. Bieber hosted the party after performing at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood earlier that night. In a news release, the LAPD says the unknown gunman fled the scene and is still at large. (Read more Justin Bieber stories.) (Newser) Virginia's new Republican governor reached out across the aisle this week to praise veteran lawmaker Sen. L. Louise Lucas for her speech on Black History Month. One problem: It was a different Black legislator, Sen. Mamie E. Locke, who delivered the speech in question, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch. I had the floor speeches on while doing too many things at once, Glenn Youngkin said in a statement released by his office. I made a mistake and I apologized to Senator Lucas right away. Still, the governor is taking flak over the miscue, including from Lucas, who initially let it slide. Lucas showed her exchange of texts with Youngkin to the Washington Post. He praised her for the speech, she corrected him, and he apologized and thanked her for the head's up. It might have stayed private between them, but Lucas went public a few days later because she felt Youngkin and Republicans were engaging in unfair politics in regard to Democratic appointees on various state boards. She tweeted about the mistake along with side-by-side images of herself and Locke. Study the photos and you will get this soon! she wrote. The Post adds context: The new governor "has gotten off on the wrong foot with some Black legislators" over his policies, including a first-day edict to ban the teaching of critical race theory in classrooms. (As defined by the newspaper, CRT is a "graduate-level study of systemic racism that has become a catchphrase for what conservatives regard as unduly race-conscious K-12 lessons and teacher training.") Arne Duncan, education secretary under Barack Obama, was among those ribbing Youngkin publicly: Maybe a few courses in [Critical Race Theory] might be beneficial," he wrote of the governor, per the Times-Dispatch. (This incident involving a teen didn't sit well with Youngkin critics, either.) (Newser) In the first significant European demonstration inspired by the anti-mandate truck convoy in Canada, protesters rolled into Paris on Saturday, blocking the Champs-Elysees until police were able to disperse them. Officers used tear gas and clashed with the protesters, who had violated a government order to stay out of the city and broken through defenses set up at the Champs-Elysees, the Washington Post reports. Bystanders in the central shopping district ducked into restaurants for safety. More than 7,000 police officers were waiting for the demonstrators, who were warned that violators faced a two-year prison sentence, a fine of more than $5,000, and the suspension of their driver's license. Waving French flags from their vehicles, protesters were able to mostly block traffic around the Arc de Triomphe junction, per CNN. Police said at one point they'd kept 500 vehicles out of the city and issued more than 300 tickets. More than a dozen people were arrested by mid-afternoon. Regular, large protests of France's health pass were held last year but faded. Those events included people with varied causes, some protesting government restrictions and others espousing conspiracy theories. Polls show most people still back the pass, per the Post, though the government's handling of the pandemic has been losing support. Other European cities dealt with similar protests or were preparing for them. Organizers of the Paris convoy planned to drive to Brussels, possibly arriving Monday. Officials also have barred the protesters from the Belgian capital. A demonstration Saturday stopped traffic in parts of the Hague. A senior French official had called the protest a "convoy of shame and selfishness," but President Emmanuel Macron conceded Friday that in some cases, the protesters might have a point. France's presidential election is in April. (Read more protests stories.) (Newser) Police on the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge arrested protesters and towed vehicles Sunday after Windsor's mayor said the "national economic crisis" is ending. "Border crossings will reopen when it is safe to do so," said Mayor Drew Dilkens, who added that the timing is up to police and border officials. As demonstrators were removed from areas near the Detroit-Windsor bridge, "Freedom!" chants could be heard from the crowd, the Detroit News reports. Police had moved on the bridge on Saturday, and many demonstrators left then without incident. White House officials said they expect the Ambassador to reopen sometime Sunday, per the Hill. Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted a warning to the remaining protesters Sunday, per CNN, saying they could be fined $100,000 and imprisoned for a year. One demonstrator took pride in the protests. "A friend of mine texted me ... 'Who imagined that little old Canada started this?'" said Eunice Lucas-Logan. "And take a look," she added. "It's just not staying in Canada. Australia, my cousin in Australia said it's happening there. New Zealand, Spain, it's not just Canada. It's worldwide now." A poll showed most Canadians oppose the truckers' protest, per NBC News. Windsor police, who were granted expanded authority to clear the bridge by a court on Friday, said they'll stay in the area after the reopening to ensure another blockade isn't attempted. (Read more Canada stories.) Dubai government's $1.42 billion allocation in the budget for construction projects for the 2022-2024 period will have a positive impact on the wood and woodworking industry as demand for wood, timber and wood products will increase, said the president of the Organising Committee of the upcoming Dubai WoodShow. An extensive large-scale trade exhibition (B2B), Dubai WoodShow will provide an ideal platform for suppliers, manufacturers, machinery and tools companies to present their products, innovative technologies and large-scale machinery to key figures in the African region. The move is set to consolidate the emirate's pole position as a global economic centre, enhancing its competitiveness and meeting future aspirations in leading global economic recovery efforts, stated Dawood Al Shezawi. The show will be an ideal opportunity for Dubai and African countries to seal beneficial deals that foster the wood and woodworking industry, he added. "It is very crucial to the wood and woodworking industry as we approach the Dubai WoodShow 2022 where Dubai and Africa will once again come together in what is arguably the best platform of its kind after a hiatus caused by the pandemic," he noted. With its untapped resources, infrastructure needs and surging population, Africa presents one of the major investment opportunities for international players. "Of course, the continent is not a homogenous region. With a GDP of $3.4 trillion and a population of 1.3 billion across 54 countries, Africa presents different business and investment opportunities: from BRICS state South Africa, to oil powerhouses Angola and Nigeria, to the fast-growing Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, and Zambia, the region offers huge potential for investors and corporations eager to expand their footprint," stated Al Shezawi. Furthermore, the UAE plans to deepen its trade ties in fast-growing economies in Asia and Africa, and draw $150 billion in foreign investment from mainly older partners to reposition itself as a global hub for business and finance. The country offers a wide variety of competitive advantages that make it an ideal destination in this regard, such as is strategic geographic position near African markets, world-class infrastructure, excellence logistics facilities, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. African companies are attracted to Dubai because of its expertise in areas such as infrastructure and construction and having them on DWS will impact positively on the business side. With such boom in the construction and building sector across the region, wood and woodworking machinery industry is bound to benefit and will increase the demand for sustainable products and technologies. The UAE construction market was valued at $101.45 billion in 2020, and is now expected to reach a value of $133.53 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 4.69% over the period of 2021-2026. Waahlaal Giidaak Barbara Blake, La quen naay Liz Medicine Crow, and Chalyee Eesh Richard Peterson serve in their personal capacity as the co-chairs of Alaskans for Better Government, a ballot initiative campaign to create a formal pathway for government to government relations between the state of Alaska and tribes in Alaska. Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait & UAE tell citizens to leave now and not to travel to Ukraine Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait & UAE tell citizens to leave now and not to travel to Ukraine TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait yesterday called on citizens to leave immediately or postpone travel to Ukraine amid threats of a Russian invasion. The Foreign Ministry of Bahrain, in a statement, called on Bahraini citizens not to travel to Ukraine now and to leave it for their safety, citing security instability. Citizens, the ministry said, can contact the operations office of Mofa on 0097317227555 for assistance. The move comes as the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Russia could invade Ukraine any time now, including during the ongoing Beijing Winter Olympics. The US President Joe Biden had also made clear that he would not send troops to rescue Americans if Moscow invades Ukraine. The US asked its citizens not to travel to Ukraine due to the increased threats of Russian military action. Those in Ukraine should depart now via commercial or private means. However, Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine despite massing more than 100,000 troops near the border. Saudi said it is requesting citizens in Ukraine to call the embassy to facilitate immediate departure from the country. Saudi has also asked citizens to postpone their travel until further notice, an Al-Arabiya report said. Kuwait and UAE have also made calls to their citizens to leave the country and postpone plans to visit Ukraine. Multiple countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, NetherlandsIsrael, Norway, South Korea, Latvia, Britain and other countries, had also advised their citizens to leave Ukraine. When asked whether there was a scenario that could prompt him to send troops to rescue fleeing Americans, Biden told BBC: Theres not. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. Were in a very different world than weve ever been. However, neither Biden nor Blinken delved into the reasons for alarming calls to evacuate. Reports say there are an estimated 30,000 Americans in Ukraine. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com An Israeli officer will station in Manama as part of a 34-member international coalition for securing freedom of navigation in the region, confirmed a Foreign Ministry statement. The statement was in response to media reports speculating the appointment of an Israeli officer in Manama. The ministry, confirming the appointment, said it was related to the work of an international coalition of more than 34 countries. The statement also said the coalitions task includes securing freedom of navigation in the territorial waters of the region, protecting international trade and confronting piracy and terrorism. The Times of Israel has said the officer will travel to Bahrain in the next few weeks. He will serve as a liaison for the United States 5th Fleet, the report quoted Channel 13. It is also the first time an Israeli military officer is posted to an Arab country. The move was agreed upon during Defence Minister Benny Gantzs visit to the Gulf last week. The memorandum of understanding, the report said, will help advance intelligence cooperation, a framework for exercises, and cooperation between the countries defence industries. The MOU (memorandum of understanding) framework will support any future cooperation in the areas of intelligence, milto-mil (military to military), industrial collaboration and more, the Israeli Defence Ministry earlier said in a statement. Against a backdrop of increasing maritime and aerial threats, our ironclad cooperation is more important than ever, Gantz said on Twitter after the naval base visit. Israel and Bahrain normalized ties a year and a half ago by signing the Abraham Accords at the White House during the Trump administration. Also last week, the Israeli Navy began taking part in a massive international exercise led by the 5th Fleet, the International Maritime Exercise, known by its abbreviation IMX, which is focusing on unmanned naval systems and the use of artificial intelligence. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Criminal Court will pass its verdict next Tuesday in a case involving two men accused of attacking police officers under the influence of drugs at Bahrain International Airport. Court files say the incidents leading to the case occurred when a police officer approached a man found in an inebriated state at the airport. Officer said the suspect was crying and behaving suspiciously. However, upon seeing the approaching police officer, the man took to his heels, setting off a chase. After a while, officers caught him and recorded his arrest. Airport security officers tried to question the suspect, but he remained restless as the police officers tried to calm him down. The suspect also reportedly yelled, calling out random names, before bursting into a tussle with police officers, screaming, Now its time to defend me. Officers later found that his actions were under the influence of drugs. The suspect later confessed that he abused drugs with an Asian man. We had an agreement to go to a workshop to fix my car, but the Asian man excused himself and left me. I decided to go and meet my girlfriend. But before he left, an argument arose between us, and he threatened that he would kill me. Out of fear, I decided to hide at the airport, he said. Police officers identified the Asian man and recorded his arrest. Public Prosecution put the pair on trial before the High Criminal Court. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Criminal Appeals Court acquitted a Bahraini woman charged with defamation and reversed a BD50 fine slapped in a case filed by her cousin for lack of evidence. Case files say the Bahraini woman posted defamatory remarks against her cousin on social media platforms. A Bahraini court had also slapped her with a BD50 fine for misusing telecom devices. The woman, however, challenged that verdict by the court of the first instance and pleaded with a lawyer. The lawyer argued that there was no solid evidence to support the claims made against his client. After reviewing the records of the Public Prosecution it was clear that my client didnt commit any offence. There wasnt any proof against her. The case and the conviction were based on the plaintiffs statements and unclear images provided by her that included the name of my client. As a result, the provided pieces of evidence werent sufficient to hold her guilty, the lawyer argued. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Historical documents dating back forty years chronicle decades of Bahraini-American relations proving the mutual support between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa - since he was Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force - and various American presidents and leaders to maintain security and achieve peace in the region, revealed Dr Nooh Khalifa. Dr Nooh revealed this information during the announcement of the second topic of his research - Bahrain and America: Developments of the Alliance in Security and Peace between the reigns of Ronald Reagan and Joe Biden - whose results he promised to publish. According to Dr Khalifa, the joint efforts of both countries to secure the region during the Iran-Iraq war was the starting point for an extended alliance. Bahrains efforts to stop the Iran-Iraq war was the first major regional security challenge undertaken by the Kingdom since its independence within efforts to secure the region, stated Dr Khalifa. Bahrains movement with America and the international community solidified Americas belief in Bahrains exceptional strategic and political importance in the Arabian Gulf. American President Ronald Reagan discussed the security of the Arabian Gulf region at the start of the Iran-Iraq war in the White House with the late Amir of Bahrain Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Bahrains capabilities in achieving peace and progress in the region were also highlighted during these discussions. According to Dr Khalifa, the Bahraini government also had discussions with Congress Delegations while also receiving official correspondences from President Ronald Reagan regarding methods to end the Iran-Iraq war. Dr Khalifa also added that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa - King of the Kingdom of Bahrain - collaborated with United States Secretary of Defence Casper Weinberger since he was Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force within efforts to stabilise the region and find an end to the Iran-Iraq war. The United States of America spared no efforts to secure the freedom of navigation in the Gulf in collaboration with neighbouring friendly countries, added Dr Khalifa. Issuing the decision to cease fire and banning the export of arms into Iran to halt the targeting of international ships in the Gulf is the first and most prominent feature of Americas credibility in the Arabian Gulf region due to its extensive maritime commitment. Iranian attacks on Iraq - which sparked a devastating war and damaged the freedom of navigation as well as the interrelated interests between the Arabs and the West - were an aggressive act against the Arabian fabric interconnected with the world. These events were a major catalyst for Bahrains motivation towards consolidating peace, stability and freedom of maritime navigation in the Arabian Gulf in collaboration with America as a basis for Gulf and Arab relations with the world. Dr Khalifa noted that the history of Bahraini-American positions in enhancing the regions stability and securing maritime navigation reaffirms the importance of Bahrain as a gateway known for its openness to the countries of the world and its renewable ability to enhance positions and opportunities that keep up with security developments and concerns in the Middle East. Dr Khalifa added that he intends to highlight the history of mutual support between the two nations on multiple regional issues through newspaper articles published in both nations gradually. As European automakers bow to the politicians and seek to rid themselves of carbon dioxide (CO2) spewing internal combustion engines (ICE), at least in their home markets, Mazda is doing its best to retain much of its traditional engineering while addressing the need for electrification and seeking more exotic solutions with the help of maybe hydrogen and biofuel. Mazda, with maybe a nudge from its partner the mighty Toyota which is also following a grudging embrace of battery electric vehicles (BEV) or a perceptive wait-and-see how the cookie-crumbles, according to your opinion, detailed its future product plans at an event in Glasgow, Scotland to launch a facelifted CX-5 SUV. Mazda said it wants to plow its own furrow and build up its electric car portfolio but without trashing its ICE engineering prowess built up over many years. Nevertheless, We are about to embark on a fundamental shift in our product portfolio, said Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson. The European Union has set tough CO2 emission rules which insist most new cars built by 2030 are BEV. Britain has already banned the sale of new ICE sedans and SUVs by 2030. These vigorous attempts to force electric cars on Europeans are coming under pressure as eye-wateringly big increases in domestic energy prices aggravate voters. But theres no concrete sign yet the plans could be reversed. Green lobby groups like Brussls-based Transport & Environment want the CO2 rules to be tightened further. Meanwhile, Mazda plans to have 25% of its global product line as full BEV compared with VWs 70% target in Europe by 2030. Mazda says ICE will still power most of its cars by 2030, but all models will have some form of electrification. Mazda plans more hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and all-electric cars, but it also wants to improve ICE engineering in a slow but sure transition to all-electric. It wants ICE vehicles to contribute to the drive for CO2 reduction. Mazda also sees a role for hydrogen, renewable fuels, and next-generation bio-diesel. ...continue reading South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company has secured a 1 trillion-won ($834 million) contract from Saudi-based Tuwaiq Casting & Forging for the construction of a 60,000-tonne-a-year plant in Ras Al Khair region of the kingdom. Tuwaiq Casting & Forging is a three-party joint venture between Doosan Heavy, Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur) and Saudi Aramco Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of global energy giant Saudi Aramco. Tuwaiq Casting & Forging is set to be located within the King Salman International Maritime Industries Complex in Ras Al Khair near Jubail in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Work will begin soon on the 400,000 sq m casting and forging facility and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2025, it said. Equipped with integrated production lines, including steel making, casting and forging and processing, the plant is expected to be Saudi Arabias largest casting and forging facility. Major product lines from the facility are expected to include casting and forging materials for pumps and valves used at petrochemical plants and for equipment used in shipbuilding and offshore plants in Saudi Arabia. In the long term, the partners intend to expand the product mix of the facility to cover power generation plants and wind power plants.-TradeArabia News Service People will soon not only be able to visit a local historical war encampment, but also be able to learn more by taking an audio tour. The Connecticut Radio Information System, a nonprofit radio-reading service, was recently awarded a $46,241 federal grant that will allow the organization to create an audio tour of the Revolutionary War winter encampment at Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding. Putnam Memorial State Park marks an important part of Connecticuts history, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes said in a statement. This site housed 3,000 Revolutionary War soldiers in 1778 and 1779 and the encampment played an indispensable strategic role for the Continental Army, allowing soldiers to protect the Hudson River Valley and Long Island Sound. Im thrilled that this federal grant will bring the stories of the Revolutionary War to life and make the parks history more accessible. The encampment was designated as the states first state archaeological preserve and still includes original stone-built fireplaces. The site housed Continental Army soldiers during the winter of 1778-79 and is among the most important undisturbed Revolutionary War sites in the country, according to emeritus state archaeologist Nicholas Bellan toni. A team from CRIS, archaeologists, historians, archivists and graduate students will now be tasked with bringing the site to life with the goal of creating a smartphone audio tour that visitors can listen to and learn more. They plan to research the roles of women, Native Americans and African Americans and how they aided soldiers at the encampment. Connecticuts role in the Revolution was extensive, and I was proud to lead the decadelong effort in Congress to designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route as a National Historic Trail, said U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, adding that many involved at the site from diverse communities have gone largely unacknowledged. While local residents were largely aware of the 50-acre sites connection to the Revolutionary War, the full scope of its historical significance was only confirmed in the last decade. The site Gen. Parsons Preserve is named for Gen. Samuel H. Parsons and is one of three places in the area that the army of Major Gen. Israel Putnam garrisoned. Troops at the site were responsible for protecting Danbury, a central supply depot for American soldiers, and to block advances by the British from Long Island Sound. The site was designated as a state archaeological preserve in 2001, meaning anybody looking for artifacts on the site need a state permit. This story has been updated to reflect the correct year the site was designated as an archaeological preserve. The well-known stand-up comic writer and actor, Sumukhi Suresh, recently joined NewsX for a candid chat as part of NewsX Influencer A-List. In the exclusive conversation, the actor talked about her take on new comedians joining the industry, women in the field and much more. Talking about where the stand-up comedy industry stands for women right now, the actor said, I think the industry is still peaking. However, the excitement around it during the beginning has died down, its no longer your USP if you are a comic. You have to be a good comic, your content has to be good, it has to back you. You have to be someone who has new ways of telling something. A YouTube clip going viral is no longer your biggest credit because of course, stand-up is going to be watched. Right now women in the industry have arrived at a stage where there are different voices when it comes to stand-up. Different girls talking about different situations is very exciting. Also, most of the female comedians are from metro cities which gives them easy access to open mic, but there are girls from smaller cities who are way funnier than we are, but they dont have access right now. There are various logistical issues here. The thing about comedy is that it is very closely knit. It is still a community rather than an industry. Sumukhi also urged the pubic to invest more in female stand-up comedians and come watch them live. Sharing her opinion on the pros and cons of performing live and through social media, Sumukhi exclaimed, There are two ways to look at it. I think social media is good for us because we reach a wider audience and then it converts into people buying tickets and people coming. However, you cannot replace the thought of live shows. The Covid pandemic took something really interesting away for us because we were performing live shows and the thing about stand-up is that there is an absolute high to be performing in front of an audience. That particular validation is very important for us. Also, live shows are not easy. The audience always knows what to laugh at and whatnot. So, it is a giant reminder that doesnt get comfortable. Live shows cannot replace social media at all, just like social media cannot replace live shows. We have tried to adapt to new ways, but we cant wait to perform on stage. When asked how she feels about new comedians entering the industry, the actor revealed, It is always good to have new comics coming in because it means that if more people are coming in, there are going to be more people who are coming to watch it. Of course, we want to up our game, write better and perform better. About competition, there is some competition, but not with newer comics because I am still competing with my peers only. Talking about mentoring the newcomers, she said Comics cant be mentored, comics can only be guided and given feedback once in a while, especially for women. My longest collaboration is with Sumaira Shaikh, I just directed her stand-up special, Dongri danger which is going on Amazon Prime videos. More than competing with her, I am so envious of her observations and her punch lines in a very positive way. In view of the substantial reduction in COVID cases in the country as well as in the poll-bound States, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday gave several relaxations to political parties and candidates for campaigning. The Election Commission took a periodic review of the status of COVID in the country especially in the poll-bound states on Saturday. As per information received from the Union Health Secretary the ground situation of COVID has significantly improved and the cases are fast receding in the country. Even in the reported cases maximum cases are reported from non-poll going States. The poll going states are contributing a very small proportion of the total reported cases in the country, reads EC statement. EC said ban on campaign timings will be between 10 pm to 6 am instead of 8 pm to 8 am before. Political parties and candidates may campaign from 6 am to 10 pm following all COVID appropriate behaviour and protocols of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA). Further, political parties and candidates may hold their meetings and rallies up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the capacity of the designated open spaces or the limit prescribed by SDMA, whichever is lesser. Padyatras consisting not more than the permitted number of persons as per SDMA limitations and only with the prior permission of district authorities will also be allowed. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is set to begin his three-day visit to the Philippines on Sunday with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties. Jaishankar will visit the Philippines from February 13 to 15, to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest, said the Ministry of External Affairs in its official statement on Wednesday. The visit comes at a time when India signed a deal worth USD 375 million to supply 290 km strike range BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines. Notably, this is Jaishankars first visit to the Philippines as External Affairs Minister wherein he will hold talks with Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines to review developments in bilateral relations. In November 2020, the Joint Commission meeting on Bilateral Cooperation was co-chaired in virtual format by both sides. In addition to other meetings with the political leadership in the Philippines, EAM would interact with the Indian community in Manila during his visit. The visit is expected to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with key partners in the Indo-Pacific, Australia, and the Philippines, which is also a leading member of ASEAN, said MEA. Earlier, the CEO of the missile firm Atul D Rane said the deal with BrahMos was the first for India to supply a full major weapon system to a foreign country. This is the first export deal that India has signed for a full major weapon system and this paves the way for many more to come forward, he said. This visit comes after Jaishankar took part in the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on Friday along with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and the United States The protestors, not just created a blockade in the locality, but also went ahead to throw bombs at the school. The Hijab controversy, which started in Karnatakas Udupi, is now spreading to other parts of the country. A day after protests rocked Ludhiana in Punjab, violence erupted at Bahutali High School in Murshidabads Suti area in West Bengal after the school headmaster refrained hijab-wearing girl students from entering the school premises. He also warned them to remove their name from the school registry. Soon after, the parents of these students staged a protest outside the school premises. The protestors, not just created a blockade in the locality, but also went ahead to throw bombs at the school. In response, the local administration deployed a large force and resorted to tear gas and lathi-charge to control the situation. At least 18 people have been arrested in the case so far. A meeting was also held between the school administration and family members of the students, wherein the school administration clarified that the school has passed no such order. Meanwhile, classes for pre-university students continue to remain suspended in till February 15. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday instructed the Superintendents of Police (SP) and District Collectors (DC) to visit prominent schools in sensitive areas and ensure no untoward incident takes place there. Additionally, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear urgent pleas relating to the hijab row in Karnataka and said it is watching whats happening in the state and in hearing before the High Court. A delegation of Tibetan parliament-in-exile has met Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Amarendra Dhari Singh who raised the Tibetians issue in Parliament, and discussed the worsening human rights situation in the country by China. Chinese have really crackdown not just on the Tibetians also on Uyghurs, Hongkongers and not just that but beyond its borders. It has gone to bullying kind of tactics with India and many other countries, Youdon Aukatsang, a fourth-time term elected member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPIE) told ANI. Earlier in February, Rajya Sabha MP Amarendra Dhari Singh had raised the issue in Parliament and said that Tibetans have never accepted the sovereignty and suzerainty of the Chinese. Speaking further, Aukatsang said that the human rights situation in Tibet has never been worst before. Tibet has always been under crisis, not only us (Tibetians) but even human rights watch is demanding an immediate release of the political prisoners but the Chinese are not taking to it. At the beginning of the year, we had two political prisoners who died in prison, she added. She also said that people in Tibet are not allowed to carry a picture of the Dalai Lama. We are not allowed to talk about anything against the Chinese, there is no freedom of speech and expression. There are CCTV cameras everywhere. Highlighting how China has postured itself in front of the world, a fourth-time term elected member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile said, They brought Tibetians, Ughurs to showcase to the world that everything is a hunky-dory in China but its not. Tibetians are being put through indoctrination to China, they are trying to totally assimilate us to their culture. We are being wiped out. We are becoming a minority in our own country. The delegation also thanked MP for raising the Tibet issue in the Parliament. Tibet is really under tortures by the Chinese government, if you see ethnically, culturally, socially, there is nothing common between the Tibetian and the Chinese, Amarendra Dhari Singh said, adding that I raised this issue on Parliament because I found that we are staying in a very unfriendly neighbourhood. Tibet was a sovereign state before Chinas invasion in 1950 when the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) entered northern Tibet. stc Bahrain, a world-class digital enabler, has recently completed the network expansion and enhancement in Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama. This comes as part of stc Bahrain plans to further improve its network connectivity in across the kingdom. Through this network enhancement, both old and new Salmaniya Medical Complex buildings are deployed with In-Building Solution (IBS) technologies, in addition to 5G services in the complex area, which will improve overall connectivity, ensuring outstanding network coverage inside the Medical Complexs buildings in which stc Bahrain customers can now enjoy excellent voice and data services. Eng Nezar Banabeela, CEO of stc Bahrain, commented: We are committed to provide our customers with exceptional coverage across the kingdom. The deployment of our next generation technologies in Salmaniya Medical Complex will enhance the overall voice and data services experience, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity to everyone. At stc Bahrain, we put our customers at the heart of everything we do, and we continue to invest in our network infrastructure to improve the connectivity and provide the very best service. Following this development, stc Bahrain has made a number of strategic plans to improve the network connectivity in a several locations and landmarks in Bahrain throughout the year to improve the quality of network connectivity for all the customers around the kingdom.-- TradeArabia News Service It took Netflix three days to order a documentary about her, but a woman's social media accounts have been telling a wild story for years. Heather Morgan, 31, is half of a husband-and-wife duo charged last week with conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin, a cache worth about $4.5 billion, prompting the streaming service to enlist a "Tiger King" executive producer to direct an upcoming series about them. Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein, 34, are accused of trying to launder the cryptocurrency stolen after a hacker breached the exchange Bitfinex in 2016 and initiated more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions. Prosecutors said the bitcoin was sent to a digital wallet controlled by Lichtenstein. Morgan and Lichtenstein are in custody pending a hearing scheduled for this week. Their attorney did not respond to requests for comment for this story. The investigation includes the largest single seizure of funds in Justice Department history, but what has drawn the most online attention is Morgan's two somewhat-distinct personas: one as a successful, go-getting tech entrepreneur and another as the self-proclaimed "Crocodile of Wall Street" rapping about investing in meme stocks, dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and getting high in a cemetery. Lichtenstein has a lower online profile than his wife; he described himself as a "tech entrepreneur, explorer, and occasional magician" in a 2018 blog post. According to court documents, the dual Russian and American citizen grew up in Glenview, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-founded MixRank, a sales firm initially funded by Y Combinator and investors including Mark Cuban, according to the company's website. Lichtenstein's public missives include the occasional tech tweets, but Morgan has a prolific social media presence, branding herself as a surrealist rapper who has "more pizzazz" than Genghis Khan in posts that coexist with her more staid image as a business influencer and marketing expert. Before debuting Razzlekhan, her rap persona, Morgan grew up in Tehama, a town of about 400 people in Northern California, according to court documents. After graduating with honors, she moved to Cairo - where she worked at the World Bank, according to her LinkedIn profile - and later Hong Kong. She was a "very motivated, very bright and very ambitious" economics student, said Travis Lybbert, an economics professor at the University of California at Davis who hired Morgan as an unpaid research assistant in 2011, after she had graduated. Their interactions were over video chat, but Lybbert detected "a restlessness to her, professionally." She had an impressive knowledge of the Middle East and planned to work in the field of developmental economics. Eventually, they co-wrote a chapter in a book about food security and sociopolitical stability. "Professionally, she was very smooth, and there was kind of a hunger for her finding and leveraging opportunities," he said. Lybbert recalled a polished and put-together young woman, an image juxtaposed by her gold-jacketed rap persona who strutted about New York while rapping "an anthem for misfits and weirdos" in a video for her 2019 song "Versace Bedouin." But the professor said he saw glimpses of a Morgan "who always cared about her appearance." "As a young professional, you're trained to present a certain image of aspiration, success and capability. And she was good at it," Lybbert said. "It seems to me looking at the pictures that she still has that same carefully curated presentation to the world. But she's presenting to maybe a different world and with different objectives." In 2014, Morgan - who was living in San Francisco - founded SalesFolk, a marketing firm dedicated to making email pitches, according to records filed in California. A year earlier, she had met her future husband at a party, according to a post in Lichtenstein's Facebook profile showed to The Post by one of his high school friends. This and other Lichtenstein posts were not publicly available. But Morgan said she decided to pursue rapping while dealing with burnout that followed a professional mishap in 2018. "Suddenly, everything started to fall apart during a business trip to Asia," she wrote in a 2019 Forbes article. Inspired by artists Yolandi, Awkwafina and Tierra Whack - "who seemed to break the mold and 'own their weirdness,' " she wrote - Morgan tried her hand at an alternate career. "I wanted to do that too," Morgan wrote. "I desperately wanted a chance to get to express myself authentically and creatively, without all the constraints of the corporate business world." Morgan's songs are as raunchy as they are eccentric (one rhymes "Jane Austen romance" with "taxidermy class"). But a duality moves through her musical repertoire that includes serious topics, such as health care, with sillier songs about genie wishes. "I'm definitely not trying to win a Grammy for my voice, but I am addicted to rap," Morgan wrote in 2019. "I know I still have lots of room to improve, but that's what I like about it, and I intend to keep rapping into my eighties, in between building new software." The coexistence of the woman's personas shocked some who knew her exclusively as Razzlekhan. "It wasn't that she was weird - it was more like she was going so far out of her way to be extra untraditional and weird," said Dan, a New Jersey-based photographer who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition that only his first name be used because he feared professional blowback for discussing a potential client. The two did not work together, he said, in part because of her "bizarre ideas" and in part because he was busy with other projects. Morgan contacted him last year to ask whether he could shoot her engagement photos and other images to celebrate her marriage. She wanted a "vibe as sexy horror comedy with a romantic slant and a splash of absurdism and occasional grossness," she wrote in a message to him. In the pitch, Morgan - referring to herself as Razzlekhan - described herself as being "the more weird, flashy, colorful one." Lichtenstein - Dutch in the message - "wears more gray and black but sometimes leather," she wrote. Her ideas included "weird couple photos with a surreal twist," Dan said, such as posing with a banana and several life-size cardboard cutouts. "The most interesting one - I guess you can call it that," the photographer said while reading the pitch, "was a square-shaped photo of Dutch and all of his wives photoshopped together. Basically Heather as normal and Razzlekhan and several other characters she does in wigs ... basically all grabbing him or touching him in various ways." But the greatest surprise, Dan said, came after a Google search. Trying to get a read on someone he described as "a postmodern piece of art that just doesn't exist in this current reality," Dan discovered Morgan's business-oriented, professional side - the one splashed across the slew of articles she wrote as a contributor to Forbes and Inc.com. "Going down that rabbit hole was the greatest shock," he said. "You have this seemingly super professional and smart entrepreneur writing for reputable sites about business. It just didn't make sense how she was, at the same time, so blissfully in her own world, ignorant to the norms of society. It's honestly jarring." Forbes spokesperson Bill Hankes said Morgan was a contributor from July 2017 until September 2021, "when we ended our relationship with her." In that time, Morgan wrote more than 55 articles that included topics on the "soul food" served in last year's Met Gala, and an entrepreneur's "secret sauce" for creating billion-dollar companies. At least one of those articles, which included tips to help businesses protect themselves from cybercriminals, touched on a topic related to allegations that drove her into the spotlight last week. "Companies that didn't already have distributed teams or work from home policies have struggled to transition to going fully remote amidst the pandemic," Morgan wrote in 2020. "Cybercriminals and fraudsters are taking advantage of this unexpected disruption, leading to a spike in scams and cybercrime." BRIDGEWATER The town has been given the green light to demolish the Grange Hall building, despite interest from a group to purchase it. The historic landmark at 11 Main St. South has been the topic of an ongoing dispute between the town and a nonprofit group called the Bridgewater Preservation Association, which has tried to save it. The group made a last-minute inquiry in mid-January to buy the building, citing funds raised from an anonymous donor, said Neil Olshansky, president of the association known as the BPA. However, the town didnt receive a bid from the BPA, Read said. Nobody submitted a bid, nobody came forward with the appropriate documentation and said that they wanted to proceed, he said. The state approved the town to move forward with demolition, said Elizabeth Benton, spokeswoman in CT Attorney General William Tongs office. The asking price of the building is $400,000. Other requirements of interested buyers include a guarantee of an additional $1.2 million and providing evidence of being financially capable of completing renovation within two years of purchase. As per an agreement with the state last October, prior to demolishing the building, the town was required to post an advertisement for its sale in Preservation Connecticut News, a bimonthly magazine that strives to protect historic places. The town complied and ran the ad in the November 2021 issue of the magazine, which published Nov. 15. In the ad, the contact information for both Read and Kristen Hopewood, development & administrative assistant at Preservation Connecticut magazine, was listed. According to the agreement, if there was no firm offer approved by the town to purchase the Grange within two months of publication of the ad, the town has the authority to go ahead with its plans to demolish it. Olshansky emailed Read on Jan. 14, one day before the expiration of the ad, saying the group wanted to buy the building and would like to negotiate its purchase. The BPA made an offer last spring, when it presented a plan to purchase it for $1, and restore it. Last May, in a town vote of 155 to 89, residents voted against the BPA taking ownership of the building. Whats next? The town received a $100,000 grant from the Small Town Economic Assistance Program for the preparation work for the next steps, which includes the removal of the Grange and salvaging the timber of the building. At a recent Board of Selectmen meeting, several bids for the demolition were discussed and a motion was approved to appoint Stone Construction Company in Southbury to do the demolition, for $59,820. Stone has previously worked on other projects for the town. Read plans to demolish the Grange once the weather gets warmer. He would like to turn the site into a memorial for Bridgewater veterans who served in wars since World War II. It will be a place where people can sit and reflect on the beauty and history of our fair town. There is a memorial commission, renovation carpenters, and private citizens contributing their vision and services to make this idea a reality, Read wrote in a February newsletter to the town. Were going to present a design and a plan to the town for the towns approval for that site, he said. sandra.fox@hearstmediact.com 203-948-9802 Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 62F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today Cloudy with rain developing this afternoon. High 62F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has warned the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that the era of Biafra agitators hiding in E... Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has warned the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that the era of Biafra agitators hiding in Europe, America or Asia is over. The apex Igbo socio-cultural group said that the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, can no longer be hiding in places around the world while directing Igbo youths to destroy their land, adding that agitators should relocate to Nigeria to physically lead the struggle. According to Ohanaeze, it is an act of cowardice for them to hide in their comfort zone in Europe and America to lead Biafra agitation. We warn that the era of Biafra agitators, residing in Europe, Asia and America giving directives to Igbos have ended. They should relocate to Nigeria to physically lead the struggle, as its an act of cowardice to hide in your comfort zone in Europe, and America to lead Biafra agitation, Ohanaeze said in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro. The group also called on Governors in the South East of the country to search for lasting solutions to the ongoing weekly sit-at-home in the region. The group said it was time for the Governors to swing into action since they now blamed some yet to be identified criminals for hijacking the exercise. Ohanaeze said it was obvious that men of the underworld have taken advantage of IPOBs miscalculations to unleash terrorist raids and onslaughts against Ndigbo. Drastic measures are needed to arrest this shameless activity that has paralyzed the academic, economic and social activities in the southeast. The governors should know that posterity will be unkind and unfair to them if they concede to circumstances of sit-at-home and didnt confront the hyper dreaded monster squarely, he said. No Igbo Governor or Senator deserves to seek for election in 2023 if they lacked the balls to stamp out the disgraceful activities that have ridiculed southeastern Nigerians, who are known as the best black entrepreneurs and business merchants across the globe. We are compelled by the evidence of insubordination before us, to advise that the southeast governors should sack and dismiss all major markets leadership in their respective states or give them an ultimatum to quit adherence to the observation of sit at home. All markets in the southeast are instrumental in helping the governors to end the absurdity of madness called the Ipobs sit at home because the structure of most influencers of Sit at home is amongst the Market leadership in the southeast, and any day they pull out of the secessionist crusade, it will collapse like pack of cards. Ohanaeze further blamed the IPOB for initially instituting the sit-at-home exercise without any consultative meetings with the Igbo leadership and political leaders. The group called on the secessionist group to tender a public apology and ask for forgiveness from Ndigbo for their mistakes which have destroyed the economic and social activities in the southeast. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged Nigerians to continue to entrust the affairs of the country to the All Progressives Con... The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged Nigerians to continue to entrust the affairs of the country to the All Progressives Congress(APC), stressing that APC is the party to trust. Lawan made the appeal on Sunday in Lagos at the fifth edition of the empowerment programme of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola who is representing Lagos West Senatorial District. The event, which was held at the premises of the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, was also witnessed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi which was made available to journalists, Lawan described Lagos as a home for APC and expressed the confidence that APC, by the Grace of God, will continue to rule Lagos and rule Nigeria. All that we need to do is to continue what we are doing now. Support our leaders. Tolerate us. Unite ourselves and of course, remain focused. PDP may tell you something funny about the administration of APC at the national level but PDP ruled Nigeria for 16 years and all that they did was to leave and bequeath so many challenges to us in 2015. We are dealing with those challenges one after the other and if on the way, we encounter new challenges, we are equal to the task. By the Grace of God, we are going to turn around the fortunes of this country for the better. We have done so much but we are also challenged especially in the area of security. When someone tells you that the APC administration only takes loans or borrow money, PDP had 16 years of so many resources and they did very little infrastructure in the country if any. The money disappeared and our options are limited. But one option that is not on the table at all is not to do anything. Because you dont have money, so we shouldnt develop your country? Nigerias administration at the national level is responsible and responsive. We wouldnt like to take loans or borrow money but when the options are limited and the imperative of development of infrastructure in the country is there, what do we do? If we have to borrow, we have to borrow responsibly, targeted at capital development and today I want to say without any fear of contradiction that in every part of this country, there is infrastructural development either in terms of roads, bridges, dams and so on and so forth. This is to tell you that we desire to develop our country and that APC at all levels deserves the trust of Nigerians because we will always tell Nigerians what it is. We wont hide anything because you gave us your trust. What you witness in Lagos is to tell you one of the best the APC can do and we have many APC states that are working so hard to develop those states. I want to assure Nigerians that APC as a political party is the one that you can trust because, for us, the citizens of this country are the most essential elements and people that we must always focus on, Lawan said. The Senate President urged Lagosians to consider Governor Sanwo-Olu for another term based on his commendable performance. On the Senate President entourage from Abuja were Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yakubu Oseni. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the President, Muhammadu Buhari, is afraid that giving assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bil... Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says the President, Muhammadu Buhari, is afraid that giving assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill will make his party, the All Progressives Congress, to fail in the 2023 general elections. Wike made the assertion at the inauguration of lecture halls, laboratories and offices of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa on Saturday. The governor pointed to the inclusion of the compulsory transmission of electoral results electronically in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as the APCs greatest fear. This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, which was made available to journalists in Port Harcourt. They are afraid that if INEC in 2023 transmits election results electronically, that is their end, because they know they will fail, the statement quoted Wike as stating. The governor wondered why the APC controlled Federal Government was always seeking excuses to justify Buharis unwillingness to sign into law what would advance the countrys electoral process. He explained that in 2019, the President declined assent, because the compulsory use of the card reader was included, which was seen as capable of dimming his partys chances of winning the elections. Wike said the President also recently declined assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the basis that the National Assembly included direct primaries and that a serving minister had to resign to qualify to contest for elections. He stated, Every time this government and this party find an excuse for not signing the Electoral Act. In 2018/2019 when they inserted the card reader in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Mr President said no, it is too early, he would not sign, because they knew that if they had used it (card reader) in the 2019 election, it would have been difficult for the APC to have won. Now, we are in 2022, going for 2023, the National Assembly in its wisdom said there must be direct primaries by all the parties, Mr President came and said no, put options. The National Assembly in its wisdom has amended the bill and agreed to what Mr President said. Now again, Mr President said Im in a dilemma, Im consulting. What is the consultation? There is a clause that says if a minister or a commissioner wants to run for election, they have to resign, that is why up till now Mr President cannot assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Wike said these were trivial excuses, because in 2015, he resigned as minister, contested and won the governorship of Rivers State, wondering the basis for the claim that the President was consulting or that he and his party were in a dilemma. After all, when I was a minister, I resigned to run for the governorship. I resigned and I won the primaries. So, what is this hullabaloo of not resigning and you keep Nigerians fate hanging? Every day, Nigerians are thinking, what is going to be in the future, where are we heading to? he added. The governor said it was regrettable that nobody was doing good things for the citizens and the country, adding that Nigeria did not have a National Assembly that had what it takes to do the right thing for the good of the country. Wike commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his development strides as was characteristic of governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Rivers governor donated N500m towards the completion of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences building project at the Bayelsa Medical University, which is still at the damp proof course level. He expressed delight at the courage of Diri in providing such a training institution for medical personnel and noted that in the Niger Delta, there was a need for mutual support while resisting attempts to create division among the states. Diri said his administration had built on the vision of his predecessors in expanding the university and increasing the programmes of studies to make it one of the best in the country. In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, said the institution had eight academic programmes in the Faculty of Science and Basic Medical Sciences when it was established in 2018. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has slammed the Canadian government and social media giant, Twitter, over the truck... The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has slammed the Canadian government and social media giant, Twitter, over the truckers protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Canada. Recall that during the #EndSARS protest against police brutality and bad governance that took place in Nigeria in October 2020, the Canadian government condemned the actions taken to quell it. Tweeting through @CanadaFP, it said, Canada is deeply concerned about the excessive use of force during the ongoing protests in #Nigeria. Those responsible for #HumanRights violations and abuse must be held accountable. Likening the #EndSARS protest to the truckers protest in Canada, Mohammed accused Twitter and the West of double standards in the way they perceive the violent protesters in their region and those in Nigeria. In a news briefing on Sunday, the Minister said the Canadian protesters, who have blockaded roads and resorted to inconveniencing others, have been branded as terrorists or insurrectionists and subjected to a number of clampdowns by government and private organisations. He noted that the crowdfunding company GoFundMe has shut down the campaign to raise funds for the truckers, after they raised over $10 million, adding that Twitter has suspended the truckers account while the Ontario government has frozen access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the protesters. Jim Watson, the Mayor of Ottawa, Canadas capital city, has also declared a state of emergency in the city in response, saying the protests posed a threat to residents safety, Mohammed said. He continued, Recall, gentlemen, that during the EndSARS protest, which culminated in the blockage of public roads and massive destruction of government and private property, Canada was one of the countries that spoke out in support of the protesters. Recall also that Twitter actively supported the EndSars protesters and even helped them to raise fund while GoFundMe was used to raise funds for the protests. According to Mohammed, these are the same entities that are now rushing to distance themselves from the protesters in Canada and even denying them the use of their platforms. This is similar to what played out during the January 6th 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol In Washington, D.C. where those involved are either still being investigated or have been charged to court. I dont blame them. Nobody wants their country destroyed under the guise of protests. He, however, stated that the essence of the news briefing was not to gloat over the unfortunate development in Canada. Dont misunderstand this intervention. We are not gloating over the unfortunate development in Canada. But we are only calling attention to the double standards involved in the way protesters deemed to be violent are perceived in Nigeria and in the West. Those who referred to the hoodlums who destroyed public and private property in Nigeria under the guise of EndSARS as peaceful protesters have tagged similar protesters in their own countries as insurrectionists and terrorists. This glaring double standard should not be lost on all Nigerians. We have always said that you must have a country before you can even enjoy the freedoms guaranteed by your countrys constitution. If there is no Nigeria, no one will be talking of freedom of expression or freedom of association and the likes. This realisation explains why every country goes the extra mile to protect and preserve itself. And this also explains why we have continued to insist on the regulation of social media to ensure responsible content. In this area, I can confidently say we are far ahead of most countries in the world, who have now realized that social media must be regulated in the interest of their own people. In this regard, our successful negotiation with Twitter to fashion out measures to ensure responsible use of that platform which, by the way, will also apply to other social media platforms, has made us a global trailblazer in efforts to prevent harmful content from social media platforms Gentlemen, we must not allow anyone to destroy our country under the guise of protest or unbridled freedoms. We all must put Nigeria first at all times, he concluded. Shortage of petrol in the country has worsened as many filling stations decided to shut their doors against motorists and other buyers in ... Shortage of petrol in the country has worsened as many filling stations decided to shut their doors against motorists and other buyers in different parts of Nigeria. NE learnt that while many of the stations had exhausted their stock of quality petrol, others still had commercial stock of the bad product which utilisation, last week, culminated in the damage of many automobiles, generators and other equipment. Some marketers, who pleaded anonymity, said it will take a while to bring in new product, especially because of limited space for storage. According to the marketers, the bad product will have to be properly evacuated from depots and filling stations to authorised places before the new product could be moved into the domestic market. Meanwhile, the situation has culminated in the emergence of illegal or black market, whose operators were seen hawking the product at between N200 and N350 per litre, depending on location in Lagos and environs. NMDPRA orders depots, stations Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, created to regulate operations under the newly established Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, responding to the development, yesterday, ordered all depots and filling stations to open their doors for inspection. The inspection and quantification of the bad product will be carried out by various committees, including technical and commercial, established during the recent stakeholders engagement in Lagos. FCCPC spits fire Also yesterday, in line with Federal Governments promise to deal with those behind the bad petrol, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, commenced moves targeted at bringing importers and distributors of the product to book. In a statement obtained by NE, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, noted that its intervention was in consonance with Sections 17(a), (h), (i), (l), (t), (w), (y), (z), 131(a), (b), (d), 132, 133, 136 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018; and Sections 164(5)(b) and 210 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021. Irukera stated: The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has become aware that a certain but limited quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) that does not comply with established, applicable, and prevailing standards has been distributed and sold in certain parts of the country. The Commission in the process of its initial investigative assessment understands that consumers who purchased fuel that constitutes part of this consignment have experienced technical difficulties and or damage to their vehicles or other relevant equipment/machinery. In furtherance of its investigation; and pursuant to relevant laws, the Commission is currently engaging multiple regulators and entities relevant and involved in the PMS distribution value chain. The purpose of ongoing engagements include, addressing hardship or difficulties consumers may experience with respect to withdrawal of the implicated products from the market, securing assurance and promoting consumer confidence that supply constrains are addressed and will not persist and ensuring that the regulators recall effort under applicable laws and regulations including Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018 (FCCPA) sufficiently excludes continuing distribution of the implicated product. It also includes encouraging and promoting additional and robust mechanisms to prevent reoccurrence and developing a meaningful and transparent mechanism to address demonstrated injury to affected consumers. The Commissions engagement with the key and relevant regulators/entities involved has been constructive and productive. The Commission commends this responsiveness and prioritisation of ensuring continuity of supply, containment of implicated product and sensitivity to consumer dissatisfaction and inconvenience. The Commission is continuing engagement, particularly with respect to a reasonable and acceptable mechanism to mitigate demonstrated injury and or loss experienced by consumers. The Commission intends to provide additional information as this rather dynamic situation evolves. Who is at fault? In a related development, Oando Plc, yesterday, joined other companies to deny its alleged involvement in the importation of the bad product. In a statement obtained by NE, the company stated: Following media reports listing Oando as one of four importers that supplied methanol-blended Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) into the country, we hereby state that Oando did not import and supply PMS that was adulterated or substandard. The PMS supplied by Oando met Nigerias import specification. We are committed to working assiduously with the NNPC and industry to identify the root cause(s) of the subsequent contamination of the PMS supplied. We want to assure the public that Oando as a responsible corporate citizen would not partake in the importation, distribution, or marketing of substandard petroleum products. Previously, MRS and Emadeb had refuted that they were among marketers that imported the bad fuel into the country. A statement released by the lead partner, Emadeb Energy Services had explained that importation of the contaminated PMS was executed by a member of the consortium. Therefore, the blanket claims made against the consortium are misleading and contradict the actual events that happened; they do not fully reflect and/or represent what transpired. It is important to inform the public of these facts and provide clarifications relating to delivery of the said contaminated PMS to the country,the statement said.. We also deem it necessary to protect our image as we have invested a lot in building our respective brands in the industry. The company, which alleged that Brittania-U Nigeria Limited (Brittania-U) was the sole supplier of the 90,000MT of PMS delivered via MT Torm Hilde, had added: At the formation of the consortium in May 2021, Brittania-U refused to execute the Service and Consortium Agreement submitted in fulfillment of the award of the DSDP Contract. On its part, MRS had claimed that the petrol brought into its facilities was imported by Duke that works for Government. Bahrains the iGA said that with ID card services available on bahrain.bh and self-service ekiosks, appointments for in-person visits for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of ID cards must still be booked online in advance. Bahrains the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) said that with ID card services available on bahrain.bh and self-service ekiosks, appointments for in-person visits for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of ID cards must still be booked online in advance. This can be done through the Appointments Booking and Enquiry service on the National Portal, it added. iGA Director of Identity & Population Registry, Shaikh Subah bin Hamad Abdulla Al-Khalifa said that individuals, government entities, and businesses now have a wide range of ID card services available online, saving them time and effort through faster transactions that dont require physical visits. Those wishing to make in-person visits to the service centres are able to do so once they book an appointment. The ID card service centres in Isa Town and Muharraq are open to the public daily from 7:30am to 5:30pm except on Fridays and Saturdays. The Mina Salman branch is open Sunday to Thursday, from 7:30am to 2pm. Visitors are invited and encouraged to evaluate the quality of the services they receive by scanning the QR code available on employee counter desks at the centres once service is completed via Tawasul. Shaikh Subah shared statistics on digital ID card services offered in January this year. The total number of transactions provided to the public via the National Portal and delivered through the post was 19,820. There were 138 requests for personal numbers, 2,494 printed alerts, and 131 requests for issuance of unit or establishment numbers. A total of 2,882 ID card transactions were carried out via self-service kiosks. He highlighted various ID card services offered to centre visitors or via the National Portal, including: family services, ID card issuance for domestic workers and children under 10 years old, renewal or replacement of ID cards for Bahrainis and non-Bahrainis, issuance of unique personal ID numbers, updating of residential addresses, issuance of unit or establishment numbers, requesting adjustments or cancellations of existing addresses, and printing address certificates. This is in addition to self-service kiosks, which offer three services: updating ID card chip data, registering for the Government Notifications Service, and ID card reading. TradeArabia News Service Gunmen alleged to be security operatives have razed the houses of suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Umuonyeoka Ih... Gunmen alleged to be security operatives have razed the houses of suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Umuonyeoka Ihitteafoukwu and Okponkume communities in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo. According to Emeka Obasi, a resident of Ihitteafoukwu claimed the armed men came in seven cars to search for one Uche Madu, who is alleged to be a member of the ESN. ESN is the armed unit of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He said the armed men descended on the family home of the Madus after the search for the suspect became futile. Obasi called on the state government to unravel those behind the invasion of Ihitteafoukwu and bring them to justice. While I do not condone any indigene of Ihitteafoukwu land to be involved with any unlawful act or criminal activities, it is still pertinent to state that the invasion and arson perpetrated in our land today is highly condemnable and ill-advised Obasi said. Another source in Okponkume community said the armed men also razed the house of one Ekene. He said three other houses in the same compound as Ekenes house were also set ablaze. Unidentified security men came to Okponkume, arrested Ekene and burnt down his house and neighbours. Its believed the security men are after ESN members, the source said. Michael Abattam, the states police spokesperson, did not answer calls or respond to messages sent to him for comment on the incident. Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, has revealed how the money she earned from making movies in Nigeria was used to produce her Ghanaian movi... Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, has revealed how the money she earned from making movies in Nigeria was used to produce her Ghanaian movies. Nelson, who spoke during an interview on a Ghanaian radio station, Hitz FM, said she made a decent living while making films in Nigeria. She stated that she did not spend much of the money she earned but saved it for her movies, adding that producing her movies has been rewarding. a Ghanaian radio station, the actress, who has featured in several Nollywood movies, spoke on how she made money from Nigeria. She said, There is money in film, I started in 2010, so I have been using the same money you know. I have made some decent money from Nigeria, so that money I didnt touch it, it is for production. I have my production account so that is what I have been using to produce all these movies, and luckily for me, some of my past productions I got like placement money from companies to do placements and stuff. It has been rewarding if you know what you are doing and your movies are good. Commenting on how Ghanas movie industry can step up, Nelson mentioned some of her colleagues who could start making quality movies to revive the countrys film industry. Nelson, who has starred in many Nollywood movies, urged Ghanaian actors to put more effort into reviving the countrys movie industry. It can, if John Dumelo, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Okoro, Van Vicker, we all become producers. I believe everyone is going to see it, you know, the revival will be seen. I am urging people, not just outsiders or people who have money, we can do it on our own. I cant be the only one going around talking and saying lets do this, people can see that we are not even bothered about the industry, we dont care if it crashes or not so yeah if we can all start producing and helping the younger ones also showcase their talents, I believe we will start from somewhere, she stated. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 67F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. 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. 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 Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 12,000 daily flights to almost 1,300 airports in 197 countries. -TradeArabia News Service Hey Blake, Near the old Charity Hospital on Tulane Avenue is a building with the words Lapeyre Miltenberger and Home for Convalescents etched onto it. What can you tell me about it? Dear reader, The building in the 1600 block of Tulane Avenue was built with a donation from the estate of Corinne Virginie Lapeyre Miltenberger. When she died in March 1930, The Times-Picayune reported she left $596,000 in her will for the construction of a convalescent home, or rehabilitation facility, for the poor. Thats nearly $10 million in todays money. I feel, having suffered much, that my great concern in leaving this world is the relief of suffering, she wrote in her will, which was highlighted on the front page of The Times-Picayune soon after her death. My relatives will understand, and I hope approve of, the disposition I make of the residue of my estate. The newspaper reported that half of her estate was bequeathed to family, friends and other charities, with the other half going toward construction of the hospital facility. The Lapeyre Miltenberger building, constructed at a cost of $309,000, opened in November 1933. Seven stories tall, it featured a solarium on each floor and special light treatment facilities, according to the newspaper. A history published by LSU Health says LSU opened the states first school of physical therapy in the building in the 1950s. In the mid-1960s, the facility began providing inpatient care to physically disabled patients through Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, a state agency. In the 1970s, the building was renovated to better serve that purpose and renamed the Louisiana Rehabilitation Institute. Like Charity Hospital, the building suffered damage during Hurricane Katrina. The $300-million plan to redevelop Charity calls for converting the Lapeyre Miltenberger building for mixed-income housing. 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. Sabre Corporation, a global travel technology company, and Eihab Travels, Omans leading IATA accredited travel agency, have announced a new multiyear technology agreement to help transform the travel experience in Oman. While travel is showing signs of recovery in Oman, this new long-term agreement will see Eihab Travels deploy Sabres latest technology and best solutions to drive growth, boost revenue and transform its business. The agency will now use Sabres next-generation travel agency desktop, Sabre Red 360, to deliver an intelligent and consultative service to travellers, create compelling shopping experiences for customers and provide an enhanced level of expertise to respond to evolving travellers demands. The travel landscape has evolved dramatically following the pandemic, and that required a fresh outlook a tour digital transformation and technology investments, said Dinesh Poojary, General Manager, Eihab Travels. Sabre has the technology and innovation strategy to support our goals, advance our technology and operations and enable our digital transformation to compete on a global level. As part of its strategic plans to transform the future of travel, Sabre recently announced multiple intelligent solutions, such as Sabre Travel AI and its intelligent retailing engine, which will be infused across its technology platform to power the future of personalized travel. We have been working to empower our customers to be ready for recovery, said John Mathew, Oman County Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. We are excited to partner with such a committed, forward-thinking partner like Eihab Travels that clearly understands the role technology plays in travels recovery and we remain committed to equipping the agency with the most innovative solutions to achieve its goals Sabre has been working with many leading travel companies in Oman to enable them to leverage market trends and provide latest technologies and solutions that enrich the travellers experience. TradeArabia News Service As soon as Jonathan Pizzuto and his childhood friend were killed in Metairie, his mother suspected Cody LaBranche was responsible. LaBranches sister, Brittany, was engaged to Pizzuto, but she died in 2020 of a fentanyl overdose, Michelle Davis said Saturday. He always blamed Jonathan for her death. Its always been an issue, Cody blaming Jonathan, Davis said. Authorities arrested LaBranche, 27, on Friday at his Ponchatoula home, on warrants accusing him of fatally shooting Pizzuto, 38, and William Mitchell, 36, at Pizzutos house in the 600 block of Rosa Avenue in Metairie. Childhood friends Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The two slain men were raised together on Tucker Avenue in Old Jefferson. Mitchell eventually moved to California but was back in Louisiana visiting when they were killed Jan. 17. Friends said they think the pair were playing video games when their assailant arrived, shot both and left with Pizzutos dog, a male pit bull named Dro. There was no sign of a robbery, said Davis, who thinks her son was the target and that Mitchell just happened to be present when LaBranche showed up. She said her suspicion of LaBranche grew when authorities published a photo of the getaway car: It was the black sedan that Brittany had driven until her death, when her relatives came to retrieve it. In November, Davis said, LaBranche stopped by the Rosa Avenue house late one night to pick up a female pit bull, Ruby, for which Pizzuto could no longer care after Brittany died. At the time, Pizzuto was playing video games with several co-workers, and Davis now wonders whether that visit was meant as a scouting mission, for LaBranche didnt retrieve any toys or food, only the dog. The other dog, Dro, has not been found. Police said they suspect it was abandoned in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. As New Orleans prepares for another huge installment of federal pandemic relief money, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the City Council are putting forth different ideas for what to do with the windfall. The administration, fearful of potential budget shortfalls over the next few years, wants to pad City Hall's finances and staffing, and is in no rush to commit the hundreds of millions of dollars to one-time uses. But members of the councils Budget Committee are leery of using the money for pay raises or other recurring expenses. They prefer instead to focus on infrastructure projects, including one in particular: construction of a new power substation for the Sewerage & Water Board. The Budget Committee on Thursday unanimously passed council member Joseph Giarrussos measures to put $30 million in stimulus money into a special fund for the substation. The measures could receive a vote from the full council as soon as Feb. 17. Cantrell's chief financial officer, Norman White, said the administration is open to spending stimulus money, but he stopped short of committing to it. He said the administration wants to consider other funding sources for the substation before making a decision. Those comments echoed earlier ones by Ramsey Green, the administration's infrastructure chief. Two days earlier, Cantrell announced sweeping plans for employee bonuses, recruitment incentives and beefing up the Human Resources Department. Those plans would cost $18 million through next year, and a minimum of $4 million every year thereafter. The mayor said federal stimulus money would be a suitable way to pay for it. The council and administration are not quarreling with each others respective goals - at least not yet. But their proposals highlight potentially conflicting notions about the purpose of stimulus money. The proposals all would draw from the $387.5 million due to New Orleans from the American Rescue Plan Act, the stimulus bill that Congress approved one year ago. Plans for the substation initially called for Entergy New Orleans to finance it, with about $30 million in upfront construction capital, which the S&WB would repay over time. The New Orleans and Louisiana governments would combine for another $40 million or so in related infrastructure. The deal cratered last month, however, when Entergy backed out of its financing agreement, all but eliminating the possibility that the substation would be ready for the 2023 hurricane season. Giarrusso and other council members immediately looked to stimulus money to fill the gap. We are acting quickly to put a bow on this, to get the substation online as quickly as possible, Giarrusso said. 'Jindal math' The administration agrees that a new substation to power drainage pumps is vital to New Orleans' ability to withstand heavy rains and flooding during. But it has been cool toward the councils moves to force a stimulus commitment in the wake of Entergys bombshell. On one point, the administration is adamant: If stimulus money is to be used for the substation, it must come from the second installment, which is expected to arrive in May. The first half came last year, and administration officials are insisting that it be used to fill budget holes. Last year, the council last year agreed to the administrations request to use $77 million from the first installment to stabilize the 2021 budget. The administration says the remaining $107 million is now budgeted for anticipated shortfalls through 2025, which is how long the administration says it could take for sales tax and other revenue to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The council could decide to move the budgeted stimulus money to other capital purposes, such as the substation, before it is spent on operations. White, the chief financial officer, said it is imperative for the council to resist that temptation. What you dont want to do is kill ourselves on the front end, White said. We all agreed from the start of this pandemic to secure the operating budget so we can maintain the services and citizens. Lets not mess with that strategy. A decision on how to pay for the substation will come very soon, White said, and it could include a mix of sources, in addition to - perhaps - the second stimulus installment. We are simply trying to assess the different funding options to make the right decision. And until that's available to us, we can't say this or that, White said. While the administration is hesitant to commit stimulus money to the substation, it has no qualms about using it for Cantrells recruitment and retention plan, which includes bonuses of as much as $20,000 for veteran police officers. Cantrell announced the plans Tuesday, highlighting an 11% reduction in the local government's payroll since the pandemic began. Public safety agencies such as the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center - where more than half of budgeted positions are vacant - are hurting the most. Council members were skeptical of Cantrells plans. During the Budget Committee, council member JP Morrell, a former state senator, said it reminded him of former Gov. Bobby Jindals penchant for using one-time windfalls to balance the state operating budget. I am 100% against Jindal math, Morrell said, adding that he would vehemently oppose any request to use stimulus "funds for a recurring expense, whether it be new positions or pay raise. Staying competitive Making up for pandemic-related revenue losses is one of many eligible uses of the stimulus money. Stormwater infrastructure is another, and the White House is now advising cities to use it to jump-start projects that could see additional funding from the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill passed in November. Cities will soon be able to apply for an initial round of $60 billion in competitive federal grants from the infrastructure bill, the federal government says. Giarrusso, who for months has advocated using stimulus for infrastructure projects, said the recent federal guidance marries two urgent priorities: getting the substation funded and giving New Orleans a competitive edge when it comes to the federal infrastructure bill. Supporting Giarrussos position are U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, and a trio of New Orleans-based state representatives. The state lawmakers, more bluntly than Carter, said in a letter to the council that New Orleans must show its commitment to spending stimulus on infrastructure. We are constantly in one battle after the next about why New Orleans doesnt deserve to have something, said Democratic state Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman, one of the signatories on the letter. The people up in Baton Rouge know that we're getting all this federal money. And weve got to show them that we're going to spend some of our federal money on infrastructure to help get the matches that we need. Game recognizes game, people sometimes say, which is another way of pointing out that those who are good at something can often spot the same talent in somebody else. While the mutual respect part is surely missing, Louisianas junior Republican U.S. senator, John N. Kennedy, must know that hes attracted an opponent in the fall election who matches his ability to grab the spotlight. After six years in the Senate, Kennedys an old pro at it. The Oxford-educated lawyer and former state treasurer has morphed into a down-home, Fox News-friendly character who leaves people wondering just what hell say next the more insulting, the more viral. Lowlights include Kennedys contention that it must suck to be as dumb as the ever-shrewd House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that members of the so-called Squad are the reason there are directions on the shampoo bottle, and that a Soviet-born and educated law professor whod long since become American might as well be called comrade. Kennedy recently professed deep concern that President Joe Bidens yet-to-be announced U.S. Supreme Court nominee might not know a law book from a J. Crew catalog, a preemptive dig at whichever of the amply qualified Black women on Bidens list gets the nod (If youve noticed that all of these attacks were aimed at women, and many at women of color, well, youre not the only one). This is a senator who was once lampooned on a Carnival float as The Greatest Showman, with his own words providing the punchlines. These days, though, Kennedy doesnt have the stage all to himself. Activist Gary Chambers marked his entry into the campaign with an online ad in which he calls for decriminalizing marijuana while smoking a blunt. The video landed him all over national television, on MSNBC rather than Kennedys home port of Fox and as part of Stephen Colberts Late Show monologue on CBS. He followed it up with a second video in which he sets fire to a Confederate flag. The ads offer messages about entrenched racial inequities in criminal law and other areas of life, but lets be real. Thats not why people are talking about them, any more than Kennedys well-honed schtick gets anyone thinking deeply about policy. The audience is here for the spectacle of it all. Youve got to feel for Luke Mixon, the Naval Academy-trained fighter pilot who is also challenging Kennedy in the open primary. Mixons campaign is premised on the hope that voters will want to lower the partisan temperature in Washington. He talks of bringing character back to the office after its current occupant voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election on Donald Trumps behalf, and hes got quite a point there. But earnest talk of honor and integrity just doesnt sell the way weird, intentionally offensive comments and visual stunts do. Theres actually a good discussion to be had between Chambers and Mixon, who represent different Democratic constituencies. Chambers is an able advocate for the partys progressive wing and proved through an impressive third-place showing in last years 2nd Congressional District race that he can get votes as well as attention. Mixon casts himself as a Gov. John Bel Edwards type who can look beyond party and find common policy ground. And theres certainly a worthwhile debate over policy and world views to be had if Kennedy should deign to engage directly with his Democratic opponents. Its hard to imagine that will happen, though. Kennedy starts with the built-in advantage of having an R behind his name, at a time when Senate elections have mostly devolved into referenda over national party preference. Despite Edwards two victories for governor, Louisiana tilts reliably Republican on national politics, and even Kennedys embarrassing behavior is unlikely to upend that dynamic. The go-to strategy for a candidate in his situation is to refuse to appear alongside any opponents, no matter how much of a service doing so would provide voters who want to make a well-informed choice. Call it minor consolation, then, that while were unlikely to get a debate worthy of the Senate seats importance, at least well get a show. Bloomsburg, Pa. -- Professor and author Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, will be the guest speaker at Bloomsburg University's 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration. The lecture will be Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m. in Carver Hall's Gross Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Masks are required of all those in attendance. Shabazz has authored five historical novels and has served as project advisor for the PBS award-winning documentary, "Prince Among Slaves." She is co-chairperson of the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. In her work to preserve her parents' legacy, she has dedicated herself to institution building and intergenerational leadership development with the tenants of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Shabazz has furthered her community impact with the City University of New York's Office of Academic Affairs, where she created a curriculum to encourage higher education for underserved, inner-city high school dropouts. She has worked with the Office of the Mayor in Mount Vernon, N.Y., as director of public affairs and special events. She founded and produced a young adult development program. The purpose of the program was to provide insight on social justice and encourage personal empowerment. As president and founder of Ilyasah Shabazz Enterprises, she produces a variety of forums dedicated to power, possibility, and sovereignty. She is a member of the Soar Higher Cabinet Committee for New Paltz College; a member of the Advisory Council for the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition; a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; and she serves as a trustee for the Harlem Symphony Orchestra. Shabazz holds a Master of Science in Education & Human Resource Development from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from New Paltz College. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, where she teaches Perspectives on Justice in the Africana World. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Student will now have an opportunity to test their learning on a construction bulldozer thanks to a donation from Anderson Equipment Co. The donation will support the heavy construction equipment technology program at Pennsylvania College of Technology. The five-month entrustment, which runs through April 2022, enables students in the heavy construction equipment technology: technician emphasis major to access a new 2022 Komatsu D51PX-24 crawler dozer valued at $245,190 for instructional purposes. Students will do undercarriage measurements; emission training; and electronic, hydraulic and HVAC diagnosis on the dozer. Anderson Equipment Co., with 18 full-service locations across Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, has partnered with Penn College for equipment entrustments since 2014. The company is a member of the Visionary Society (support totaling ($100,000 - $499,999) on the colleges Donor Wall. Anderson Equipment has shown its commitment to the kind of education offered by Penn College in our heavy construction equipment programs, said Elizabeth A. Biddle, director of corporate relations. We thank Anderson Equipment for its continued partnership and for its support of our students, who will learn additional skills on Komatsu equipment. Anderson Equipment is proud to partner with Penn College through this equipment entrustment, said Jerry Skiff, director of service. It is a win-win; Penn College and their students are able to utilize the latest technology-based equipment as part of their educational program, and the Anderson Equipment name recognition exposes students to our company who may be considering a future employer. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Williamsport, Pa. Dartagnan Heziki Zuback, 20, of Williamsport allegedly told officials with the prison whats a few more charges after he spit in their faces. Related reading: Jersey Shore man charged with rape of child, sexual assault of minors Zuback was charged with third-degree felony aggravated harassment by a prison and second-degree misdemeanor simple assault stemming from two separate incidents inside the prison. Authorities with the Lycoming County Prison said Zuback tied a sheet to his cell bars and assaulted a man inside the cell on Aug. 12, 2021. Officials with the prison said on Nov. 8, 2021 Zuback spit on a correctional officer from his cell. It was during that incident Zuback allegedly shrugged off the idea of more charges. Related reading: Jersey Shore man charged in connection with break-in, statutory assault Zuback was charged for both incidents on Feb. 2, 2022. He was arraigned by Judge Aaron Biichle and given $75,000 for the felony and another $25,000 monetary bail for the misdemeanor. Zuback was being held on felony charges that included first-degree felony rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, and corruption of minors. Docket sheet for F3 harassment Docket sheet for M2 simple assault Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get Our Free Newsletters Never miss a headline with NorthcentralPa.com newsletters. Sign Up Today! Morning Headlines: Would you like to receive our daily morning newsletter? Afternoon Update: What's happening today? Here's your update! Daily Obits: Get a daily list straight to your email inbox. Turkish Airlines, which flies to 334 worldwide destinations, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary in Athens, its first international destination. Operating its first international flight on February 12, 1947 on Ankara Istanbul Athens route, this flight carries a special meaning as it was the first time airline carried national flag on international skies. Operated with DC-3 type aircraft with TC-ABA tail number, first international flight of flag carrier departed from Ankara on 12 February 1947 at 10:00 and after a stop in Istanbul it continued to Athens Airport which was known as Hassani Airport back then. Among the passengers of the 2 hour 40 minute international flight was the eras Turkish State Airlines General Manager Osman Nuri Baykal. On the anniversary flight, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: We had the honour of carrying our flag to abroad 75 years ago at Athens. While we transported 30 passengers between two neighbouring countries on February 12, 1947, now we carry millions of our guests to their loved ones over the continents. As the airline that flies to more countries than any other, we will continue to host our guests with Turkish hospitality and fly our flag proudly in the sky. Global carrier celebrated 75th anniversary with a special announcement during Istanbul Atina February 12 flights. During the announcement, cabin crew addressed passengers saying: As the airline that flies to more countries than any other, we are celebrating 75th anniversary of our Athens flights, our first international destination. Although many changes occurred in aviation since that first international flight, excitement and happiness of meeting with our passengers in skies remained the same for Turkish Airlines. We hope to discover the world for many more years with you. Operating its first international flight 75 years ago with only 33 aircraft, Turkish Airlines now boasts one of the worlds youngest fleets with 371 aircraft, flying to Athens with four frequencies and to Thessaloniki with two frequencies, connecting these cities to 127 countries around the world. As for Turkish Airlines second destination in Greece, flag carrier started to fly to Thessaloniki back in 2001. For these flights, Turkish Airlines operates with TK 1881 flight number in honour of the founder of Republic of Turkey and Turkish Airlines Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in reference to his birth year.- TradeArabia News Service The freshly-launched Galaxy Tab S8 series has proven so popular that two-thirds of its variants have "sold out" on Samsung.com in the US. Well, not exactly: the OEM has announced that it is "pausing" their pre-order event while it deals with the demand for the tablets, which of course includes their new, top-end 14.6-inch SKU. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker Samsung seemed to bank heavily on the resurging success of tablets in its development of the Galaxy Tab S8 series, so much so in fact that it gave the flagship Ultra variant an unprecedented 14.6-inch display. Now, it seems to have paid off, as the OEM is apparently nearly out of units to pre-order via its own website in the US. The middle-child (yet still quite premium) Galaxy Tab S8+ is still available on samsung.com/us. However, its vanilla and Ultra siblings' buttons on the same page read "Sold Out" at the moment. However, according to Samsung, this may not exactly be the case. The company claims to have simply "paused" pre-orders for those variants due to "overwhelming demand in the last 48 hours". However, it also assures customers that it will "work quickly to meet customer excitement and demand". Nevertheless, the tablets are still available on other platforms. The Galaxy Tab S8 can still be pre-ordered on Amazon, whereas the Tab S8 Ultra is in stock on Best Buy...unless you want the top-end 16GB RAM variant, that is: it is still on the way at the moment. When Samsung announced the Galaxy S22 series four days ago, it claimed that all three models were capable of 120 Hz refresh rates, matching last year's models. Only the Galaxy S22 Ultra could vary its refresh rate between 1-120 Hz though, thanks to its LTPO 2.0 backplane technology. In comparison, Samsung asserted that the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ could drop as low as 10 Hz, a claim that it still makes on its website. However, Samsung has already changed its tune. As the screenshot below shows, it now states that the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ can only fluctuate between 48-120 Hz. As a result, neither device utilises LTPO backplanes, relying on LTPS ones instead. Unfortunately, Samsung has not confirmed why it continues to advertise 10 Hz capabilities for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ when neither can operate at lower than 48 Hz. According to Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), this is not necessarily a last-minute change on Samsung's behalf, either. Writing on Twitter, Young states that companies have only demoed displays with LTPS backplanes at under 48 Hz. As of yet, no one has released a commercial product combining these capabilities. Presumably, independent reviewers will pick up the lack of 10 Hz support during their tests, by which time Samsung may have explained its reasons behind the misleading advertising. Until then, Samsung may continue to give a false impression about the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+'s displays. Update - February 16 Samsung has now confirmed that it used non-industry standard measurements to come to its '10-120 Hz' claim. You can read Samsung's full statement in our corresponding article. Next-Gen Concentrating Solar Power Research Heats Up at NREL Molten Salts Can Melt Down the Price of Concentrating Solar Power-Plus-Storage An employee runs diagnoses on heliostats at a solar thermal facility in Nevada. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL Concentrating solar power (CSP) has long held promise as a renewable energy technology. CSP uses mirrors, or heliostats, to harness the power of the sun by heating and storing an inexpensive medium such as sand, rocks, or molten salt for on-demand energy dispatch. To spur CSP industry advancement and achieve an energy cost goal of 5 cents per kWh, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Gen3 CSP program funds research to explore the potential of several heat transfer mediums. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) researchers are contributing to this effort, tackling several challenges related to the use of one potential mediumliquid-hot molten saltfor energy transfer and storage. Off to the Races: Three Potential Pathways to Cost-Effective CSP Three years ago, the Gen3 program established three pathways to potentially reach the CSP energy cost goal: a liquid pathway (exploring use of molten salt as a heat transfer material, led by NREL), a particle pathway (using sand-like particles as a heat transfer material, led by Sandia National Laboratories), and a third pathway exploring the use of gas as heat transfer material (led by Brayton Energy). In March of 2021, DOE down-selected among the three pathways to fund further research into particle-based storage, but also created an opportunity for NREL to further develop the liquid pathway over the next two years. Molten salt thermal energy storage technology is an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective way to store solar power at large scale. Photo by Julianne Boden, DOE Liquid Pathway Research at NREL: Singling Out Salts Craig Turchi leads thermal energy science and technologies research at NREL. He said that molten salts are a desirable option for a heat transfer and storage materialliquids are easy to work with as they can be pumped through pipes and heat exchangers to move around a CSP system. Unfortunately, some practical challenges also remain, which are the focus of current NREL research. Challenge 1: Tackling Tank Design To Keep It Hot The prototype molten chloride salt tank will be built on the mesa top above NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL While easy to move around, salts are also corrosive to the tanks and pipes that hold them. In fact, according to Turchi, "Everyone initially thought that salt corrosivity would torpedo this effort. We actually solved that problem by and large. NREL and partners did a lot of great science on the salt chemistryhow to purify it, how to make it relatively noncorrosive if you control the chemistry, and we demonstrated that in the lab." So, corrosivity is not the biggest problem with using molten salts. Instead, the challenge lies in achieving very high temperatures needed for a high-efficiency power plant. The salt's energy density requires relatively largeand therefore, expensivestorage tanks and one must keep the salts from freezing in the pipes (while thermally stable as a liquid to very high temperature, these salts freeze at a not-so-chilly 400C). Turchi said this is related to how you insulate the system. "We had performed testing to show which materials could work but hadn't actually built a tank to demonstrate that it did work. Our design is a steel tank, but whereas the current tanks are insulated on the outside, our proposed tank was insulated on the inside to protect the steel." DOE awarded NREL $2 million to build a prototype tank to evaluate its integrity when filled with molten salt. The tank is currently being built and will be operated on the mesa above NREL's Golden, Colorado, campus. Challenge 2: Finding the Right Salts To Shake Things Up There is more than one kind of salt, so NREL's work developing the Gen3 CSP liquid path also involved selecting and experimenting with new salts. Commercial molten salt systems use nitrate salts; however, these start to degrade once the system reaches a certain temperature. The NREL team wanted to reach higher temperatures to achieve more efficient energy conversion for higher-efficiency power plants, so they explored an alternativechloride salts. Youyang Zhao is an NREL researcher who has been studying salt chemistry for the Gen3 liquid pathway project for the last three years. Zhao said he started out by finding ways to reduce the impurity levels of industrial salt. Additionally, Zhao said, "We were optimizing the salt composition to lower the melting point of the salt. The lower the melting point, the more time we have to work with the material." Zhao's work led to the decision to design the new prototype tank for chloride salt. We are connecting fundamental science to future engineering. -Youyang Zhao This new opportunity is an important continuation of their efforts. "At a high level," Zhao explained, "we are connecting fundamental science to future engineering. I'm not creating the component design, but trying to find out the basics, such as chemistry and material knowledge, to provide information so people can design systems better." Challenge 3: Electrochemical Approaches To Support Gen3 Liquid Pathway Research Kerry Rippy is an NREL expert in inorganic chemistry and has supported the Gen3 CSP liquid pathway in several capacities. In the lab, her team explored and demonstrated electrochemical methods to remove corrosive impurities in molten chloride salt. Now, they are continuing this work with the University of Wisconsin to demonstrate the reliability of the purified molten chloride salt as it flows through a scaled-up prototype that mimics an industrial system. Rippy is also supporting the mesa top tank testing project. The cost of the containment vessels is high, so the team is investigating new materials to store the salt, at varying temperatures and in large volumes for up to 10 hours at a time. Rippy is helping to develop an electrochemical sensor inside the tank to monitor the purity of the salt during experimentation. Variety Is the Spice of Life: Wide-Ranging Molten Salt Applications Rippy said a molten salt chloride pathway merits further exploration for the benefit of CSP and beyond: "There are multiple potential avenues for this research to be valuable. It can be beneficial for solar fuel synthesis; it could enable high-temperature fuel cells, and the nuclear industry is also really interested in this research." Turchi concurred. "The nuclear industry is developing a number of 'Gen4' reactors of its own, some of which use molten chloride salts." Results from the upcoming tank testing could drive down tank costs for a number of energy industries. Learn more about NREL CSP research. WHO TO CALL: Contact a local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office if you think you have spotted emerald ash borer: Lyon County: 712-472-2576; 710 N. Second Ave. E., Suite 103, Rock Rapids. OBrien County: 712-957-5045; 340 Second St. S.E., Primghar. Osceola County: 712-754-3648; 110 Cedar Lane, Sibley. Sioux County: 712-737-4230; 400 Central Ave. N.W., Suite 700, Orange City. Additional contacts include Sarah Rueger, Iowa Department of Natural Resources district forester for western Iowa, at 563-920-8022 and Mike Kintner, emerald ash borer coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, at 515-745-2877 or mike.kintner@iowaagriculture.gov. A total of 65 more people died from COVID-19 in Northwest Indiana in a one-week period, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health. Statistics updated Friday showed that there have been a total of 1,658 coronavirus-attributed deaths in Lake County, 513 in Porter County, 339 in LaPorte County, 63 in Newton County and 130 in Jasper County. Last Friday, Lake County reported 1,621 deaths, meaning an additional 37 people have died of the virus in the county in a seven-day period, statistics show. In a one-week period, Porter County reported 14 new deaths, LaPorte County recorded 12 more and Jasper County reported two more deaths. In total, COVID-19 has killed a total of 21,298 Hoosiers since the start of the pandemic, indicating an additional 404 deaths statewide in the last seven days, Friday data showed. State health records show a total of 1,932 Hoosiers were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Currently 20% of ICU beds are in use by coronavirus patients with only 15.3% of ICU beds in the state available. The color-coded classifications for Indiana's 92 counties now has 88 counties in the worst-possible red rating. The red rating indicates an uncontrolled spread of coronavirus, which is classified as 200 or more positive cases per every 100,000 residents. Lake County has shifted to the orange rating, indicating there are 100 to 199 new cases per 100,000 residents each week. Pulaski, LaGrange and Adams counties are the only other counties in the orange rating. Across state lines, a total of 7,713 residents in Calumet City and 6,698 residents in Lansing have tested positive for the virus. State health officials are urging Hoosiers age 5 and up to reduce their chances of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death by getting vaccinated against COVID-19, or by getting a COVID-19 booster shot for those previously vaccinated, as soon as possible. The free COVID-19 vaccine is available, in most cases without an appointment, at 1,488 locations across the state, including retail pharmacies, health clinics and hospitals. Records show that 56.3% of Hoosiers age 5 and up, the state's eligible population, are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including 55.4% of eligible Lake County residents, 61% in Porter County, 55.9% in LaPorte County, 401% in Newton County and 46% in Jasper County. So far, a total of 1,689,829 people have received a booster shot statewide. A complete list of COVID-19 vaccine sites is available online at ourshot.in.gov. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Greetings 2022 music friends! Over the past 20 years, I have conducted hundreds of concerts with Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, but I am not sure there's ever been one quite as diverse as the upcoming "Rach & Blue" concert on March 3 and 4. To explain, many months ago we had to attempt to have a crystal ball to program this concert. We had to consider the budget, music rental, hiring of musicians and hiring of a soloist while considering what might be going on in the world, and what our audience had been requesting recently. Therefore, we decided upon a "crossover concert. That is a concert that certainly has classical music on the program but also includes other genres of music. Since it happens to be a concert commemorating my 20 years at the symphony (and I hope each and every one of you will be there to celebrate with me), I wanted to include other anniversaries in the program as well. It will be 100 years since George Gershwin first started sketching his very jazzy "Rhapsody in Blue" in 1922. With Enescos "Romanian Rhapsody," one can pick the anniversary of the Romanian people first emigrating from the east and bringing their fantastic gypsy music and culture to western Europe. There were so many times these wonderful people came to western Europe, starting way back with the Romans. (I wonder what the Romans thought of gypsy music, eh?!) This piece was one of my very first concerts here in Northwest Indiana and I remember someone driving me to Valparaiso for the concert and I had NO IDEA where I was! It will also be the 50th anniversary of the premiere of "The Godfather," and what a gorgeous, Italian score this is. This is the first time we have been able to rent this music and I am crazy about it. And the Olympics are happening right now so I thought we should all celebrate the history of the Olympics and all the dedicated athletes who have competed over the years, so we'll close our program with the exuberant John Williams "Olympic Fanfare." Finally, in speaking of anniversaries, please do not forget St. Valentines Day is about 1,500 years old and after all those years, you should not forget your Valentine, eh? Valentines Day falls just a few weeks before our concerts on Thursday, March 3, and Friday, March 4. Tickets for our concert could be a lovely, romantic and classy gift. I want to thank all of you for the joy, friendship, wonder and heart that you have given me over the past 20 years and I hope to see you all at the concerts. FYI: The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Kirks 20-year anniversary with a special Pre-Concert Party before the Friday, March 4 performance of "Rach & Blue." The party will take place from 4:306:45 p.m. at Gamba Ristorante in Merrillville, just a mile from the concert venue. Tickets for the party are $125 and tables of eight begin at $1,000. Concert tickets are not included in the party price. The party will feature heavy hors doeuvres (including meatless options, desserts and open bar). Reservations can be made before Feb. 21 online at nisorchestra.org, or via phone at 219-836-0525, ext. 203. "Rach & Blue" will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4 at Living Hope Church, 9000 Taft S., Merrillville/Crown Point. Tickets range from $35 to $75, with student tickets at $10. Subscriptions are also available at a 5% discount. For tickets or more information, visit nisorchestra.org. Opinions are solely those of the writer. Kirk Muspratt is the conductor of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. Muspratts column is an occasional feature during symphony season. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HAMMOND Searching Eggers on Instagram may not lead to what one would expect. Instead of a school Instagram page for Eggers Middle School, search results include several pages documenting student fights at the Hammond school. One public page features five fights, all posted in December 2021. Eggers Principal Angela Johnson said the school is aware of the pages and has addressed the issue on three occasions to the entire student body via assemblies. Johnson said administrators have also addressed it with parents and asked for their help by checking students phones and speaking with them about the pages. Teachers, staff, and even some parents have reported the page because if it was started by a student, it may violate the age policy of the social media page and should be eligible to be removed, Johnson wrote in an email. However, the pages remained up last week. Parents have begun to express concerns about their childrens safety in the district, with some uncertain about what the administration is doing to combat the issue. Issues have also occurred at Scott Middle School, as a video of a violent fight circulated on social media this week. All physical confrontations between students are of great concern to the teachers, staff and administrators of SCH, School City of Hammond spokesperson Nate George said in a written statement. Any student who violates the Student Code of Conduct with negative behaviors such as fighting will be subject to the consequences stated in the Code, such as suspension and expulsion. If an action rises to the level of criminal behavior, SCH will work with the Hammond Police Department to ensure appropriate legal consequences take place. Any discipline that is administered will be between the students, their parent(s)/guardian(s), and the school administration. Eggers has a zero tolerance policy for fights, and students involved are suspended for a minimum of three days. Habitual fighters are expelled. Johnson said several fights may occur off campus, and Eggers proactively addresses issues to make sure they do not interfere with childrens education. Diana Davis has a daughter in the district. She feels like safety is not being prioritized in the district after a misunderstanding between an Eggers school security guard and the school. We employ four security guards, an SEI behavior interventionist and one to two Hammond police officers within the school, Johnson said. There are systems and procedures in place such as a staggered dismissal, consistent hall sweeps and hall monitoring, which helps to make sure students are in class at all times. Beth Bozzo took her two sons out of the district at the end of December due to the consistent behavior issues she has seen. She said her children were not doing poorly, but she felt they were losing learning opportunities due to the issue. She said she understands it is a complex issue and it's not necessarily the teachers or parents at fault. Bozzo said it can be difficult for administration to handle these issues when there are several other concerns they may be handling. I can really feel a lot of empathy for a teacher who is managing behavior issues in the class. How do you effectively teach? Bozzo said. Bozzo said she thinks the issue could be connected to the fact of children being at home for a year. Many students have been away from traditional school and are adjusting to in-person learning, a new grade level and a new building with new procedures and new staff, Johnson said. Emily Antoniazzi has a son in eighth grade at Eggers. She said his experience was good until the merger of schools. Eggers Middle School saw a 15% increase in students this year, as Clark and Gavit middle schools were both closed. Sixth-grade students were moved to elementary, and seventh and eighth graders were all sent to Eggers. The school currently has 904 students. In the 2009-10 school year, the average Indiana middle school enrolled 591.3 students. Pamela Reyes son was one of the students who was transferred from Clark. Reyes said it has been a horrible experience. Reyes said her son is constantly picked on for issues such as speaking Spanish in school and looking different than other students. Reyes believes the root of the issues is the closure of Clark and Gavit middle schools. She feels like there is not enough staff to control the children. When Eggers opened for the 2021 school year, the first year of the schools being combined, Antoniazzis son said he saw daily fights. Reyes said her son sees them as well, several being right on campus or where the buses drop off. Antoniazzi said she feels like the district should do more because she does not understand why this is happening. She feels like her hands are tied and she has to send him to school, as she is chronically ill and it's easier for him to learn in-person. But she is worried that these fights will lead to something even more dangerous. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 4 Angry 6 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO A parent in Valparaiso Community Schools filed a lawsuit this fall against the district and Porter County Education Services, claiming discrimination toward a disabled student. Victoria Schwarten previously won a due process against the district and PCES during the summer of 2021, when an independent hearing officer found that her child with special needs was not provided a free appropriate public education. She claimed her childs individualized education plan (IEP), developed in 2019, was not safe, leading to her sending the child to Chesterton Montessori School. The hearing officer ordered that PCES and VCS reimburse Schwarten for the costs associated with private school in 2020 and homeschooling the previous year. A total reimbursement of $22,000 was ordered based on a conservative estimate of how much funding the public school would have received if the student was enrolled during those two years. Schwarten said the case had not yet been resolved and she was still paying out of pocket for her childs private school in January. VCS Superintendent Jim McCall deferred to PCES. PCES did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication. Parents raise IEP issues Several parents have expressed concerns with their students IEPs in the school district, including issues about safety. Mona Drake brought up her concerns with her sons IEP at Valparaiso Community Schools August board meeting. Drake said she had been trying to communicate to the board since May with no response. I started to email this board and members of PCES administration back in May when we learned of the resignation of my sons amazing special education teacher, Drake said at the board meeting. None of my concerns have been addressed and my son and his classmates and staff in (his) classroom are all suffering because of it. However, due to public comment time restrictions, she was not able to complete her thoughts. She pleaded with the board to allow her to continue to speak, but they asked her not to. The board informed her that the district's director of social emotional learning would follow up individually. Drake said her son, who is a third-grader at Cooks Corner Elementary School, has had his worst year thus far. The year began with a teacher who only had an emergency license and one paraprofessional for 12 special education students. Drakes sons plan indicates he is to spend 20 to 30 minutes with his general education peers per day. However, due to the lack of staffing, she said he has rarely left the classroom, even as they have more staff. Not only that, Drake said she has seen no academic development this year. Emily Spellman said her autistic 5-year-old daughter was moved to Flint Lake Elementary from Central Elementary in January, as Central did not have the resources available to help take care of her. Spellman said her daughter is having trouble adjusting to the new classroom. She also said she feels it is unfair, as her daughter should be able to attend her home school, or the one closest to their home. Spellman feels stuck with the district. She is a single mother of four children who has to work. She also said it's not realistic to move her to private or charter schools, as her other three children are in VCS. I feel like I dont have any options, Spellman said. With kids like her, transitions are rough. I cant just bounce her around from school to school to see what sticks. Carolyn Smith has a daughter in the special education program at Valparaiso High School. She moved here for the 2021 school year. At her previous school district, her daughter was in some general education classes every school day. However, she is currently only in the special education class every day. Smith said her daughter is not learning anything new. Smith said she is planning on getting an IEP advocate regarding this issue. AnnMarie Pince filed a complaint against Porter County Education Services and Valparaiso Community Schools in 2019. She had moved to the area after issues with her daughters IEP in another district. Pince wanted her daughter to attend a school in Washington Township during the fall 2018 semester. However, due to staffing and resources, PCES informed her that her daughter would need to attend Valparaiso Community Schools. The complaint was heard over a period from July 2019 to September 2020 and it was determined that PCES and VCS were not at fault. Pince has home-schooled her daughter since. She said that while homeschooling is effective, it is difficult on her daughter socially. She wants to be with her fellow classmates, Pince said. Special education teacher shortage Valparaiso Community Schools issues with IEPs and special education could possibly be attributed to the nationwide special education shortage. A report from the United States Department of Education in 2020 showed that in 2017, there were approximately 6 million students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They were being served by 389,456 teachers, 7% of whom were not fully certified or trained to work in special education. In Indiana, the shortage may worsen. Many schools in the state rely on emergency permits to help fill special education positions. However, in June, the Indiana Department of Education informed schools that Indiana will no longer be issuing emergency permits after this school year. The decision was made to comply with federal regulations. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act from 2015 prohibits special education teachers from having licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary or provisional basis. In the 2019-20 school year, Indiana issued 1,018 emergency permits and 2,878 full licenses for educating students with learning disabilities or developmental disorders. The median annual salary for special education teachers in 2021 was $62,820, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The minimum salary for newly hired teachers at Valparaiso Community Schools as of 2021 is $47,000. Valparaiso Community Schools' website shows a listing for a long-term substitute special education teacher and a special education aide at Flint Lake Elementary. Parents use services, advocates Laura Swanson is the president of IEP Hope, an organization she founded to help parents with their special education needs by advocating and educating them. She said since the non-profit began six months ago, she has received a lot of phone calls from parents in Porter County and LaPorte County. Swanson said IEP Hope helps parents in many ways, such as going to IEP meetings, going through individual IEP plans and analyzing special education law. She said that there has been great feedback so far, with parents spreading the word through word of mouth and using a Facebook group to ask any questions they may have. This is particularly helpful to busy parents, as they may already have a hectic life, where going through their childs IEP may require too much time. Several parents also make use of the organization IN*SOURCE, an organization that aims to provide families and service providers in Indiana the information and training needed to ensure appropriate services for individuals with disabilities, according to its website. Swanson said a big way that IEP Hope makes a difference is simply that parents are treated differently when they have an advocate sitting with them at the table. She said she feels like parents get more respect in those moments. The schools usually know the advocate knows the law and knows what services a child may be entitled to, Swanson said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Entergys Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Mississippi, was taken offline Friday to address issues with its feedwater system. The next day, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator issued a notice to its utility members, including Entergy and Cleco, requiring them to ask their members to reduce their electricity use. Entergy Corp. CROWN POINT There was nothing surprising about seeing a rhinoceros, a T-Rex, Spider-Man and others Saturday at NWI Comic-Con. The annual show, held at the Lake County Fairgrounds, brought together hundreds of people to shop for memorabilia and, in many cases, show off their costumes. Theres all kinds of stuff, dealer Randy Hogan, of Monee, Illinois, said. "Funko Pops, Disney and Marvel items were popular this year. Some dealers sold jewelry, comics, artwork and all kinds of other items." I do comics and miniature figures like Legos," Hogan said. David Carvelli, of Sugar Grove, Illinois, served as one of the judges for the team cosplay competition. Creativity, craftsmanship and overall presence count when hes judging costumes. He wants to make sure the play is evident when people cosplay. Carvellis Laird C. Dracmor costume was elaborate and expensive. The fabric for his costume, which he finished putting together Friday night, cost $79 on sale. His foam head took 70 hours to create. I used to do the Renaissance fair for 15 years," the retired postmaster said, and has been doing cosplay for NWI Comic-Con and other events for about eight years. Carvelli wore a foam head. You heat it, you bend it, you cut it, he said. Natalia Rosado, of East Chicago, brought her son Julian Rosado, 8, to his first convention. Ive been going to conventions for eight years now, she said. Growing up, she enjoyed comics. Its rewarding, and hes enjoying it. Aidan Patrick, of Lynwood, created a Green Goblin costume. Im a huge nerd. I just love all of this, he said. I love the creativity. I love seeing how people are dressed. His Green Goblin costume drew inspiration of a variety of sources. Theres just elements from a little bit of everywhere, he said. Patrick helped sell a few things at a vendors booth, but he had fun, too. Ive walked around. Ive taken a lot of pictures, he said. I love the creativity. I love seeing how people are dressed. Theresa Willis, of Valparaiso, attended with her family. We like Dungeons and Dragons, she said. NWI Comic-Con provided a fun outlet for the costumed family. Its a good excuse to dress up, honestly, she said. They planned to shop, too. Youve got to support your local artists. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GARY A semitrailer fell 40 to 50 feet into a river in a single-vehicle crash on the Indiana Toll Road early Saturday. At 6:12 a.m. first responders were called to a reported semi rollover crash on the Indiana Toll Road at the 10 mile marker, said Indiana State Police Cpl. Judith Kubsch. Indiana troopers and Gary firefighters found a semi that had crashed into the Grand Calumet River. They attempted to make contact with the driver, but he was initially unconscious, Kubsch said. The driver was extricated, and he came back to consciousness. He was then transported to the University of Chicago in stable condition. First responders said the semi was exiting the ramp to northbound Cline Avenue when it went over the concrete barrier and plunged an estimated 40 to 50 feet into the water. The semi is still in the river as of Saturday afternoon as the companys recovery of the vehicle is underway, Kubsch said. The crash remains under investigation. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mousse has a reputation for being fussy, but this one is not. It originated in a 1980s Junior League cookbook and came to The Times through the cook Monica Stolbach, via the pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz. You dont have to separate the egg yolks and whites; instead, you pour hot sugar syrup into a blender with chocolate and whole eggs. Blend for a bit, then fold the mixture into softly whipped cream. Recipe: Blender Chocolate Mousse Beginning Aug. 9, Canada plans to reopen its border to nonessential American visitors including tourists as long as they are fully vaccinated. The decision comes after months of public pressure, largely from states and communities that share the 5,500-mile border and experienced more than a year of family separation, lost work and social upheaval. In recent weeks, Canadas vaccination rate has surged Oxford Universitys Our World in Data site shows Canada leading the world in vaccinations with 70 percent of residents at least partially vaccinated, approaching Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus vaccine targets for reopening. Americans traveling to Canada must be fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved in Canada including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson and submit proof via the governments ArriveCAN app or website. They must also provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Canada. With the relaxed restrictions, tourism officials are banking on an influx of visitors, not just to see family and friends, but to travel in a vast country rich with cultural influences from around the world. From the 17th-century French founding of Quebec City to the immigrant waves from China to the Vancouver area, many parts of Canada bear the influence of other places. For those Americans who arent yet ready to cross an ocean as the world continues to reckon with Covid-19, Canada offers the world without requiring you leave North America, all at a favorable exchange rate one U.S. dollar is currently about 1.28 Canadian dollars. Around that time, Ms. Parnell launched a lifestyle blog called The Elle Aesthetic and left her job at the Memphis College of Art. Ms. Hardy continued to juggle her time between her start-up ventures, which required her to travel and be on call for clients, colleagues and young artists. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs so I knew I had to be with a certain type of personality. Denise carried boxes with me. She respected my journey and was there with me for my growth, said Ms. Hardy. Over the next few years, the couple continued to invest time in their careers and relationship; in 2019, they adopted a rescue Labrador together, which they named Panda. Then came the pandemic, which put life as they knew it on hold. I cant downplay how stressful it was. I was concerned about work and our health and just going to the grocery store, Ms. Parnell said. But we got to know each other in a new way during that time. I learned from Whitney that you can get through hard times and still have a soft heart. But when the world ground to a halt, Ms. Hardy said, it allowed her to see how pivotal Ms. Parnell had become to her life. I said to myself, If you dont grab this woman now, youre crazy, she said. The pandemic also did not crush her entrepreneurial spirit: In January 2021, Ms. Hardy, launched an enhanced water company called Hardy Beverages in Memphis. Ms. Hardy proposed to Ms. Parnell on Jan. 23, 2021, the couples fifth anniversary, in front of the Levitt Shell, an amphitheater in Memphis. Rudolph W. Giuliani, who as former President Donald J. Trumps lawyer helped lead the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election, is in discussions with the House Jan. 6 committee about responding to its questions, according to three people familiar with the matter. The extent of any assistance that Mr. Giuliani might provide remains unclear and the negotiations could easily fall apart, especially as Mr. Trump continues to publicly rail against the investigation. But Mr. Giuliani, through his lawyer, has signaled to the committee that he plans to take a less confrontational stance toward its requests than some other members of Mr. Trumps inner circle who are fighting the committees subpoenas or have otherwise refused to cooperate. Mr. Giulianis discussions with committee officials suggest that he may be seeking to avoid a potentially costly legal fight over a subpoena that was issued to him last month. By engaging with the committee, Mr. Giuliani could also make it more difficult for the House to issue a criminal referral of him to the Justice Department for contempt of Congress if he in the end does not comply with the subpoena. In a sign of the mounting anxiety, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III ordered a temporary repositioning of 160 National Guard trainers from Ukraine to elsewhere in Europe, the Pentagon said on Saturday. The trainers have been working alongside an undisclosed number of Army Green Berets, who will remain in Ukraine for now, officials said. Despite the warnings, American officials believe that Mr. Putin may not yet have made a final decision to invade, and the Wests diplomatic scramble continued on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron of France spent one hour and 40 minutes on the phone with Mr. Putin, Mr. Macrons office said. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Mr. Austin made separate calls to their Russian counterparts on Saturday. And President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine continued to play down the threat, expressing frustration with Washington. The best friend for enemies is panic in our country, Mr. Zelensky told reporters, in English, while observing a police training exercise in southern Ukraine. And all this information that helps only for panic, doesnt help us. Mr. Putin is likely to offer more public clues to his position in the coming days. Mr. Ushakov said Russias response to last months American security proposals would be made public soon. On Tuesday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany will travel to Moscow, after holding talks in Kyiv, Ukraines capital, the previous day. And on Wednesday the day that American officials have said a Russian invasion could begin Mr. Putin is scheduled to host President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil in Moscow. The diplomatic flurry came as Russias military posture continued to grow more ominous. More than 30 Russian Navy ships including frigates, missile boats and submarine chasers set sail for exercises in the Black Sea, Russias Defense Ministry said. The deployment strengthened the effective encirclement of Ukraine by Russian forces from all sides but the west. Ukrainian military officials have grown increasingly concerned about the deployment of special forces and airborne troops to regions near the Ukrainian border. Two days ago, the Kremlin deployed more than 50 attack and transport helicopters to Machulishchi in Belarus and Valuiki in Russia, both within easy striking distance of Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian military official said Saturday. Such helicopters would be used to provide close air support for any ground forces used in an invasion. States governed by Democrats across the country began reversing mask mandates this week, but federal officials warned against doing so and school districts were left grappling with what to do. Connecticut will permit students and staff members to stop wearing masks in schools by no later than Feb. 28, after Gov. Ned Lamont recommended Monday that the statewide mask mandate end on that date. His remarks came after a move by New Jersey officials earlier the same day to lift that states mask mandate for schools. The governors of Delaware and Oregon also made announcements on Monday about relaxing mask mandates at the end of March. And California officials said the states universal mask mandate for indoor public places would be lifted next week. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said that she was ending the states indoor masking requirements, the governor of Massachusetts said that face coverings would soon become optional in schools, and the governors of Illinois, Rhode Island and Washington said that they, too, would loosen coronavirus rules. Siegfried, when he steps in to partner her, touches her gingerly. After a turn he stills her body by holding her wrists, which are extended in a V overhead. Its so fragile, this bond that theyre forming; its all about trust. And throughout, beautiful pantomime, simple yet clear, lends the dancing a rare kind of poetic prowess and urgency. When Odette crosses her wrists in front of her body, it means death, and she isnt ethereal about it. Theres no gray line. Death means death. Of course, Odette loses her faith in Siegfried after he meets Odile, Von Rothbarts deceptive daughter, in the ballroom scene. Here, Ratmansky steers away from black swan imagery Odiles dark featherless dress is washed in shades of green and purple like an iridescent fish dipped in glitter. (The idea is right, but it looked a little cheap.) Siegfried, overcome by her likeness to Odette, begs her to marry him, which, of course, is the wrong move. As Odette, Carranza was competent if a little indistinct, and her Odile lacked dazzle. But it was still enthralling to watch the choreography unfold, including a pose in her pas de deux with Cerdeiro in which her leg was extended in arabesque as he knelt before her. Suddenly, she let go of his hands and dropped hers on his front knee. It was so peculiar, yet it made sense. In a way, its part of her seduction: Odile, forcibly, pins Siegfried down. But the power of Ratmanskys Swan Lake lies in his use of groups. The Act 1 peasant waltz in which dancers step on and off footstools, raising their arms high and low is the most uplifting thing youve ever seen until moments later when a maypole is erected and layers of dancers swirl around it to create a human carousel. The pictures they form are so jovial, so sweet. Part of this has to have something to do with how warm and gracious these Miami City Ballet dancers are. As George Balanchine once said, dancing Tchaikovskys ballets is like flying. They fly. The rapper Kodak Black was among four people shot outside a party in Los Angeles early Saturday after what his lawyer said was an unprovoked attack on a person he was with at the time. The injuries were not life-threatening and no arrests have been made, the Los Angeles Police Department said on Sunday. Black, who was born Dieuson Octave and whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was sentenced in 2019 to nearly four years in prison on federal weapons charges. President Donald J. Trump commuted his sentence in January 2021, in his final hours in office. His lawyer, Brad Cohen, confirmed that Black was one of the shooting victims in a statement on Instagram on Sunday. A staff member works on the production line of COVID-19 vaccine at VACSERA factory in Giza, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The fully-automated vaccine cold storage facility provided by China's biopharmaceutical company Sinovac will be "a qualitative leap" in Egypt's vaccine preservation technique, said chief of an Egyptian vaccine producer in a recent interview with Xinhua. In an agreement signed in January, Sinovac will establish and equip a cooling facility at a new factory complex of Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) in 6th of October city of Giza province near Egypt's capital Cairo. "The advantages of the new refrigeration facility is that it is fully-automated and run by high-tech electronic control systems without human intervention," VACSERA's Chairperson Heba Wali told Xinhua. "The facility is also equipped with automatic loading and unloading docks, so the stored products are automatically loaded and unloaded without any human intervention, which will be a qualitative leap in our cooling systems for vaccine preservation," she pointed out. Wali noted that the facility will be built on an area of 3,200 square meters, with a storage capacity of 150 million doses of the final product, adding that it is planned to be completed and ready for operation by June 2022. Sinovac will be responsible for the interior finishing and equipment of the new cold storage facility while the the Egyptian side will be responsible for providing the land, the concrete structure of the building and the necessary licenses, according to the chairperson. The agreement to establish the cold storage facility came within the framework signed between Sinovac and VACSERA in April 2021. In the framework, the two sides will jointly produce Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at VACSERA's factory in Agouza, Giza, with a final product carrying the names of both companies. The two sides celebrated in August last year the production of the first one million doses of Sinovac-VACSERA vaccines. Wali said VACSERA is about to conclude an agreement with Sinovac regarding full transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology. "Our production capacity is 320,000 doses per day, and since August 2021 we have produced 30 million doses, most of which have been used in the country's COVID-19 vaccination program," Wali pointed out. "We currently have raw material to manufacture 15 million doses and their production is planned to be completed in March," she added. VACSERA currently preserves its vaccines in a cooling facility at its company in Agouza, which is adequate but manually run with 100-percent human intervention. With its full automation and large capacity, the new cold storage facility to be provided by Sinovac will serve VACSERA's future plans to become a regional center for vaccine production, storage and export in Africa. She referred to an initiative by Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that targets to locally produce 60 percent of the continent's needs of vaccines by 2040. Established over 100 years ago, state-owned VACSERA is one of the oldest manufacturers of vaccines and sera in Africa and the Middle East. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise as well as jointly producing its vaccines. Wali hailed cooperation with the Chinese side as "very positive." "We started discussions with Sinovac in June 2020 and we found great cooperation from the Chinese side in transferring manufacturing technology to us," VACSERA chief told Xinhua. VACSERA's Chairperson Heba Wali reacts in an interview with Xinhua about the COVID-19 vaccine cooperation between Egypt and China in Giza, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A staff member shows packed COVID-19 vaccines at VACSERA factory in Giza, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A staff member shows a vial of COVID-19 vaccine at VACSERA factory in Giza, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Photo shows vials of COVID-19 vaccine at VACSERA factory in Giza, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Mr. Ng and Mr. Leissner worked together at Goldman in Asia. Mr. Ng is said to have introduced his former partner and others at the bank to Mr. Low in 2009. At the time, Mr. Low was a young and flamboyant businessman who had befriended many Hollywood celebrities. He was known for throwing lavish Las Vegas parties and buying up expensive properties in Los Angeles and New York. Prosecutors have charged that the three men and others plotted to pay $1 billion in bribes to top officials in Malaysia and other countries so that Goldman could arrange $6.5 billion in bond offerings for 1MDB, a government fund that was supposed to pay for projects to benefit the Malaysian people. But instead, prosecutors contend, much of that money was diverted to pay for the bribes and to line the pockets of Mr. Low, Mr. Leissner, Mr. Ng and even the former prime minister of Malaysia. Money looted from 1MDB went to buy a boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, apartment buildings, artwork, a mega-yacht, a grand piano made of clear acrylic that was given to a supermodel as a gift and a share of the EMI Music Publishing portfolio. Some of the money even financed the Hollywood movie The Wolf of Wall Street. Most of the purchases were made by Mr. Low. Mr. Leissner, who is married to the fashion designer and model Kimora Lee Simmons, agreed to forfeit up to $43.7 million as part of his guilty plea. One of Goldmans most powerful deal makers in Asia before the scandal erupted in 2016, Mr. Leissner is expected to appear on the stand for several days once he begins testifying. Given his ties to Mr. Ng and Mr. Low, his testimony is seen as crucial to the governments case. The governors of Maryland and New Jersey defended their moves to ease Covid restrictions, saying on Sunday that falling coronavirus cases in their states justified a change even as new cases and deaths remain fairly high in some regions of the United States. As best we can tell right now this thing is going from pandemic to endemic, and we feel it is the responsible step to take, Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said on CBSs Face the Nation, referring to the stage when the virus will become a manageable part of daily life. He is one of several Democratic governors who announced plans to lift statewide mask mandates last week, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant loosens its grip on the United States. According to many health experts, the pandemics next phase may depend on the emergence of new variants, vaccination rates and risk tolerance. Herd immunity to Covid, public health specialists say, is unlikely to be achieved. And scientists have cautioned that protection may wane over time, and future variants may be better able to sidestep our defenses. So we decided to follow the model of Modern Love: We wanted contemporary (indeed, modern) first-person essays, and we wanted to open the project to anyone who felt they had a story to tell. In September, we published a public callout on The Timess website, asking a broad but provocative question: What is Black love today? Over the course of three months, submissions poured in from people around the world. In addition, we reached out to prominent Black writers, thinkers and journalists, like the poet Staceyann Chin and the actor Brandon Kyle Goodman, and asked them what Black love meant to them. While sorting through submissions, we were moved by the breadth and depth of contemporary Black love. We ultimately selected eight essays after many discussions between the teams, phone calls with potential contributors and a loose ratings system. Each essay in the project, which was published this week, varies vastly in style, perspective and experience. Yet, there are common threads throughout them all, namely an uncovering of how the pervasive presence of racism affects Black relationships, and the stunning vulnerability and artistry of the writers who shared their stories. When The Timess Black@NYT employee resource group held a sneak peek of this project earlier this week, Stephen Sebro, a senior engineering manager, was moved by the emotional courage of the projects contributors. He noted that the writers seemed both to confront the world and confront themselves. That is precisely the type of interrogation we hoped would arise from our initial question. Knowing that we dont live in a post-racial society, I think that one of the things that the Black History, Continued project did was create a space where Black writers, journalists and thinkers could confidently and safely address the ways in which race, and the legacy of racism, has shaped their work and their lives, Veronica said in an interview. When anonymous hackers infiltrated the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex in 2016, it shook the nascent world of digital currency and prompted speculation about who might have stolen what was then $71 million in Bitcoin. But unlike traditional financial transactions, Bitcoin trades are publicly visible moving the coins risked revealing who was behind the heist. And so for six years, as the value of Bitcoin soared, the loot sat in plain sight online as tiny fractions of the giant sum occasionally disappeared in a blizzard of complex transactions. It was as if a robbers getaway car was permanently parked outside the bank, locked tight, money still inside. And then, this month, the car sped off. In the strange and sometimes shadowy world of cryptocurrency, it was as if the earth shook. In the years since the Bitfinex hacking, crypto had exploded into the mainstream, and the theft had become notorious: a bounty worth over $4 billion. At last, it seemed, the hackers had emerged from hiding. Carmen Herrera, a Cuban-born artist who painted abstract geometric shapes in Paris and New York all but unnoticed for most of her long life, then soared to international fame after her canvases began selling when she was 89, died on Saturday at the loft in Lower Manhattan that had been her home for 60 years. She was 106. Tony Bechara, an artist and friend and her legal representative, confirmed her death. In an art world that worships the new and the young, Ms. Herrera advanced into old age ignored by the commercial markets, savoring only the solitary pleasures of all struggling artists: creating wonders for their own sake. The passing years became decades, and then a half-century. Patiently, her brushes yielded minimalist geometric configurations, like visual haiku, in stark black-and-white and later in radiant colors: triangles and trapezoids, curvaceous shells, rondos and diamonds floating in a pristine white-canvas universe. To the Editor: Re I Am Not Proof of the American Dream, by Tara Westover (Opinion guest essay, Sunday Review, Feb. 6): I grew up poor in New York City and had experiences similar to Ms. Westovers. The American dream is unobtainable today for the vast majority of poor students, particularly because of the outrageous cost of obtaining a college, let alone a graduate school, education. This is an American tragedy, a threat to our democracy, yet is a problem that is solvable if as a nation we put our minds to it. Student debt needs to be eliminated. We as a nation need to rein in the explosion in the costs of higher education, and we need to make it affordable through government subsidy, an expansion of Pell grants or other means not yet identified. Our democracy is still an experiment that requires constant nurturing by an educated and informed populace. Education has always been, and shall continue to be, a pillar of a successful democracy. That fact ought to be a guiding light in bringing together our otherwise polarized nation because we all shall win or lose based on whether we successfully address this challenge. Barry S. Sziklay West Orange, N.J. To the Editor: Through her own tenacity, grit and will, Tara Westover, using a modest government grant to help pay basic expenses and tuition subsidized by the Mormon Church, transformed herself from an unsophisticated, impoverished young girl into a highly skilled, successful and well-educated professional. Its been a while since a New York Fashion Week show was an hour late and almost no one cared. A while since that sort of anarchic creative energy the kind that once defined the space known as downtown, where people climbed rickety tenement stairs on the Lower East Side to see Miguel Adrover make a dress out of Quentin Crisps old mattress and upend the status quo was enough to hold a room. Thats not just because Covid put everything into a deep freeze for two years, but because a certain polite, well-behaved-ness had become a defining characteristic of New York fashion; an anesthetizing aesthetic that prized pretty over risk, palatable over explosive, like the wardrobe equivalent of green juice and Nespresso. There has been the occasional screamingly ambitious exception, like Telfars 2019 mosh pit and Kerby Jean-Raymonds Kings Theater throwdown, but mostly, while the trains ran on time, they didnt go very far. Which is why it was notable, late Friday night, as fashion month began, that a crowd of people in towering platforms and bulky sweats and peekaboo somethings stood (stood!) waiting in the Shed, the theater in Hudson Yards, in a room bifurcated by metal scaffolding and a walkway, bouncing from toe to toe for more than an hour, waiting for the Shayne Oliver show to start. Were trying to make it a cleaner space, Mr. Sibenik said. There needs to be some degree of accountability. In interviews, nearly a dozen lawyers and forensic investigators described divorce cases in which a spouse usually the husband was accused of lying about cryptocurrency transactions or hiding digital assets. None of the couples agreed to be interviewed. But some of the divorces have created paper trails that shed light on how these disputes unfold. The deSouzas married in September 2001. That same year, Mr. deSouza founded an instant-messaging company, IMlogic, that he eventually sold in a deal netting him more than $10 million, according to court records. Mr. deSouzas cryptocurrency investments date to April 2013, when he spent time in Los Angeles with Wences Casares, an early crypto entrepreneur, who pitched him on digital assets. That month, Mr. deSouza bought about $150,000 of Bitcoin. The deSouzas separated later that year, and Mr. deSouza soon disclosed that he owned the Bitcoin. By the time the couple were ready to divide their assets in 2017, the value of that investment had ballooned to more than $21 million. But there was a catch. That December, Mr. deSouza revealed that he had left a little under half the funds in a cryptocurrency exchange, Mt. Gox, that went bankrupt in 2014, putting the money out of reach. In court filings, Ms. deSouzas lawyers said it was egregious that her husband had failed to mention earlier that so much of the Bitcoin was gone, and argued that his secretive management of the investment had cost the couple millions of dollars. The lawyers also speculated that Mr. deSouza might be hoarding additional funds. ATLANTA The killing of George Floyd catalyzed a period of national soul-searching about race and racism that has touched nearly every aspect of American life. But in a number of high-profile trials since then including in the murder of Mr. Floyd and the killing of Ahmaud Arbery prosecutors have carefully avoided putting racism itself on center stage. That changes as soon as this week, as federal prosecutors try to prove that the white men who killed Mr. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, committed a federal hate crime when they chased and killed him because of Arberys race and color, as their indictment puts it. In the upcoming trial, prosecutors are almost certain to feature ugly evidence, culled from seized cellphones and other sources, seeking to prove that the three Georgia residents Travis McMichael, 36, his father, Gregory McMichael, 66, and their neighbor William Bryan, 52 harbored racist views before the afternoon in February 2020 when they gave chase to Mr. Arbery. JERUSALEM, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israel's economy is "strong" and "on a good track", Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday told visiting Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann. While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the Israeli economy, the country still recorded "an extraordinary growth of almost 7 percent," Bennett said at the beginning of a special cabinet meeting, which was attended by Cormann. The country is still recovering from the fifth wave of the pandemic, which was led by the ultra-infectious Omicron variant, but "the economy is on a good track," Bennett noted. He attributed the country's high growth rates to the government's choice to keep the economy open during the fourth and fifth COVID-19 waves while combating the virus with mass vaccination campaigns and the social distancing protocol. "Our high-growth 'open Israel' policy has allowed us to raise soldiers' salaries, look after the elderly and ease pressures for working families by lowering taxes," he said. He also pointed out that the country's hi-tech sector was the "first and foremost" growth engine of the economy. Meanwhile, the Abraham Accords, a set of agreements signed in 2020 to normalize ties between Israel and several Arab countries, have had a significant impact on the Israeli economy and served as another engine for the country's economy, he said. Another important engine for growth is the integration of populations with historically low employment rates into the workforce, the prime minister added. Bennett's government, which took office in June last year, has promoted plans to integrate ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and Arab women into the workforce. Referring to the challenges of the Israeli economy, Bennett said the country needs to reform the stagnant sectors of its economy and promote competition. Israel's market does not allow for enough domestic competition and has to be opened up to more players, he said. In arguing that the younger Mr. Berger, who does not have a criminal history, was a threat and should be detained until trial, prosecutors cited the anti-government and anti-law enforcement views espoused on his podcast. In one episode, Mr. Berger said a white man with a rifle can be very dangerous to the system indeed if he has the right motivation and also praised the values of Eric Frein, who was convicted and sentenced to death in the 2014 ambush killing of a Pennsylvania state trooper, prosecutors said in court documents. Mr. Berger and an unidentified co-host also discuss targeting the police, along with legislators, lobbyists and left-wing billionaires, for assassination, prosecutors said. 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 wrote. A magistrate judge granted the prosecutors motion to keep the younger Mr. Berger detained. The judge released the elder Mr. Berger on $25,000 bail. He could not be reached at his home on Saturday night. If convicted, they face up to 30 years in prison, prosecutors said. In the pilot episode of his podcast on Jan. 14, 2019, the younger Mr. Berger explained the origin of his love of guns. It started when he was 5 years old, shooting milk cartons with an air pistol in the Poconos in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But it wasnt until after he went to a shooting range for his birthday, when he was 9 or 10, shortly after watching Dirty Harry, the 1971 movie starring Clint Eastwood in the role of a homicide division inspector who uses brutal tactics against criminals, that Mr. Berger became hooked on guns, he said. The services bring in $2,000 to $3,000 in fees each month, Mr. Nejrabi said enough to keep the lights and other utilities on, but too little to pay salaries. That has left the diplomats and their families about 65 people in all scrambling to make ends meet. They are not alone: Public workers across Afghanistan have also not been paid as Washington issues conflicting guidance over whether American sanctions should be enforced against Afghan government bank accounts that are now, in theory, controlled by the Taliban. The freezing of assets of the Afghan Central Bank has precipitated a liquidity crisis that has exposed eight million people to possible starvation in a country torn by war, drought and acute poverty. The sanctions were imposed against the Taliban years ago, when it was designated as a global terrorist organization. In October, after the group seized power, Citibank froze the Washington embassys accounts and withheld what Mr. Nejrabi said was hundreds of thousands of dollars designated for salaries that the former Afghan government had deposited months before it was ousted. U.S. officials have tried, unsuccessfully, to assure Citibank that it would not be penalized if the Afghan funds were unlocked. The banks spokesman, Rob Runyan, declined to comment. Our priority all along has been to figure out a way to facilitate a soft landing for the Afghan diplomats who are in the United States, said Mark Evans, the State Departments director for Afghanistan affairs. Obviously, theyre in very difficult circumstances through no fault of their own, and we wanted to be as supportive as possible. Still, the Biden administration has refused to recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government. Until that happens if it ever does officials said the State Department would not accredit any diplomats the group sends to Washington. While the Afghan government owns the embassy building in Washington, the State Department is responsible for maintaining the property if its envoys are unable to do so. Control of Afghanistans diplomatic missions remains at the forefront of the struggle for power between the Taliban and their opponents over international recognition and support. HONOLULU Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan on Saturday presented a unified front against North Koreas recent missile tests, which the country has been conducting at its fastest rate in years. I think it is clear to all of us that the D.P.R.K. is in a phase of provocation, Mr. Blinken said at a news conference in Honolulu after an afternoon of meetings. He said the three countries would continue to hold the D.P.R.K. accountable, using an abbreviation for North Koreas formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. But all three officials said their governments were open to talks with the North, even as they condemned the recent tests. We reaffirmed that diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea is more important than ever, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong of South Korea said. Mr. Blinkens appearance with Mr. Chung and Yoshimasa Hayashi, the foreign minister of Japan, was meant to be a signal moment in the Biden administrations efforts to defuse a potential crisis with North Korea. As the humanitarian crisis has worsened, American officials have wrestled with difficult questions over how to meet their obligations to suffering Afghans without putting money in the hands of the Taliban. But Afghans increasingly say that U.S. policies have done little to punish the Taliban, while taking a devastating toll on millions of ordinary people. Americans consider this punishing the Taliban, but it is punishing Afghans, Mohammadullah Khan, 45, of Helmand Province said in response to the White Houses announcement on Friday. Under the Western-backed government, Mr. Khan worked for an American-funded nonprofit organization in the southern province. But after the Taliban seized power, its funding disappeared as did Mr. Khans job. Six months later, he is still unemployed and struggles to buy food for his wife and six children. Mr. Khan is one of millions of Afghans with empty cupboards. Three-quarters of Afghanistans population has plunged into acute poverty, with 4.7 million people likely to suffer severe malnutrition this year, according to the United Nations. Life is getting worse day by day, said Haji Abdul Nafi, 40, a shopkeeper in the city of Kandahar. We cannot earn money for a living, we cannot do business with other countries, we cannot import and export goods we are almost cut off from the world. Mr. Nafi said he was dismayed by the United States announcement on Friday. If American officials worried that releasing the funds to the central bank would result in the Taliban enriching themselves, then the assets should have remained frozen rather than being reallocated, he said. KATHMANDU, Nepal The chief justice of Nepals Supreme Court was suspended on Sunday after lawmakers voted to impeach him on accusations that he removed the former prime minister and reinstated Parliament in exchange for political jobs for relatives. The moves against Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana aggravate a protracted political dispute that involves pitting the United States and China against each other to bankroll infrastructure. The suspension also threatens to exacerbate a stalemate in Parliament that has made governing Nepal all but impossible in recent months. The government has struggled to function for more than a year, with the previous prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, twice dissolving Parliament, citing a dispute over his coalitions power-sharing agreement. The Supreme Court stripped Mr. Oli of his duties and reinstated Parliament last July, ruling that dissolving it before the end of its five-year term was unconstitutional. HONG KONG The Hong Kong government said on Sunday that it would begin prioritizing hospital isolation space for children, older people and other serious cases as a wave of coronavirus infections has swamped health care resources in the city. Hong Kong had previously required that all Covid patients receive hospital treatment. The city has now begun telling those with mild cases to remain at home, Larry Lee, the head of integrated clinical services for the public Hospital Authority, said on Sunday. Mr. Lee said he did not know how many infected people might be stuck at home, but he estimated there were thousands. This is not an ideal decision, but at this critical moment we need to preserve our limited resources for patients who are most in need, he said. Fifty years ago this month, Chairman Mao made President Richard M. Nixon a promise: He would send two giant pandas to the United States. Mao made this proclamation in February 1972, when Nixon visited China to begin a historic rapprochement. The announcement stirred up what The New York Times described at the time as polite warfare among American zoos angling to host the pandas, and ushered in a half-century of so-called panda diplomacy between China and the United States. But now, a member of Congress from Nixons party is questioning whether panda diplomacy needs to change, and is aiming to send a message to China while it hosts the Olympic Games. Panda diplomacy, in its current form, works like this: China loans pandas to a zoo in the United States or another country, and the zoo pays an annual fee usually $500,000 to $1 million each to keep the pandas for at least a few years. The animals serve as good-will ambassadors for China while, experts said, softening the countrys authoritarian image and drawing attention away from its record of human rights abuses. Image President Biden returning to the White House from an event in Virginia where he spoke about lowering health care costs, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Credit... T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times President Biden responded to American frustration with pandemic restrictions, saying that it was still too soon to lift indoor mask mandates, while suggesting that other restrictions may soon be able to end. In the roughly 22-minute interview, some of which was previewed before Sunday, Mr. Biden said that decisions by some state governors last week to begin lifting indoor mask mandates were probably premature, but acknowledged that it was a tough call. Most mandates will not expire immediately, though some, like Nevadas, did. New Yorks requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of vaccination or require mask wearing expired on Thursday. A CBS poll taken last week found that a majority of Americans still support mask mandates, including in schools, but that many are exhausted and frustrated by the pandemic. Public health experts agree that mask requirements in schools should not last forever, but some experts say that lifting school mask mandates too early could jeopardize the progress made over the last few weeks as cases declined. Mr. Biden said that rising rates of childhood vaccination, as well as the potential authorization of vaccines for even younger children, could allow schools to end their own mask mandates. Every day that goes by, children are more protected, Mr. Biden said, adding that the more protection they have, probably youre going to see less and less requirement to have the masks. U.S. cases are falling fast, down to about 175,000 daily, a nearly two-thirds drop over two weeks, according to a New York Times database. But hospitalizations, at about 95,000, and deaths, at more than 2,400 daily, remain very high. As governors relaxed rules, officials in some cities, counties and school districts indicated that they would keep their own mandates in place, adding new complications to an already confusing array across the country. In New Jersey, Gov. Philip D. Murphy announced that school employees and students would no longer be required to wear masks beginning the second week of March. NJ.com reported that the Camden City School District would still require masks. Katrina McCombs, a superintendent for the district, told the outlet that while it was encouraging to see case numbers dropping in the state, school officials still want to make sure our young people continue to be safe while in our care. The mayors of Boston and New Haven, Conn., also said masks would still be required in schools after their states mandates expire at the end of February. In California, health officials in some counties, including Marin, Orange, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego, pledged to lift strict local rules when the state does later this month. Other counties, however, including Los Angeles and Santa Clara, said they would not ease restrictions until rates of vaccination, transmission and infection had improved. Lester Holt, who hosted the NBC interview with Mr. Biden, said that many of the people in the audience of this years Super Bowl would not be wearing masks, in violation of local law in Inglewood, Calif. I love how people talk about personal freedom, Mr. Biden said in response. If your exercising personal freedom puts someone else in jeopardy, their health in jeopardy. I dont consider that being very dealing with freedom. Mr. Biden added: People should get the shots. We know the shots work. We know they work for the variants that we are dealing with now. ZURICH Advertisements glamorizing cigarettes will soon be a thing of the past in Switzerland, after voters on Sunday overwhelmingly approved legislation forbidding tobacco companies from displaying them in public spaces. Health advocates have said that the legislation, which was approved in a referendum, was a significant step toward tightening the countrys loose tobacco regulations. Many organizations have stepped up to the plate and advocated for a solution that prioritizes youth protection, said Flavia Wasserfallen, a member of the Swiss National Council and a proponent of the initiative. Across much of the West, tobacco advertisements long ago fell out of favor, but they have lived on in this Alpine nation, with displays for cigarettes and e-cigarettes showing up on billboards, in movie theaters and at events like music festivals. MEXICO, OCTOBER 2018. The EU-Social Protection Systems Programme (EU-SPS) team attended and presented projects findings in the joint SOCIEUX+ and AMEXID meeting on employment and social protection systems in Latin America, which was held in Mexico City between 25 and 26 October. The regional meeting was attended by representatives from governments, including the Minister of Labour of El Salvador, academics, and other social protection experts. Caroline Tassot, presented results on gender and informality in 12 Latin American countries from the EU SPS forthcoming report Tackling Vulnerability in the Informal Economy, which will be published early 2019. The presentation was well received by the audience, and emphasised that although globally more men are in the informal economy than women, in certain regions like Latin America there are not only more women in informal work but also they are in the most vulnerable segments of informality, creating repercussions in wage gaps and access to pensions. < Back to News Empty street is seen near the landmark St Andrew's church amid COVID-19 outbreak in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, March 31, 2020. (Photo by Sergey Starostenko/Xinhua) WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation Saturday over the situation in Ukraine. During the call, which lasted for about one hour, the two leaders discussed situation in Ukraine and related security issues, according to White House statement and the Kremlin. The White House said Biden made it clear to Putin "while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy," it is "equally prepared for other scenarios". Russia has not received a substantive response from the U.S. on security guarantees, Sputnik reported, quoting Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Russia will soon submit its response to the U.S. and NATO on security guarantees, Ushakov said, adding the two leaders agreed to continue contacts. Direct engagements between the United States and Russia have yielded little substantial progress, with the Kremlin saying the White House failed to address its key security concerns and the Biden administration repeatedly warning Putin's government of severe economic sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine. ZAMBIA, JULY 2018. A policy dialogue on the extension of social security coverage to workers in the informal economy was held in Lusaka on 17 July 2018. The workshop was organised by the EU-Social Protection Systems Programme, with the collaboration of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Zambian Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The event was attended by approximately 30 people; representing the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance, unions for informal workers and the Central Statistical Office. During the workshop Caroline Tassot, economist at the OECD, presented updated findings from the 2015 Living Conditional and Monitoring Survey. The discussion and suggestions resulting from the presentation focused on the contributory capacity of informal workers and the need to further detail the profile of the highest earning workers. These comments and feedback will be incorporated in the forthcoming EU-SPS report. < Back to News A SEVEN year old girl from Shinrone has finally received an essential operation after waiting for 29 months. Rosie Mortensen suffers from Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, which is a deteriorating condition. Her parents Jessie and Gareth say her condition deteriorated massively during the last two and a half years and she is confined to a wheelchair. Finally, Jessie had had enough and refused to take no for an answer. She took her daughter to Temple Street Children's Hospital and refused to leave until she got her operation. "Rosie and I went into Temple Street on Friday January 7th," she told the Midland Tribune. "We were told in the Emergency Department that the surgeon wasn't there and we should go home, and make an appointment with him afterwards. I refused to leave. I told them I wasn't going anywhere until I could speak to the surgeon in person." The hospital relented and allowed mother and daughter to stay the night in Temple Street. The next day they met their surgeon in person, who was sympathetic and agreed that Rosie should be treated immediately. "He booked us in for an operation the following Monday," Jessie continued. "We prepared for that. Rosie fasted for 13 hours. She was in her gown and her legs were marked. And then the operation was postponed at the last minute. It was postponed to the following Friday. It was postponed again when Friday came around. Finally, on Monday, January 24 Rosie got her operation." Mother and daughter had lived permanently in the hospital since January 7th until the operation was over and they could go home. The operation went successfully. It means that Rosie's quality of life will be improved. She will however remain wheelchair bound. She will attend Birr Nursing Unit regularly for physio treatment. Rosie is a popular pupil in Shinrone National School and she loves playing with her brother Charlie, who is 11 years of age. Her mother says Rosie loves baking and has a smile that would light up any room. Jessie and Rosie first met with a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in early 2019. We met again with him in September 2019 and he told us that he hoped to carry out the surgery on Rosie in December 2019; but nothing came of that." She received a date for October 4th last but this was cancelled. The reasons given for cancellations were bed shortages because of the RSV virus and staff shortages because of Covid. Jessie and Gareth came together with other parents to form a group of parents of children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. The group wrote a letter to the Minister for Health asking him to make some changes for our children. The group has the names and details of 56 children who are waiting for orthopaedic operations. The group has also been heavily publicising its cause in local and national media. The Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon Connor Green, who was Rosie's surgeon, spoke about what the government could do to ensure timely access to care. He said the process could be sped up by transferring children for elective surgery to Cappagh Hospital in Dublin. Rosie's condition was of a minor nature when it began three years ago, but it became more and more serious until both her hips came out of place and, because of Scoliosis, her spine became curved. In early 2019 her mother noticed some tightness in Rosie's legs following on from multiple fractures of her femurs. Rosie was born with Spina bifida and it's likely that she will always be a full time wheelchair user. Jessie said the 29 month delay and the repeated cancellation of operations was "extremely upsetting for both Rosie, ourselves and our families." Jessie called on the government to provide an ironclad, rapid and achievable solution for the 56 children who need interventive surgery. Many of these children", she commented, are too complex and cannot travel abroad for treatment. They cannot wait for the new children's hospital to be built as they will deteriorate much quicker than children without their condition and they need a solution now." Rosie's surgeon Connor Green and Professor McCormack stood before an Oireachtas health committee on November 11th and Mr Green told them that these waiting list numbers have always been there since before Covid and before the cyber attacks. He later said in an interview that the solution to this problem was quite simple - they have found space in Cappagh hospital which will only be used for elective procedures. The problem with Temple Street is that they are both acute and elective so if an orthopaedic emergency comes in when an elective procedure is planned the acute case will obviously take priority. That wouldn't happen in Cappagh and Mr Green reckons that will increase the amount of paediatric surgeries by 400% and has costed it at about 5.1 million, which is, in the grand scheme of things, a drop in the ocean. Co-founder of the Scoliosis Advocacy Network Claire Cahill said children are going to school in pain, and called on the country's leaders to take action on the issue. These children are also living with emotional distress while the experience also puts huge pressure on a family. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the delays are not because of a lack of resources but are due to a systemic failure. An excellent website www.sbhpag.com outlines the issues and focusses on some of the children. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A leading Offaly company has been announced as a finalist in the sustainability category of The Irish Times Innovation Awards. Leading home heating solutions company Grant has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious competition. Operating at the forefront of the heating industry for over 40 years, with their cutting edge sustainable and innovative product development, Grant is a trusted brand for homeowners throughout the country and has been nominated for their highly efficient HVO biofuel compatible Vortex condensing boiler range. Looking to the future and supporting the Climate Action Plan for over 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, Grant demonstrated its commitment to innovation and sustainability by embarking on an R&D project, representing an investment of over 250,000, to help existing rural and hard to heat homes reduce carbon emissions and help prevent homeowners from incurring the high cost and subsequent disruption to daily life of deep retrofitting. Founder, Stephen Grant said: We are delighted to be recognised for our innovation. Our breakthrough in the research and development of HVO-ready condensing boilers means that we have largely transformed to a renewable heating company with our portfolio including ranges of biofuel ready condensing boilers, condensing pellet boilers, solar thermal panels, underfloor heating, hot water cylinders, aluminium radiators, and air to water air source heat pumps. As a company we remain committed to helping homeowners throughout Ireland reduce their carbon footprint and future-proof their homes. Stephen continues, The HVO biofuel compatible Grant Vortex range of condensing boilers has the ability to help decarbonise over 1 million liquid fuelled homes in Ireland, in particular, those off grid with poor thermal efficiency. Utilising HVO for heating will also help Ireland to significantly decarbonise existing residential homes, at a cost of approximately 500 per existing oil boiler installation when matching and changing to a new biofuel burner and substantially less if the boiler is already biofuel ready. The Irish Times Innovation Awards aim to recognise and promote the best service, product, or operational innovations throughout the island. The finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges to secure a place at the final and a chance to win the overall Innovation of the Year award as well as a unique and high profile communications and advertising package worth 100,000. Category Winners will receive a 10,000 communications package in Business+Innovation and a one year premium digital subscription to The Irish Times. Grant will be competing against two other finalists in their category. The winners of the competition will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin on March 9, 2021. (The Center Square) The latest U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terrorist advisory bulletin says Americans who express concerns about election fraud or COVID-19 restrictions could be potential threats to domestic security. It follows a bulletin issued last August that warned that Americans who question and challenge COVID-19 vaccine mandates could be considered potential domestic violent extremists. Critics note that the DHS bulletin does not identify as a terrorist threat Mexican cartels who have been exploiting President Joe Biden's open border policies by trafficking significantly increased amounts of illegal drugs and people into the U.S. Nor does it mention Antifa and Black Lives Matter organizers involved in anti-police protests and riots. DHSs bulletin states that Americans who seek to exacerbate societal friction to sow discord and undermine public trust in government institutions could be labeled as dissidents and domestic terrorists. DHS issued its latest warning due to an online environment filled with false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories, and other forms of mis- dis- and mal-information introduced and/or amplified by foreign and domestic threat actors. It cites last months Dallas-area hostage situation in which a British Muslim man targeted a Jewish synagogue as an example of the continuing threat of violence based upon racial or religious motivations, as well as threats against faith-based organizations. The incident was widely condemned by the Muslim community in Texas and the U.K. FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno said he didnt have any indications that the actions taken against the synagogue were part of any ongoing threat. Based on law enforcement agencies engagement with the subject, they believed he was singularly focused on one issue and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community, he said. DHS cites lone offenders and small groups who may cause mass casualty attacks and other acts of targeted violence, and refers to continued calls for violence being directed at U.S. targets including perceived ideological opponents. While DHS states that any information or opinions that are considered anti-government are considered a threat to Americas national security, Liberty Counsel notes that anti-law enforcement ideologies such as those espoused by Antifa and Black Lives Matter are not even mentioned. Nor are Mexican cartels that have smuggled increased amounts of narcotics and people across the U.S. border with Mexico since Biden took office. Nearly 2 million people from over 150 countries were apprehended entering the U.S. illegally last year. The majority werent tested for the coronavirus or required to get the COVID-19 shots as a condition of entry. For a number of reasons, DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (BP) agents cant verify the true identity of everyone who enters the U.S. illegally. DHS also admitted that 50,000 illegal immigrants released into the U.S. by ICE failed to report to their deportation proceedings and ICE didnt have court information for at least 40,000 others it was tasked with prosecuting last year. The numbers are expected to be greater, since the data only covers a five-month period. Multiple states have sued over the Biden administrations failure to secure the border, and elected officials have called for DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign or be impeached. Multiple states also sued over Biden administration mandates requiring U.S. citizens to get the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. But DHS suggests that coronavirus restrictions might be connected to alleged terrorist threats. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to decrease nationwide, increased access to commercial and government facilities and the rising number of mass gatherings could provide increased opportunities for individuals looking to commit acts of violence to do so, often with little or no warning, it states. Meanwhile, COVID-19 mitigation measures particularly COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates have been used by domestic violent extremists to justify violence since 2020 and could continue to inspire these extremists to target government, healthcare, and academic institutions that they associate with those measures. No examples of U.S. extremists committing violence because of vaccine or mask mandates are cited. DHS also includes anyone who discusses election integrity and voter fraud as potential threats. The bulletin states, Some domestic violent extremists have continued to advocate for violence in response to false or misleading narratives about unsubstantiated election fraud. The months preceding the upcoming 2022 midterm elections could provide additional opportunities for these extremists and other individuals to call for violence directed at democratic institutions, political candidates, party offices, election events, and election workers. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said the bulletin is the latest tactic by the Biden administration to trample on Americans' First Amendment rights and bully law-abiding citizens. When did criticizing government institutions and policies regarding masking and shot mandates become a domestic terrorism threat? When did public assemblies alone become a threat?" DHS August bulletin stated, These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence. Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions. Pandemic restrictions resulted in Americans losing, or about to lose, their jobs for not complying with federal, state and local government mandates. Liberty Counsel has sued the administration multiple times over federal and state mandates, arguing they violate federal law and are unconstitutional. DHS seems rather paranoid in their need to label anyone as a terrorist who would question the COVID-19 response, Liberty Counsel said. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. The military is moving troops out of Ukraine in one of the strongest signals yet that a Russian invasion is imminent. Oneindia 21 Mar 2022 The father of Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar who died in Ukraine on March 1 after Russia invaded the country, said they will donate.. Avocado exports are the latest victim of the drug cartel turf battles and extortion of avocado growers in the western state of Michoacan. The bank applied to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to take the funds, with the intention of returning them to the donors, Reuters reported. Staff at the Australian Embassy in the Ukraine have been directed to leave as concerns grow over the build-up of Russian troops on the border. NATO is thinking about putting combat-ready battle groups like those in Poland and the Baltics in Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary, a diplomat said. Separatists tried to seize Kharkiv in 2014. Now the city is turning away from its old neighbour. The defence secretary has warned it is "highly likely" that Vladimir Putin will order an attack on Ukraine, despite ongoing talks to avert a war. U.S. officials have warned that Russia could invade Ukraine within days, likely starting with a barrage of air or missile strikes. Members of NATO will not tolerate the "bullying" of Ukraine by Russia but still seek a diplomatic solution amid rising tensions at the border, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said. Members of Ukraine's far right movement Azov held military training for Mariupol residents on Sunday to teach them self-defence in case of an attack from Russia. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel was greeted with applause as she made her first public appearance since leaving office at the convention that reelected President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Boris Johnson is making his first visit to Scotland since the leader of the Scottish Conservatives called for him to quit over Downing Street partygate allegations. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers a state-of-the-nation speech on the first day of the official start of the campaign for the April 3 general elections in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Szilard Voros/Xinhua) BUDAPEST, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivered a state-of-the-nation speech here on Saturday, the first day of the official start of the campaign for the April 3 general elections. The Hungarian leader started his hour-long speech by recalling how the Hungarian government made a stand during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the situation in Europe was much worse. "The country's ability to act was not in jeopardy for a moment and most people think Hungary defended itself quite well," he said. "This was not the case in Europe: people's confidence had evaporated from governments and protests had to be suppressed by force," he added. He warned a "crumbling economy" if the Left, his political opponents, rules. "In the end, both taxes and debt are in the sky, and they have a crumbling economy: unemployment, austerity measures, mountains of debts, IMF: No money." Speaking of concrete measures, Orban announced that the fuel price cap would be extended for another three months. He also said that the country's coronavirus vaccine factory in Debrecen would be operational by the end of the year. Orban warned that the Hungarian hard stance on migration would be only "alive as long as Fidesz (the center-right Hungarian political party) was in government." In Saturday's speech, which was his 23rd such occasion, Orban said his administration's ongoing row with the European Union (EU) Commission was a dispute in the ways Western and Hungarian societies viewed migration. "The EU is supporting the invasion (migration wave)," Orban said, calling his fight with Brussels a "jihad" over the "rule of law." About the Balkan region, Orban said that these countries needed to be included in the EU, and a Balkan Marshall package was needed for helping these southern European countries to catch up. On the build-up of tensions between Moscow and Kiev, he underlined that war had to be avoided because it could bring millions of migrants from Ukraine to Hungary. Hungary's 7.8 million voters will have the opportunity to cast two ballots in the single-round election deciding 199 seats of the Parliament. One ballot directly elects lawmakers in 106 individual constituencies, while the remaining seats are distributed based on votes cast for a party list. Orban is facing his closest contest since coming to power in 2010 after six opposition parties formed an electoral alliance, uniting behind 49-year-old Peter Marki-Zay, a conservative mayor in rural Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers a state-of-the-nation speech on the first day of the official start of the campaign for the April 3 general elections in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Szilard Voros/Xinhua) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers a state-of-the-nation speech on the first day of the official start of the campaign for the April 3 general elections in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Szilard Voros/Xinhua) US Secretary of State Antony Binken met with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea in Hawaii to discuss the threat of the recent weapons development and series of missile testings of North Korea. Watch VideoIn good times or bad, American presidents come to Congress with a diagnosis that hardly differs over the decades. In.. Newsy 27 Feb 2022 Wellington (AFP) Feb 13, 2022 Cyclone Dovi caused power outages, mudslides and evacuations across New Zealand on Sunday, but neither the storm nor the music of Barry Manilow could dislodge anti-vaccine protesters camped outside parliament. Instead, hundreds of protesters - inspired by the "Freedom Convoy" of truckers in Canada - danced in the mud to the tunes meant to force their dispersal. Not even a tongue-in-ch Boris Johnson is absolutely focused on the job despite having to answer the questions of police investigating alleged lockdown breaches in Downing Street, a Cabinet minister has said. Raheem Sterling insists Manchester City will not rest on their laurels as they continue in search of a fourth Premier League title in five years. Lifting the rules will not be controversial if it is in line with health advice, says Naomi Long. Wales boss Wayne Pivac hailed captain Dan Biggar as someone who fights for every last inch after he defied injury and inspired a Guinness Six Nations title revival. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is returning to the UK from a family holiday in Europe early because of his concerns over the worsening situation in Ukraine. Ukraines president has played down intensified warnings of a possible Russian invasion within days, saying he has yet to see convincing evidence. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and his counterparts from South Korea and Japan denounced the Norths recent missile tests and called for a resumption of talks. Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2022. Karzai on Sunday urged the U.S. administration to return his country's assets. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai on Sunday urged the U.S. administration to return his country's assets. "Holding Afghanistan's money on any name is unfair and unjust. That money belongs to the people of Afghanistan ... I am calling on President Joe Biden to return the money to the people of Afghanistan," Karzai told a press conference here. The United States, following its forces' exit from Afghanistan in August 2021, has frozen more than 9 billion U.S. dollars of assets of Afghanistan's central bank. The move is widely seen as the major factor leading to the current economic crisis in the war-torn Asian country. U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Friday which seeks to split 7 billion U.S. dollars out of the Afghan assets between funding humanitarian aid for cash-strapped Afghanistan and creating a trust fund with 3.5 billion U.S. dollars to compensate the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Karzai said the Afghan people share the grief of the American people have suffered due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, yet no Afghan was involved in the attack and therefore Biden has to reconsider his decision. Criticizing Biden's decision as unjust, Karzai stressed that all Afghans including members of the present Taliban-led caretaker government take a united stand to get the Afghan money back to their country. Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 13, 2022. Karzai on Sunday urged the U.S. administration to return his country's assets. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) While protests by truckers and others against Covid mandates continue to occupy Canada's capital, block US-Canada border crossings and add to supply chain headaches, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of... #bordercrossings #protests #uscanada #truckers #superbowl #randpaul #truckerprotests President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for just over an hour Saturday but made no progress toward heading off what seems to be an impending Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border in recent weeks, according to U.S. estimates, raising fears from Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent. It's the middle of winter. Gas reserves are running low. Soon, many Europeans could face the prospect of freezing to death.Now their fate rests in the hands of Vladimir Putin.Russia supplies about 40 per cent of Europe's natural... BANG Showbiz 20 Apr 2022 Kid Cudi is "not cool" with Kanye West and vows to never work with him again. Playson Signs New Content Deal with Bet365 in the Major Italian Market Published February 13, 2022 by Lee R Playson's diverse UI will engage even more customers in Italy after a new deal with Bet365. Heavyweight content supplier Playson has signed a major content deal with leading betting shop bet365 in Italy that will increase Playson's industry stature even more. New Titles The deal will bring popular Playson's titles for the first time to bet365's Italy players, including Wolf Power: Hold and Win, Legend of Cleopatra Megaways, and Rise of Egypt Deluxe. Unique UI Playson has been bolstering its wide and immersive suite of titles with a new UI supporting unique user features including single-handed gameplay in portrait mode, seen as optimal for mobile users. Playson's Move The new agreement is a testament to the increasing appeal and quality of Playson's offerings in Italy, where the supplier has developed a strong following and successful engagement. Playson Director Speaks Of the latest news, Playson Sales Director Blanka Homor said: We are thrilled to partner with bet365, an established industry-leader that needs no introduction. Strong Partner Homor lauded the international stature of bet365, as an affirmation of Playson's status among gamblings most dynamic suppliers. Homor further looked forward to delivering Playson's top content to bet365's extensive Italian player base. Playson's Progress This should increase the stature of Playson's already extensive holdings, which have positioned Playson as one of the leading content development firms in iGaming. At this juncture, Playson's diverse staff from Malta, Ukraine, the UK, Romania, Hungary, Taiwan, and Greece have supplied games to more than 19 regulated markets, from a portfolio of more than 75 omnichannel casino games. Playson's Diverse Credentials As far as credentials, Playson boasts licenses from the UKGC, ONJN, HGC, and recognition notice from MGA, and at this point is capable of meeting the needs of the most diverse and discerning operators and players. Playson's New Position With Playson's record of compliance and the region of Italy booming, this looks like a real chance for Playson to increase its industry stature. Considering the proliferation of gaming markets currently taking place, a foothold in an established European economic region can only bolster the expansion of Playson to diverse regions of all sizes and phases. Outlook A balanced expansion to ingratiate players in Italy looks like a perfect solution for both Bet365 and Playson to increase their market edge. Oskaloosa, IA (52577) Today Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 54F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 40F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has promoted the protection of intangible cultural heritage by providing subsidies to the inheritors and assistance in the building of traditional craft brands, an official said Sunday. Eighteen local intangible cultural heritages were listed as representative national items in 2021, including the traditional preserved fruit production techniques, said Liu Bin, spokesperson of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. In order to make intangible cultural heritage more "tangible" to the public, the bureau has designed the "Journey along Beijing's Central Axis," encouraging companies such as the Beijing Enamel Factory to set up intangible cultural heritage experience bases, Liu added. The bureau also published many tour itineraries themed on the Winter Olympics and the Great Wall, offering seasonal selections to the public and an opportunity to appreciate the Winter Olympics as well as enjoy winter leisure tours, the spokesperson noted. Multiple activities, including exhibitions, lectures and a shopping festival for Beijing's time-honored intangible cultural heritage brands, will be held in Beijing this year, Liu said. To date, there are 92 national-level representative intangible cultural heritage inheritors and 242 municipal-level representative inheritors in Beijing. ELDON [mdash] A graveside memorial service, with military honors, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at the Eldon Cemetery in Eldon, IA for Charles and Irene Stribling. Family and friends are welcome to attend. Lynne and Clark Most own Design Direction, a design studio, that they operate out of their home in the Bullock Creek area. They offer services you often find in larger agencies, including graphic design, web design and search engine optimization They also offer illustrative and photographic in-house services. They sometimes hire freelancers for copyrighting and programming. Their clients include SMI Snow Makers, the Savant Group, PDKST Attorneys and the Dahlia Hill Society. Design Direction has won Webby Awards, an online version of televisions Emmy Awards. Theyve also earned awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts and both local and regional honors from the Addy Awards. Theyve also had their work published in three dozen books that can be found in Barnes and Noble and similar venues. Their website is http://www.designdirection.com. Lynne is a graduate of C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attended Central Michigan University (CMU). Clark graduated from Bullock Creek High School, attended Delta College and then earned a bachelors in fine arts from the Art Institute of Chicago and a masters in fine arts from CMU. The couple has been married for 22 years. They share three children and four grandchildren. How long have you owned your business? Clark: Over 30 years. What inspired you to own this business? Clark: Ive always been somewhat selling my creative services in one form or another since I was in high school. It was just natural to go into business for myself. I also teach in the graphic design program at CMU. Im a tenured professor there. I teach what we do. What makes Midland a great place to own a business? Lynne: I like it because its a close-knit community. We know our customers really well and they know us really well. Clark: For a mid-sized community, there are a lot of smart, educated, design-oriented people. Theyre design-fluent. There are people doing a lot of interesting things in an entrepreneurial sense. What are some of your interests and hobbies? Lynne: We both love hiking and camping, going out west and east to the mountains. We both have an interest in the fine arts but dont have a lot of time for that. Walking and fitness, biking. Clark: Most of my interests are related to the arts. I have a photography website: www.clarkmost.com. Lynne: We love spending time with our family. What are some local businesses you work with that help make your business a success? Lynne: Mitch Art, Quick & Reliable Printing. Final thoughts to share with the community? Clark: Just thankful for the customers whove supported us through the years. Its allowed us to continue working as an independent business. Many Republican candidates shared their visions during Saturday's Clare and Gladwin GOP Lincoln Day Brunch at the Knights of Columbus Hall, which organizers noted had its largest audience in many years. Attending were candidates for state representative, attorney general, state board of education, and governor, along with many local officials, including Gladwin County Commissioner Chair Karen Moore, Secord Lake Township Supervisor Joel Vernier and Gladwin County Clerk Karrie Hulme. Four Lakes Task Force President Dave Kepler was also in attendance. The Lincoln Day Brunch honors the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, Americas 16th president and first Republican president. Gladwin County Republican Chairman Don Birgel and fiancee Linda Hart organized the event, which drew more than 150 people. Birgel joked that he told the many candidates to be sincere, be brief and be seated. Bill G. Schuette I care about the future of this community, said Bill G. Schuette, seeking a 95th District state representative seat, who was the first candidate to speak. Schuette, the son of former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, asked the crowd to elect a representative who cares about freedom and families and who doesnt spend Americans hard-earned dollars on crack pipes. Instead of using money on crack pipes, lets use the money to rebuild the dams. Schuettes platform includes investing in flood reduction projects and rebuilding the dams. Shawn Petri Shawn Petri, running for state representative in the 99th District, is COOR (Crawford, Oscoda, Ogemaw, Roscommon) Intermediate School District Superintendent. He has worked with legislators to get $2.5 million for a career technology education (CTE) center for COOR ISD. He said he would like to see CTE in every Michigan county We need to give our students that opportunity, he said. He said representing the 99th District would be somewhat like being a superintendent in terms of talking to people. You stop, you listen, you care, Petri said. Mike Hoadley Au Gres Mayor Mike Hoadley is also running for state representative for the 99th District. We do need to come together as a party and galvanize our message, Hoadley said. He talked about the difference between Republicans and Democrats. He said Republicans stand for freedom and the opportunity to become rich, and Democrats are for keeping people poor and dependent on the government. Hoadley said Republicans need to implement their common values. Roger Hauck State Rep. Roger Hauck was first elected to the Michigan House in 2016. He represents the 99th District, which includes all of Isabella County as well as the Midland County townships of Edenville, Geneva, Greendale, Hope, Ingersoll, Jasper, Mills, Mount Haley, Porter and Warren. Hauck is now seeking a seat in Michigan State Senate District 34. If theres a problem, you take care of it, Hauck said. He helped write legislation with fellow Republican State Rep. Annette Glenn, Midland, of the 98th District, proposing $500 million in funding for dam repairs. Michael Warren Judge Michael Warren was appointed to the Oakland County Circuit Court in 2002. He said he has more trial experience than all the Michigan Supreme Court justices combined. He said five of the seven Michigan Supreme Court justices were never judges before joining the Supreme Court. Warren, the author of "Americas Survival Guide," said, If someone in this room doesnt think America is on the verge of committing suicide, then youre not awake. Matthew Deperno Kalamazoo attorney Matthew Deperno is running for state attorney general. He wants to stop what he considers unconstitutional and un-American mandates. He said hes spent the past two years fighting against mask and vaccine mandates. Deperno says that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wields her power like a sledgehammer against Republicans. He said that in a recent interview on CNBC, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reportedly said she was afraid that if Deperno became attorney general, he would have her arrested. Deperno said the next day, he fired back, Not just you, Dana, but (Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson) and Whitmer, too. We need to stop this oppressive action, Deperno said. Tom Leonard Tom Leonard, who is also running for attorney general, began his speech by saying, Who is ready to fire Whitmer in November? This race is not about me, its about everyone here impacted by the dangerous acts of the governor and attorney general, Leonard added. He said the state needs change. Linda Lee Tarver Sunday School teacher Linda Lee Tarver is running for Michigan State Board of Education. She is pro-God, pro-family, pro-gun, pro-life and pro-Constitution. She seeks to investigate, expose, and seek solutions for the damage caused to the education system. We have many crying with what we have seen in this country, she said. She talked about how truancy in schools equals delinquency and delinquency often results in high crime. Tarver also addressed that 92% of Detroits third graders cant read Prison, poverty and death results when you dont teach a child to read, Tarver said, noting that slaves even learned to read. John Moolenaar U.S. Rep. John Moolennaar serves Michigans Fourth Congressional District. He talked about former State House Rep. Joel Johnson joining his team. He said Johnson will work on flood recovery. Moolenaar also talked about supporting the rule of law. We need to make sure we have a congress and a president that support the rule of law, he said. He also spoke out against using tax money to fund political campaigns. Three of the many Republican gubernatorial candidates attended the event, including Mike Brown, Tudor Dixon and Kevin Rinke. Mike Brown Mike Brown grew up working on farms and then enlisted in the Marines. Hes been with the Michigan State Police for 34 years. Hes worked in surveillance and narcotics and has served as a county commissioner. Brown said he would like to reduce taxes, get agriculture a seat at the decision-making table, and see more funding for drug enforcement. He said he sees fentanyl and methamphetamine pouring into the state and that no governor in 30 years has fully funded drug enforcement. Tudor Dixon Tudor Dixon started off by saying that she stands with truckers. We need to look at what is coming out of our schools, said Dixon, a mom of four. We cant repair a child coming out of 12 years (of school) without an education. Weve got to fix this. Dixon said she is calling for extra tutoring to get students back on track after the inconsistency of in-person learning during the COVID crisis. She also wants to see transparency in schools. She wants parents to be be able to see what is being taught in their children's classrooms. Dixon, who is part of a family business, also wants to help state business owners. I will fight to keep Michigan open and I will fight to see Michigan prosper, Dixon said. Kevin Rinke Kevin Rinke said, Im a conservative, like the other 88 people running for governor in Michigan. The difference is, are you qualified? Rinke said his family's history in Michigan goes back to before it was a state. He said he is ashamed to say he thought of moving out of Michigan because of the COVID restrictions. It was his 23-year-old son who told him that he should do what he does best and fix the problem. He said state leaders need to create a climate where residents can be successful. Rinke said Michigans rightful place needs to be at the top. We have almost been convinced we dont deserve to lead, he said. Please join me in making Michigan number one again. Jason Wentworth Michigan Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth is in his final 11 months as a state representative. Its been an honor to serve in the House, he said. This year is going to be a Republican year, he added. Lets unite and bring everyone together. Hubtel has expanded its operations to the people of Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana after successful operations in four (4) of Ghana's major cities: Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Takoradi. The leading quick commerce, messaging, and payment service provider announced its operations in that region with activation on the University of Cape Coast campus. Head of Commercial and New Market, Gershon Eric Akoto speaking to about the Cape Coast launch said, "Our launch in Cape Coast, being our 5th operating city, gives us a lot to be excited about. It coincides with the launch of our very first full-feature app. The all-new Hubtel app makes finding and paying for goods and services nearby a very easy task." "You can now find and buy groceries, food, electricals, and everything else, and pay, or collect payments from unlimited contacts. Beyond paying for bills, transferring money, or top-up services, users also send requests to receive money from unlimited contacts", he added. With this announcement, residents of Cape Coast can now install the Hubtel app to find and pay for anything from retailers in Cape Coast. Hubtel's network of delivery riders spans across all locations within Cape Coast and also supports GhanaPosts GPS addresses to enable users to track their orders from preparation through pick up to delivery in real-time. CEO of Hubtel, Alex Bram also urged retailers in Cape Coast to boldly embrace the changing needs of customers by getting their inventory onto Hubtel. "If you run any retail business such as a provisions store, food joint, restaurant or any kind of retail store, your customers are becoming more digital and more mobile, so it's time to take your store to where your customers are spending most of their time, their smartphone," he stated. He further assured users of Hubtel that "...we operate a no-questions-asked, money-back-guarantee which continuously ensures that should anything go wrong with any order, you will receive a full refund." About Hubtel Hubtel is Ghanas first full-feature quick commerce platform, connecting retailers and service providers to customers. The company was founded by 3 former classmates of St. Augustine College, Cape Coast. Since 2005, Hubtel has become Ghanas most successful indigenous technology company with significant market shares in payment processing, messaging and e-commerce. About the Hubtel App The Hubtel app is a simple way to find and pay for anything nearby. From airtime, jollof, shoes, money transfer, and a lot more. It also makes sending SMS and receiving payment from a large group of people much easier. How to Get the App The Hubtel mobile app is available for Android, iOS, and Huawei phones. Users can also go to www.hubtel.com or use the GhanaPost GPS mobile apps new Marketplace function. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Vaccination among students should occur according to the basic principles of informed consent and voluntariness, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said on Sunday. The commission said, in a statement, that it opposes mandatory vaccination or taking vaccination as a prerequisite for students to participate in classes and activities in schools and kindergartens. The safety and health of students should always receive top priority, the commission said, adding that the vaccination work should be carried out steadily and orderly under the guidance of disease control and prevention department. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has a good record in ensuring press freedoms in Ghana, former Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North, Fuseini Issah has said. In his view, the record of the President in this area is without blemish. The president records in the protection of press freedom is unblemished, he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, February 12 while reacting to the criticisms against the President following the arrest of some journalists in Ghana. For his part, Tamale North Member of Parliament, Alhassn Suhuyini, indicated that Ghana is moving back to the days of the Criminal Libel Law when journalists were jailed in the line of their duties, with the current arrests and prosecutions of practitioners. According to him, the purpose of removing the Criminal Libel Law by the Kufuor Administration, with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Attorney General at the time, is being defeated by the criminal prosecution of journalists under now President Akufo-Addo. The purpose of repealing the criminal libel law is being defeated by what is happening now, Suhuyini said on the same show in relation to the arrest and prosecution of Media Generals Captain Smart, Accra FMs Bobie Ansah, and Civil society activist, Mensah Thompson. He added There was a reason why we repealed the Criminal Libel Law. When Haruna Atta [Former Editor of the Accra Mail] was being prosecuted [under the Rawlings administration] it was because they had done a story against the then First Lady. So when you hear that Mensah Thompson is being prosecuted for utterances he made that go against the First Family it takes us back to the days of the criminal libel laws. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Opare Addo has expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for participating in the Yentua demonstration held on Thursday, February 10, 2022. In a brief statement, the youth leader of the umbrella family said the demonstrators stood against the obnoxious levy. According to him, they will stop until the levy has been scrapped. Weve made a stand against this obnoxious levy that will further rob Ghanaians of their hard earned money and we are not backing down until it is withdrawn from parliament, he said. Read his full statement below Thank you Ghana! On behalf of the Coalition, I express our sincere gratitude to all Ghanaians for joining in the protest against this e-robbery. If the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government were deaf to our voices, certainly they cannot ignore the thousands of Ghanaians who hit the streets. Weve made a stand against this obnoxious levy that will further rob Ghanaians of their hard earned money and we are not backing down until it is withdrawn from parliament. We will continue to advocate and fight for a better Ghana; where the rights and interests of every Ghanaian is protected. In the coming days, we will put out a number of nationwide activities to judiciously execute this mandate. God bless Ghana! God bless us all!! Source: rainbowradioonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former deputy minister for information under the erstwhile National Democratic Congress, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for acting in a manner that compromises press freedom. The president has been under serious criticism following the arrest and detention of some journalists and activists over the past few weeks as a result of their utterances. Reacting to the arrests in a Twitter post, Felix Kwkaye Ofosu while sharing an old video of former president John Agyekum Kufour, pointed out what he said has been a shocking deterioration in leadership. In the video accompanying his tweet, then-President Kufour while addressing a political rally is heard touting the protection of free speech under his leadership. When we came to power the first law we repealed was the criminal libel law. Now everywhere you go there is an FM station where everyone is freely speaking their mind. Even the opposition NDC has more radio stations than us, all they do is spew propaganda they dont do good with their freedom. They dont speak the truth but we know that as humans if you are not given the opportunity to speak your mind you are being oppressed in a way. That was why we said remove the criminal libel law; Let the people feel free, let them think free, and let them talk freely, we want Ghanaians to feel they are truly a free nation," Kufour stated. Drawing a comparison, Mr. Ofosu Kwaky said: President Kufour puts daylight between himself and President Akufo-Addo in this video. The latter has brought back tyranny and rolled back the gains made in media freedom. What a shocking deterioration is leadership standards! Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama has noted what he describes as the growing criminalisation of speech and journalism under the Akufo-Addo government. 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 arrest and detention of Kwabena Bobie Ansah, a political talk show host of Accra FM. Noting how President Akufo-Addo in his days as Attorney General fought to repeal the criminal libel law, Mahama said recent developments under the current government show a deliberate use of state power to suppress, criminalise free speech. Now, in a space of less than two weeks, four people have suffered police action, criminalizing their right to free speech. As Attorney General, at the time, who led the repeal of the criminal libel law, in order that citizens could freely express their views, it is unconscionable to be suppressing the rights and criminalising the speech of citizens and journalists. It is even more worrying when the power of the state is used as a pliant tool in this intimidating endeavour. Radio and TV presenter Captain Smart was dragged from court, and although he had been granted bail, sent into detention. Another radio presenter, Oheneba Boamah Bennie has been incarcerated for statements he allegedly made. A civil society activist was arrested, detained, sent to court on criminal charges, granted bail and yet detained again for making a statement against you, President Akufo-Addo. As if to suggest insincerity behind the serious decriminalization of speech that you led, another radio presenter, Bobie Ansah, has been arrested, detained and charged criminalized for speaking and making allegations against your wife, portions of Mr Mahamas open letter to President Akufo-Addo read. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 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 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Benevilla will host its annual Dinner in the Desert fundraiser on Friday, March 25, at Barn at Desert Foothills in North Phoenix. Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.10 per week for 10 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Fathi Bashagha is seen at a press statement in Tripoli on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan government on Saturday denied reports that some ministers have resigned, confirming that the government is working as normal. "The Government of National Unity faces a series of misleading and fake news, including some fake documents on social media about the resignations of some ministers," the government spokesman Mohammad Hamuda said in a statement. "All of the ministers continue working as normal and are present in their respective offices," the spokesman added. Over the past two days, reports circulated on social media about the resignations of some ministers in the government, including Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush. The House of Representatives (parliament) on Thursday unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha, the former interior minister, as Libya's new prime minister, replacing Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. After the vote, Bashagha said that he is "confident" that Dbeibah's government will hand over power and adhere to the democratic path. However, Dbeibah confirmed that his government will remain in office until elections are held, and he will hand over office only to an elected government. The Libyan parliament withdrew confidence from Dbeibah's government in September last year and kept it as a caretaker government. The Government of National Unity was appointed by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in February last year, ending years of political division in the North African country. General elections in Libya had been scheduled for Dec. 24 last year, but were postponed indefinitely over technical and legal issues, according to the High National Elections Commission. The BBC recently reported on a leaked Nepalese government report accusing China of encroaching into Nepal by pushing into Nepals far-western Humla district, which borders the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), disputed that claim in a report headlined, BBC's China-Nepal border dispute hype a 'smear campaign. The Global Times said the claims arose in 2020 but were repeatedly refuted by the Nepali Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Foreign Ministry. The paper cited a nameless Nepalese investigator who visited the area in 2020 and found the claims of Chinese encroachment baseless. The Global Times also cited insiders who reportedly said Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs sent an inspection team to Humla district in September 2021. That was after local anti-China, pro-India political forces alleged Chinese encroachment, the paper said. The same team submitted the report to Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs that the BBC cited. But Zhang Yongpan, an expert on border issues at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times the report cannot represent the official position of Nepal. The BBC attributed more significance to the report, saying it marks, the first time there have been official claims from Nepal of Chinese interference in its territory. Furthermore, the evidence cited in the report cant be easily dismissed as a smear campaign. Although the remoteness of the border region and its inhospitable terrain complicate verification, the reports findings fit into a broader pattern of alleged Chinese encroachment on territory in neighboring Bhutan and India. The BBC notes that the 1,400 kilometers of mountainous border between China and Nepal is demarcated by a chain of pillars, set kilometers apart. This complicates efforts to determine the exact position of the border. In September 2021, the Kathmandu Post reported that Nepals Ministry of Home Affairs had sent a team to study border dispute issues with China. The newspaper reported that in 2020 that Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, then a member of the Karnali Provincial Assembly, had carried out his own investigation into Chinese encroachment. Shahi alleged that China had replaced one border pillar in such a way that a large chunk of Nepals territory had gone into China. The Kathmandu Post received portions of the September 2021 field study and reported on it the following month. The field study said the Chinese side has put up wires and fencing in the Nepali territory. It added that China had attempted to build a permanent canal 145 meters inside [of] Nepali territory. Nepalese police protested, and the canals structure was destroyed, the report said, adding the covered rubble was visible. Citing the same report, the BBC said Chinese security forces had restricted religious activities on the Nepalese side of the border, as the area is a pilgrimage cite for both Buddhists and Hindus. Keeping Tibetans from escaping into Nepal is one reason China is allegedly seeking greater control in the region. Following the BBC story, Dal Rawal, an opposition lawmaker from Nepals Humla District, called on the federal government to release the September 2021 report. In November 2020, the U.K.s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had seized land in five districts covering 150 hectares of Nepalese territory. The Daily Telegraph said Beijing employed similar tactics when annexing at least 60 square kilometers of Indian territory in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, leading to the bloody, June 2020 Galwan River Valley border clash. Chinas Foreign Ministry said the information in the Telegraph report was based completely on rumors. The Daily Telegraph countered that the annexation had been corroborated by fresh testimony from Nepalese villagers. Further complicating matters, a spokesperson for Nepals Foreign Ministry also denied the alleged annexation. It is not true that China has encroached our land and had constructed buildings there, Reuters quoted Sewa Lamsal, a spokeswoman for Nepals Foreign Ministry, as saying. But Shahi told Reuters that Chinese troops had built nine concrete structures one kilometer inside of Nepal in Humla. The Global Times is correct that Nepals Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted reports of Chinese encroachment. But those denials came after a 2017 survey document from the Ministry of Agriculture surfaced alleging China had encroached on 36 hectares of Nepalese territory, the Himalaya Times reported. Indian media seized on that report in the summer of 2020 to drum up claims of Chinese expansion. K.P. Sharma Oli, who served three terms as Nepals prime minister, during the period from October 2015 to July 2021, has come under fire for his alleged pro-Beijing bias. Oli, a communist party leader, sought closer ties with China and took a more competitive stance against India. Writing in South Asian Voices, a Washington, D.C.-based online policy platform, John Pollock said few democratic countries were as close geographically or as inclined politically, as Nepal was to China under K.P. Sharma Oli. He said Nepals heavy pivot toward Beijing was intended to offset a perceived over-reliance on India. Santosh Sharma Poudel, co-founder of the Nepal Institute for Policy Research, said the Nepali Congress Party, which formed a minority government in July, criticized Chinas interventions in Nepals domestic politics. Indian media were more direct in their accusations. The Times of India claimed in August 2020 that China was getting safe passage to occupy Nepal territory with support from Oli. Oli told the New Delhi-based broadcaster WION Nepal was in no position "to claim the territory of China or India," adding, "We must claim our own territory." He further denied there were any Chinese checkposts on Nepal's northern border, adding, " [We] will not allow them [China] to put their military checkposts inside our territory." The Times of India, which has a pro-India, anti-China slant, also cited the report from the Survey Department of Nepals Agriculture Ministry. The paper alleged the scope of encroachment was being underreported and the Nepali Communist Party was trying to shield the expansionist agenda of the Chinese Communist Party. Adam Parker has covered many beats and topics for The Post and Courier, including race and history, religion, and the arts. He is the author of "Outside Agitator: The Civil Rights Struggle of Cleveland Sellers Jr.," published by Hub City Press. In the 1960s, everything changed for African Americans. Through organized protest, the status quo was upended, old prejudices were challenged and core assumptions were shaken. Americans redefined what citizenship entailed, though inequity remained entrenched in many of our institutions, and access to the polls often has not been made easy. The enfranchisement phase of the civil rights movement was a historic moment that capped a long struggle, and it was brought about, in large measure, by the generations born in the late 1930s and the 1940s who faced a unique and compelling opportunity wrought by converging, culminating social forces: access to education, a growing self-awareness, a fervent embrace of democratic principles, and a legacy of white racism whose moral bankruptcy the movement exposed. Some embraced the opportunity to confront political and economic injustice directly; others indeed, most did not have the luxury, or the means, or the wherewithal to enter the fray. The civil rights efforts of the 1960s were historic, but the freedom struggle in the U.S. really began long before, with the first enslaved African who survived the Middle Passage to start a new life of forced labor in North America. Resistance to oppression was immediate, and it assumed many forms, from individual acts of defiance and secret efforts to retain cultural ties to Africa to unique forms of religious practice and occasional attempts at large-scale organized rebellion. The Black church in America evolved from a nascent incubator of rudimentary Christian ideas mixed with African religious traditions to a full-throated evangelical and missionary institution focused primarily on domestic issues. It drew its theological strength from two primary biblical sources: the stories of Moses, who led the Israelites to freedom, and Jesus, who preached good news to the poor. In South Carolina, and elsewhere in the South, the Black church has played a central role in the lives of African Americans, who have found in it a source of strength and a venue for organizing resistance to oppression. But it was only after the Civil War that Black preachers began to exercise political power overtly, and to gain a newfound respect from the black community. During the Reconstruction years, the South saw a remarkable number of Black men earn college degrees and win public office, but by the late 1870s, the belt of Jim Crow was being tightened, and African Americans soon were disenfranchised socially, economically and politically. A renewed struggle for justice slowly blossomed in response to this subjugation. Eventually, African Americans organized boycotts and mass-action protests against an epidemic of lynchings, police violence, the criminalization of Black life and institutional discrimination. Black activism during the first half of the 20th century often was manifested in the courtroom. One high-profile case was the mistreatment of the Scottsboro Boys, who in 1931 were falsely accused of rape and unjustly condemned by an all-White jury in a rigged series of Alabama court hearings. Another was the 1948 demand by South Carolinas Rev. Joseph A. De Laine and Levi Pearson that the Clarendon County school district operate a school transportation system for Black students. Their petition would lead to the 1951 Briggs v. Elliott school segregation case, in which federal Judge J. Waties Waring would issue a passionate dissent that would inform the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board case. By the 1950s, much already had been accomplished and much brought to light by those advocating fairness and justice, and their efforts set the stage for the final battle of this long phase. At the pinnacle stood Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. flanked by a multitude of other leaders who embraced nonviolence either as a philosophy (e.g., King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference) or a tactic (e.g., the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee). In 1957, Richard D. Heffner sat down with King and Judge Waring to conduct a remarkable television interview for the show The Open Mind. Asked about his aggressive tactics, King said its better to pursue goals of equality and fair treatment with courageous direct action. The privileged classes do not give up their privilege voluntarily, he retorted, and its best not to sit idly by waiting for their generosity. But what about the ill will thats generated by the aggressiveness? asks Heffner, citing the bomb attacks and verbal abuse King had endured in Montgomery, Ala., during the bus boycott. Well, I think that is a necessary phase of the transition, King replied presciently. Whenever oppressed people stand up for their rights and rise up against their oppressor, so to speak, the initial response of the oppressor is bitterness. Hopefully, he said, redemption and reconciliation will follow the transition from the old order of segregation and discrimination to the new order of freedom and justice. I think that bitterness and ill-will will pass away. King predicted it would take a few years to reach the other side of bitterness. In fact, it took more than a decade of direct action, immense sacrifice, and sometimes intense internal disagreement among the movements participants. When the country emerged from the violence of the 1960s and early 1970s, the light of justice surely shined, but dimly. In the five decades since, progress continues to be tempered by resistance and rollback. The fight goes on. Early last year, South Carolina received $346 million in federal money to help people avoid eviction and utility-shutoffs, and a large amount of that money is still there for the asking. In fact, the state has received even more money. There are rules, of course, and paperwork, but broadly it amounts to this: Those who suffered financially because of COVID-19, and who don't earn too much money, can apply for funding to pay up to 12 months of rent and/or utility bills. The need remains great, according to local government and nonprofit groups. Charleston County's experience with the funding, so far, shows that most of the assistance has gone to female-headed households with incomes that average just over $20,000. In most cases the money doesn't go to the applicants, but directly to their landlords and utility companies. How to apply depends partly on the county where a person lives, but in every case applicants must be renters who meet the income guidelines. Those guidelines are, unfortunately, complicated because they are based on earning no more than 80 percent of a county's median income, and that varies by county and family size. Statewide, 80 percent of median income for a single person ranges from $30,080 to $47,200, and for a family of four it ranges from $42,880 to $67,360. More affluent counties, such as those in the Charleston metro area, have higher median incomes while rural counties have lower ones. State authority SC Housing handles applications for 39 of the state's 46 counties. They call the program SC Stay Plus, and applications are open online at schousing.com or call 803-336-3420. Here's how SC Housing describes what's available: "The program can help impacted households get back on track by providing up to 12 months of rental and utility assistance dating back to March 13, 2020; up to three months of future rent to stabilize those with housing insecurity; and cover other housing costs for those who have been displaced because of the pandemic." The remaining seven counties were large enough to get federal money directly: Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg. If you live in one of those counties, that could be good news or bad in terms of seeking assistance. In particular: Charleston County stopped accepting new applications in October, having spent or obligated the roughly $22 million it received. However, the county will be getting another $10 million, and expects to take new applications in March though a date hasn't been set. Richland County also stopped taking applications, and although that county is expecting another $22 million in funding, it plans to take no more. That's because the county accepted about 10,000 more applications than it could fund, and will use the new money to address those already filed. Berkeley County has spent its federal funding and has decided against asking for more. Its residents can neither apply to the county nor to SC Housing. In the remaining four counties with direct funding, residents should contact their county government. See schousing.com/Home/Resources-for-Renters for more information. The funding has helped prevent evictions and relieve financial suffering because of the pandemic, supporting both renters and their landlords. In most counties there is still money available but people must apply to get it. When Jessica Boyd and Steven Hughes packed up their lives in Columbia and adopted the "digital nomad" lifestyle last July, they turned to Airbnb for their housing as they explored the country. The couple could work from anywhere as long as they had Wi-Fi, so as they went from city to city, they booked stays at short-term rentals. Along the way, they tried to find properties run by Black hosts, but, depending on the city, that wasn't always easy. Were both Black entrepreneurs. Its important for us to support Black-owned businesses, and Black-owned Airbnbs are indeed businesses, Boyd said. They thought they'd make it easier for anyone like them who's trying to support Black-owned Airbnbs, Boyd said, so they started researching and compiling a list of properties. At the end of January, they put out a first version of the list on their blog, Journey Black Home, with more than 200 listings. Along with supporting Black hosts, Boyd said, the resource is about making Black travelers feel safer when booking an Airbnb. Issues with discrimination on the short-term rental platform are well-documented, she said. In 2015, people started highlighting some of those issues on social media using the hashtag "#AirbnbWhileBlack." The hashtag was first used by Twitter user Quirtina Crittenden who shared her experience of being repeatedly declined as a guest by Airbnb hosts. Crittenden told the NPR podcast "Hidden Brain" in 2016 that she stopped having issues making bookings after shortening her name on her profile to "Tina" and changing her photo from a selfie to a cityscape. Airbnb has said it's working on making the platform more inclusive. In 2020, the company worked with organizations like the NAACP and Color of Change to launch Project Lighthouse, an initiative to "uncover, measure, and overcome discrimination." At the time that project was started, Airbnb said it had already removed 1.3 million people from Airbnb for "declining to treat others without judgment or bias." The company added that there was "still a lot more work to be done." Boyd said some people have said their Airbnb list is "kind of like a modern-day "Green Book," referring to the travel guide for African-Americans published yearly by Victor H. Green from 1936 to 1966. The guides included hotels, restaurants, service stations and other businesses that were Black-owned or known to serve African-American patrons. In addition to being Black-owned, the Airbnbs on Boyd's and Hughes' list are the kind of properties where they'd likely make a reservation: They have a rating of four stars or more, a majority of positive reviews and a host that seems to respond quickly to critical feedback on the platform. The list currently includes stays in 26 different states and Washington, D.C., including the Carolinas. Several of the listings are in North Charleston and Columbia. Charlotte has one of the longest lists of Black-owned Airbnbs for a single city with 17. Washington, D.C. and Atlanta also have longer lists. Boyd and Hughes have stayed at some of the properties on the list, but most they found through online research. Already after sharing the initial post of Airbnbs, Boyd said, about 150 hosts have reached out and asked to be added. The list will continue to grow, Boyd said, and the couple set up an online form where hosts can submit their Black-owned Airbnb. Their project isn't affiliated with Airbnb, but Boyd said they hope the site will take notice of what they're doing and see the value in highlighting the Black-owned rentals on their platform. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Some three years in the making, Truist is ready to emerge from the shadows and onto the signage. The super-regional bank brand created from the 2019 tie-up of Southeast heavyweights BB&T and SunTrust will check off a key box this coming weekend, when all accounts will be running off the same technology platform. The final so-called systems conversion is scheduled to begin Friday. BB&T made the leap to what Truist calls its "ecosystem" in the fall. It's now SunTrust's turn to log onto the back-office backbone. The weekend changeover will include a few minor disruptions. For instance, Truist has notified customers that ATMs and mobile banking options will be temporarily disabled while also alerting them to alternatives if they need to withdraw cash or pay bills electronically. The services are expected to be restored by next Sunday night. CEO Bill Rogers assured analysts and investors last month that the bank has "two successful dress rehearsals" for this final flip of the switch, one in December, another in January. The two onetime rivals that have been doing business under their respective legacy brands will officially become one when branches reopen for business Feb. 22, after the long Presidents Day weekend. The conversion also will involve a visual element. All BB&T and SunTrust signage will be swapped out with replacements bearing the Truist logo at 6,000 branches, ATMs and other consumer-facing sites over the next couple of weeks. "In Charleston specifically, signs will change over by the last week of the month," a company spokesman said last week. Adapting to change The union is a long-awaited milestone. It was three years ago this month that BB&T and SunTrust surprised the industry by announcing their intentions to tie the knot in what stands as the largest U.S. bank marriage since the 2008 global financial crisis. The $28 billion all-stock deal closed Dec. 6, 2019, when the newly formed Truist Financial Corp. set in motion a plan to cut $1.6 billion in expenses, including redundant jobs and the consolidation of hundreds of overlapping branches. The deal was a byproduct of the powerful market forces that have been reshaping the industry for decades. The early round of mergers and acquisitions after the Great Recession mostly claimed smaller, growth-constrained banks. BB&T's buyout of SunTrust was a notable exception. Both were healthy, well-managed regional lenders, with about 3,100 branches and $470 billion in assets between them, spread over 13 states and Washington, D.C. Kelly King, the former BB&T and Truist CEO who helped engineer the deal, boiled down the rationale in three simple words during a 2019 meeting with shareholders in downtown Charleston. "Things have changed," he told the investors. King, who stepped down as CEO in September to become executive chairman, pointed to several household-name businesses that either have faltered or failed because they didn't adapt to quick-shifting market conditions. He maintained that a single bank combining the best elements of BB&T and SunTrust would create a formidable competitor to what he called an oligopoly of bigger U.S.-based rivals, namely JPMorgan, Citibank, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. At the same time, Truist would have the financial clout to invest in the latest bells and whistles that digital-savvy consumers expect, he added. A 'simpler' structure This month's rebranding will relegate to the history books the well-established names of two of the Southeast's oldest financial institutions. Branch Banking & Trust of Winston-Salem traces its corporate ancestry to a rural lender that served North Carolina farmers starting in 1872. It expanded into South Carolina in 1986 and grew to be the third-largest bank in the Palmetto State based on deposits in the pre-Truist era. Atlanta-based SunTrust is slightly younger. Its roots go back to 1891, when Georgia lawmakers approved a charter for Commercial Travelers' Savings Bank. SunTrust a name it adopted in 1985 didn't cross into the South Carolina market until 2004. As for Truist, it picked a neutral but logical site for its new corporate headquarters the Southeast banking powerhouse of Charlotte while keeping sizable operations in Winston-Salem and Atlanta. At the same time, it has been surgically cutting away at its brick-and-mortar network to help hit its expense-savings goal. BB&T and SunTrust estimated in 2019 that about 740 of their branches were within two miles of each other. Some even shared the same parking lots. Truist finance chief Daryl Bible said during the company's quarterly earnings call last month that the bank is "on track to deliver over 800 total branch closures" by March 31. He added that the number of full-time employees has been reduced by about 11 percent. South Carolina hasn't been spared. Truist said it has consolidated 17 locations around the state over the past three years, adding that no branch workers were displaced in the reshuffling. Another 13 will be closed or combined by the end of March, taking the total number of Truist retail offices to just under 100. "Once the integration is complete and all the systems have been converted, Truist will be a much simpler company to operate, allowing us to provide even better service to our clients," Bible told investors. OUAGADOUGOU, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Burkina Faso's army announced on Monday it had ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, dissolved the government and the national assembly, and closed the borders, according to media reports. The ruling party said earlier in a statement that President Roch Kabore had survived an assassination attempt. My wife, Becky, expressed surprise to hear that last weeks column, Cliches of an unhealthy faith, brought more responses than probably anything Ive written in 20 years. When readers began to share a few cliches I missed, she suggested the column deserved a sequel. So here it is. Additional unhealthy cliches: 1. Love the sinner, hate the sin. Try something for me, will you? Repeat the phrase aloud as if its being said about you. Do you hear the way the words create an us-versus-them dynamic? The speaker becomes the righteous person looking down at the poor miserable sinner. Hate is the word that gives me the most trouble. Even if God hates, and I know some believe he does, he certainly didnt delegate that job to us. The cliche seems to be roughly 10 percent love and 90 percent hate. Yet we havent a clue why it doesnt work. How about we replace this one with the truism, God loves you. Has a certain biblical ring to it, right? 2. God told me. Related to the let-me-pray-about-it cliche, this claims to have God in your pocket. Back when I was in clergy school, a few of my fellow ministerial students told their girlfriends, God told me we should get married. Even then I could hear the ulterior motives. My wife told one of her early suitors, Lets just wait until God tells me, too. God never did. We neednt make up what God tells us to do when we have 66 biblical books presenting some good decisions Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! 3. Christianity isnt a religion; its a relationship. I applaud the second half of this cliche, but the first half of the saying is intellectually false. You cant say Christianity isnt a religion. BUT if you say Christianity is a unique religion then youd be in good company with Boston University professor Stephen Prothero. In his book God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World and Why Their Differences Matter he dismisses a related cliche often voiced by those opposed to religion. Namely, that all religions are the same. Prothero shows how each belief, including Christianity, meets the criteria of a religion. The difference he sees is that each religion is vastly different with greatly opposing goals. For instance, Christians uniquely focus on eternal life, sin and salvation. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Confucians either dont believe in sin or dont concentrate on it. Honestly, the untruth has undertones of My religion is the only true one. And if you insert John 14:6 and proclaim that Jesus is the only way to know God, then you might as well add the conversation-stopper that all those who follow other religions are going to hell. 4. Lets agree to disagree. This one is often used in discussions of religion and politics. Unfortunately, its a cliche many of us use to grab the last word of any discussion. Its definitely the cliche Id be tempted to use if I ever meet Dr. Jeff Myers of the conservative Colorado Christian University. His bio tells me there is some doctrine we dont share, yet I was still able to find inspiration for this column in his blog. Cliches produce shame, not change, he says. They seem powerful at first because people ooh and ahh and applaud when they hear them. But those who disagree are left feeling unspiritual. How long will it take us to realize that such shame-inducing tactics are counterproductive? Finally, speaking of shame-producing, Becky says that the positive responses for last weeks column came because I shamelessly begged you to agree with me. Please write and tell her that shes wrong. Whoops. I did it again, didnt I? DEBIDUE ISLAND This gated island in Georgetown County where the ocean is lapping at the edges of a three-decade-old seawall is in the middle of a high-profile conflict about how to manage South Carolina's beaches. It's not the first time the island has been in this position; sand-trapping groins being constructed on Debidue Beach right now were the subject of legal challenges, and the wall itself, constructed before South Carolina banned such structures, has been the center of state bills and budget provisos to ensure its longevity. But now, piles of rectangular brown sandbags that sit between the seawall and four homes in DeBordieu Colony, the gated community on Debidue Island, have kicked up another conflict. The fight comes just as South Carolina is poised to move on from its decades-long mandate of beach retreat, which has been challenged by the realities of climate change and the hastening advance of the ocean. Now, the state has a policy of beach "preservation," but there's still disagreement on what, exactly, that means. One of the advocates for these homeowners has also drawn some attention: state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Murrells Inlet. He is closely involved in writing laws that govern the coast. He's also an attorney who represented homeowners with the sandbags before a politically-appointed board that decides beach issues. Washing over the wall On Debidue, erosion problems have gotten so severe that in 2020 several homeowners put sandbags behind the seawall's exposed southern portion. Water had poured over the bulkhead, threatening the expensive homes that sit behind it. The structure shows why South Carolina later banned hard walls on sandy beaches: Sand placed in front of it eventually washes away from the energy of waves ricocheting against the hard surface. Standing behind the exposed wall now, each slamming wave creates a tremor. Sandbags are allowed temporarily in an emergency. But in this case, four of the homeowners didn't get a temporary permit and want to keep them in perpetuity. In particular, they want the sandbags to stay as DeBordieu's current privately funded, multi-million dollar groin and renourishment project spits sand back onto the eroding shoreline. The issue came to a head in a January board meeting at the Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina's environmental regulator. During the meeting, Coastal Carolina University professor Paul Gayes argued he could study the performance of the sandbags inside dunes over time, and DHEC staff, who'd already turned down the request before, said the move was illegal. Goldfinch was one of three attorneys representing the homeowners in that meeting. He has argued that putting sandbags behind the wall and covering them with sand is prudent given the state's evolving stance on beach management, and that other states already allow the practice. At one point, Goldfinch responded to a DHEC regulator who argued the proposal didn't fit with the spirit of law by saying, I do not want to act smug in any way saying this, but I do not appreciate a staff member telling me what the legislative intent of the act was. It was a straightforward expression of a common reality in South Carolina. Many of the state's part-time legislators are lawyers and paid to represent private citizens before officials that are confirmed by the General Assembly. Ultimately, the DeBordieu homeowners prevailed. John Crangle, a longtime ethics watchdog with the S.C. Progressive Network, said the situation is "a chronic conflict of interest problem that's been going on for as long as I've been involved in political activism in South Carolina, which has been for over 35 years now." Goldfinch denied he had an undue influence on the board, whose members are confirmed by the state Senate, and noted the board member who hails from his part of the state voted against him. In his telling, ethical concerns raised over the appearance are mud-slinging from environmentalists. "I'm sure the losers see it as a conflict. But the truth is it's legal and it's ethical. It's my job," he said. He and Crangle agreed on one point: One change that would make the situation moot would be to have a full-time state Legislature, where members don't need to have second jobs. "If you want me to be a full-time legislator, the legislature needs to be paid for a full-time job," Goldfinch said. His reported Senate compensation for 2020 was $32,968.22, according to a State Ethics Commission disclosure. The turtle question The DHEC board has yet to issue a formal written order from its January meeting on the sandbags. When it does, it will likely face an appeal from environmental groups. One component of the argument may be the sea turtles that dig nests for their eggs on sandy beaches. Questions about turtle nesting are not only about conservation they have also played a role in past legal cases about what kinds of technologies can be used on South Carolina beaches, such as a "wave dissipation system" on Isle of Palms that was ordered removed in 2017. Goldfinch said it was "totally fraudulent" to suggest turtles would be able to nest near the bags, which are behind a wall that is right now several feet higher than the water. He also cited a 2019 study by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Fla., that showed dunes with interior sandbags didn't affect turtle nesting success overall. The researchers also reported that nesting success was affected for some turtle crawls within five meters of the bags. But Betsy Brabson of the DeBordieu and Hobcaw South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts, said that turtles have gotten over DeBordieu's wall before. When renourishment sand hasn't yet washed away, turtles have crossed some parts of the southern end of the wall. "Turtles can nest above a seawall that is 12 to 18 inches because their flippers are so powerful," she said. "They do propel them through the ocean for thousands of miles." As evidence, she provided a picture of a nest that was laid in 2018, in an area that's completely eroded in front of the wall today. Gayes, the professor who plans to study the bags on Debordieu, said that the research is still worth doing because the situation there is an opportunity to examine a new approach to beach dunes. DeBordieu's situation is an extreme one for South Carolina beaches, which are eroding at different rates but have been somewhat stabilized by sand replacement projects. Gayes argued that he's not advocating for the sandbags to be widespread, but "weve got to start figuring out what we can defend and what we cant." Asked whether this defense would come at the expense of a sandy beach and the animals it supports, Gayes said, "If it's feasible to have a functional habitat you're going to have it for a period of time, and then it will go as it has." A heart to heart Amid this conflict on Debidue looms the larger question of how to interpret beach "preservation," written into state law in place of "retreat" in 2018. Goldfinch has one perspective. Preservation "doesn't mean (the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management) getting into the business of stopping property owners from protecting their property," he said, referring to the DHEC office that regulates beach building. Rob Young, a professor at Western Carolina University who studies developed shorelines, countered that the first priority should be the beach. "If you start your focus on protecting infrastructure and private homes, you will very quickly lose the best way to protect the beach dune system," he said. "What the state of South Carolina really needs is a heart-to-heart with itself," Young added. "What is it that the citizens of South Carolina are really interested in protecting?" DHEC was trying to tackle this question with a Technical Advisory Committee of scientists, representatives of beach communities, coastal engineers and others. The group was meant to discuss, in part, whether new technologies should be used on the beach, and how the department might test and permit them. But Gayes, a member of the committee, submitted his research proposal for DeBordieu before the first meeting was even convened at the end of last year. Emily Cedzo, another committee member who also works for the environmental nonprofit Coastal Conservation League, said the announcement of Gayes' project in the December meeting surprised the group, which hadn't had a chance to discuss how DHEC might evaluate new beach projects. "I think we really organized a great group of really diverse perspectives," Cedzo said. But on questions of beach preservation, she said, "I'm not optimistic that will be a way to address those issues in particular." The panel hasn't met since. Laura Renwick, a spokeswoman for DHEC, wrote in an email that "in light of the Department's regulatory role involving the DeBordieu study, the TAC Leadership Team has been working to identify upcoming topics for discussion for the meeting in March." An official date for the next gathering has not been set. Soon after Prisma Health announced its decision in November 2020 not to reopen its emergency department at North Greenville Hospital in Travelers Rest, a group of health care leaders and public officials vowed to bring emergency care back to the mostly rural northern third of Greenville County. Details of that plan have now emerged. A proposal soon to come before Greenville County Council will seek up to $20 million from the county to buy up to 55 acres of land to build a freestanding emergency room that would be run by Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina. It would provide remote ER trauma expertise via a telehealth system to on-site physician assistants or licensed advanced practice providers based at the facility. The proposal will ask the county to use funds from its allotment of federal COVID relief money to pay for the startup costs for a new emergency room. The county would own the land and facility, according to state Rep. Mike Burns, who lives in the district and put together a group to figure out how to return emergency care to northern Greenville County. Elected officials formed an emergency services work group and hired a new health care consulting group called Leaders in Healthcare led by Dr. Spence Taylor, the former president of Prisma Health Upstate. A yearlong evaluation indicated it would be successful using the telehealth model and with Bon Secours willingness to take on the risk of opening the new ER in Travelers Rest, Taylor said. Under the proposal, the ER would be staffed around the clock and include 10 patient bays. It could see up to 7,000 patients a year. Bon Secours St. Francis has not made any specific commitments to the project yet, said spokeswoman Jennifer Robinson. We will continue to be engaged in these conversations about Greenville Countys emergency care needs as keeping the patients and communities we serve at the center of everything we do is our top priority, Robinson said. Access to care is important to us, and being a part of the collaboration on Greenvilles future needs is also important to us. Joe Dill, a councilman who represents much of northern Greenville County, said he was fully in favor of building a new emergency room to serve his district. He said it can sometimes take over an hour for residents in rural areas to reach the downtown hospital and a stopgap may be needed even sooner than a new emergency center could be built. The proposal seeks to establish a health enterprise zone in Travelers Rest, which would allow the county to offer tax incentives to attract other health care services to the area. Burns said the public-private partnership would help establish a full medical campus with services well beyond the emergency care initially proposed. Much of it could be located side by side at one site if the county decided to purchase enough land to house multiple medical services. If not, the county could decide to buy a smaller site and just open the emergency room facility, he said. In 2020, Greenville County received $91 million in federal CARES Act funds to distribute across the county for assistance during the initial year of the pandemic. All of those funds were allocated by the end of 2020. The county then received half of a $101 million allotment in 2021 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, which it can use for a wider array of projects, including replacing revenue lost due to the pandemic. County Council voted to use $30 million of those funds to pay for its portion of a Woodruff Road bypass project that is in the planning stages. It hasnt allocated the rest of the funds. Everybody and their brother is coming out for this COVID money and almost nobody has any request thats health care related, Burns said. This may be the only request thats health care related. MUSC in the Upstate Local government officials and representatives from MUSC and Bon Secours St. Francis announced in February 2021 an initial plan to use MUSC telehealth services paired with the second-largest private health system in the county to explore a potential freestanding emergency room in northern Greenville. The move took aim at Prisma Health just months after the private, nonprofit health system announced it would not reopen the emergency room it closed earlier in 2020 when the hospital temporarily converted to solely treat COVID-19 patients. Prisma representatives said at the time that most critical health care emergencies were being redirected to Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville and that northern Greenvilles greatest need was more primary care options. Prisma repurposed the ER into a walk-in care clinic that offers same-day urgent and scheduled care for insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with a goal to improve overall community health long-term, said Sandy Dees, Prisma Health spokeswoman. Burns, who was among a group of county lawmakers who sued Prisma Health when the system converted from a public nonprofit to a private health system, said he was told on three occasions before then that the ER would remain open. Burns said he then learned Prisma Health had given back its certificate of need for the ER, a required regulatory approval from the state that specifies an area is in need of a particular health care service. Burns approached multiple health care providers statewide about the ER proposal. As a public university health system, taxpayers across the state pay for the services MUSC provides, Burns said. MUSC does not currently have a significant presence in the Upstate. We pay a lot of taxes in the Upstate and were not getting one thing out of them, so Ive been beating the heck out of them, Burns said. Youre a state agency. You need to be helping all of the state. Youre not a lower-state agency. The proposal from Leaders In Healthcare for the Travelers Rest project reads that a healthcare enterprise zone, if established, would welcome all hospitals (e.g., Prisma Health, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Spartanburg Regional, etc.) and universities, as well as private businesses, to contribute to the effort. In a letter to County Council Chairman Willis Meadows and Vice Chairman Dan Tripp dated Jan. 31, MUSC Health CEO Patrick Cawley sought to clarify that his health systems role in the Travelers Rest project was solely in support of Bon Secours and not to further enter the Upstate market for health care services. MUSC has not been privy to any discussions pertaining to the further development of additional health care services in North Greenville nor the healthcare economic zone and has no formal opinion on this topic, Cawley said. Prismas future in Travelers Rest Prisma Health plans to continue to use the North Greenville Hospital and hopes to add more staff, more services and expand to evening and weekend hours, Dees said. When fully expanded, the North Greenville practice will offer additional pediatric care as well as on-site specialty care, further enhancing health care for the residents of Travelers Rest, she said. In April, the hospital was converted back into a long-term acute-care unit but continues to care for a limited number of COVID or COVID-recovered patients in separate areas, she said. We are constantly assessing the health needs of the community and are committed to providing the right care, at the right time at the right cost to North Greenville and all other communities we serve, she said. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Charleston and Richland counties have been leaders in the effort to distribute pandemic-related federal funding for rent and utility assistance in South Carolina, and both counties will now receive millions more. In Charleston County, that means applications for rent and utility assistance which were halted in early October as money ran out will resume in March with $10 million available. Charleston and Richland counties are among seven in South Carolina that, because of their large populations, directly received and distributed the federal money. The state authority SC Housing is in charge of funding for the remaining 39 counties and, with about $85 million on hand, is trying to emulate the successful counties' outreach efforts. "The funds really went fast in Richland and Charleston, and weve copied the things they did to connect with applicants," said Chris Winston, spokesman for SC Housing. Both counties started with about $22 million each and by the fall of 2021 had spent or committed all of it. Both credit outreach efforts, and particularly the use of county libraries, as a key to success. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program was created by the federal government to help people with moderate to low incomes avoid eviction and utility shut-offs due to COVID-related income loss. South Carolina received $346 million in first-round funding, with most of that going to SC Housing, to help people catch up on utility and rent as far back as March 2020 when the pandemic began. The income requirement of earning no more than 80 percent of area median income based on family size, varies by county. For example, a family of four in Charleston County could earn no more than $65,700 to be eligible. In most cases, the money doesn't go to applicants, but to their landlords and utility companies. One county Berkeley decided in late January to not seek additional funds for the program, which one councilman referred to as a "gravy train." Because Berkeley County had direct funding, residents there can't turn to the SC Housing program for help. The county spent about $11 million on rent and utility assistance before deciding to end the program. Were unable to help people in Berkeley County even though we have funding available," said Winston, explaining that SC Housing's share of the funding can only be used in the 39 counties that didn't directly receive funds. Despite a low unemployment rate and an abundance of job openings, many South Carolina residents have struggled with housing costs and the threat of eviction. Weve had a lot of people experience long illnesses, people have tragically passed away, and a lot of families are still struggling," said Winston. What we want is to provide some stability. Trident United Way said calls to the nonprofit's 211 helpline seeking assistance with rental housing more than tripled in 2021 from the prior year, and requests from people who needed hotel vouchers for the homeless soared, as well. It really correlated to the eviction moratorium expiring (in August)," said Brian DeRoy, spokesman for Trident United Way. When Charleston and Richland counties used up their federal money they asked for more, and unspent funds were shifted from SC Housing to those counties through the U.S. Department of Treasury. Richland will get another $22 million. We received over 14,000 applications, so we know there is significant need," said Leonardo Brown, Richland County administrator. "The funding we (previously) received was not able to accommodate all of the need. Brown said Richland County was able to fund about 4,000 of the requests, which averaged about $5,700. When the new funding is in hand, he said, the county will start processing the remaining applications and will not take new ones. Charleston County applicants their landlords, in most cases received an average of about $6,122, covering on average nearly six months of rent and more than two months of utilities. Those applicants had an average household income of $20,344 according to the county. We do see an ongoing need. We get calls constantly," said Jean Sullivan, the county's director of community development. "We already have a bucket of people who are in the system who are waiting." Charleston County stopped taking applications in October and has not set a date to start accepting new applications, but expects it will be in March. The county's library system will start taking appointments for help filling out applications when the county's program reopens, according to the library system's deputy director, Natalie Caula-Hauff. When Charleston County's program reopens, the website is charlestoncounty.org/erap, and the phone number is 855-452-5374. Potential applicants can prepare by going to the website and reviewing the application requirements. Residents of counties other than Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg should apply for assistance through SC Housing online at schousing.com/home/sc-stay-plus or by calling 803-336-3420. There's broad agreement that the libraries found in most communities made a great difference, allowing the counties to distribute all the money they had while SC Housing still has about $85 million remaining from its original $271.8 million even after $32 million of that amount was reallocated to Charleston and Richland counties. It wasnt just about the digital literacy gap the lack of access to computers but also comprehension about those thorough applications that ask about income and need," said Caula-Hauff. We waived all our fees for photocopies and scanning related to the applications, and opened up appointments." Hinting at the challenges of filing a complete application, those in-person appointments averaged about an hour apiece, she said. Winston said that SC Housing knew there was great need in Beaufort County, but applications from residents there were lagging until in-person help was offered in libraries. The county quickly jumped to the top half of counties receiving assistance, he said, and similar outreach is underway in Aiken and Marlborough counties. Last year, SC Housing also eased some of the application requirements for paperwork, and allowed for making direct payments to tenants in cases where the landlord doesn't respond. In most cases, payments go directly to landlords with their agreement. Winston said that as of Feb. 11, SC Housing had distributed more than $145 million, helping more than 18,300 households in South Carolina. Charleston County Deputy Administrator Christine DuRant said the county was also well-prepared to handle the rent and utility relief funds because it used CARES Act money in 2020 for the same purpose. We went to Hispanic festivals, we went to churches, we reached out in all our jurisdictions," said Sullivan. "We tried to make sure everyone in the community knew this help was available." Going forward, in addition to the millions SC Housing has available, the authority is receiving another $92 million from a second phase of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Winston said those funds can be used to help people who hit financial problems during the ongoing pandemic, without requiring those problems to be directly caused by the pandemic. COLUMBIA It was a bold move: Republican lawmakers from Lancaster County wanted to make their school board elections partisan, meaning instead of running for seats as neutrals, candidates would have to declare as Republicans or Democrats. It would have been a rare decision. School boards in only two counties in the state Lee County and Horry County are partisan. And no counties have elected to pursue partisan elections in school board races for decades. But Lancaster County, a conservative, fast-growing and mostly White county near the North Carolina border, is different, supporters said. Voters there want transparency in their school board elections, they said, at a time where debates over face masks, library books and critical race theory have become battles in classrooms nationwide. You have to declare a party to run to be elected to state superintendent of education," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Sandy McGarry, R-Lancaster. "Why do we not have to declare for school board? It just does not make any sense." Statehouse Democrats, however, saw it as a cause to panic. Partisan elections, once employed in some of South Carolina's largest and most diverse counties, were once a tool of racial oppression, cast down by courts seeking to protect minorities' ability to see themselves represented in office, they said. It also presented a dangerous precedent of introducing politics into the state's classrooms at a time of heightened polarization. If Lancaster County went first, they argued, the rest of the state could easily follow. One county leads to adding another county, which leads to adding another five counties, and it takes us a direction that this state does not want nor do we need to go, Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, said on the House floor. We do not need to become a state in which politics impacts the education of our children. Its going to lead to division, to acrimony and less-qualified members in those seats," said Rep. Cezar McKnight, D-Kingstree. "Its going to lead to political hacks taking over the school board, on the right and on the left. Some Republicans appeared to agree. On Feb. 10, lawmakers from both parties joined forces to narrowly defeat the effort by a 49-47 vote, an uncommon rebuke of a longstanding tradition of home rule in South Carolina politics. Traditionally, lawmakers in the Statehouse do not intervene on "local bills," which are bills sponsored by a county's delegation to resolve a distinctly local issue. Critics, however, argued the Lancaster County effort pushed by the Speaker of the House as well as the chair of the local Republican Party there could have statewide implications, a dry run for Republicans to seize power in school board elections in counties across the state. What happened today was a reflection of the feeling that politics should not be a part of school board elections, South Carolina School Boards Association Executive Director Scott Price, whose organization has long opposed partisan school board elections, said in an interview Feb. 10. Republican whiplash While the bill itself was a local bill, the delegation behind it included some of the top Republican names in the South Carolina House of Representatives. House Speaker Jay Lucas, whose district includes part of Lancaster County, was among the delegation backing the bill, and later voted to support it. House Majority Whip Brandon Newton presented the bill on the floor despite his own opposition to electing bureaucratic or administrative roles like treasurer or auditor on a partisan basis. I have a general belief any body that sets policy and spends taxpayer money that is elected should be elected in a partisan fashion, Newton said on the floor. The bills sponsor, McGarry, is also a longtime Republican party operative in the county. Last month, McGarry was elected to her third, non-consecutive term as Lancaster Republican Party chair. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! In an interview, McGarry said the legislation was an attempt to bring additional accountability to the local school board by ensuring voters could easily identify where the candidates stood on certain issues, like school spending. That belief was not universal among members of her own party, however. While criticism came primarily from Democrats, there was reluctance expressed by both parties leading up to that initial Feb. 10 vote. Rep. Neal Collins, R-Pickens, expressed hesitance with the bill given his own experience participating in debates over topics like critical race theory, which were divided largely on partisan lines. The bill would also introduce inconsistencies across the states education system and potentially inspire other counties to follow suit, he said, leading to a patchwork of drastically different school board dynamics around the state. At a statewide level, I think this is the wrong way to go, Collins said. This local legislation would hurt. Implications Partisanship in South Carolina school board elections has historically created problems in the places it has been deployed since the practice of appointing school board trustees was abolished after desegregation. In Pickens County, Collins said a partisan takeover of the school board led to a conservative board candidate without a high school diploma being elected to serve on the board. And in the past, partisanship in the states school board elections was deployed as a means to minimize the influence of various minority populations in district decisions. Partisan school board elections have long been an uncommon practice. In 1996, only five counties had them, Price said. And several counties abandoned the practice after being successfully challenged in court. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice struck down legislation requiring candidates for the Charleston County School Board to declare a political party, arguing that partisanship and race as determinants of voting were inextricably intertwined in its decision. Similarly in 2002, Republicans in the Statehouse passed legislation drawing new district lines limiting the ability for Blacks in Union County to be elected to school board seats, prompting additional intervention by the DOJ. Other cases like a 2008 DOJ inquiry into voting practices in Georgetown County led to the end of partisan elections in that county. We don't want any barriers to allowing people who want to serve on school boards because they have an interest in their local public schools to be able to serve, said Debbie Elmore, director of governmental relations for the South Carolina School Boards Association. Thats the bottom line. SCSBA officials like Price said the COVID-19 pandemic opened the door to increased politicization of a number of educational issues that has only extended into 2022, leading to increased pressure on school trustees as well as a renewed emphasis on their political ideology around issues like masking, school choice, and curriculum, particularly around issues such as race. In 2017, North Carolina lawmakers passed legislation to expand partisan elections in school boards across the state. And as scrutiny on public classrooms increased across the country, Republicans lawmakers in Tennessee passed legislation last year authorizing counties to transition to partisan school board elections. The South Carolina Republican Party has not pursued similar bills, though party spokeswoman Claire Brady said the party is "always looking to elect candidates that represent our values." While South Carolina has not pursued broad legislation, Statehouse Democrats saw McGarrys bill as a dry run for other counties looking to transition to a similar system. You might say its a local issue, but it has statewide ramifications, said Rep. Wendy Brawley, D-Hopkins. And we all know it. While lawmakers initially defeated the bill in a Feb. 10 vote, an active motion to reconsider the bill remains open, meaning lawmakers could take up the bill again as early as Feb. 15, McGarry said. KHARTOUM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Sudanese foreign ministry official said the African Union (AU) on Saturday voiced its support for a political settlement to the current crisis in the country. Hassan Abdul-Salam Omer, general director of African affairs at the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks when briefing reporters on the meeting between the country's acting foreign minister Ali Al-Sadiq and Bankole Adeoye, AU commissioner for political affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS), in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. The meeting reviewed the AU's efforts to help the Sudanese parties reach a national consensus that supports the aspired democratic transformation, said Omer, noting that the Sudanese acting foreign minister briefed the AU visitors on the government's efforts to conduct a comprehensive national dialogue, so as to end the current crisis without exclusion of concerning parties. The AU delegation arrived in Khartoum earlier in the day to heed the concerns of all parties and help them reach solutions that ensure peace, unity and stability in Sudan, Adeoye said in a statement. "African issues must be solved by the Africans themselves," he said. For nearly two months, the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other cities have been plagued by mass protests demanding civilian rule. Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. Rebecca Brannon describes herself as an independent photojournalist covering Minnesota politics, protests, and riots. Rebecca has the nerve to do much of her reporting from the inside. If I have the chronology right, Rebecca got inside the two hour black bloc Antifa protest on Lake Street in Minneapolis, and the perpetrators are not happy about it. They dont really want the exposure. Say this for the Star Tribune. The papers nonfeasance is appreciated. Indeed, the Star Tribunes nonfeasance is a critical component of the bizarre hellworld that Minneapolis has become. Below I have compiled Rebeccas tweets on Friday nights protest in chronological order, I think. Drawing on Rebeccas tweets, Alpha News covered Friday nights festivities here. FOX9 covered it here. Apart from the Star Tribune, a few other local outlets provided coverage as well. As the lady said in Death of a Salesman, attention must be paid. In homage to Arthur Miller, this might be called the death of a city. Trigger warning: If you get your news from the Star Tribune, this may come as a shock. I wasn't sure what to expect but about 100 black bloc and Antifa marched in residential streets and blocked traffic on Lake for two hours, ransacking whatever they could and graffitied numerous businesses along the way.#AmirLocke 2/2 pic.twitter.com/hoDrjEY2GC Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Minneapolis black bloc Antifa graffitied numerous businesses and set barricades in the streets for nearly two hours tonight all down Lake Sreet from 35W and in Uptown. No police ever showed up or were seen except for a helicopter hovering overhead the entire time. pic.twitter.com/Jv12q699g6 Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 For over two hours Minneapolis businesses were vandalized up and down Lake Street by Antifa. Traffic was blocked both ways motorists were frustrated. pic.twitter.com/iv2igLUuPX Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Chants for Amir Locke and Winston Smith as black bloc Antifa disrupted traffic and graffitied all up and down Lake Street in Minneapolis tonight. pic.twitter.com/6FCWzXamM0 Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Protesters chanted throughout residential streets past 9pm creating barricades wherever they could in the streets. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/7PFR7DJ2Cf Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Intersections were held down and cars were forced to turn around businesses nearby were spray painted and property vandalized like this bus stop. This was just some of the vandalism that went on tonight during the two hour black bloc Antifa march #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/PERooJhW3s Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Outside the Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct where protesters spray-painted & threw rocks at the building, cracking windows. Phones & cameras weren't allowed so it was difficult to capture. Police never appeared. The precinct has been barricaded with fences since 2020. pic.twitter.com/gwC9pC7Dau Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Trash cans, bike racks, and construction barriers were dragged into the streets for two hours as black bloc Antifa disrupted traffic all up and down Lake Street both ways. No police ever responded or intervened. #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/e75vkLfS9w Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Streets were trashed at every opportunity and businesses spray painted during the black bloc Antifa march group of 100 tonight in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/I7lQ75nRz1 Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 Protesters returned to the MPD 5th precinct after trashing and disrupting traffic on Lake Street and tried to break through the security barricades. Police were never present or made themselves known. pic.twitter.com/U535Piqihf Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 For two hours Minneapolis Antifa threw trash into the streets, vandalized and set up barricades to disrupt traffic Friday night. A group of about 100 met at a undisclosed location telling their comrades to wear all black, no phones & cameras allowed. pic.twitter.com/SXmL7Esz1C Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 At one point the Antifa march was interrupted by a man who started dragging barricades out of the street. The group then confronted him and he produced some sort of weapon, saying he wasnt going to let them destroy the cityagain. #Minneapolis #Antifa pic.twitter.com/ibAdF87ZiN Rebecca Brannon (@RebsBrannon) February 12, 2022 The Russia collusion hoax is the dirtiest trick in the history of American politics, but if the latest filing by John Durham is correct, the Steele dossier wasnt the half of it: Lawyers for the Clinton campaign paid a technology company to infiltrate servers belonging to Trump Tower, and later the White House, in order to establish an inference and narrative to bring to government agencies linking Donald Trump to Russia, a filing from Special Counsel John Durham says. Durham filed a motion on Feb. 11 focused on potential conflicts of interest related to the representation of former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussman, who has been charged with making a false statement to a federal agent. *** Durhams filing states that in July 2016, the tech executive worked with Sussman, a U.S. investigative firm retained by Law Firm 1 on behalf of the Clinton campaign, numerous cyber researchers and employees at multiple internet companies to assemble the purported data and white papers. In connection with these efforts, Tech Executive-1 exploited his access to non-public and/or proprietary Internet data, the filing states. Tech Executive-1 also enlisted the assistance of researchers at a U.S.-based university who were receiving and analyzing large amounts of Internet data in connection with a pending federal government cybersecurity research contract. Tech Executive-1 tasked these researchers to mine Internet data to establish an inference and narrative tying then-candidate Trump to Russia, Durham states. In doing so, Tech Executive-1 indicated that he was seeking to please certain VIPs, referring to individuals at Law Firm-1 and the Clinton campaign. Durham also writes that during Sussmans trial, the government will establish that among the Internet data Tech Executive-1 and his associates exploited was domain name system (DNS) internet traffic pertaining to (i) a particular healthcare provider, (ii) Trump Tower, (iii) Donald Trumps Central Park West apartment building, and (iv) the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). Durham states that the internet company that Tech Executive-1 worked for had come to access and maintain dedicated servers for the Executive Office of the President as part of a sensitive arrangement whereby it provided DNS resolution services to the EOP. Tech Executive-1 and his associates exploited this arrangement by mining the EOPs DNS traffic and other data for the purpose of gathering derogatory information about Donald Trump, Durham states. The filing also reveals that Sussman provided an updated set of allegations including the Russian bank data, and additional allegations relating to Trump to a second agency of the U.S. government in 2017. Durham says the allegations relied, in part, on the purported DNS traffic that Tech Executive-1 and others had assembled pertaining to Trump Tower, Donald Trumps New York City apartment building, the EOP, and the aforementioned healthcare provider. The most shocking part of these allegations, as I understand them, is that the Democratic Party used a tech contractor working for the White House to gather (or fabricate) data intended to put then-President Trump in a bad light. If this understanding is correctapart from the claim that the same thing occurred during the presidential campaignit is a truly shocking scandal that implies serious criminal charges. So far I havent seen Durhams filing, but only the linked Fox news account of it. UPDATE: Durhams motion is embedded below. The key factual allegations were included in the Fox News story, and most of them are quoted above. I note that the Fox story puts the word infiltrate in quotes, but that word does not appear in the motion. Not sure what is going on there. The point of the motion is that the Latham & Watkins law firm, which started out in Los Angeles but now has global reach, has its fingers in multiple pies regarding the Russia collusion hoax, and one or more of its lawyers or former lawyersfunny how that keeps happeningmay be witnesses at trial. Therefore Latham has multiple conflicts that should be cleared before trial, or else the firm must be disqualified from representing criminal defendant Michael Sussmann. Lathams neck-deep involvement in the Democratic Partys scandal is much less than that of the Perkins Coie firm, which started out in Seattle but is now, like Latham, global. Marc Elias, the Democratic Partys chief political lawyer, and criminal defendant Michael Sussmann are both former partners in Perkins Coie. I assume that Elias left Perkins Coie in the expectation that he will be indicted. We should be so lucky; I have wondered for quite a while why Elias, the architect of the Steele dossier and much else, is not in prison. Maybe someday he will be, but I doubt it. He is smart enough to erect a layer of plausible deniability between himself and underlings like Sussmann. And, of course, Hillary Clinton is one step further removed. She and Elias would assert attorney-client privilege as to their communications, but the privilege does not apply to plotting crimes. So I assume they didnt put anything in writing. What all of this reflects is the determination of Americas establishment to destroy Donald Trump. Our establishment includes 200 or so major, super-respectable law firms like Latham & Watkins and Perkins Coie. Pretty much all of these firms, as members of the establishment in good standing, would happily have enlisted in the anti-Trump crusade. And I think most of them, like Latham and Perkins, would have facilitated criminal conduct if that would help the Democrats cause and cement their standing with oursort ofruling class. Here is the Durham motion: A delegation of European Union officials on Saturday in Lagos held a meeting with members of the European Business Chamber Nigeria (EuroCham) to discuss opportunities and challenges of doing business in the country. The roundtable discussion was held ahead of a meeting between the EU Commission Vice President, Margrethe Vestager, and top Nigerian government officials in Abuja this week. EuroCham is a business group uniting the main European investors and corporate organisations in Nigeria. It was launched at the EU-Nigeria Business Forum in October 2018 by the EU ambassador. The meeting gave us the opportunity again to underline the fact that trade and investment are very much on top of our priorities, and they are also key priorities in the partnership between the European Union and Nigeria, said Samuela Isopi, the EU Ambassador in Nigeria. The European Union as a bloc is already Nigerias largest trading partner and also the European Union is a very important investor in Nigeria. We have European companies that have been here for a long time, that contribute to creating jobs and to the economic development of the country. European-owned businesses in Nigeria stretch from the oil sector to the non-oil area including construction, technology, food, among others. Ms Isopi said the EU would continue its dialogue with the Nigerian government on how to reinforce the economic partnership between the two entities. Because development is about the private sector, about developing the economy when I say private sector its not only to attract or help European Union companies but also create good conditions for the Nigerian private sector to be able to contribute to the development of the country, she added. The meeting afforded members of EuroCham to highlight some of the challenges their businesses face in the country. These challenges are faced by both European and Nigerian companies and the companies of any other country. So this is part of our dialogue, to see how together we can help improve the business environment and how together we can actually deal with these challenges, Ms Isopi said. Nigeria-EU trade John Taylor, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Head of Trade and Economics Section, said as Nigerias largest trading partner, the EU is committed to supporting the Nigerian government in developing its economy. When you look at the statistics produced by the National Bureau of Statistics in Nigeria you dont see that because they are collected by country, said Mr Taylor. So we have exports from Nigeria to Spain, Germany, Netherlands, France, when you add up all those countries referred to as the EU we are actually the largest trading partner. Nigerias trade with the EU consists essentially of crude oil exports to Europe and refined oil products back to the country. Mr Taylor said with Dangote Refinery beginning operation later this year, the trade volume between Nigeria and the rest of the world, especially the EU, will change drastically. That change could see a switch to non-oil trade between the two partners. When you look at non-oil trade with Nigeria, youre looking at exports from Nigeria of agricultural products and we know that the Central Bank here has played a very strong role in trying to develop certain very specific sectors like rice production in the country, Mr Taylor said. The EU is also a major exporter of agricultural products, so we need to find the right balance between EU and Nigeria to enable farmers and producers here to grow. An example of where the EU is already very active is the dairy sector. I think only a few years ago there was almost no production of dairy goods in Nigeria, and we have several European countries who are now implanted in Nigeria. So, a year or two ago they were only exporting to this country and now they are setting up factories to produce dairy products that are actually Nigerian. So, if you look on social media you will see European companies like Arla, Danone, Friesland Campagna who are setting up factories here to actually develop the sectors in the country. Mr Taylor urged the Nigerian government to improve the infrastructure in the country to enable it to attract foreign investors. Certainly, if there is a strong will here to improve the conditions for doing business, the investors of course will come in, its a wonderful market here, he said. If you want to have investments here from abroad, you also have to look at your investment environment here. And that is something that European companies are looking at very closely. We have companies here that have been here for decades but to encourage new investors to come here I think you also have to address some of the structural problems in the country. Advertisements Difficult market Earlier, Mary Ojulari, EuroCham President, noted that European businesses operate in a difficult market and the roundtable provides an avenue to come together and discuss the issues they are facing and collectively advocate for change. She said the EuroCham platform has engaged some of the most prominent European companies to assess, review, and improve their business operations through fostering relevant exchange and dialogue with stakeholders. There are countless hurdles for we investors in Nigeria ranging from ease of doing business, dealing with regulators, foreign exchange and the list goes on and on, said Ms Ojulari, deputy managing director at Weststar Associate Limited. In line with the objectives of Eurocham, we seek to actively promote trade, investments, and exchanges between European and Nigerian business and to engage central and local government, when necessary, to raise awareness or formulate recommendations on particular issues of interest or concern. Our major strength to date is advocacy, advocacy with regulators which has provided a rich opportunity for European members to get insight into policy development in the country. The local elections held in the six Area Councils of Abuja were concluded Saturday evening. The Area Councils are Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal (AMAC). The election will lead to the emergence of six chairpersons one for each area council and 62 councillors. Over 400 candidates and their running mates contested for these positions on the platforms of the 14 parties. The results from the 62 wards in the Nigerian capital have now been collated and the final results announced, by INEC, for each of the six chairmanship positions. See the final results below. PDP floors APC to win Kuje chairmanship election in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Suleman Sabo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of the February 12 Kuje Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory. Mr Sabo, the councils incumbent chairman who will now serve his second term in office, defeated the other five candidates in each of the 10 wards in the area council. He gathered a total of 13,301 votes to defeat his closest rival, Sarki Hamidu of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who secured 7,694 votes to emerge second. By this, the PDP candidate defeated the APC with a total margin of 5,607 votes. Sule Magaji, the INEC Returning Officer for the Kuje Area Council election, announced the final results on Sunday morning. Results of wards officially announced: Kuje Central (ward 01) APC- 1717 PDP-3671 Chibiri ( ward 02) APC- 1,172 PDP1,839 Gaube (ward 03) APC 1793 PDP -2,226 Kwaku ( ward 04) APC :562 Advertisements PDP :1450 Kabi (ward 05) APC- 271 PDP-433 Rubochi (ward 06) APC 1047 PDP 1506 Gwargwada (ward 07) APC- 365 PDP-583 Gudrun Karya ( ward 08) APC -420 PDP -1032 Kujekwa (ward 09) APC-76 PDP:106 Yenche ( ward 10) APC:271 PDP:455 APC wins Gwagwalada The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Jubrin Abubakar, has been declared as the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council at the Saturday Council elections. Mr Abubakar, a former chairman of the council, defeated his opponent, Mohammed Kassim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Abubakar polled 11,125 votes and was declared by the INEC Returning Officer, ID Umar as the winner of the keenly contested election. Mr Kassim of the PDP polled 9,597 votes. More details to follow Chairman (Gwagwalada) Total Total Valid Votes 21,037 Rejected Votes 739 Total Votes Cast 21,776 AAC 22 ADC 81 APC 11,125 APGA 106 APM 37 Labour 40 PDP 9,597 PRP 26 SDP 3 PDP wins Bwari Area Council The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, John Gabaya, as the Chairman-elect of Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mr Gabaya, who was re-elected for a second two-year term, defeated his closest rival, Audi Shekwolo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Gabaya scored 13,045 votes, while Mr Shekwolo had 7,697 votes, according to the INEC Returning Officer, Amochi Madu, who announced the result on Sunday morning. The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abubakar Abdullahi, polled 603 votes to come a distant third position. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Saturday elections were held across the 68 wards/constituencies spread across Bwari, Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Council (AMAC) area councils of the FCT. A total of 473 candidates sponsored by 14 political parties took part in the elections. See the official result declared for Bwari below. Chairman Bwari Area Council Result Total valid vote 21,990 Total Rejected voted 456 Total Vote cast 22,646 Total number of Registered votes 23,1215 Total number of Accredited voters 22,706 FCTDecides2022: PDP floors APC to win AMAC chairmanship election The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the just concluded chairmanship election for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Christopher Zakka (Maikalangu) of the PDP defeated his closest rival, Murtala Karshi (Yamarayi) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), and 10 others, to win the election. PREMIUM TIMES reports that Mr Zakka polled 19,302 votes while Mr Karshi secured 13,249 votes. AMAC, arguably the most cosmopolitan of the six area councils in Abuja, has 12 wards and includes the city centre of the Nigerian capital. The PDP won in 10 wards while the APC won in only two. The results for AMAC were officially declared by the INEC Returning Officer, Sani Saka. By securing AMAC, the PDP has now won in three of the four area councils whose final results had been declared as of 11:55 a.m. on Sunday. The others won by the PDP are Kuje and Bwari. The APC has so far won in Gwagwalada Area Council. Below are the final results of the 12 wards in AMAC Area Council. AMAC CHAIRMANSHIP WARD NYANYA APC -1,199 PDP 1,861 ACCREDITED VOTERS 3,301 REGISTERED VOTERS 53,237 WARD JIWA APC -1,224 PDP 1,429 ACCREDITED VOTERS 2,831 REGISTERED VOTERS 43,572 WARD GUI APC -834 PDP 1,606 WARD KARSHI APC -1,477 PDP 180 ACCREDITED VOTERS 1,678 REGISTERED VOTERS 13,943 WARD GWAGWA APC -1,158 PDP 1,624 ACCREDITED VOTERS 2,952 REGISTERED VOTERS 39,960 WARD OROZO APC -335 PDP 674 ACCREDITED VOTERS 1,051 REGISTERED VOTERS 30,417 WARD CITY CENTER APC -1,093 PDP 1,137 ACCREDITED VOTERS 2,360 REGISTERED VOTERS 74,245 WARD GARKI APC -914 PDP 2,983 ACCREDITED VOTERS 4,385 REGISTERED VOTERS 86,109 WARD KARU APC -863 PDP 1,848 ACCREDITED VOTERS 2,857 REGISTERED VOTERS 59,485 WARD GWARINPA APC -2,086 PDP 2,609 ACCREDITED VOTERS 4,953 REGISTERED VOTERS 99,384 WARD WUSE APC -933 PDP 857 ACCREDITED VOTERS 1,897 REGISTERED VOTERS 88,070 WARD KABUSA APC 1,124 PDP 2,494 ACCREDITED VOTERS 4,154 REGISTERED VOTERS 71,448 TOTAL APC 13,240 PDP 19,302 #FCTDecides2022: APC wins in Kwali The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Kwali Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory. Danladi Chiya of the APC defeated his closest rival, Haruna Pai of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to win the keenly contested election. The INEC Returning Officer for Kwali Area Council, Wesley Daniel, who made the announcement, said Mr Chiya polled 7,646 votes while Mr Pai garnered 7,345 votes, a difference of 301 votes. Mr Chiya, the councils incumbent chairman, will now serve his second term in office. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the APC candidate won in nine of the ten wards in the area council. He had earlier promised to continue with his mandate of infrastructural development in the area council. With the announcement, the APC has now won in two of the announced five area councils in Abuja, after winning the election in Gwagwalada. The PDP has won in AMAC, Bwari and Kuje. See the results of some of the wards in Kwali below. Ashara APC 632 PDP 616 Kilankwa APC 635 PDP 508 Kundu APC 286 PDP 430 Yangoji APC 1234 PDP 1163 Yebu. APC 536 PDP 426 #FCTDecides2022: APC wins Abaji but no candidate can be declared winner INEC The electoral commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the chairmanship election in Abaji Area Council of Abuja. However, due to a legal tussle over who the authentic candidate of the APC is, none of the partys aspirants will be declared winner of the election, INEC said. PREMIUM TIMES reported how local elections were held in Abaji and the other five area councils in Abuja on Saturday. The APC had earlier won the chairmanship election in Gwagwalada and Kwali area councils while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in AMAC, Bwari and Kuje. The victory for the APC in Abaji makes it three apiece for Nigerias two major parties although a total of 14 parties took part in the area council elections. The Abaji debacle for APC On Sunday, the INEC Returning Officer for Abaji Area Council, Gabriel Mordi, said it will not be legitimate to declare any of the APC aspirants as the winner of the election. We cannot declare a candidate winner in Abaji because the winning party does not have a candidate here, the case is still in court, he said. He said a winner will be announced after the Supreme Court decision in the coming weeks. In the election, the APC scored 7,280 votes to defeat Hahaha Garba of the PDP, who polled 4,063 votes. A total of 11,522 voters were accredited in the local government for the poll. Out of these, 11,390 were counted as valid votes while 107 were rejected votes. The APC Controversy An APC aspirant, Muhammad Loko, had been declared the winner of the April 23, 2021, chairmanship primary in the area His name was controversially substituted by the APC with that of Umar Abdullahi who was later recognised by INEC as the partys flag bearer until recently. Dissatisfied with this, Mr Loko approached an FCT High Court in Gudu district. The court on November 16, 2021, ruled in his favour and sacked Mr Abdullahi. The latter appealed the ruling. However, the appeal court in January affirmed Mr Loko as the APC chairmanship candidate for the February 12 poll in Abaji. Mr Abdullahi appealed to the Supreme Court whose ruling on the matter is now being awaited. It is based on this that INEC refused to declare any of the candidates the winner despite the APCs victory. At least 42 people were killed in various attacks by non-state actors across Nigeria last week (February 6-12). About 11 of those killed were security personnel including 10 police officers and one soldier. The others were civilians. The figure signifies a slight decline when compared to the previous week when at least 45 persons were killed. All the killings were reported in three of Nigerias six regions: South-west, South-East and North-west. PREMIUM TIMES compiled the incidents from media reports. Thus, unreported cases are not included. Below are the recorded incidents: North-west At least 13 people were killed and many others abducted by bandits in attacks they carried out between Monday night and Tuesday morning in three communities in Katsina State. The three communities, Guga, Gidan Kanawa and Dukawa, are in the Bakori and Funtua local government area, all in the southern part of the state, sharing boundaries with Kaduna. Also in Katsina, gunmen suspected to be bandits killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) during an attack on Jibia town in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State. The slain security operative, Abdulkarim Rano, was until his death the officer in charge of the Divisional Police Headquarters in Jibia. A soldier and one other person were also killed in the attack but their identities could not be ascertained. In Zamfara State, five residents of Rogoji in Bakura Local Government Area were 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, about the bandits, to security agents and vigilantes. South-west Gunmen in military camouflage killed a businessman, Femi Oso, at Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr Oso was killed at his filling station, Osofem Oil and Gas, at NITEL bus stop at around 10 p.m. on Sunday. In Oyo State, six persons including two police officers allegedly lost their lives as armed robbers attacked a bullion van at the Idi ape area of Ibadan. Witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that the criminals attacked the bullion van when it stopped before a traffic light. South-east Suspected cultists, on Tuesday, killed seven people during an attack at Mmaahu community in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, South-east Nigeria. The police spokesperson in the state, Michael Abattam, who confirmed this in a statement Wednesday afternoon, said the masked gunmen, numbering about 20, were led by one Ossy, an escapee from the Imo State correctional centre, Owerri, the state capital. In Enugu, there was palpable tension in the metropolis on Thursday afternoon as gunmen killed three policemen at a checkpoint in the state. The incident was said to have happened around 1:20 pm at a police checkpoint near Ulumalinda Estate by Maryland suburb of the Enugu South Local Government Area of the state. Barely two days after the three officers were killed, another team of four policemen on stop-and-search duty at the outskirts of Enugu metropolis were shot dead by armed hoodlums. The incident happened at about 3 p.m. on Saturday, at Obeagu community along Amaechi-Ekeotu-Agbani Town Road; leaving the road deserted till 7 p.m. Way forward As part of the measures to check the rising insecurity across the nation, the Nigerian police called for legislation that would compel private citizens, including government agencies and corporate organisations, to install CCTV cameras and security sensors on their facilities. Advertisements READ ALSO: 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 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 that 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. Mr Baba said officers must embrace intelligence-driven approaches towards effective policing of the nation. Governor Udom Emmanuel said the Akwa Ibom State Government has been taken to court by witches for building a Christian worship centre in the state. The multi-billion naira worship centre which is ongoing in Uyo has been criticised by many who felt it would have been better to use the money to tackle the many development needs of the oil-rich state. But Mr Emmanuel has always argued that it was necessary for Akwa Ibom, as a state named after God, to build a temple for God. All (the) witches and wizards came together and took me to court that we are building a Christian Worship Center, the governor said on Saturday at a media chat that was broadcast live on radio and television. The programme was also streamed live on Facebook. They say they are atheists. The case is in the court, we won them but they have appealed, the governor added. Mr Emmanuel, who recently hand-picked one of his cabinet members as his preferred successor in the 2023 governorship election, was responding to a reporters question if God truly revealed to him his successor as he claimed. While answering the question, he veered off to talk about how witches sued him and the government. Communication between a leader and God is different from what any other person would see or understand, people must understand that, Mr Emmanuel said about God revealing who should succeed him as governor. The governors remark about witches appeared to have overshadowed all the other things he said about his administration, as several people from the state took to Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to talk about witches. One of Mr Emmanuels aides, Aniekeme Finbarr, quickly took to Facebook to offer clarifications to the governors remarks. Mr Finbarr said Mr Emmanuel was referring to a lawsuit filed by the Atheist Society of Nigeria against the Akwa Ibom State Government in 2019 to stop the government from building the worship centre. The court had dismissed the suit and awarded a N500,000 cost against the atheist society. It sounds extremely funny but it is true. There are actually real legal attempts to stop the building project, Mr Finbarr said. According to Nigerias criminal law, it is an offence to accuse any person of being a witch. Akwa Ibom, with an estimated population of over 5 million, is predominantly Christian, with many holding superstitious beliefs and attributing almost every occurrence, including ill-health, job loss, and a failed marriage, to some evil forces. Many children in the state, mostly from poor families, have been branded witches, kicked out into the street, while some have been tortured and left to die. The much anticipated decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on whether to commence an indefinite strike action or offer another lifeline to the Nigerian government will be taken at another meeting of the national executive council (NEC) members scheduled to commence by 12 midnight on Sunday. The meeting, which is tagged NEC for NEC, is an extension of an ongoing two-day meeting of NEC members which has been reviewing the positions of each of the branches of the union on the sensitive matter of whether to declare industrial action or not. The NEC meeting, which commenced on Saturday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, was a follow-up to earlier public engagement and sensitisation congress meetings of the various branches which necessitated declaration of lecture-free periods across the various campuses. The union had earlier hinted it would communicate its decision to the media on Monday. A source among the leadership of the union on Friday informed some journalists to be prepared for an impromptu briefing by the union on Monday. Meeting venue changed abruptly Meanwhile, the ongoing NEC meeting, which had commenced on Saturday at the Ade Ajayi Auditorium in UNILAG, was abruptly relocated to Tayo Aderinokun Lecture Hall near the universitys guest house on Sunday over what a reliable source described as the fear of bugging of the auditorium by secret agents of the Nigerian government. You know the matter at hand is very sensitive and ASUU has been very careful. So it got information that the venue had been bugged over night and had to relocate to another venue to continue its meeting on Sunday. It is a serious thing. But the final decision will be taken by midnight today (Sunday), a member of ASUU who does not want to be quoted told our reporter on Sunday evening. The source added that it was clear that the majority of the members of NEC had opted for the declaration of an indefinite strike action, citing what he termed the poor commitment of the government to the unions demands. ASUUs demands One of the lingering issues between the government and the union include renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which ASUU believed ought was meant be reviewed every three years. However, nine months after the renegotiation concluded in May 2021, ASUU said the government has refused to sign and implement the contents of the renegotiated agreement. Also on the list is the stalled adoption of University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) in replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) that is currently in use for the payment of the union members salaries. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had in December said the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) gave positive feedback on UTAS but that there are little observations to be addressed. However, ASUU alleged that the IPPIS is found to be marred with irregularities. ASUU is also demanding the regulation of the proliferation of state-owned universities by governors who it alleges owe staff salaries and payment of university subventions, leaving the universities with failing infrastructures. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks at a rally in Epworth, Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) by Tafara Mugwara HARARE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday launched the ruling ZANU-PF party's campaign for the hotly contested legislative and municipal by-elections scheduled for March 26 and outlined ZANU-PF's development roadmap. There will be 133 by-elections due for National Assembly and local authority seats, most of which fell vacant following the recall of Members of Parliament and councilors by the opposition MDC-T party. The ruling party, led by Mnangagwa, will square off against the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa and other small parties. Addressing thousands of his supporters at a rally in Epworth, south of the capital Harare, Mnangagwa promised the residents of the informal settlement that the government will grant title deeds for their properties, adding that a more orderly process will be arranged for the issuance of the documents. Some residents in the impoverished settlement had been living in the area for decades with no proper documentation. "Once you get hold of your title deed, you have security for your land. It becomes your inheritance. This will ultimately do away with land barons. So we are in this process of regularizing settlements as well as issuing title deeds," Mnangagwa said. A lack of proper planning had hampered development and the provision of basic amenities such as water, sewers and power in Epworth. In its 2018 electoral campaign, the ZANU-PF promised to deliver at least 1.5 million affordable housing units in five years. Mnangagwa applauded his government's efforts in reviving the industry, saying up to 75 percent of products in the country's supermarkets are locally made. In addition, he said his government was pursuing various development programs across the countryside, mentioning a dam construction and a solar-powered borehole for clean water and food security. Furthermore, Mnangagwa said the country is moving towards total use of a local currency, saying no country has ever developed by adopting other countries' currencies. A Harare resident, 35-year-old Ephraim Chizola, expects the ZANU-PF to win resoundingly in the coming elections as he believes that the ruling party is fulfilling its development goals. "If you look in any direction you are positively going to see an activity that the government is doing. It's either there is a school being built. It's either there is a hospital that is being opened," he said. ZANU-PF is aiming to wrestle urban constituencies from the opposition which has a huge following there. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa (L, front) speaks at a rally in Epworth, Harare, Zimbabwe, Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, alongside Governors Nasir El-Rufai, (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) were amongst digintaries that attended the burial of a grandson of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Hassan Danbaba, on Saturday in Sokoto. The 51 years old Mr Danbaba, who held the traditional title of Magajin Garin Sokoto, slumped and died in Kaduna Saturday afternoon, according to family sources. Leading the funeral prayers, the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Musque, Muhammad Akwara, said death is inevitable for all mortals, and appealed to people to make their paths right with Allah while alive. The remains of Mr Dambaba were laid to rest according to Islamic rites at Binaci, a few steps away from the Sultans palace at the family cementary of Magajin Garis. Reacting to the death, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, expressed grief over the sad incidence. Mr Wamakko described late Mr DanBaba as a distinguished gentleman and a respected traditional ruler that has contributed immensely to the development of Sokoto Caliphate and Nigeria in general. He said with his death, Sokoto Caliphate has lost a father and a respected leader. Mr Wamakko, whose condolence message was relayed through his spokesperson, Hassan Sanyinnawal, said Mr Danbaba lived a life of service to the caliphate, Nigeria and humanity. The new collection of poetry by Nigerias preeminent poet laureate, Niyi Osundare, GREEN: Sighs of Our Ailing Planet, will feature in a Reading/Signing session on February 20, 2022. Jointly organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) and Roving Heights Bookstores, the session titled, An Evening with Professor Niyi Osundare, will have the poet laureate reading sections from the collection before a live audience that would converge at the Roving Heights outlet at Plot 2&3, Water Corpo-ration Drive, Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The time is 4 p.m. There will also be a virtual broadcast of the event, according to the organisers. Released in January, the anthology, published by Commonwealth Books in conjunction with Black Widow Press is a compilation of poems reflecting on the environment and the current spate of odds and challenges facing its survival, especially with the perennial disrespect visited on it by humans. Inspired by the spate of environmental crises hitting the world, from the Amazon wildfire to the desert encroachment in North Africa to the shrinking of the Lake Chad basin in his home country Nigeria, the collection urges readers to reflect on the endangered beauty of nature. Of all my 20-something books of poetry, none has confronted me with a more challenging combination of the urgency of content and complexity of execution than this new one, said Osundare, professor emeritus currently at the New Orleans University. Said Osundare, I daresay the existential imperative of its content has been responsible for the pain that came with its composition and the uneasy relief I now feel upon its completion. READ ALSO: Niyi Osundare becomes first African Cover Poet for World Poetry magazine There is something deeply spiritual, almost religious, about the mission and the message of the poems, and the many ways they have turned out to be denizens of that vital interface between the ecological and the cosmic. Osundare, widely revered for his lyrical lines and verses, and about the most laureated poet of his generation, has published over 18 collections, four plays, a book of essays, numerous monographs and articles as well as over 70 journals and magazines across the world. He has received many prizes and awards, including the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) prize, the Cadbury/ANA Prize (twice), the Commonwealth poetry prize, the Noma Award, Tchicaya U Tamsi prize for African poetry (Africas highest poetry award), among others. The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) says it has introduced induction programmes to address areas of friction between chief executives and board members in federal establishments. Dasuki Arabi, the director-general of the Bureau, said this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja. He said that the essence of the initiative was to make both parties understand their red and green lights. We have understood over time that quite a number of either the chief executives or the board members are appointed from outside the public service. They have never come across the public service, so when they come in they need to be trained. Hence, we came up with this initiative which has been approved by the Federal Government and it has been institutionalised. And in the cause of doing this work, we come across quite a number of problems and issues between chief executives and board members. As a result of what we are doing, quite a number of the issues are resolved and we have drawn the attention of the Federal Government to some of the challenges which are being addressed. The director-general further explained that the emphasis was on them to understand that the privilege they got was an opportunity for them to serve the citizens. And, they are representing the president and their states. So if they come in as board members and they are not doing what they are supposed to do, they will be disappointing both the government and their citizens, Mr Arabi said. (NAN) A fire outbreak on Sunday morning destroyed shops and goods, worth million of Naira, at the popular Atakumosa Market, Ilesa, Osun State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The combined team of the Osun and Federal Fire Services were able to control the fire from spreading, while police officers provided security and prevented looting at the market. The Osun Fire Service Spokesperson, Ibrahim Adekunle, said that the fire started at about 2.15 a.m. and that only 12 shops were affected by the inferno. At exactly 2.15 a.m., we were notified of a fire outbreak at shops attached to the post office within Atakunmosa market, Ereja Square, Ilesa. We sprang into action and put out the fire to prevent it from spreading to nearby areas. Within 30 minutes of our arrival, we were able to put the fire under control. A roll of shops, comprising 12 units, were, however, severely damaged by the fire, Adekunle said. He said no human casualties were recorded during the incident and that the fire is suspected to have started due to electrical surge. He, however, said that investigation would be carried out to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak. NAN reports that an overnight fire outbreak equally destroyed this same Atakumosa Market in February 2020, with goods worth millions of Naira destroyed and the market was closed for months by the state government. President George Weah of Liberia has conferred award of Distinguished Service Order of the Republic of Liberia on some Nigerian Army senior officers at the nations 65th Armed Forces Celebration. The Director, Army Public Relations Officer, Onyema Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, in a statement on Saturday, said the award was in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the Liberian Armed Forces. Mr Nwachukwu said that the Liberian President made the presentation during the 65th Armed Forces of Liberia Day Celebration held on Friday at the Barclay Training Centre, Camp Johnson Road, Monrovia, Liberia. He quoted President Weah as saying that the Liberian government gave the awards annually to individuals whose outstanding contribution had significantly impacted the growth and development of Liberia, its armed forces and humanity. Mr Nwachukwu said the awardees also got a letter of commendation from the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, Godfrey Odudigbo, for making Nigeria proud. He said the award was conferred on the senior officers, who were seconded to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) at different times, as part of ECOWAS Advisory Training Team. According to him, the awardees contributed immensely to the building and restructuring of the new AFL. The officers who benefitted from the awards are, Col. Aminu Usman Gumel, Col. Gbenga Oyinwola, Col. Emmanuel Chukwu, Col. Ismaila Sule and Lt.-Col. Abdulkadir Abubakar. Other awardees were drawn from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and USA, he said. The army spokesperson said that Gbenga Oyinwola received the awards and letters of commendation on behalf of the recipients. He said that Mr Oyinwola expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya, a lieutenant-general, for the opportunity to have served Nigeria in their various capacities. He stated further that the award will motivate the recipients to be more productive in their service to the Nigerian Army and the nation, the spokesperson said. (NAN) The government of the United Kingdom says it will send advisors to Nigeria to share knowledge on community policing towards tackling insecurity in the West African country. Vicky Ford, UK Minister for Africa, disclosed this in an interview with AriseNews on Sunday. Ms Ford said: What we know in UK and in Nigeria is that to keep civilians safe, you need to have effective, accountable, transparent community policing and that is part of the work that we would be doing through sending advisors to share experiences to help the Nigerian police forces adapt so that they will be able to respond to incidents in a more timely and more effective manner. She said this will also help the Nigerian police roll out community policing especially in areas that have seen conflict. These are areas Nigerians have identified issues that they would like help with and we can then bring in that support and share experiences, Ms Ford said. She said this is not the UK telling Nigeria how to do things but Nigeria identifying areas the UK can support them. The UK has a strategy across Africa to work with countries to form partnerships, to help create freer; safer; greener; more prosperous culture and we see Nigeria as an absolutely key partner in that, she said. According to Ms Ford, Nigeria is really important for its own stability and also for the work they are doing for regional stability and security. Insecurity in Nigeria and West Africa also impacts security which is why we want to work with Nigeria as a trusted friend and partner, she stated. She said officials are already working together on issues of terrorist threats and how to share UKs lessons on community policing to improve security across Nigeria. Ms Ford also said the security partnership is not a financial deal when Arise correspondent asked if the intervention was paid for. Commenting on the #EndSARS white paper issued by the Lagos State government, she noted that the white paper raised more questions than answers. Obviously the white paper raised lots of questions, it raised questions on the role of the federal police and that of the military and those are questions that the federal government needs to look at and address. She said the UK believes in the importance of transparency and accountability and would love to see that reflect. It is really important that civilians have the right transparency to understand when things have gone wrong, what has gone wrong and that people can be held to account if there has been situations where the police or other forces have not acted in a way that they should have, Ms Ford said. She added that the UK is watching closely to see that this happens. Nigerian National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, two weeks ago, engaged his United Kingdom counterpart, Stephen Lovegrove, in a dialogue on a range of issues, including counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime, civilian policing and human rights. Also, Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, and the UK Chief of Defence Staff, Tony Radakin, held separate talks on military cooperation. According to a statement from the British High Commission, titled Nigeria-UK hold Security and Defence Partnership Dialogue in London this week, the dialogue, is taking place at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office headquarters at King Charles Street, London. The three days-long dialogue was the first of its kind since both countries formed the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in 2018. The partnership signed between President Muhammadu Buhari and former British Prime Minister, Theresa May, was aimed at helping Nigeria end the Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa (ISWAP) insurgency that has lasted over a decade. The Nigerian government has compared the blockade by truckers in Canada protesting COVID-19 mandates and restrictions to the 2020 #EndSARS protest that rocked major cities in Nigeria. Speaking through the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, the federal government accused the Canadian government of double standards as they called for an end to the blockade caused by the truckers. Recall, gentlemen, that during the EndSars protest, which culminated in the blockage of public roads and massive destruction of government and private property, Canada was one of the countries that spoke out in support of the protesters, Mr Mohammed said. He added that the Nigerian government was not gloating over the unfortunate development in Canada but only calling attention to the double standard involved in the way protesters deemed to be violent are perceived in Nigeria and in the West. Mr Mohammed in a direct attack on media houses and journalists who extensively reported the #EndSARS protest, said: I am sure you journalists are watching with keen interest the events unfolding in Canada, where truckers are protesting over Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions. In an attempt to compare both events, Mr Mohammed said those who referred to the hoodlums who destroyed public and private property in Nigeria under the guise of EndSars as peaceful protesters have tagged similar protesters in their own countries as insurrectionists and terrorists. This glaring double standard should not be lost on all Nigerians. Parallels between #EndSARS and truckers blockade in Canada Meanwhile, the two events are parallel to each other. While the #EndSARS protest was against police brutality which the Nigerian government acknowledged on several occasions, instructing an overhaul of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) which had been indicted for various extra judicial killings in the country, the truckers blockade in Canada is a protest against COVID-19 vaccination requirements for truckers crossing the U.S-Canada border. The Canadian Anti-Hate Network has reported in detail that the convoy was organised by known far-right figures. A report by Al Jazeera says about 85 per cent of the drivers are vaccinated, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, an industry body that does not condone the protests. Unlike the #EndSARS protest where deaths were recorded (a consensus has yet to be reached on the number), no death has been recorded in Canada as a result of the protest. During the protest in Nigeria, the state attacked protesters using state agencies, including journalists on duty; the police in Canada only forcibly removed protesters on the order of the court. Note that the court gave ample time to the protesters to remove themselves from the border. The Canadian protesters, who have blockaded roads and resorted to inconveniencing others, have been branded as terrorists or insurrectionists and subjected to a number of clampdowns by government and private organisations. Mr Mohammed claimed the crowdfunding company GoFundMe has shut down the campaign to raise funds for the truckers, after they raised over US$10m, Twitter has suspended the truckers account while the Ontario government has frozen access to millions of dollars donated through online fundraising platform GiveSendGo to the protesters. Recall also that Twitter actively supported the EndSars protesters and even helped them to raise funds while GoFundMe was used to raise funds for the protests. These are the same entities that are now rushing to distance themselves from the protesters in Canada and even denying them the use of their platforms, he said PREMIUM TIMES found that GoFundMe removed the fundraiser on the basis of reported violence and other harmful activity by local authorities which violates its rules. It said it will automatically refund donations to donors. 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, the crowdfunding company said in a statement. Although the government of Ontario, using a court order, restricted access to funds raised on GiveSendGo, the Christian crowdfunding platform expressed its intentions to defy the government 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, it said. The platform added that the funds from the Freedom Convoy are not frozen contrary to what you might be hearing on the news. GiveSendGo is working with many different campaign organizers to find the most effective legal ways to continue funds flowing. According to Newsweek, a Twitter spokesperson said the account was permanently suspended for violating the platforms rule. The account you referenced has been permanently suspended for violating the Twitter Rules on ban evasion. Advertisements This includes making a new account to serve the same purpose as an account that has been suspended. Mr Mohammed used the opportunity to make a case for the regulation of social media which has on several occasions been rejected by Nigerians. this also explains why we have continued to insist on the regulation of social media to ensure responsible content. In this area, I can confidently say we are far ahead of most countries in the world, who have now realized that social media must be regulated in the interest of their own people. This is similar to what played out during the January 6th 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol In Washington, D.C. where those involved are either still being investigated or have been charged to court. I dont blame them. Nobody wants their country destroyed under the guise of protests, he added. He also claimed that the country has become a global trailblazer on its negotiations with Twitter which led to the lifting of the seven months ban on the platform after it deleted President Muhammadu Buharis tweet for violating the platforms rules. The minister said Nigerians must not allow anyone to destroy the country under the guise of protest or unbridled freedoms. We all must put Nigeria first at all times,he said. About Canada truckers protest Canada has required essential service providers previously exempt from vaccination requirements, including truck drivers, to be fully vaccinated to cross the land border from the U.S Unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers entering Canada will need to meet requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day 8 testing, as well as quarantine requirements, it said. In response to the mandate, a group which referred to themselves as the Freedom Convoy, a convoy of anti-vaccine Canadian truckers and their supporters, made their way to the countrys capital, Ottawa. However, observers and experts have pointed out that some organisers of the event, as well as some of its most vocal backers, have espoused anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and racist views. According to Al Jazeera, Canadian Anti-Hate Network, a non-profit that monitors hate groups, said: the Freedom Convoy is nothing but a vehicle for the far-right. The truckers also took the blockade to Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor to the U.S. city to Detroit and have slowed or halted border transit, causing parts shortages that shut down car plants in both the United States and Canada. On Friday, a judge in the province issued an injunction ordering truckers to clear the international bridge by 7 p.m.local time (midnight GMT). Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a stern warning to protesters who have set up truck blockades to express their opposition to government mandates regarding COVID-19, saying, Weve heard you. Its time to go home now. You dont want to end up losing your license, end up with a criminal record, which will impact your job, your livelihood, even your ability to travel internationally, including to the US, Mr Trudeau said Friday. The Media Is a Powerful Force Dr Erwin Lutzer was right when he said, After God died in the nineteenth century, man died in the twentieth century. For when God is dead, man becomes an untamed beast. It would therefore take an individual who considers God as dead to resort to killing another person for money making rituals. God cant be alive in the heart of such a fellow. One of the most powerful tools used by Hitler in shaping the consciences of the Germans in preparation for his reign of terror was the media. Hitler was so good with the media that his administration invested so much money and efforts on resources and personnel that would galvanize the passion of the citizens towards his totalitarian state agenda. In fact, it was Dr Erwin Lutzer in one of his accounts of the rise of Hitler in Germany who also said, and I quote, Hitlers speeches, broadcast on radio and propaganda movies were persuasive. It is chilling to think of what Hitler could have done if he could have used todays media to gain followers. The Media Has Enormous Power To Shape Values That is how powerful the media can be in shaping values in the minds of citizens, and most importantly, in the minds of youths. Further, history tells us that at the root of the widespread hatred between the two opposing tribes in the nation of Rwanda, was the media. Scholars say that the media set the stage for the Rwandan genocide by spreading hate against the Tutsi community. And in every nation of the world, the role of the media in shaping and or triggering public opinions cannot be underestimated. For the last three years, I have been speaking and writing about the escalating menace of collapsed value systems in Nigeria, a situation that has now galvanized emotions and public sentiments towards the monster of money rituals. The sad thing about this horrific menace is that it has captured virtually all sectors of the Nigeria state, and sadly, the church cannot also be excluded. And this is what makes the situation more regrettable. It Is Saddening That Values Has Collapsed In Our Great Nation Every nation is a reflection of her dominant value systems. And for a nation to get to a point where money ritual is the most laudable avenue for financial empowerment for the youths is the height of value system collapse. On its own part, the media in Nigeria have been badly politicized, and polarized, and for the most part, the messages being churned out to the public from what is supposed to be a noble entity, are to a large extent, the enablers of greed and covetousness in the society. The Media Can Transform Nigeria It would interest every keen observer like myself to know that gone are the days in Nigeria when the media were favoured to play host to the music of great men and women like Christy Essien, Sony Okosun, Funmi Adams, Bongo Sikwe and a host of other fine gentlemen and women whose songs stood on the pedestal of value system transformation. Recently, I stumbled at one of my favourite songs of Christy Essien, Ife (Love) and I was just too stunned to draw any comparison between her content and what is playing out on our media platforms today. Today, the reverse is the case. Majority of the most celebrated artists in Nigeria, as of today, are drug addicts, sex perverts, baby daddies and baby mummies, and appendages of corrupt politicians, whose lives mirror nothing short of reckless pursuit of money through hook or crook. Consequently, most of the lyrics of their sons unsurprisingly skewed to the direction of poor values and quick money-making tendencies. What then do you want the youths to do when they are constantly bombarded and captivated by songs that escalate in them the passion for quick money and sudden wealth? And most importantly is the current role being played by movie and theatre practitioners on the platform of what is popularly called, Nollywood. Is Nollywood Effecting Positive Change In Nigeria? Widely regarded as one of the largest movie industries in the world, the Nigerian Nollywood industry has produced some of the greatest thespians in the African movie space, both in the English and Yoruba genre. I wont be quick to dismiss the incredible contributions of many honest and gifted Nigerians in this industry, across all racial divide, whose works have graced the TV screens of our homes from the 1960s till date. Gone are the days when we all stayed glued to our screens to glean wisdom from series like Checkmate, Village Headmaster, Cockcrow at Dawn, the Masquerade, and many other weekly series of playlets and dramas, both in the English and Yoruba genre. And following these historical seasons was the outbreak of mainstream home videos that helped many Nigerian families in no small ways to stay bonded, together. However, things seem to have spiralled beyond the scope of decency when these same home video platforms threw caution to the winds through the release of contents that began to promote indecency, ritual killings, money rituals, violence, prostitution and so many other morally bankrupt contents. It was from these recent contents that many of our youths began to model their ungodly appetite for violence, greed, discontentment, and covetousness, all of which formed the satanic desire for quick wealth through money rituals. The Media Can Be Used To Change the Negative Narrative The media are extremely powerful platforms for shaping the values of a nation. It was John Whitehead who said, the media do more than affect public opinion, they alter the consciences and worldviews of entire generations. And for a nation like Nigeria, the media, aside from the other enablers to be discussed later, have done enormous damage to the psychological wellbeing of the average Nigerian, the youths being the worst hit. Thus, if Nigeria would stem the tide of the escalating evil of money rituals among her youths in particular, stakeholders with conscience, and especially those with superior values must rise up with unity of purpose to review, reorganize and rebrand the nations media industry to reflect sound moral values. This cannot be achieved as a unilateral goal. First, specific policies that are ably enabled by government legislations must be enacted to drive home this point, no greed promoting content must be allowed on any Nigerian media platform: radio or TV or newspapers. Second, well-meaning investors with a heart for the transformation of Nigeria must stop complaining about this money ritual menace. If theyve got the money, they must arise and look in the direction of mass investment in new media platforms that would be dedicated to providing contents that promote hard-work, creativity, ingenuity, patience, and every other positive moral standard in the society. This change may not happen overnight, but at least, for the next generation, the generation of our children, there would be hope that they would live through a society with a media that promote sound moral values. If this is the case, I am more than certain that many youths in the coming generation will not resort to ritual killing, but to hard work. Ayo Akerele, a leadership and system development strategist and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com. It was the 19th century German Philosopher, Karl Marx who once described religion as the opium of the masses. Essentially, Karl Marx gave this assertion after observing that like opium, religion can be exploited for the good, the bad and the ugly. No doubt, the above position of the German philosopher aptly gave credence to, and reinforces the continuous manipulation of religion across many societies of the world, Nigeria inclusive. As a matter of fact, to say that Nigeria has not suffered social, economic and psychological damages due to the needless manipulation of religion is to argue vehemently against the compatibility of half a dozen and six. From North to South, East to West, at least one out of a handful of Nigerians have got an unpleasant story to tell about the after-effects of the manipulation of religion. Being in the North, Gombe is not completely immune from the clutches of religious manipulation. However historical memories reveal that despite the highly sensitive and inflammable nature of religion in the country, the perception of the citizens of Gombe and by extension the entire state regarding religious tolerance is moderately liberal. This religious tolerance played out when the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in conjunction with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Gombe State chapters organised a two-day mega crusade tagged Light Up Gombe. The purpose of the crusade was to pray for Gods mercy on the country and to commemorate the 80th birthday of a renowned gospel preacher and the General Overseer (GO) of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye. Christians from within and outside Gombe besieged the Pantami township stadium, Gombe to listen to thought-provoking and soul piercing sermons from Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church, Prophet Isa El-Buba of the El- Buba Outreach Ministries and the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye. On a general note, the clergymen were unanimous in their calls on Christians to cultivate and maintain a prayerful life especially at a time when the nation is grappling with numerous challenges. However, Pastor E.A. Adeboye prophesied that the glory of the troubled North East sub-region shall be restored. He equally has this prayer for the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. For the Governor of Gombe State, I pray that it shall be well with him and his government. Though short as it may sound, such is the kind of powerful prayer every person, let alone a government will need, particularly in a complicated society such as ours. The peaceful atmosphere that enveloped the two days Light Up Gombe Crusade was not achieved overnight but through a long term systematic plan and processes engineered by Governor Inuwa Yahaya. One of such strategies was the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation alongside other numerous physical and moral support aimed at boosting security network and apparatus in the state and guaranteeing peace, law and order. Overtime, the idea of when to worship, how to worship and where to worship have brought about suspicion, acrimony and animosity especially between the two major faiths of Islam and Christianity in the state. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had while receiving the man of God on a courtesy visit, noted that it is the prayers of clerics such as the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and others that have been sustaining Nigeria. He thanked the pastor for choosing Gombe as one of the states to visit for his reach-out campaign. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Manassah Jatau, Governor Inuwa said, With the rate at which Nigeria is filled with misfortunes of insecurity, economic hardships, one can only believe that it is the prayers of the people like Pastor Adeboye and other men of God that are sustaining the nation. Prayers can never be enough; we solicit more prayers towards sustainable peace, unity and progress of our dear state and country, he added. Indeed, the peaceful, harmonious and warm welcoming atmosphere that greeted the two days Light Up Gombe crusade was incredible and an indication that Nigerians can co-habit together irrespective of their religious affiliations. At the moment, Gombe has been described as one of the most peaceful states in the country as it recorded zero crime rate in the month of January amid critical security indices according to a report by Eons Intelligence, a media, strategic intelligence and advisory group, in its January analysis of crimes, political, economic risks and opportunities in Nigeria. The unrelenting effort of the Gombe State Government under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya towards maintaining peace and tranquility in the state has once again paid off and reinforced the much taunted Gombe as a cosmopolitan state where all men and women of goodwill, good conscience are welcome for the social, economic and spiritual benefits of all. A non-governmental organization, Glow Up, on Saturday launched Aburo mi, a mentorship initiative to bridge the skill gap between industry leaders and orphans. The event was held in Lagos and was in partnership with Divine Heritage Orphanage Centre located in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. At least ten girls were selected from the orphanage to participate in the programme and connect with their appropriate mentors. GLOW UP, set up in 2018, stands for Girls Ladies Orphans Women, United (for) Progress. Through this initiative, the team aims to forge partnerships that will help meet the broader objective of empowering girls, especially in orphanage homes. While speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the UK-based founder, Kemi Adetu, said the NGO has impacted almost 1,000 lives in Lagos and Johannesburg, South Africa. This was birthed from several programmes that we did at large and I just thought to myself that these girls come, they learn so much but there is no support but there is no continuity in what they are doing, she said. Im a product of multiple mentorships and they made me the woman that I am today. She said the programmes would focus on career, academics, personal development and entrepreneurship. Im hoping that the mentees of today will become the mentors of tomorrow. Aburo mi is a one-on-one mentoring programme. It is literally hand-holding, thats why I called it the Aburo mi programme like my little sister, Im taking your hand and helping you in this journey to success, she said. She said she chose to focus on females because they are being stereotyped compared to the boy child and I noticed in a programme we did, the boys were more confident than the girls. Even though there is stunted growth as orphans, it is emphasised as women. READ ALSO: She said there is a tablet donation for the children and the orphanage home has been provided with internet specifically for the programme to connect with their mentors monthly. However, Ebuoluwatoyin Idowu, a partner of the initiative, said she has been running her orphanage home since 2013. She said the group has been in touch with the orphans, adding that their major challenge has been accessing funds. Bola Gidado, one of the mentors, said she decided to join the initiative to be a positive influence in the lives of the young generation. JAKARTA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Eleven people were killed after being swept by tidal waves into the sea from the southern coast of Indonesia's East Java province on Sunday, said a local disaster management official. The accident occurred at about 00:25 a.m. local time on Sunday when 23 people were conducting a traditional ritual at the Payangan beach in Jember district, Head of Operation Unit of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency in East Java Budi Santosa said. "Suddenly, tidal waves came and swept them into the sea. It was at the southern coast of Java island, and the waves are huge. They had been forbidden to do such activity," he told Xinhua by phone. Twelve others survived from the accident, he added. MOSCOW, Feb. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sputnik V is playing the key role in the vaccination campaign in Mexico's capital with over 3 million citizens of Mexico City already administered the Russian vaccine. The first component of Sputnik V (Sputnik Light) is also increasingly used in the city's revaccination campaign as a booster. Sputnik V accounts for 40 percent of all COVID vaccines given to people in Mexico City, according to Eduardo Clark, General Director of the Digital Agency For Public Innovations (ADIP) of the City of Mexico (CDMX). (LINK: https://www.milenio.com/politica/comunidad/sputnik-v-vacuna-rusa-utilizada-cdmx-autoridades ) City of Mexico will also extend the use of the first component of Sputnik V (Sputnik Light) as a booster for 30-39 aged group from February 14. (LINK: https://noticieros.televisa.com/ultimas-noticias/cdmx-aplicara-vacuna-covid-refuerzo-astrazeneca-sputnik-personas-30-39-anos/). It had earlier started administering the one-shot Russian Sputnik Light as a booster to the 40-49 aged group. Sputnik V creates stronger and longer lasting immune response against COVID (including the Omicron variant) than many other vaccines, which is further strengthened by Sputnik Light booster. Sputnik Light is based on human adenovirus serotype 26 and is the first component of Sputnik V vaccine. Sputnik Light has been approved in more than 30 countries with a total population of over 2.5 billion and Sputnik V in 71 countries with a total population of over 4 billion people. A unique comparative study[1] conducted at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Italy by a team of 12 Italian and 9 Russian scientists led by Francesco Vaia, Director of the Spallanzani Institute and Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya Center has shown that Sputnik V vaccine demonstrates more than 2 times higher titers of virus neutralizing antibodies to Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant than 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine (2.1 times higher in total and 2.6 times higher 3 months after vaccination). The study was conducted in the equal laboratory conditions on comparable sera samples from individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V and Pfizer with a similar level of IgG antibodies and virus neutralizing activity (VNA) against Wuhan variant. Sputnik V showed significantly smaller (2.6 times) reduction of virus neutralizing activity against Omicron as compared to reference Wuhan variant than Pfizer vaccine (8.1-fold reduction for Sputnik V in contrast to 21.4-fold reduction for Pfizer vaccine). The lower efficacy of mRNA vaccines against Omicron as well as the quickly waning efficacy of mRNA vaccines against COVID can be addressed by using Sputnik Light as a universal booster. Based on the data collected by the Spallanzani Institute and results of previous studies, heterologous ("mix & match") boosting with Sputnik Light is the best solution to increase other vaccines' efficacy and extend the booster protection period as optimal adenoviral platform configuration provides better protection against Omicron and other mutations. Sputnik Light has already shown strong results used as a booster in "mix & match" trials. For example, in Argentina a combination study of Sputnik Light with vaccines produced by AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Moderna and Cansino has demonstrated that Sputnik Light induces stronger antibody and T-cell response as compared to homologous regimen (two shots of the same vaccine). The study conducted in five provinces showed each "vaccine cocktail" combination with Sputnik Light had provided a higher antibody titer on the 14th day after administering a second dose when compared to original homologous (same vaccine as first and second dose) regimens of each of the vaccines. Sputnik Light and Sputnik V and have been developed using a safe technology that has been widely studied for over 30 years and have not been associated with rare serious side effects such as myocarditis or pericarditis. The highest safety and efficacy of Sputnik V and Sputnik Light was demonstrated in more than 30 studies and real-world data publications from more than 10 countries. Sputnik V and Sputnik Light can be stored in a conventional refrigerator at +2 +8C for 6 months, making them available globally, including in remote territories, without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure. [1] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.15.22269335v1 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1698158/Russian_Direct_Invest_Fund_Logo.jpg SOURCE The Russian Direct Invest Fund (RDIF) In-Scope: Cathode binders: The binder market share growth for lithium-ion batteries by the cathode binders segment will be significant during the forecast period. The adoption of hydrophilic cathode binders is increasing rapidly due to their cost-effectiveness and less environmental impact. The lithium-ion battery industry is moving from polyvinylidene fluoride binders to hydrophilic binders due to the high cost and environmental concerns related to polyvinylidene fluoride. Out-of-Scope: Anode binders To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments Request for a FREE sample Moreover, the report also provides Value Chain Analysis which helps companies gain a competitive advantage in the market. The Value Chain of the Binder Market for Lithium-Ion Batteries includes the following core components: Inputs Operations Marketing and sales Service Support activities Innovation Highlights- Segmentation- The report extensively covers market segmentation by Type (cathode binders and anode binders), Application (power battery, energy storage battery, digital battery, and others), and Geography (APAC, North America , Europe , South America , and MEA). The report extensively covers market segmentation by Type (cathode binders and anode binders), Application (power battery, energy storage battery, digital battery, and others), and Geography (APAC, , , , and MEA). Key Companies- APV Engineered Coatings Inc., Arkema SA, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., BASF SE, DuPont de Nemours Inc., JSR Corp., Kureha Corp., Solvay SA, Targray Technology International Inc., and Zeon Corp. among others. APV Engineered Coatings Inc., Arkema SA, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., BASF SE, DuPont de Nemours Inc., JSR Corp., Kureha Corp., Solvay SA, Targray Technology International Inc., and Zeon Corp. among others. Driver- Shift of the automotive industry toward EV to drive the market. Shift of the automotive industry toward EV to drive the market. Challenge- Presence of several substitutes for lithium-ion batteries to hamper the market growth Download FREE Sample: for more additional information about the Binder Market for Lithium-Ion Batteries Vendor Insights- The binder market for lithium-ion batteries is fragmented and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. APV Engineered Coatings Inc.- The company offers Lithium-ion batteries having a diverse range of solvents with high performance binders, such as N-Methyl 2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). The company offers Lithium-ion batteries having a diverse range of solvents with high performance binders, such as N-Methyl 2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). BASF SE- The company offers products such as 2680 Licity, 2688 Licity series of battery binders. The company offers products such as 2680 Licity, 2688 Licity series of battery binders. DuPont de Nemours Inc.- The company offers products such as Texturecel Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Sodium CMC) as anode graphite binder. Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Download Free Sample Report Learn More about Key Driver & Challenge of the Market- Binder Market for Lithium-Ion Batteries Driver: Shift of the automotive industry toward EV: The objective of moving toward a sustainable ecosystem in the automotive industry has led to a spurt in demand for EVs and HEVs. Stringent regulations are being imposed, which ensure compliance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. EVs are the most suitable way of reducing the carbon footprint. They are considered a green solution for the decarbonization of the transportation sector. On average, EVs release half the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) released by conventional vehicles. The sale of EVs has been increasing steadily since 2012. To promote their sales further, governments of several countries such as China and the US are framing objectives and offering incentives in the form of monetary and non-monetary benefits. This will result in increased confidence among manufacturers and other stakeholders in future policy frameworks and investment mobilization. The increase in the sales of EVs will boost the demand for lithium-ion batteries, thereby driving the growth of the binder market for lithium-ion batteries. Binder Market for Lithium-Ion Batteries Challenge: Presence of several substitutes for lithium-ion batteries: Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in automotive, consumer electronics, and energy storage applications, mainly owing to their lightweight feature and high energy storage capacity. However, numerous lithium-ion battery substitutes are available in the market, which is likely to hamper the market growth. These batteries have applications in almost all major end-user industries, such as automotive, consumer electronics, and energy storage. Several other battery technologies are being developed for use in the automotive segment, such as solid-state and sodium batteries. Moreover, significant research and development activities are underway to develop solid-state batteries as they have a high energy density and are safer than lithium-ion batteries. Therefore, cost disadvantages and the availability of numerous substitutes affect the adoption of lithium-ion batteries, thereby hampering the growth of the binder market for lithium-ion batteries. Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Challenges mentioned in our FREE sample report . Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Customize Report- Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! Here are Some Similar Topics- Fatty Amines Market by Application and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The fatty amines market has the potential to grow by USD 904.10 million during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.60%. To get more extensive research insights: Download Free Sample Report Polymer Binder Market by Application and Geography - Global Forecast: The global polymer binders market size will grow by USD 14.21 billion at a CAGR of almost 8%. To get more extensive research insights: Download Latest Free Sample Report Binder Market for Lithium-Ion Batteries Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 24% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 1.45 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 18.71 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 61% Key consumer countries China, US, South Korea (Republic of Korea), Japan, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled APV Engineered Coatings Inc., Arkema SA, Ashland Global Holdings Inc., BASF SE, DuPont de Nemours Inc., JSR Corp., Kureha Corp., Solvay SA, Targray Technology International Inc., and Zeon Corp. 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 preview 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 COVID-19 impact on materials sector Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 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 Application Market segments Comparison by Application Power battery - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Energy storage battery - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Digital battery - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Application Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Cathode binders - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Anode binders - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 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 APV Engineered Coatings Inc. Arkema SA Ashland Global Holdings Inc. BASF SE DuPont de Nemours Inc. JSR Corp. Kureha Corp. Solvay SA Targray Technology International Inc. Zeon Corp. 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. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- REDU, Brooklyn's innovative zero-waste luxury furniture company, has announced the opening of their first interactive retail showroom on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. REDU is a sustainable furniture and design company that rescues discarded construction materials from local manufacturers and builders before they go to New York City's at-capacity landfills. The company, a minority and woman-owned business, reimagines and hand-craft these materials into unique pieces of utility and style all while creating a solution for the global economic crisis by maximizing their local supply chain. The new interactive showroom accompanies a brand-new sustainable furniture line, and combines the elements of a traditional showroom with an interactive studio. REDU has brought a piece of their Red Hook studio to the Upper East Side to invite guests to participate with live transformations in the "workshop" where they can engage in the design process; with fabrication, finishes and upholstery. "It's really incredible what we do here," says Amber Lasciak, REDU's founder. "You have to see the transformations for yourself. According to Lasciak, over half of NYC's waste is dry-construction "waste." "We have rescued approximately 28 million pounds of materials since our inception, which has saved the city an incredible amount of money." REDU is kicking off the opening of their new store with "Re B(earth)", an interactive show Inspired by the phenomena of the 'near death experience'. Lasciak likens the 'NDE' survivor stories to the journey of discarded materials that REDU rescues from landfill, imbued with a new life. REDU challenges guests to see 'trash' through this transformative new lens. REDU officially opens their doors to the public on February 16th at 6PM, and will be open Tuesday - Saturday from 12PM - 7PM. REDU's headquarters is located in Red Hook, Brooklyn and can be visited by appointment. REDU would like to thank Chashama for their generosity in providing our space. For media inquiries please contact [email protected]. Amber Lasciak Founder REDU [email protected] This release was issued through WebWire. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com. SOURCE REDU Washington/Moscow, Feb 13 : US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation Saturday over the situation in Ukraine. During the call, which lasted for about one hour, the two leaders discussed situation in Ukraine and related security issues, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the White House's statement and the Kremlin. The White House said Biden made it clear to Putin "while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy," it is "equally prepared for other scenarios". Russia has not received a substantive response from the US on security guarantees, Sputnik reported, quoting Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Russia will soon submit its response to the US and NATO on security guarantees, Ushakov said, adding the two leaders agreed to continue contacts. Direct engagements between the US and Russia have yielded little substantial progress, with the Kremlin saying the White House failed to address its key security concerns and the Biden administration repeatedly warning Putin's government of severe economic sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine. Rabat, Feb 13 : Morocco has urged its citizens to leave Ukraine amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. In light of the current situation and for their own safety, Moroccan citizens in Ukraine are asked to leave through the available commercial flights, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement released by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry on its website. Moroccans wishing to head for Ukraine are asked to delay their trip for the moment, it added. Jerusalem, Feb 13 : Israeli foreign ministry has issued a travel warning for Ukraine, urging Israeli citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. The ministry asked Israelis in Ukraine to register with the consular division in order to assess the situation and prepare for evacuation, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the Israeli military to prepare to assist in such an operation, according to Israeli media reports. Israel has already begun evacuating the family members of diplomats and Israeli staff at its embassy in Kiev. "The embassy ... continues to operate with its full team of diplomatic staff remaining in the country," read the statement from the foreign ministry. Aden, Feb 13 : A United Nations official confirmed on Saturday that five UN staff members were kidnapped in Yemen's turbulent southern province of Abyan. Russell Geekie, the Senior Communications Advisor to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said "the UN staff members were on the way back to Aden after having completed a field mission", Xinhua news agency reported. "The United Nations is in close contact with the authorities to secure their release," he said. Meanwhile, local media outlets reported that unknown gunmen believed to be members of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch intercepted a UN vehicle in Mudiyah district, east of Abyan province. The gunmen kidnapped several UN workers and took them to an unknown location, according to the reports. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, which mostly operates in eastern and southern provinces, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against security forces in the country. The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia to expand its presence in some key areas of the war-ravaged Arab country. New Delhi, Feb 13 : At a time when inclusivity is the buzz word and there are programs to spread awareness about the same, the duo believe that the best way forward is through stories. Being passionate about culture, Chetan Rexwal and Summit Nayak, co-founders of Ekank Technologies that launched 'ThisDay', a storytelling platform that aims to make history, art, culture, and heritage accessible to the masses through regional content, feel narrating stories of different people and regions, that have shaped the world into what it is right now in diverse regional languages is the best way forward. Considering that the culture of a vast country like India is defined by the regions that represent it, Rexwal says that Ekank was launched to reimagine the way users discover and interact with historical content in an engaging way. "While many are aware that Onam is a prominent festival celebrated in southern India, unfortunately, despite its scale, the knowledge about its nuances and significance is limited. Hence, the best way to narrate the historical importance of the festival would be through local storytellers who are well versed with the place's culture, in their native tongue. We firmly believe that culture-led storytelling can only get its due on a vernacular platform. Our vision is to make history, art, culture, and heritage, accessible globally through local tales," he adds. Aiming to make culture and heritage-led storytelling mainstream through a combination of design, gamification, and creator-led content, Nayak says that the Pandemic has accelerated the rate of digital adoption across spheres. "While storytelling has been a prominent part of our lives since the early days, rapid digitization, aided by smartphone penetration and digital proliferation, has enabled many content creators to pursue this as a full-time career or a part-time passion project. Also, the availability of regional social media and social commerce platforms are giving rise to a new generation of regional language content creators, who enjoy a large and loyal follower base owing to the common thread of language. This is also prompting brands to consider them as their endorsers and evangelists," he says. In fact their business model has shown an inversely proportional relationship with the pandemic. With the imposition of social distancing and Work-From-Home, people, increasingly, started spending time online. "This gave an impetus to our business. We added close to 10 million new users in the month of December 2021 and received very encouraging responses for the stories," says Rexwal. Considering storytelling is age, gender, and geography agnostic, their target audience ranges from local storytellers who could be as young as 19 or as old as 65, to global audiences across age who are looking to be privy to such fascinating cultural tales. Admitting that short-format storytelling is very popular with new-age consumers, they stress that the new-age consumers do not refer to young audiences alone, and instead capture the ideals of changing consumer preferences of both conservatives and liberals, "There are many conventional hard copy fans who are slowly adapting to this changing format of storytelling through design, gamification, and a great content graph. Those who have shifted to this emerging medium understand the importance of the awareness and accessibility that only such platforms can provide. Books can be expensive - Buying an Rs 800 book is not everyone's cup of tea. However, reading and listening to stories is for everyone. For the others who are expected to adapt at their own pace, we are also experimenting with long-format essays with a select group of people to see if they resonate with them," says Nayak. With a view to reaching a global audience through local tales, the due plan to add audio stories and enable visual storytelling on the platform in the near future. Dehradun, Feb 13 : While trying to create history of winning successive polls in Uttarakhand, the BJP is facing tough challenges in the Himalayan state. The saffron party is trying to reverse the trend of government changing every five years in Uttarakhand, but it is facing many challenges from within as well. Since its formation in 2000, power in Uttarakhand has changed hands every five years between the BJP and the Congress. The Uttarakhand BJP also has plenty of problems. Notwithstanding a number of aspiring chief ministers, the BJP is also battling factionalism, rebellion from cadres in around eight Assembly constituencies, besides resentment of workers on the ground. A senior party functionary said that while the BJP has given the slogan of 'Abki Baar 60 Paar' (this time over 60), getting a comfortable majority might be a challenging task as this time the elections are becoming more local between individual candidates, rather than the party or big names. Another leader claimed that the situation, however, has improved and is better than what it was six months ago when the state government's popularity was at its lowest. "The situation was worse six months ago. Many in the party, including me, believed that winning 20 seats will be a tough task. But things have improved in the last few months and we are hoping to form the government with a clear majority," he said. Many in the saffron camp in Uttarakhand feel that anti-incumbency is the reason behind scrapping of many decisions of the state government, including the Char Dham board. "Scrapping the Char Dham board showed that the government is unable to take key decisions, and it was done realising that even changing two chief ministers is not going to help the party in the Assembly polls," a party functionary said. The BJP is leaving no stones unturned in cashing in on 'Brand Modi' in the Uttarakhand Assembly polls, but many feel that people have started differentiating between Narendra Modi's election and state elections. "In 2017 there was a Modi wave during the Assembly polls, which ensured 57 seats out of 70 for the BJP. In this Assembly polls also, we are highlighting 'Brand Modi' but people have started differentiating between Modi's election (Parliament) and state (Assembly) elections. We are hopeful that the welfare work done by the Narendra Modi government, especially during the pandemic, will help the BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls," said another leader. The BJP is prominently using Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image in Uttarakhand in several publicity videos, theme song and horadings across the state, showing him and his government's achievements. Free vaccines, ration and other welfare measures of the Centre are being highlighted by the state government in the run-up to the Assembly polls. "Infighting and factionalism in the state unit is a major concern for the party leadership. Though over a period of time, the central leadership has tried to address the issues, but there are so many chief minister aspirants who are trying to derail the other, which ultimately hurts the party's interest," a leader said. The leadership crisis issue is something that the Congress has been raising ahead of the polls. In March last year, the BJP had replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat by appointing Tirath Singh Rawat as the Chief Minister. Four months later in July, Pushkar Singh Dhami replaced Tirath Singh Rawat. A Lok Sabha member, Tirath Singh Rawat was required to get elected to the state Assembly before September 10, 2021 to continue as the Chief Minister, which he failed to do. Lucknow, Feb 13 : The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Lucknow has sent a show-cause notice to the MC Saxena Group of Colleges (MCSGC) after a police raid found that it had allegedly hired labourers to pose as patients in its hospital. The group did so to pass the inspection of the Medical Council of India for recognition. The hospital is attached to the group's medical college. "The management of MCSGC has been given time till Monday to put up their defence. Action will be taken against them after getting the response," said Additional CMO Dr A.P. Singh, who has been deputed by the CMO to probe the matter. The police raid on February 9 had found dozes of labourers occupying hospital beds as patients. A team of government doctors after examination found these patients to be healthy. Meanwhile, CMO Manoj Agrawal has constituted a panel to probe charges of private practice by a government doctor posted in TB Hospital in violation of service rules. The complaint was lodged on Twitter. Kabul, Feb 13 : Several Afghan women took to the streets of Kabul calling for the release of female activists after one of them was freed. Parwana Ibrahimkhil, who went missing last month, was released and she claimed that she was held detained by Taliban forces, TOLO News reported. However, the whereabouts of the three remaining activists, Tamana Paryani, Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar, remain unknown. One of the protesters on Saturday said: "We held a demonstration in reaction to all the problems created by the Taliban group for the people of Afghanistan. " Taranom Saeedi, a relative of Ibrahimkhil, said that the Taliban detained them, without having any female soldier and this is against Islam. Regarding the missing activists, the Taliban has said that an investigation is underway to find information about them. "We should ask our own sources and then, based on that, will give you information," TOLO News quoted Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, as saying. Also on Saturday, two foreign journalists working on assignment for the UNHCR who had been arrested by the Islamic Emirate forces in Kabul were released. Kanpur : , Feb 13 (IANS) The Kanpur administration has hit upon a novel idea to create awareness and encourage people to cast their vote when the district goes to polls on February 20. Citizens in Kanpur will receive a message "Kanpur Votes On 20 Feb" when they will purchase milk packets and bread packets from next week. It is the brainchild of district magistrate Neha Sharma who convened a meeting with bread manufacturers and milk and processed milk companies and put up her proposal. The proposal was very well supported by the GST and food & safety department and the manufacturers and bakers have assured that around 2.5 lakhs houses of the city would get a message for one week about the voting. The district magistrate has sought active cooperation from the representatives in this campaign. The idea was to encourage more and more voters to cast their votes. The representatives from various government departments and bread and milk manufacturers will target 2.5 lakhs families per day to create awareness among them. Meanwhile, to ensure a hundred per cent voting the district administration flew a voters awareness air balloon at Kargil park in Moti Jheel on Saturday. In a neatly executed intelligence-based counter-terror operation on February 3, the US Special Forces organised a night raid on the safe house being used by ISIS chief Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al- Qurayshi at Atmeh near the border with Turkey in Idlib province of Syria, which resulted -- after a longish encounter -- in Qurayshi exploding a bomb that killed him and his family. Ground forces were used as the US did not want to make an air strike, in order to minimise civilian casualties. The operation was in line with the one carried out in Syria in October 2019 under then US President Donald Trump, in which Qurayshi's predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had also killed himself using a suicide vest under similar circumstances, and the May 1, 2011 midnight operation at Abottabad, Pakistan, during Barack Obama's Presidency -- Joe Biden was the Vice President then -- that killed Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda supremo. Notwithstanding the impression in some quarters that the Biden administration is not being tough against Taliban after having used Pakistan for mediating a peace accord between the US and the radical outfit -- that was meant to facilitate the pull out of American troops from Afghanistan -- the operation in Idlib confirms the continuity in the American policy of countering Islamic radicals by taking out their leadership. This will give satisfaction to India as the Indo-US convergence on the need for the democratic world to unitedly fight the menace of Islamic terror is evidently working well. Just as Baghdadi had declared the establishment of Mosul Caliphate in 2014, Taliban was able to reinstall the Islamic Emirate in Kabul in August last year with the total support of Pakistan -- both Taliban and Pakistan taking advantage of the fluid situation created by the advance of Taliban's Jihad against the Ashraf Ghani government. The last time Taliban supremo Mullah Umar -- a close relative of Osama bin Laden -- headed the Kabul Emirate in 1996 -- again with the direct backing of Pakistan -- it had taken little time for the Islamic radicals of Taliban to bare their fangs against the US-led West and create the run up to 9/11. US policy makers are not oblivious of history and they would be watching the developments in Afghanistan -- conscious of the fact that they could not rely on a duplicitous Pak regime for preventing the use of Afghan territory for the resumption of anti-US activity under the Taliban Emirate. They would take adequate cognisance of the growing recalcitrance of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan towards the US ever since Pakistan moved towards a deepening military alliance with and an increasing economic dependence on China and would surely factor in this new axis in evaluating the rising Cold War kind of geopolitical bipolarity between the US and China. The new National Security Policy (NSP) of Pakistan brings out the pro-China profile of that country. India and the US hopefully will be on the same page in looking at the possible danger that the Sino- Pak alliance could pose to this region and to the democratic world at large. The Joe Biden administration with its preoccupation with China and a perception of 'remoteness' towards Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops from that messy battle ground of the first 'war on terror', apparently did not view the potential threat arising from the developments leading to the return of Taliban Emirate at Kabul, with as much attention as it deserved. India, on the other hand, could clearly see the added danger for the region from the likelihood of Pak-Afghan belt becoming a hub of terror of Islamic radicals. However, the US is taking notice of the relationship of Pakistan with Taliban and also the play of China in Afghanistan and understanding India's security concerns in this regard. India and the US have steadily evolved a strategy of working together against China's expansionist designs -- India is building its own capabilities for taking on China's PLA and Pakistan's terror camps on the borders on one hand and joining in Quad as an active participant on the other, to ensure a 'rules-based order' for the Indo-Pacific that provides a built-in protection against Chinese designs in the Indian Ocean too. The US has unambiguously condemned Chinese aggressiveness on the India-China border. In the Indo-Pacific region, India would welcome European countries like the UK, France and Germany teaming up with Quad to strengthen the hands of the democratic world against the Marxist dictatorship of China. It is the right strategy for India to maintain a studied neutrality on the US-Russia conflict over Ukraine in the hope that peace would be maintained through confidence building steps on both sides. It may be relevant here to recall that President Donald Trump did not believe in over-involvement with the European Union and had a somewhat friendly approach towards Vladimir Putin's Russia. This was consistent with Trump taking on China on political and economic grounds and not hesitating to name Islamic terror as a threat notwithstanding the stand of his Democrat rival of not doing that out of 'political correctness'. India is not unduly perturbed with China-Russia contacts at the summit level for politico-economic reasons for it is confident that India's friendship with Russia stands on a solid foundation of mutuality of interests. Also, Indo-Russian relationship was not at the cost of Indo-US alliance that was a coming together of 'natural friends'. While the non-Muslim states of the former Soviet empire have issues linked with Europe -- as is the case in Ukraine -- it is extremely important for India that the five Central Asian Republics (CARs) adjoining Afghanistan respond well -- in concert with Russia -- to India's concerns over collusion of Pakistan with the Kabul Emirate of Taliban. India's policy makers have to be complimented for the clarity they have brought to bear on India-Iran relations in the context of Afghanistan. Shia fundamentalism of Ayatollahs invites the deepest hostility of Sunni Islamic radicals which brings Iran and India on the same side of the fence as far as the threat of a radicalised Afghanistan is concerned. US-Iran relations on nuclear related issues are on a different footing and India can deal with them on merit. The Narendra Modi government has broken new grounds in successfully pursuing a foreign policy that allows a major power like India to bilaterally deal with the US, Russia, Iran and Israel to serve our national interests in a post-Cold War world and encourage multipolarity to India's own advantage. What has helped in this is Prime Minister Modi's clear approach of shedding the ideological baggage of the days of 'non alignment', asserting the sovereignty of India as the largest democracy of the world and demonstrating the political will to take punitive action against an adversary while maintaining strong commitment to global peace. Elements of Chanakya's strategy of 'checks and balances', building up of military strength in keeping with India's recognition as a major voice in the world on issues of 'war and peace' and following an approach that embraces the new doctrine of 'national security being inseparable from economic security', can be sensed in this new policy of India. While India is fine with being a part of the multilateral endeavour of democratic powers to contain China's expansionist moves, it has to be basically on its own in effectively countering the acts of a hostile Pakistan that enjoys a sway in Afghanistan and support of China against India. The Pak National Security Policy has identified India as the main enemy and what is worse, couched Indo-Pak relations in Hindu-Muslim terms. The Sino-Pak axis -- besides its concerted moves on our borders -- has a certain capability of fiddling with India's domestic scene to create internal disturbances here and causing destabilisation. This dimension of internal security is well understood by our security establishment and India's Intelligence agencies are fully prepared to handle the new challenges across the spectrum, in this regard. India, like all major countries of the world, received a socio-economic set back on account of the Corona pandemic that broke out as a sudden natural disaster disrupting businesses, putting a stop to classroom education and causing a breakdown of the medical infrastructure leading to human casualties on a large scale. In a federal system where states were an equal partner in the national effort to handle the disaster, Prime Minister Modi was in the front overseeing the arrangements for improving the essential medical supplies, stepping up indigenous manufacture and distribution of vaccines and laying out futuristic plans for economic recovery. India has done well to encourage a bottom-up approach for re-establishing demand and supply chains, supporting startups and stressing on reskilling and up-skilling to generate employment. There is a new emphasis on infrastructure development that leads to lasting growth. The initial human suffering will remain a part of historical memory but the total involvement of top leadership of the government in measures designed to mitigate the disaster and lay the groundwork for the future would also be remembered by people. The initiatives of the Centre had a unifying impact on the nation and brought out the cultural instinct of Indians to help out others in distress. It also needs to be mentioned that Prime Minister Modi's policy of affirming India's commitment to join in and lead the global effort to meet the crisis -- this was voiced at international forums ranging from UN to Quad -- has enhanced India's standing and influence in the world community. Covid crisis added to the economic and security challenge for Indian democracy and it is a matter of satisfaction that the Modi government handled both the fronts with alacrity. (The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau) New Delhi, Feb 13 : The campaigning for the Uttarakhand Assembly elections has ended and all the 70 seats are set to go to polls in a single phase on Monday. In the elections, while the BJP is contesting to retain its government, the Congress is trying hard to return to power. Since the formation of the state, the power keeps shifting between the two prominent parties after every Assembly election and thus the Congress is confident of its victory this time. However, the BJP is claiming to create a new record by winning for the second time in a row. On one hand there is the BJP, which is contesting elections on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and keeping its current Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in front, while on the other hand is the Congress, which has not clearly announced its chief ministerial candidate, however it is believed that Harish Rawat will be the Congress's CM candidate. The elections this time have also become a matter of prestige for the Congress high command and the Gandhi family after the voices of protest being raised by its own veteran leaders at the national level. The biggest challenge before the Congress is to defeat the BJP by covering the vote margin of 30 per cent, with the help of which the BJP had captured all the 5 seats in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The ever-increasing vote margins between the two parties since 2014 is a major cause of concern for the Congress and it is not possible to defeat the BJP in the state without finding a solution to it. In the 2012 Assembly elections, there was not much difference between the BJP and the Congress in terms of vote percentage and seats. In 2012, the Congress won 32 seats with 33.79 per cent votes and BJP won 31 seats with 33.13 per cent votes. At that time Congress along with other parties formed the government in the state. But since then, both in terms of vote percentage and seats, the Congress has been lagging behind the BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won all the 5 seats in the state by getting 56 per cent votes. In this election, the vote share of Congress had slightly increased to 34.4 per cent but it could not win a single seat. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP ousted the Congress government from power by winning 56 of the 70 seats and securing 46.51 per cent votes. The Congress, with 33.49 per cent of the votes, could get only 11 seats in the polls. This difference of votes between the two parties increased further in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, wherein the BJP secured 61.66 per cent votes and captured all the five seats in the state, while the Congress came down to 31.73 per cent. The vote margin between the Congress and the BJP has increased to almost 30 per cent by 2019. Although it is also true that the equations of the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections are very different, it is not possible for the Congress to form the government in the state without bridging this gap of 30 per cent votes. Both, the BJP and the Congress, also have their eyes on the AAP and the BSP. The results of the polls would depend on who would make a dent on the rival's vote bank and whether the BSP can regain its old strength or not. Seoul, Feb 13 : South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Hawaii to discuss the best ways to engage with North Korea. Saturday's meeting follows a recent series of North Korean missile launches amid a prolonged hiatus in dialogue with Pyongyang, reports Yonhap News Agency. Chung said he looked forward to having discussions on how to deal with North Korea. "We have a lot to cover, and we are very concerned about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula," the top South Korean Minister said at the start of his bilateral meeting with Blinken. "I hope we can also have a good exchange of our views on how to deal with the situation," he added. North Korea staged seven rounds of missile launches in January, marking the largest number missile tests it conducted in a month. It also fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, its longest-range missile launched since late 2017. The foreign ministerial talks also follow bilateral and trilateral meetings between the countries' top nuclear envoys held earlier this week in Honolulu. South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk earlier said he had very meaningful and productive discussions with his US and Japanese counterparts on "several ways to engage with North Korea", and that the Foreign Ministers would continue their discussions when they meet here. Jaipur, Feb 13 : Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is drawing laurels all across the state for its out of the box ideas against corruption, and has smashed all records by arresting corrupt officials from different streams following innovative approaches. Last year, the ACB arrested 32 officials of the Government of India in bribery cases and disposed of 575 cases. A total of 430 traps were laid in 2021 to nab corrupt personnel while taking bribes, which is the highest number ever since the bureau was set up, said B.L. Soni, Director General (DG), ACB, Rajasthan. Cases were registered against two IAS, one IPS, one IRS, 12 RAS and five RPS among over 100 senior officials, pendency of around 1,600 cases was removed by working 24by7 even during the pandemic times. How all this was done? An officer says, "All this was done with a strategic move. The ACB team revamped itself and adopted creative approach by circulating interesting memes, posters, creative coffee mugs and adopting villages. In fact, the ACB sleuths are branding themselves as 'Rakhi Bhais' to people and advising them to stop giving their hard-earned money for bribing officers, he informed, adding, "The team recently adopted 51 villages and made people pledge that their hard-earned money will not be wasted in bribing officials." "We have apprised the villagers that we are like their Rakhi Bhais and are here to help them save their hard-earned money. 'Don't waste your funds in giving bribe', is what we are teaching them. "In fact, we have been taking government welfare schemes to them, asking beneficiaries to fill the forms and ensure that these forms reach the right place so that there is no scope of corruption in between. "We conceptualised interesting slogan, "Mehnat ki Gaadi Kamayen Ko Rishwatkhoron mein nahin lutayen, aye hamare pass and complaint karayen." The team has spared no one and arrested an RPSC official on charge of accepting Rs 23 lakh bribe for assuring candidate of clearing interviews, arrested former SP Dausa for demanding monthly bribe of Rs 10 lakh against a project and many others seniors have been nabbed too. The ACB further celebrated the anti-corruption day as a gratitude day where all those victims who approached us in the last 10 years were identified and invited to office to ensure they are not facing any problem for acting as whistleblowers. How did the idea of starting the innovation came up, IANS inquired and Soni said, "We started with a toll number. On analysis, we found that complaints coming are not being entertained and hence we deputed senior official to ensure all complaints are being addressed. Then, we introduced a WhatsApp number too to ensure we reach the victims at their doorstep at the earliest. We promoted 1064 number with memes and cartoons, so calls increased and traps increased, we made our audio messages viral and hence results came. "We strengthened our internal vigilance, transferred our corrupt officials and even arrested our own team members red handed. Further, the complainants were trained to use audio video recordings, he added smilingly. "We re-engineered our own steps and set deadlines to bring pace to the process. "During Covid, we called regular video conferences and trained our staff by inviting officers from the CBI, prosecution branch, and senior ACB officials. "The ACB is presently fine-tuning a few process and is working on misuse of official positions," he informed. Chandigarh, Feb 13 : The meteoric rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 2014 Parliamentary polls and then in the 2017 Assembly elections in Punjab followed by its nosedive owing to 'mass exodus' of its legislators is proving a litmus test for the party in the February 20 Assembly polls in the state. Political observers say AAP was once seen as the alternative to the traditional parties that had dominated Punjab's electoral space for decades. Learning a harsh lesson from its mistake during the 2017 Assembly polls of not declaring a chief ministerial candidate, this time AAP's CM face and two-time Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Mann is locked in a five-cornered contest with Congress' 'Aam Aadmi' Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal, Amarinder Singh, whose new party Punjab Lok Congress is in alliance with the BJP and the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, the fledging coalition of farm unions. In 2017, AAP sought vote in the name of Arvind Kejriwal, and despite him being tagged an outsider, it managed to win 20 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, emerging as the principal opposition party, pushing SAD to the number three position. "Despite marking its grand foray in 2017 into the state politics that is largely dominated by the Congress and Akalis, the AAP leadership failed to understand the pulse of the common man who wanted to break the political duopoly," a former AAP leader told IANS, requesting anonymity. The trouble in AAP began when its leaders and supporters started blaming the central leadership for running the party virtually from Delhi. A vertical split in the party surfaced with Kejriwal's apology to Akali legislator Bikram Singh Majithia for settling a drug charge related defamation case. Most of the party legislators, led by leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, challenged his authority. After that the party was plagued by desertion of legislators -- one after another -- or their suspensions in the last five years. The result: AAP's nine sitting legislators left the party. They are -- Khaira from Bholath; Jagtar Singh Jagga Hissowal from Raikot; Peermal Singh Dhaula from Bhadaur; Master Baldev Singh from Jaitu; Rupinder Kaur Ruby from Bathinda; Jagdev Singh Kamalu from Maur; Nazar Singh Manshahia from Mansa; journalist-turned-politician Kanwar Sandhu from Kharar; and known lawyer H.S. Phoolka from Dakha. Firebrand Khaira, who was elected from Bholath in 2017 on an AAP ticket, is in fray for a Congress ticket, while other rebels who are contesting as Congress candidates are Hissowal from Jagraon in Ludhiana district and Ruby from Malaut in Muktsar district. Legislators Dhaula, who is campaigning for Channi in Bhadaur, Master Baldev Singh, Kamalu, Manshahia, Sandhu and Phoolka are not contesting the polls this time. Interestingly in the coming polls, AAP nominees are facing opposition from their own dissidents. The 10 legislators who are re-contesting are: Aman Arora from Sunam; Balwinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo; Kultar Singh Sandhwan from Kotkapura; Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema from Dirba; Kulwant Singh Pandori from Mehal Kalan; Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Barnala; Principal Budh Ram from Budhlada; Jai Kishan Rodi from Garshankar; Manjit Singh Bilaspur from Nihal Singh Wala; and Saravjit Kaur Manuke from Jagraon. The 11th AAP legislator, Amarjit Singh Sandoa from Ropar, has been denied party nomination this time. The reason: He left AAP in 2017. Ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2019, he joined Congress but later rejoined AAP. Eyeing to catch 96 lakh women voters, who constitute 45 per cent of the state's total electorate of 2.12 crore, AAP has given tickets to 12 women candidates, the highest among all the political parties in the state. Also, a majority of its women candidates are well qualified. About AAP's prospects to win Punjab, pollsters say that in the 2017 Assembly elections, it came second with an overall 24.4 per cent vote share against Congress' 38.5 per cent. Two years after the Assembly polls, AAP faced a drubbing in the general elections in 2019, winning just one of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. In its maiden foray in the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, it had won four seats in Punjab. Barring Bhagwant Mann, who was elected from Sangrur in 2014 too, all the other candidates of the party forfeited their security deposits in 2019. Its vote share in the state nosedived from 24.4 in 2017 to 7.4 per cent in 2019. In February 2021, the poll results of the 117 municipal bodies, eight corporations and 109 councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab, held in the backdrop of agitation of farmers against the three farm laws, dashed AAP's resurgence hopes as the Congress swept the polls by winning a majority of the seats. SAD emerged second, while AAP's dismal show continued. Unlike 2014, 2017 and 2019 polls, this time NRI Punjabis might give a noticeable miss to AAP. Earlier, many NRIs came out openly in its support by offering not only cash-rich wallets, but also pleading with the people to support AAP candidates. In the 2017 Assembly elections, many NRIs had campaigned for AAP candidates. Vancouver-based journalist Gurpreet Singh said that as in the past, the NRIs in Canada are curious about the upcoming Punjab elections though travel restrictions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed their physical presence. He said many NRIs were once hoping AAP to create a history as it was being seen as a third alternative in the political landscape of Punjab. "But AAP has now many challenges at hand. The foremost is the lack of consensus on the candidate for the chief minister's post. Not many here are impressed with Bhagwant Mann, as some find him non-serious and someone who lacks maturity and also credibility. "They have been inclined to support H.S. Phoolka (former AAP legislator), who too turned out to be non-committal. They are also skeptical about the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who had sidelined Dharamvir Gandhi and has been peddling soft Hindutva and playing the nationalist card," Gurpreet Singh said. Will the 2022 polls be any different for AAP? Will the party build on its 2017 tally of 20 seats? Pollsters believe only time will tell. The 117-member Punjab Assembly will go to the polls on February 20, while the counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. (Vishal Gulati can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in) Chennai, Feb 13 : With the urban local body (ULB) polls in Tamil Nadu scheduled to be held on February 19, several youngsters in the state are unaware of the polls and those who are aware do not have information about their wards, candidates, and polling booths. Several youths in the age group of 18 to 21, who are mostly in colleges or other professional institutions, lack information about the local polls. Sujaya Kumar, 21, a student of an arts and science college in Chennai told IANS: "I am not aware of the ULB polls as I have just voted in the 2021 Assembly elections. Now, I will have to check about my polling booth and the ward. There is no high pitch campaigning this time which I witnessed during the Assembly elections." Another major factor plaguing the voters is the lack of information on the wards where they live and the number assigned to the ward. Even the house tax receipts, according to several residents, are different from the actual ward they live in. R. Rajesh of Ashok Nagar in Chennai told IANS: "I tried several helpline numbers but did not get a proper answer. I am being directed to contact the tahsildars and most of the numbers which they provide are not working. Information on wards is lacking and this prevents us from casting our vote. I am trying to educate my son studying in the tenth standard on the importance of elections and voting so that by the time he reaches the legal age of voting, he would have made all the preparations. I will somehow vote in the election and am trying hard to get the details of the booth and other details". Experts, however, point out that the lack of information on elections and the hesitancy to vote are linked to youths who don't have any political affiliations and those who vote only under compulsion. Dr R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think-tank based out of Madurai while speaking to IANS, said: "In a democracy, people should be aware of their rights and voting is a major right. These youngsters must be abreast of what is going around them. The lack of political education and the thought among the middle class that politics, elections, and voting are bad has resulted in such an attitude and my suggestion is to provide proper education about elections during the school time itself so that students would be aware of it when they become eligible for voting." Many people assume that the polling booths will be crowded and don't reach there fearing they will contract Covid-19. However, Tamil Nadu State Election Commission has quashed all rumours related to crowded polling booths and in a statement said that the elections are being conducted abiding by the Standard Operating Protocol including wearing of masks, social distancing, and washing hands periodically, and use of sanitisers. The poll body also said that the number of polling booths has been increased to prevent crowding at booths. New Delhi, Feb 13 : In a marginal decline, India registered 44,877 new Covid-19 cases and 684 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday The new fatalities increased the overall death toll to 5,08,665. Meanwhile, the active covid caseload has reduced to 5,37,045, which constitute 1.26 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The recovery of 1,17,591 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 4,15,85,711. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 97.55 per cent. Also in the same period, a total of 14,15,279 tests were conducted across the country, which increased the total to 75.07 crore. While the weekly positivity rate stood at 4.46 per cent, the daily positivity rate fell to 3.17 per cent. With the administration of over 49 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage reached 172.81 crore as of Sunday morning. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bhopal, Feb 13 : Five labourers were rescued from a collapsed under-construction tunnel of the Bargi canal project in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, and efforts to save four more were continuing, officials said on Sunday. The incident happened on Saturday when the construction work was going on and at least nine labourers were said to be trapped. Katni district collector Priyank Mishra said that two out of the four labourers still stuck in the tunnel have been traced, while the rescue team is trying to locate the other. "At present talks are being held with two people trapped inside the tunnel, efforts are being made to make contact with two others," Mishra. Locals officials, along with State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) team, which has reached from Jabalpur district, are trying to safely rescue the remaining labourers. District administration along with district police have reached to the spot. Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora is monitoring the rescue operation. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognizance of the incident and also has been monitoring the rescue operation with officials in Bhopal, as the CMO office informed. Harare, Feb 13 : Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched the ruling ZANU-PF party's campaign for the hotly contested legislative and municipal by-elections scheduled for March 26 and outlined its development roadmap. There will be 133 by-elections due for National Assembly and local authority seats, most of which fell vacant following the recall of MPs and councillors by the opposition MDC-T party, reports Xinhua news agency. The ruling party, led by Mnangagwa, will square off against the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa and other small parties. Addressing thousands of his supporters at a rally in Epworth, south of the capital Harare, Mnangagwa on Saturday promised the residents of the informal settlement that the government will grant title deeds for their properties, adding that a more orderly process will be arranged for the issuance of the documents. Some residents in the impoverished settlement had been living in the area for decades with no proper documentation. "Once you get hold of your title deed, you have security for your land. It becomes your inheritance. This will ultimately do away with land barons. So we are in this process of regularizing settlements as well as issuing title deeds," Mnangagwa said. A lack of proper planning had hampered development and the provision of basic amenities such as water, sewers and power in Epworth. In its 2018 electoral campaign, the ZANU-PF promised to deliver at least 1.5 million affordable housing units in five years. Mnangagwa applauded his government's efforts in reviving the industry, saying up to 75 per cent of products in the country's supermarkets are locally made. In addition, he said his government was pursuing various development programs across the countryside, mentioning a dam construction and a solar-powered borehole for clean water and food security. Furthermore, Mnangagwa said the country is moving towards total use of a local currency, saying no country has ever developed by adopting other countries' currencies. ZANU-PF is aiming to wrestle urban constituencies from the opposition which has a huge following . New Delhi, Feb 13 : A mob in Pakistan's Punjab province tortured and killed a man accused of desecrating the Holy Quran, The Express Tribune reported. As per details, the local police, in order to prevent themselves, allegedly allowed the accused to leave the police station in Mian Chunnu, Khanewal district, where the mob was present, the report said. The victim was dragged to a nearby place, tortured and killed, whereas the police allegedly played the role of silent spectator. Saturday's incident took place in Jungle Dera village where hundreds of locAals gathered after MaghArib praAyers following annoucements that a man had torn some pages of the Holy Quran and later set them on fire. With no one ready to listen to the suspect, who repAorteAdly claimed innocence, the villagers first hanged him on a tree and then hit him with bricks, until he died, Dawn news reported. This is not the first incident of citizens becoming judges, jury and executioners. In November last year, a mob had vandalised a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Charsadda district and set it on fire after authorities refused to hand over a man arrested earlier for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran, The Express Tribune reported. On December 3, 2021 in Sialkot, a Sri LanAkan engineer was lynched by factory workers on blasphemy charges, Dawn reported. Washington, Feb 13 : The US State Department has ordered most of its direct hire employees at the Embassy in Kiev to evacuate, suspending the regular consular services, "due to the continued threat of Russian military action". In an updated travel advisory issued on Saturday, the State Department said passport, visa and other routine consular services will be suspended starting from Sunday, but the US will maintain a small consular presence in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to handle emergencies, reports Xinhua news agency. The update came two days after Washington urged all US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Friday at the White House that American nationals should evacuate within 48 hours, citing unspecified intelligence purporting a Russian invasion of Ukraine at any moment. The State Department has been told in recent days that a "couple thousand" Americans are still in Ukraine, a "substantial number" of whom do not want to leave, a senior State Department official said during a call with reporters on Saturday. On Saturday evening, US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed situation in Ukraine and related security issues in a phone call that lasted for about an hour. The White House said Biden made it clear to Putin "while the US remains prepared to engage in diplomacy", it is "equally prepared for other scenarios". Kremlin aide Yuri Ushako said the two leaders have agreed to continue contacts and that Russia will soon submit its response to the US and NATO on security guarantees. Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the phone, during which the top American diplomat reiterated "Russian aggression" would be met with a resolute and massive response. On his part, Lavrov "stressed that the propaganda campaign launched by the US and its allies regarding 'Russian aggression' against Ukraine pursues provocative goals, encouraging the authorities in Kiev to sabotage the Minsk agreements and harmful attempts to resolve the 'Donbas problem' by force", the Russian Foreign Ministry said. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoigu, on Saturday. Mumbai, Feb 13 : As the show 'Mithya' is releasing, which is an Indian adaptation of the British show 'Cheat', director Rohan Sippy says the most tricky part of any work of adaptation is to bring about a sense of originality without tampering with the very essence of the story and not make it look like a 'copy-paste' job. Decoding the process, Rohan told IANS: "When it comes to 'Mithya' we have to understand that it is a British show and we are making an Indian version of the core story. So, there will be some similarities of the main narrative but at the same time, it is an Indianised version. So, where we are setting the story, our society, our mindset everything has to be included in the story to make it relatable. "When our dialogue writer Purva Naresh came up with the idea of making Huma Qureshi a Hindi teacher, that also changes a lot and adds a new dimension to the character because of the language Hindi. I would say that a good adaptation should be the one that does not look like a copy-paste version of the original. I want people to watch the show and say that it looks like an original work especially if they are not told that it is an adaptation of a British series called 'Cheat'." While re-writing the story to put it in the Indian context was a creative challenge that he and his team enjoyed, according to the director, shooting the show was quite a task. "I usually enjoy shooting outdoor but this was a hard shoot for us. We went to Darjeeling at a time when it was raining and the weather was unpredictable. Logistically that was a tough part but Darjeeling is also stunning visually, in monsoon. "For the narrative, it was interesting because it shows how these characters are going through some of the uglistest reality internally while the outer world, the nature, the location everything is so beautiful! But being a director, dealing with logistical challenges is okay as long as we make the show the way we want," shared Rohan who earlier worked on the web series 'Aranyak' as executive producer. 'Mithya', which features Huma Qureshi, Avantika Dassani, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Rajit Kapur among others - releases on ZEE5 on February 18. Gaza, Feb 13 : A new field hospital funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) treating coronavirus patients was inaugurated in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials. Yousef Abu al-Reesh, the undersecretary of the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, told reporters that the hospital was named after Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, reports Xinhua news agency. He added that the field hospital, built on eight dunums (0.8 hectares) at the European Hospital in Khan Younis city includes 216 beds, 56 of which are designated for critical and severe cases. The opening of the hospital came as officials warned that there are obstacles facing the health ministry in Gaza to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. "Opening the hospital shows part of the ongoing UAE support," Abu al-Reesh said, adding that the UAE had previously donated an oxygen station, ambulances, vaccines, and medicines to Gaza. According to Jawad al-Tibi, director of the supervision committee to build the hospital, the Emirati field hospital comprises three Oxygen generation stations, electric generators, and medical equipment. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 13 fatalities and 1,871 new Covid-19 cases in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, adding that 5,979 recoveries were recorded. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lucknow, Feb 13 : With Covid cases dropping in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has now relaxed night curfew timings by an hour. The state government said in its order that the night curfew will now be in place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day instead of from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Night curfew was imposed in Uttar Pradesh after the Omicron variant of the coronavirus led to a surge in cases across the country. However, as the daily cases continue to decline, the state government has now eased night curfew timing by an hour. All schools from nursery to class 12 will also reopen from Monday. The state government has also said that private and government offices are permitted to function at full capacity. Restaurants, cinema halls and hotels have also been allowed to open, but they must adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh reported 1,776 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the active caseload in the state to 15,276. As many as 3,101 people recovered from the virus in the past 24 hours. The state also reported 10 fatalities due to the infection. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Kathmandu, Feb 13 : An impeachment motion has been registered against Chief Justice of Nepal Cholendra Shumsher Rana at Parliament Secretariat on Sunday. As many as 98 ruling party lawmakers on Sunday morning registered the motion against Rana who has been in the eye of the storm since October 2021. The lawmakers from the ruling coalition were led by Law Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu. As soon as the impeachment motion was registered, Rana was suspended and senior Supreme Court Justice Dipak Karki took over the charge as Acting Chief Justice. "We have registered an impeachment motion against the chief justice," Dev Gurung, a lawmaker from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), told the media. Gopal Nath Yogi, secretary at the Parliament Secretariat, said lawmakers from the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) registered the impeachment motion. Article 101 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal states that one fourth of the MPs can register an impeachment motion against any official holding a constitutional position on the ground of failing to perform duty effectively or of working against the constitution or seriously violating their code of conduct. While one fourth of the lawmakers can register the impeachment motion, it needs a two-third majority of Parliament to endorse it. The support of the main opposition CPN-UML is a must to endorse the motion, as the parties that have filed the motion have just 133 votes in total. It needs 181 votes to pass the impeachment motion in the 271-strong Parliament. An impeachment motion, however, automatically leads to the suspension of the Chief Justice. Article 101 (6) of the Constitution says after the commencement of impeachment proceedings the Chief Justice or judge of the Supreme Court shall not be allowed to discharge the duties of his or her office pending the settlement of such proceedings. The justices from the Supreme Court and the legal professionals had been protesting against Rana since October last year. The justices who had been boycotting the bench returned to hear cases on December 1 after the adoption of the raffle system in finalising the benches and assigning the cases to them. As the justices refused to share a bench with Rana, he hasn't heard the cases since the adoption of the raffle system. Lawyers, however, have continued their protests. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Pakistan has questioned the US' decision of setting aside half of the Afghan assets frozen in America for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, saying utilisation of Afghan funds should be the "sovereign decision of Afghanistan", The Express Tribune reported. The reaction from the Foreign office came after US President Joe Biden in what is seen as a controversial move decided to split $7 billion foreign assets of Afghanistan between the victims of the 9/11 attacks and for the humanitarian assistance of Afghanistan. The decision was even being criticised within the US with many people including victims' families of the 9/11 attacks insisting that Afghan funds should not have been arbitrarily used by the US government, the report said. "Pakistan has seen the US decision to unfreeze the Afghan assets held by the US banks to release $3.5 billion for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and $3.5 billion for compensation to families of 9/11 victims," Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said in a statement. The official press release noted that over the past several months, Pakistan had been consistently emphasising the need for the international community to quickly act to address the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan and to help revive the Afghan economy, as the two are inextricably linked. Punjab: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addresses during an election campaign for the upcoming Punjab assembly elections, at Kotkapura in Punjab on Sunday, February 13, 2022. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News Punjab: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being welcomed by party workers on her arrival at Kotkapura in Punjab on Sunday, February 13, 2022. (Photo: Twitter) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 13 : Congress General Secretary In charge UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday attacked UP Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath for his comments on alleged differences between Gandhi siblings. Commenting on the issue she said, "I can sacrifice my life for my brother and he can give his life for me, so where is the difference." "Yogiji must be talking of BJP and the rift between him, Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah," she added. The Congress General Secretary is campaigning in Punjab where she is scheduled to address three rallies in support of the party candidates. The Congress has picked up incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate in a bid to "woo" Dalit voters, which has 32 per cent vote share in the state. In his brief helm of 111 days, Channi built an image of the common man's Chief Minister by extensively touring the state, occasionally performing 'bhangra' on the beats of a 'dhol' at public functions, favouring tea at roadside eateries while narrating couplets to the masses, besides accepting 'siropas' (religious robes) enroute by stopping his cavalcade. The key opponents in the state -- the AAP, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) combine and the BJP in alliance with Amarinder Singh's new party Punjab Lok Congress and the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, the fledging coalition of farm unions -- are making an issue out of the Congress CM's face. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Islamabad International Medical College has issued guidelines for their male and female students, asking girls to wear hijab and boys to wear white prayer caps while maintaining a distance of two metres from the opposite sex at all times on Valentine's Day, Friday Times reported. The college reportedly issued a circular forbidding students from partaking in Valentine's Day and associated "activities which lead the youth towards the wrong path", the report said. The protocol states: "All female students should be seen with properly-covered heads, necks and chests with a hijab according to the university dress code. All male students are strictly ordered to wear white prayer caps." The circular further warns that twenty staff from the school administration will be patrolling the campus to catch Valentine's Day violations. Those caught breaking the rules will be fined 5,000 PKR, which will be donated to a worthy cause, the report said. People on Twitter had thoughts about the notice, with some incredulous at the rules and others supporting the school's guidelines. "This is weird. if someone wants to not celebrate valentine's (because) they're a Muslim, more power to them, but everyone practices their religion differently and imposing (your) beliefs on someone else is pure wrong," said one post. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Even as the world continues to navigate the pandemic's uncertainties, 2022 will be the year to capitalise on unpredictability. Recent research by leading travel brand Booking.com revealed that finding holiday romances is expected to be on the agenda of Indian travellers this year as they remain optimistic about travel possibilities and make up for lost vacation time. With the Valentine's season upon us, Booking.com's Travel Predictions 2022* research revealed that 2022 will be the year for Indian travellers to branch out and make new connections. Swipe right on new faces and places People who have grown tired of swiping through the same faces for the past year and a half will use their favourite dating apps while on vacation in 2022, with travel providing an exciting opportunity to find love. According to research, there will be a resurgence of holiday romances, with 77 per cent of Indian travellers hoping for one on their next trip. In fact, the study found that 74 per cent of Indian travellers prefer to stay near a variety of nightlife options so that they can meet new people. While a vacation can serve as a starting point for holiday romance, it doesn't have to end when the two of you part ways at the end of the trip, thanks to video calls becoming more common in our daily lives. Travel as a means to expand social circle Meeting new people is frequently the beginning of a romance. For many, the pandemic meant spending an extended and intense period of time with our closest friends and loved ones, with little time to meet new people. We anticipate that in 2022, travellers will use their vacations to broaden their usual social circles, with 81 percent of Indian travellers wanting to meet new people while away. Furthermore, 77 percent of Indian travellers anticipate socialising while on vacation in order to broaden their social circles. The data shows that Indians will travel to leisure destinations such as Goa, Jaipur, Manali, and Udaipur, as well as metros, from the 11th to the 14th of February 2022 to celebrate. During this time, hotels were the most popular type of accommodation, followed by resorts and guest houses. "The pandemic has forced us to rearrange our priorities in life and realise that freedom has never been more precious than it is now," said Ritu Mehrotra, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com. According to our Travel Predictions 2022 research, travellers will not only reconnect with friends and family in 2022, but will also actively seek out new relationships. Booking.com will be there to help travellers reclaim their travel mojo and enjoy all of the unforgettable experiences travel has to offer as they set out to explore new relationships and meet new people while away." (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 13 : North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) has been extremely successful in empowering women of northeast India and several success stories of uplifting the living standard of women bear witness to it. One such story is of Yobina Lyngdoh Marshyllong, a resident of Jakhong Village, West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. Coming from a very remote area, she lacked confidence in marketing her agricultural products due to which, her dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur seemed distant. However, in 2001 the Government of India intervened through NERCORMP, a livelihood initiative of North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) and came to her village. Under NERCORMP, Yobina became the member of Self Help Group (SHG) i.e. 'KA BUIT KA LONG KA BOR' (Knowledge is Strength). The SHG was formed in April, 2002 and soon she became the Chairman of the group due to her leadership qualities and managerial skills. The Ministry of Development of North-East Region says that NERCORMP has been beneficial to the entire village. In order to address the issues of open defecation, the entry point initiative launched under the project was to establish affordable toilet facilities. The initiative was well received by the villagers and accordingly they learned about cleanliness and hygiene. Another initiative supported by the project was the Revolving Fund to the SHGs. Initially, the SHG received a total fund support of Rs 1 lakh. Yobina took a loan of Rs 14,000 from the SHG revolving fund and established a grocery shop within the village. Through the capacity building support received under the project, she sharpened her entrepreneurial skills and further expanded the business. Gradually, she opened another grocery shop in the village itself. After successfully opening two grocery shops in the village, she also ventured in selling her products to the urban centres like Mairang and Shillong. This resulted in transforming her into a successful entrepreneur. Yobina, along with other members of the SHG, sells her goods in Mairang and Shillong. Since the group is directly selling their products at the urban centres, they now earn Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per day! She also encouraged others and formed new SHGs. There are now nearly 70 members. Yobina has expressed her sincere gratitude to NERCRMS, NEC, GoI for helping the villagers of a small village in realizing a new meaning of Atma Nirbharta (self reliance). San Francisco, Feb 13 : Tech giant Google has announced that Guest Mode on Google Assistant will be available in nine additional languages in the coming months, including Hindi. Incognito-style feature for Google Assistant called Guest Mode is adding support for Danish, Indonesian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazil), Swedish, Thai, Mandarin (Taiwan) and Hindi in the coming month, reports Android Central. Currently, the feature's language support is limited to English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese and Korean. When turned on, Guest Mode will not remember Assistant activities on the best smart displays such as the Nest Hub (2nd Gen). It will also exclude personal information from searches, which comes in handy if other people are trying to access your smart home device. Google unveiled the incognito-style feature for Google Assistant last year. It prevents interactions on Nest speakers and displays from being saved. In addition to language expansion, Google announced a few other updates focused on online safety. Starting next month, the search giant will allow users to switch on its account-level enhanced safe browsing feature, which helps combat web-based threats against your account. This new toggle will soon start showing up in your account settings or when you perform a security checkup. Washington, Feb 13 : The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Eli Lilly's bebtelovimab -- an antibody that showed neutralisation against the Omicron variant, the company said. Bebtelovimab is a neutralising IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to an epitope within the receptor binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The authorised dose of bebtelovimab is 175 mg given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds. The FDA has approved the use of bebtelovimab for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in adults and paediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg), and who are at high risk for progression to severe disease, including hospitalisation or death. It can also be used for people on whom alternative Covid treatment options approved or authorised by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. The drug has also shown to neutralise the highly contagious and vaccine evading Omicron variant. The FDA approval comes three weeks after Lilly's antibody cocktail of bamlanivimab and etesevimab was banned by the regulator because it was shown to be ineffective against Omicron. Regeneron's antibody, REGEN-COV, also was grounded that day for the same reason. The EUA was granted based on analyses from the Phase 2, randomised, clinical trial evaluating treatment of non-hospitalised patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19. Pseudovirus and authentic virus testing demonstrated that bebtelovimab retains full neutralising activity against Omicron. In addition, pseudovirus testing with bebtelovimab demonstrated that it retains neutralisation against all other known variants of interest and concern, including BA.2. "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," A said Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific and medical officer, and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, in a statement. Meanwhile, the US government has also signed an agreement with Lilly for 600,000 doses of the bebtelovimab drug for at least $720 million. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Over 70 per cent of the adolescents between the 15 to 18 age bracket have received their first dose of Covid vaccine. As per the government's CoWIN portal, a total of 6,69,85,609 youngsters of this age group have been administered Covid vaccines so far. As per the ministry report on Sunday morning, a total of 5,20,32,858 first vaccine doses and 1,47,92,245 second doses have been administered so far among the adolescents of 15 to 18 age bracket. Union Health Ministry Mansukh Mandaviya has appealed to the eligible youngsters to get vaccinated at the earliest. "Young India further strengthening the world's largest vaccination drive. Over 70% of our youngsters between 15-18 age group have received their 1st dose of COVID19 vaccine. I appeal to all eligible young friends to get vaccinated at the earliest", Mandaviya said in a tweet on Sunday. With the administration of more than 49.16 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 172.81 crore as per the health ministry report on Sunday morning. This has been achieved through 1,93,53,556 sessions. A total of 1,72,30,955 precaution doses have been administered so far among the eligible beneficiaries which includes 38,78,308 healthcare workers, 53,58,037 frontline workers and 79,94,610 doses for over 60 plus population. The nationwide drive to vaccinate teenagers in this age group of 15-18 years was rolled out on January 3. As of now only Bharat Biotech's indigenously-made Covaxin is being administered to this age bracket. Meanwhile, India has started showing declining Covid trends over the past few weeks. On Sunday, the nation reported below 50,000 Covid cases after 40 days. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New York, Feb 13 : After a Covid infection, it's long term effects including brain fog, joint pain, exercise intolerance and fatigue have been affecting the daily lives of millions. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, report the case of two middle-aged, healthy and active women who suffered from long Covid symptoms, and showed relief upto an year after taking the popular over-the-counter drug antihistamines, used to treat allergic rhinitis, common cold, influenza, and other allergies. According to the report, published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, both women took over-the-counter antihistamines to treat other conditions -- the first one had triggered her dairy allergy by eating cheese, and the other had run out of the allergy medication she usually took -- and experienced improved cognition and much less fatigue the next morning. The first woman's long Covid-19 symptoms also included exercise intolerance, chest pain, headaches, a rash and bruising, while the second coped with joint and abdominal pain, as well as the rashes and lesions known as "Covid-19 toes". The findings may provide relief for the millions of people suffering from the painful, debilitating symptoms of long Covid that impair daily functioning. The effects of Covid-19 on individuals range from mild symptoms to several weeks of illness to ailments including brain fog, joint pain, exercise intolerance and fatigue that last for months after the initial infection. There is currently no standard treatment for the condition, which may range from weeks to a year. "Patients tell us they wish more than anything that they could work and do the most basic activities they used to before they got sick with long Covid. They are desperately searching for something to help them get back on their feet," said the report's corresponding author, Melissa Pinto, UCI Associate Professor of Nursing. "The possibility that an easy-to-access, over-the-counter medication could ease some of the symptoms should offer hope to the estimated 54 million people worldwide who have been in distress for months or even years," Pinto added. In the first case, the woman didn't take another antihistamine for 72 hours; when her symptoms reappeared, she took the medication and again found relief. With guidance from her primary healthcare provider, who prescribed her an antihistamine, she began a daily dosage that has significantly decreased her other long Covid symptoms. She reported that she has regained 90 per cent of her pre-Covid-19 daily function. In the second case, the woman took a different over-the-counter antihistamine as a substitute for what she had taken for years to manage her seasonal allergies. After noting that her long Covid-19 fatigue and cognition had improved, she continued to take it daily along with other allergy medicine. Her course of treatment, which now includes both over-the-counter medications, has also significantly reduced her additional long Covid-19 symptoms. She reported that she has regained 95 per cent of her pre-illness functioning. Previous studies have similarly shown the potential benefit of antihistamines as treatment for long Covid. "If patients wish to try OTC antihistamines, I urge them to do so under medical supervision," Pinto said, adding the need for further research. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 : Chairperson of the Baloch People's Congress and a leader of the Balochistan resistance movement, Prof Naela Quadri Baloch has said that Pakistan is facing the worst civil war and that the Pakistani Army had lost more than 190 of its soldiers after an ambush by the Balochistan resistance forces. Naela Quadri, who is also the president of the World Baloch Women's Fprum, was speaking at a Webinar, "Recent Developments in Balochistan", organised by the Centre for Policy and Development Studies, a think tank based out of Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. The Baloch leader said that the people of Balochistan were facing extreme torture at the hands of the Pakistani armed forces. Prof Naela Quadri Baloch said that girls are picked up at random and are raped and in some cases, the mutilated dead bodies of these girls are recovered from fields and uninhabited places. The senior Baloch leader, who is one of the leading international voices of the Balochistan movement and living in exile in Canada, said that forced disappearances are taking place on a daily basis in Balochistan. Naela Quadri said that according to the information compiled by various groups connected to the Balochistan movement, more than 55,000 people are missing and that the Pakistani Army are arresting innocent people and torturing them in their torture cells and killing them, and dropping the dead bodies at will. She said that Pakistan was a failed state and that in Sindhudesh also movements have erupted against the Pakistani Army. Prof Naela Quadri Baloch said that the Balochistan people are strong and have resilience and will to fight against the better equipped Pakistani Army and after the 190 casualties of its personnel, the army has increased the torture of the Baloch people. She, however, said that the Pakistan Army is not walking through a rosy patch and that Baloch people will not sit in silence facing the attack by the 'rogues' in the Pakistani Army. Coming down heavily on China, she said that China is trying to totally take over places in South Balochistan, and for that, they are pressuring the Pakistani government to divide Baloch province into North and South Balochistan. She said that the people of Balochistan would never allow such a bifurcation. Prof Naela Quadri also said that several young, educated youths of Balochistan, who used to take classes for those children who are not going to schools, have been rounded up by the Pakistani Army and all of them are missing. She said, "The Pakistani establishment does not want the Baloch people to get educated and routinely pick up our people who are highly educated and helping our children." The leader also said that the Baloch people would continue their natural fight for justice until the goal is achieved. She said that the Indian government was also not actively supporting the Baloch cause and wanted the people of India to be proactive in the matter. Munir Mengal, President of Baloch Voice Association and based out of Paris while addressing the webinar said that there was no justice in Pakistan and added that people are routinely getting killed due to the failure of the judiciary. Munir, who also represents the Baloch people in international forums including the United Nations, said that for the past couple of years, UN meetings have come reduced due to the Covid pandemic and have heavily affected the momentum of the cause. C. Rajeev, Director, Centre for Policy and Development Studies was the moderator of the webinar. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Centre is working on the revival of the river Saraswati and for this the governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are working jointly on the project. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed for the construction of Adi Badri Dam on River Somb in Himachal Pradesh along with its linkages with Saraswati River. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on February 10, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu gave more details about the project. He said that Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited has been identified as the executing agency for construction of the dam and its related infrastructure works. The water stored by construction of Adi Badri Dam is planned primarily for revival of River Saraswati and development of Saraswati heritage. Further, the project envisages providing 61.88 hectare-metre water per annum for drinking and irrigation in Himachal Pradesh. The MoU was signed in January between the Governments of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. As per the MoU, a Committee comprising senior officials from the two states have been constituted for planning, supervising and monitoring of the dam. The MoU also stipulates that the funds for the project are to be arranged by the Government of Haryana. On request of the Haryana government, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has taken up the consultancy work for design and drawings along with hydrological studies, including water availability, design flood and sedimentation studies of the project. Itanagar, Feb 13 : Two construction workers, residents of Assam and Bihar, were released by the Myanmar based militant outfit NSCN (K-YA), 12 days after they were kidnapped from Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh, police said on Sunday. Police said that the outlawed outfit of the Yung Aung faction of NSCN-K released the two captives -- Hiren Konch from Assam and Ramashis Mahato from Bihar -- on the India-Myanmar border on Saturday night. Longding district Superintendent of Police Vikram Harimohan Meena said the duo was rescued by the police after "making tremendous efforts". He said that both the workers are visibly in good health but their medical checkups are being done. Police officials said that Banphua Wangpan, Hiren Konch and Ramashis Mahato were engaged in the construction of the Pumao-Langkhow road in Longding district and were staying at a camp near the construction site from where the militants kidnapped them on January 31. Police said that one of the three captives -- Banphua Wangpan was released the next day and two others were in the hideout of NSCN (K-YA). The police had suspected that the intention behind the kidnapping was ransom. The militants had reportedly demanded Rs 4 crore as ransom. The NSCN-K (Yung Aung) is based in Myanmar and is doing unlawful activities in some eastern Arunachal Pradesh districts and the outfit is only Naga militant group outside the purview of the ongoing peace talks with the Indian government. The villagers informed the police that the NSCN (K-YA) cadres are extorting money from businessmen for the past several months. Earlier the militants kidnapped several people including the construction workers in Arunachal Pradesh, but subsequently the guerillas released them after taking ransom. Arunachal Pradesh shares 520 km unfenced borders with Myanmar. Bengaluru, Feb 13 : The row on hijab that initially began as a protest by six students has rapidly snowballed into a major crisis in Karnataka, threatening the law and order situation. The international community too has raised concerns on the issue which has been discussed in the Parliament as well. B.C. Nagesh, who was recently named Karnataka's minister for education, is in the thick of things surrounding the hijab row. He has been strongly propagating the idea of uniform minus hijab. In an interaction with IANS, the minister explained his perspectives on the raging controversy. IANS: How do you see the developments unfolding in the state over the hijab issue. BC Nagesh: It is not a good development that young minds are getting polluted. Common man is observing how society is behaving. They are also seeing how the young ones, who have been normal students these days have changed suddenly. What has filled up the minds of these boys and girls? It is okay that they have approached the court. But, they forced the court to issue an interim order on that very day and reject the government circular. And even as three-judge bench of Karnataka High Court gave the interim order, the way that order was being challenged in the Supreme Court and how the transfer of case was sought, the attitude of their requirements are to be fulfilled at any cost and the way how court is being pressurized, I am taken aback. I am sad that schools were closed. Q: Do you think the hijab row which has been discussed at international level has brought disrepute to the state? A: When it becomes an international issue, it is the duty of each one to bring clarity about the issue. We have to put out the truth. Many people have attempted to bring out the truth. Falsehoods can prevail for a temporary period. Ultimately, the truth will come out. We have been making an honest attempt to address hijab row. The true colours of the elements involved in creating this controversy. There may be multiple layers of lies, but truth will emerge. It is not possible to uphold what is false. Q: The developments surrounding the hijab row have deeply hurt student mindset. How are you going to address the issue? A: It will take many days to bring mindsets back on the right track. The students who remained friends till yesterday have developed the psyche that one is a Muslim and another is a Hindu. This is not good. If the norm of Uniform is practiced without any hindrances of religious practices it is possible to heal these divided mindsets. They will continue to have bitter memories but somehow they will come to the right track after sometime. But, it is a difficult process and it takes time. What does it mean when a girl from Mandya can raise the slogan of Allah Hu Akbar? Where the mindsets have reached? I am not talking about what is right and what is wrong here. Everyone will have their emotions and they react to certain things. But, the reactive mindset has been developed already. How tenable is it for such developments to take place in college campuses? Q: You have been saying hijab row is the result of international conspiracy, can you elaborate on that? A: There are three things. Firstly, when it was not even known to the state that students wearing hijab were not sent to schools. No news was covered in this regard. Before the local media could pick up, few international media took it up. Secondly, ruling that hijab is not a part of uniform was not new at all. Karnataka was not the first state to make this rule. In 2015, Bombay High Court gave a ruling and banned hijab. No international agency spoke about it... so called secular leaders from New Delhi have also remained tight lipped. In 2018, the order was given in Kerala in this regard, but that did not emerge as an international issue. There, Muslim Education Society had approached court, the court said hijab is not allowed and students have to wear prescribed uniform by the institution. Thirdly, Delhi Apex Court and the Supreme Court stated the same, however, these did not make into international news. How come it has become an issue now? How can making uniform compulsory in one of the colleges of Karnataka become an international issue? Many nations have banned hijab. Muslim nations have banned hijab. Why didn't it become an international issue? The country is making progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The country is being respected. The country is overcoming the Corona crisis, no one expected it. Why did Pakistan, which has not reacted till date, react on the issue? Every day that country faces such problems on a daily basis. Asking six students not to wear hijab as per rules is a major international issue? We have just asked students to maintain prescribed uniforms, why can't students just follow? Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel laureate herself, said that these things are holding back women, and these are the instruments which take away their freedom. They (protesting students) open Twitter accounts on the same day, tweet on the same day? These are matters of investigation, I should not go deep into it. If the act of making uniform compulsory for six students is being portrayed as oppression of Muslims, in a large country like ours which has a huge Muslim population, what else is this? I do not have the capacity to depute a senior lawyer in the High Court for arguing my case. How can these children afford them? Three senior counsel in the Supreme Court are arguing for them. Honourable Chief Justice when assures that the case will be taken up on an everyday basis and give ruling, what is the meaning of them approaching the Supreme Court? The media propagated falsely that the rule on hijab was not there all these days, if you observe this, one group must be working behind all this. It is natural to get suspicious about it and people are observing it. Q: RSS and Sangh Parivar are squarely blamed for the hijab crisis. What do you have to say about the allegation? A: Initially what they thought was there was no rule on uniform in the state. They were under the illusion that there is no uniform for PUC. They initially questioned it first. The government gave clarification about the act and rule. After that they went to the court. In court also they did not get relief. Slowly, they are realizing that the issue is boomeranging on them. People are also against them, the media by and large in general except for few national televisions are realizing that it is wrong. They are blaming RSS to get an escape route. From where does RSS come in the issue? Students wearing saffron shawls is a natural reaction, like how the girl (college student in Mandya PES College) spontaneously shouted 'Allah hu Akbar' slogan in front of the crowd. She is now being felicitated by Mumbai MLA, Karnataka leader C.M. Ibrahim visits her, why do they go? Q: First it was Covid crisis, now it is the hijab. How are you managing? A: I am getting cooperation from everyone. It's a team decision, all are involved. Our teachers responded and conducted classes, we boosted their morale. I have chosen good officers. Q: What is your message to students and parents? A: Please come to classes in uniform like before in a disciplined manner. Examinations have been declared, I request them to focus on studies and build their career. For those girls who took up agitation, no one has a fixed opinion on you... If you start coming to classes, everything will be alright in sometime. Please leave the ego behind and attend classes. Their parents should also give good guidance to their wards and send them to schools. I am very happy to see concern for education among Muslim girls who are not wearing hijabs and attending classes. In spite of all this crisis, they are not bothered about anything, they are with their friends and showed the nation and the world that we are all one and proved that they will follow discipline. I appreciate those girls. There are 9 colleges in Udupi, among them barring these 6 girls, no other students took part in the matters like this. This article first appeared in The Conversation The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. U.S. officials ordered most of the U.S. embassy personnel in Kyiv to evacuate on Feb. 12, as they warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come any day. President Joe Biden cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin of swift and severe costs of any such invasion. Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine over the past several months. The U.S. has responded by sending several thousand troops to two of Ukraines neighboring countries: Poland and Romania. In mid-January, Russia began moving troops into Belarus, a country bordering both Russia and Ukraine, in preparation for joint military exercises in February. Putin has issued various security demands to the U.S. before he draws his military forces back. Putins list includes a ban on Ukraine from entering NATO, and agreement that NATO will remove troops and weapons across much of Eastern Europe. Theres precedent for taking the threat seriously: Putin already annexed the Crimea portion of Ukraine in 2014. Ukraines layered history offers a window into the complex nation it is today and why it is continuously under threat. As an Eastern Europe expert, I highlight five key points to keep in mind. What should we know about Ukrainians relationship with Russia? Ukraine gained independence 30 years ago, after the fall of the Soviet Union. It has since struggled to combat corruption and bridge deep internal divisions. Ukraines western region generally supported integration with Western Europe. The countrys eastern side, meanwhile, favored closer ties with Russia. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine peaked in February 2014, when violent protesters ousted Ukraines pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, in what is now known as the Revolution of Dignity. Around the same time, Russia forcibly annexed Crimea. Ukraine was in a vulnerable position for self-defense, with a temporary government and unprepared military. Putin immediately moved to strike in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The armed conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists has killed over 14,000 people. Unlike its response to Crimea, Russia continues to officially deny its involvement in the Donbas conflict. What do Ukrainians want? Russias military aggression in Donbas and the annexation of Crimea have galvanized public support for Ukraines Western leanings. Ukraines government has said it will apply for European Union membership in 2024, and also has ambitions to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who came to power in 2019, campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption, economic renewal and peace in the Donbas region. In September 2021, 81% of Ukrainians said they have a negative attitude about Putin, according to the Ukrainian news site RBC-Ukraine. Just 15% of surveyed Ukrainians reported a positive attitude towards the Russian leader. Romanian and U.S. service members stand shoulder to shoulder as part of a multinational formation at Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania, Feb. 11, 2022. (Osvaldo Fuentes/U.S. Army) Why is Putin threatening to invade Ukraine? Putins decision to engage in a military buildup along Ukraine is connected to a sense of impunity. Putin also has experience dealing with Western politicians who champion Russian interests and become engaged with Russian companies once they leave office. Western countries have imposed mostly symbolic sanctions against Russia over interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections and a huge cyberattack against about 18,000 people who work for companies and the U.S. government, among other transgressions. Without repercussions, Putin has backed Belarus President Alexander Lukashenkos brutal crackdown on mass protests in the capital city, Minsk. In several instances, Putin has seen that some leading Western politicians align with Russia. These alliances can prevent Western countries from forging a unified front to Putin. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, for example, advocated for strategic cooperation between Europe and Russia while he was in office. He later joined Russian oil company Rosneft as chairman in 2017. Other senior European politicians promoting a soft position toward Russia while in office include former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and former Austrian foreign minister Karin Kneissl. Both joined the boards of Russian state-owned companies after leaving office. What is Putins end game? Putin views Ukraine as part of Russias sphere of influence a territory, rather than an independent state. This sense of ownership has driven the Kremlin to try to block Ukraine from joining the EU and NATO. In January 2021, Russia experienced one of its largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Tens of thousands of Russians protested in support of political opposition leader Alexei Navalny, following his detention in Russia. Navalny had recently returned from Germany, where he was treated for being poisoned by the Russian government. Putin is also using Ukraine as leverage for Western powers lifting their sanctions. Currently, the U.S. has various political and financial sanctions in place against Russia, as well as potential allies and business partners to Russia. A Russian attack on Ukraine could prompt more diplomatic conversations that could lead to concessions on these sanctions. The costs to Russia of attacking Ukraine would significantly outweigh the benefits. While a full scale invasion of Ukraine is unlikely, Putin might renew fighting between the Ukrainian army and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division make their way to the terminal after arriving on a C-17 Globemaster aircraft at Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport, Poland, Feb. 8, 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Angel D. Martinez-Navedo) Why would the US want to get involved in this conflict? With its annexation of Crimea and support for the Donbas conflict, Russia has violated the Budapest Memorandum Security Assurances for Ukraine, a 1994 agreement between the U.S., United Kingdom and Russia that aims to protect Ukraines sovereignty in exchange for its commitment to give up its nuclear arsenal. Putins threats against Ukraine occur as he is moving Russian forces into Belarus, which also raises questions about the Kremlins plans for invading other neighboring countries. Military support for Ukraine and political and economic sanctions are ways the U.S. can make clear to Moscow that there will be consequences for its encroachment on an independent country. The risk, otherwise, is that the Kremlin might undertake other military and political actions that would further threaten European security and stability. Tatsiana Kulakevich is Assistant Professor of instruction at School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, affiliate professor at the Institute on Russia, University of South Florida. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Chennai, Feb 13 : West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has hit out at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for his statement on proroguing the assembly session, saying that Stalin was responding to something without knowing facts. In a tweet, Dhankhar said, "Find it unusually expedient to respectfully invite indulgent attention of TN CM@mkstalin that his extremely harsh hurtful observations are not in the least conformity with facts - attached order. Assembly was prorogued at express request@MamataOfficial@rajbhavan_tn". Dhankhar's response came following a tweet by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that the West Bengal Governor's act of proroguing the assembly is 'without any propriety'. Stalin in a tweet had said, "The act of #West Bengal Governor to prorogue the WB assembly session is without any propriety expected from the exalted post and goes against established norms and conventions." The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had further said, "The 'symbolic' head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. The beauty of democracy lies in respecting each other." The Trinamool Congress has also said that the West Bengal Governor had prorogued the state assembly on the recommendations of the state government and that there was no confusion in it. The tweet of M.K. Stalin and the response of the West Bengal Governor and the Trinamool Congress have given fresh ammunition to the AIADMK to target the DMK in the midst of the urban local body elections. Party leader, V. Periyasami in a statement on Sunday said, "The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is interfering in matters without properly doing a study on the subject and his undue haste for hitting headlines has backfired. The Chief Minister must further properly study a subject before commenting." New Delhi, Feb 13 : India pacer Deepak Chahar, who was bought back by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping sum of Rs 14 crore, on Sunday said that he was travelling with Team India to Kolkata from Ahmedabad in a bus and was watching the IPL 2022 auction on his mobile phone. He added that he did not want the price to go more than Rs 14 crore, fearing CSK may pull out of the bidding war. Chahar became the most expensive Indian fast bowler at an IPL auction when CSK paid Rs 14 crore to secure the services of the India bowler on Day 1 of the mega auction on Saturday. "We (Indian team) were travelling from Ahmedabad to Kolkata. We were watching the auction on the phone, the whole team was watching it. Everyone was asking 'kitna ho gaya?' When I reached till Rs 14 crore, I was thinking 'I should not go for more than this' because if CSK pulled out after that, I would have been very sad. I wanted to play for CSK because I can't imagine myself playing for any other colour," Chahar told Star Sports. "At one time, I thought it was too much. As a CSK player, I also want the team to build a good team and we can buy some other players." Chahar was not retained by CSK as the management went for Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali as their four picks ahead of the auction. He revealed that he never had a discussion with skipper Dhoni or the management on retention, but was confident that the four-time champions would pick him up. "I am really happy to be back in Chennai Super Kings. I don't think there will be any difference. When I go back, I will be seeing the same faces over the last four years, maybe over the last six years because I was with the Pune side and half the players were there. I could not have asked for a better auction than this," said Chahar on Sunday. "I have never spoken about all this to Mahi bhai or the CSK management (about retention). They just assured me that in 2018, I met Kasi sir and Srinivasan sir and they told me that I was going to play for Yellow always. "I took his word that day and after that, I have never spoken about retention or anything. Before the auction also, I didn't speak anything. I knew that CSK would pick me," he added. Latest updates on IPL 2022 New Delhi, Feb 13 : With an aim to provide speedy and clean urban transport system to the public, seven states and two Union Territories have sent 16 proposals for the expansion/fresh construction of metro rail projects to the Centre. The proposals also include three regional rapid transport systems that will connect different parts of Haryana and Rajasthan with Delhi, as well as two from Jammu and Kashmir. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had told the Lok Sabha on February 10, that urban transport was an integral part of urban development, and while it is the responsibility of the state governments concerned to initiate, develop, and fund urban transport infrastructure including metro rail projects, the Central government considers financial assistance to such projects under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017. "Based on the feasibility of the proposal and availability of resources, the Central government considers such projects in cities or urban agglomerates," Puri said, adding that no new metro rail proposal was submitted by the Gujarat government for funding. Of the 16 proposals, the most (three) were from Maharashtra, and included construction of the 43.80-km-long second phase of Nagpur Metro in five years from the date of approval. Similarly, the state has submitted a proposal for a 33-km-long Nashik Metro, to be completed in four years from the date of approval. The third proposal is for a 29-km-long Thane Internal Ring Project, likely to be completed in five years from the date of its approval. Puri said that the Delhi government has sent a proposal for constructing three remaining corridors of Delhi Metro under the fourth phase with a total length of 43.677 km, to be completed in five years from the start of work. The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has also received two metro rail projects from Kerala for Kochi Metro, of which a two-km-long stretch under Phase 1A which is likely to be completed by June this year. Another project is of 11.20-km-long corridor in Phase II that will likely be completed in four years from the date of its sanction. Uttar Pradesh has sent two proposals - one for the extension of 14.958-km-long Noida Metro from Sector 51 in Noida to Knowledge Park in Greater Noida, likely to be completed in 38 months from the date of its approval, and the second for a 15.14-km-long Gorakhpur MetroLite project in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's home city, to be completed in four years from the date of sanction. From Jammu and Kashmir, a 23-km-long MetroLite project in Jammu and of the same length for Srinagar have been proposed, with a completion date of March 2026. The Tamil Nadu government has also sent a proposal for construction of 118.9-km-long second phase of Chennai Metro which is likely to be completed in six years from the date of sanction. The Centre has received a proposal for construction of 28.50-km-long Metro Rail Connectivity project that will connect from HUDA City Centre to Cyber City in Gurugram, and is likely to be completed in five years from the date of the sanction. It has received the proposal to construct a 22.424-km-long MetroNeo project in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, likely to be completed in three years from the date of sanction. The three proposed Regional Rapid Transport Systems (RRTS), connecting various parts of Rajasthan and Haryana with Delhi, include the 107-km-long Delhi-SNB, and the 33.3-km-long SNB-Sotanala, connecting Delhi, Gurugram, Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, and Behror in Haryana and Rajasthan. These two projects are expected to be completed in six years and five years respectively from the date of sanctions. The third project is 103.02-km long-Delhi-Panipat RRTS that will connect the national capital with Haryana's Sonipat and Panipat and is likely to be completed in six years from the date of sanction. Los Angeles, Feb 13 : Javier Bardem-starrer 'The Good Boss' written and directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa has emerged as the biggest winner at The Goyas - Spain's top film awards. The film collected six awards, reports Deadline. The film was conferred with the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for Aranoa, Best Actor for Javier Bardem, Best Original Score for Zeltia Montes and Best Editing that went to Vanessa L. Marimbert. Earlier, it earned 20 nominations at the awards show, a record in itself. As per Deadline, the ceremony saw Bardem continue his streak at the awards, collecting his sixth Goya in total, while filmmaker Aranoa is now up to seven across his career. 'The Good Boss', produced by The MediaPro Studio and MK2 Films, stars Bardem as a factory owner who schemes his way to solving all of the problems within his business and his personal life, including his infidelities. Cohen Media Group will handle the US release. Further winners at the 2022 Goyas included Blance Portillo picking up Best Actress for her work in 'Maixabel', the film also fetched Supporting Actor award for Urko Olazabal and New Actress for Maria Cerezuela. 'Another Round' walked away with Best European Picture title, while New Director went to Clara Roquet of 'Libertad'. Ranchi, Feb 13 : Language row has sparked protests in Jharkhand ranging from burning of effigies, forming human chains, people taking to the streets and a call for gherao of the Legislative Assembly. Political parties are also trying to use the protest in their favour. The most strange thing is that leaders within the state's three largest parties -- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress -- are divided into two factions on regional languages list. And it is the youths who are facing the brunt as they have been eyeing the state government jobs. Several examinations for the government jobs have been stalled due to the language row. The row revolves around the issue whether Bhojpuri, Maghi, Urdu and Angika should be included in the regional languages lis for the third and fourth grade jobs. The state government has announced a policy and the third and fourth grade jobs have been divided into two categories -- state level and district level. The government has included Bhojpuri, Maghi, Urdu and Angika in the list of regional languages for examinations held through Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, while excluded the said languages for government jobs on competitive exams at the state level. In the second category, that is district level, for the third and fourth grade jobs, regional languages list is different according to which some districts have included Bhojpuri, Maghi and Angika in it. Urdu has been given the status of a regional language in all 24 districts of the state. The government had passed a notification on December 23, 2021 after which protests erupted. Political parties and organisations which are opposing the said languages are saying that the origin of these languages is Bihar and their inclusion in Jahrkhand will adversely impact job prospects of the tribals and the people of Jharkhand. People who have come from Bihar will get jobs in Jharkhand, they say. Senior leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and state Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto has been vocal on the issue. He has sought the exclusion of the said languages from the list. Mahto said he had spoken to Chief Minister Hemant Soren in this regard. All JMM members and ministers are of the same view except Minister Mithilesh Thakur who had in August 2021, written to the Chief Minister demanding the inclusion of Maghi and Bhojpuri in regional languages list. Thakur had batted for his demand saying that if Maghi and Bhojpuri will not be included in the regional languages list, then job aspirants of Palamu, Garhwa, Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Koderma will not get equal opportunities as the said languages are prominently used in these districts. The Chief Minister also personally doesn't consider Bhojpuri and Maghi as state's regional languages. In September, 2021, Soren in an interview had said that during agitation for creation of Jharkhand as a separate state from Bihar, Bhojpuri speaking people had abused the protesters and misbehaved with women. The statement of the chief minister has created a furore in the state. In the present circumstances, the supporters of Hemant Soren are shocked as Bokaro and Dhanbad are witnessing strong protest demonstrations in this context. The Congress, which is an ally in the Jharkhand government, also has split into two factions over the issue. Many of the lawmakers say that exclusion of these languages will have detrimental effect as the state is having a large number of Bhojpuri and Maghi speaking people, and losing their support could harm the party's political prospects. A delegation of Congress lawmakers met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the issue and expressed their concern on it. on the other hand, Dr Rameshwar Oraon, a senior leader of the Congress, and MLA Bandhu Tirkey does not consider the said languages as the regional languages. The party has till date not come up with its 'official' stand. Recently, Congress state chief Ramesh Thakur during a press conference had stated that the government will take a decision keeping public sentiments in mind. Leaders of the main opposition in the state, BJP also have dissimilar views on the issue. Saffron party's bigwigs like Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi are mum on the issue while party MP Bidyut Baran Mahto and other leaders last week met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum seeking exclusion of Bhojpuri, Maithli, Angika and Urdu and inclusion of state's nine tribal languages in the regional languages list. Ranchi MLA and former minister C.P. Singh, MLAs Raj Sinha, Neera Yadav, Bhanu Pratap Sahi, Anant Ojha, Biranchi Narayan and Manish Jaiswal are for inclusion of Maghi and Bhojpuri and had staged demonstrations in the state's legislative Assembly. The BJP is also not being able to take a clear stand on the issue but is unanimously protesting the inclusion of Urdu in regional languages list in all districts of the state. AJSU has called for gherao of the Legislative Assembly on March 7 to press for the exclusion of Bhojpuri and Maghi from the regional languages list. CPI(ML) has also staged protests at Ranchi, Bagodar and other places to press for inclusion of only state's original languages in the regional languages list. All political parties are weighing the pros and cons of their move. In tribal-dominated Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, people are generally against Bhojpuri, Maghi and Angika. On the other hand, of the 24 districts in the state, 14-15 districts have a large number of Bhojpuri, Maghi and Angika speaking people. The BJP and Congress are aware of the fact that protesting against inclusion of these languages can upset their political prospects in elections. Recently, the government has invited applications for graduate state level competitive examinations against which a PIL has been filed challenging its rules. Los Angeles, Feb 13 : As Myanmar continues to remain in a state of siege by its own military, which is hell bent on curbing the civil uprising after two years of the coup, an anonymous Myanmar Film Collective, a group of local filmmakers are working to expose the crimes committed by the military through their work in films. Deadline recently got in touch with a group to talk about their film 'Myanmar Diaries' and the civil movements. 'Myanmar Diaries', a hybrid doc-fiction is a feature born out of the concerted effort that intends to make the audience aware of what all has been happening inside the country for the past two years. Myanmar Film Collective recently spoke with Deadline ahead of the premiere of 'Myanmar Diaries' in the Berlin International Film Festival's Panorama program on February 13. They told Deadline, "We are desperately hoping for international attention. We want to be seen. Hopefully we can show audiences worldwide, but also lawmakers and politicians, the living circumstances of the people of Myanmar through our film. We show personal stories - on how the current violence affects our daily lives, and we show how much we have to all endure." While the military is further cracking down on dissenters, the filmmakers collective refuses to budge for they feel that the civil uprising is getting stronger with each passing day and that the military will be forced to surrender one day as the uprising has many facets to itself right from art, civil disobedience and films unlike the military which only has violence at their disposal. They said, "We are storytellers, we wanted to show this in our film, we want to express our pain and suffering. There is so much more going on, so much more misery than presented in our film. We want the world to understand our struggles. We want the world to show solidarity with us. We want people to take action. We want accountability for the atrocities the junta is committing." They further said, "We want responsibility from the international world, we want people to stop all the support given to the military. There are many people who lost their homes, war refugees are piling up at the border of Myanmar. At least, sending aid would be a tremendous help. Now it is winter, people are lacking clothing, food, sanitised water and women need hygienic products." When Deadline asked them if there are other projects in the pipeline, the collective responded by saying, "Yes, we are developing ideas for further projects. Should people outside Myanmar wish to support the Myanmar Film Collective (any Myanmar filmmaker can join us) we are now setting up a platform, where we will be fundraising for new projects, and film professionals around the world are invited to support us in content and advise. The platform will be released in April." Imphal, Feb 13 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Sunday vehemently denied the accusation that militant outfits were intimidating the people to vote for the ruling BJP, and called it a "baseless allegation". He said, in fact, in a recent episode in Saikul in the hilly areas where some cadres of the militant outfits which are now under the 'Suspension of Operation' agreement with the government, had stopped the people from attending a BJP election meeting. Reiterating his confidence that the BJP would get the two third majority this time, the Chief Minister said that 29 sitting BJP MLAs are contesting the elections and the prospect of their re-electing is very high and 11 other BJP candidates would be succeeded easily. The National People's Party (NPP) earlier wrote to the Election Commission demanding adequate security of the candidates as according to the party the militant outfits are intimidating. The NPP leaders in Imphal on Sunday said that the ongoing situation is an attempt to jeopardise the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections in Manipur. "If the ongoing situation is allowed to prevail, where militant and underground outfits are moving around openly with arms, the electorates will fear and would not come out to vote, which would directly hamper the conduct of elections. Therefore, we at NPP would like to urge the authorities to put all underground groups under 'suspension of operation' in their respective camps and recover arms from their possession," an NPP statement said. Over 2,000 cadres of the pro-talks militant outfits which are under ceasefire agreements with the government and they are staying in the 14 designated camps in different parts of Manipur. The BJP, which had bagged 21 seats in the 60-member assembly in 2017 and wrested the power for the first time, stitching together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four Naga People's Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member. However, this time, the BJP, NPP and the NPF are contesting separately and put-up candidates against each other. The elections to the 60-seat Manipur assembly would be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. The counting of votes would take place on March 10. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Two recent studies have thrown more light on the condition of the glaciers across Himalayas and also those from the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh. Although the thinning, melting, and receding of glaciers have been known for quite some time now, every new study comes as an alarm for humanity. In their latest published study, a bunch of researchers have studied the Pangong Tso region of Ladakh and ascertained the area changes and frontal retreat of 87 glaciers between 1990 and 2019 using satellite data. Besides, the glacier outlines were delineated manually and compared with existing regional and global glacier inventories that are available over the region. This analysis indicated deglaciation of 6.7 per cent from 1990 to 2019 over the Pangong Region with clean-ice glaciers showing a higher retreat of 8.4 per cent compared to the debris-covered glaciers' 5.7 per cent. However, the overall recession is lower compared to other parts of north-western Himalayas, the study published in the study titled 'Spatiotemporal dynamics and geodetic of glaciers with varying debris cover in the Pangong region of Trans-Himalayan Ladakh India between 1990 and 2019', published in Frontiers in Earth Science journal in December 2021, said. From 2000 to 2012, the glaciers lost an ice mass amounting to 0.33 to 0.05 metre water equivalent (m we) per year. The only thing is that the mean glacier elevation did not indicate any influence on glacier recession. Unlike this, another study published last week found out that glaciers on Mount Everest such as South Col Glacier, which is located at the highest point in the world, have been thinning at an alarming rate, with estimated thinning rates of nearly two metre per year. The study published in the Nature Portfolio journal 'Climate and Atmospheric Research', as reported by IANS, addresses a key question from the 2019 National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition on whether glaciers at the highest point on earth are experiencing the impacts of climate change. And the Mount Everest region has indeed been losing ice significantly since the late 1990s, it was revealed. So do we know everything about Himalayan glaciers? It has been known for quite some time that the Himalayan glaciers are showing recession due to multiple reasons, including climate change. Even the government is aware of and maintains data regarding melting of Himalayan glaciers. It is also known that the glaciers in eastern, central, and western parts of the Himalayas are reacting differently to different causes such as climatic conditions, topography, and geological influences. The Western part also includes the Karakoram ranges and the Trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, which is supposed to be relatively stable compared to the rapidly changing eastern or central parts. The Himalayas are called the third pole as it is the repository of the highest volume of ice outside the two poles. As many as 10 major rivers of the Indian sub-continent originate from the Himalayas and India's 45 per cent population is directly or indirectly dependent on Himalayas. Melting glaciers have significant impact on water resources of Himalayan rivers due to change in glacier basin hydrology, downstream water budget, impact on hydropower plants due to variation in discharge, flash flood and sedimentation. They also increase in risk related to glacier hazards due to enhanced number and volume of glacier lakes, accelerated flash flood and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), impact on agro practices in high Himalayan region etc. Multiple government agencies have been studying the glaciers albeit the effort is far too less given the vast number of glaciers - 10-15,000 known large glaciers and numerous smaller ones - spread across the Himalayas with most of them difficult to reach. In the just concluded Budget Session of the Parliament, Lok Sabha member Dushyant Singh had asked if the government is aware of the study conducted by the University of Leeds, regarding the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, published in journal Nature Scientific Reports in 2021. The government agreed that it was aware of it and pointed out the difference between the findings of the multiple studies. The University of Leeds, the Minister for Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh answered, had reconstructed the size and ice surfaces of 14,798 Himalayan glaciers during the Little Ice Age, which was 400-700 years ago. The study concludes that the Himalayan glaciers have lost ice 10 times more quickly over the last few decades than on average since the last major glacier expansion. In the last 400 to 700 years, the glaciers have lost around 40 per cent area - shrinking from 28,000 sq kms to around 19,600 sq km. The Minister also listed the various Indian institutes/universities/organisations such as Geological Survey of India, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, the National Institute of Hydrology, the Space Application Centre, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) etc. that monitor Himalayan glaciers for various scientific studies including glacier melting. The NCPOR has utilised Rs 11.88 crore during the last five years for Himalayan Glacier research. Rs 15.44 crore has been utilised by DST and Rs 1.1 crore by GSI during the last five years, he said. These studies have reported accelerated heterogeneous mass loss in Himalayan glaciers. The mean retreat rate of Himalayan glaciers is in the range of 14.9 to 15.1 metre/annum (m/a); which varies from 12.7 to 13.2 m/a in Indus, 15.5 to 14.4 m/a in Ganga and 20.2 to 19.7 m/a in Brahmaputra river basins. However, glaciers in the Karakoram region have shown comparatively minor length change (from minus 1.37 to 22.8 m/a), indicating the stable condition. The Ministry of Earth Sciences, through its autonomous institute NCPOR, is monitoring six glaciers in the Chandra basin (2,437 sq km area) in western Himalaya since 2013. The rate of annual mass balance (melting) ranging from minus 0.3 to 0.06 metre water equivalent per year (m w.e.y-1) to minus 1.13 to 0.22 m w.e.y-1 during 2013-2020. Similarly, a mean thinning of approx 50 metres with a mean annual mass loss of minus 1.09 to 0.32 m w.e. y-1 was observed for the Baspa basin during 2000-2011. The GSI has taken up a project on melting of glaciers in Beas Basin, South Chenab basin and Chandra Basin in Himachal Pradesh, Shyok and Nubra basin in Ladakh during Field Season 2021-22. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has supported various R&D projects for studying Himalayan Glaciers under the National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem, and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. The mass balance studies conducted for some Himalayan glaciers by University of Kashmir, the Sikkim University, the IISc and the WIHG, revealed that the majority of Himalayan glaciers are melting or retreating at varying rates. WIHG is monitoring a few glaciers in Uttarakhand, which reveal that the Dokriani Glacier in the Bhagirathi basin is retreating at 15-20 m/a since 1995, whereas Chorabari Glacier in the Mandakini basin is retreating at 9-11 m/a during 2003-2017. WIHG is also monitoring Durung-Drung and Pensilungpa glaciers in Suru basin, Ladakh, which are retreating at 12 m/a, and approximately 5.6 m/a, respectively. The NIH has been conducting several studies for the assessment of runoff from melting of glaciers at catchment and basin scales across Himalayas. "The recent publication suggests that at regional scale, mass loss rate varies between minus 0.41 to 0.11 m.w.e.y-1 in the eastern; minus 0.58 to 0.01 m.w.e.y-1 in the central; minus 0.55 to 0.37 m.w.e.y-1 in the western Himalaya and minus 0.10 to 0.07 m.w.e.y-1 in Karakoram region in the last decade, the Lok Sabha was told. Mumbai, Feb 13 : 'Bigg Boss OTT' fame Zeeshan Khan opens up about his plan on getting married to popular model and actress Reyhna Pandit. He says: "Right now I'm still working on myself. I still have a very long way to go. And even Reyhna right now is focused on her career. So, I think for now we both are building each other up. But yes if things go this way in future then she is the girl I will definitely love to get married with." The actor started dating his 'Kumkum Bhagya' co-actor Reyhna Pandit in May 2021, when the two were shooting in Goa for their show. Zeeshan says he loves her because she is full of positivity and optimism. He says: "The best thing about her is that she gives me peace of mind, she never lets my mind or the atmosphere around me be stressed. She never allows any doubts or negative vibes to come around. She always lifts me up with so much positivity and love. She always makes a way to impress me. If there is a problem she helps me find a way to sort that out. She always makes me smile irrespective of the situation or my mood." New Delhi, Feb 13 : The State Bank of India on Sunday said that the consortium of banks, which had made loans to ABG Shipyard, had tried to revive its operations but all efforts failed as it was going through a downturn. It said that the fraud was mainly attributed to diversion of funds, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday conducted raids in Rs 22,842 crore loan fraud case lodged against Gujarat-based ABG Shipyards and its directors, at over a dozen places, including Surat, Bharuch, Mumbai, and Pune which led to the recovery of incriminating documents. A complaint against them was lodged by the SBI on the basis of which the CBI filed an FIR naming Rishi Aggarwal and Santhanam Muthuswamy, the directors of ABG Shipyards. The SBI said that due to poor performance, the account became NPA on November 11, 2013. "ABG Shipyard was incorporated on March 15, 1985, has been banking arrangements since 2001. Financed under consortium arrangement over a two dozen lenders. Leader in Consortium was ICICI Bank. Due to poor performance, account became NPA in 2013. Several efforts were made to revive the company operations but could not succeed," the SBI said in a press note. The SBI further stated that ABG Shipyard's account was restructured under CDR mechanism in March 2014 by all lenders. However, as the shipping industry was going through a downturn, one of the worst ever seen, the company could not be revived. "As the restructuring failed, account classified as NPA in July 2016 with back dated effect from November 30, 2013. E&Y were appointed as Forensic Auditor by lenders during April 2018 and they submitted their report in January 2019. E&Y report was placed before the Fraud Identification Committee of 18 lenders in 2019. Fraud is mainly attributed to diversion of funds, misappropriation and criminal breach of trust," the SBI statement said. Although, ICICI Bank was the lead lender in the consortium and IDBI was the second lead, it was preferred that the SBI, being the largest PSB lender, lodges the complaint with the CBI. The first complaint was filed with CBI in November 2019. There was continuous engagement between the CBI and thae bnks and further information was getting exchanged. The circumstances of the fraud as well as CBI requirements were further deliberated in the various meetings of joint lenders and a fresh and comprehensive second complaint was filed in December 2020. The account is presently undergoing liquidation under a NCLT-driven process. A fraud is declared basis on the forensic audit report findings that is discussed thoroughly in joint lenders meetings. Typically, when a fraud is declared, an initial complaint is preferred with CBI and based on their enquiries, further information is gathered.A In a few cases, when substantial additional information is gathered, a second complaint incorporating full and complete details is filed which forms basis for the FIR. At no point in time, there was any effort to delay the process. The lenders forum diligently follows through with CBI in all such cases, the SBI said. This article first appeared in The Conversation The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The buildup of Russian forces along Belarus 665-mile border with Ukraine is a physical manifestation of Russias intense interest in the region. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and now Russian President Valdimir Putin appears intent on pulling Ukraine under Russias influence and denying it a close relationship with the West. But even as Russia engages in brinksmanship from snow-covered fields in Belarus to meeting rooms in Geneva, Moscow is already at war with Kyiv cyberwar. Russia has been waging this fight since at least 2014. In cyberspace, Russia has interfered in Ukrainian elections, targeted its power grid, defaced its government websites and spread disinformation. Strategically, Russian cyber operations are designed to undermine the Ukrainian government and private sector organizations. Tactically, the operations aim to influence, scare and subdue the population. They are also harbingers of invasion. As a cybersecurity and public policy researcher, I believe that Russian cyber operations are likely to continue. These operations are likely to further destabilize Ukraines political environment namely, its government, its institutions and the people and organizations that depend on them. National power in cyberspace To date, Russia has been aggressive in its attempts to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. Russian propaganda has painted a war with Ukraine as one of liberation. Many false narratives paint the Ukrainians as submissive and eager for reunification. Russias intent is to sow confusion, shape the public perception of the conflict and influence the ethnic Russian population within Ukraine. Russia has artfully employed cyber operations to project national power, particularly through its GRU military intelligence service. The phrase instruments of national power defines power as diplomatic, information, military and economic all are mechanisms for influencing other countries or international organizations. Cyberspace is unique as a domain of warfare because cyber operations can be used in the service of all four instruments of national power. Diplomatically, Russia has tried to shape international norms in cyberspace by influencing discussions on cyberspace norms and behaviors. In 2018, Russia introduced a resolution to the United Nations creating a working group with like-minded states to revisit and reinterpret the U.N.s rule for cyberspace, emphasizing that a states sovereignty should extend into cyberspace. Some analysts argue that Russias true goal is to legitimize its surveillance-state internet tactics in the guise of state sovereignty. Economically, the Russian NotPetya attack crippled international ports, paralyzed corporations, disrupted supply chains and effectively stalled the global economy all with a single piece of code. In the information environment, Russia is especially adept at influencing and manipulating information to suit its strategic interests. For example, Russian efforts against the U.K. have targeted its relationship with NATO by using bots to spread false stories about British troops in Estonia during a NATO military exercise in 2017. Notably, Russia has a pattern of pairing information with military operations as tools of national power. During previous military conflicts in eastern Ukraine, the Russian military employed cyber capabilities to jam Ukrainian satellite, cellular and radio communications. Overall, Russia sees warfare as a continuum that is ongoing with varying intensity across multiple fronts. Simply put, for Russia, war never stops and cyberspace is a key domain of its persistent conflict with Ukraine and the West. Probing the US, hammering Ukraine Russia has aimed its cyber operations at other nations, including the U.S. and Western European countries. Russia has targeted U.S. critical infrastructure and supply chains, and conducted disinformation campaigns. U.S. officials are still investigating the extent of the recent SolarWinds cyberattack, for example, but they have determined that the attack compromised federal agencies, courts, numerous private companies and state and local governments. The Russian activities are aimed at undermining U.S. domestic and national security, democratic institutions and even public health efforts. But Russia is more destructive in its own backyard. Attacks on Estonia and Georgia illustrate how Russia can disrupt government functions and sow confusion as it prepares for military operations. Most recently, Microsoft detected data wiping malware in Ukrainian government computer systems. Ukraine publicly named Moscow as the perpetrator and attributed the software designed to destroy data to Russian hackers. The presence of the malware marks an escalation of Russias current behavior toward Ukraine in cyberspace. The malware, if triggered, would have destroyed Ukrainian government records, disrupted online services and prevented the government from communicating with its citizens. The ongoing aggression against Ukraine follows Russias pattern of waging cyberwar while publicly threatening and preparing for a military invasion. In many ways, for Ukrainians, the prospect of war and anticipating invasion have become normalized. Deadly consequences Website defacement and data loss are not the only concerns for Ukraine as Russia continues to mass troops and equipment along its borders. In the winter of 2015-2016, Russia demonstrated its ability to hack Ukraines power grid in a first-of-its-kind attack that cut off power to thousands of Ukrainians. Temperatures in Kyiv in the winter hover around freezing during the day and become dangerously cold at night. Any loss of power could be deadly. Similarly, cyberattacks could disrupt Ukraines economy and communications infrastructure. An attack on the financial sector could prevent Ukrainians from withdrawing money or accessing their bank accounts. An attack on the communications infrastructure could cripple the Ukrainian military and limit the countrys ability to defend itself. Civilians would also lose their means of communications and with it the ability to organize evacuations and coordinate resistance. Ultimately, Russia is likely to continue to use cyber-enabled sabotage against Ukraine. Russian cyber operations over the past eight years hold three lessons to support this. First, cyberattacks that have costly physical effects, like knocking out the power grid, are destabilizing and can be used to erode the will of the Ukrainian people and counter their lean toward economic, military and political alliances with Europe and NATO. Second, cyberattacks that have a physical effect put Russian cyber capabilities on display and demonstrate their superiority over Ukrainian defenses. And third, Russia has done it before. Maggie Smith, PhD is a US Army cyber officer currently assigned to the Army Cyber Institute (ACI) at the United States Military Academy where she is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences and an affiliated faculty of the Modern War Institute (MWI). This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Berlin, Feb 13 : 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. 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. 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. These findings are published in Astronomy & Astrophysics journal. "The discovery shows that our closest stellar neighbour seems to be packed with interesting new worlds, within reach of further study and future exploration," said Joao Faria, a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofisica e Ciencias do Espaco, Portugal, in a statement. Proxima d 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 system 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. At just a quarter of the mass of Earth, Proxima d is also the lightest exoplanet ever measured using the radial velocity technique, surpassing a planet recently discovered in the L 98-59 planetary system. Sydney, Feb 13 : Brilliant bowling by Josh Hazelwood helped Australia hold their nerve to get the better of Sri Lanka in a thrilling Super Over in the second T20I here on Sunday. Hazlewood was spot on with his bowling in the Super Over and restricted Sri Lanka to just five runs. Maxwell and Stoinis then completed the formalities with the bat and won the match in three balls, helping Australia take a 2-0 lead in the series. Sri Lanka, who lost the opening T20I match on Friday, decided to bowl first after electing to bat first. They managed to restrict Australia to 164/6 in their allotted 20 overs thanks to a knock of 48 by Josh Inglis with Dushmantha Chameera (2/30) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/33) leading the bowling efforts for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka made a match of it as they rode on a 53-ball 73 by Pathum Nissanka and 19-ball 34 by skipper Dasun Shanaka helping them reach 164/8 in 20 overs. Hazlewood claimed 3/22 for Australia. Sri Lanka had to make a forced change with Binura Fernando being unavailable for this match, with round-arm seamer Nuwan Thushara replacing him. Australia, on the other side, rested Mitchell Starc and brought the Kane Richardson. Ben McDermott, the highest scorer for Australia in the first T20I, started with intent but soon fell to debutant Nuwan Thushara, failing to clear Wanindu Hasaranga at long-on. Inglis top-scored for Australia with 48 from 32 while skipper Aaron Finch, who seemed set in the middle lost his wicket at a crucial time to a wrong-un from Wanindu Hasaranga. Maxwell was Hasaranga's second victim and fell for 15. It was all up to Steven Smith and Marcus Soinis to finish strongly in the death overs but Dushmantha Chameera snapped them both up in consecutive deliveries. Matthew Wade did manage to make an impact towards the end as he hit a four and a six in the 20th over helping Australia finish 164/4 in 20 overs. While Sri Lanka bowlers were brilliant in the second half of the innings, Australia once again failed to finish strongly with the bat, going from 92/2 at the end of 11 overs to 164/6 at the end of 20. The Australian bowlers were on the money from the start and picked up crucial wickets early on. Hazlewood sent Danushka Gunathilaka back to the pavilion in the first over for a duck and followed it up with the scalp of Avishka Fernando in his next over, according to a report in the ICC's official website. Charith Asalanka didn't trouble the scorers either and was the second batter to depart without opening his account. Opener Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal came to the rescue before Adam Zampa struck crucially to remove the latter after the 10-over mark, the report said. Captain Dasun Shanaka played a brilliant knock of 34 of 19 deliveries, which included two fours and three sixes, kept Sri Lanka in the chase but was unlucky to get run out. Hasaranga played a crucial cameo of 13 while Nissanka too exploded towards the end. With 19 needed off the last over, Nissanka smashed a four off the first ball but was out for 73 two balls later. Needing 12 off 3, Maheesh Theekshana smashed a six despite Steve Smith's best efforts on the boundary and took a single off the next. With five needed off the last ball, Chameera, playing his first ball, smashed a four-over Stoinis' head to force a Super Over. But in the end it proved insufficient as Australia won the match in the one-over eliminator. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Uttar Pradesh will be voting for 55 assembly seats in the second phase of elections on Monday. A total of 586 candidates are in the fray, but the main contest is between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party. However, the BSP is in a position to make the contest triangular at some seats. In the last assembly elections in 2017, out of the 55 seats going to polls on monday, 38 went to the BJP, 15 to Samajwadi Party (SP) and two seats to the Congress as there was an alliance between SP and the Congress. Muslim candidates won 10 of the 15 seats they contested which all went to the SP. History shows alliance politics benefited both the SP-Congress alliance in 2017 and BSP-RLD alliance in 2019, but this time with no alliance among the major political parties, political analysts claim that there will be a split of votes which can benifit the BJP. In the last assembly elections, when SP and Congress won a total of 17 seats, in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, seven of the 11 seats in this region went to the BSP-SP alliance. Of these, the BSP won four (Saharanpur, Nagina, Bijnor and Amroha), while the SP won three seats in Moradabad, Sambhal and Rampur. The alliance formula of Muslim, Jat and Dalit voters in this region was a total success. The SP this time entered into the electoral fray in alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Mahan Dal which are believed to have considerable influence over Jat, Shakya, Saini, Kushwaha, Maurya, and Koiri voters. A total of 2,01,42,441 voters will exercise their franchise in 55 assembly seats of which 1,07,61476 are male voters, while 93,79,704 are female voters and 1,261 voters are the third gender. In 2017, the highest number of 77.53 per cent votes were cast in Nakud Vidhan Sabha seat. In the 2012 assembly elections too, the same seat had recorded 77.18 per cent voting. The Election Commission has marked Deoband of Saharanpur, Manihar of Rampur, Sambhal and Asmoli seats of Sambhal, Nagina, Dhampur and Bijnor seats of Bijnor as sensitive. Additional companies of Central Armed Police force will be deployed in these areas. All activities in these areas are strictly monitored by the security forces. A total of 586 candidates are in the fray for the second phase of elections to be held on Monday on 55 assembly seats in nine districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha, Badaun, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur. Maximum 15 candidates are in the fray in Kanth, Bareilly Cantt and Shahjahanpur. Incidentally, no assembly seat has more than 15 candidates making it easier for the EC to conduct polls as up to 16 candidates can be included in one voting machine. In the second phase, 8 assembly seats come under the reserved category of which BJP had won 7 in 2017. There are also 8 such seats in this phase on which the BJP in 2017 had won with a thin margin. The veterans whose prestige is at stake include ministers Suresh Khanna, Gulabo Devi and Baldev Singh Aulakh. From the SP, Azam Khan, former minister Dharampal Singh Saini, Kamal Akhtar and Mehboob Ali's fate will also be sealed in the voting machine on Monday. This time Azam Khan is contesting from jail. Patiala, Feb 13 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday saluted the valour of Punjabis, the Sikhs in particular, saying the nation feels safe and secure as they keep a guard. Addressing a public rally here on Sunday, Shah said Punjab was a border state and peace and security here was very much important for the security of the country. He said only an NDA government, which will work closely with the central government can ensure peace, harmony and security here. In this context, the Union Home Minister had a special praise for former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who was also sitting on the dais, that he always rose above partisan considerations when it came to the issues concerning national security. He said when he became the Home Minister in 2019, he felt quite concerned about the security along the Punjab border. "But once I spoke to Capt Amarinder, I felt relaxed," he recalled. In a special message to people of Patiala, the Home Minister said the way the Congress party had treated a senior leader like Capt Amarinder, it (the Congress) must not get a single seat from Patiala. Shah referred to the problem of drugs prevailing in Punjab. He said give Narendra Modi a chance and drugs will be completely wiped out of Punjab. He took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying he had the audacity to claim to finish drugs from Punjab when he had drowned Delhi in liquor by opening liquor shops everywhere. He also questioned Kejriwal's intentions towards Punjab and towards Sikhs. He said Kejriwal was coming to Punjab seeking votes of Punjabis and Sikhs. But, he said, Kejriwal has been in government in Delhi for about eight years now and he has not appointed a single Sikh as a minister in his government. He said the contribution of the Sikhs towards Delhi's history and development is immense and Kejriwal never acknowledged that. The Home Minister said the NDA government has a clear roadmap for rejuvenation of industry and agriculture in the state. Punjab had occupied top most place among the states till 70s as it did exceptionally well in agriculture and industry. Punjab needs to get back that place of pride and the NDA government here will ensure it in coordination with the central government. Referring to special fondness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Punjab and the Sikhs, he said he had taken several special measures like punishing the culprits of anti-Sikh riots, opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, naming December 26 as Veer Baal Diwas in memory of younger Sahibzadas and removing of 312 of the 314 names from the 'black-list'. Besides, he added, when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there was an apprehension that the holy Guru Granth Sahib would not be safe in gurdwaras there. He said the government of India made a special arrangement to relocate these holy books to Gurdwaras in Delhi with full respect and sanctity. Earlier, addressing the rally, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh praised Shah and the BJP government at the Centre that he had always got full support and cooperation from him and other ministers whenever he needed it. He specially mentioned that during Covid pandemic when the state fell short of vaccines, the central government took no time in providing these. Speaking on the occasion, Shiromani Akali Dal-Sanyukt chief, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, said Punjab needed a government, which will work with the Centre as Punjab was faced with serious challenges like debt and declining agriculture incomes. Amritsar, Feb 13 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief ministerial candidate on Sunday campaigned in this holy city for AAP candidates. In his address, Kejriwal appealed to the people that the 2022 elections were a golden opportunity to save Punjab from the corrupt traditional political parties. "Therefore, the people of Amritsar should vote for the Aam Aadmi Party candidates in all constituencies and make them victorious so that all-round development of the state can be achieved with Bhagwant Mann as the Chief Minister of Punjab." Both Kejriwal and Mann reached Amritsar to compaign in favour of former police officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap from Amritsar North, Inderbir Singh Nijhar from Amritsar South, Ajay Gupta from Amritsar Central, Jasbir Singh from Amritsar West and Jeevan Jyot Kaur in Amritsar East constituency and addressed corner meetings. Addressing the meetings, Kejriwal said the Congress and the SAD-BJP governments had not taken any steps for the development of schools, colleges, hospitals in this border area district. They have destroyed the industries. He claimed that with the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, industries would be developed in the border district, including Guru ki Nagri, and the best and affordable education and treatment would be provided to the people. During the election campaign, two-time MP Mann appealed to the people of the Amritsar East constituency that they have good opportunity to teach a lesson to the drug mafia and those who sell false dreams. This is an opportunity for the people to show the monarchy the strength of democracy and elect a daughter of common background and social worker Jeevan Jyot Kaur as their representative. Mann said that the dynastic political leaders take votes from the people and then live luxurious life in Chandigarh and never visit their constituencies to know issues of the common people. The Aam Aadmi Party is committed to political change as well as strengthening the economic position of the common man. Punjab will go to the polls for 117-member legislative assembly on February 20. Srinagar, Feb 13 : After downsizing the special security cover of four former Chief Ministers, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have now withdrawn ambulances and jammers deployed with them. The special security group (SSG) created for the security cover of chief ministers, including serving and former chief ministers, was downsized recently and the SSG cover of four former Chief Ministers, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah was withdrawn. The security duties of the former Chief Ministers were assigned to the security wing of the local police. Now, ambulances and jammers which used to form part of the security cover of former Chief Ministers have also been withdrawn. This came to light on Satuday when Dr Farooq Abdullah went to old city Srinagar without any ambulance and jammers. While ambulances were deployed with the security cover of the former Chief Ministers to attend to medical emergencies, jammers were used to prevent militants from triggering explosives devices through remote control using mobile phones. Officials said the former Chief Ministers would not be given ambulances and jammers during their movement in Srinagar city. "When they move on inter-district journeys, both ambulances and jammers would form part of their security cover," officials said. Hyderabad, Feb 13 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday unveiled a gold statue of 11th century saint Ramanujachrya at the statue of equality campus on the outskirts of Hyderabad. He participated in Sahasrabdi Samaroham, the 1000th birth anniversary celebrations of Ramanjuacharya and took part in the rituals. The 120-kg gold statue was unveiled a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 216-feet tall statue of equality to the world. Chinna Jeeyar Swamy welcomed the President, who went around the campus and the giant statue, which commemorates Ramanujacharya's teachings promoting equality in all aspects of living including faith, caste and creed. The President was all praise for the manner in which the campus was created including 108 Divya Desams or ornately carved temples. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and state minister T. Srinivas Yadav also attended the programme. In his remarks on the occasion, the President said that Ramanujacharya's 'Vishishtadvait' is not only a singular contribution to philosophy, but he also showed the relevance of philosophy in day-to-day life. "What is called philosophy in the West has been reduced to a subject of only scholarly study. But what we call 'Darshan' is not a matter of dry analysis; it is a way of looking at the world and also a way of life. That has always remained true in India, thanks to philosopher-saints like Shri Ramanujacharya," he said. Kovind said saint-poets and philosophers like Ramanujacharya have created and nurtured India's cultural identity, continuity, and unity. "They have built the concept of a nation based on cultural values. This culture-based concept of nation is different from how it is defined in the western thought. References to the Bhakti tradition that united India in a single-thread centuries ago are found in the Puranas. This tradition can be seen in the form of the Bhakti sects inspired by Sri Ramanujacharya, which had spread from Srirangam and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Thus, the emotional unity of Indians is centuries old." The President said Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the main architect of our Constitution, who stood for social justice, had clearly stated that the fundamental constitutional ideals of our modern republic are based on the cultural heritage of India. "Babasaheb had also mentioned with great respect, the egalitarian ideals of Sri Ramanujacharya. Thus, our concept of equality is not derived from western countries. It has developed on the cultural soil of India. Our eternal vision of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is based on equality. Equality is the corner-stone of our democracy. Equality before law, prohibition of all forms of discrimination, equality of opportunity, abolition of untouchability - all these fundamental rights have been enshrined in our constitution. To achieve the constitutional objective of establishing an equitable society, many programmes of public welfare are run by the government," he said. Los Angeles, Feb 13 : The convicted Russian-German fraudster Anna Sorokin, who pretended to be a German heiress under the name Anna Delvey, has been paid a huge sum by the streaming platform Netflix in lieu of adapting her story for a Shonda Rhimes-created series titled "Inventing Anna", reports 'Deadline'. 'Insider' also reported that the streamer paid her $320,000 to adapt her story of how she scammed the rich for TV. Anna became infamous among New York's elite, claiming to be a German heiress with a $60 million trust fund fortune. Anna's story grabbed the headlines in 2018 after 'New York Magazine' revealed her plan to create a mixed-use development by borrowing money from banks. During Sorokin's life as a jet-setter, she obtained hundreds of thousands from her wealthy friends with the promise of paying them back, which she never did. Her scheme hit a roadblock in 2017 after her arrest on grand larceny charges for which she was found guilty in 2019. Sorokin used most of the money received from Netflix to settle the court cases against her. Of the $320,000 Sorokin reportedly got from Netflix, she paid $199,000 in restitution, $24,000 in state fines and $75,000 in attorney fees. After she paid the restitution, the courts let her keep what little is left. Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 : The State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha has debarred senior BJD legislator and government chief whip in State Assembly, Pramila Mallik from campaigning in the ensuing Panchayat poll in the state for 48 hours from February 14 (10 a.m.) SEC Secretary RN Sahu on Sunday informed about this observation of the Commission to the collector of Jajpur district, where Mallik's constituency is located. "The Commission disapproves of the conduct of Mallik, MLA Binjharpur and debars her from campaigning, including interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media),etc. anywhere in the State of Odisha for a period of 48 hours starting from 10.00 am of 14.02.2022 in the ensuing general elections to Panchayati Raj Institution (PRIs), 2022," the SEC said in the communication. The SEC took this decision against Mallik as she had allegedly threatened voters to stop providing benefits of various schemes to people if they do not vote for the BJD candidate in the Panchayat polls. During the Panchayat election campaign at Zilla Parishad Zone - 27 in Jajpur district on last Thursday, Mallik had allegedly threatened the voters to stop their monthly old age person, rice for Rs 1 per kg and pucca houses being provided under government schemes if they do not vote for BJD candidates. This is a violation of the model code of conduct, sources said. Soon after a video of the speech went viral in social media, Mallik was also shown black flags by locals while she had gone campaigning in the Pritipur Ranasahi area in Jajpur. On the direction of the SEC, the Jajpur collector had earlier issued a show cause notice to Mallik. Meanwhile, the Commission has warned fake voters against trying to cast votes in the rural elections. SEC Secretary Sahu said a person can cast his vote during the Panchayat elections only when the concerned person's name is mentioned in the voters' list. However, a polling agent can challenge the voting rights of a voter if he suspects the concerned voter by depositing a fee of Rs 2 before a presiding officer in the booth. Following the request of the polling agent, the presiding officer will conduct an inquiry to know about the voting right of the concerned person, Sahu said. If the official found the voter in question as genuine, Rs 2 fee will be forfeited and the voter will be allowed to vote. In case the allegation by the polling agent is found to be true, Rs 2 fee will be returned to the polling agent and the fake voter will be handed over to police, the Secretary informed. The Panchayat poll will be held in five phases on February 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. The voters will exercise their franchise from 7 am to 1 pm on these days. Counting of votes and declaration of results will be done at Block level on February 26, 27 and 28. New Delhi, Feb 13 : Minister of State (Independent charge) for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pension Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that the historic river Devika project, built at the cost of over Rs 190 crore, will be complete by June this year. This will be north India's first river rejuvenation project to offer a unique destination both for pilgrim tourists as well as recreation tourists, and it will bring Udhampur prominently on India's map, he added. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning the Devika project, which was formally launched by Modi during his visit to Jammu in early 2019, he said that it is now the responsibility of all of us to accomplish this project by June this year at any cost. "The project includes the construction of three sewage treatment plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity, sewerage network of 129.27 km, development of two cremation ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small hydropower plants and three solar power plants. On completion of the project, the rivers will see reduction in pollution and improvement in water quality," Singh further said. Later, speaking to media after presiding over the DISHA meeting, Jitendra Singh said that the country's first Highway Village being constructed by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is coming up on fast track on Udhampur national highway and the centrally funded Medical College that will start its classes next year through NEET selection. Udhampur-Kathua-Doda is possibly the only Lok Sabha constituency in the country which got three centrally funded Medical Colleges in Udhampur, Kathua and Doda, respectively. To review the physical and financial achievements of the schemes being implemented in the Udhampur district covered under DISHA, Singh also chaired a District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee Meeting (DISHA) at Conference Hall DC Office Complex Udhampur. At this occasion, apart from government officials, Udhampur as DDC Chairperson, and other functionaries of the district development council were also present. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said that they have arrested three people, including an advocate and a businessman, for posting derogatory remarks on social media against judges and judiciary. A senior CBI official said that they had lodged several FIRs against the accused after receiving the complaint from authority concerned. "The FIRs were lodged against the accused allegedly involved in intentionally targeting the hon'ble judges and judiciary through interviews, social media posts, and speeches in on-line platforms, maliciously attributing ulterior motives in delivery of orders/judgements," said the official. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had taken cognisance of the matter and had directed the CBI to lodge an FIR and arrest the accused. The CBI official said that after arresting the accused the team conducted searches operation at ten different locations including office and premises belonging to the accused. Premises of a few more suspects were also raided in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, wherein incriminating evidences were recovered. The arrested accused were produced before the jurisdictional court at Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and were sent to judicial custody. Bengaluru, Feb 13 : Mumbai Indians (MI) owner Akash Ambani feels that the venues for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season may come out in a week or two. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had hosted the 2020 and second half of 2021 editions of the IPL. But with numbers in Covid-19 third wave in India receding, there is a possibility of the tournament being held between Mumbai and Pune entirely to reduce travel time and maintain a bio-bubble environment. Ambani, in a virtual press conference, felt that if the IPL was to be in Mumbai, it may not count as an advantage for them. "Not sure about the advantage for Mumbai Indians as we haven't played in Mumbai for the last two years. So, I can't answer that question now. Of course, we will be happy to play in Mumbai; it's our home city and we know the conditions well. But with IPL, it was said they will confirm the venue in about a week or two. So, we look forward to hearing from them." Saba Karima, the Head of Talent Search for Delhi Capitals, stated that his team is balanced well to perform irrespective of venues. "Well, since it was the mega auction, it was important that we have multiple venues in mind. Whatever players we wanted to buy, we have had them in our thoughts. We needed players who can do well, are skillful to play in different venues and perform well for Delhi Capitals. Even if the IPL this season takes place in Maharashtra or Mumbai, we feel that we are pretty well-balanced to do well on those kinds of tracks also." Raghu Iyer of Lucknow Super Giants had a different take on the strategy of the new franchise. "I think that was the kind of thing for our team as well. I think for most of the teams, people have planned not only for one season but for three seasons going ahead. I don't think the venue was much a part of the strategy. It was primarily looking at a three-year period." Iyer laughed off the fact that Lucknow had a perfect auction in its first foray into the auction arena. "I don't think it was a perfect auction. Whether it was a perfect auction or not, we will know once the team starts playing and whether we win the title or not. As far as the mathematics is concerned, I think I have to give it to Mr (Sanjiv) Goenka because he planned right to the T." Latest updates on IPL 2022 -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Feb 13 : The Supreme Court observed that a High Court, while exercising its powers of judicial review, is not required to re-appreciate the evidence and/or interfere with the findings recorded by the inquiry officer accepted by the disciplinary authority, Live Law reported. In this case, the appellant was serving as a Branch Officer of a Bank. A complaint was made against him by one borrower alleging that he had sanctioned the limit of loan of Rs 1.50 lakh which was later on reduced to Rs 75,000 when the borrower refused to give bribe demanded by him, the report said. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. The inquiry officer held the most of the charges as proved. The disciplinary authority/Chairman of the Bank passed an order of removal of the appellant from service. The appellate authority dismissed the appeal filed by him. The Uttarakhand High Court also dismissed the writ petition confirming the order of removal from service, the report added. In appeal, the bench noted that the appellant had worked for 28 years and during those 28 years, there are no allegations against him. "We are of the opinion that the punishment of removal for the charges proved and the misconduct established, is too harsh and disproportionate. However, considering the fact that it can be said to be a case of loss of confidence in the employee by the Bank, we deem it just and proper to substitute the punishment from that of removal of service to that of compulsory retirement," the court said. Disposing the appeal, the court held that the appellant shall be entitled to all the benefits which may be available to him by converting the punishment from that of removal of service to that of compulsory retirement. Hyderabad, Feb 13 : Hinting a major shift in his stance towards Congress, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said all forces have to unite to shunt out the BJP as its continuation in the country will ruin the country. He also revealed that he will soon have meetings with his Maharashtra and West Bengal counterparts Uddhav Thackeray and Mamata Banerjee, as part of efforts to unite various political parties. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President said Banerjee called him and they had a discussion over phone. "She may come anytime. We are discussing," he told reporters. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said Thackeray was also waiting for him and he may go to Mumbai anytime. The TRS chief said he was sharing views with all the leaders and ultimately all together will decide whether it should be the national party or front. "I promise you one thing. I will play a major role in that," he said. Asked if he will work with the Congress, KCR said he cannot predict anything. "I cannot predict anything like that. All forces have to unite and shunt out BJP. First we have to do this, later whatever is to happen will happen," he said. Before the 2019 elections, the TRS chief had met leaders of various parties to cobble together a front as an alternative to both the BJP and the Congress. "Being a political leader before the 2019 elections I made my efforts. I met several political leaders and shared my views with them. I gave them a lot of literature. We mooted our ideas. We tried our best but things went in a different way and ultimately, the BJP came back in power. Situation is now proving disastrous for the nation. Day by day situation is worsening," he said. For a second consecutive day, KCR condemned Assam Chief Minister Hemant Biswas Sharma's offensive comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also slammed BJP for toppling Congress governments in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh to capture power despite not getting the public mandate. Lashing out at the Modi government, KCR said people, especially youth should rise to save the country. He voiced concern over the attempts being made to create trouble in the name of religion and warned that this could lead to a civil war-like situation. New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 14 : The Union Territory government of Jammu and Kashmir has scaled down the security of former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state, sources in the know of things said on Sunday. Under the new arrangement, the former chief ministers will not be provided with jammers and ambulances in their cavalcade while travelling in Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir officials said. These facilities were provided to former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. However, during inter-district movement of former chief ministers jammers and ambulances would continue to be deployed, the officials in the security set up of the Jammu and Kashmir administration said. The Union Territory government's move came in the wake of the recent decision to downsize the specialised security wing Special Security Group (SSG), which had been created under a law enacted by the Assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir for protection of Chief Ministers and former Chief Ministers in the year 2000. In January this year, the SSG security cover was withdrawn from the security of these former Chief Ministers. Now, the former chief minister get the security cover of the Jammu and Kashmir Police supported by the central para-military forces. The elite force SSG has now been given the responsibility of serving Chief Ministers and their immediate family members. The Union Territory government decision came amid the continuous threats from across the border when a number of terror incidents have taken place in Srinagar where all of the three chief ministers except Azad reside in Srinagar. The intelligence agencies have also sent a report to the government apprehending attacks on the political workers, the officials in the security grid said on condition of anonymity. However, Azad and Abdullah will continue to get the 'Z' category security provided by the National Security Guard as usual. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will continue to have Z-plus security cover in Jammu and Kashmir but they will likely have a reduced security outside the Union Territory. The security to the leaders would be provided by the district police as well as the security wing based on threat assessment, the officials said. The vehicles and other gadgets have been transferred to the police's security wing, they added. Dharwad, Feb 14 : Karnataka Congress MLA B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan stirred a controversy here on Sunday by stating that incidents of rape are on high in India and wearing hijab will protect Muslim women from getting raped in the country. Defending his statement, MLA Khan has stated that he only gave his point of view and he doesn't know what others think on the issue. "The beauty of women is not supposed to be exposed. No one should set their eyes upon them. Muslim women have been wearing hijab since long back," he maintained. "Few people among us do not wear hijab. It is not mandatory to wear hijab, however I have asked our women to wear hijab for their safety. Please come to debate with me after getting the statistics of rape in the country," he added. He maintained that according to Islam "everyone should perform namaz for five times" but many do not perform. "If women wear hijab, the incidents of rape would come down," he said. Earlier in the evening, the Congress MLA in Hubballi has stated, "Hijab means purda in Islam and if women don't wear hijab there are chances of them getting raped. Why there is an increase in rape cases in the country? It is because women are not behind purda (hijab). Women should wear hijab to conceal their beauty.". "Wearing hijab is right of Muslim women. They have been wearing hijab for hundreds of years. The government took the issue very lightly when it began." Further students as the assets of the nation, the Congress MLA said, "Ruling BJP is using students for political gains and they are ready to sacrifice anybody to attain power." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Keiser University hosted its annual statewide commencement ceremony on Saturday, February 5, 2021 to honor its more than 6,000 graduating students from the class of 2021. More than 300 students walked across the stage Saturday to receive their degrees and begin the next chapter of their lives. The ceremony was presided over by Keiser University Chancellor and CEO Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., who welcomed those in attendance and reminded the graduates of the support they received from their families and loved ones throughout their experience. We know that graduating from college is a journey, and it is a wonderful achievement for you; but it was possible because along the way many others supported you and believed in you, said Keiser. The Florida Hospital Association, Tampa General Hospital (TGH), and Lakeland Regional Health (LRH) were honored during the ceremony with Keiser Universitys Employer Choice Awards for the vital roles they play in the real-world preparation and hiring of Keiser graduates. Many of those among the Keiser University class of 2021 are filling critical gaps in Floridas allied health and nursing workforce. Florida and the country are facing one of the worst healthcare workforce shortages in decades, said Mary Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association. We know the only way to tackle these significant challenges is through critical partnerships and we are honored to be working so closely with Keiser University to advance various efforts and strategies to increase the supply of new nurses and other critical healthcare professionals. Keiser University has graduated more than 3,200 nurses since 2019 and is one of the top producers of nurses in Florida for those who pass the NCLEX. In the last 10 years, TGH and LRH combined to hire more than 660 Keiser University graduates to help meet Floridas growing workforce demand in nursing and allied health. John Couris, President and CEO of TGH, noted the hospitals partnership with Keiser and shared that the universitys commitment to producing qualified graduates has aided in TGHs ability to provide quality healthcare to Florida. Keiser University, its students and its graduates, are critically important in our ability to provide world-class care to this community, this region, and this state, said Couris. As a career-focused university with 21 Florida campuses, two international locations, and a robust online division, Keiser University continues to address the talent needs of Florida and the U.S. Most of Keisers academic degrees are in industries identified as emerging or critically needed. More than 3,200 nurses have graduated from Keiser's College of Nursing since 2019 and the university is one of the top producers of nurses in Florida who pass the NCLEX. Keiser University was ranked No. 5. In the nation and No. 1 in Florida for social mobility in the 2022 by U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges rankings. Keisers other recent accolades include having the seventh best graduation rates among U.S. private, nonprofit (nonresidential) universities according to The Chronicle of Higher Education and being named the 29th Best Hispanic Serving Institution in the U.S. by Niche. The annual statewide commencement ceremony is one of several graduations Keiser University will host in 2022. Independent commencement ceremonies will also be held at Keiser Universitys 21 statewide campuses beginning in the spring. Since 1977, Keiser University has awarded roughly 70,000 degrees. In the past 45 years, Keiser has become Floridas largest, independent, not-for-profit university with 4,000 team members serving approximately 20,000 students in Florida and across the U.S. About Keiser University: Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and was ranked No. 11 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Reports in 2021. PetMeds is honored to be a Walk for the Animals sponsor, says Larissa Schenck, Director of Marketing at PetMeds. After a record-breaking year, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has shown whats possible when pet lovers come together as a community. The biggest dog walk of the year returns with the 21st annual Walk for the Animals on Saturday, February 19th. Proceeds of the fundraising event will benefit the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, which placed over 5000 animals during 2021, their biggest adoption year since the rescue opened in 1925. Pet lovers and their four-legged companions are invited to register to participate in the one-mile walk down Flagler Drive along the West Palm Beach waterfront after a complimentary breakfast. There will be something for everyone at the family-friendly event, which will also feature live music, demonstrations, silent auction, raffle, local vendors, and a pet costume contest. PetMeds is honored to be a Walk for the Animals sponsor, says Larissa Schenck, Director of Marketing at PetMeds. After a record-breaking year, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has shown whats possible when pet lovers come together as a community. Walkers can sign up as an individual or team or participate remotely as a virtual walker by setting up a fundraising page here https://walkwithpeggy.org. About PetMeds Founded in 1996, Petmeds.com is America's Most Trusted Pet Pharmacy providing fast, easy and helpful service to over ten million customers across the U.S. by delivering prescription and non-prescription medications and pet supplies for less, direct to the consumer through its PetMeds toll-free number, on the Internet through its website, https://www.1800petmeds.com/, or with the PetMeds mobile app available for free at Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS. About Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League: The Mission of the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is to provide shelter to lost, homeless and unwanted animals, to provide spay and neuter and other medical services for companion animals, and to care for, protect, and find quality homes for homeless and neglected companion animals, to advocate animal welfare, community involvement and education to further the bond between people and animals. Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, Americas largest independent charity navigator, and is the first animal shelter in South Florida to become AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited. Peggy Adams is an independent nonprofit animal rescue organization operating continuously since 1925. For more information, please visit https://www.peggyadams.org/. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy unless you have disabled them. You can change your cookie settings at any time but parts of our site will not function correctly without them. [Close] Lawmakers in about a dozen states have introduced bills to promote academic transparency. The rationale is simple and compelling: parents deserve to know what their children are being taught in school. In an era when public schools are increasingly incorporating the discriminatory tenets of Critical Race Theory into all aspects of pedagogy, this is true now more than ever. In discussions leading to the publication of a Heritage Foundation coalition letter advocating for academic transparency, some of the signatories wondered: How could the left-liberal establishment manage to oppose this? In recent weeks, weve got the answers. Most notably, the ACLU an organization historically dedicated to ensuring government transparency has come out in force against this (as well as most everything else it once stood for). But the reactionary response from the mainstream or rather corporate media has been the most telling. By tradition and spirit, they should be in favor of government transparency. In theory, such transparency would provide them with a massive informational subsidy providing an almost endless stream of facts that the public is keenly interested in. Unfortunately, even as corporate media inveighs against disinformation, it appears to be mounting a disinformation campaign against academic transparency. A recent NBC News article on academic transparency provides an instructive case study. Its title: They fought critical race theory. Now theyre focusing on curriculum transparency. The they frames the view that conservatives and Republicans constitute the other. The article opens: As state legislatures kick into gear this month, Republican governors and lawmakers who have fought to limit discussions of race in public schools are lining up to support a new aim: curriculum transparency. The phrase fought to limit discussions of race is a telling one. It sure does make Republicans sound racist, doesnt it? A characterization accurately summarizing Republicans argument would have read: Republican governors and lawmakers have sought to limit the spread of an ideology they believe demeans and sometimes demonizes children based on the color of their skin. The article continues: The governors of Arizona, Florida and Iowa, who have previously raised concerns about how teachers discuss racisms impact on politics and society, called for curriculum transparency laws in speeches to their legislatures this month. Again, raising concerns about how teachers discuss racisms impact makes Republicans sound racist. But once again, this description is a caricature of the stated concerns of these elected officials. They have, rather, rejected the redefinition of racism, which declares that every aspect of American civilization is and will always inherently be systemically racist. When journalists buy into this culturally Marxist redefinition, then all Republican resistance to Critical Race Theory becomes, for them, a defense of racism. Some conservative activists say the effort which has come under fire from Democrats, teachers and civil liberties advocates is a potent strategic move to expose and root out progressive ideas from schools. Note the passive voice: which has come under fire. Back when journalists read Strunk & Whites Elements of Style, they were categorically cautioned against using passive voice. But passive voice can serve a useful function for partisan journalism: expressing editorial opinion in someone elses voice. Very much like President Trumps go-to line: Many people are saying! Consider the phrase: potent strategic move to expose and root out progressive ideas. Although the NBC News piece is peppered with citational hyperlinks, none is provided to support this characterization. As someone who watches this debate closely, I cant even recall any anonymous right-wing Twitter account articulating anything to this effect, much less any public intellectual or politician. It seems to suggest that there is a campaign to scrub mention of Woodrow Wilson or John Maynard Keynes from history textbooks. It could make some sense if journalists are so politically illiterate as not to recognize the important philosophical distinctions between, say, Theodore Roosevelt and Robin DiAngelo. But the lack of citation suggests a self-conscious ideological willfulness to this characterization. This is the sort of thing that competent editors are paid to prune out. But teachers, their unions and free speech advocates say the proposals would excessively scrutinize daily classwork and would lead teachers to pre-emptively pull potentially contentious materials to avoid drawing criticism. Parents and legislators have already started campaigns to remove books dealing with race and gender, citing passages they find obscene, after they found out that the books were available in school libraries and classrooms. The words citing passages they find obscene begs the important question of whether the passages actually are obscene. Any journalist following this storyline attentively should be aware of instances where videos of parents reading passages from these books were either interrupted by school board members or taken down from social media on the grounds that what they were reading was obscene. My research assistant advised me against even characterizing the content, on the grounds that a child might read this article. If youre above 18 and reading this, you could search through the website of Parents Defending Education for examples of the obscenity that parents are objecting to and draw your own conclusions. While most schools have insisted that they dont teach critical race theory, a new report by UCLAs Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access found that local efforts to restrict schools from teaching or using critical race theory emerged in at least 894 school districts, which enroll more than a third of all K-12 students in the country. This presents a paradox, doesnt it? If most schools dont teach Critical Race Theory, then why would local efforts to restrict it even exist? It could, of course, be theoretically possible that parental concern is exclusively animated by conservative media. If one takes it as axiomatic that the corporate media purveys the truth, and that conservative media traffics exclusively in misinformation, then this conclusion follows. But any parent who spends even twenty minutes comparing the dueling narratives will probably be disabused of this view. Theyll recognize that the corporate media is broadcasting a variation on what Michael Anton called the Celebration Parallax: Schools arent teaching critical racist theory, and its a great thing that they are! The outrage over critical race theory has resulted in educators being ousted from their jobs, parents becoming suspicious of mental health initiatives and schools banning books by Black authors. Now, why would parents be suspicious of mental health initiatives? Shouldnt they want their children to be mentally healthy? As it turns out, the cause for that suspicion will become apparent to any parent who visits the websites of the associations of school counselors and school psychologists. These associations have formally committed themselves to anti-racism, an ideological doctrine closely aligned with critical race theory. If a mom spends even an hour reading up on it, shes likely to conclude that these alleged efforts to help students regulate their moods might, in reality, be efforts to instill an anti-racist activist mindset in them. Another troubling perplexity: schools banning books by Black authors. This sure does make moms sound racist, doesnt it? But has a single American mother ever expressed a racial motivation? What might their motivation be? Might it have less to do with the color of the authors skin than with the character of the books content? By contrast, Fox News covers parental concern differently by allowing mothers to speak for themselves about what troubles them: Sure enough, [Virginia mother Stacy] Langton was able to check out the two books she had seen other parents protest Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison and Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe at the Fairfax High School library. Both of these books include pedophilia, Langton told the board. 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 is concerned about an apparent attempt by some educators to normalize pedophilia. She is far from alone in this concern. For any parent who doesnt categorically trust NBC or mainstream outlets like CNN (which employed at least two alleged pedophiles as producers), Id strongly recommend listening to James Lindsays podcast series on Groomer Schools. One final telling quote from the NBC piece is worth sharing: Good schools and good school districts have always had curriculum transparency including extensive two-way communication between parents and educators on what we are teaching and how to support our kids, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement. Its telling that Weingarten speaks this sentence in the past-perfect tense (have always had curriculum transparency). Academic transparency laws are growing in popularity because parents agree entirely with Weingartens statement here. Parents want to bring that more perfect past back into the present and future. Julia Roberts is celebrating her niece Emma Roberts' 31st birthday. ADVERTISEMENT 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." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! 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." Universal Pictures has released its first trailer for Nope, writer-director Jordan Peele's upcoming thriller, which is set on a California horse-training ranch. ADVERTISEMENT The 2-minute clip has already gotten more than 1.2 million views on YouTube since it was released early Sunday. "Oscar winner Jordan Peele disrupted and redefined modern horror with Get Out and then Us. Now, he reimagines the summer movie with a new pop nightmare: the expansive horror epic, Nope," a message from the studio said. "The film reunites Peele with Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya, who is joined by Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun as residents in a lonely gulch of inland California who bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery." Michael Wincott and Brandon Perea co-star. Sunday's preview shows a ranch house in the middle of nowhere losing electricity at night, while mysterious lights loom at a distance. It also features horses bolting in fear, men and women looking nervously at the sky, dust swirling and one person seemingly sucked up into the clouds. "What's a bad miracle?" Kaluuya's character wonders aloud. TRAVERSE CITY On Mondays and Thursdays, Natalie Sutherland looks at poo. 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 Of course its mixed into wastewater the unpleasant lifeblood of Traverse Citys sewers and in reality, it looks more like a murky glass of puddle water. But for scientists like Sutherland, its liquid gold. And during a pandemic, its one of the best indicators of viral transmission levels around, given that coronavirus particles leave the bodies of the COVID-positive just like anything else you might leave on a trip to the bathroom. Lately, the readings are good. Throughout the pandemic, some states have ramped up this seemingly unusual method of monitoring community transmission. The argument, scientists say, is that wastewater is more reliable than at-home and self-reported case reporting. Now, our sewage is saying what local health officials have hoped for since the fourth COVID-wave crashed on northern Michigan in December: omicron has begun, if slowly, to circle the drain. The testing project is being run by the Great Lakes Environmental Center, a local outfit of 60 scientists who work with wastewater samples from across the country. A couple of researchers, like Sutherland, have peeled off from the companys work to test Traverse Citys water twice a week. To clarify, Sutherland cant yet tell if its omicron: She cant separate out variants. But state testing has shown omicron has overwhelmed delta within Michigan. What theyve found is promising. February saw a steep drop from omicrons peak in January. Samples from Traverse City show detections dropped by more than half across a three-week period. A sample from Feb. 3 which could still be an outlier had a tenth as many COVID particles as a sample collected on Jan. 20. Its sure an indicator that things could be improving, said Mick DeGraeve, a scientist and founder of GLEC. Thats my take on it. DeGraeve cautions that from week-to-week there could be big variances. Case in point: this Thursdays sample showed a bump in COVID levels, although still nowhere near the holiday peaks. But the readings offer a glimmer of hope that the most recent wave may be abating. Other hints include declining hospitalizations reported by Munson Medical Center, and percent-positivity rates which have dropped by 10 percent since late January. Wastewater testing initiated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In September 2020, the organization began directing grants to states, which contracted groups like GLEC to conduct testing. Test results are then sent to local health departments, where, the CDC hoped, officials could target their public health response. In Grand Traverse County, the data is sent to Russell Carter, the health department epidemiologist. Carter echoed, with caution, the good news in GLECs most recent data. Its a pretty significant decrease and its a welcome decrease, said Carter, referencing the decline in the readings. Things are looking good, but I dont want to put the cart before the horse. The trends that were seeing are that its going down. In a political environment thats become divided around public health initiatives, wastewaters clear signals offer what community residents sometimes wont do; statewide, MDHHS has estimated that just 40 percent of contact tracing efforts are successful. In January, the state announced it would end most contact tracing efforts altogether. They may test but not report their results, so the cases that were identifying might have a falsely low number, Carter said. But by using this we might have a pretty accurate representation of the disease level in the city. Sutherlands pipetting circumvents the political minefields, as well as shortages of tests and health department staff. When transmission levels are low, the numbers can tell a very clear story about where outbreaks are occurring: spikes in the data track with outbreaks in the Grand Traverse County Jail, for example, and wastewater grabbed from Traverse City Central High School showed big bumps as schools reopened. What we were able to do was send out testing supplies, PPE, to locations that had an outbreak and try to do targeted vaccination campaigns just for a rounded mitigation strategy, Carter said. Carter said he wished they could have done more. Health departments across the state have said theyre struggling to complete their regular responsibilities, let alone take on extra projects. Retrospectively, if we had the manpower it would be amazing if we could send testing pop-up teams, Carter said. At GLEC, the wastewater surveillance project takes place in a pop-up trailer behind the companys main facility. It wont stay there forever. Grant money for the project will run out in 2023, but the premise of the response will likely hang around as a means to test for other pathogens like influenza or even as a tool in a future pandemic. And even for Sutherland, it took some time to get comfortable with the poo. At first I was hesitant, said Sutherland. But its interesting that you can do so much with wastewater, especially with COVID. Stephen Lewis, originally from Brooklyn, New York is a retired college English professor and writer whose books include three mysteries set in northern Michigan, and his recently published memoir, Dementia, A Love Story. Reach Lewis at lewisstephen409@gmail.com or visit stevesblog.stephenlewisonline.net Carlie Kauffman and Whitney Strunk, two cast members of the HBO Max reality show "My Mom, Your Dad" in Season 1, Episode 6. The Red & Black spoke to them along with other members of the cast about their time on the series. (Courtesy/HBO Max) You are the owner of this article. BRATTLEBORO The Vermont Legislature's decision on whether to expand the voting rights of 16- and 17-year olds in town will not be made this year. "I think that this is a very unfortunate Bryce Nutting, a student at Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School, in Townshend, takes notes during the first day of having in-person classes for the year on Feb. 8, 2021. 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 Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The members of the Shelton High School Distributive Education Clubs of America Chapter are going to welcome students, Shelton families, and community members to the chapters annual DECA Hall of Fame Talent and Fashion Show this Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Percy Kingsley Shelton High School Auditorium. The school, and the auditorium are located at 120 Meadow St. in Shelton. Cambodian activist Sam Sokha was released Feb. 9 after serving a four-year prison term for throwing her shoe at a poster of Prime Minister Hun Sen and sharing it on social media. But the court threatened to jail the former factory worker and opposition supporter for another six months unless she paid a fine of 10 million riels (US $2,460) within a day. Sam Sokha went into debt to avoid going back to jail, while a video of her 2017 shoe toss received fresh attention on social media. The 1997 incident in Xinjiang is now seen as a harbinger of the brutality to come. On a cold winter day 25 years ago, young Uyghurs in the western Chinese city of Ghulja (in Chinese, Yining) staged a protest to call for an end to religious repression and ethnic discrimination. The events of that day would instead come to be known as the Ghulja Massacre of 1997, an incident that Uyghurs now look upon as a harbinger of an even greater level of persecution and violence against the largely Muslim community in China that has unfolded in stages since then. As many as 200 hundred people may have been killed in the massacre one report said thousands may have died but it received little international attention at the time. As much of the worlds attention is drawn to China for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Uyghurs are using the anniversary of Ghulja to press for an international investigation into what transpired that day and to seek accountability for those behind the bloodshed. Uyghur protesters face Chinese security forces on a street in Ghulja in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, February 1997, in a screenshot from a video of a Chinese television report smuggled out of China. UK's Channel 4 News report/YouTube Twenty-five years ago, the Ghulja Massacre was exemplary of the treatment of the Uyghur people by the Chinese authorities and its crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly, said Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), in a statement issued Feb. 4. Now, the Chinese governments genocidal policies are ensuring to prevent the Uyghur people from ever speaking out again. Today, nearly 2 million Uyghurs are thought to have been sent to mass internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by a government desperately trying to maintain control of an ethnically and religiously diverse population. On Feb. 5, 1997, the crowd had gathered to protest a prohibition of Uyghur social gatherings known as meshrep, a celebration of the communitys culture and traditions. But the protesters were met by Chinese security and armed forces who used water cannons to disperse the crowd. When that didnt work, they then used their guns, according to witnesses. The Chinese government at the time claimed that only 10 people died during the protest. Its official organ called the protestors insurgents. But Uyghur organizations and international rights groups later said at least 200 demonstrators were killed. Thousands of others were arrested. Chinese security forces prepare to face off with Uyghur protesters in Ghulja in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, February 1997, in a screenshot from a video of a Chinese television report smuggled out of China. Credit: UK's Channel 4 News report/YouTube Gaining the upper hand China has continued to hunt down Uyghurs connected to the incident. Many arrested for participating in the protest and in other demonstrations ended up in Chinas re-education camps what Uyghurs say are concentration camps. China began its mass internment campaign in the region in 2017. An estimated 1.8 million mostly Muslim Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are believed to have been detained in an extensive network of hundreds of camps since then. Witness testimonies and investigative reports have since alleged that the Chinese government has tortured detainees, sterilized Uyghur women, and conscripted Uyghurs for work in factories. A year before the Ghulja Massacre, the Chinese Communist Partys Politburo issued the No. 7 Document outlining measures to prevent the rise of religious and ethnic extremism. It called on law enforcement to suppress any independence movements. Many Uyghurs want Xinjiang to break away from China and to form a new country called East Turkestan. The document called for speeding up assimilationist policies such as moving more Chinese into East Turkistan by giving them Uyghurs land and providing them with better jobs while repressing the Uyghurs on all fronts, be it employment, family planning, and so on, said Mehmet Tohti, a Uyghur political activist in Canada. The basic goal of Chinese regime was to gain upper hand in East Turkistan politically, economically, and in number of populations, he said. A wanted poster calling for two Uyghur leaders of the 1997 protest in Ghulja to surrender to authorities, hangs on the wall of a hotel in Ghulja in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, Nov. 7, 1998. Credit: AFP 'An unforgettable tragedy' Behtiyar Shemshidin, who was a police officer during the Ghulja Massacre but later resigned and left Xinjiang, told the WUC and other rights groups that Chinese authorities opened fire on unarmed protesters. A Uyghur rights activist now in Canada, Behtiyar said the protesters were arrested and tortured. Many detainees, including the demonstrations leader, Abduhelil Abdulmejid, were tortured to death in prison, Behtiyar said. The violence continued for weeks, he said. Zubayra Shamseden, the Chinese outreach coordinator at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, a documentation and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., said her two younger brothers and a cousin were among those who were arbitrarily arrested in the crackdown. One brother, Abdurazaq Shemsidin, was arrested in Ghulja in 1998 and sentenced to life in prison for political crimes. He remains incarcerated in Urumqis No. 1 Prison. The other brother, Sedirdin Shemsidin, was assassinated in Kazakhstan in June 1998. Zubayra Shamsedens cousin, Hammet Muhammad, was killed by Chinese armed forces in a clash in Ghulja a little over a year after the massacre. The Feb. 5 Ghulja Massacre is an unforgettable tragedy that befell not only my family but the entire Uyghur people, Zubayra said. A Uyghur woman walks pass a Chinese propaganda billboard in Ghulja in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, Nov. 11, 1998. Credit: AFP Large-scale clean-up operation In the aftermath of the crackdown, an article titled Let's uncover the terrorist mask of East Turkistan terrorists published by Chinas official Xinhua news agency called the demonstrators, insurgents. Following the incident, the Chinese government used the protest as a pretext to carry out a year-long large-scale clean-up operation throughout Xinjiang under the guise of tracking down suspects, Uyghur sources said. When the Chinese government began detaining Uyghurs in its networks of internment camps in 2017, former prisoners tied to the Ghulja protest were picked up and sentenced yet again. The world began to learn of what happened at Ghulja when a video of the protest and crackdown was smuggled out of China and aired in the United Kingdom in 1997. But there were few consequences for China. In April 1999, a report from London-based Amnesty International said thousands of Uyghurs may have been killed in the incident without reason. Amnestys account was based in part on witness testimonies, said T. Kumar, former advocacy director for Asia and the Pacific at Amnesty International in Washington D.C. At that time, I would say that the lack of information is one of the reasons our report was helpful to bring the issue to the forefront, he said. But, Kumar added, there was little external outcry. That was the sad part because but even the U.N. and the international community did not make any noise at that time, he said. If that would have happened if the international community, the U.S., and others would have made a serious attempt to raise the massacre at that time and try to call for justice the Chinese would have been extremely nervous about continuing the practice of persecution, and now to the extent of imprisoning or detaining around 2 million people. A Chinese police officer armed with an automatic weapon gestures towards reporters at a roadblock near what is officially called a vocational education center for Uyghurs in Ghulja in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, Nov. 29, 2018. Credit: Reuters Awareness of rights violations Uyghur activist organizations remain steadfast in calling on the international community to hold China accountable for the massacre. This year the commemoration coincides with Beijing Winter Olympic Games, so we have raised an awareness of the Ghulja Massacre along with our other activities on the international stage, said Gheyur Qurban, a WUC spokesman in Germany. The incident is not only important in the recent history in East Turkistan, but also important internationally to raise awareness of Uyghur rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese regime. In the generation since the massacre, Chinas economic and political strength has significantly grown. Its leaders believe they can get away with extensive abuses against the Uyghurs, Kumar said. Twenty-five years ago, they were not as powerful as today, so the challenges are greater for everyone who cares about human rights and the plight of Uyghurs, he said. The U.S., U.N., and the legislatures of some democratic governments have declared that Chinas rights violations in Xinjiang amount to genocide and crimes against humanity a charge that Beijing vehemently denies. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Mehrshad Soheili has collected a number of plaudits from the Iranian media in the past few years. The 17-year-old has been dubbed the Islamic republic's "youngest commander" and a "teenage jihadist." He has been lauded, as the purported head of the registered Imam Mehdi Garrison, as the hidden imam. And as president of the Imam Sadegh Institute, his name has been associated with one of the spiritual successors of the Prophet Muhammad. Photos of Soheili online show him next to influential clerics in the holy Shi'ite city of Qom, including Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, whom he reportedly met when he was only 13. Reports said that a book titled A Star From The West was published about Soheili when he was only 15 and that senior Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, the godfather of Iran's hard-liners who died in 2020, attended the book launch. In one photo, the 17-year-old "commander" was seen wearing a uniform of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). In another photo he is seen alongside conservative politician Mostafa Mirsalim, a former police chief and culture minister, who ran for president in 2017. Soheili, who will turn 18 in May and has reportedly not graduated from high school, even appeared on Iranian state-controlled television, where usually only regime insiders and hard-line personalities are given a platform. He claimed in media interviews that he was involved in helping the needy, including thousands of young couples as well students in remote parts of the country. Carefully Crafted Image With his conservative appearance, his apparent ideological alignment with Iran's centers of power, and his connections, Soheili apparently duped many into believing he was a model revolutionary teenager who was devoted to the poor and the country's "martyrs." But on February 2, Soheili was arrested by the Intelligence Ministry, a judiciary official was quoted as saying by the official government news agency IRNA. Media, including the hard-line Mashregh news, reported that he faces charges of fraud and the usurpation of title. When he receives a title like the commander of Mehdi Headquarters, there's no way it was done without coordination with a higher power, even if he's a very smart person." Questions remain about Soheili's rise and those behind his carefully crafted image. Mashhad-based political activist Mohammad Sadegh Javadi Hessar told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that Soheili used state ideology for his own purposes, adding that his ascent was unlikely without support from powerful figures. "Ideology becomes a tool for [him and others like him] to create a safe space for their activities, " Javadi Hessar said in a telephone interview. "The political movement behind these types of people are organized to pave the way for economic achievements. When he receives a title like the commander of Mehdi Headquarters, there's no way it was done without coordination with a higher power, even if he's a very smart person," Hessar added. A Tehran-based journalist who did not want to be named told RFE/RL that Soheili had contacts with IRGC officials, including Mohammad Reza Naghdi, the former commander of the Basji force; a former commander of the IRGC's Mohammad Rasoolollah Corps in Tehran Province; as well as a senior Basij official in the capital's municipality. A photo published by Iranian media shows Naghdi kissing the forehead of a young man who appears to be Soheili. No Evidence Of Charity Work The tides turned against Soheili after the news site Roozarooz and the daily Farhikhtegan started digging into his rise and his many claims. Roozarooz interviewed poet Nematollah Davudian, who authored the book about Soheili. Davudian said a man identifying himself as a Qom-based cleric promised to pay 3 million tomans (about $700) if he wrote the book. The IRGC has emphasized the need for younger commanders and the use of teenagers, who are often driven by economic interests rather than ideology, unlike IRGC commanders of the early years of the revolution." "Soheili did not have enough friends and relationships for me to write about," he said, adding that, in the end, he wrote a text of about 70 pages and that he received only 700,000 tomans after threatening the cleric after he refused to pay up. An unidentified senior IRGC official told Rouzarooz that "following a series of ambiguities, he was asked to distance himself for a while." A reporter for Farhikhtegan who traveled to Soheili's hometown of Mussian in the Western province of Ilam failed to find evidence backing Soheili's claims about his charity work, including repairing thousands of housing units in deprived areas, distributing 2 million hot meals among the needy, and 10 million loaves of bread to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. According to the daily, which interviewed Soheili, the young man's accounts had a turnover of several billion tomans. The daily also alleged that Soheili spent some of the donations he received to purchase real estate under his relatives' names. Germany-based Iranian journalist Ehsan Mehrabi blames the IRGC for Soheili's rise, explaining that jihadi garrisons can be registered easily through IRGC websites and that there is almost no oversight over such entities. Stories Being Deleted IRGC officials have said that they have launched hundreds of jihadi garrisons in recent years, often claiming that they are involved in fighting poverty and helping the needy across the country. "There's no monitoring of the finances of these garrisons and that creates the grounds for abuse. On the other hand, the IRGC has emphasized the need for younger commanders and the use of teenagers, who are often driven by economic interests rather than ideology, unlike IRGC commanders of the early years of the revolution," Mehrabi said. Mehrabi added that there are other similar cases in smaller cities that have not received much media attention. Amid the controversy, hard-line media deleted their previous reports in which they praised Soheili as the "teenage jihadist." Among them is the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency, which had reported that Soheili began his cultural activities when he was only 11 and founded a cultural institute in Ilam. Following Soheili's arrest earlier this month, the hard-line news agency reported that the young man spent money to promote himself in the media as well as on social networking sites. Fars said that, as "a media reflecting jihadi activities," it publicizes such actions, while adding that it removed its past stories about Soheili following the clarifications of his motivations. Hundreds joined an unsanctioned rally organized by opposition groups in Kazakhstan's biggest city, Almaty, on February 13. They demanded punishment for those responsible for the deadly crackdown on the January anti-government protests and chanted that influential former President Nursultan Nazarbaev should be put on trial as well. The demonstrators also voiced concern over reports that detained people have been tortured. The initially peaceful gatherings started across Kazakhstan after the New Year to protest a sharp fuel-price hike. The authoritarian government blames "terrorists" for a violent escalation that followed, without providing proof. Tensions have been high in eastern Tajikistans Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast since November, when the leader of the region was changed and shortly afterward 28-year-old local resident Gulbiddin Ziyobekov was shot dead by police. Police say they were trying to place Ziyobek under arrest for allegedly assaulting a local official. Ziyobekovs killing sparked four days of protests in the regional capital, Khorugh. Internet to the remote area has been cut ever since and the government has sent extra forces there. Influential local residents, dubbed informal leaders by the government and the media, are facing arrest and members of the local population are preventing this from happening. Natives of the region who are outside the country and have spoken up publicly against the governments pressure in Gorno-Badakhshan have seemingly been forcibly brought back to face charges in Tajikistan. Gorno-Badakhshan is a unique region in Tajikistan. People there are distinct from ethnic Tajiks and have lived in the remote mountains of the region for centuries. There have been conflicts there before, some recently, and now people are wondering if fighting is set to break out again. On this week's Majlis podcast, RFE/RL's media-relations manager for South and Central Asia, Muhammad Tahir, moderates a discussion on what has been happening in Gorno-Badakhshan. This weeks guests are: from Geneva, Subhiya Mastonshoeva, who is originally from Gorno-Badakhshan but is currently a graduate student at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and the author a recently published report about the region; from the United States, Suzanne Levi-Sanchez, author of the book Bridging State And Civil Society: Informal Organizations In Tajik/Afghan Badakhshan; from Prague, Sirojiddin Tolibov, managing editor of RFE/RLs Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi; and Central Asia analyst Bruce Pannier. Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes or on Google Podcasts. People in Kyiv on February 12 seemed unimpressed by the news that a Russian military attack could be imminent. "I think all will be good. And if not, we'll fight," a young man told RFE/RL on the same day when a number of countries were evacuating their diplomats from the Ukrainian capital amid Russia's unceasing military buildup on the border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden stressed the importance of pursuing diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russias military buildup on Ukraines borders, according to a White House account of a telephone conversation on February 13. Biden repeated his commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged to respond swiftly in the event of further Russian aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskiys office reported that the Ukrainian president invited Biden to come to Kyiv in the coming days. I am convinced that your visit to Kyiv in the coming dayswould be a powerful signal and help stabilize the situation, the presidential office quoted Zelenskiy as saying. The phone conversation came as Western powers continued to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate tensions, and several nations urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid concerns that Moscow may be on the verge of military action against its neighbor. Washington on February 13 increased its estimate of the number of Russian troops involved in the buildup from 100,000 to 130,000. Kyiv also called for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) within 48 hours for the purpose of discussing Russias buildup. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Moscow had not responded after Kyiv on February 11 invoked a part of the OSCE Vienna Document to demand Moscow explain its activities. Consequently, we take the next step, Kuleba posted on Twitter. If Russia is serious when it talks about the indivisibility of security in the OSCE space, it must fulfill its commitment to military transparency in order to deescalate tensions and enhance security for all. WATCH: People in Kyiv on February 12 seemed unimpressed by the news that a Russian military attack might be imminent: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on February 13 that the decision to evacuate most of the staff from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv was justified by the threat of a Russian invasion, which he called "imminent enough," as several nations told their citizens to leave Ukraine amid Western warnings that Moscow may be on the verge of military action against its neighbor. Live Briefing: Ukraine In The Crosshairs RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "Yesterday, we ordered the departure of most of the Americans still at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv," Blinken said after talks in Honolulu with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts. "The risk of Russian military action is high enough, and the threat is imminent enough, that this is the prudent thing to do," Blinken said, adding that a provocation could not be ruled out as an excuse for a Russian attack on Ukraine. "No one should be surprised if Russia instigates a provocation or incident, which it then uses to justify military action it had planned all along," Blinken said. U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said the same day that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin any day now. That includes this coming week before the end of the Olympics, he added, referring to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which are scheduled to end on February 20. Sullivan added that the United States would continue making public its intelligence in an effort to block Moscow from staging a false flag operation that could be used as a justification for military action. The United States, Britain, and Germany are among the countries who told their nationals to leave, while Australia on February 13 announced it was suspending operations at its embassy in Kyiv. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said on February 13 that its warning extended to U.S. staff at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who are also asked to leave the country. Reuters separately reported that U.S. staff at the OSCE on February 13 started to withdraw by car from the Russia-backed rebel-held city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was reelected for a second term on February 13, said Putin should not underestimate the strength of Western resolve over Ukraine. I appeal to President Putin to loosen the noose around Ukraines neck and join us in seeking a way to preserve peace in Europe, Steinmeier said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the same day that NATO members and the European Union have already carefully prepared tough sanctions that we can immediately put into force in the event of an invasion. Scholz was expected in Kyiv on February 14 and in Moscow on February 15 in a bid to defuse tensions. Pope Francis lead a silent prayer for Ukraine during a service in Rome on February 13, calling the events in the region very worrying. On February 12, the Pentagon also ordered the temporary repositioning of some 150 National Guard troops out of Ukraine. The National Guard members were in the country advising and mentoring Ukrainian forces, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Twitter. Canadian media also reported that Canada is moving its embassy staff to Lviv, near the border with Poland in Ukraine's far west. The prospect of fleeing Westerners prompted Ukraine to issue an appeal to its citizens to "remain calm," with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy saying on February 12 that invasion warnings could stoke panic, which he called "the best friend of our enemies." The moves came as attempts by the leaders of the United States and France to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to step back appeared to bear little fruit. U.S. President Joe Biden told Putin in a phone call on February 12 that a Russian invasion of Ukraine "would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russias standing" in the world, according to a White House statement issued after the call. Biden also reiterated that the United States and its allies would "respond decisively" with "swift and severe costs on Russia" if Russia invades. The call produced no fundamental change in the heightened tension over the military buildup, said a senior U.S. administration official who spoke with reporters. It remains unclear if Russia is willing to pursue a diplomatic path, the unnamed U.S. official said, adding that Russia may proceed with military action. Russia has consistently denied that it plans to invade its neighbor. The Kremlin said Putin told Biden that the U.S. response to Russia's main security demands had not taken into account key concerns and that Moscow would respond soon. Moscow is demanding guarantees from the West that NATO will not accept Ukraine and other former Soviet nations as members and that it will halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. Before talking to Biden, Putin had a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down tensions, while the French Presidency said Macron and the Russian leader "both expressed a desire to continue dialogue" during the call. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on February 13 warned against putting too much hope in talks, drawing a parallel between the Western diplomatic efforts and the European powers' policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany ahead of World War II. "It may be that [Putin] just switches off his tanks and we all go home, but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West," Wallace told the Sunday Times, referring to the 1938 agreement that allowed Adolf Hitler to annex part of Czechoslovakia as part of a failed attempt to persuade him to abandon territorial expansion. "The worrying thing is that, despite the massive amount of increased diplomacy, that military buildup has continued," Wallace cautioned. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and BBC KYIV -- On this weekend afternoon, the biggest worry for Andriy, a 21-year-old medical student at a Kyiv university, wasnt the threat of war. It was whether to get his girlfriend the more expensive gold pendant for Valentines Day. The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us." I went with the better one, he said, laughing, as he stood outside the Love You jewelry store in a central Kyiv shopping mall. This is far more important. Besides, theres not going to be any war. At least, we hope not. The drums of war are beating ever more loudly in Ukraine. With well more than 100,000 troops deployed to the north, east, and in occupied Crimea to the south, along with sophisticated new weaponry and lower-visibility equipment like trench-digging vehicles, a growing number of analysts say its hard to conclude Russias military is poised to do anything other than invade its western neighbor -- for the second time in eight years. Russias Defense Ministry said that nearly three dozen warships had set sail in the waters of the northern Black Sea. The flotilla included amphibious landing craft that could be used for putting infantry and armored units onto the Ukrainian coastline. WATCH: People in Kyiv on February 12 seemed unimpressed by the news that a Russian military attack could be imminent: Though Ukraine would put up a valiant fight, a new Russian invasion would be a disaster for Kyiv, according to Western intelligence estimates. Weeks of crescendoing warnings, mainly from U.S. officials, reached new levels on February 11, as White House officials said an invasion could come in the next five days. U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone on February 12 in an effort to forestall a new war. Biden warned Putin that invading Ukraine would result in swift and severe costs to Russia and cause widespread human suffering, according to the White House. A U.S. administration official later said the call produced no fundamental change in the dynamics. It remains unclear whether Russia is interested in pursuing its goals diplomatically as opposed to through the use of force, the official said. The Kremlin, meanwhile, described the call as balanced and businesslike but also did not signal any major shifts in thinking. Amid the gloomy prognoses, Western countries continued to pull out and relocate their diplomatic staff. A convoy of U.S. Embassy vehicles was seen heading west out of Kyiv. The State Department has said some of its staff would shift to Lviv, a major city in western Ukraine. Canada, which has a major Ukrainian emigre population, also said it was moving its embassy operation from Kyiv to Lviv. Leave? Leave Kyiv? Where would we go? This is our home. We have no plans to leave." Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, again tried to push back against the direst warnings from the United States, which have provoked grumbling from him and his top advisers in recent weeks. "The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and can't help us," Zelenskiy told reporters on February 12. "I can't agree or disagree with what hasn't happened yet. So far, there is no full-scale war in Ukraine." 'Welcome To Hell!' The head of Ukraines armed forces, Lieutenant General Valeriy Zaluzhniy, also issued a defiant statement: "We have strengthened Kyivs defense. We have gone through the war and with due preparation. Therefore, we are ready to meet enemies -- and not with flowers, but with [guns and missiles], Zaluzhniy said. Welcome to hell! In interviews with nearly two dozen people around central Kyiv, on an unseasonably warm February weekend, the mood was a mixture of defiance and concern -- and in some cases, even indifference. Some, like Andriy, joked about Valentines Day. Others mentioned a controversial result involving the competition to represent Ukraine in the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest -- an event that draws laser-focused attention from a wide swath of Ukrainian society. (The second-place finisher in the February 12 event, the Kalush Orchestra, claimed that the final vote, which went to the performer Alina Pash, was rigged.) But for others, like Lena, a 46-year-old chief financial officer at a major Kyiv company who was strolling near Kyivs famed Glass Bridge, it was hard to be optimistic. The mood isnt good, she said, asking that only her first name be used. What do you think we should do? Yes, Im concerned. Lena, who said she lived with her aging mother and four cats, has made some preparations in the event of military-induced shortages: Shes bought some extra food, taken some extra money out of her banks ATMs, and bought extra water. Though Ive already drunk all the water, she said, laughing. We should stay calm. Panicking wont help anyone. What should we do? Start crying? she said. WATCH: Thousands heeded a call to put aside political differences and unite for the countrys independence. Participants in the March of Unity on February 12 sang the Ukrainian anthem and carried banners reading Say No To Putin and Ukrainians Will Resist: Volodymyr Ishchenko, who was walking with his wife, Svitlana, and pushing their infant son in a carriage, said they had no plans to leave Kyiv even in the event of a full-blown invasion, which he said he believed was unlikely. Still, Svitlana said she was advocating for packing some supplies, like extra diapers and formula, in case they had to abruptly drive to western Ukraine, where they could stay with relatives. Its not going to happen. Among my friends, relatives, no one believes it, said Ischenko, a 41-year-old civil engineer at a development company. What we can agree on is this: Bullets dont care whether you are Ukrainian or Russian. If there is new war, there will be a lot of deaths. But we will fight. In the square outside St. Michaels Cathedral, where a newly married couple posed for wedding photos before driving away in a waiting limousine, a 19-year-old engineering student from the eastern city of Kramatorsk who was visiting his girlfriend in Kyiv said that back home in the Donbas -- not far from the front line in the nearly eight-year-old conflict between government troops and Russia-backed forces -- no one was really paying attention to the threat of an escalated war. People are kind of living in the moment there. They dont have time for war. There are more urgent things to think about, he said. People are more worried about their jobs, money, heating their homes. 'We Need To Fight Our Own Fight' Several thousand people marched through downtown Kyiv in a show of defiance and to oppose any possible agreement that would undermine Ukrainian sovereignty. After singing the national anthem, the procession, chanting "Glory to Ukraine" and carrying banners that said "Ukrainians Will Resist" and "Invaders Must Die, made its way to Independence Square, or the Maidan, the central plaza where in 2013 and 2014 thousands of demonstrators camped out for months. It was the core of the pro-European, anti-corruption protest movement that gathered force when President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned plans for closer trade ties with the European Union and turned toward Russia instead. Violence flared on the Maidan in February 2014 and Yanukovych fled the country. Shortly after, Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula and fomented war in eastern Ukraine. Standing on the Maidan, Oleksandr Antonovets, a 63-year-old retired teacher who now trains horses for harness races, held up an autographed Ukrainian flag that he said had been presented to him in thanks for the support he provided to demonstrators who camped out in 2013-14. He said he was prepared to fight, to join an insurgency or the resistance, if it came to that. He said he was thankful for the military aid that the United States was providing: hundreds of millions of dollars of weaponry, including anti-tank missiles known as Javelins. We need to fight our own fight. Thank you for the Javelins, but its our own fight, he said. If war comes to Kyiv, sure, some people will flee. But plenty of us will stay to fight. Walking in a small park not far from the Olympic Stadium, Nikolai, a 63-year-old from the Donbas city of Slovyansk, said he was visiting Kyiv to see his daughter and grandson. I lived through 2014. I remember what happened then -- artillery shells falling everywhere. Everyone was terrified, he said, referring to the two-month battle in which government forces recaptured the city from Russia-backed fighters early in the Donbas conflict, which has killed more than 13,000 people and still simmers. I dont see it now. I dont think there will be a new war. Where am I going to go? he said, when asked what he would do if Russia invaded Kyiv. What I worry about is the children, for my grandchildren. Theyre blameless. And theyre trapped in this mess. Walking with his dog Kody, Dima, a programmer from the eastern city of Kharkhiv who writes code for a game developer in Kyivs burgeoning IT sector, said his friends in the military were confident they could put up a good fight in Russia invaded. He said his girlfriend is worried and wants to leave if war breaks out, but he has no such plans. Russia thinks that Ukraine is its own country. Thats the problem, Dima said. What we can agree on is this: Bullets dont care whether you are Ukrainian or Russian. If there is new war, there will be a lot of deaths. But we will fight, he added. How can you have a war like this in the 21st century? said Kateryna, a 27-year-old stay-at-home mother walking with her 4-year-old son, Nika, on their way to see relatives in another part of Kyiv. Theres no reason for it all. People should be able to get along. Leave? Leave Kyiv? Where would we go? This is our home. We have no plans to leave, she said. Strolling with his wife through Lypky, an upscale Kyiv neighborhood that has historically been home to government officials, merchants, and the nouveau riche, Mykola, a retired engineer, said the mood in the city was worrisome, but not alarming. He said they were not planning to leave Kyiv in the event of an invasion: And why would we? This is our home. He said it was hard to know what to think, pointing to statements from U.S. officials who have said they dont know whether Putin has yet made up his mind to attack. But if there is war, he said, Of course, there will be resistance. Ukraine will fight, he said. Yes, thank you for the weapons, the Javelins. But they will not make the crucial difference for us. This will be our fight. News featured popular urgent Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton believes someone will be killed if the community doesn't work together against violence Special Photo Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton COVINGTON Following a string of four shootings in the Nelson Heights community Feb. 4-6, Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton told the Covington City Council on Feb. 7 that if something is not done soon to rein in such incidents, someone could be killed. You remember a couple of weeks ago a 6-month-old baby shot in Atlanta that was caught in between two drive-by shooters and he died in the backseat of the car? Cotton asked the council. Its going to happen here. It may not be a child, it may be an adult. Weve actually had an elderly couples house shot up that we believe was a mistaken house. Thankfully the bullet hit above their bed and didnt hit them. They were very lucky. But I want you to know I believe it is coming, and Im very concerned about it. Cotton brought up several issues in connection with the gun violence, including judges not treating suspects seriously enough, the community not willing to cooperate with police on investigations, and a need for better technology to aid police. The chief said they have a couple of suspects in the shootings that occurred last weekend, and they are familiar with them. Why this is so worrisome for me is because we had two suspects who were arrested on Jan. 3 for pointing a gun at another individual, he said. They were in a vehicle with an altered VIN when we got them. They had an AR-15 pistol with them with an extended magazine on it. An AR-15 pistol is basically an AR-16 rifle cut down to the size of a pistol. And they had $7,000 cash with them. These guys dont have jobs. We charged each of them with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of theft by taking, one count of altered VIN and one count of possession of marijuana. They received an $8,000 or $10,000 bond and had to post 10% of it with a bail bondsman. If you have $7,000 cash in the car, you probably have $1,800 to get out of jail, or a family member could have posted a property bond. Im very concerned that our court doesnt see the seriousness of offenses there and letting them back out. Cotton said he has talked with Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown and they plan to talk to the Magistrate Court judges about what is happening in the city and county. Cotton also said he is concerned about a lack of assistance from the community in finding the shooters. He asked the council members to intercede on the Police Departments behalf with their constituents. Im asking your help to reach out to your constituents to get them to understand the situation and understand that were not just filling out forms, were working as hard as we can to try to solve it, we put out a press release, were offering a reward for information, were waiting on the technology that will help us, such as an application you can put on your phone where if you see something, you can send it to us, said Cotton. Were trying to take proactive measures to get this problem solved. So we need you to reach out to the community and tell them to please help us if they can. If they hear something or see something, call 911. Council member Anthony Henderson asked if the police have cameras in high crime areas. Cotton said they have Flock cameras that can capture the make and model of vehicles and their license plates. He added that they are getting new cameras that will also be sound-activated. So if someone does shoot, it tells us where that shot came from so that we can probably get there quicker than if someone called 911, said Cotton. Then if a witness tells us what kind of car they saw, we should be able to find the car on the cameras and get the tag number. Henderson asked City Attorney Frank Turner if it is illegal to have surveillance cameras on light poles. Turner said it is not illegal since it is a public space. There is no legal expectation of privacy in a public place, said Turner. If you go to New York City right now and walk down the street, youll be on 600 cameras. So that is not an unreasonable search. Cotton said such a camera system would come at a high price, but Henderson stated hes open to looking into using cameras to aid the police. Based on social media and what I see and hear daily, if we dont do something about it, someone is going to get hurt, said Henderson. Im definitely for some type of surveillance in certain areas to prevent crime, because when you have people not talking, we need to do something about it. Council member Charika Davis agreed with Henderson. I definitely think that we need to step in and do something about the gun violence, she said. We need to do more than just talk. Chief Cotton, I know that you stated that it will cost a lot to get the cameras. I would like to find out how much that is so that we can look into it. Council member Fleeta Baggett, attending her first meeting in public after recovering from a December heart attack, said not only does the city need to find the money for improved law enforcement, but also to fund its own ambulance, noting that ambulance response times to emergencies are extremely high due to a limited number of ambulances available. We have got to address this, she said. Id like to see where we can find the money, because we have to look after our citizens. We cant go throwing up these apartments everywhere and have no way to look after these people. We have to have the firemen, the policemen and the paramedics. We have to do this. We have no choice. We cant invite people to live in our city and let them die, whether it be by gunfire or whether it be because we dont have an ambulance. The Nelson Heights neighborhood is predominantly Black, but Council member Kenneth Morgan noted that this is not a Black or white issue, but a community issue, adding that they also need to bridge the gap between our community and our law enforcement, because there is still a stigma out there. We have a lot of work to do, and I just want to encourage us as a council and city and community that we strive to work together and not make this about any other thing this is not Black or white or indifferent this is whats best for our community, and we move forward collectively as a city and not as individuals. Tet tours Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Director of Communication and Marketing of TST Tourist agency, said that to meet the requirements of guests this year, the company is offering several small group tours of upto six guests. In addition, there will be group guest tours of not more than 20 people per group to ensure safety against the pandemic. As of 20 January, the number of visitors registered for a Tet tour at TST has crossed more than 50% of the company expectations. With some travellers choosing to booking tours at the last minute, TST believes that in the days nearing Tet, the number of visitors will reach or even exceed more than 2,000 guests. Mr. Man said that Ho Chi Minh City is currently a green zone, and the panic psychology of tourists is gradually stabilizing, so it is much more convenient to conduct Tet tours. He also said that Ho Chi Minh City is a market that provides a large number of tourists for the whole country, so this is a good sign for the tourism industry. This year, with 1-2 day tours, guests prefer to visit the inner cities or neighboring localities such as Tien Giang and Long An provinces, but with three to six day tours they would prefer Central and Northern provinces. Along with TST, many other travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City such as Saigontourist, Vietravel, Fiditour, and Young Generation, are also busy planning for the Lunar New Year holiday season. Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, Deputy Director of Vietravel Marketing Department, said that up to this point the number of tourists booking Tet tours had reached 50% of their plan. This year, guests are choosing a lot of tours to Phu Quoc and the Northeast and Northwest. In addition, this Tet holiday, Vietravel has also reopened a number of tours taking Vietnamese tourists abroad to many popular destinations. There is a common feature in designing tours for this Tet holiday season when all companies have put safety first in offering tours with small groups of guests and family groups. Some companies have also extended terms of travel insurance related to Covid-19 for travellers peace of mind. In particular, this year the Tet products are created to bring more experience to visitors. In addition to booking tours through travel agencies, this year for destinations near Ho Chi Minh City, self-sufficient tourists are also quite popular. The owner of a tourist area in Dong Thap was excited when asked about the tourist situation for coming Lunar New Year, with the number of bookings increasing day by day. The return of the Tet tourism season is being considered as the first step for the tourism industry goal of welcoming 65 million visitors in 2022. Challenging goals In 2022, the tourism industry is expected to receive 65 million visitors, of which 60 million will be domestic and five million will be international visitors, more than a quarter of visitors that came in 2019. The total revenue from tourists is expected to reach VND 400,000 bn. Mr. Phan Dinh Hue, Director of Viet Circle Tourism Company, shared his perspective on the goal of the tourism industry in 2022, saying that the most difficult factor is to exploit the target market of five million international visitors. Looking back at the years of Vietnam's tourism industry, especially 2019 when we reached a record number of international visitors, we see that the most number of visitors still came from the four markets of China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, which account for more than 60% of the total number of visitors to Vietnam, of which the largest market is still the Chinese market. Currently, China has implemented the Zero Covid policy and it is not known how long it will last, so it is difficult to expect many guests from this market. Japan is also not too receptive to opening markets and new routes. Although South Korean visitors have begun to come over, their numbers are still limited. However, customers in distant markets will have to wait until the end of the year, or perhaps from October to travel to Vietnam. After nearly two months of piloting international arrivals, up to now the tourism industry has welcomed 7,800 visitors, a very modest number. Vietnam has also made many efforts such as exploiting a number of commercial routes and extending the list of provinces and cities to be piloted for welcoming international travellers, but strict barriers for international arrivals still remain. Nonetheless, many companies are still struggling to recover and maintain operations, which will make the goal even more challenging. Although this year the Lunar New Year tourism season is showing many positive signs, the pandemic situation is still very much unpredictable. Perhaps we have to wait until the summer tourist season to know the market status. However, the goal of welcoming 60 million visitors, equivalent to three-quarters of the peak year of 2019, is still a challenging number for the entire tourism industry. There is an opinion that the VAT reduction from 10% to 8% expected to apply from 1 February 2022, will have a positive impact on many industries including the tourism industry. In fact, reducing VAT was proposed by many tourism businesses for a very long time, because it will motivate people to spend more on tourism and service activities. Therefore, when hearing the news of VAT reduction, many businesses were quite excited, but with a reduction of only 2%, it may not have much impact. Thanh Lam Danvers, MA (01923) Today Rain ending this morning. Breaks of sun in the afternoon. High 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 44F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Two East County libraries run by San Diego County are experiencing growing pains and trying to find a way to expand or move. But it appears that a new library is not coming anytime soon for Santee or La Mesa. Neither city has pledged money to pay for a new library. The county says if the cities build them, it will fill them with books and staff, but it doesnt have the resources to fund their construction. Meanwhile, some of the natives are getting restless. Representatives from each of the cities Friends of the Library group say they continue to promote their libraries at local events and through social media. They raise money through donations and by sales of books at their in-house bookstores. Santees friends group has been around since 1975; La Mesas dates back to 1969. The county has helped build new libraries, most recently last years 14,800-square-foot Imperial Beach Library. It took about seven years for the IB library to manifest, with about $8.5 million in library capital funds set aside for the project and an additional $660,000 from the county library budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment. Advertisement Although Imperial Beach is an incorporated city, the county has mostly focused on the library needs in unincorporated areas. The county opened a $10 million, 12,800-square-foot library in rural Alpine in 2016. When it comes to libraries for incorporated cities such as La Mesa and Santee, however, the county has said it prefers to work as partners. It typically asks cities to assume the costs for a library building while providing resources such as books, movies, equipment and staffing. While the county would run any new library, its up to each city to take the lead on their development, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said. At this stage, the ball is in their court. Im happy to continue to assist and encourage any effort to build bigger, better libraries. Migell Acosta, director of the county library system. said that it is up to the community to convince city leaders of their needs. Given that our interest is to see state-of-the-art libraries in city jurisdictions and we understand cities have many priorities, there are going to be some limitations, he said. It is up to the community to steer them, to give their voice to elected officials. We support them in that effort, but really the community has got to decide for itself where to spend money. Last Tuesday, La Mesa Branch Manager Heather Pisani-Kristl gave a short presentation to the La Mesa City Council, updating the city on the work the library has been doing. The library in June will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. It is operated at a site connected to the post office at 8074 Allison Ave., across from City Hall and near both the citys main fire station and police station. The 10,000-square-foot library was supposed to be a temporary facility. Pisani-Kristl invited the public to the librarys June 9 anniversary celebration that starts at 1 p.m. She also talked about popular events including the librarys Second Saturday performance series; Dia de Ninos with its opportunity for children to choose a forever book they can take home; and the summer reading challenge. At the end of her presentation, Pisani-Kristl told the City Council that the library is at capacity, and mentioned that the library fits 140 people at any given time. She said that the La Mesa branch is the busiest library in the county system without a public meeting room or a separate childrens room. Then she noted recent county library bulilding projects, including the ones in Imperial Beach and Alpine as well as one under construction in the unicorporated town of Borrego Springs that will be 13,500 square feet and have a separate meeting room. Were concerned that at our current rate of growth, this building will not serve for another 10 years, she said. Santee Library Branch Manager Cheryl Cosart talks to Santee resident Art Williams about his latest read. (Karen Pearlman/San Diego Union-Tribune ) In Santee, the librarys location at 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd. has been serving that community for 34 years, though the city has had libraries in other parts of town for more than 100 years. The 9,300-square-foot facility is tucked into the corner of the Carlton Oaks Plaza strip mall next to Mast Park. The library shares a parking lot with a martial arts studio, a dance studio, restaurants, doctors offices and a cupcake store. Santee Library Branch Manager Cheryl Cosart has appealed to the City Council on several occasions to give the Santee library its own building. She said she will be meeting with City Manager Marlene Best soon to discuss the issue further. Santee Mayor John Minto has expressed interest in opening a multi-use community center in town with a teen and senior center that could ostensibly have a spot for a new library. Other Santee City Council members have also said they will support a new library. Cosart said the county remodeled the interior in 2006 to make the spot more efficient, but thats about it for any change. Cosart was a librarian in La Mesa previously as well as in El Cajon. She said the Santee library, while not in its own standing building, still shares some similiar issues with La Mesa, particularly as it relates to private space in a public venue. She said neither library offers opportunities for people to be exuberant without disturbing those who may not want such exuberance. El Cajons library, by comparison, holds concerts by local musicians such as Peter Sprague in private rooms. Some of our events, we can get 50, 70, 90 people, and up to 300 for some programs, Cosart said. But some people dont want that. They come here for quiet space, and we can only offer that during certain hours. It impacts us. The lack of ability to have a private area and a space for programs is challenging. La Mesa has some other unique and expensive challenges. In 2006, the city tore down its 9,000-square-foot library that opened in 1958 on county-owned land at the corner of University Avenue and Allison Street to make room for the construction of a new police station. Construction of a new public safety facility was approved by La Mesa voters with Proposition D in 2004; the station opened in 2010. La Mesa signed an agreement in March 2006 with the county stipulating that La Mesa would build a new library for the city within 10 years, and be finished in 2018. If that was not done, La Mesa would be forced to pay the county for land at fair market value where the branch once stood. The date of completion for that library was March 13, 2018, and the county is now seeking payment at full value. The city of La Mesa and county have agreed upon an appraisal that values the property at $745,000 as of March 15, 2018, said Jody L. Mays, deputy director of asset managment in the countys department of general services. The county and city are currently discussing the terms of payment. karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com The old Escondido Police headquarters building at the western entrance to downtown near will be demolished within the next six months and replaced with a 126-unit condominium complex that will be rented out as apartments.. The project which will sit near the corner of Valley Parkway and Grand Avenue, just across the street from the Escondido Transit Center is expected to be built by the end of 2018, said Greg Waite of Integral Communities LLC. The 2.59 -acre parcel contains a 32,000 square foot, two story building that was built in 1974 to serve as the citys police headquarters. In 2004, voters approved an $84 million municipal bond measure to construct a new public safety center, which opened on Centre City Parkway in 2010 and include both the police and fire headquarters. Since then, the old police building sat mostly vacant or under-utilized and turned into an eyesore. In 2015, a business called the Warfighter Academy renovated part of the gutted building into a fitness center where people train with faux weapons to learn self defense techniques. When the academy leased the property it was understood it was a temporary arrangement that would end when the land was sold and the building was scheduled for demolition. Advertisement That sale went through last year to Integral Communities of Encinitas for $2.5 million. The company plans to start demolishing the old building in May, Waite and Escondido City Manger Graham Mitchell said.. The condominium project will feature three buildings ranging in height from two to five-stories. The units from 810 square feet to 2,090 square feet will include one bedroom lofts, and two and three bedrooms town homes. Pedestrian crossings with traffic lights on both Grand and Valley Parkway.will be constructed to make access to the transit center safe for residents. Plans call for an outdoor rooftop patio, a pool, spa, a fitness room, and a small ground-floor area for commercial development, possibly a coffee shop. Parking will be at a premium. Only 226 parking spaces are planned at the site, about 16 less than would normally be required for such a dense project. The theory is that some residents will use public transportation across the street, reducing the number of cars. The development was approved 3-0 this fall by the Escondido City Council, with John Masson absent and Mayor Sam Abed abstaining because he owns property near the site. I think this is exactly the kind of project were supporting, Councilwoman Olga Diaz said this week, noting its certainly an improvement from whats on the property now. We have to achieve a certain amount of growth to accommodate our population and rather than sprawling out into the beautiful hills were trying to do it where all of the infrastructure exists. Its different but its good and it matches all the smart-growth principles that were supposed to engage Deputy Mayor Mike Morasco also said he thought it was a great project. I think it will be something that will introduce people as they enter our city to what the city is and what the potential is for the future of our city, he said. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. After burning the piles of documents showing her familys ties to the U.S. military, Gul Makai Royeen locked her house and hurried to the Kabul airport with a tight grip on her daughters hand. Arian Royeen wanted to bring her nail polish, but the two rushed out forgetting even to change their house slippers. As they followed the anxious crowds to the airports gates, gunshots sounded. Arian wrenched her hand free and covered her ears. The crowd surged forward. Seconds later, the gates slammed shut. Mother and daughter were left on opposite sides. We lost her, Sahar Royeen, Arians eldest sister, said from her home in Dubai. Arian, 27, has a developmental disability. Her family said her intellectual and emotional maturity is closer to that of a 5-year-old. A distraught Gul Makai tried to explain her daughters unique needs to the U.S. guards, who said it was too dangerous to reopen the gates and shouted at her to get inside the terminal. The weeping mother was put on a plane out of Afghanistan. Five months later, she is in San Jose, still trying to reunite with her daughter. More Information Intellectual disabilities: Learn more at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' FAQ page: bit.ly/aaiddFAQ See More Collapse The case illustrates the vulnerability of people with disabilities needing to evacuate from Afghanistan, and just how difficult it has been to extract them after the frantic U.S. withdrawal in August. Two of the Royeen children aided the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan, but the familys repeated pleas for help from the military, the administration, elected officials and even the media have failed to reunite the family. We are trying every angle, but shes just not important enough, Sahar told The Chronicle. Nobody cares. So the Royeens mounted their own search-and-rescue mission. Stranded in Pakistan After she was separated from her mother, Arians siblings in California and Dubai begged friends and family in Kabul to look for their sister. Finally, one cousin managed to force through the thousands still outside the airport gates and find Arian disheveled, disoriented and severely dehydrated. Sahar immediately began contacting all the people she knew from her days working as a contractor providing medical supplies to the U.S. military for help evacuating Arian. Someone her husband knew ultimately referred them to Lynne Schneider, an Army reservist who served two tours in Iraq and was volunteering her personal time to get Afghans to safety. Schneider, based in Virginia, started receiving dozens of calls and emails from distressed families during the U.S. evacuation in mid-August, and was struck by Arians unique needs. Schneider began working her own military connections in the hopes of getting Arian a seat on one of the hundreds of military aircraft leaving Hamid Karzai International Airport in those frenzied last days. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle When this didnt work, Schneider called on a friend of a friend, a businessman in Kabul, who was finally able to arrange Arian and her cousins transport into neighboring Pakistan under the cover of dark. Ive been on the phone for 20 hours a day, Schneider said. We just (keep) trying to get her to her mother. Yet the months ahead would prove frustrating for Schneider and the Royeen family. As Afghans inundated the Department of Homeland Security with more than 40,000 humanitarian parole applications and international aid organizations worked to extricate Afghanistans female professionals, judges and prosecutors, the Royeen family learned why the Biden administration has been heavily criticized for the withdrawal. Benafsha Yaqoobi, a commissioner at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, has vociferously advocated for wealthy nations to create a special visa for disabled Afghans whose lives she says are in particular danger. Yaqoobo, who is blind, told the Guardian that many in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, believe a disability is a punishment from God for the parents sins. Arian and her cousin are living in a tiny hostel room in Islamabad, paid for by her siblings wire transfers. Every 30 days, the pair have to cross back into Afghanistan to renew their temporary visas, a trip fraught with danger and harassment, according to Sahar. In January, while Arian and her cousin were waiting in the long line to go through the border checkpoint on the Afghanistan side, Sahar said, Arian began crying and refused to move. Taliban border guards beat her cousin. (In keeping with its policy on anonymous sources, The Chronicle is not identifying Arians cousin because of safety concerns). Schneider said she has repeatedly appealed to the U.S. State Department to put Arian on a flight to the United States. She even reached out to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, hoping the congressional Democrat from San Jose might have more influence. But her efforts yielded little. In a statement to The Chronicle, the State Department said it couldnt comment on this case, but that it takes seriously the needs of vulnerable Afghans and believes there are paths out for people who can make it to neighboring countries. Its priority is evacuating U.S. citizens and green card holders, it said in the statement. While the State Department said the U.S. has welcomed 76,000 Afghans since August, it couldnt tell The Chronicle how many Afghan nationals have asked to be evacuated. A database created by global nongovernmental organizations has registered more than 50,000 such Afghans. Schneider said her contacts in the State Department are good people who are working very hard, but are swamped. Imagine trying to get out thousands of people and you have a small staff. You just cant do it, Schneider said. Hire people. The Royeen family applied for a U.S. medical visa for Arian, but her interview date is February 2023. In the meantime, Arian cant understand why her mom wont come get her, her siblings say. She keeps saying, I forgot my lip gloss at home, I forgot my nail polish at home. I want to go get that, Sahar said. Arian was my everything 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. On Jan. 27, Gul Makai wept as she sat at the dining table of her daughter, Sadaf Royeen, in San Jose. Arian has never, ever been away from me, Gul Makai said in Dari, translated by Sadaf. Arian was my everything. The widow, 56, worries about the minutiae of Arians life in Islamabad, like who is helping her change her menstrual pad and wash her hair. She talks to Arian 30, 40 times a day, mostly in the wee hours of the morning. On a recent call at 2 a.m., Arian was screaming and crying and saying, I miss you, Mom, I miss you, and When am I coming? Gul Makai said. She has no answers for her daughter. Sadaf has been experiencing panic attacks. Sahar wakes up every night dreading the news her WhatsApp might bring from Islamabad. Gul Makai, lost in a fog of grief, recently fell and broke her finger, requiring surgery. Now she cant hold a cup of tea. Provided by Sadaf Royeen Gul Makai said Arian was her ever attentive companion in Kabul, a bond she appreciated more after her husband, Arians father, died in 2008. I would often tell Arian she would be my life partner, like my husband (and) my daughter, Gul Makai said. Arian would shriek back that she was not her mothers husband, and the two would laugh. After arriving in the U.S. on an evacuation flight in August, Gul Makai was kept at Fort Bliss military camp in Texas for three months. All I wanted was to either leave the United States and go back to my daughter or (have) my daughter come here. Neither was possible. After The Chronicle began asking the State Department about Arians case, Schneider said she was told by a contact there that Arian and her cousin would be put on a flight out of Pakistan last Wednesday. We dont get our hopes high until she is here because we dont wanna get disappointed, Omaid Royeen, Arians brother, wrote in a Feb. 1 text. Sahar closely monitored her WhatsApp on Wednesday for the message that Arian and their cousin had boarded the flight out of Islamabad. When her phone pinged with the good news, her first call was to her mother in San Jose. Lots of tears and prayers, Sahar texted The Chronicle after telling Gul Makai that Arian was en route to Qatar. Yet the Royeen family worries that the State Departments policy of flying evacuees to Qatar for a month or more of background checks and visa processing for entry to the United States will further traumatize Arian. They are pleading with the State Department to allow their vulnerable sister direct passage into the arms of Gul Makai in San Jose. Deepa Fernandes is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: deepa.fernandes@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @deepafern San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Police Chief Bill Scott didnt hold a joint news conference on Nov. 17, one day after a 19-year-old man was fatally shot in the Bayview and an 18-year-old man was shot and wounded in nearby Hunters Point, two of the citys lower-income neighborhoods. But they did on Nov. 20, less than 24 hours after roughly $1 million in high-end merchandise was stolen from Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry stores in Union Square. This wasnt an oversight by the citys top brass, but an acknowledgment of San Franciscos social order, where affluence equals influence when it comes to shaping the citys public safety priorities. Money gets answers in San Francisco, said Phelicia Jones, founder of the advocacy organization Wealth and Disparities in the Black Community. Poor people dont get any. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Overrepresented among these poor folks are Black and Latino residents who because of decades of discriminatory practices like urban renewal, redlining and prohibitive zoning laws live in neighborhoods more likely to experience higher crime rates. This is racial segregation by design. How city leaders respond to public safety issues only serves to maintain it. Breeds decision to flood Union Square with police in November was a pricey bit of political theater. As The Chronicle reported, the move ended up costing taxpayers about $2.4 million in police overtime spending from Nov. 20 to Dec. 10, so cops could mostly just walk the area and stand near boarded-up windows. John Hamasaki, who serves on the San Francisco Police Commission, thinks the response was intended to react to unflattering national media attention more than it amounted to an effective deterrence strategy in a city where roughly 70% of violent crimes and over 90% of property crimes go unsolved, according to California Department of Justice data. Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle How the city responded seemed performative, he told me. It also had the impact of making people in other (underserved) communities feel like, Whoa, they have hundreds of cops out there, and I cant get one detective to return my phone call. Breed has used the crime is out of control narrative to support her spending agenda, which if her recent supplemental budget request is approved by the Board of Supervisors, would tack $7.9 million onto the $14.6 million the city already has allocated to cover police overtime this year. In a statement about her proposal, Breed said this level of funding is needed because San Francisco officials have a responsibility to make sure everyone in this City feels safe. But whose sense of safety is the city prioritizing? Its no coincidence budget requests like this are happening while San Franciscos wealthier neighborhoods Presidio Heights, the Marina and Nob Hill experience increases in money-driven crimes such as burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, while those same crimes decrease in lower-income neighborhoods, as my colleague Susie Neilson recently showed. The difference in the level of political attention paid to crime in more affluent areas of the city isnt lost on Bayview-Hunters Point natives such as Damien Posey. We notice the uptick in the citys response when other groups complain about something, opposed to people who live in certain neighborhoods when they complain about something, said Posey, the founder and executive director of Us 4 Us Bay Area, a nonprofit focused on reimagining public safety through community-building and violence prevention. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle The city chose to flush away $2.4 million in Union Square in an attempt to assuage luxury retail shoppers and counter bad press from the conservative media. 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. San Francisco could have used this money to advance local efforts around finding the critical middle ground between over-policing and under-policing Black and Latino communities. The former results in the racial disparities we see in traffic stops, arrests and police killings. The latter is a trickier issue but correlates to why residents of these neighborhoods can feel harassed by police over small things while their serious crimes go unsolved. Poseys nonprofit is one of many Black-led organizations advocating for a healthier partnership between law enforcement and neighborhoods. But the city would rather take what could be his budget for three years and spend it in Union Square over three weeks. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2021 Politicians arent stupid. They know they have to do something about crime, Posey said. But that something has to be what helps all of the public ... not just some of it. April Green applies this logic in trying to bring responsive policing to under-resourced neighborhoods. Green is the aunt of Keita ONeil, an unarmed Black man killed by SFPD during a chase in the Bayview in 2017. Black people want police to do something about crime in their neighborhoods, she said. The problem is our voices arent valued. This is a painful bit of truth that cant fit into the public relations battle San Franciscos mayor and police chief are having. They might think theyre getting tough on crime. But right now, theyre just reminding residents that some matter more to them than others. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips Courtesy of Oakland Firefighters Firefighters were still investigating what caused a boat under a West Oakland freeway to catch fire on Saturday, officials said a day later. The fire broke out in the area of Sixth and Castro streets, near highways 880 and 980, around 3:07 p.m. Saturday, according to Michael Hunt, a spokesperson for the Oakland Fire Department. Thats where at least three engines and one truck found the boat ablaze on a trailer in the street, fire officials said on Twitter. The new year had barely begun when Silvia Padilla got a call saying the little boy who visited her Richmond home the day before had COVID-19. Soon, Padilla, her husband and their two young sons tested positive for the coronavirus. Bad enough. But Padilla was also pregnant. It was really scary, said Padilla, a tax preparer. You get nervous about it because you dont know how bad it could get. Pregnant women like Padilla have reason to worry but the risk is more often to themselves than to their babies. Studies show the womb of a mother infected with the coronavirus is generally safe for the fetus because the placenta usually stops the pathogen from entering. Thats different from some other viruses, including Zika and rubella, that can cross the barrier and attack the baby in utero. Catching the virus does increase the chance that a woman will deliver a stillborn baby, a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed in November. Although the stillborn rate was higher for women who were infected than for those who were not, it was still low, at less than 1%. The study also identified a jump in the rate of stillborns, to 2.7%, during the period when the delta variant emerged last summer. But such risks remain rare. The most significant danger is harm to the mom, said Dr. Stephanie Gaw, an expert in maternal-fetal medicine at UCSF. Its really dangerous for you to have COVID if youre pregnant. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Across the country, 171,428 pregnant women have been diagnosed with COVID since the pandemic began, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 29,000 have been hospitalized and 273 have died, including eight this year. The peril for pregnant women begins with two simple facts: The mother shares oxygen with her fetus, which is also pushing up on her lungs. Both of these decrease the mothers oxygen reserves, Gaw said. So if a pregnant woman gets a bad case of COVID, she is likely to need more oxygen just when she has less. The coronavirus also makes it more likely that the mother will experience life-threatening high blood pressure or postpartum hemorrhage or, in rare cases, die herself. These findings were confirmed in a study published Feb. 7 in the journal JAMA Network, which compared 2,352 pregnant women infected with the coronavirus (including 586 with moderate to severe COVID), against 11,752 without the virus. The women delivered their babies at 17 hospitals across the country between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020 before vaccines were available. Women with moderate to severe COVID had the worst outcomes, including five who died. That group had nearly twice the rate of preterm births as uninfected mothers: 27.1% versus 14.1%. Also, 3.5% of their babies died, compared with 1.8% of those from women without COVID. The findings underscore the need for women of childbearing age and pregnant individuals to be vaccinated and to take other precautions against becoming infected, said Dr. Diana Bianchi, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which funded the study by researchers around the country. Vaccines work well at preventing COVID and blocking severe disease in breakthrough cases. Significantly, mothers in the study who had mild or asymptomatic infections had no worse outcomes than uninfected mothers. Yet despite ample evidence of the vaccines health benefits, and despite studies confirming their safety for fetuses, just 31% of pregnant women were vaccinated by the end of September, the CDC reported last fall. Tiffany Lundeen, a nurse-midwife at LifeLong Medical Care in Richmond, has worked with about 100 pregnant women with COVID. Almost all of them willingly accept the Tdap vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, Lundeen said. But over half of pregnant and breastfeeding people decline any COVID-19 vaccination during the pregnancy and breastfeeding period, she said, even though she explains how important it is to be vaccinated and that its safe. One of those clients is Padilla, the tax preparer who tested positive in early January. Padilla was double vaccinated by mid-April, before getting pregnant. But studies show that vaccines power wanes after about six months, so by October some of Padillas protection was likely gone. Yet she declined to get a booster and then was infected. Symptom-free and close to her due date, Padilla delivered a healthy son, Josue, on Jan. 22. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Oh, my God, I gave birth when I was still positive! she said, recalling the spacesuit-clad doctors and nurses who surrounded her, how she was placed in an isolation room afterward, and how her older sons were barred from joining her and her husband there. Had Padilla been boostered, its possible she might have escaped the infection. But she declined while pregnant, just in case. Its one of those fear factors out there, said Dr. Alissa Erogbogbo, an obstetrician with OB Hospitalist Group at El Camino Health in Mountain View and Los Gatos who works with many pregnant women who share that anxiety. Their biggest thing is: If I get the vaccine, am I going to lose this baby? Doctors say thats outdated thinking. Early on, researchers excluded pregnant women from safety trials, and no one could tell if the vaccine was safe for the fetus. All that has changed. A year later, there are so many studies multiple studies around the world with hundreds of thousands of women getting the vaccines at all stages of pregnancy with no adverse effects, said Gaw of UCSF. For Padilla, the vaccine wasnt the only scary thing. Like every pregnant woman, she had reached a point when she felt more than ready for the baby to pop out until she got COVID. I was thinking, I dont want the baby until the virus goes off, in five to 10 days, she said, worrying the baby would be born with it. 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. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Across the country, at the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Elizabeth Taglauer wondered why babies were not born with it. Taglauer, a placental biologist, and colleagues examined tissue from 16 women with symptomatic COVID during their pregnancy half in their second trimester and half in their third and from eight pregnant women who were not infected with the virus. Aware that the coronavirus enters cells mainly through a convenient open door called the ACE2 receptor, the researchers found something intriguing: By late pregnancy, there were far fewer ACE2 receptors in the placenta of the infected women than there were earlier. The open doors for the virus seemed to be slamming shut, and in January they published a small pilot study in the American Journal of Pathology, a prelude to further research. Our study found that when women experienced (COVID), particularly in the third trimester, closer to birth, their placenta had lower levels of this ACE2 receptor on their placenta, said Taglauer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the medical school. The researchers suspected the placenta was getting help shutting those open doors from the enzyme ADAM17, which they found in abundance where ACE2 decreased. ADAM17 appeared to kick into gear, acting like a cleaver to remove the dangerous ACE2 receptors, the study said. Your placenta is helping you protect your baby, Taglauer said. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle But not always. Sometimes the placentas protective and sometimes it isnt, said Dr. David Schwartz, lead author of a new study published Thursday in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. It found that in rare cases, the coronavirus can destroy the placenta in pregnant women. Without that protective membrane, a fetus cant survive. Several studies have shown that the mothers coronavirus infects the baby in 3% to 5% of cases. To better understand why some babies died, Schwartz and dozens of researchers around the world analyzed the placentas of 64 stillborn babies and four who died after birth. Surprisingly, none of the 68 died of COVID. Most often, the virus destroyed the placenta, leading the fetuses to suffocate. COVID-associated stillbirths are fortunately uncommon, said Schwartz, an expert in perinatal pathology in Atlanta. But thats the scary thing about this disease. If it happens to you, its a tremendous tragedy. Once the results were in, Schwartz said he asked the researchers to make one more inquiry about each mother. What they found was less surprising. All of them, he said, were unvaccinated. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov If the crisis in American democracy had a capital, it would be Los Angeles. This may be news to Americans who, in worrying about the nations democratic decline, obsess about developments in Washington, pronouncements from Mar-a-Lago or election-related legislation in purple states. But in fact it is Los Angeles the nations most populous county that best demonstrates the most fundamental failure of our democracy. Democracy in this country starts with elected representation, and we Angelenos have less of it than Americans in the other 49 states. Angelenos are often accused of not paying attention to government and politics. But perhaps thats because our politicians dont pay attention to us. They are too distant from us to represent us effectively. In the city of Los Angeles, population 4 million-plus, there are just 15 City Council members. That means each council member represents 270,000 people, the highest such ratio in the country. At the county level, Los Angeles is even less democratic, with just five elected supervisors to represent 10.3 million people those 2 million-person local districts are among the largest in the world. At the state level, Angelenos have the misfortune of being Californians, who suffer under Americas least democratically representative state government. Our state Senate districts, with nearly 1 million people each, and our Assembly districts, with 500,000 Californians each, are the largest in the country. And if thats not outrageous enough, look at Washington. Californians, with just two senators, have the lowest level of representation in the democratic fraud scheme that is the U.S. Senate. The House of Representatives, by guaranteeing one seat to even small states, gives Wyoming three times the electoral power of Californians. And with San Francisco kid Stephen Breyers retirement, there is not a single Californian on the nations real ruling body, the unelected U.S. Supreme Court. This sorry state of democratic representation is undermining trust in government. In order to get elected in districts of such size and scale, our representatives must pay more attention to those who can fund their massive campaigns. That, in turn, explains why people with less wealth or fewer connections especially women and people of color are so badly underrepresented in elected office. The answer to this problem is straightforward: massively expand the number of our representatives at every level. That way, each elected official would represent a smaller number of people. And creating more positions would open doors for people with more diverse backgrounds and less attachment to political careers. The good news is that there is real momentum for change in Los Angeles. City Attorney Mike Feuer, now running for mayor, has called for doubling the size of the Los Angeles City Council. At the county level, the new Citizens Redistricting Commission pleaded publicly for an increase in the number of supervisors to reflect the regions diversity and give people more voice in government. And state ballot measures to increase the size of the Legislature have circulated in recent years. There is also momentum for expanding representation nationally, and it comes from across the political spectrum. In December, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences issued the Case for Enlarging the House of Representatives. The proposal would lift the 1929 cap on the House of Representatives. A resulting increase in House representatives would also boost the number of Electoral College members mathematically making it more difficult for the loser of the popular vote for president to win the election. Lately, Ive been talking with Californians about expanding representation, as part of a national campaign organized by Citizens Rising. One crucial lesson: If you want to go big in democratic representation, its essential to think small. Adding a few districts to our city council, or even a few hundred to the House, wont bring people that much closer to your representatives. Instead, the country needs a real commitment to keeping districts so small from 30,000 to 50,000 that we actually know our representatives. Yes, that might give Los Angeles County 200 supervisors and create a House of Representatives of 6,000 people. But the pandemic has shown that large legislative bodies can gather and govern via digital technologies. An America with larger local councils and legislatures would offer many more opportunities for everyone to serve and would make money less determinative of who wins elections. Indeed, such larger bodies might be filled not just by elections but also by lot, in the manner of citizen assemblies now being used around the world to bring everyday people into decision-making. Such changes would make the biggest difference in Los Angeles and in California, where our democracy deficit is largest. So, the next time you hear public officials here claim they are saving American democracy, please ask them to start by giving us more democracy right here at home. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. I am writing from my hospital bed, recovering from a C-section delivery of a dead baby boy just a day before he would have been 32 weeks old. Our family endured our second round of COVID a few weeks ago; we learned that COVID may explain why Im alone, instead of holding my baby. My husband and I are vaccinated and boosted, but our 2-year-old daughter isnt, obviously. She has tested positive both times; we have had the same symptoms, on the same timeline, but always tested negative our best guess is that we were infected but the vaccine has kept our viral load too low to detect with the standard tests. The news highlighting the link between COVID, placental damage and stillbirth reminds us how much we still have to learn and whose future is at stake in this crisis. We have turned our lives upside down for two years, trying to protect our family. Even so, our son will never weigh more than 3 pounds, 2 ounces. I hope our leaders are following the news and will rethink plans to lift the mask mandate. Its too late for our baby, but someone elses can still live. Allison Johnson, Oakland Use outsider for probes Who should investigate the San Francisco Police Department? Having the District Attorneys Office investigate police misconduct does not make the city safer for anyone. The district attorney and the department are the enforcers of law in San Francisco, and they need to work together to effectively address crime. Pitting these entities against each other creates conflict and is not effective for reducing criminal activity an outside agency should conduct excessive force investigations. This way the district attorney and the department can work together to do their jobs arresting and prosecuting criminals. Ellen Mendelson, San Francisco Hold PG&E accountable Regarding Ratepayers eventually pay for PG&Es mistakes (Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11): The writer points out the need for balancing PG&Es fines and rates in customer costs. What is really needed is responsible state Public Utilities Commission oversight. When a rate increase is granted for maintenance costs as has happened in recent years it should require a clear accounting. PG&E should submit five years of past maintenance costs and show for each year that the increased income for additional maintenance has actually been spent for that. None of those higher rates should go to investor dividends. And failure to use the increased fees granted for maintenance for that purpose should cancel the added fees. If the PUC had been doing its job, those who died in San Mateo and since might still be alive. Instead of charging PG&E fines and suing after the fact, the PUC should require PG&E to use its income for its business and not its investors or executives high incomes. Miriam Mueller, San Francisco Newsom: role model Regarding Newsoms real job: trashman (Insight, Feb. 6): Joe Mathews piece came off as snarky and sarcastic when the fact is the governor is setting an example that all civic leaders and citizens would do well to follow. We in Oakland live in an ever-worsening trash heap, human and material, that could be fixed if every single one of us would go out and pick up crap, garbage and whatever else lazy people toss out. No cigarette butts, no food wrappers, no nothing should be dumped. What could possibly be so hard about this? Good for you, Gavin Newsom. Ricky Lacina, Oakland Cop must look in mirror Regarding the trial of San Francisco Police Officer Terrance Stangel, its important for everyone to remember this bedrock principle: Stangel has a conscience, as do we all. Hopefully, he faces his conscience and asks himself if he did the right thing, the moral thing, in his beating of Dacari Spiers. This has nothing to do with the District Attorneys Office or the police chief and their ongoing fight. This is about one cop and if he crossed the line. Was he keeping the peace and did he feel justified in assaulting another human being? San Francisco fire department rescued one victim from a rapidly escalated three-alarm fire at 324 10th Avenue between Clement St. and Geary Blvd. on Saturday afternoon. The adult male was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, spokesman Jonathan Baxter said. Two dogs were also rescued and will be okay, he said. Two cats went missing. By 3 p.m. one was found; the other ran off in the neighborhood and was still missing at 5 p.m. Three multi-story residential buildings were involved. The fire department reported the one-alarm fire in a tweet around 1:45 p.m. and within twenty minutes had escalated it to a two and then three-alarm fire. More than 100 firefighters responded. By 2:30 p.m., firefighters had stopped the forward progress of the blaze and were confident it wouldnt spread to any other buildings, Baxter said. Just after 5 p.m., the department posted an update that the fire was contained. Four adults were displaced, and the department expects that number to rise, he said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. When the blaze ignited just before 2 p.m., fire department urged people to avoid the area and close their windows if they are nearby. Videos and photos from passerbys showed plumes of black smoke and fire trucks lining the block. Shane Callan, a Laurel Heights resident, said the fire caught his attention as he passed by the area on his way home around 1:45 p.m. Ive never seen that many fire engines in my life, he said. It was crazy. It smelled pretty bad too. 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. By the time he left the scene around half an hour later, he said it already seemed like it was under control with the black smoke that had been billowing aggressively fading to a very faint gray. Chronicle staff reporter Danielle Echeverria contributed. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench ELECTION UPDATE: San Franciscans overwhelmingly voted to recall three school board members, supervisor Matt Haney will head to the April runoff to become S.F.'s next state assemblymember and Joaquin Torres will remain S.F.'s assessor-recorder. In the final days of an unprecedented school board recall election in San Francisco, supporters and opponents of the effort blanketed the city with flyers, knocked on doors and rallied to make their final case to voters. The battle over the possible ouster of board President Gabriela Lopez and members Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga has been ugly, expensive and divisive splitting parents, teachers and elected officials and the vote could to a large degree determine the fate of the school district. Over the next several months, the school board is expected to select a new superintendent while juggling a $125 million budget deficit and an ongoing pandemic. Despite a regular election in November, there is no time to waste, said Siva Raj, one of the organizers of the recall. What started as an effort by public school parents to reopen our schools has now catalyzed an entire city into demanding better leadership for our children, he said. This is the first time city voters will consider removing an elected official from office since a failed attempt in 1983 to recall then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein. As of Saturday afternoon, around 109,800 ballots had been returned, more than 21% of the roughly 508,500 sent out to voters. Its expected that an additional 50,000 or more ballots could be cast or mailed on election day. Residents in the eastern half of San Francisco are also voting in a special election to pick their next state Assembly member among four candidates: Supervisor Matt Haney, former Supervisor David Campos, City College trustee Thea Selby and entrepreneur and philanthropist Bilal Mahmood. If no one candidate wins more than 50% of the votes, the top two will advance to a runoff on April 19. Tuesday will be the final deciding vote on the school board recall. The recall effort kicked off more than a year ago as many in the community grew frustrated by the slow reopening of district schools despite public health authorization to do so, while the board meanwhile pursued the renaming of 44 school sites, the fate of a historic and controversial mural, and the elimination of competitive admissions to Lowell High School. Organizers questioned the judgment of the entire board, but only Lopez, Collins and Moliga had served long enough to qualify for a recall. So far, the pro-recall organizers have pulled in more than $1.9 million, a jaw-dropping amount for a school board election. The opposition has raised $86,000, including $47,000 specifically donated to keep Moliga in office. Jana Asenbrennerova/Special to The Chronicle 2020 The recall campaign has drawn significant support from the citys well-funded business and real estate community, including $459,000 from Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, a political action committee that has previously opposed progressive candidates and reforms, including those connected to housing, taxes and homelessness. The PAC also supports the recall of city District Attorney Chesa Boudin, which qualified in November for the ballot and will be decided locally as part of the June statewide primary election. Venture capitalist Arthur Rock, a supporter of Democratic causes and candidates as well as nonprofit charter schools, has also individually donated nearly $400,000 to remove Lopez, Collins and Moliga from office. Effort to reach him were unsuccessful. Pro- and anti-recall factions were out in force Saturday in last-minute efforts to sway voters and encourage people who hadnt yet voted to cast ballots. At 11 a.m. in the Sunset, dozens of volunteers in neon yellow shirts lined 19th Avenue, waving yellow signs in multiple languages at passing motorists, encouraging them to vote yes on the recall. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle We wanted to get out the Chinese and Asian Americans and Pacific Islander community because, historically, that group registered in those high numbers and have not voted in those high numbers, said Ann Hsu, a mother of two San Francisco high schoolers who helped organize Chinese/AAPI Voter Outreach Taskforce in December. If we can get all of those people to register and then to vote, we can really influence the election. Her group, she said, has registered 560 new voters, including noncitizens eligible to vote who are parents of San Francisco Unified School District students. Its energizing a community that hasnt been energized yet, said John Trasvina, the former dean of the University of San Franciscos law school and former president of the Lowell Alumni Association, who was also waving signs in support of the recall. Unlike many of the volunteers, Trasvina is not a parent, he said, but that doesnt mean the school board recall vote should be any less important to San Franciscans like him. He said he was frustrated with the school boards inability to help alleviate racial and economic disparities among kids in public schools and said the name-change incident in particular highlighted a lack of substantive action. Our schools must do better, he said. On the other side of the city, school board member Moliga said he was joined by more than 60 volunteers including parents, teachers and native San Franciscans canvassing in Potrero, the Mission and Bernal Heights for the morning. They put up door hangers on residences and engaged with voters, he said. We feel really good about where were at currently, and were going to be out there every day until the polls close on Tuesday, he told The Chronicle by phone Saturday afternoon. He said that during his time in the community over the past several months, voters have communicated to him that they are very supportive of not recalling him, saying that he has been grouped in with other people and falsely accused of initiating issues that spurred the recall. 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. Moliga, a social worker, previously defended himself by saying that it was up to the school boards leadership to determine which priorities such as rechristening schools named after figures linked to racism, sexism and other injustices came before the board. He has emphasized his work on mental health, social services and the budget as a board member, and stressed he is the first Pacific Islander elected in the city. Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle 2018 Opponents of the recall have cast the campaign as a ploy by wealthy individuals to privatize schools. Everyone who is following this campaign knows that billionaires are trying to buy out public education outright, Frank Lara, vice president of the United Educators of San Francisco labor union, which has opposed the recall, said in a social media ad. Collins said she believes the recall is an effort by right wingers, Big Tech and Trump supporters. People need to follow the money, she said. Many of the backers of this recall dont even have kids in public schools, and this is clearly an attack on democracies. Pro-recall volunteer Marie-Jose Durquet, whose children went through district schools, said she is offended by the characterization of the recall effort, which she said teachers, parents and city residents worked days, nights and weekends to make happen. Theyre ignoring so many people on the ground who have put their heart and soul and money into this, said Durquet, who has worked as a public school teacher, in San Francisco in the past and in Palo Alto currently, for 30 years. People from all walks of life desire a school board that behaves responsibly and delivers quality education for children. If a majority of voters support the recall, Mayor London Breed would appoint replacements, giving them an edge as incumbents if they opt to run in November for four-year terms. If a majority of voters support removing any or all of the three board members from office, they would continue to serve until 10 days after the Board of Supervisors officially accepts the election results. Elections officials probably wont certify results until Feb. 24, with the supervisors voting on March 1 at the earliest. Breed has endorsed the recall of all three, saying the boards priorities have been severely misplaced. If the voters recall all three members, its obviously a mandate that they want change at the school district, said David Ho, a political consultant. The stakes are elevated to the point where Mayor Breed has to make a very bold decision to appoint very competent Board of Education replacements. Jill Tucker, Danielle Echeverria and Mallory Moench are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com, mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Jilltucker, @DanielleEchev, @mallorymoench For Claudia Ruffle, living in a cohousing 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. Cohousing, 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 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 cohousing 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. 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. We thought, Oh, OK, we will give them all of our money for our unit with the understanding that once we can move in, our unit is paid for, Ruffle said. But instead, the entire project went into foreclosure. And Ruffles dream and finances were dashed. That money is now gone and theres no way for us to retrieve it, she said. We lost about $170,000. And we both have very low incomes. Ever since, weve been living in not good circumstances at all. Members of Rocky Corner offer varying views of what exactly went wrong. But in general, most agree that the increasing complexity of the project proved more than the group could afford or manage. JANE BEILES/NYT Mistakes were made all along the line by all parties, said Dick Margulis, a book designer and editor who, along with his wife, was among the communitys earliest organizers. What happened at Rocky Corner is not a reflection of the viability of cohousing in general, said Karen Gimnig, the interim executive director of the Cohousing Association of America, a national nonprofit that supports newly forming and existing communities. There are about 170 established cohousing communities in the United States, according to the Cohousing Association. There are about 30 cohousing communities in California and five in New York state. In a cohousing model, residents own their own homes, but share common spaces a structure aimed at fostering connection and community through collaborative living. Projects that get under construction, like any other development project, its imaginable that things could happen, Gimnig said. But its really, really rare. The association always advises people planning such communities to partner with experienced cohousing developers in order to minimize their risks, she said. Though cohousing projects are typically built on properties that have municipal water and sewer, she said, the Rocky Corner project was a rural property and involved reserving a portion of the land for farming. JANE BEILES/NYT Only about half of the planned 30 housing units were close to completion when Ion Bank, in Naugatuck, recently took possession of the property through a limited liability company. The bank submitted the sole bid of $6.9 million at the foreclosure sale in November. Ion filed for foreclosure in 2020, with outstanding loans on the project totaling about $6.7 million. Michael Smith, a member from Ridgefield who didnt plan to buy at Rocky Corner but contributed his financial expertise for a while, said members were wholly dedicated to what he believes was a worthwhile and valid vision, and demonstrated a rare coming together of people in the face of many headwinds. For many, the projects collapse is heartbreaking, he said. Some people put their retirement savings into this project but thats one of the reasons why a lot of people continued to work really hard on this project, Smith said. People were coming to me and asking, should I liquidate my IRA to help the project? I was like, no! Housing Enterprises, a consulting firm in Enfield, helped the group win a $2.6 million housing grant from the state to make some of the units affordable. A lot of people lost money, said David Berto, the president of Housing Enterprises. There was a whole group of people who put in money to buy the land, and some of those werent homebuyers. They were just people who wanted to help, including me. We have all lost money and thats just the way it is. At Rocky Corner, members managed the project and their community affairs using a process called sociocracy, which organizes people into various circles to make decisions consensually. A small group of founding members, including Brenda Caldwell, of Bethany, as well as Berto, sat on the project management circle, and regularly consulted with the construction company and architect. Other members participated in one or more circles focused on various other aspects, such as marketing, design, and community relations. Rocky Corner was organized around the themes of conservation and sustainability, the result of a conversation that began as far back as 2006. The modestly sized homes on the property, all less than 1,300 square feet, are built to high energy-efficiency standards. Laid out in duplexes and triplexes, they are clustered on 5 acres close to a 4,300-square-foot common house designed to have a kitchen, dining area, lounge, woodworking shop and laundry facilities. Organizers had hoped to grow vegetables on part of the land and preserve the rest with easements. We were really trying to protect the character of the land, protecting it from big ugly development, said Caldwell, an experienced organic farmer. Now were really afraid that we cant protect it anymore, and that is devastating. She blamed the debt pileup on a series of unanticipated costs and bureaucratic delays that dragged out the timeline. For example, she said, just getting the project approved by the towns planning and zoning commission took two years, partly because it was an unfamiliar concept and drew some local opposition. Then, after they broke ground, they unexpectedly ran into a lot of ledge an underground mass of rock that had to be removed. And the regional water authority required them to put in an expensive water treatment system, when they were expecting to simply drill wells, she said. (Bethany does not have municipal water or sewer.) As costs mounted, the group had to raise the price of the housing units, and that, along with a slowdown in the housing market, made it harder to attract the young families that the much-older organizers were hoping would be interested. Some potential buyers moved on because the group repeatedly extended the closing dates on the purchase agreements. Eric Kemmler, a retired attorney in Farmington who contributed money for the land early on but later parted from the group, said he thinks the basic problem was that it took too long to decide things. There were people who knew how to do practical things like run a farm, but there wasnt anyone who knew how to do construction. The carrying costs were enormous. By the time Ion foreclosed, they were $3 or $4 million underwater, he said. The bank didnt see any way that the sales could cover all the debt. Ruth Eddy, a retiree who signed a purchase agreement for one of the affordable units, said she withdrew and asked for the return of her deposit in the spring of 2020 after no one could give me a clear answer as to the level of debt. The project was over budget in 2019, and there were constant asks for money, she said. People were involved in so many circles and so many meetings a day, I dont think they could step back and get a fresh perspective because of the time commitment, she said. They did the best they could, but these were not professional developers. There was a kind of fantastical thinking. Some prospective residents were so optimistic that the project would succeed that they installed their own flooring and appliances before they had closed on their units. (No closings ever took place.) Some people also paid for customized add-ons to their homes, like dormers or a porch. Maybe in a way it was naive, Caldwell said, but we thought we were going to own those houses. She and her spouse, Marie Pulito, still own their home in Bethany they took out a home-equity loan in anticipation of closing on their Rocky Corner unit. But there are other people who sold their houses, and now theyre living in rentals, Caldwell said. A professional appraisal submitted as part of the foreclosure proceeding showed prices on the expired contracts ranging from $387,000 for a one-bedroom to $463,000 for a three-bedroom. The income-qualified units ranged in price from about $195,000 for a one-bedroom to $240,000 for a three-bedroom. The remaining members are hopeful that Ion Bank will sell the project to a developer interested in following through on the cohousing effort. Many of us, including the affordable buyers, put in a lot of money that we dont want to see disappear if we can strike a deal to buy our homes, Caldwell said. We still have hopes of creating a cohousing community there. Janis Bowersox, a retired yoga teacher who lives in western Massachusetts, said she would jump at the chance to join if Rocky Corner survives. She previously signed a contract for a unit, but pulled out amid the uncertainty of the pandemic lockdown. Its been a dream of mine to live in an intentional community, she said. Its a gorgeous piece of land, and its near New Havens culture and diversity. Ions lawyer, Tracy Williams, would not comment on the banks plans. Whatever happens, the project is bound under both the terms of the state housing grant, which has already been expended, and local approvals to include at least nine affordable housing units in any future construction project on the site, Berto said. In hindsight, he said, the lessons to be gleaned from Rocky Corner are to control your costs and your timing, and get your homebuyers lined up ahead of time or during the early stages of construction. Margulis, one of the early organizers, still vividly recalls a meeting for the project that took place in his living room over tea and cookies 11 years ago. I even remember what shirt I was wearing, he said. I think we were naive probably still are. But we havent given up on the dream. We are still optimistic that we can make a change in the world. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Of all the beautiful things Disney has given the world anthropomorphic mice, immersive-environment theme parks, monorails theres only one thats part of countless Super Bowl spreads in homes across America today. (And no, Im not talking about the Im going to Disneyland! thing. Thats another story.) Youve probably got it in your kitchen right now, actually. Doritos, you might be surprised to learn, were invented at Disneyland. Not only that: They started as trash. In the early years of Disneyland, corporate sponsorship of attractions was more overt than the more subtle approach today. Pym Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus for example, which opened last year, is sponsored by Impossible Foods, but the name of the restaurant is much more prominent than the subtle Featuring Impossible signage below it. Back then, it was places with obvious naming rights and exclusive offerings, such as Monsantos Hall of Chemistry showing off what the LA Times really, truly described as the romance of chemistry, the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship offering a tuna sandwich, a tuna burger, or a hot tuna pie and the Welchs stand selling Welchs grape juice. One of those corporate sponsorships was from Fritos (what later became Frito-Lay), which opened Casa de Fritos in 1955, just a few months after the park opened. The restaurant served authentic Mexican food, as it says on this 1955 menu, like spaghetti and chili for $0.40 and a combination plate featuring two tamales, rice, beans, salad and a ta-cup, which is apparently a miniature taco salad in a small bowl made of Fritos, for $1. The plate also came with a side of Fritos. Every menu at Casa de Fritos had a history of how company founder C.E. Doolin bought the recipe for what would become Fritos from a family-run Mexican restaurant in San Antonio and turned it into a massive snack food brand. The restaurant also had an interactive attraction featuring the Frito Kid, the foods former mascot. You only want a snack? While at the Casa, visit the Frito Kid, a combination statue and vending machine, Werner Weiss wrote for Disney blog Yesterland. Drop a nickel in the coin slot and a bag of delicious Fritos corn chips appears in the Kids gold mine. With all of the ta-cupping happening in the kitchen, the restaurant went through a lot of tortillas, sourced from Orange, Californias Alex Foods. This is where the Doritos magic starts. One day, a salesman from Alex Foods noticed that Casa de Fritos was dumping stale tortillas in the trash, Bob Sorokanich wrote for Gizmodo. He gave the kitchen a tip: instead of trashing the stale tortillas, cut them up and fry them. Effectively, they were just tortilla chips, without any of the orange nacho cheese powder we gleefully lick off our fingers today. But people loved them. With hot tuna pie as a contemporary food option in the park, its no wonder Doritos were a hit with park guests. One of those people: Archibald Clark West, who worked for Fritos. He contacted Alex Foods to start producing the snack for sale in 1964, and by 1966, Alex Foods was out and Frito-Lay was selling Doritos Spanish for little gold ones throughout the country. That flavor was original, but in 1968 the company released taco, then nacho cheese in 1974, according to Consumer Reports. In the last 50 years, there have been more than 100 different varieties of Doritos, Laura Northrup wrote. You can now buy Doritos and Fritos at snack stands throughout Disney parks but not from the restaurant where they were invented. Casa de Fritos was originally located near whats now Stage Door Cafe and the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland, but moved to a larger location due to its popularity. After Frito-Lays sponsorship ended, the restaurant became Casa Mexicana sponsored by Lawrys Foods, and eventually what is now Rancho del Zocalo near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which was originally sponsored by Ortega. It serves the same kind of Mexican-inspired fare such as enchiladas and tacos. There is one remaining relic of Casa de Fritos at the park today, as Disney historian Marcy Carriker Smothers noted: The California flag that once flew at the original restaurant is framed inside Rancho del Zocalo today. When West died in 2011, he requested to be buried with his favorite invention. Snacking on Doritos is typically discouraged at funerals, as the loud crunch of the popular junk food tends to drown out heartfelt eulogies and generally detract from the somber mood of the occasion, Seth Abramovich wrote for Gawker, but not at that particular funeral. Wests family complied with his wishes, tossing Doritos into his grave in Dallas before he was interred. Gary Leonard/Corbis via Getty Images The Bay Area loves Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other specialty grocery stores. But they all owe at least some of their concept to the original upscale San Francisco grocery store: Petrini's. The beloved local chain began life as a San Francisco butcher shop on 7th and Clement, founded by Italian immigrant Frank Petrini in 1935. Soon, it had expanded to gourmet foods, bringing increasingly worldly American middle class shoppers treats from around the world. Business was booming for the Petrinis, and in 1955, the chain broke ground on the $2 million Petrini Plaza shopping center at Masonic and Fulton. The massive supermarket had the largest "meat preparation area" ever created for a retail market and boasted "clean floors" and "soft music all day long." Inside Apple, your job classification can mean a lot. The difference between a "level 4 engineer and a "level 5," for instance, could mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation. And those titles help determine how much Apple employees can make when they leave the company for another job. But there's a hitch. In widely used databases that companies refer to for verification of job information, Apple changes the job title for every employee, whether they're a PhD in computer science or a product manager, to "associate," the company confirms. Apple's approach is bizarre if not unique, experts in employment practices say, but until now has gone largely unnoticed by anybody but a handful of job applicants whose resume conflict with official databases maintained by job verification services run by companies such as Equifax and Lexis-Nexis. The title "associate" is generally used to connote more junior roles. Entry-level retail workers, for instance, are often called associates. Law firms refer to recent law school hires in the same way, and in universities, associate professors are ranked below those with the title "professor." The practice recently came to light when Cher Scarlett, a former Apple software engineer who raised concerns about alleged discrimination and misconduct at the company, filed a complaint to the Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging that when Apple changed her job title to "associate," it delayed the hiring process at a prospective employer by nearly a week, during which time the company rescinded the offer. Scarlett said the job verification service hired to vet her resume was unable to resolve the discrepancy with Apple. Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock confirmed that, for years, Apple has changed the job titles of its former employees to "associate." Rosenstock declined to say why Apple does this or precisely when the practice began. "We are and have always been deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace. We take all concerns seriously and we thoroughly investigate whenever a concern is raised and, out of respect for the privacy of any individuals involved, we do not discuss specific employee matters," he said. Scarlett, a software engineer on Apple's security team, last year helped found the #AppleToo movement, which encourages employees at the company to speak out about workplace misconduct. In mostly anonymous testimonials, hundreds of employees have shared stories of what the group calls "persistent patterns of racism, sexism, inequity, discrimination, intimidation, suppression, coercion, abuse, unfair punishment and unchecked privilege." She left the company last year after she said she was intimidated and retaliated against. On Sept. 1, Scarlett filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Apple's practices violate federal labor law. The case is being investigated. In October, Scarlett filed a whistleblower complaint with the SEC, accusing Apple of misleading investors when it issued a statement to shareholders asserting that it does not use concealment clauses in separation agreements or settlements with employees. Scarlett says Apple asked her to sign such a clause when she left the company. Apple has declined to comment on her specific allegations or specific employee matters. Some former employees, previously unaware of the title changes, criticized Apple for the practice. Janneke Parrish, another #AppleToo founder, who was fired by the company after criticizing it for alleged employment law violations, said that even if Apple changes the titles in the database for all its employees, it can have "devastating consequences" for some former employees where specific titles represent levels of technical expertise. (Parrish has filed an NLRB complaint against Apple; she said she was told she was fired for deleting apps and files from a company phone during a company investigation, but she thinks it's because of her activism.) "Doing this severely limits the ability for ex-Apple employees to verify past employment, especially if they left on bad terms. It essentially forces us to stay in Apple's good graces for those references as verification," she said. Apple offers a phone number employers can call to verify titles of former Apple employees. A voice recording on that line directs callers to the web site for InVerify, an employment verification service provider owned by credit agency Equifax. When The Washington Post called InVerify's customer support number, a customer service representative said Apple is the only company he knew of that changes job titles of employees when they leave. Apple also changes titles for employees who have taken a leave of absence, the person said. The representative said he gets a few calls a month from people trying to get the accurate job titles of former Apple employees. If the caller can provide the employee's full Social Security number, InVerify is able to look up the person's old payroll information and verify the job title that way. Equifax did not respond to a request for comment. But even people who verify job titles for a living can be stumped by the byzantine system for verifying accurate job titles for former Apple employees. Emails between Scarlett and Sterling, an employment verification firm hired by her would-be employer, show that employees at Sterling were confused when her title came back as "associate" when they checked Equifax's database, called the Work Number. Unable to verify Scarlett's title, a recruiter from the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which had offered her a job, emailed her asking if she could provide any references at Apple who might be able to independently verify her title. "I hope you are having a great day! Could you help me with the job title discrepancy with Apple?" the recruiter wrote in a message reviewed by The Post. "Could you provide me with a couple of references from Apple? I'll need to submit references from Apple confirming the job title." Scarlett provided the name of a human resources employee she had dealt with in the past. "Irrespective of the reasons why they are doing it, this is a very bad and possibly unlawful practice," said Laurie Burgess, an employment law attorney who represents Parrish in her labor board case against Apple. "Seems to me that this action interferes with employees' reasonable future economic interests." OTTAWA - The White House said Sunday that it expected Canada to reopen a vital border crossing after Canadian police cleared the blockade by the self-styled "Freedom Convoy," which continued to disrupt other cities and trade routes and illegally occupy the country's capital for a third week. The six-day closure of the road between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit - North America's busiest land border crossing - disrupted U.S. supply chains and millions of dollars in trade. On Sunday evening, Canadian police were still preventing access to the Ambassador Bridge on the Canadian side as several demonstrators reportedly remained in the area. The White House issued a statement Sunday afternoon from homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall saying that "Canadian authorities intend to reopen" the bridge Sunday "after completing necessary safety checks." It was not clear Sunday evening when that would take place. "Our national economic crisis at the Ambassador Bridge came to an end," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens declared on Twitter. But the appeal of such demonstrations spreading across Canada and in New Zealand and European capitals had not let up Sunday. The saga's developments included a tentative deal that Ottawa's mayor said he brokered for protesters to be less disruptive, made with a loosely grouped movement without central leadership. Fed-up residents in Ottawa and other cities have started taking matters into their own hands by trying to thwart protesters after disruptions that began more than two weeks ago. Canadian officials have been caught flat-footed since a convoy of truck drivers opposed to vaccine mandates illegally parked by Parliament on Jan. 28 and kicked off a global movement of people fed up with pandemic policies, angry at their governments, and, in some cases, driven by extremist views and calls for insurrection. Demonstrations from New Zealand to France have adopted the tactics and slogans of the Canadian convoys, mounting challenges to authorities and police as threats of punishment appear to not deter many demonstrators. The police effort to disrupt the Windsor convoys was the most robust move yet taken by Canadian law enforcement, which is facing mounting pressure to do more to disperse the big rigs and highly organized protest sites paralyzing the capital. In Ottawa, well-funded Freedom Convoy protesters have remained despite being threatened with fines, prison time and the loss of their licenses. Though local and provincial officials declared states of emergency, loud dance parties with illegal fireworks and alcohol raged in the blockaded streets throughout the weekend as police largely stood by. Police have aimed to contain protests and minimize harm to police and residents, but "it doesn't work . . . where the organizers have the objective of being as disruptive as possible to Canadian government and economy until their political demands are met," said Michael Kempa, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa. Ottawa police have cited the presence of children, who they say are in about 100 of the 400 trucks parked in the city, as a major concern. Highly combustible red and yellow cans of fuel for trucks and heaters are also constantly circulating throughout Ottawa's "red zone" of blockaded streets. On Sunday, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he had reached a tentative agreement with a key protest organizer to remove trucks from residential areas, and to limit vehicles to a perimeter near Parliament downtown in exchange for a meeting. Tamara Lich, president of Freedom Convoy 2022, one of the organizing bodies for the protests, told Watson in a letter dated Feb. 12 and released Sunday that organizers "will be working hard over the next 24 hours to get buy in from the truckers." Watson said he would meet with Lich and her group if there was "clear evidence" by noon Monday that his requests were being met. While highly organized, there are several factions among the demonstrators, and it remains unclear whether the deal will be broadly accepted. Watson said on CTV News Ottawa that residents downtown "need a reprieve from the horror and the hell that they've been through over the course of the last coming up to three weeks" - including horn-honking, catcalling and "diesel-spewing all night," he said. Watson said the truckers involved would not get "special treatment" and would have to pay any tickets they have accrued. On Sunday evening, the city released a statement urging residents to avoid nonessential travel downtown, where many public facilities were to be closed. Some Ottawa residents on social media criticized the deal as effectively permitting the convoys, which the mayor's office denied was the intent. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also faced criticism for not mobilizing more federal resources to aid Ottawa's overwhelmed government and police. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the federal government was considering invoking the never-before-used Emergencies Act of 1988, which gives the federal government broad powers subject to Parliament's approval. "The closing of our borders, the targeting of critical infrastructure, particularly our points of entry by the people behind these protests, is a significant national security threat to this country, and we have to do what is necessary to end it," Blair told Canada's CTV. Canada and the United States have denounced the border disruptions as harmful to trade, industry and local communities. Car manufacturers, including Toyota and Ford, have reduced some nearby operations in recent days, citing disruptions to the delivery of necessary manufacturing parts. Disruptions have also plagued other vital cross-border arteries - including the one from Coutts, Alberta, which connects to Montana, and from Surrey in British Columbia to Washington state. The White House said Sunday that both countries have discussed the "imperative of taking swift, strong action and deterring future blockade." Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called these blockades a "siege" and declared a provincial state of emergency on Friday, warning protesters of "severe" consequences, including fines up to U.S. $78,500 and prison terms. In Windsor, police on Friday began to enforce an injunction ordering truckers and their supporters to leave and ticketed and towed vehicles. But a defiant core of about two dozen protesters remained on foot as temperatures dropped below freezing. Early Sunday, police began moving in on crowds near the bridge, closed since last Monday. Windsor Police Chief Pam Mizuno told reporters Sunday that there had been 25 to 30 arrests and that no one had been injured "as a result of any police interaction." Five vehicles were towed Saturday and seven Sunday. "We're still working to restore traffic flow in the area and open the bridge," she said. "Of course, there will be notifications made once that happens, but we need to ensure that we'll be able to maintain the traffic flow, so we can't open the bridge until we continue with what we're planning." In Facebook groups, Telegram channels and right-wing media, the Freedom Convoy in Canada has continued to inspire protests around the world. Across the Atlantic, protesters temporarily blocked the Champs-Elysees, a central artery in Paris, on Saturday, despite an order banning them from entering the capital. Local outlets reported Sunday morning that police had made at least 97 arrests. In Wellington, New Zealand's capital, people inspired by the Canadian protesters blocked an area outside Parliament for the sixth day on Sunday, and officials attempted to use sprinklers and songs including "Baby Shark" to diffuse the protest, to no avail. Back in North America, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Surrey, British Columbia, southeast of Vancouver, said Sunday evening that four people were taken into custody for "mischief" at protests near the Pacific Highway border crossing near Blaine, Wash. A police statement said "some of the vehicles and protesters who stayed overnight Saturday have now packed up and left the area," but the crossing remained closed, with law enforcement blocking the border area. Some members of law enforcement and the military have drawn scrutiny for allegedly backing the demonstrations. A special-forces branch of the Canadian military said Sunday that two members accused of supporting the protests are under investigation and "in the process of being released from the Canadian Armed Forces." "The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) does not condone its members supporting and/or actively taking part in causes that jeopardize the apolitical imperative associated with their functions," said Maj. Gen. Steve Boivin, a commander with the group. The Ontario Provincial Police also said Sunday that they are investigating a Saturday video that "has raised concerns about professionalism," which was widely interpreted as a reference to a clip on social media with #freedomconvoy2022 hashtag. The video seemed to show an officer telling people he had pulled over, "I support you guys 100 percent," according to CTV News. The military previously said it was investigating a member who denounced vaccine mandates in a video and told other military and police officers to "stand up" against "medical tyranny." Meanwhile, counterprotests have grown. On Friday, the city of Ottawa, responding to frustrated residents, filed an injunction against demonstrators violating city bylaws. For the second straight day Sunday, counterprotests popped up in Ottawa, where residents braved frigid temperatures to block two major intersections about four miles from Parliament Hill to prevent dozens of vehicles - primarily pickup trucks - from joining the downtown protest. Frustrated residents chanted "Whose streets? Our streets" and "Go home!" The message on one man's sign was simple: "Make Ottawa boring again." - - - Timsit reported from London, and Pietsch from Seoul. Hannah Knowles and Claire Parker in Washington contributed to this report. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Light rain early. A mix of sun and clouds by afternoon. High around 55F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. A three-hour drive north of Manhattan in West Fulton, NY, lies a fairy-tale glamping spot in search of its next owner. Camp Here Here opened in 2018 and was created by Kat Schaufelberger and the actor Zak Orth. They transformed a 23-acre campus into a seasonal village, from May through October, for visitors in need of a respite from city life. The property has nine cabins (canvas tents on platforms), a bar/restaurant called The Mess, event spaces, a cedar-walled bathhouse with rainfall showers, a retail boutique, and an A-frame home. The property is now available from Sherret Chase of Four Seasons Sothebys International Realty. It's not new to the marketit has been up for sale since February 2020. But a 33% price cut a week ago slashed the asking price from a million bucks to $665,000. The Catskills retreat comes complete with plenty of well-earned cred. Located on land the owners purchased for $100,000, it has been featured on Vogue.com and Remodelista. Schaufelberger has worked in hospitality at Gramercy Park Hotel and The Standard High Line in New York City. According to the agent, running the operation shouldn't be a big hassle for a new owner. Maintenance is pretty lowjust changing bedding and sweeping (the cabins) out, says Chase. It also involves serving meals that are prepared in a double-hearth fireplace. Included in the listing are cabin furnishings, such as double beds, tea kettles, and wood stoves. Art and antiques are not included in the purchase price. Cabins are outfitted with Wi-Fi and electricity. Exterior shot of glamping site in West Fulton, NY Realtor.com A-frame building Realtor.com Cabin interior Realtor.com Bathhouse interior Realtor.com Fireplace Realtor.com Hammock Realtor.com Its like a hotel in the woods, says Schaufelbergerthat is, if you're talking about a hotel with waterfalls and swimming holes. The new owner could move into the propertys three-season A-frame cabin, built in the 1970s. Theres a library in there, with a record collection, she says. And a full bath. It needs to be kept heated and the driveway maintained (in winter). Guests flock in from New York City, but they've also hosted folks from Boston, Toronto, and Montreal. It gives people a chance to have a break, says Schaufelberger. As for the camps next chapter, I would love for it to stay on this course. I wouldnt want it torn apart. Its in a real sanctuary statequiet and lots of birds chirping, says Schaufelberger, who is letting the property go after a divorce. It was meant to be a family business. Its a lot for one human to run, even though theres a community behind it. Whats life like in this Catskills community? Its a very theatrical community, says Schaufelberger. A lot of residents have a hold in the theater worlda community of powerful women. An opera director, New York University lighting instructor, stone-mason fireplace builder, and a Juilliard professor, for example, will become your new neighbors. The nearest village is Middleburgh, the home of 3,538 residents. Thats probably where you would do your shopping, says Chase. Half a dozen or so state forests within a half-hour's drive provide plenty of hiking spots. Chase notes the local trend over the last two years that suggests the potential pool of prospective owners. If there was a common denominator demographic, its a young couple, both employed, from Brooklyn, [N.Y.], who have thought about getting into the country for years, he says. Work-from-home opportunities during the pandemic have of course made this more feasible. The post Chic Upstate New York Glamping Spot Seeks New OwnerFurnishings Included appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Patients are reckoning with major shortages of a second rheumatoid arthritis drug in Australia, with manufacturing issues at pharma giant Bristol Myers Squibb leading to lower supplies of its medication Orencia. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued a notice last week confirming the company had advised it of shortages of the product, which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The supply crunch comes less than a year after another arthritis drug, known as Actemra, saw major supply interruptions due to it being diverted to COVID-19 patients as a treatment for serious cases. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 15, 1997 Poison threat cripples Arnotts Police advised consumers not to panic following the extortionists threat to poison the biscuits with a pesticide strong enough to kill children and make adults ill. Woolworths staff remove Arnotts products, Neutral Bay, February 14, 1997. Credit:Peter Morris Supermarkets in Queensland and NSW, and some in South Australia and Victoria, began removing all Arnotts biscuits after it was revealed on Thursday night that doctored biscuits and threatening letters were sent to police, justice and media organisations earlier this month. This is a very bad day for Arnotts, a very bad day for the Australian food industry, and a very bad day for the community of Australia, said Arnotts managing director, Mr Chris Roberts. Its been hailed by his teachers as an incredible achievement. Shore student Aaron Rucinski 16 and in year 10 at the time has been unveiled as the winner of the 2021 Harvard Undergraduate Law Review essay contest. While Aaron had won several school and domestic prizes, his history teacher Luis Siddall said to win a prize in the USA in an international area, thats a high honour and he should be very proud of what hes achieved there. Aaron Rucinski, winner of the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review essay competition, at school at Shore. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone The contest has been run annually since 2006 by Harvard for high school students to encourage a greater understanding of the law. Last year was the first time the contest was open internationally, with entries arriving from 42 schools. Aaron beat out John Chang, a year 12 student of Eton College in Britain, and Sienna Berreby, a year 11 student of Ecole Jeannine Manuel, Paris. It was the first time I entered a competition like this, especially an international competition, Aaron, of Paddington, told the Herald. I was very surprised to win. Being in year 10, I wasnt too sure if Id win, but it was great news. Former footballer Jarryd Hayne has had his convictions for sexually assaulting a woman quashed on appeal and will face a retrial. Hayne, 33, was convicted last year of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent after he was found guilty of assaulting a woman, then aged 26, with his hands and mouth in September 2018 in an incident which left her bleeding from the genitals. Jarryd Hayne pictured outside court last year. Credit:Louise Kennerley A jury returned the verdicts in a second trial, after the first ended with a hung jury. Hayne was jailed for five years and nine months, with a non-parole period of three years and eight months. On Monday, the Court of Criminal Appeal ordered that the convictions be quashed and Hayne face a retrial. He is due to make an application for bail in the District Court on Tuesday. Peter Dutton, please note, my open sources and intelligence reports clearly show neo-Nazis and right-wing terrorists are working undercover to install the Coalition as the next government of Australia. (Neo-Nazi unmasked as former Young Liberal, February 12-13). - Peter Hull, Hat Head It is such a blatant red herring to claim the opposition somehow is linked to China, especially when the Coalition was so critical of the Rudd-Gillard government, claiming Labors critical stance on Chinese human rights would affect Australian trade. - Ian Crick, Bowral Listening to Western politicians express concern about Chinas rise has an intense irony. Western nations have enabled China to amass both wealth and influence for several decades by allowing it to become the primary manufacturer of goods for these Western nations. We have been led by multinational companies seeking larger profits by using factories in Asia and other less developed countries. Chinas ambitions have been apparent for some years, and we could have acted on it, but our leaders chose appeasement. So, here we are. A brief look at modern history will tell you that we have been here before, and it will be very difficult to resolve without violence of some kind. - David Ashton, Katoomba Optus not hung up on ICAC From a professional viewpoint, one could judge the decision by Optus to engage Gladys Berejiklian prior to the release of the ICAC findings into possible corruption allegations as very poor business practice (Berejiklian answers career call from Optus, February 12). Optus obviously feels that whether the ICAC outcome is positive or negative makes absolutely no difference. Integrity rates highly with the general public at the moment: therefore Optus may be inviting a backlash from investors, business owners and the public. Either way, questions need to be asked of Optus management with such a pre-emptive decision. - David Goldstein, Balgowlah Surely this appointment is conditional on Berejiklian being cleared by ICAC? But even with that proviso, it doesnt reflect well on the values of Optus that it would consider her after the evidence weve heard. - Maureen Partridge, Baulkham Hills Appointing Gladys Berejiklian to head its enterprise, business and institutional section is a very smart move by the telco, especially if the industry rumours are correct, and it is looking to offload its enterprise business. There would not be a more experienced person in NSW to sell the assets than our Gladys. - Mick Simpson, Sefton Now that Berejiklian works for Optus, it can only be hoped that those living in non-Coalition seats are not disadvantaged. Optus reception at my place is already very ordinary. - John Cotterill, Kingsgrove God, meet mammon While opining about the plight of the religious discrimination bill, Chip Le Grand asks, How in Gods name did we get here? (Loss of faith, February 12). Its simple, Chip. Were in this mess because a serious mistake was made in 1981 when our High Court decided to permit the funding of religious schools. - Tom Orren, Wamberal Heights In recent decades we have had conservative politicians and commentators querying the content of many of the subjects taught at schools. However, I cannot recall them ever questioning what information is being conveyed in religious classes at faith-based schools. It appears that students at some of these schools are being told that anyone who is gay is not normal and will go to hell. Surely indoctrinating children with this type of information, apart from being morally wrong, should be illegal. - Con Vaitsas, Ashbury Australia has seen an erosion of respect and trust in religious leaders and institutions; the live and let live secular society has become more critical of perceived hypocrisy and social divisiveness. Since the reverberations from clerical child sexual abuse, the Israel Folau incident, instances of discrimination against students and teachers in some Christian schools and sexual misconduct by boys at some elite church schools, religious freedoms are looked at more closely. Religious groups should take note: if their partisan or sectional interests are seen to seriously threaten social cohesion or override the will of the people, the community will continue to push back. And Parliament will take notice. - Margaret Johnston, Paddington Trent Zimmerman is to be applauded for taking a principled stand on the Religious Discrimination Bill (Five Liberal MPs put conscience before politics to defy bill, February 12). As one of his constituents, I wish he had also taken a stand on behalf of his electorate on issues such as Zali Steggalls climate change bills or Helen Haines federal ICAC bill. From the comfort of his historically safe seat, he has acted like a moderate when theres an issue thats important to him personally, but has consistently voted with Barnaby Joyce and the others the rest of the time, often in direct opposition to the ambitions and values of his electorate. - Audrey Cook, North Sydney Debt burden a myth In an otherwise excellent analysis of the governments misfortunes, Peter Hartcher has fallen into a common trap (Theres a growing defeatism in the governments ranks. Its chaos, February 12). He has implicitly accepted the need for budget repair and a return to surplus. Growing up in the 1960s, I remember the dire warnings that government debt would be a burden to our children. I am one of those children, and, at a recent meeting with people of similar age, I asked them to raise a hand if they had noticed the burden. Nobody moved. Yet, this scare campaign has been trotted out at almost every election for the past 60 years. Anyone who thinks government debt is a major issue should read Ross Gittins article (The real reason to worry about MMT is not the theory but the practice, March 1, 2021) and perhaps do a bit more research to really understand the topic. - George Rosier, Carlingford Spruiking, not working Why do politicians continue to be paid from the public purse when they are electioneering rather than doing their job? We need them to be in Parliament right up to the day an election is called, so that they are working for the people they are meant to represent rather than for their own future. - Judith Campbell, Drummoyne Tap residents equity The excellent article by George Megalogenis (The politics of our aged care catastrophe, February 12) reiterates the now obvious point that the true cost of improving conditions for residents and of boosting the workforce lies in greater resources to the sector, which neither side of politics can contemplate until well after the election. While governments can and should do more, it is surely about time that more funding by residents themselves must be seriously addressed. Most residents have huge equity in unencumbered principal residences, equity which can readily be released by the federal governments very own Home Equity Access Scheme (formerly the mis-named Pension Loan Scheme). Most residents can and should pay more for their residential aged care. - Gordon Bell, Kiama Get inside the bubble Karl Quinns feature on a successor to 7.30s Leigh Sales (Big shoes to fill, February 12) provides excellent insights into her possible replacement. I was a reporter and executive producer of the ABCs first daily current affairs program This Day Tonight. I believe its insightful political reporting rested on two vital ingredients. The ABCs top political reporter must be fully absorbed each and every day in the political processes and realities of Parliament House and the machinations of its denizens. The three with whom I worked closely, Mike Willesee, Richard Carleton and Kerry OBrien, all displayed these capabilities to the highest degree. Sales is also a journalist for whom I have the highest regard, but she worked out of Sydney, never constantly living and breathing the atmosphere of the Canberra bubble. While not necessarily Leighs fault, its a mistake the ABC cannot afford to make again, whomever it chooses. - Eric Hunter, Cook (ACT) Uke rebuke With apologies to Malcolm Turnbull, when we look back and ask who really killed Mr Morrisons prime ministership, the answer will be clear. It was Scott, in the kitchen, with the ukulele. - Paul Dolan, Concord West Im wondering whether the Prime Minister can remember the words to the ballad of the Nancy Lee: All the crew were in despair, Some rushed here and some rushed there; But the captain sat down in his chair, And played his ukulele as the ship went down. - Antony Gleeson, Middle Cove Scott Morrison reckons he hasnt given any thought to his prime ministerial legacy, and that legacies can be very vain (Defying gravity, January 15). His recorded-for-posterity ukulele version of April Sun in Cuba suggests otherwise. - Ian Waters, Surry Hills Clearly the Cuban communist regime has infiltrated the Liberal Party. That would explain their reckless spending and massive budget deficit. - Dave Snell, Enmore Morrison cant read the room, the country or even the faces of those nearest and dearest gathered around his kitchen table. Its time for him to set sail. Aloha, Mr Morrison. - Gerardine Grace, Leura Doesnt hold a hose, doesnt carry a tune. - John Bailey, Canterbury The digital view Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au Coalition on track to lose Bega, suffers swing against it in Willoughby From grumpyom: Perrottet wants to win back our trust, but he has no idea how he lost our trust in the first place. You do not lose trust by acting in the public interest. Mr Perrottet could consider the dishonesty, the pork, the partisan distribution of our money, the scandals of iCare and TAHE, the mass privatisations of essential services. All of which Perrottet handled personally, or let pass through the cabinet where he was a senior member. Its becoming clear that the Ukraine crisis is nearing the end of the diplomatic road and that we are entering a phase where military conflict is increasingly likely. US warnings about an imminent Russian invasion have become sharper over the past 24 to 48 hours, which indicates that intelligence assets are picking up tangible signs Vladimir Putin is readying Russian ground, air, and naval forces for an armed assault on Ukraine. Military exercises involving Russian and Belarus forces on the border with Ukraine. Credit:AP If, as seems increasingly likely, this takes place, it will be the largest display of military power since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. For the Ukrainian people, a Russian invasion would be brutal and tragic. The US and its allies will not intervene militarily to defend Ukraine because it is not a member of NATO, and the Biden administration is acutely conscious of the risk of World War III if it takes on Russian forces outside the NATO perimeter. At least three houses have been destroyed by bushfires ignited by an intense lightning belt that crossed WAs Great Southern on Friday night. One house was destroyed in Jerramungup, about 450 kilometres south-east of Perth, while two were burned down in holiday spot Hopetoun on the states south coast. Two homes have been destroyed but there are fears more have been lost. Credit:Facebook Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said authorities had to deal with 68 fire incidents arising over just two hours on Friday with high temperatures and strong winds causing the bushfires to spread quickly. Firefighters mobilised rapidly to defend the towns of Hopetoun, Newdegate, Jerramungup and Bremer Bay, while a large air tanker dropped retardant near Jerramungup. Jenny Morrison has taken a swipe at former Australian of the Year Grace Tame over her appearance at a function at The Lodge last month, saying she wanted her own daughters to become fierce and independent but be polite and have manners. The Prime Ministers wife told 60 Minutes she found the advocates refusal to smile at the couple during a media opportunity to be a little bit disappointing. Scott Morrison has previously brushed off the frosty interaction. Jenny and Scott Morrison appeared on Nines 60 Minutes ahead of the federal election campaign. Credit:Nine News I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in, Mrs Morrison told interviewer Karl Stefanovic. I just found it a little bit disappointing, [because] we were welcoming her in our home. Ms Tame, a child sex abuse survivor who is critical of the Prime Minister, has said she did not smile because the survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and she had experienced the consequences of being civil for civilitys sake. India has taken sides with Australia against Chinas policy of using trade bans as a political punishment. Beijing has imposed restrictions on more than $20 billion worth of Australian exports to China but insisted on Friday that it is not using economic coercion against Australia. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indias Foreign Minister, has backed Australia. Credit:Josh Robenston Asked whether Beijings actions constituted economic coercion, Indias Foreign Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said: You know that bit if it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck Dr Jaishankar was in Melbourne for a meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the Quad countries the Indo-Pacific democracies of Australia, India, Japan and the United States. Yangon: Myanmars junta showed off its military strength with a parade in the capital Naypyidaw on Saturday, with its leader Min Aung Hlaing defending last years coup as necessary to protect the country from enemies, both domestic and foreign. Celebrating Myanmars Union Day, which marks independence from British colonial rule in 1947, the government also announced that 814 prisoners would be pardoned. Pardons are often granted on major holidays. Australian Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and who has been detained for more than a year, was not among those pardoned, his family said on Facebook. Sean Turnell has been located at Insein prison. The day began with mobile internet blackouts from 4am, local time, with the parade of army units and civil servants taking place later in the morning. Also taking part were delegations from Myanmars Karen, Chin, and Kayah states, where ethnic and anti-military armed conflicts rage. When one nation prepares to invade another, it cannot be done with much stealth. Military personnel and equipment must be marshalled, plans drawn up. Satellite imagery and intelligence gathering is clearly showing that Ukraine is effectively surrounded by Russian forces, many of whom are participating in active military exercises. Whether Russian President Vladimir Putin turns these war games into an actual conflict is still an open question, but after the chaos of the Wests evacuation from Afghanistan, no one is taking any chances. On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison followed many nations in moving Australias embassy staff in Kyiv to safer ground in Lviv, which sits close to Ukraines western border with Poland. The ball is very much in Mr Putins court. With NATO unwilling to send in forces to defend Ukraine, Russias military would experience little initial resistance. But its the long game that would have the Russian leader hesitant. Over the weekend, US President Joe Biden again played his strongest card, threatening Mr Putin with swift and severe penalties if he were to invade. Its unclear how much of a deterrent they are playing. Russias economy was hit hard by sanctions when it invaded Crimea in 2014. But Mr Putin has done much to restructure his nations economy to withstand financial pressure from the West. It has diverted hundreds of billions in revenue from oil and gas sales into currency reserves that would give it an enormous financial buffer if it faced a new wave of sanctions. Its also unclear, if Mr Putin were to invade, how deep into Ukrainian territory Russia would advance. A recent former director for European affairs at the US National Security Council believes Mr Putin may be satisfied with taking another small chunk of Ukraine, as Russia did in 2014, that could include vital port cities on the Black Sea, although he does not rule out a full-scale attack on Kyiv. Kyiv: Ukraine pledged funds on Sunday to try to keep its airspace open to commercial flights, as some carriers reviewed their services to the country after the United States warned that Russia could invade at any time. Dutch airline KLM - part of Air France - said it would stop services to Ukraine and Germanys Lufthansa said it was considering suspending flights. KLM has not been flying over the eastern regions of Ukraine and Crimea since 2014, the airline said in a statement. There are now no more KLM flights through Ukrainian airspace until further notice. An Air France jumbo jet rolls behind the tail of a KLM Royal Dutch airliner at Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, north of Paris. Credit:AP Two thirds of the 298 passengers killed when Malaysia Airlines MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were Dutch citizens. Australian citizens and residents account for the second largest share, with 38 victims on the flight. Berlin: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent. Scholz has not explicitly said what kind of consequences or sanctions Russia would have to face if it invades Ukraine, but it is clear that the future of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that seeks to bring Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine, is at stake. The controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline runs under the Baltic Sea and circumvents the need to pipe about a third of Russias gas exports to Europe through Ukraine and pay transit fees. Credit:AP US President Joe Biden threatened last week that the pipeline would be blocked in the case of an invasion. Standing next to Scholz in the White House, last week Biden pledged if Russian tanks roll into Ukraine, there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. The 1230-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, running from Russia to Germanys Baltic coast, will double the capacity of an earlier Nord Stream pipeline to 110 billion cubic meters of gas a year and sidesteps Ukraine and Poland, which would lose transit fees. Somerset, KY (42501) Today Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the morning. High 82F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Smara (Sahrawi Republic), 13 February 2022 (SPS) - The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Honduras, Mr. Torres Zelaya Gerardo Jose Antonio, arrived Saturday evening in the Sahrawi refugee camps as part of a visit to the Sahrawi Republic, during which he will meet with officials and visit institutions and establishments of the Sahrawi state. Upon his arrival in the wilaya of Smara, Mr. Torres Zelaya Gerardo Jose Antonio was received by the People's Assembly of the wilaya headed by member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front and wali of Smara, Ms. Maryam Salek Ahmada, as well as the authorities and the people of the wilaya. Maryam Salek Ahmada welcomed the Honduran Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, declaring the solidarity of the Sahrawi people with the Republic of Honduras and praising the success of the democratic path that Honduras has recently known. The wali of Smara added that the visit comes at a sensitive time that the Sahrawi cause is going through, which is the resumption of the armed struggle against the Moroccan occupation. For his part, Mr. Torres Zelaya Gerardo Jose Antonio, reiterated his country's solidarity with the Sahrawi people and his just cause, saying, "I come to express solidarity with the Sahrawi cause and to embody the bonds of solidarity and friendship between the two countries." Mr. Torres Zelaya Gerardo Jose Antonio will visit Sunday the National Museum of the Resistance and the Association of the Families of the Sahrawi Prisoners and Disappeared, and he will hold a meeting with the Ministers of Public Health, Social Affairs and the Promotion of Women. Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Torres Zelaya Gerardo Jose Antonio will conclude his visit with a meeting with the President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, at the Presidency of the Republic. 062/T New York (United Nations) 12 February 2022 (SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO expressed its condemnation of the continuation of the scorched-earth policy pursued by the Moroccan occupation in the Occupied Territories of Western Sahara. In a letter sent yesterday to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Guterres, by Member of the National Secretariat, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO, Dr Sidi Mohamed Omar, expressed the Sahrawi authorities strong condemnation of the continuation of the scorched-earth policy pursued by the occupying state of Morocco in the Sahrawi Occupied Territories. Dr Sidi Mohamed Omar drew attention to the widespread campaign of terrorisation carried out these days by the Moroccan occupying authorities against many Sahrawi families and expropriating their properties. In this context, the Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO recalled the repeated calls by the Frente POLISARIO and its emphasis on the need for the United Nations to assume its responsibility fully and effectively towards Western Sahara and its people, as reaffirmed repeatedly by the UN General Assembly. The following is the full text of the letter as received by SPS: H.E. Mr Antonio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations United Nations, New York New York, 12 February 2022 Your Excellency, Upon instructions from my Authorities, I am writing with great concern to draw your attention and that of the Security Council to the continued scorched-earth policy pursued by the occupying state of Morocco since the beginning of its illegal military occupation of Western Sahara on 31 October 1975 with the declared objective of annihilating the Sahrawi people and expropriating their land and resources. The latest reports coming from the Sahrawi Occupied Territories indicate that the Moroccan occupying authorities are carrying out a large-scale scorched-earth policy against many Sahrawi families living outside major Sahrawi occupied cities. The policy, which is organised and implemented by the occupying security forces, include destruction of houses and livelihoods, vandalism of properties, and the killing of livestock with the declared objective of uprooting Sahrawi families from their homes and lands. The Frente POLISARIO vehemently condemns the continued scorched-earth policy and the recent campaign of terror and dispossession unleashed by the occupying state of Morocco against Sahrawis in the Occupied Territories. Since day one of its illegal miliary occupation of Western Sahara, the occupying forces used the most dreadful methods of mass murder, burying people alive and throwing them off helicopters in addition to the indiscriminate bombing of civilians with banned weapons such as napalm and white phosphorus munitions. The Moroccan occupying authorities continue to impose a military blockade and a media blackout on the Sahrawi Occupied Territories that remain encircled by the 2700 km long Moroccan wall of shame, which is the largest separation wall in the world. Fortified with millions of landmines, including the internationally banned anti-personnel mines, the Moroccan wall of shame continues to divide Western Sahara and its people, to kill civilians and their livestock and to wreak havoc on their livelihoods. The Moroccan occupying authorities have also been engaged in sustained terrorising and retaliatory actions against Sahrawi civilians, human rights activists, and journalists in the Sahrawi Occupied Territories. The level of violence and brutality to which Sahrawis are being subjected daily is a true affront to the human conscience, and to all the principles and values that the United Nations stands for. Since the occupying state of Morocco torpedoed the 1991 ceasefire on 13 November 2020, the Moroccan occupying forces have been using all types of weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to callously kill not only dozens of Sahrawi civilians but also civilians and nationals of neighbouring countries while in transit through the Sahrawi Liberated Territories. In previous communications, including the letter (S/2020/66) that was distributed as a document of the Security Council on 28 January 2020, the Frente POLISARIO stressed the need for the United Nations to assume fully and effectively its responsibility towards Western Sahara and its people as reaffirmed repeatedly by the UN General Assembly. This responsibility entails ensuring the protection of the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of the Sahrawi people, including their right to permanent sovereignty over their natural resources, and regular reporting on the situation in the Territory to relevant United Nations bodies. We call upon you, Mr Secretary-General, to act urgently to end the brutality and terror to which Sahrawi civilians and human rights activists, including Sultana Sid Brahim Jaya and her family, are subjected daily at the hands of the occupying state of Morocco in the Sahrawi Occupied Territories. We also call upon you to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Sahrawi political prisoners, including Gdeim Izik Group, who are being held in the prisons of the occupying state. The persistence by the occupying state of Morocco in its heinous crimes against Sahrawi civilians, without being held accountable or punished for that, seriously undermines the prospects of the peace process, and closes the door on the desired peaceful solution. We call urgently upon you and the Security Council to use the authority conferred upon you by the UN Charter and decisions to ensure that the occupying state of Morocco puts an end to its continued war of aggression against our people, whichif left uncheckedwill plunge the whole region into more violence and instability. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Dr Sidi M. Omar Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations Coordinator with MINURSO. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (471) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (55) A number of 11,967 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered in the last 24 hours in Romania, 6,784 fewer than the previous day, with nearly 41,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informed on Sunday. Of the new cases, 1,402 are in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 180 days after the first infection. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 2,562,315 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been registered in Romania, of which 89,002 were in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 180 days after the first infection. - Hospitalisations - There are 10,586 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals across the country, 308 more than the day before, of whom 722 are children. 1,141 patients are hospitalised in ICUs, 28 fewer than the previous day, 18 of whom are children. Of the 1,141 patients admitted to the ICU, 976 are unvaccinated. According to the GCS, 2,114,121 patients were declared cured. - Deaths - According to GCS, 81 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours in patients infected with the novel coronavirus - 47 men and 34 women ranging in age from 30-39 to over 80. 80 deaths were in patients with comorbidities, and one patient did not present comorbidities, Agerpres.ro informs. Out of a total of 81 patients who died, 66 were unvaccinated and 15 were vaccinated. The vaccinated patients ranged in age from 50-59 to over 80. All vaccinated patients who died had comorbidities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 61,601 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania. Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, had, on Saturday, an informative visit at the General Grigore Balan 81st Mechanized Brigade in Bistrita, opportunity on which the command team of the brigade presented the current state of the unit, the technical units in use, the mission, objectives and projects to modernize infrastructure, both current ones, as well as those planned for the future period. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, minister Vasile Dincu had a meeting with the families of the heroes of the brigade who fell in the line of duty in theaters of operations, as well as servicemen wounded in external missions. On this occasion, Vasile Dincu conferred the highest distinction of the Romanian Army to Sergeant Major Daniel Claudiu Sfeches, the brother of posthumous Second Lieutenant Marius Florin Sfeches, who lost his life on October 1, 2010, in Afghanistan, as well as Master Sergeant Anca Filip, sister of posthumous Second Lieutenant, Cristian-Petru Filip, who fell in the same attack, Agerpres.ro informs. The same distinction was conferred to some servicemen from Bistrita who were wounded in international missions: Sergeant Major Vasile Zbanca, Sergeant Major (retired) Florin Boc, Staff Sergeant Gabriel Czifrak, Sergeant Ionut-Marius Bruma, corporal Ioan-Iosif Reman and Private First Class Floare Dorian-Emil Reman. "It's impressive that the brother and sister of heroes Second Lieutenants Marius Florin Sfeches and Cristian-Petru Filip are leading on, in the same brigade, their brothers' mission. Thank you Sergeant Major Daniel Claudiu Sfeches and Master Sergeant Anca Filip for the professional way in which you do your duty towards the country and I guarantee to you that your brothers' memory will never be forgotten," said Vasile Dincu, according to the press release. The Minister of National Defence has assured the injured servicemen of his full support to overcome all the issues they may face, the quoted source state. At the same time, Vasile Dincu met, also, with reserve and retired servicemen of the Bistrita garrison, which he informed that he is aware of the problems they are facing. The latest COVID-19 test positivity rate in Romania is 29.32%, the Ministry of Health informed on Sunday. Within a period of 24 hours, 11,967 positive people with the SARS-CoV-2 virus were reported in Romania, out of a total of 40,813 RT-PCR and antigen tests performed. The ministry is asking people who have symptoms that may indicate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (fever, cough, fatigue, headache, loss of taste and smell, etc.) to call their family physicians, DSP call centers, or the 112 emergency line to request testing, Agerpres.ro informs. People who show symptoms and are in Bucharest or Ilfov County can travel by their own means, not by public transport, to the centres specially created for the collection of samples for COVID-19 testing. People who test positive can go to the COVID-19 assessment centres for consultation and treatment. People with severe forms of the disease, with aggressive symptoms, are urged to call 112. Public health experts say vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe forms of COVID-19 and death. Out of the 1141 people admitted to the ICU, 976 are unvaccinated. Also, out of 81 reported deaths, 66 occurred in unvaccinated patients, according to the Ministry of Health. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis congratulated, on Sunday, Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his re-election as Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany, showing he looks forward to cooperating for a powerful partnership between the two countries. "Congratulations, Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for your re-election as Federal President of Germany. I look forward to our cooperation for a strong partnership between Romania and Germany," shows a Twitter post of the Romanian President.The President of Germany, Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was re-elected for a second five-year mandate in this representative position, where he is to embody a moral authority beyond partisan lines and for which he enjoyed the support of the mail political parties of the country, international press agencies say.Elected for the position for the first time in March 2017, the former Foreign Minister was elected with a large majority (1,045 of 1,437 possible votes) by a specially constituted electoral college, which reunites national deputies, a large number of local elected officials, as well as several personalities of the civil society. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 While no retirement account is a perfect fit for everyone, the Roth IRA comes pretty close. It offers some benefits you won't find with most other retirement accounts, and these could help you stretch your savings much further. Here's a closer look at three reasons you might want to consider opening one this year. 1. Flexibility Roth IRAs are among the most flexible retirement accounts out there. You can open and contribute to one as long as your income isn't too high (more on that below). You might even be able to contribute to a Roth IRA if you're not working, as long as you're married to someone who earns at least as much as you contribute to the IRA. A Roth IRA also gives you the freedom to decide how you want to invest your money. While most 401(k)s only give you a choice of a few mutual funds, you can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more with a Roth IRA. And you're free to change your investment strategy as often as you'd like. 2. Tax-free withdrawals Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs don't give you a tax break up front. But because you pay taxes on your contributions, you get tax-free withdrawals later on. That means the government will essentially ignore any money you withdraw from this account when deciding how much you owe in taxes in retirement. Roth IRAs also enable you to withdraw your contributions penalty-free at any age. Most other retirement accounts carry an early withdrawal penalty if you take money out before 59 1/2 without a qualifying reason. You could still face penalties if you try to withdraw your Roth IRA earnings before 59 1/2, though. It's also worth noting that just because you can take your money out of a Roth IRA at any time doesn't mean you should. Doing so will set your retirement savings back, so it's best to leave your money alone until retirement whenever possible. 3. No required minimum distributions The Roth IRA is the only retirement account that doesn't have required minimum distributions (RMDs). These are mandatory annual withdrawals at age 72 that everyone must take from their retirement accounts. It's the government's way of ensuring it gets a cut of your savings. But the laws governing Roth IRAs leave them exempt from RMD requirements. No RMDs means you can leave your money in your Roth IRA to grow for as long as you'd like before you withdraw it. Or if you don't need the money, you can pass it along as a tax-free gift to your heirs. Who isn't a Roth IRA good for? Despite these benefits, a Roth IRA isn't the best option for everyone. It may not even be an option for you if you're a higher earner. If your income exceeds a certain amount for your tax filing status, you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA. However, you can still have a backdoor Roth IRA. This is where you put money into a traditional IRA and do a Roth IRA conversion in the same year. A Roth IRA also might not be the best choice for those who believe they're in a higher tax bracket now than they'll be in once they retire. By stashing your money in a traditional IRA instead, you can put off taxes until you're in a lower tax bracket, when you'll lose a smaller percentage of your income to the government. But if you do this, you'll owe taxes on your contributions and your earnings. Even if you think a Roth IRA might be a good fit for you, it may not suffice as your only retirement account. You can only contribute up to $6,000 to a Roth IRA in 2022 or $7,000 if you're 50 or older. If that's not enough for you, you might have to pair a Roth IRA with another type of retirement account, like a 401(k). Start with your Roth IRA and then, once you've maxed it out, switch over to the other account for the rest of the year. The $16,728 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,728 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Social Security is a confusing program, although it's an important one. There are a huge number of different rules that can affect the amount of retirement income you receive and the types of benefits you're eligible for. Unfortunately, if you don't understand some basics, you could end up not claiming all the benefits you're entitled to or inadvertently getting less money than should be available. You don't want to face these undesirable outcomes that shrink your retirement income, so make sure you're aware of these three weird rules that often take people by surprise. 1. You may still be able to collect spousal or survivor benefits after divorce Social Security survivor and spousal benefits are crucial income sources for millions of people who either don't qualify for their own benefits or who can get more money by claiming benefits calculated using the work history of a higher-earning spouse. Unfortunately, far too many people believe you must be currently married to benefit from these programs. And that's simply not the case. The reality is, anyone who was married for at least a decade before divorce can claim these benefits. This is true for survivor benefits if you didn't remarry prior to age 60, or prior to age 50 if disabled. And it's the case for spousal benefits if you haven't remarried at all. The Social Security Administration doesn't always alert divorced people to the fact they could get higher monthly checks by claiming on an ex's work history. It's up to you to know these rules if you've had a marriage that ended and want to maximize your retirement income. 2. You can work an unlimited amount while getting benefits after full retirement age -- but can be penalized for working beforehand Another weird Social Security rule has to do with working while getting benefits. If you decide to double-dip and get a paycheck while still collecting retirement income, you may be surprised to find your Social Security benefits are reduced or stop altogether in some cases. If you've already reached your full retirement age (FRA), you're free to work as much as you want in your senior years without losing any Social Security income. Full retirement age depends on when you were born, but it falls between ages 66 and four months and 67. If you've hit this milestone, don't worry about how big your paycheck is -- you can still collect your retirement checks (although it is possible you could find yourself being taxed on more of your benefits). If you're under FRA, though, you're at risk of forfeiting some of your Social Security funds temporarily. You'll lose: $1 for each $2 earned above $19,560 per year or $1,630 per month if you won't reach FRA at all during the year you're working. $1 for each $3 earned above $51,960 per year or $4,330 per month if you'll reach FRA at some point. The Social Security Administration stops sending entire checks to cover the amount you forfeit. Then once you've reached your full retirement age, benefits are recalculated, and your monthly income goes up a bit. The Social Security credits you back the early filing penalties you were hit with for an early claim, so you're no longer assessed the penalty in any month when you didn't get a check. This rule may come as a big shock if you were anticipating being able to get Social Security benefits while earning outside income to supplement them. 3. You can't earn delayed retirement credits on spousal benefits Finally, if you are claiming spousal benefits, you may be surprised to find that while early filing penalties can reduce them, you have no opportunity to earn delayed retirement credits to raise the amount you receive. Since you can't get more than 50% of your spouse's standard benefit, there's no use in waiting beyond your own full retirement age to claim Social Security spousal benefits. If you do delay longer you'd leave money on the table for no reason at all. These three rules can be surprising, but they're worth knowing to ensure you get the full amount of monthly Social Security income you deserve. The $16,728 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,728 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. JEFFERSON CITY A St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist will not be charged after pointing out a weakness in a state computer database, the prosecuting attorney for Cole County said Friday. Prosecutor Locke Thompson issued a statement to television station KRCG Friday, saying he appreciated Gov. Mike Parson for forwarding his concerns but would not be filing charges. The decision was reached almost seven weeks after Thompsons office received a report on the incident from the Missouri Highway Patrol, which had been tasked with the probe by the governor last year. Thompson did not respond to multiple attempts to reach him on Friday. A secretary at his office in the capital city said she was authorized to tell the Post-Dispatch no comment on his behalf. Parson, who had suggested prosecution was imminent throughout the probe, issued a statement saying Thompsons office believed the decision was properly addressed. The state did its part by investigating and presenting its findings to the Cole County prosecutor, who has elected not to press charges, as is his prerogative, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. Post-Dispatch Publisher Ian Caso said in a statement Friday: We are pleased the prosecutor recognized there was no legitimate basis for any charges against the St. Louis Post-Dispatch or our reporter. While an investigation of how the state allowed this information to be accessible was appropriate, the accusations against our reporter were unfounded and made to deflect embarrassment for the states failures and for political purposes. The Republican prosecutors statement said there was an argument to be made that there was a violation of law. However, upon review of the case file, the issues at the heart of the investigation have been resolved through non-legal means, Thompson said. As such, it is not in the best interest of Cole County citizens to utilize the significant resources and taxpayer dollars that would be necessary to pursue misdemeanor criminal charges in this case. As late as Dec. 29, Parson had expressed vehement confidence that a case would be brought. The Post-Dispatch reported Oct. 13 that more than 100,000 Social Security numbers of Missouri educators had been vulnerable on a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website. Post-Dispatch journalist Josh Renaud found teachers Social Security numbers were accessible in the HTML source code of some publicly available DESE web pages. The newspaper informed DESE of the flaw and delayed publication of a report until the department could take action to protect the privacy of individuals in the database. While DESE had initially planned to thank the Post-Dispatch for finding the flaw, Parson instead held a news conference where he took no questions and alleged Renaud had been hacking the states computer system. The governor cited a state statute that says someone tampers with computer data if he or she without authorization or without reasonable grounds to believe that he has such authorization accesses a computer system and intentionally examines information about another person. Renaud said in a statement on Friday: This decision is a relief. But it does not repair the harm done to me and my family. My actions were entirely legal and consistent with established journalistic principles. There is no authorization required to examine public websites, but some researchers say overly broad hacking laws in many jurisdictions let embarrassed institutions lob hacking allegations against good Samaritans who try to flag vulnerabilities before theyre exploited. Emails obtained by the Post-Dispatch found that the FBI told state cybersecurity officials that there was not an actual network intrusion and the state database was misconfigured. The records showed that Angie Robinson, cybersecurity specialist for the state, emailed Department of Public Safety Director Sandra Karsten to inform her that she had forwarded emails from the Post-Dispatch to Kyle Storm with the FBI in St. Louis. Robinson said the FBI agent indicated there was no network intrusion. The emails also revealed that DESE initially planned to thank the newspaper for alerting them to the problem. We are grateful to the member of the media who brought this to the states attention was the proposed quote attributed to Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven. The state eventually described Renaud as a hacker. Caso, the Post-Dispatch publisher, said, This matter should have never gone beyond the states initial, intended response, which was to thank the reporter for the responsible way he handled the situation. Instead, too much taxpayer money has been wasted in a politically-motivated investigation. Parson has often tangled with news outlets over reports he doesnt like. A political action committee supporting Parson ran an ad attacking the newspaper over the computer incident, saying the governor was standing up to the fake news media. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY As Gov. Mike Parson looks to a task force to help resolve ongoing supply chain issues, one of his own departments is dealing with shortages brought on by pandemic-related changes in the economy. At the Missouri Department of Corrections, stores where inmates can buy snacks, clothing and hygiene items have had empty shelves periodically since COVID-19 sent shockwaves through the shipping and manufacturing sectors. At various times over the last two years, the department has experienced temporary supply chain shortages in nearly everything sold in the canteens, but thankfully, the shortages generally have not affected several items simultaneously, said DOC spokeswoman Karen Pojmann. Lori Curry, who founded an organization called Missouri Prison Reform, said shes been hearing complaints from prisoners about the shortages for months. Curry, who is an advocate for inmates and prison staff, said inmates have been having trouble getting food and hygiene items, as well as clothing. In some cases, the only winter clothes available were size small or 4X, said Curry, a Joplin resident. At Bonne Terre, prison staff have been allowed to purchase items for the commissary from other sources to get the stores stocked. Last year, she said prison officials blamed the low supplies on high demand after inmates received stimulus checks from the federal government as part of the response to the pandemic. They said the prisoners bought too much, Curry said. Now, however, Curry said prisoners are being told the shortages are a supply chain issue. Retailers nationwide have struggled to keep shelves fully stocked with all kinds of everyday necessities, slowing down the production and distribution of goods. At the same time, consumer demand remains robust. Parson, in response, has formed a task force to search for solutions to the delays. The supplier for the commissaries is Bridgeton-based Keefe Group, which on its website says it serves more than 650,000 prisoners across the nation, supplying a range of items for the stores, from cans of tuna to extra underwear. They have a line of cellblock-ready electronics, including compact disc players, watches and clocks. Since 2019, Keefe Group has been paid more than $2.4 million by Missouri for its work, according to state payroll records. The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In Illinois, Keefe recently lost its contract with the prison system over issues with the bidding process. Supply issues also have affected commissary items in Illinois, where advocates for prisons say widespread shortages are common. According to a December report by WBEZ, inmates have seen stocks of laundry detergent, socks, boxers and shirts depleted for several months. To accommodate the shortages, the Illinois Department of Corrections distributed free care packages to prisoners containing hygiene items and food products worth about $25. In Missouri, inmates have been most frustrated by shortages in shoes, televisions, chips and soda, Pojmann said. But, she added, The procurement team has found other vendors with available inventory to provide temporary relief or acceptable alternatives when possible. At times, they have even contacted warehouses across the country on a daily basis to find out what products were in stock and to place orders immediately. Pojmann agreed that the commissaries play an important role in tamping down dissent behind bars. Minimizing disruptions in product availability definitely boosts morale and helps to keep facility operations running smoothly, Pojmann said. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS Police officers shot a robbery suspect who fired at them Sunday morning in the Covenant Blu Grand Center neighborhood, officers said. Police Chief John Hayden told reporters at the scene of the robbery that police were called at 8:42 a.m. about a hold-up at at the Currency Exchange, 900 North Grand Boulevard. A man entered the check cashing store while two patrons were inside, handed a note to the teller and displayed a handgun, Hayden said. The teller ran to the back of the store and no money was taken, he said. Two police officers arrived as the suspect was leaving, and the man fired at them, Hayden said. The officers fired back, shooting the suspect in the right leg. The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but police said he was stable. The officers were not injured, Hayden said. One officer is a 33-year-old man with four years of experience, the other is a 35-year-old woman with three months of experience, police said. Hayden wasn't sure how many shots were fired. He said social workers had spoken to the patrons and teller and called it a "very traumatic incident." "We're very thankful the officers were not injured," Hayden said. The suspect's handgun was still on the sidewalk on the south side of the building, next to an evidence marker, as Hayden spoke. A police union lawyer was at the scene of the shooting but declined comment. This article was first posted at 9:50 a.m. and was updated at 10:15 a.m. and again at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. CHARLES COUNTY A man from St. Charles County is in custody and facing charges after he and two others broke into about 40 vehicles at an Amazon facility in St. Peters and more at the Hollywood Casino, prosecutors said. Darryl Muldrow, 18, of St. Charles has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle, three counts of stealing a firearm, four counts of first-degree property damage, four counts of stealing and one count of stealing a controlled substance, St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar's office said. Prosecutors said Muldrow and two others arrived in a stolen car at the Amazon facility, where they stole guns and other property from vehicles before moving on to the casino. They said another suspect has been arrested and another is being sought. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. CHARLES The annual Lincoln Days gathering, held here over the weekend to celebrate the Republican Party, had a much different feel than when U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., started making a statewide name for himself. In 1984, Blunt became the first Republican to be elected Missouri Secretary of State in more than half a century. Democrats still had a good grasp on power across the state back then. Internally, Republicans were just glad to have candidates they thought had a chance to win, Blunt, now Missouris senior senator, said in an interview Saturday, reflecting on how the Republican Party evolved. Today, the highest-ranking Democrat is Auditor Nicole Galloway. Shes not seeking reelection. Blunt isnt either, which, apart from bashing all things President Joe Biden, set the tone for the Lincoln Days event. While the official filing date opens Feb. 22, at least half a dozen candidates say they are running in the Aug. 2 Republican primary. So far, the crammed race has been a competition over who is the most conservative. The candidates havent deviated much on core issues of crime, policing, abortion and immigration, but a few jabs started to come out at the St. Charles Convention Center. Blunt said he preferred not to make an endorsement. I am not saying I wont be involved before its over, but I prefer not to be, he said. Almost everybody there has been helpful to me, and I, in the past, have been helpful to them. The primary will sort itself out. Offering a glimpse of how they size each other up, four of the six major candidates spoke at a panel here Saturday attended by about 300 people. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, was in the middle of the ongoing redistricting fight in Jefferson City and couldnt attend, the moderator said. Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens criticized the establishment event from a distance because Karl Rove was going to be there, according to Breitbart News. President Trump has said Rove is a pompous fool with bad advice and always has an agenda, Greitens told the conservative news outlet, calling at least some of those gathered at Lincoln Days RINOs, or Republican In Name Only. This establishment event proves RINOs are willing to sell out their country to swamp creatures looking to make a quick buck off the movement. While primary voters will ultimately pick the partys standard-bearer, the former presidents seal of approval appears to be key. Who knows if he is going to endorse anyone in this race, U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, said in an interview. I would love to have it, but every candidate would love to have it. Long, an auctioneer and real estate broker, was elected to Congress in 2010 with no previous political experience. He told the crowd on Saturday that he originated the phrase Trump train before Trump was popular and now hopes he regains the presidency in 2024. Election integrity matters, Long said. Weve got to keep our guard up. U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, has also served several terms in Congress. Weve got to fire Nancy Pelosi, said Hartzler, a farmer and former teacher. Thats the reason I first ran in 2010 is because she took over the House of Representatives. She held up that gavel and she said, Now I speak for all women in this country. You do not speak for me. You do not speak for conservative women, pro-life women, stay-at-homers. You have got to go. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt stressed his record suing numerous school districts in the state when it was unpopular to do so. Then he threw out a barb, apparently directed at Long and Hartzler. This is not the time to send the same folks back there who have been part of the D.C. establishment, folks, Schmitt said. Now is the time to send a proven fighter. Someone who understands the stakes. Mark McCloskey, the personal injury attorney known for brandishing a Colt AR-15 rifle at racial justice protesters outside his Central West End home, played up that hed never run for office. People that have been politicians their entire adult lives have brought us to this point in our country, he said. Our democratic republic is about to be permanently extinguished. The time has come for people that are really willing to stand up and really fight and take on the mob. I faced the mob. I am willing to face the mob in D.C. Once Blunt retires, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley will be Missouris senior senator. At Lincoln Days, he announced his endorsement of Hartzler. On Friday evening, Hawley and his wife, Erin, were keynote speakers. Its just great to breathe the free air and be out of Washington, D.C., Hawley said to cheers. Then he blasted Biden and the Democratic Party on multiple fronts. The Democrats may tell us that this countrys character is systemically evil and crooked and bent and racist, he said. I dont believe a word of it. Do you? No, said the overwhelmingly white audience. This is a good country, Hawley told them. Its a great country full of good people. And we are in the midst of a struggle for the very essence of who we are. To renew it. To make us strong again. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Regarding GOP censures Cheney, Kinzinger as it assails Jan. 6 probe (Feb. 4): I guess its true you learn something new every day. Until a few days ago, I always thought the violent protesters over George Floyds and other deaths who looted, burned buildings and rioted were doing something bad. Thanks to the Republican National Committee, I now know they were just practicing legitimate political discourse. The U.S. Navy denied operating in Russian territorial waters on Saturday after Russias military claimed it chased away a Virginia-class submarine in the Kuril Islands after the American vessel refused an order to surface. A Russian navy destroyer used appropriate means against the U.S. submarine after the order was refused, said a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The American vessel fled Russian waters at high speed, the statement added. The ministry said it summoned the U.S. military attache to Moscow to complain of a major violation of international law following the incursion. The incident occurred in an area of the Pacific where the Russian navy is conducting a military exercise, according to Moscow. The vessel was found submerged off the small, uninhabited island of Urup while Russias Pacific Fleet was holding exercises in the area, the state-run Russian news site RT.com reported. However, the U.S. denied the incident occurred in Russian waters in a statement that stopped short of denying any encounter with Russia occurred. "There is no truth to the Russian claims of our operations in their territorial waters, Indo-Pacific Command spokesman Navy Capt. Kyle Raines said in a statement. I will not comment on the precise location of our submarines, but we do fly, sail, and operate safely in international waters." The defense ministry said Russian vessels contacted the submarine and ordered it to "surface immediately," according to the RT.com report. The submarine, however, did not respond to the messages, and the destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov was deployed to chase it off, the report said. The American vessel used an active radar decoy, sailing away from Russian waters at full speed, according to the RT report. Russia's Pacific Fleet military drills continued after the alleged incident. Saturdays incident took place as tensions between Moscow and Washington have intensified following NATO warnings of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after midnight one month ago, hundreds of hungry people made homeless by the war in Ethiopia mostly women, children and elderly men slept on a cramped floor in an empty school with a tin roof. With a flash in the dark, the building was struck by a drone-delivered bomb, killing at least 59 people and gravely injuring dozens more, according to aid workers whose organizations worked at the camp for internally displaced people in Dedebit, located in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray. They were adamant: The people killed and wounded were civilians fleeing the war, not combatants in it. The Washington Post analyzed photos of shrapnel and satellite imagery and cross-referenced video of the aftermath to confirm that Turkish-made precision-guided munitions were used in the strike, which took place in the early hours of Jan. 7. The Ethiopian military is the only party in the conflict known to have access to armed drones. The emergence of armed drones in Ethiopia reflects a proliferation of unmanned aircraft that has transformed conflicts around the world, from Libya to Ukraine, as weapons that were once the province of superpowers become widely available and employed to deadly purpose by governments and rebel groups. In Ethiopia, the governments use of armed drones has turned the 16-month conflict against the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) in its favor. The use of a precision-guided weapon in the strike in Dedebit raises questions about the Ethiopian governments targets, which internal documents at aid organizations say have hit not just this camp, but also other locations far from the battlefield, including a flour mill, a public bus, farms, hotels and busy markets. Those documents, which were shared with The Washington Post, say more than 300 civilians have been killed by drone and airstrikes since September, including more than 100 since the start of this year. Those deaths represent a fraction of the thousands who are estimated to have died in the conflict and more than 4 million others, in Tigray and neighboring regions, who face a humanitarian crisis. The Ethiopian government has not acknowledged the strike and did not respond to multiple requests for comment on how the target was chosen. A Turkish government spokesman declined to comment. The Turkish manufacturer of the drones munition did not respond to The Posts queries about the use of their product in the conflict. An ongoing communications blackout and government restrictions on access have made assessing ground realities in Tigray exceptionally challenging. - - - Local aid workers and Tigrai Television, a local media outlet linked to the TPLF, filmed the aftermath of the strike. The Post verified the videos by locating the structures in the footage in satellite imagery of the camp and by comparing the clips to each other. In the videos, bodies are lined up in rows near the targeted school, surrounded by a grieving crowd. Entire limbs are torn off, faces disfigured beyond recognition. At least five women and seven children are visible among the dead. A priest sprinkles holy water, and a man gently covers up a childs body with cloth. One woman collapses to the ground. Why did you leave me behind? she asks. Whom did you leave me with? The world has forsaken us, another onlooker cries. The world has betrayed us. - - - Weapon remnants recovered from the site of the strike by aid workers showed internal components and screw configurations that matched images of Turkish-made MAM-L munitions released by the weapons manufacturer. The MAM-L pairs exclusively with the Turkish-made TB-2 drone. On a lot of these new drone-dropped weapons, the bodies and internal electronics can appear similar, but each manufacturer uses different screw configurations to attach the wings to the fuselage of the munition, said Brian Castner, a weapons investigator for Amnesty International. The MAM-Ls have a four-screw pattern, he said. Other images of shrapnel, which reveal different components of the laser-guided munitions wings, corroborated this analysis. The nearly 50-pound weapon used in Dedebit can travel roughly nine miles from the time it is released until its impact. It is meant for targets such as tanks, light armored vehicles or personnel, according to the manufacturers website. A comparison of high-resolution satellite imagery taken before and after the strike reveals a 4-by-3 meter hole in the roof of the primary school. The damage to the red roof and interior of the building looks consistent with a weapon of this size, Castner told The Post. He cautioned that this did not necessarily mean the primary school had indeed been the intended target. - - - For much of the conflict, definitive open-source evidence showed the Ethiopian government had a small number of Chinese commercial drones that had been used by the countrys police, and a cadre of unarmed Israeli-made drones. By late 2021, Ethiopia had dramatically expanded its fleet of drones. Turkey sold drones to Ethiopia as recently as October, Reuters reported, citing officials with knowledge of the agreement, well into a war marked by rounds of atrocities against civilians. Open-source researchers confirmed the presence of Chinese-made Wing Loong drones in Ethiopia in November and Iranian-made drones in Ethiopia in August. Flight data from aircraft originating in the United Arab Emirates has led to speculation that the UAE which has been a staunch government ally provided Chinese-made Wing Loong drones and may have also provided modified, commercially made armed drones to the government. Satellite imagery from November first revealed a Turkish-made TB-2 drone stationed at Harar Meda, a key Ethiopian military air base outside of Addis Ababa, according to Wim Zwijnenburg, a project leader for humanitarian disarmament at the Netherlands-based organization Pax, which focuses on protecting civilians from acts of war and ending violence globally. Zwijnenburg used satellite imagery, news reports and open-source reports to track weapons remnants and collaborated with plane spotters who monitor the flow of military cargo to track the Ethiopian militarys buildup of foreign-made drones in recent months. Open-source investigators recorded Turkish-, Chinese-, and Iranian-built drones at four Ethiopian air bases as early as August 2021. Of those, only Bahir Dar, which serves as both a civilian and military airport, would have been within the 300-kilometer (roughly 186-mile) range where the Turkish TB-2 could deliver the munition and return to base. A drone that matches the measurements and description of the Turkish TB-2 was spotted on the tarmac of Bahir Dar Airport, according to Zwijnenburg and The Posts examination of available satellite imagery the day before the strike and again on Jan. 26. The military drones made a significant difference to the Ethiopian air force and their ability to push back the advances from the Tigray Defense Forces, Zwijnenburg told The Post. This is likely going to stay for a while. Remnants of the MAM-L munitions at other recent strikes in the Tigray region and elsewhere suggest the TB-2 continues to be used widely. - - - Relations between Ethiopia and Western governments have soured during the conflict, in part due to concerns over atrocities committed by government and government-aligned troops, as well as Ethiopias purchase of armed drones from not just Turkey but also Iran and China. Reports over the past two months suggest U.S. officials are increasingly anxious about the role Turkish-made drones continue to play in the ongoing war. In September, the White House announced sanctions for people involved with the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Ethiopia. There has been no evidence that the administration has made this kind of move against Turkish companies or citizens. The United States has profound humanitarian concerns regarding the consequences of any military sales to Ethiopia, a State Department spokesman, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of agency protocol, told The Post. We have raised reports of drone use in Ethiopia with both the UAE and Turkey, and have made clear to all external parties engaged on all sides of the conflict that now is the time for all outside actors to press for negotiations and end the war. Casualties from drone strikes make up just a sliver of war-related civilian deaths, aid workers said. A blockade that has stayed mostly in place since last summers TPLF offensive means that very little humanitarian aid food, medicine or fuel - enters Tigray. Both the Ethiopian government and its allies as well as the TPLF have accused each other of looting and destroying food stores and hospitals as battle lines have shifted over the course of the conflict. The World Health Organization conducted a survey that found only 3% of clinics in Tigray remained functional. Its actually a wave of death. Far more in Tigray have died of birth complications, heart attacks, diabetes, effects of malnutrition, lack of medicines, or no fuel to move people toward care, said Ilham Abdelhai, a senior World Health Organization emergency official with experience in Tigray. Yes, the drone strike was horrific, but even before that, there is a daily reality of destitution and lack of basic health care. The supplies we may be able to bring in now are just a drop in the ocean. The Washington Posts Kareem Fahim in Istanbul contributed to this report. LAREDO, Texas At the busiest commercial border crossing in North America, trucks stream into the United States at a rate of 500 per hour during peak times. Drug traffickers play the percentages. Fewer than 5% of the vehicles are typically screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection with the powerful high-energy scanners that can peer deep inside cargo loads to detect anomalies odd patterns or suspicious densities that could be illegal drugs. The inspections require drivers to leave their vehicles and endure delays. With fatal drug overdose deaths in the United States soaring to record levels, Congress has directed CBP to come up with a plan to scan 100% of arriving vehicles. Here and across the U.S. southern border, the agency is preparing to roll out new nonintrusive inspection systems to screen significantly more trucks. These multi-energy portals will zap the cargo areas with high-energy waves, but use safer low-energy screening for the cab, allowing the drivers to remain in their vehicles and clear inspection faster, the agency says. Its going to be a game changer for us, said Alberto Flores, the CBP director for the Laredo port of entry, who said each machine can scan eight times as many trucks per hour as the existing high-energy systems. With the more scans we do, the probability of a seizure will increase, Flores said. Laredo is the front line in the U.S. governments long and often demoralizing effort to stop illegal drugs at the border. U.S. Interstate 35 runs from here all the way to Duluth, Minn., right up the middle of the United States. For long-haul trucking, it is the highway equivalent of the Mississippi River, a central artery into the American heartland. The Mexican trafficking organizations that hide narcotics in commercial loads use I-35 no differently than Walmart or Samsung or Ford. Once the drugs get past CBP here in Laredo, their distribution routes are wide open. The entire contiguous United States is within a 1-day drive. CBPs Laredo field office seized 588 pounds of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl during the 2021 fiscal year, an eleven-fold increase over the 50 pounds detected in 2020. More than 100,000 Americans are dying each year from drug overdoses, and most of those fatalities are linked to fentanyl. Overdoses from fentanyl have become the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study by Stanford University and the Lancet medical journal projects U.S. opioid deaths will reach 1.22 million this decade if no new action is taken. The advent of fentanyl has posed the biggest challenge yet to the governments conventional interdiction methods, including border inspections. The same thing that makes fentanyl so deadly its potency allows for its exceedingly compact size. Smugglers use false vehicle panels, hidden compartments and bulk produce shipments to hide drugs. Gas tanks, engines and batteries can be adapted with secret chambers. The drivers may have no idea theyre ferrying drugs, so theres limited value in officers looking for behavioral cues such as nervousness. It is a cat-and-mouse game, said Flores. We will adjust with the cartels just as they adjust to the way we do inspections. Flores and other CBP officials insist their detection efforts are not futile. Every narcotics seizure takes dangerous drugs off the streets, saving lives, they say. In recent years, CBP has boosted the percentage of rail cars it scans to 100 percent, and the agency views commercial trucks as the next phase of a longer effort to deploy nonintrusive inspection technology for cargo as well as passenger vehicles at U.S. ports of entry. Lawmakers in states with surging overdose deaths are pushing the government to go faster. A smuggler with multiple pounds of fentanyl, concealed in hidden compartments, needs to know that there is no chance of getting across our border without some kind of search, Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, said in a speech on the Senate floor this month. Its not just a gap in our security, its a gaping hole in our security, said Portman, whose home state of Ohio has the fifth-highest number of drug overdose deaths per capita. Its resulting in lives being lost. CBP has started installing the multi-energy portals at the Brownsville, Texas, and Laredo ports of entry, part of a $480 million effort to expand the technology along the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency said it is distributing information to truck drivers assuring them the technology is safe, and allowing drivers with concerns to opt out in favor of slower, traditional inspection procedures. Gil Kerlikowske, a CBP commissioner under President Barack Obama who also previously ran the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said more high-intensity scans at the border are a welcome addition, especially if they can occur without disruptions to trade. The last thing you can do now is slow down shipping, given the past year and a half of supply chain issues, he said. But, Kerlikowske cautioned, were not going to seize our way out of this issue. Every time we have new detection methods and better intelligence, we also have increased seizures, but increased seizures dont seem to be resulting in fewer deaths. In the long run, its prevention that will make a difference, he said. Along with the scanning equipment, CBP is adding a new software program, CertScan, that officials also describe as a breakthrough. It is designed to streamline and centralize the growing amounts of data flooding the inspectors monitors. In every border sector, CBP is planning to construct a central command center staffed by teams of adjudicators who will decide which trucks clear inspection and which ones should be subjected to a more thorough review by officers or K-9 teams. The high-energy scans produce vivid 3D images of the vehicles and their cargo. In one control room at the port, veteran agents scrutinized a load of northbound water scooters, assembled in Mexico, which X-rays showed in intricate skeletal detail. The adjudicators receive detailed manifest information about the trucks, their cargo and their drivers at least an hour in advance of a vehicles arrival. Established companies and shippers with clean records are lower-risk; a truck with a random load or unfamiliar company tends to draw more scrutiny. The system incorporates data from QR code readers, license plate recognition software, a radio frequency identification system, live cameras and links to DHS databases. The CertScan program gives adjudicators a single portal to all of this information and the imagery from the multi-energy screening. Running them all within this platform allows you to increase your inspection percentage significantly without a major increase in staffing, said Jonathan Fleming, a former Transportation Security Administration official whose company, S2 Global, developed the software. Are you going to catch everything? No, he said. But I think you can do a very good job of significantly expanding your interdiction capability at a traditional port of entry with these technologies deployed. The government is racing to catch up to the fast-moving North American drug trade. The legalization of cannabis in some U.S. states has crashed demand for Mexican-grown bulk marijuana, driving traffickers toward hard narcotics. Cocaine seizures at the Laredo port of entry doubled last year, and CBP seized more than 190,000 pounds of meth in total at U.S. borders, nearly three times the amount confiscated in 2018. The honest truth is theres no way to completely stop flow of illegal drugs as long as demand in the United States is high, said Eric Olson, a global fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington who has tracked border security and drug trafficking issues for decades. The technology solutions to finding a half-ton of marijuana or bulk shipments of cocaine might be solvable, but when youre talking about something like fentanyl that can be brought over in such small conveyances, its really hard to think itll have much success. Im not saying its pointless, but its not a panacea either, said Olson. With more scrutiny on commercial cargo, traffickers will probably pivot to passenger vehicles, maritime routes, cross-border tunnels and other smuggling tactics, he said. PRIPYAT, Ukraine In a ghost town with soil still radioactive from the worlds worst nuclear disaster, members of Ukraines armed forces and national guard conducted combat training drills to simulate an enemy occupation in an urban area. Snipers fired at wooden targets in blown-out windows of buildings deserted since the nearby Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986 made this area uninhabitable. Armored vehicles rolled down the snow-covered streets earlier this month as men with Geiger counters looked on to check the radiation levels. The service members practiced air reconnaissance with drones and applying first aid on wounded comrades. Though the exercise was hypothetical, the ammunition was real, reverberating through the abandoned structures that are still marked with Soviet insignia. The Chernobyl region borders Belarus, where thousands of Russian soldiers have massed ahead of massive joint military exercises that U.S. officials have warned could be used as a springboard to launch an attack on Ukraine from its northern border. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who attended the training in Pripyat, said hes not concerned about a Russian invasion originating from Belarus, though attacking through this area would offer the shortest route to the capital, Kyiv. He noted that Ukraine has not observed any Russian strike force formations which would be necessary for an invasion, Reznikov said gathering in Belarus. This part of the border is the most difficult to cross. Wetlands, woods, rivers this area is hard to cross not only on tanks but even on foot, Reznikov said, adding that the radiation in the area is another factor that would ward off enemy forces from crossing through here. Similar drills are often held at military training grounds across Ukraine, but Pripyats ghost town status allowed the military and national guard units to practice the liquidation of criminals in a more realistic setting. With more than two busloads of Ukrainian and foreign journalists present, it was also an opportunity for Ukraine to demonstrate how far its security forces have come in the eight years since Russian-backed separatists sparked a conflict with Ukraines military in the countrys east. Im very, very sure that the Ukrainian armed forces are ready for deterring, for resilience, Reznikov said. Ukrainian people are ready for deterring and for resilience. Journalists who were invited to witness the drills had to pass through two different checkpoints to measure their radiation levels on their way back to Kyiv. KYIV, Ukraine Israeli officials and relief groups are readying plans to help Ukraines Jewish community in the event of an all-out war between Ukraine and Russia, according to individuals familiar with the process. The officials and agencies are gaming out contingencies that include managing a new wave of immigrants coming to Israel and aiding displaced Jews in Ukraine as they did in 2014 when Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists began a conflict in eastern Ukraine. In a worst-case scenario, the plans could mean directly evacuating thousands of refugees. Privately, Israeli officials make clear they dont expect the nationwide chaos that would require a mass airlift. But Israel would be ready to act if needed, they said, as the country has done in other hot spots. Two individuals involved in the process confirmed the meetings have occurred, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential planning. Over 36 hours in May 1991, Israeli air force and requisitioned El Al jumbo jets flew more than 14,000 Ethiopians from war-torn Addis Ababa, an operation overseen by current Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz. Were prepared for all scenarios, said Pnina Tamano-Shata, Israels minister of immigration and absorption, the branch of government in charge of easing the arrival of Jews from around the world, according to the Israeli news outlet Ynet. As many as 100,000 Jews live in Ukraine, according to Yael Branovsky of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews in Jerusalem. The aid group was deeply involved in aiding thousands of Jews who were displaced from Ukraines eastern Donbas area when war erupted in 2014. Officials from Israels defense and foreign ministries and other security branches gathered in January to assess the possible wartime needs of Ukraines Jewish communities, according to a report in the Haaretz newspaper and confirmed by two people who have participated in the planning but spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the reports, saying only that it is preparing its own citizens in Ukraine for the possibility of trouble. At the request of Israel, some 4,000 Israelis living in the country have registered with the embassy in Kyiv since late January, according to ministry spokesman Lior Haiat. On Friday, an Israeli advisory said that its citizens should consider leaving Ukraine immediately and that it would begin evacuating family members of embassy staff. The history of Judaism in Ukraine, going back more than a millennium, is both rich and tragic. Hasidism traces it roots to Ukrainian Jews, and the communities here have flourished in different periods of history. But they have suffered inconceivably brutal pogroms and mass killings at other times, including during the Czarist era, communist revolutions and the Holocaust. More recently, Ukraines ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has split a vibrant Jewish community of at least 30,000 people centered around the city of Donetsk, according to Pinchas Vishedski, who was the chief rabbi of the city until the war caused him to flee to Kyiv with many others. Some members Jews opted to stay in the east, Vishedski said, particularly older residents who felt it was too difficult to disrupt their lives. Many of them feel comfortable living in the Russian-dominated area. They live with a lot of propaganda, he said. When I talk to them, they think that they have it better than we do. But most of his former Jewish community members fled the fighting, with some heading immediately to Israel and others resettling elsewhere in Ukraine, mostly in and around Kyiv. Jewish relief agencies converted a youth summer camp near the capital into a refugee center for families that often arrived with little more than a suitcase, Branovsky said. Several the agencies, including IFCJ, the Jewish Agency and the New York-based Joint Distribution Committee, worked to resettle the families. They provided food, clothing and, later, money for rent. With the Passover holiday falling in the early days of the crisis, one group delivered 53,000 boxes of matzoh around the country. Almost eight years later, the families are still struggling to rebuild their lives hundreds of miles from areas their families have lived for generations, said Vishedski, who now goes by the title of chief rabbi for Jewish Community of Refugees from Donbas and Crimea. Its been very intense and we are still struggling, said Vishedski in his new office next to a hookah bar in Kyivs historic Podil neighborhood. It was very frightening but we lived through it. But the rabbi doesnt expect many of his followers to flee to Israel even now and finds the talk of mass evacuations to be overblown. Nobody in Israel has talked to us about this, he said. A Ukrainian named Shaul, who spoke on the condition that his last name not be used to protect his privacy, has already fled his home once. His family of four left their apartment in Donetsk in spring 2014 with luggage for a wedding trip. Dont come back, his neighbors warned at the time, the police station is burning and your block is a war zone. Almost eight years later, they are living in a 25-story building in Kyiv, where Shaul works remotely as a team leader for a Boston-based tech company. In his kitchen, he described the trauma of not seeing the city where three generations of his family grew up he still pays utilities on his property there so it wont be confiscated but also his desire to stay in Ukraine even through another war. If it gets really bad, well go to Israel, said Shaul, 43. But I have my profession here, my community here, my rabbi here. Its where we want to stay. Rubin reported from Tel Aviv. Alex Sipigin contributed to this report. Stars and Stripes is making stories on the coronavirus pandemic available free of charge. See more stories here. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here. Please support our journalism with a subscription. Nearly 24 million taxpayers are still waiting for the Internal Revenue Service to process their tax returns from last year - a number far larger than previously reported by the agency - with many refunds being held up for 10 months or more. The inventory of unprocessed returns and related correspondence was provided by the IRS's taxpayer advocate service to the tax-writing committees in Congress. The backlog will probably further slow service in the 2022 filing season; the Treasury Department, the IRS's parent agency, warned in January that it expected its response to be subpar this year. The pileup of work that remains from last year, according to three people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not approved to speak publicly, comes as the tax agency struggles to hire and train new staff, and respond to growing bipartisan pressure from lawmakers and tax preparers to clear the logjam and provide relief to taxpayers. Among the considerations are suspending tax collections and excusing some penalty enforcement. "This situation is untenable," A group of 30 Senate Republicans wrote in a Thursday letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. They pointed to a raft of delayed returns, some dating back to the 2019 filing season, along with millions of missed calls and other correspondence that had threatened "our constituents' ability to have their returns processed accurately and efficiently." But some Republicans simultaneously are working to block any new federal aid that might help the agency, and the letter did not endorse any spending. The IRS's productivity plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic as thousands of employees worked from home for months without access to returns, audits and other business - difficulties that followed years of budget cuts. The federal stimulus measures also added to the agency's workload, as it emphasized getting relief money to millions of Americans. Paper returns took the greatest hit, as mail piled up on trucks outside closed offices for months. The Republican senators' letter came just days after a report from the IRS inspector general found that the agency continues to suffer from severe hiring shortages, inefficient practices and old equipment. That includes mail processing woes, since its systems have "outdated dust collectors" that cause paper jams. Poor scanners, meanwhile, meant the IRS last year missed out on $56 million because of "untimely check deposits," since the agency could not tell if envelopes it received contained checks. As of Jan. 28, the tally of outstanding individual and business returns requiring what the IRS calls "manual processing" - an operation where an employee must take at least one action rather than relying on an automated system to move the case - came to 23.7 million, the taxpayer advocate data shows. The number includes 9.7 million paper returns awaiting processing; another 4.1 million that were suspended because of errors with stimulus payments, pandemic relief or other issues; 4.1 million amended returns and 5.8 million pieces of correspondence awaiting action between the agency and taxpayers to resolve issues before the returns are completed. In January, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins had reported a backlog of at least 10 million returns based on IRS data. An IRS official, meantime, said the agency counts the inventory from last year's filing season at about 6 million paper returns for individual taxpayers. Both numbers are far higher than the unprocessed returns the IRS faced before the pandemic - in the past, the agency typically carried over 1 million or fewer returns into the next tax season. But the new data takes into account broader categories of work that have stalled since the pandemic and some returns that have come in this year. Taxpayer advocates, lawmakers and others say the expansive count is more realistic. "This entire ecosystem of pending cases gives the public a fuller picture of what the IRS is up against," said Chad Hooper, executive director of the nonprofit Professional Managers Association, which represents hundreds of IRS managers. "And it's a crazy number before most people have filed their taxes for this year." The stockpile does not include audits lingering because of pandemic slowdowns, enforcement and collection actions, appeals of audits, notices of tax liens, penalties or other business in the pipeline, Hooper said. The vast majority of taxpayers now file their tax returns electronically, and those can generally be processed quickly unless they are flagged for errors, identity theft or other issues. Roughly 10% - about 17 million people - still file Form 1040, the traditional individual income tax return, on paper. The IRS is taking at least ten months to process paper returns filed for the 2020 tax year, and has only caught up to April 2021 for returns without errors, according to the most recent data on its website. Last year the vast majority of taxpayers - about 77% - received refunds. Since returns are processed in the order in which they were received, "It does mean the 2022 filings made this year are at the end of the line," Hooper said. The backlog was formed in part by the mandates placed on the IRS over the course of the roughly two-year pandemic. Beginning in 2020, lawmakers deputized the agency to send direct pandemic relief checks to millions of Americans, adding immense pressure to act swiftly to help cash-strapped families newly out of work. Multiple stimulus packages approved rounds of such payments, and Democrats last March made an even more work-intensive request: to stand up a system that would distribute monthly tax payments to families with young children. President Joe Biden and top Democrats proposed boosting the IRS budget, arguing that the agency had been severely underfunded and understaffed for decades before the added responsibilities. But the effort has so far failed to gain enough support in Congress, while talks continue around a new spending deal to fund the government and prevent a looming shutdown. Democrats and Republicans alike each express confidence they can strike a bargain that funds federal agencies through the remainder of the 2022 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. But GOP lawmakers repeatedly have warned Democrats about including "poison pills," offering a list of nonstarters in October that included proposed increases in funding at the IRS. Rather than support new funding, Republicans this week called on the IRS to "consider exercising its existing authority" to ease the burden on taxpayers. That would include halting automated liens and other collections processes, particularly until the staff can sort through piles of unopened mail, while better prioritizing the kinds of returns in its possession. "When our constituents cannot get help from those tasked to administer our tax laws, it diminishes the integrity of our voluntary tax system," the senators wrote in their letter. IRS spokeswoman Jodie Reynolds referred questions on the lingering inventory to a letter Rettig sent this week to all 535 members of Congress. Rettig, an appointee of former president Trump, acknowledged an "unprecedented amount of unprocessed tax returns and correspondence remaining in the IRS inventory during 2021." But he said the problem has been compounded by a lack of funding to hire new staff and modernize its aging computer software systems, some of which date to the 1960s. Rettig said he is considering penalty relief for taxpayers. "We will rapidly adapt to changing circumstances, when appropriate to do so," he said. "We are doing everything we can with all of the resources available to us." The agency has already suspended mailing some automated collection notices that are triggered when records show a taxpayer owes tax and has not filed a tax return. Many of these letters have been sent after returns have been filed but have not been processed. The commissioner announced last week that he was temporarily reassigning 1,200 employees as part of a "surge team" to help. But Collins told the oversight panel of the House Ways and Means Committee this week that the staffing problems are far broader, compounded by recruiting challenges and low pay. The agency sought to fill 5,000 positions for several campuses across the country in time for this tax season, but was able to hire less than 200, she said. The situation is so dire that for the first time, officials are offering $500 referral bonuses to employees if a new hire stays in the job for a year. The agency has one of the government's oldest workforces. Its submission processing unit - responsible for opening the mail - lost 20% of its staff last year to retirements, departures and transfers to other IRS departments, officials said. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reported this week that as of August 2021, IRS faced a total staff shortfall in the submission processing unit of about 2,598 employees. The surge Rettig announced last week is not going to submission processing, however, but to a department known as accounts management, which is responsible for answering taxpayers' phone calls and responding to general correspondence. The watchdog said that although the IRS has several initiatives underway to help address its hiring shortages, "to date these approaches have not been successful." It urged the agency to delay a planned closure of its processing center in Austin - part of a long-term consolidation as more business is done electronically - "until hiring and backlog shortages are addressed." "Just like many industries across the country, jobs are available, but people are not applying," Reynolds, the IRS spokeswoman, said in an email. "In [our case,] applicants may not like the shifts or pay - many of these are lower graded positions that were below the $15.00 minimum hourly rate." The backlog and looming troubles with this filing season led tax preparer groups to form a coalition in recent weeks to pressure the agency for relief. "The service says, 'stay patient'," said Nina Tross, executive director of the National Society of Tax Professionals, which has joined with ten groups to form the Tax Professionals United for Taxpayer Relief Coalition, representing up to 100,000 preparers. "But there is nobody to help the taxpayer. What is it going to take to get this outstanding inventory through the system?" Tross said that while some automated notices have stopped, many of her clients are still inundated with penalties saying they failed to file or failed to pay, when in fact they have or have sent letters back contesting the charges. Preparers seeking to file power of attorney forms for clients also have gotten nowhere, she said. "They're sitting on somebody's desk who cannot come into the office," she said. "We're hitting all of these roadblocks and it's just not good enough." After learning about the pain and hardship experienced by Afghan evacuee children, Aleena Turekian, 12, thought of a perfect escape for them that would also provide an opportunity to learn some English: The fictional world of Pancake Court. Since November, Aleena, a seventh-grader in Washington, D.C., has moderated a weekly Sunday online book club around author Annie Barrowss popular Ivy and Bean childrens book series for a growing number of Afghan kids, who log in from Rwanda, Virginia, California and other areas touched by the massive airlift out of Kabul that began when the Taliban gained control in August. Their budding friendships offer a sense of belonging that many of the participants yearned for after their lives were uprooted by the chaos in their native country. The Afghan children mostly girls share their favorite pop songs on a book club playlist and collectively groan whenever someones older relative comments off camera. All of them have become big fans of the American preteen who brought them together. Hi Aleena! each participant cheerfully called out in tentative English after joining one recent Zoom session. How was everybodys weekend? Aleena asked. It was good, said Hina Salarzai, 10, the clubs first member, before sharing the details of a trip that day to a hotel swimming pool near her home in Kigali, Rwanda. That was so much fun! Aleena got the idea for the book club after meeting Hina online through her father, Vaughan Turekian, the director of policy and global affairs for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). The group helped train dozens of Afghan professionals who went on to play key roles in their U.S.-backed government and Afghanistans civil society. After the Taliban seized control, Turekian and his colleagues scrambled to find flights out of the country for those people and their families, part of the larger rescue effort that saw thousands of Afghans pushing to get inside the Kabul airport. Among the first families to benefit from the NASEM effort was that of Naeem Salarzai, Hinas father, who oversaw water management affairs in Afghanistan under former president Ashraf Ghani. When Kabul fell, the family moved between safe houses, worried about Taliban retribution. They headed to the airport on Aug. 26 the day a suicide bomb attack killed 13 U.S. service members and as many as 170 civilians but left a few hours before the attack because they couldnt get inside. A few days later, the family made it onto a commercial flight and eventually landed in Rwanda, whose government NASEM had persuaded to take in Afghan scientists and engineers and provide them with work visas. I was a bit worried to know wed be living in Africa, Salarzai said from Kigali, the countrys capital. But weve found Kigali to be very friendly and it is a very peaceful country. Vaughan Turekian flew there in September to check on the family and met Salarzais talkative daughter, who shared her desire to learn more English. He suggested that she meet his daughter Aleena, who had been paying attention to the refugee crisis in part because it echoed the experiences of her great-grandparents, who were Armenian refugees. The girls developed an online friendship that soon evolved into something more ambitious. I just felt so upset that she wasnt able to have the same privilege of education that I am able to have, said Aleena, whose extracurricular schedule includes fencing, track and field and French lessons. So, we decided to do a book club together to read and to help her with her English. Aleena turned to her old collection of Ivy and Bean books, a popular series about two 7-year-old best friends in a small American town, geared toward readers ages 6 to 9. The books feature strong female characters whose adventures include expelling an imaginary ghost from the school bathroom, and who soak in simple pleasures, such as stirring a bowl of ice cream to make a tasty soup on a summer day. Hina, who hopes to live in the United States, became hooked though not immediately. At first, it was so boring, she said. But now I am understanding it. I really like it. She sees herself as Bean, the chatty irreverent friend, to Aleenas Ivy, the bookish one with a lively imagination. Their club grew after other Afghan children arrived in Rwanda and learned about the sessions from Hina. Then, word of mouth spread to newly resettled Afghans in the United States, and even a teenage boy in Kabul still hoping to leave. Now, with 16 regular book club members, Aleena is the master of ceremonies for a world free of worries about violence or persecution and, instead, filled with quandaries such as how to explain certain American words to a group of Afghan children. Aleena, Im sorry. What does that mean? one girl asked during a session. Boogers? Aleena replied, sighing before trying to describe dried nasal mucus politely. Giving up, she searched for images of people picking their noses and shared them on her screen. Oh! I understand now, the girl said, while the group erupted in giggles. Aleena treats the sessions like casual school lessons, explaining how contractions, like theyd, work and going around the Zoom room to make sure anyone who wants to read can. She keeps notes on words the group has had trouble with such as plunge or cul-de-sac - and posts them with definitions on the website, which also links to a Spotify playlist with the Afghan childrens song choices. So far, the Frozen movie soundtrack, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and BTS have made the cut. Some of the members who dont know much English are content to let the others read. One boy who knows English whispers the words into his younger brothers ear, who then repeats them out loud. Most of the children endured days of hardship while their families attempted to escape Kabul, often after a phone call from someone at NASEM alerting them that theyd have to try to get inside the airport on their own. Hamid Asady a former engineer for the Afghan National Army whose daughter Maliha, 7, participates in the group from their home in Rwanda described leading his family of five through a canal flooded with human waste that ran parallel to the Kabul airport grounds to reach U.S. service members stationed at the entrance gate. They got in after some pleading, then waited for hours in the hot sun for a chance to talk to a U.S. official in charge of allowing families to board planes. Asady showed the official a letter NASEM had secured from the Rwandan government guaranteeing them passage on a diplomatic flight. The official rejected the letter, saying that only U.S. passports were being accepted, and ordered Asady and his family to leave the airport, he said. My kids started to cry and I felt for them, recalled Asady, who was eventually able to get his family out through the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif. I said to myself: What am I putting my kids through? His daughter Maliha doesnt talk about those experiences, he said. In the book club, she was initially quiet, largely because she doesnt know much English. But she has recently begun to open up. Before a session earlier this month, Asady asked Aleena to send him a copy of a book page that Maliha could practice reading in advance. On the day of the session, Aleena paused when they reached that part of the book where Bean tried to break a world record by washing and rinsing as many dishes as possible in five minutes. Maliha, do you want to read this page? Aleena said. The girl slowly pronounced each word: Wipe! Rinse! Rack! Again! Good job! Aleena said, as Maliha looked into the laptop camera, beaming. As the head of a military-focused organization in Hampton Roads, Craig Quigley often meets with the regions commanders. One topic always comes up. Something that is present in nearly every conversation is the need for additional mental health care resources for service members and their families, he told The Virginian-Pilot. This is very much a huge issue of central importance. Quigley, who leads the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, recently spoke to a House subcommittee on behalf of a bill that would create a suicide prevention coordinator position within the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The legislation, introduced by Del. Anne Ferrell Tata, R- Virginia Beach, received bipartisan support and passed the House of Delegates earlier this month. It was referred to a Senate committee on Monday. Tata told the subcommittee the bill was written by the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (JLC). The Hampton Roads area has a very large military presence; therefore, I was more than happy to submit this bill on their behalf, she said. The coordinator would increase mental health screenings of military members, and work with others to analyze data about the causes and methods of suicide among Virginias veterans. There were 188 veteran suicides in Virginia in 2019, according to the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The majority were men 35 and older. The coordinator also would be tasked with identifying new suicide prevention opportunities and sources of funding, as well as administering a grant program devoted to such in communities throughout the state. Quigley said the legislation comes at an especially critical time, as the COVID-19 pandemic adds stress and uncertainty to peoples lives. In all walks of life, you are seeing increased substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health struggles because of the very unusual lives that weve had to lead for the past two years, and the military is certainly not exempt from that, he said. Denice Williams, chair of the JLC, said the bills passage is the councils top priority for this legislative session. The JLC, which is comprised of representatives from veterans service organization, provides advice and assistance to the governor, General Assembly and the Department of Veterans Services about veterans affairs. Everybody is aware of the numbers of veteran suicides across the country, Williams said. This issue needs attention on a consistent basis. Daniel Gade, who heads the states Department of Veterans Services, said theres a state program that works to help those experiencing a mental health crisis. But he said more resources and research are needed. We dont currently have the capability to understand fully the suicide risk factors that are specific to veterans in Virginia, Gade said. This (new position) would allow us to do some research so we could better see ourselves. 1.30pm update: Do you have a boat on Tauranga harbour? A Katikati resident has requested help with stopping blocks of polystyrene from flowing from the Uretara Stream into the harbour. "We've tried to get as much of it as we can," says Kelli Hutchison. "But there's so much. And it's flowing down the river now out towards the harbour. "If we could just get someone at the end of the river with a flounder net to catch it, that would be great." A call has been made to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pollution Hotline and the Tauranga Harbour Master. Unfortunately at the moment, it is not possible to reach anyone at the other end. The Tauranga Coastguard has also been phoned. Earlier, 12.55pm Do you have a flounder net? A Katikati resident is calling for people to come and help her stop large blocks of polystyrene from being swept out into Tauranga harbour. "The polystrene from a subdivision site in Katikati is blowing across State Highway 2 - the main road - and into the Uretara Stream," says Kelli Hutchison. "We need as many people as possible to come right now and help us or it's going to be an environmental disaster. "The blocks are one-and-a-half metres by one-and-a-half metres - large blocks and filling up the river." Kelli Hutchison's children helping with collecting the polystyrene out of the river before it reaches the harbour. Photo: Kelli Hutchison. Strong winds are causing the blocks to go into the river, as ex-tropical Cyclone Dovi cuts across New Zealand on Sunday. Kelli is at the river with her children, trying to drag as many of the polystyrene blocks out of the river as possible. "We just need so many people here immediately please to help. Bring a flounder net to put across the river and stop it going out into the harbour. "It's getting worse, there's so much of it." The polystyrene is at the northend of Katikati at the Uretara Stream. Kelli Hutchison's son helping with collecting the polystyrene out of the river before it reaches the harbour. Photo: Kelli Hutchison. The polystyrene blocks are being blown into the Uretara Stream in Katikati and drifting towards Tauranga harbour. Photo: Kelli Hutchison. Photo: Linda Bonner. The Ministry of Health is reporting 810 new community cases and 32 people in hospital. Of the new community cases, 13 are in Northland, 623 in Auckland. 81 in Waikato, 11 in Bay of Plenty, 11 in Lakes, eight in Hawkes Bay, three in MidCentral, six in Whanganui, five in Taranaki, three in Tairawhiti, 15 in Wellington, ten in Hutt Valley, two in Nelson Marlborough , three in Canterbury, two in South Canterbury, and 14 in Southern DHB region. There were 18 new cases identified at the border, of which five are historical. Of the 32 people in hospital, 30 have active infections. There is one case in Whangarei, four in North Shore, eight in Middlemore, 15 in Auckland, one in Tauranga, one in Rotorua, one in Wellington and one in Christchurch Hospital. The average age of current hospitalisations is 62 years and there are no cases in ICU or HDU. More than 49,000 boosters were given out on Saturday. The sharp increase in new cases today is another reminder that, as expected, the highly transmissible Omicron variant is now spreading in our communities as we have seen in other countries, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Our expectation is that cases will continue to increase over the coming weeks and were asking people to do all they can to slow the spread of the virus and protect themselves and their whanau. The most important step anyone can take to prepare for Omicron is to book their vaccine, whether its their first, second or booster. Every dose counts and lowers the chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised. The ministry is also continuing to remind people to do the basics well. Staying home if youre unwell, wearing a mask, physical distancing and scanning in using the NZ Covid Tracer app when youre out and about, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Anyone with cold or flu symptoms that could be Covid-19 is asked to get a test and isolate at home until a negative result is returned. The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose. Even if you develop a small sniffle, please get a test. The Big Boost The Ministry of Health is thanking the more than 214,000 New Zealanders who have so far rolled up their sleeves to get their booster shot during The Big Boost. This is our national week of action where were making it as easy as possible to get your booster, with pop-up vaccination centres and extended opening hours, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. February is a critical month to get New Zealand boosted and were encouraging every New Zealander aged 18 and over who had their second vaccination at least three months ago to get their booster as soon as possible. People can access a Pfizer booster dose in the same way as any other dose, booking online via www.BookMyVaccine.nz visiting a walk-in or drive-thru vaccination clinic, or by calling the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week). COVID-19 vaccine update Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 4,052,799 first doses (96%); 3,982,623 second doses (95%); 1,891,241 booster doses (59%). Vaccines administered yesterday: 554 first doses; 1,147 second doses; 4,256 paediatric doses; 49,523 booster doses. Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 516,079 first doses (90%); 492,377 second doses (86%). Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 279,094 first doses (97%); 272,058 second doses (95%). Paediatric vaccines administered to date (percentage of 5-11-year-olds): 213,517 first doses (45%) Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 29,843 first doses (26%) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 17,592 first doses (36%) Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +) Northland DHB: First doses (90%); second doses (87%) Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (96%) Waikato DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%) Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%) Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (91%) MidCentral DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) Tairawhiti DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%) Whanganui DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (89.9%) Hawkes Bay: First doses (97%); second doses (94%) Taranaki DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%) Wairarapa DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (98%) Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%) West Coast DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (91%) Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (98%) South Canterbury DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (94%) Southern DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (96%) Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: Total Number 32 (30 of whom have active infections): Whangarei: 1; North Shore: 4; Middlemore: 8; Auckland: 15; Tauranga: 1; Rotorua: 1, Wellington 1, Christchurch: 1. Average age of current hospitalisations: 62 Cases in ICU or HDU: 0 Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (3 cases / 12%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (1 case / 4%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (10 cases / 40%); unknown (11 cases / 44%). Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 432 Seven day rolling average of border cases: 25 Number of new community cases: 810 Location of new community cases*: Northland (13), Auckland (623), Waikato (81), Bay of Plenty (11), Lakes (11), Hawkes Bay (8), MidCentral (3), Whanganui (6), Taranaki (5), Tairawhiti (3), Wellington (15), Hutt Valley (10), Nelson Marlborough (2), Canterbury (3), South Canterbury (2), Southern (14). Number of new cases identified at the border: 18 (five of which are historical) Location of origin of border cases: Albania (1), Sri Lanka (1), Germany (1), United Arab Emirates (1), Singapore (2), Philippines (2), Australia (1), Iran (4). Number of active community cases (total): 4,072 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 20,228 * Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Tests Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 22,196 Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 20,056 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests in New Zealand: 7.0 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday.) Wellington protest There are a number of rumours circulating about possible cases of Covid-19 linked to the protest at Parliament Grounds in Wellington. Wellingtons Regional Public Health Unit has confirmed that there are currently no notified positive cases linked to the protest. However, we encourage everyone to be vigilant and to get a test if they become unwell with symptoms of Covid-19. For details of testing centres operating in the Wellington region, please visit Healthpoint. Ministry of Health website Please be aware that the case details on the Ministrys website will not be updated today. They will instead be included in the 1pm web update on Monday which will cover the previous 48 hours. Waka Kotahi crews are beginning the task of repairing damaged roads across the country after working throughout the weekend to clear slips and re-open key state highway routes as soon as possible. Waka Kotahis National Emergency Response Team leader Mark Owen says many road surfaces have been damaged by extensive rainfall, and drivers should slow down and take extra care as they are likely to encounter surface water, fallen branches and other residual debris as rain and strong winds continue to affect many parts of the country. Our crews will also be out in force getting stuck in to repair work to ensure highways remain safe please comply with any temporary speed restrictions and other traffic management measures at our worksites, says Mark. These restrictions are in place to keep workers and road users safe. Driving conditions will remain hazardous in many areas for some time, with the risk of surface flooding, slips, tree branches or even power lines down on the road. The high winds from this weekend have wreaked havoc with utilities, and road lighting is likely to be non-operational on some parts of the state highway network for several hours. Please slow down and take extra care if you need to drive tonight or tomorrow. Some roads remain closed, and lane closures or other restrictions are in place for many others. A full list of current state highway road closures and warnings can be found here. Updates will continue to be provided as the situation unfolds on the Waka Kotahi Twitter account. Information on weather warnings and watches is available from Metservice here. Keep up to date with: Contractors clearing fallen trees from State Highway 2. Photo: John Borren. Of the councillors stood down from Tauranga City Council a year ago, only three have plans to run again should elections take place in October. It comes as a debate churns in Tauranga over this years local elections, with some regional figures fearing the work of Commissioners could be undone by the return to power of elected officials. Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the appointment of the commission in December 2020, in response to what she deemed significant governance problems from elected officials. When that commission, made up of chair Anne Tolley, Stephen Selwood, Bill Wasley and Shadrach Rolleston, got to work in February 2021 the eight Councillors still in place became so only in name. Andrew Hollis, Kelvin Clout and John Robson stood at large, whilst Steve Morris, Dawn Kiddie, Larry Baldock, Bill Grainger and Tina Salisbury represented their respective wards. Salisbury was also acting Mayor, after Tenby Powell stepped down in November 2020, calling for Government action in the process. Jako Abrie, representative for Pyes Pa, also called for central intervention when he stood down in October 2020. Two months later, Heidi Hughes resigned four days after Mahuta announced the commission was to be appointed, in order to avoid a costly by-election. Powell believes the commission should remain beyond October, whilst the business community has also spoken with praise for the commission. Local ratepayer groups have, however, been critical of the commission. When asked by SunLive, Mahuta made it clear her intention is for a return to elections in Tauranga, once a commission exit strategy was finalised. A date for those elections was not given. October is the most likely scenario, but any delay beyond that point could see the next local elections for Tauranga held in 2025. She did, however, make clear that there is no option to restrict the councillors she replaced with commissioners from running again. Nanaia Mahuta. Photo: RNZ. There is no legislative basis to prevent individuals from standing in a local election beyond those set out in the Local Government Act 2002, she explains. The community of Tauranga will have the opportunity to determine and vote for the candidates they consider will provide the best governance and oversight in the interest of Tauranga. However, concerns over elected officials returning to office may be something of a moot point. Only a handful of the officials who previously made up Taurangas last elected council are looking to run again in October, with others non-committal and some ruling themselves out completely. Robson says hes looking to stand but would like to see the proposed representation review thrown out. The current proposal is for single-member wards, Including a Maori ward, involving nine councillors and a Mayor. Appeals are currently being considered and a final determination on how council will be structured must be made by April 11. If the single-member system is thrown out, Robson plans to stand as an at-large candidate. Andrew Hollis plans on running again. Photo. Daniel Hines/SunLive/File. Hollis, who ran for a seat in the Western Bay last year, says he is quite likely to run again and remains a ratepayer in Otumoetai, the ward in which he intends to run. Baldock says his running is possible and would be for the Tauriko ward. Others seem less likely. Clout will consider running but is still awaiting the Commission exit strategy and Mahutas full plans for October. He is also relishing a new career in real estate. Morris and Kiddie are also enjoying their current work commitments. Both stopped short of ruling out a return to Council but seem content with their current situations. Salisbury says she is not able to comment at present as she was not aware of any formal decisions about Octobers election process. Heidi Hughes has no interest in running again. File Image. Hughes replied with a frank, and rather upbeat, no when asked by SunLive if she would be running again whilst Grainger also has no plans to return to local politics and did not wish to comment any further. Abrie was approached for comment. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Tahlequah, OK (74464) Today Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 67F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Variable clouds with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured its "first light" image. Although this is a great achievement, the actual photo shows that the giant space telescope still needs a lot of work. The international space union confirmed this detail, saying that the first light image of JWST was recorded on Feb. 3. "This milestone marks the first of many steps to capture images that are at first unfocused and use them to slowly fine-tune the telescope," said NASA via its official blog post. NASA James Webb Telescope's First Light Image According to Mashable's latest report, first light is a term that describes the first generation of stars or the oldest stars that appeared in the universe. Also Read: First SpaceX Starship Orbital Flight To Happen in March? Elon Musk's Promises Launch Before 2022 Ends Based on the Big Bang theory, they are thought to have formed just 300 million years ago. Capturing first light stars' images is essential since they can provide more details about the oldest heavenly bodies in space. Aside from first light stars, NASA will also use James Webb Space Telescope to photograph some of the very first galaxies that are more than 13.5 billion light-years away from Earth. JWST Still Imperfect? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope used HD84406, an isolated star that is 260 light-years away, as its subject. However, unlike other space images and videos captured by the international space agency, this one is not HD. Instead of showing the actual appearances of the subject star and other heavenly bodies around it, the final output showed show ghost-like objects floating in space. This just shows that JWST is still imperfect. But, this is not a flaw. Lee Feinberg, James Webb Space Telescope's manager, explained that it would take months until the machine finishes its mirrors' preparations. In other news, Astrail's NASA launch flew out of control. Meanwhile, SpaceX Starlink sats is discovered to leave no trace of debris once they fall back to Earth. For more news updates about NASA JWST and its upcoming activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: NASA Expresses Concern of SpaceX's 30,000 Satellites Over Risk of Collisions This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/DJ Paine) Antivaccine Meta, Facebook's parent company, removed several trucker convoy groups and pages on the platform this week to prevent the infamous Freedom Convoy in Canada from happening in the United States. Several anti-vaccine groups organized the said convoy. Meta Removes Trucker Convoy Groups According to Reuters, the trucker convoy groups and pages were run by scammers from foreign countries such as Romania, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and other countries. Meta revealed that several of the groups had changed their names to include terms like "freedom," "trucker," and "convoy" in order to catch the interest of the public online. Also, several of these pages have links to websites that sell pro-Trump and anti-vaccine merchandise. Most of the accounts that are part of the anti-vaccine groups were connected to real people, and it showed that foreigners tried to monetize radicalized Americans. Also Read: Anti-Vaxxer Claiming COVID-19 Vaccines are Magnetic Got Suspended on Twitter A spokesperson for Meta told NBC that voicing opposition to government mandates is not against the social media company's policies. However, Meta has removed several groups and pages for violating their policies repeatedly. The platform also prohibits QAnon content and content run by spammers in different countries. Meta's spokesperson told Engadget that the company would monitor the situation. The company knows that scammers will continue to latch onto an issue that draws attention, including the ongoing protests against COVID-19 vaccinations. Over the past few weeks, the platform removed groups and pages run by spammers worldwide who used tactics to mislead Americans about the origin of their content, entice them to go to an off-platform website, and monetize through ad clicks. The infamous Freedom Convoy happened in Ottawa, Canada, two weeks ago. The capital was paralyzed by thousands of anti-vaccine protestors who have used their vehicles to block entry into the city. The protest attracted far-right groups, including Canada's version of QAnon called Queen. In Toronto and other cities in the country, police have warned healthcare workers not to wear their uniforms in public, especially during the middle of the protest. The same protest has paralyzed border crossings between Canada and the United States, prompting President Biden and his administration to push the federal government to take action. According to NBC News, several anti-vaccine groups in the United States planned to follow the protests in cities across the country. On Facebook, Zello, and Telegram, the anti-vaccine groups have called on their followers to travel to Los Angeles, California, and Washington DC on March 5. Meta on Anti-Vaccine Groups Since 2020, Facebook has battled several groups that spread false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccines. Last year, Facebook released an AI that is set to fight misinformation on the platform. Despite the efforts of the social media company, Facebook was criticized by both the public and the US government for failing to prevent the spread of fake news, according to ABC News. Last year, documents released by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen showed that employees were worried about how the company was handling COVID-19 misinformation. Facebook is said to have fact-checked some of the misinformation posted by anti-vaccine groups but failed to take appropriate action and failed to detect the misinformation. The whistleblower suggests that Facebook's fact-checking in languages other than English is insufficient and almost nonexistent in other languages. Last year, Meta executives blamed the users for spreading misinformation on Facebook. Related Article: Facebook Allegedly Enabled Ads Promoting Anti-Vaccine Posts And Comparing Vaccine Mandates To Holocaust This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple Watch's heart rate notifications have helped users monitor their heart rate during their daily activities and workout routines, and it has also helped them detect issues with their heart, prompting them to get checked by a doctor. Now, the feature is said to be effective in detecting the early symptoms of a thyroid condition even before you get diagnosed. A nursing student in Australia discovered the new impressive benefit of the Apple Watch. Apple Watch Can Detect Thyroid Condition In a recent posting to TikTok, it is shown that Apple Watch can detect early changes that could end up being diagnosed after. On Feb. 2, TikTok user and nursing student Lauren encouraged her followers via a video to enable notifications on their devices for detecting low and high heart rates, cardio fitness levels, and irregular rhythms. In the short TikTok video first spotted by The Independent, the Australian nursing student said that she should have enabled the feature earlier than she did because it had medical consequences. Also Read: Apple Watch Saves Teenager: Heart Rate Monitor Revealed Kidney Failure According to Lauren, she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition a few weeks ago. She said that she would have known that something was wrong if she had her Apple Watch's heart rate notifications on. Lauren added a screenshot of a graph from Apple Watch's Health app to her video and said that instead of her waiting for the symptoms to get worse, she could have gone to the doctor last year when the data showed a drop in her condition. The nursing student revealed that the chart showed her cardiovascular system was already not working well at the time, according to Apple Insider. The drop in her heart rate is connected with other symptoms, including sensitivity to heat, weight gain, dry skin, fatigue, and increased irritability. In December 2021, she was diagnosed with thyroid hemiagenesis, and she is now undergoing treatment for it. Lauren admits that the Apple Watch was not an item that she thought could give her medical advice, but it ended up being very useful. The nursing student said that the Apple Watch is not something that people should solely follow as medical advice, but it can be handy as a tool to prompt you to get things investigated further. She added that it is best to have the settings toggled on in your Apple Watch and check the changes so you can go to the doctor sooner. Since the report, Lauren's TikTok video has been viewed 351,000 times and has garnered more than 2,500 times. The comments on the TikTok video were mostly positive. Apple Watch Features for Pregnant Women Aside from the heart rate notification, it was revealed by Prestige that Apple Watch could also help expecting mothers through the Mindfulness feature. According to Natasha Cullen, the director of Beloved Bumps, and Roxanne Gan, a yoga and fitness instructor, the Mindfulness feature offers two exercises: Reflect and Breathe. Breathe helps with deep breathing sessions through animated images and haptic feedback as you inhale and exhale. Reflect prompts you to think about yourself, like your traits, your current feelings, thoughts, and more. Related Article: Apple Watch Saves Life... Again! Woman Says Apple Watch Saved Her Life After Detecting Heart Rate Condition This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Crypto firm founders Igor Telyatnikov and Vadim Telyatnikov shared their insights regarding blockchain taxation and digital coin restrictions. As of the moment, cryptocurrencies are still not completely regulated by the U.S. and other countries. Because of this, people don't have to pay taxes when they are investing in the rising blockchain industry. However, the founders of AlphaPoint, the crypto software company hired by the El Salvador government to support the backend and frontend infrastructure of Chivo wallet, said that taxes are better than prohibitions. Crypto Firm Founders Claim Taxation is Beneficial According to NDTV's latest report, the two founders said that taxation is not really ideal for cryptocurrencies. However, they added that taxes are still way more beneficial to consumers compared to outright restrictions. Also Read: Drake Places $1.3 Million Worth of Bitcoin; Goes All-In For Rams vs Bengals in Super Bowl "When one says tax on transactions, we would assume that those are not illegal transactions," they explained. As of the moment, the rising digital coins are still unstable. Because of this, it is not recommended to put all your money into the blockchain market since the value of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies can still change. Aside from this, the blockchain industry is also attracting more and more cybersecurity attackers. Next Advisor reported a massive crypto scam in 2021, leading to a $2.8 billion cryptocurrency theft. Cryptocurrencies Still Getting Banned? As of the moment, cryptocurrencies are still not accepted by many countries. Recently, China, Qatar, Egypt, and other nations decided to ban crypto transactions in their regions. Although this is the case, there are some governments that are now considering regulating the rising digital coins. This is because they believe that cryptocurrencies can benefit their countries in the long run. In other news, Uber's CEO is still hesitant to accept cryptocurrencies in the ride-sharing app platform. However, he said that they would soon accept digital coin payments. Meanwhile, Bitfinex's massive scam leads to a massive crypto collection. The FBI was able to seize more than $3.6 billion worth of digital coins. For more news updates about cryptocurrencies and other related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Top Mobile NFT Games for Android 2022: 'Cryptornado' and MORE! Crypto Gaming Trends You Must Check This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tehachapi, CA (93561) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 67F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Clear. Low around 40F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Hoy 10 de febrero el Primer Ministro de Tailandia, Prayuth Chan Ocha, en su calidad de Presidente del Foro de Cooperacion Economica Asia-Pacifico @APEC, anuncio la oficializacion del Peru como economia que ejercera la Presidencia de #APEC en el 2024. ?? https://t.co/MJyAdIMFgM pic.twitter.com/qx9C4Rdaoi Gonzales residents can help shape the city's future climate plan when they take a survey that covers a lot of territory in just 10 questions. One of the questions in the survey, available at the city's Facebook page, asks for people's top concerns about climate change. Flooding, temperature fluctuation and loss of coastline are just some of the choices. Another question offers the chance to rank ways to address climate change that include updating buildings to meet higher energy standards, gradually changing the city government's fleet over to electric and increasing electric vehicle capability for everyone. People can also add their own comments throughout the survey. "We put this survey together to try to gauge public sentiment," said the city's chief engineer, Jackie Baumann. "We don't want a document that doesn't meets the needs of the community." The Baton Rouge-based Center for Planning Excellence will take the data from the online survey to "start formulating ideas" for what a Gonzales climate plan might look like, she said. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Last fall, the Gonzales City Council voted to reduce greenhouse emissions, which trap heat in the atmosphere, by 40% to 50% of its 2005 levels and bring those emissions to net zero by 2050. There's good information behind the resolution a report was done for the city last year that outlines its current level of greenhouse gas emissions and their sources. Traffic causes half the carbon emissions in Gonzales. This climate plan aims to change that. As the United Nations' climate change conference was underway in Scotland, a Louisiana community took steps to shrink its carbon footprint. The city just renewed its membership for the second year in the global, California-based organization, Local Governments for Sustainability, that provides more than 2,500 local and regional governments with resources for climate change plans. About 600 cities in the U.S. currently have their own plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. "Last spring, we were in a cohort with other communities our size" that were also working on plans, Baumann said. "It's a really good resource." Gonzales plans to follow its survey with follow up meetings, either online or in person, she said, "with people who want to be more involved in the process." Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Watch: Boris Johnson receives legal questionnaire from partygate police A legal expert has said Boris Johnson receiving a questionnaire from the Met Police in its Partygate probe is "quite weird". On Friday, the prime minister was handed a questionnaire by officers investigating Downing Street gatherings held during coronavirus lockdowns. The PM, who has denied any wrongdoing, has five days to adequately explain his attendance - allegedly at six of 12 of these events - or face a fine for breaking his own regulations. This would likely prompt a wave, which has been brewing for weeks, of Tory backbenchers calling for him to resign. But one law lecturer pointed out written question and answers are "unusual" in a police probe. Boris Johnson has until Friday to answer the Met's Operation Hillman questionnaire. (AFP via Getty Images) Dr Nick McKerrell, a senior law lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, told BBC Breakfast that returning a blank response to such a questionnaire would have weight behind it. He said on Sunday: You and I, we have human rights in that context of the rate of fair trial and the right to legal representation, even when being questioned. So to be doing a questionnaire is quite weird because you dont have that interaction in the same way. So theoretically, you could get no information from the questionnaire, because one of the rights youve got when questioned by the police is the right to remain silent. So you could return a blank form, I think in a criminal investigation, and it would have weight behind it. So its an unusual thing to do in a criminal investigation. Watch: 'PM not distracted from Ukraine by police questionnaire' He said the questionnaire might be filtering in order for the police to establish where to conduct more direct interviews later. Another issue would be the length of time which had passed since the alleged offences and the fact the maximum penalty would be a fine, he said. Dr McKerrell said: This causes this major problem, about how do you speak to someone over things that happened months ago, when the maximum offence is a fine? Story continues "So thats one of the issues behind it, but it wont solve the issue, it I think will have to lead to some form of more direct investigation to get just to get the information. Read more: Johnson to leave London to get on with job as partygate police demand answers Partygate: Tory MP says Boris Johnson should not get 'special treatment' from police The Met said the Partygate probe questionnaires, which have also been emailed to about 50 Downing Street staff, ask for an account and explanation of the recipients participation in an event and have formal legal status and must be answered truthfully. Meanwhile, Johnson's Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, claimed the PM is absolutely focused on the job in hand despite having to answer the police questions. He told Skys Trevor Phillips On Sunday: The investigation is a matter for the police, Im not going to put time frames on them, theyve got to be able to do their job independently, autonomously and see that through. I have to say in the dealings Ive had with the prime minister hes absolutely focused on the job in hand, about what hes doing for the British people. James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. House Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee repeated variations of We looked at all options and this is the approach we took during Thursdays debate of House Bill 1. Of the 12 maps so far proposed, the one in HB1 would preserve five strongly Republican congressional districts and one majority Black seat. The Senate passed Senate Bill 5, which is largely the same, on a 27-12 party line vote Wednesday. Magee's colleagues, at least some of them, noted that a third of Louisianas population is African American and asked in every imaginable way: Couldnt a second district be drawn that would give Black candidates a fighting chance of winning? Their answer was in the 70-33 vote advancing HB1. Republicans hold the majority in both chambers at the State Capitol and can do as they please. And in this case, that means not voluntarily ceding power to the Democrats in a U.S. House of Representatives that is near evenly split. In fact, its the same pitched battle being waged at state houses across the nation, regardless of which party holds the power. Republican-run states like Arizona and Kansas drew maps that increased the chances for GOP candidates, while Democratic-dominated states like Illinois and New York did the same for their partisans. Senators advance congressional map with one majority-Black district, amid questions over legal contract The Louisiana Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to advance a congressional map that maintains the status quo of a single majority-Black d The Magee Mantra also was a legalistic answer in line with what surely will be Season 2 of the redistricting drama. Ohio and North Carolina supreme courts already have thrown out congressional maps in their states. Six other states are in litigation. Every indication is that Louisiana also will be headed to court. The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a stay requiring Alabama to include a second Black majority congressional district, but added that it would revisit the issue soon. And thats where power politics, once again, intersects with the nations unresolved race relations. At issue is the remaining part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which rid the South of policies that had kept Black people from participating in governing for nearly a century after they were released from bondage. Provisions allowed more Black candidates to be elected. But the high court in 2013 deactivated much of the Voting Rights Act, leaving Section 2. The courts have interpreted Section 2 to say that in a state with a history of racial polarization, another minority-majority district is warranted if that population lives close enough together that a district can be drawn in which past elections show a reasonable chance that minority voters can choose the candidate of their choice. The high court decided years ago not to get involved in partisan-based gerrymandering, leaving Section 2 as the only avenue to challenge redistricting. This three-part test explains why Louisiana's GOP congressional maps may violate federal law Although Black residents make-up one-third of Louisiana's population, Black voters would get the chance to elect their preferred candidate in In Louisiana, you cant separate race and party at this point, said Peter Robins-Brown of Louisiana Progress, a civil rights group advocating for additional minority representation. Only 2% of the states 1 million registered Republicans are Black voters, while nearly 60% of Democrats are African American voters, according to the Secretary of State, meaning a second majority Black district would translate into a second Democratic congressperson. There are many reasons for the Republican ascendancy in Louisiana politics, one of which is the substantial number of people moving from rural communities to the cities, said Baton Rouge demographer John Couvillon. The population shift led to more election districts becoming a higher percentage of one race or the other. Also, he said, the Democratic Party moved away from the issues that galvanize White voters in rural areas. A lion of the old populism, Foster Campbell, of Bossier Parish, is one of the remaining White Democratic elected officials. He has spent 45 years in office, the last 19 representing a largely rural north Louisiana on the Public Service Commission. He says the Democratic Party started losing its hold on economically-based populist politics when John F. Kennedy, as president, started supporting greater African American participation in social and political life. The shift to Republicans accelerated when Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, but really coalesced in the 2016 campaign of Donald Trump, whose racially conservative views were articulated in a populist style that appealed to many White voters. A lot of it is race, pure and simple, Campbell said. Trump turned up the heat about 300 degrees. It went from simmering to boiling. Outgoing competition boss Rod Sims has accused Google of anti-journalism sentiment and warned that any attempt by it to avoid legislation would undermine democracy, as the search giant agitates against the introduction of laws in the US that would force it to negotiate with news outlets for use of their content. Mr Sims said without the creation of Australias news media bargaining code, Google and social media giant Facebook would not have agreed to pay sizeable amounts to local publishers for their content, a contribution which he says currently amounts to more than $200 million per year in payments. Outgoing ACCC boss Rod Sims is worried about Googles anti-journalism commentary. Credit:Louie Douvis Its not surprising that Google dont like the code. It forced them to do something they did not want to do, which is pay for journalism, he said. Thats money they would not have paid without the code. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Deadly blackwater is crawling slowly across the plains of Far West NSW, heading south down the Darling Baaka River towards Menindee Lakes and the site of the catastrophic 2019 fish kills that wiped out a million native cod, yellowbelly and bony herring. But river managers are mounting a rescue effort to minimise the damage. The deoxygenated blackwater is slowly snaking its way south along the vast northern Murray Darling Basin, swelling as it picks up blackwater inflows from previously dry floodplains around Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia and now Menindee. Its a natural phenomenon spurred by post-drought rains that soaked the once parched plains across the Barwon-Darling catchment. It began in the north on the border between Queensland and NSW, around Mungindi, and the flood is bulging down the river, carrying away a decades worth of leaf litter and paddock stubble with it. Water moves slowly here so fish will have days dealing with the blackwater, even if they try to swim through it. Iain Ellis Advertisement Bacteria breaks down this organic matter and releases significant amounts of dissolved carbon into the water. The carbon removes dissolved oxygen in the water, making it hard for aquatic creatures to breathe. Darker deoxygenated water in Lake Pamamaroo. Credit:Nick Moir NSW Fisheries aquatic habitat rehabilitation manager Iain Ellis is working with other water managers to try and minimise losses when the blackwater hits the Menindee Lakes system, 200 kilometres upstream from Wentworth and junction of the Darling Baaka and the Murray rivers. Loading This blackwater event doesnt only threaten fish in Menindee Lakes. Those living in the river upstream need somewhere to swim out of the way as the wall of deoxygenated water rolls slowly by. But theres not many options for fish to take evasive action on the Darling Baaka. When they smell the rubbish water coming, fish will shift into a big lake if its available, or head up a tributary that might have better water quality, Mr Ellis said. The thing concerning me is once you get past about Bourke you dont have tributaries contributing to the Darling. Water moves slowly here, so fish will have days dealing with the blackwater, even if they try to swim through it. Advertisement There have been relatively small fish kills in the river already, with fish dying in their hundreds. But the Menindee Lakes, a natural ephemeral lake system that was engineered with weirs into water storages in the 1940s, is full of breeding fish. Concerns are running high for the Darling Baaka River ecosystem following the catastrophe of 2019. Graeme McCrabb takes oxygen and temperature readings from the Menindee Lakes. Credit:Nick Moir Australias inland waterways are shaped by a cycle of droughts and floods. Native fish evolved for this boom-bust existence and are bouncing back from the latest disaster three years ago. Many locals blame the state and Commonwealth river managers for the 2019 fish kills, when a million native fish perished with shocking footage capturing international headlines. The lakes were full after an unusual winter rain event in 2016, but in the following years they were drained to water downstream reaches of the Murray Darling system, and to avoid losses to evaporation. By the end of 2018, the river below Menindee Lakes had dried into a series of disconnected pools. A run of scorching days baked the pools and algae proliferated, leading to a lower layer of deoxygenated water in the pools. At that stage, the surface layer retained enough oxygen for the fish to breathe and they congregated there. But in early 2019 a cold snap bearing rain came through and mixed the deoxygenated lower layers with the surface water, effectively deoxygenating the whole pool and fish died in droves. Advertisement Graeme McCrabb and Richard Unsworth monitoring oxygen and temperature levels in the Menindee Lakes. Credit:Nick Moir The past two years have been wetter than average, driven by a La Nina weather system. Mr Ellis said the fish in Menindee Lakes, which is a key nursery dispersing fish throughout the Murray Darling Basin, are in the early stages of a promising recovery. Another three or four of good years and were well on the way to recovery for Murray cod, as nasty as it was. And those fish can help reseed the Murray River downstream. Theres massive amounts of juveniles in the lakes and the Lower Darling and the anabranch, and theyve been moving back upstream in the past 12 months. Water agencies will lend a helping hand by herding the black tide through the man-made lake system to shandy up the rubbish water with the sweetwater thats sitting in the lakes. WaterNSW systems operations manager Adrian Langdon said blackwater had already started to pool in Lake Wetherell, the body of water that backs up behind the gated entry to the Menindee Lakes proper, comprised of Pamamaroo, Menindee, and Cawndilla lakes. To protect the fish in Wetherell from blanket blackwater coverage, river operators will strategically open that gate and direct water around the other lakes in separate bursts by opening in turn the gates to Menindee, Pamamaroo and Cawndilla lakes. Darker deoxygenated water entering Pamamaroo. Credit:Nick Moir Advertisement Mr Langdon said river operators dont have massive control over the situation, but hopefully they can create enough refuges for the fish to survive. While there will be patches of blackwater, theres a lot of good quality water too, and generally the fish, especially the babies, move right away from the hypoxic water, he said. Loading It can take up to 30 days for this carbon to break down and before we start to see oxygen levels rise. The weather is a wildcard for the lakes, with temperatures forecast to hit 38 degrees by Tuesday. If you put a tea bag in a pot of cold water youll only get a little bit of colour come out. If you put it in hot water, youll get a proper cup of tea, and thats what were facing now, Mr Ellis said. Murray Darling Basin Authority community engagement officer Richard Unsworth said community wellbeing in Menindee had risen with the return of good river flows and a healthier lake system, with locals taking an active role in environmental management. Advertisement Chinas growing greyzone activities in the South Pacific were undoubtedly high on the agenda at Fridays meeting in Melbourne of the Quad, the security partnership between the United States, Australia, India and Japan. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken flew in just for the meeting. China is using the recent humanitarian crises in the Pacific to normalise the Peoples Liberation Armys presence in the region. It is one thing for Beijing to offer aid in a severe natural disaster such as occurred in Tonga, but another for it to profit from a conflict provoked by Chinas own political interference in local politics by inserting a quasi-military presence to help prop up the Solomon Islands corrupt and incompetent government. Welcome, China: defence personnel from Australia, the US, New Zealand and China who joined a multinational task group led by the NZ Defence Force and undertook community projects in Tonga in 2016. The Australian Defence Force defines greyzone activities as military and non-military acts of assertiveness or coercion aimed at achieving strategic goals. Between August and September last year, China sent a PLA-navy electronic reconnaissance vessel to operate for weeks in the territorial waters of Australia and New Zealand and the French territory of New Caledonia. And just in the past month, China dispatched a PLA-air force plane loaded with riot equipment and six advisers to the Solomons, plus a group in camouflage gear with a large supply of electric cattle prods who arrived via a commercial flight from Guangzhou. It directed Chinese fishing vessels based in Fiji to rush dated food supplies to Tonga, so that the Chinese Communist Party newspaper Global Times could boast that China was the first country to send assistance to Tonga after the disaster, then sent two PLA-navy vessels and two PLA-air force planes to deliver further aid. Australian scientists believe they have taken a key step towards building a silicon quantum computer a device that could take quantum computing from hype to mainstream. Silicon quantum computers marry quantum technology with the same element silicon used in existing computer chips, so can hopefully be easily mass-produced. Australia leads the world in the technology, which competes with at least eight other types of quantum computer. Classic computers perform calculations using ones and zeros. Quantum computers use qubits, which are in a quantum state of both one and zero at the same time. Credit:Tony Melov / UNSW Despite a decade of hype and billions of dollars in investment, quantum computing in general remains a long way off fulfilling its full promise, experts admit. At this stage, there are few uses for such a computer and scientists remain a long way from building a device that could calculate serious equations. The Australian-led study, recently published on the front cover of leading journal Nature, shows silicon quantum computers can now be operated with better than 99 per cent accuracy. Australias scientific community will have a chance to air its angst over research funding after the Senate this week launched an inquiry into the politicisation of science grants. Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert blocked six taxpayer-funded Australian Research Council grants on December 24, the third time in four years the power has been used by the Coalition. Mr Robert said the vetoed grants, for research on English literature, Elizabethan theatre, and student climate action among other topics, were not good value for money and did not contribute to Australias national interest. Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen That decision led to a wide-ranging backlash from the sector, including resignations, open letters, and a rare joint statement by the national science academies. Victorias burgeoning rural population should not expect fast rail connections with Melbourne any time soon, with the Morrison and Andrews governments at loggerheads, private sector schemes shelved and the only service planned to Geelong to be much slower than first promised. At election time in 2019, the federal Coalition committed to a 20-year national fast rail plan, including $2 billion for a Geelong link with the Andrews government also committing $2 billion and $40 million to investigate rail corridors, including between Melbourne and rural Victoria. The Morrison and Andrews governments committed $4 billion towards fast rail between Melbourne and Geelong. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The Coalition promised $16 million for investigations in Victoria and asked the Andrews government to match the funding, which it refused to do. The Morrison government insisted it was in partnership with the state Labor government, which it said was leading investigations for fast rail to Shepparton, Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Traralgon. As the temperature climbed past 30 degrees on Sunday and the sun beat down on the crowd, Trung Truong kept his cool. Over six hours of the St Albans Lunar New Year Festival, he played bass in a string of bands segueing from jazz to Latin, traditional Vietnamese and western pop numbers. Trung Truong, a local businessman, played bass for hours at the St Albans Lunar New Year Festival. Credit:Chris Hopkins The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, but for Mr Truong, who is a local businessman, and for tens of thousands of other attendees, the festival offered a much-needed taste of normal life. The 12-hour St Albans event, for which Alfrieda Street is blocked off, went solely online last year due to pandemic restrictions. Jenny Morrison, the wife of the prime minister, has criticised former Australian of the Year Grace Tame for not smiling when she met the couple in a now infamous moment at The Lodge. During a morning tea to celebrate those who had carried the honour for 2021, the visible disdain Ms Tame displayed for Scott Morrison drew countless headlines and divided opinion. Speaking during a 60 Minutes interview which aired on Sunday night, Ms Morrison lamented the lack of manners from Ms Tame, who has been highly critical of the PM's handling of women's issues. "I just found it a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home, she said. I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in. I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect." Promoted by Channel Nine as the prime minister's "secret weapon" amid a number of public failings and lagging poll numbers, Ms Morrison went in to bat for her husband as the PM tries to re-launder his image ahead of a likely May election. Ms Morrison's comments about the infamous exchange quickly lit up social media. Source: Nine News Ms Morrison said she was "sick to her stomach" about leaked text messages from a Liberal colleague who allegedly called Mr Morrison "a complete psycho" and expressed regret for holidaying in Hawaii during disastrous bushfires across NSW and Victoria in January 2020. "I am more than sorry if we disappointed ... not if ... we did disappoint," she said. "Obviously it was wrong." Backlash over Grace Tame comments While the outspoken Grace Tame a survivor and advocate for sexual abuse victims has not commented following the interview, she previously explained her actions by saying: "The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders." But moments after the interview aired, social media was quick to support Ms Tame, saying it was not an issue of a lack of manners. Story continues "Grace Tame Does Not Lack Manners!" tweeted the editor of Women's Agenda, Georgie Dent. "She rejected the deeply ingrained and toxic expectation on women to smile even when theyre deeply uncomfortable and she acted with integrity." Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM, the founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre was even more critical of the prime minister and his wife. "Its so subtle isnt it, having Jenny tell us its about manners, so that we think Grace Tame is the problem, the uncivilised one," he wrote. Former Morrison government minister Julia Banks also hit out at the 60 Minutes scene, saying she knows Grace Tame, but suggested people should instead be questioning the prime minister's actions. "I know & have worked with Scott. I know a lot of people who work[ed]with him. "To Jenny (who Ive met briefly) - I say 'with manners & being polite' ... Everyone I know is disappointed in him." Julia Banks walks in front of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the House of Representatives. Source: AAP Others on Twitter expressed anger about the couple taking offence about Ms Tame's lack of deference at their "home", pointing out it is a taxpayer-funded residence, with one woman calling Ms Morrison's comments "Entitled, tin-eared, and self righteous." When asked on Monday morning about Ms Morrison's comments, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg said her words were "measured". "I don't think anyone has to smile, but you only have to look at the camera, only have to look at that scene to realise how uncomfortable it was," he told the ABC. 60 Minutes interview with PM 574,000 viewers metro last night. A lot less than last weeks Cleo special (750,000) - and sizeable drop from MAFS 961,000. Colin Vickery (@Colvick) February 13, 2022 Confidence in government at new low A Newspoll published overnight by The Australian shows the Liberal-led coalition's primary vote remains on a post-election record low of 34 per cent. Meanwhile a study by the Australian National University has found the country's confidence in the Morrison government is at its lowest level since the start of the pandemic. The ANU study of 3,472 people in January found only about a third had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the government. That is down from 60 per cent of people in May 2020 and only slightly above confidence levels of 27.3 per cent during the Black Summer bushfires. "Clearly the handling of the pandemic and the ongoing wave of Omicron infections is starting to take a real toll on how all major institutions are viewed by Australians," study co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said. Between October and January, satisfaction with the direction the country was going dropped. The proportion of people satisfied or very satisfied with the country's direction went from 69.8 per cent to 63.6 per cent. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Juries Commissioner Paul Dore declined to be interviewed by The Age about issues relating to juror safety concerns or allegations of jury tampering. But legal sources, including a veteran criminal judge who oversaw another recently aborted trial, say genuine threats against juries are highly unusual. George Marrogi. Credit:Facebook In 2020, the murder trial of underworld figure George Marrogi charged with gunning down a rival in a busy shopping car park was derailed after a juror saw a man lurking in the hallway of her apartment complex. I thought it was strange but didnt think anything else of it. This afternoon, a member of the audience walked in during [evidence]. He acknowledged the Marrogis. My immediate thought it was the man I saw in my apartment building on the weekend a Marrogi associate knows where I live, she wrote in a note to the judge. Whether she was correct was ultimately irrelevant. The juror had become so distressed she had been sent home in a taxi, sending up warning flags that her 11 colleagues in the jury room had been contaminated. If were sitting here and we go on and theres a conviction, and we havent solved this to the absolute satisfaction of everyone, you know, what happens? said Justice Paul Coghlan, before discharging the jury. Attempts to influence and interfere with juries, I dont know how many hundreds of jury trials, as a practitioner and a judge, Ive been involved in, but such circumstances are incredibly rare. While only one offence for embracery (jury tampering) has actually been recorded in the past decade, according to the Crime Statistics Agency, plots have certainly been made. Evidence tendered to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants documented several instances where underworld figures, including drug kingpin Tony Mokbel, allegedly contemplated bribing or threatening juries. According to police intelligence reports, powerful bikie John Higgs set up surveillance of the juror-only entrance to the court precinct, while another gangland player was observed talking to a juror. Far more common are misadventures caused by jurors themselves as well as lawyers, judges and the media. More than one in five criminal and civil jury trials have been discharged since 2017 due to some fatal flaw in the process illness, accidents, misconduct or incompetence in how a trial was conducted or the behaviour of people associated with it. Against the rules, jurors conduct their own research or read media reports of the trial they are involved in. Jurors have been sacked for falling asleep during cases or accepting a throat lozenge from an associate of the accused. University of Melbourne professor Jeremy Gans, who wrote the book The Ouija Board Jurors about a famous English case of jury misbehaviour, said judges essentially have to ensure things dont go too far with juries. Everyone knows crazy things happen in jury rooms. Jurors are normal people and weird things happen all the time, and if you discharged [a jury] every time there was weirdness, youd never get to the end of a trial. Members of the public have also forced discharges for shouting hes guilty within hearing of the jury room. The media has also irrevocably corrupted trials by publishing damaging information that was not before the jury. The most infamous example was when a reporter with Yahoo7, who was not attending the trial of a man accused of murdering his partner, reprinted comments about the accused from the victims Facebook account that predicted her own death at his hands. Lawyers and judges have also lost trials for engaging in personal attacks and introducing inadmissible evidence. In an armed robbery prosecution in the County Court, a co-offender was accidently allowed to give evidence about all the crimes the duo had committed together beyond what the accused was charged with. In a follow-up trial, prosecutors bungled the case again by playing the accuseds confession to a different crime. Most jury misadventures never become public. This is, in part, to protect the accuseds right to a fair trial and the integrity of the justice system. The circumstances of discharges in the Chaouk and Marrogi cases were suppressed by order of the court until they were retried (and both ultimately found guilty). Loading Whatever the cause, the financial and human costs have been steep for the more than 430 trials that have ended in some kind of debacle over the past five years. Running a criminal jury trial now costs taxpayers about $29,000 in the County Court and $60,000 in the Supreme Court, according to the Productivity Commission. These figures dont include what is spent by the Office of Public Prosecutions, the accused on their defence, or the various parties in civil lawsuits. Yet, for good reason, our system is hard-wired to trial by jury. The announcement on Saturday by Myanmars military leaders of an amnesty for 814 prisoners has been widely greeted with scepticism and derision. The regime may have hoped it would be seen as a gesture of conciliation towards its opponents. However, observers have noted that previous amnesties quickly emerged as little more than a means to free up prison space for incoming political prisoners and that thousands of people, including Australias Professor Sean Turnell, remain in custody, either without charge or facing what are obviously fabricated allegations. The seemingly endless spiral of brutality, violence and chaos into which the country has descended since the army seized power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi 12 months ago continues unabated. Senior general Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military council, speaks during the ceremony marking Myanmars 75th anniversary Union Day. Credit:AP The savagery of the regime has been extraordinary. More than 1500 people have been killed, 11,000 have been detained or disappeared and nearly half a million have been displaced. Arbitrary arrest, torture and rape have become daily occurrences. The tactics deployed so ruthlessly only four years previously against the Rohingya people in the north-east have now been extended to the entire country. Almost everyone in Myanmar has suffered. Although the country is rich in natural resources, World Bank figures show that over the last year its economy has shrunk by an astounding 18 per cent and 1.6 million jobs have been lost. The UN estimates that the number of people living in poverty has doubled, with nearly 50 per cent of the population now affected. Speaking at the National Press Club last week, with Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins depicted the gulf between her hopes for what might be done and what had been achieved so far. The mass national protest last year, she said, had not been a march for acknowledgment or for media coverage or language: it had been a march for justice. Sticking with the theme, she noted that the Prime Ministers language over the past year had been shocking and at times a bit offensive. But those words would not have mattered, she said, if his actions had measured up. What bothered her most about his imagine if it were our daughters spiel was not that he needed his wifes perspective to arrive at what should have been an obvious position. I didnt want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: This was a reminder of the sharp difference between words that can often seem like progress and progress itself. But Higgins was also making a more subtle distinction, one of equal importance: very often we find ourselves talking about the person in the job of Prime Minister what theyre like, what they feel rather than what they are actually doing with that job. This is a particularly interesting idea to consider given the amount of attention given in the past days to the curious fact that Morrison plays the ukulele. Whatever else is revealed in the 60 Minutes episode, broadcast (by the owner of this masthead) on Sunday night but after this article was written, Morrisons aim in doing it is clear enough: to remind people that he is a person, and about what sort of a person he is. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size text-to-speech on some articles. We are triallingon some articles. Share your thoughts Since Federation there have been two competing schools of thought on how Australia should assemble its defence forces. The names may have changed, but the divide is always present. In the early 20th century it was the Australianists against the imperialists. Then it was fortress Australia versus forward defence. Since the end of the Vietnam War, its been self-reliance and the US alliance. Are we building the Australian Defence Force to defend the continent and its approaches from an attack? Or is the aim to deploy the ADF further from home, alongside the United States and other allies, so that we keep the wider region stable and rely on a security guarantee from our big and powerful friend? The truth is that Australia is always trying to do both, but in a world of finite resources the hard part is deciding where we sit on this spectrum so that we can structure our forces accordingly. With the rise of China challenging the position of the US in the Asia-Pacific, this fundamental split is at the centre of the debate over how the Royal Australian Navy should be structured. While the likelihood of an actual war between the major powers is remote, Beijings actions which include militarising disputed features of the South China Sea, increasing military pressure on Taiwan and butting up against Japan in the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands have made the prospect of a maritime conflict more likely. Any real discussion about the navy is always centred on submarines, given the vital role they would play in a major conflict today. Advertisement Submarines, which can travel both underwater and on the surface, have long been a vital capability for the worlds biggest navies. They can operate undetected for long periods of time, providing an indispensable tool for surveillance as well as a credible threat to sink surface ships with torpedoes or anti-ship missiles. Why nuclear submarines? Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in September that Australia was dumping a $90 billion agreement with France to build 12 conventional submarines and would instead develop a fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered boats with the US and Britain under the AUKUS agreement. The nuclear submarines will arrive by 2036 at the earliest, but possibly much later, at a cost of at least $116 billion. The decision to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines has very little to do with defending the mainland and its maritime approaches, which our current fleet of Collins-class subs could probably handle. In fact, some commentators argue conventional submarines are superior in defending the archipelago to our north because their engines can be turned off, which makes them stealthier. There are so many ways for the Chinese to sink ships, and our ships are just pathetically undergunned. Marcus Hellyer, Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Nuclear submarines are far superior in endurance, speed and weapons storage. They can also stay underwater for longer because they dont have to rise to the surface to snorkel. Conventional submarines charge their batteries with diesel engines and must come to the surface to do so; nuclear submarines use power generated by the nuclear reactor on board. If a war broke out in the South China Sea, conventional submarines would not be very helpful against a Chinese navy now the biggest in the world. They would only be able to spend about 11 days in the disputed waterway before running out of fuel and heading back to their station in Fremantle, according to a study by the Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington. A nuclear submarine could last 77 days. Advertisement This is why Australia decided to go nuclear so that it can deploy its submarines alongside the Americans, and other allies such as Japan, much further from home. Loading There is no room for error in the schedule. The first of Australias Collins-class boats is due to undergo a full rebuild between 2026 and 2028, before going out of service in 2038. The nation faces a serious capability gap if the nuclear submarines are delayed. Defence Minister Peter Dutton says he is now confident that the first nuclear submarine will be in the water by 2038. I have no doubt well have a nuclear-propelled submarine before that date, Mr Dutton tells The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. We didnt enter into these negotiations thinking that our partners [Britain and the US] were half-hearted. Theyre very committed to the task, and were in some fruitful discussions at the moment, but well have more to say on that in due course. But I think the nature of the conversation and negotiation at the moment is what gives me confidence. The government has given itself between 12 and 18 months from the AUKUS announcement in September last year to decide which nuclear submarine to build. The two main options are to base it on the USs Virginia-class submarines or Britains Astute-class. Dutton says discussions are also under way on the prospect of more British and American nuclear submarines visiting Australia, as well as Australians going on their submarines as part of joint crewing operations. Advertisement The Defence Minister is also not ruling out an option put forward by former prime minister Tony Abbott for Australia to lease retiring American or British nuclear submarines for training purposes. Loading Theres just complete and total engagement by the US and the UK, and theyre very willing partners, Dutton says. Theres nothing that Im ruling in or out in those discussions. And I do think there will be joint-crewing and there will be visits and all of that is part of the discussion. Dutton is also still insisting the submarines will be built in Adelaide, saying the government has already demonstrated through a number of programs a desire to build our capability and there are tens of thousands of jobs in the economy today as a result of that. Under AUKUS, the three countries are also exploring the development of underwater drones, which Dutton says will absolutely be part of Australias future navy, but he doesnt believe they will be a replacement for submarines. Advertisement What would a modern war between nations look like? The last time comparable navies fought each other was in World War II, which presents problems in determining what Australia needs in 2022 and the years ahead. The naval battle during the Falklands War in 1982 was not a fair contest. Argentina had just two conventional submarines, while Britain had four nuclear-powered submarines. When one of the British nuclear submarines sunk the Argentine cruiser General Belgrano, the war was effectively over. Since then, the ability of submarines to find and sink ships has only increased. Despite this, Australia is spending $45.6 billion on a fleet of nine new frigates and about $4 billion on 12 offshore patrol vessels. Its $3 billion class of two amphibious ships called landing helicopter docks (LHDs) has been in service for almost a decade. Marcus Hellyer, a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says there needs to be less focus on big warships because they will be easily sunk by submarines and aircraft in a modern war. At the very least, Hellyer says Australian warships need to have long-range missiles installed on them as a matter of priority. Advertisement Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected claims by one of his caucus colleagues that there is a toxic culture in the Labor Party, describing the allegations that his office did not deal appropriately with a bullying allegation as a fantasy without foundation. But Mr Andrews refused to be drawn on the allegations levelled at him personally that he is a misogynist, nasty man, spiteful, and has a problem with anyone who doesnt hold the same views as him or doesnt do what he wants and said he would not dignify the claims by responding to them. Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media on Sunday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui There was an issue, and it was dealt with appropriately and that person no longer works in my office and to suggest that that was not dealt with appropriately is simply wrong, Mr Andrews said on Sunday morning. But Im not going to go here line by line because, frankly, these claims are fantasy, have no basis in fact ... I wont dignify the stuff thats said about me, Im not going to. The Premier said the staffer had been sacked. Mr Palmer spoke to media outside of court earlier today. He repeated comments from his lawyers in the court that politics was a rough and tumble game but calling him the enemy of Australia went too far. He said he would not stop the action if Mr McGowan apologised. Clive Palmer outside Federal Court . Credit:Brook Mitchell I think you need to have these things resolved because theyre serious issues, he said. We dont want a situation in politics in Australia where can we get a precedent where people can say theyre disloyal to the country, we think that there needs to be boundaries established and what you can and what you cant do. Im not a faint-hearted person but I think thats going too far. Mr Palmer said he would not derive any satisfaction from Mr McGowan having to complete quarantine upon return to WA from his court appearance later this month. He used the opportunity to take a pot-shot at the states border regime and referenced his United Australia Party ads running on WA televisions comparing the Berlin Wall to the WA border. No, Ive got no ill will towards McGowan but he should be treated like any other Australian, he said. I remember Ron Reagan when he said, Mr Gorbachev, tear down that wall and Id say, today, Mr McGowan, tear down that wall because its separating Australians. Last week three judges of the Federal Court of Australia looked at Facebook and came away unimpressed. In critical legal proceedings, the social networks US parent company Meta had tried to claim that it was not actually carrying out business in the country - despite it being used by an estimated 70 per cent of Australians. Australia may be a minor market for Facebook, but it has already been hit with regulation here. Credit:Shutterstock Facebook made the claim in an attempt to argue it couldnt even be served with legal documents from Australia for alleged privacy breaches from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which a shadowy political consultancy harvested Facebook data on millions of users to inform its strategies in 2014 and 2015. According to the social media giant, its US-headquartered parent only conducted data processing services for Facebook Ireland Limited, which collects data from Australian citizens. When one nation prepares to invade another, it cannot be done with much stealth. Military personnel and equipment must be marshalled, plans drawn up. Satellite imagery and intelligence gathering is clearly showing that Ukraine is effectively surrounded by Russian forces, many of whom are participating in military exercises. Whether Russian President Vladimir Putin turns these war games into an actual conflict is still an open question, but after the chaos of the Wests evacuation from Afghanistan, no one is taking any chances. On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison followed many nations in moving Australias embassy staff in Kyiv to safer ground in Lviv, which sits close to Ukraines western border with Poland. The ball is very much in Mr Putins court. With NATO unwilling to send in forces to defend Ukraine, Russias military would experience little initial resistance. But it is the long game that would have the Russian leader hesitant. Over the weekend, US President Joe Biden again played his strongest card, threatening Mr Putin with swift and severe penalties if he were to invade. Its unclear how much of a deterrent the threats will turn out to be. Russias economy was hit hard by sanctions when it invaded Crimea in 2014. But Mr Putin has done much to restructure his nations economy to withstand financial pressure from the West. Russia has diverted hundreds of billions in revenue from oil and gas sales into currency reserves that would give it an enormous financial buffer if it faced a new wave of sanctions. Cook Islands, a small South Pacific nation that has not experienced COVID-19 in its community, is readying for its first coronavirus infections after an infected traveller visited, Prime minister Mark Brown said on Sunday. The traveller from New Zealand spent eight days in the community and tested positive for Omicron upon returning home last week, Brown said in a video posted on the governments Facebook page. The Cook Islands have a high vaccination rate. Credit:iStockphoto It is likely that the person ... was infectious while here and further likely that the virus is in our community, he said. It may be there is silent transmission, where our high vaccination rate is so protective that people get COVID but so mildly that they do not realise they have it. AUBURN In light of recent crimes and community complaints regarding smoke shops that have recently popped up in the Auburn area, city officials are exploring if they can restrict the number of such establishments. City officials have received complaints related to new smoke shops that are focused on selling tobacco products and smoking equipment. One particular business, Auburn Smoke Shop, at 67 Franklin St., has been a site of multiple criminal investigations in recent months. Last week, police said thousands of illegal products, including marijuana, flavored vaping products and untaxed cigarettes, were seized in a Feb. 7 raid by the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force and the Auburn Police Department's road patrol and detective units. Auburn Smoke Shop is owned and operated by Mohamed Algamal, who opened the establishment in April. The Citizen could not reach Algamal for comment Friday. Worries about new local smoke shops were being raised before law enforcement executed the search warrant. At an Auburn City Council meeting Jan. 20, Councilor Jimmy Giannettino expressed concerns centered on several smoke shops that have opened in the city over the past year. He said spoke about "the nature of these businesses" and asked if the city corporation counsel could look into whether the city has the ability to limit the number of smoke shops opening in the city, giving a permitting process as an example. Giannettino later told The Citizen he has been getting calls from neighbors of some of these operations who are worried about possible criminal activity taking place, though he added that he personally doesn't know if criminal activity has been happening. "Because we're seeing this increased frequency of these opening up for whatever reason, my concern is, I don't want us to get to a point where all of a sudden we're having some type of issue and then we're being reactive instead of proactive," he said. Multiple smoke shops have opened within the last year in or just outside the city. Records obtained under a Freedom of Information Law request from The Citizen to the Cayuga County Health Departments showed that new new tobacco retail licenses issued within the past year include Auburn Smoke Shop and an establishment named the Auburn Express Smoke Shop 104 Grant Ave. Another, Lucky 7 Mini-Mart, 213 State St., is classified as a convenience store, but it has a robust array of tobacco-related items. Just beyond Auburn's borders is Panda Smoke & Vape at the Fingerlakes Crossing, 1626 Clark Street Road, in Aurelius. Panda was recently subject to a consent order from the Cayuga County Health Department due to flavored vapor products "intended or (reasonably) expected to be used with or for the consumption of nicotine for sale" being at the store on multiple different dates in 2021. It was fined $200 by the Cayuga County Board of Health. The increase in new smoke shops is not unique to Auburn. In the nearby city of Fulton in Oswego County, officials are cracking down on establishments that have not been complying with legal requirements, the Palladium-Times newspaper reported. As part of New York state's law legalizing recreational marijuana, the state is establishing regulations for the licensing of retail sales of cannabis products. The owners of Auburn Smoke Shop and Auburn Express Smoke Shop both told The Citizen last spring that they would be interested in obtaining marijuana sales licenses from the state. Concerns about crime Giannettino noted the Auburn Police Department responded to the smoke shop on Franklin Street for a reported armed robbery on Dec. 31, during which a nearby resident was later apprehended and later arrested. The man was accused of using a Glock replica ghost gun in the alleged crime. Giannettino said the nature of the crime that occurred, being an armed robbery, is concerning. He also said neighbors of these establishments have noted a great deal of foot traffic coming out of these buildings, with people loitering outside. Citing New York City laws regarding these types of establishments, the councilor is curious if other municipalities in the state have similar laws. "If I've learned anything in my six years of being on council, the problems we face in Auburn are usually no different than the problems faced in every other community," he said. "So when we do identify a problem or a potential problem, I always like to see and see, 'Hey, has any other municipality addressed this problem? And if so, how have they done it and have they been successful?' Because why reinvent the wheel, right? If 10 municipalities are addressing an issue that we're having, and they're having success in it, can that same metric or law be applied to what we're doing here, and can we have the same success with it?" At a city council meeting Feb. 10, Auburn Police Chief James Slayton addressed the search warrant for Auburn Smoke Shop. "We've had numerous complaints from citizens, businesses in the area regarding the traffic going in and out of there and the possible sale of illegal substances," he said. Over 18,000 items that are illegal through New York state law were taken out of the business, Slayton said, including over 13,500 untaxed cigarettes, 97 jars of "high-concentration THC, marijuana concentrate," and over 4,000 flavored nicotine vapor cartridges. Flavored nicotine vape products were banned in the state in 2020. Slayton noted some people at two upstate high schools were recently hospitalized due to vaping. He said law enforcement is working with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance on the cigarettes' charges and "we have some other charges that will be pending." Councilor Timothy Locastro asked, "As of now, no one's been arrested?" Slayton replied that no one has been charged yet because law enforcement needs to work with the state on the investigation. "We are working to get all the charges, because some of them fall under the public health law, some of them fall under the New York State taxation (office,) and with that being said, their license can be revoked to sell in the future, so that's why we're taking our time to process this, to make sure we do it right and get everybody involved that we need to," Slayton said. The chief also said there had been other incidents at that business, including the alleged armed robbery on Dec. 31. Slayton noted that location is a "thoroughfare for kids walking to and from school in that area," saying those incidents took place during daytime hours. "It was not nighttime, it's 1 o'clock, 3 o'clock in the afternoon. So it creates a great risk for the public, so with that on top of everything else that they were doing, we wanted to make sure we got in there and managed it but did it the right way," he said. City Manager Jeff Dygert said concerns regarding the Auburn Smoke Shop will be going in front of the city's nuisance board on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Auburn Corporation Counsel Stacy DeForrest told The Citizen in late January that her office was looking into Auburn's options for potentially limiting the number of smoke shops in the area. She said she was hoping to have a legal opinion in less than a month. DeForrest also added that she acknowledges the potential safety issues involved in these concerns. "When it comes to matters that effect our city residents and their safety and their well being, we make that a high priority," she said. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Cloudy and becoming windy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 56F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers late. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Cloudy skies with periods of light rain this afternoon. High 67F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 52F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a half an inch. This is the temporary subscription pass for users returning from the Vision Data subscription process. Your subscription will be updated within 24 hours, after your information is verified. Please click the button below to get your pass. Towanda, PA (18848) Today Mostly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 72F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 53F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. News Blount's Forrest Erickson fights to turn the lights back on in the Heritage Planetarium Scott Keller | The Daily Times The Heritage High School Planetarium with the moon rising over the building. He was just a boy, but Maryville resident Forrest Erickson remembers well how the Apollo lunar missions of the late 1960s captivated a nation. An estimated 650 million people around the world were glued to television sets on July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong first stepped onto the surface of the moon, and for the next several decades, schoolchildren were enthralled by learning all they could about celestial bodies overhead. Now, Erickson told The Daily Times recently, NASA is preparing to return to the moon, and if the Heritage Planetarium can be revived by the Blount County Board of Education, it would be a one-of-a-kind learning lab for area students to learn about the objects beyond earths orbit. In March, an uncrewed capsule named Artemis will go up and around the moon, Erickson said. Its a larger capsule that can hold six people, and its about to fly to the moon. If things go as planned, itll happen next month, and if its successful, were going to begin actual manned flights with a system capable of carrying six people, heavier payloads and stay for longer durations, and they say itll be the basis of conducting missions to Mars. All of the excitement about space is about to start happening again, and we should be so excited about this and inspiring youngsters in the planetarium. Although the Heritage Planetarium was first opened in 1977, its origins date back eight years prior, when the Apollo mission to the moon inspired by Gaylord Lambdin, a Blount County entrepreneur who owned an Alcoa grocery store with his brother, Glen, and co-owned the Maryville-Alcoa Twins, a semi-pro farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. In addition to playing on the old WNOX-AM Midday Merry-Go-Round as a musician, he taught math and science in Blount County and was a passionate advocate for student learning. He was the designer and the original operator, and the Friends of the Heritage Planetarium has in its possession a letter he wrote in 1969 to Congressman Jimmy Duncan Sr. about a planetarium in the high school being considered and proposed at the time, Erickson said. He asked if Jimmy Sr. knew of any grants that could help, and the congressman wrote him back, acknowledging receipt of the letter and said hed look into it. Lambdins tenacity would pay off in 1977, and for the next decade he served as the planetariums operator. After his retirement, however, a suitable replacement could not be found, and the facility fell into a period of disuse until the mid-1990s, when a group of passionate citizens formed the Friends of the Heritage Planetarium. The late Bill Dargan, an ALCOA retiree and a longtime member of the Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society (SMAS), recruited several SMAS compatriots including Bob Arr, one of the sole remaining living members of that original group to spearhead its revival. Through their efforts, the planetariums projector and electronic controls were repaired, and the facilitys potential convinced the Blount County Board of Education to hire Tom Weber as a full-time operator and custodian of the facility, and under his leadership and advocacy, the board would eventually spend roughly $250,000 on equipment upgrades. The 2008 recession, however, caused budgetary hardships that led to Webers departure in 2010, and the planetarium has sat empty ever since. The last real effort was back in 2015 and 2016, when Bob was allowed to access the planetarium and the user manuals of the controls that were still there, Erickson said. It turns out the company that installed the projector, down in Atlanta, happened to have a guy swinging through the area on his way somewhere else, and he spent the afternoon with Bob. What he explained was that the Heritage Planetarium is in a unique configuration unlike any other planetarium, in that there are two computers there standard for running planetariums. The Media Globe computers had been sitting in disuse for so long that the battery backup preserving the memory had died, Erickson said, and when Arr booted the mainframe up, he asked Erickson to bring a serial cable to connect it to the projector. The software, Erickson added, was expired, but one program with an open license was able to be installed. Arr and Erickson wanted to put together a demonstration for school board members at the time, but the end of the high schools holiday break brought those plans to a halt. In 2018, board members began a discussion of Heritage High renovations that would have involved tearing down the planetarium to make room for classrooms and a science lab. At that point, Erickson said, he, Arr and others who hoped to save the facility gave up, but those remodeling plans were eventually scrapped in favor of smaller changes, and last year, Erickson began campaigning in earnest for the planetariums resurrection. Right now, its probably sat long enough that the battery powering its memory has likely gone dead yet again, but aside from that, its ready to go with a show called Two Small Pieces of Glass, Erickson said. It was produced in 2009, which was the 400-year anniversary of Galileo first using the telescope, and it shows by way of two contemporary young people who are interested in astronomy what the planetarium is capable of. In the mid-1990s, when the Friends (of the Heritage Planetarium) was a big group, in its records it mentions, almost as an aside, that the only other planetarium in a high school in Tennessee was in Memphis, on the other side of the state. One of the K-12 requirements is learning about planets and the solar system and the galaxy in which we live and the wider universe around us, and what the planetarium is, is an asset for those teachers. Its not simply static images in textbooks, he added. Its very different sitting under a hemispherical display that simulates the relationship we have with the night sky and allows you to identify things you can then see in the real sky. To prove his point, Erickson has gone so far as to bring his personal telescope to the January Board of Education meetings, and the interest shown by board members, he said, was encouraging. The moon was up in the afternoon that day, he added, and he was able to point out Mons Hadley, the shadow of which blanketed the spot on the lunar surface where the Apollo 15 meeting touched down. The demonstration was discussed at this months board meeting, he added, and some members have asked Ericksons opinion on what the next step would be to reopening the facility. I told them that what I think, truthfully, is the next step is hiring a director, and that means preparing a budget for that, he said. I understand that the skill set and interest to operate a planetarium is a kind of specialized one, but I said in January that a way to approach this is to find universities that have a planetarium and students who are trained to run them, and reaching out to ask if they have a way to tell past graduates about an open position in Blount County. When asked for comment about the possibility of revitalizing the facility, the office of Blount County Director of Schools Rob Britt who announced last month his impending retirement at the end of this academic year issued a single statement: Blount County Schools is in the process of conducting a facilities assessment to determine and prioritize district needs at this time. High school renovation needs are a part of the facilities assessment. Such vague language is something Erickson, and Arr before him, are used to, however, and until theyre given a firm no or a wrecking ball drives through the planetariums walls, they wont be throwing in the towel. Bringing it back to life as a Blount County educational resource and as a crown jewel of the school system, they believe, is important enough to warrant the funding that will be needed to return it to its former glory. There will need to be additional spending, of course, to buy a license for planetarium content, but hiring a director is the first step. The (Blount County) school system will soon graduate students who have never seen a show in that planetarium, and we could be using it to teach them all the names of the constellations in the night sky, so they can go out at night and see it and learn how it ties into so many things that we inherit in our culture. NEW YORK Several thousand New York City public workers could lose their jobs Friday if they dont show theyve complied with the citys mandate requiring they receive at least two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. Though they represent about 1% of the 370,000-person city workforce, including teachers, firefighters and police officers, the mass firings will mark a new line in the sand for the nation's largest city, which has imposed some of the most sweeping vaccine mandates in the country. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, speaking about the looming firings at a news conference last week, noted that city workers largely complied with the mandate. Living in a city as complex like this, there must be rules. We must follow them. The rule is to get vaccinated if you're a city employee. You have to follow that, the Democrat said. The mandate imposed last year under the former Mayor Bill de Blasio required most city workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of October or be placed on unpaid leave. New workers who started their jobs after Aug. 2 were likewise required to comply and show that they've received their shots. There were up to 4,000 workers who had failed to comply by of the end of January, according to City Hall, but that number has dropped as more workers have started to comply or produce their vaccine cards since they were notified last week that they would be fired. City officials said they won't know exactly how many workers are fired until after the deadline passes. For most workers, that's the end of their workday on Friday. A coalition of unions representing different parts of the city workforce sued to block the mass firings. But a judge late Thursday afternoon ruled in favor of the city. A group of city Department of Education employees had a request for their appeal to be considered by the Supreme Court dismissed on Friday. Some unions separately struck deals with the city to allow some workers to choose to remain on unpaid leave until this summer or fall. But not all union members took advantage of those deals. 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 September 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 they'd be fired. The union joined others in fighting the mass firings, contending that workers deserved due process that involved a hearing before being dismissed. Police Benevolent Association, the citys largest police union, said less than 50 of its members had received notices they faced termination. Across the entire city workforce, up to 3,000 employees failed to meet an end of October deadline and have been on unpaid leave for months, according to the city. There are additionally up to 1,000 new employees, who started work after Aug. 2, who face termination because they have not shown proof of having received two shots. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Steve Wildsmith has worked as a writer, editor and freelance journalist for The Daily Times for more than two decades. In addition to coverage of entertainment and occasional news topics, he also serves as the social media specialist for Maryville College. Contact him at stevedailytimes@gmail.com. Hello! Welcome to the Daily Digest, featuring the latest content from TheEastsiderLA.com. We take a break from the news this Sunday to bring you an essay inspired by Griffith Park's famous mountain lion. Jesus Sanchez, Publisher Got a story idea or photo to share? Submit it here. SUNDAY STORY First-person stories and essays Ten Years in Griffith Park By Brenda Rees Ten years ago, mountain lion P-22 was discovered haunting the hills of Griffith Park; but this wasnt just another example of nature seeping through the cracks in the big city. This story was different for me because here was a big cat trying to find his place in the world, going against the odds to carve out a territory and create a life to call his own. Reading about his amazing journey reminded me of my own introduction to life in Los Angeles. As a Minnesota-born and raised girl, coming to California was a leap of faith. I was young and out of college; I had a job secured and a place to live in Venice with a ragtag group of wannabe actors. But Los Angeles, the territory, was immense. My first week here, a group of us went up to the Griffith Observatory at night to see the city lights twinkling to San Pedro and beyond. I was overwhelmed. And scared. How will I ever find anything in this place!? How will I ever find me? Armed with a tattered, hand-me-down copy of the Thomas Brothers Guide Book (this was the 80s, after all!), I memorized street names (mispronouncing La Cienega as The Cigar Box), learned the freeway system, scribbled shortcuts on post-it notes. I got lost numerous times, retraced my path and kept plugging away through frustrations, banging my head on the steering wheel and not understanding that the 101 North often travels west and the 101 South is frequently eastbound. P-22 Didnt Have the Luxury of a Thomas Brothers He left the Santa Monica Mountains and survived two dangerous freeway crossings by following some internal compass that led him to a place that offered food, water and shelter. Arriving as a young cougar, he had the energy to quickly settle down and get to work to make Griffith Park his home. I imagine P-22s first days in Griffith Park were constantly spent looking over his shoulder, sniffing the ground for other mountain lions, learning places where humans congregate, discovering the best techniques to hunt deer. How many times did he fail? How many times did he sulk back to his lair empty-handed (or empty-pawed)? During those early years in Los Angeles, I often felt like I was failing, frustrated and far away from home. I wanted to discover what I really wanted to do with my life. To find a purpose. In addition to learning the territory, I was also navigating the world of work; with each career and apartment move, I wondered, Am I doing the right thing? Friends to the Rescue I may have felt alone, but I was lucky to have had good friends on my side. Friends who picked me up from a freeway off-ramp when my car blew up. Helped me understand the psychology of co-workers. Offered solid advice on the numerous blind dates I went on. And lucky for P-22, he too had and still has friends. Hes got biologists who track his movements and keep him healthy when he gets sick. Hes got folks infusing him with a wisecracking persona and social media account so he can be a spokescat for his kin and illuminate the plight of mountain lions everywhere. Hes got world-class photographers snapping his pix and displaying his likeness on magazine covers like a true Hollywood glamor star. Hes got fans around the world, and theres even a movie made about him. OK, heres where my story differs from P-22. Theres no B. Rees flick or technology monitoring my every movement (wait! I do own a Smartphone hmmm .) Finding a Home in L.A. But at the end of the day, when the golden sun is setting into the shimmering Pacific Ocean, Im content in my warm house and the sweet life I managed to carve out here in Los Angeles; it took years to find purpose, love, shelter, friends and family. But well worth it. On starry evenings, I imagine P-22 resting on a rock outcrop, licking his paw to ear to muzzle, observing the snake of traffic below, hearing the hoot of the owl above. His ears twitch, and he causally bats away a fly. He half-closes his eyes. And together, we sigh. Home. Home at last. Brenda Rees is a writer who lives in Eagle Rock. ________________________________________ Photo Info: The first image of P-22 was recorded on February 12, 2012 at 9:15am; he was discovered during the Griffith Park Wildlife Connectivity Study, a project funded primarily by Friends of Griffith Park with additional support from the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council. The study was overseen by Cooper Ecological Monitoring and conducted by biologists Dr. Daniel S. Cooper and Miquel Ordenana along with Erin Boydston of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center. This essay first appeared in the Griffith Park Reporter; to learn more about P-22 in Griffith Park, click here.) Sunday Story showcases first-person essays as well as fiction by residents. We welcome submissions, but stories must be set in one of the neighborhoods we cover. Support Local News The Eastsider provides free access to its breaking news and neighborhood features, including extensive coverage of COVID-19, as a community service. To keep our stories available to all during these difficult times, we need your support. Go here to contribute. On Wednesday, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) issued a statement in which he highlighted the human rights abuses happening right now in Chinaand within that statement, Scott highlighted the case of a woman named Ji Yunzhi: Three days before the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Ji Yunzhi, a Falun Gong practitioner, was arrested for simply practicing her religion and is now being held at Inner Mongolias Balin Zuoqi Detention Center. Chinese police have been following and persecuting Ji Yunzhi since 1999, and she has been forced into forced labor camps and tortured in 2001 and 2008. Ji Yunzhi is currently on a hunger strike to protest her detention, and authorities arent allowing her family to visit her. Jis story highlights many of the concerns people have raised regarding the Beijing Olympics, because not only was she arrested three days ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, but back during the 2008 Olympics (also held in Beijing) Ji was likewise arrested and sentenced to several years of forced labor. Why? As Scott mentioned, she is a practitioner of a meditation practice called Falun Gong. Falun Gong is a spiritual, meditation discipline thats centered in moral teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerancebut it has been brutally persecuted by the Chinese communist regime for the past two decades. And so, since 1999, adherents within China have been deemed enemies of the state; theyve been thrown into prisons, labor camps, brainwashing centers, and many of them have been tortured, raped, and sentenced to do forced labor (in many instances, creating products for international export). However, amid all this, there are people like Ji who continue to print materials, hand them out to people, try to wake people up to the realities of whats happening, and clarify the truth regarding the communist propaganda. Fortunately, we were able to find Jis son, who is an architect here in America named Simon, and we had a chance to ask him about what exactly is happening to his mother behind the scenes at the Olympics. This is his story. Stay tuned for our newsletter so you wont miss out on our exclusive videos and private events. Facts Matter is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube. Follow Roman on Instagram: @epoch.times.roman Listen to Podcasts: iTunes Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterApplePodcast Spotify Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterSpotifyPodcast Google Podcast: https://ept.ms/FactsMatterGooglePodcast Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV Four F-16's from the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base fly over during pre race ceremonies at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2003. (Robert Laberge/Getty Images) Area Around Super Bowl Restricted by Fighter Jets: Never Before Seen Formation The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that an hour before the Super Bowl kickoff in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, airplanes that dont have special authorization and drones will be banned from flying within 30 miles of the stadium. Raquel Girvin, the regional administrator for the FAAs Western-Pacific region, told American Military News that the aircraft will be barred from flying up to an altitude of 18,000 within the 30-mile radius of SoFi Stadium. Were excited to see the hometown Rams in the big game against the Bengals and we hope fans will celebrate safely, said Girvin. But we encourage everyone to please leave your drones at home. Pilots of unauthorized aircraft can face criminal prosecution and fines, Girvin said. We had the same distances in Tampa and then a year prior to that, in Miami, said Kevin Morris, the FAAs coordinator for drones and similar aircraft, according to DroneLife. When youre talking about identifying an unknown aircraft, whether that be a traditional aircraft or a drone thats entering the [flight-restricted area], identifying that aircraft, analyzing the threat that the aircraft provides and then mitigating that risk falls upon our security partners, he added. Meanwhile, no issues are anticipated during Super Bowl LVI, which pits the Cincinnati Bengals against the Los Angeles Rams and has a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff, said Amir Ehsaei, special agent in charge of counterterrorism for the FBI in Los Angeles. At this time, we have no indication of any credible threat to the Super Bowl or any related events, he said, according to American Military News. Air Force Maj. Andrew Scott with the Continental U.S. NORAD Region said that there will be a robust air-defense system in place on Super Bowl Sunday and a never-before-seen flyover formation. According to the FAA, a Temporary Flight Restriction will be in effect between 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. PT on Sunday. Pilots who enter the area can face fines of over $30,000, along with the aforementioned criminal charges. The 144th Fighter Wings Detachment 1, commanded by Lt. Col. Mark Jansky, confirmed to American Military News that fighter jets could be dispatched from several military bases. If there is a wayward plane, Jansky said that there would be an attempt to communicate with the individual flying the aircraft. If its a mistake, thats the very quickest way to get them to change, Jansky said. If not, were going to come up and intercept them. If the pilot does not respond, he said that other actions would be taken, without elaborating. Taliban extremists stand guard along a street during a demonstration by people to condemn the recent protest by the Afghan women's rights activists, in Kabul, on Jan. 21, 2022. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images) Aussies Donate More Than $1 Million to Red Cross For Afghan Aid Australians have donated more than a million dollars to help the work of the Red Cross in Afghanistan, where assistance includes providing money to keep female-led households alive amid Taliban rule. Australian Red Cross Head of International Humanitarian Programs Adrian Prouse said Afghanistan was experiencing a man-made catastrophe. Essential services are on the brink of collapse and the people of Afghanistan, in particular the women and children, are bearing the brunt of harsh international policies that have placed the country into economic free fall, Prouse said. He thanked the Australian public who had donated more than one million dollars to the organisation, which had seen a 30 percent increase in the need for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan since August 2021. Australian citizens and visa holders prepare to board the Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft, as Australian Army infantry personnel provide security and assist with cargo, at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 22, 2021. (SGT Glen McCarthy/ Australias Department of Defence/Handout via Reuters) Australian Red Cross has called on the Federal government to expedite the remainder of its $100 million commitment in aid to Afghanistan and increase humanitarian assistance to the country. The organisation is working with its partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross whose teams on the ground are providing cash payments to help female-headed households pay for food and essential household items; delivering fuel to hospitals, clinics, and water stations to ensure power supply and safe drinking water. Head of Mission for ICRC Canberra David Tuck said the organisation was determined to continue supporting Afghans who have been thrown into abject poverty. Decades of conflict and violence are the baseline for most Afghans, Tuck said. Not only are they dealing with the upheaval and loss that this has caused, but the new and urgent threats to their lives and livelihoods are fuelled by the economic and food crises gripping the country. Australian Red Cross has also called on the government to boost its intake of refugees from Afghanistan by 20,000. The government announced last month it would allocate 15,000 humanitarian and family visa places to Afghan nationals over the next four years. The Taliban surged back to power in Afghanistan in September 2021 after two decades of fighting U.S.-led coalition forces. Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen attend a military drill with Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launchers at the firing ground of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Jan. 28, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images) Australia Moves Ukrainian Embassy Staff From Kyiv to Lviv The Australian government has temporarily suspended the operations of its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, and ordered the evacuation of remaining staff, citing a deteriorating security situation, given the build-up of Russian troops at the border with Ukraine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Feb. 13 said his government has instructed the remaining three staff members at the Australian embassy to move to a temporary office in Lviv in western Ukraine near Poland. Other Australian staff and their families have already departed. The situation is deteriorating and is reaching a very dangerous stage, he said. I want to send a very clear message on behalf of Australiaa liberal democracy who believes in freedom and the sovereignty of states, not just in Europe but in our own region as wellthat the autocratic, unilateral actions of Russia to be threatening and bullying Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable. Morrison also condemned Beijing for its continued silence on the Ukraine issue, after China criticized the meeting of foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India in Melbourne on Feb. 11. The diplomatic network, known as the Quad, was established to counter the Chinese regimes escalating aggression and efforts to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Yes, the Chinese government is happy to criticize Australia for engaging in such peaceful activities but yet remains chillingly silent on Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border, Morrison said. The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Morrison government continues to advise Australians to leave Ukraine immediately by commercial means. Security conditions could change at short notice. Russian military action in Ukraine will severely limit our ability to provide consular assistance to Australians, she said. We remain in close contact with our Five Eyes [intelligence alliance] and other like-minded partners on the ground. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told Sky News that the threats and intimidation thats occurring to a sovereign state like the Ukraine are entirely inappropriate in 2022 and that Russia should back off. We respect Ukraines sovereignty, and that should be respected by all, including Russia, he said. It comes as the U.S. State Department ordered an evacuation of most U.S. direct-hire employees from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately. Read More Some US Troops Departing Ukraine Amid Escalating Tension with Russia, Pentagon Confirms At the same time, the Biden administration is moving thousands of troops into Eastern Europe, including 1,700 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division and a squadron from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The Kremlin has denied any plan of invading Ukraine. AAP and Allen Zhong contributed to this report. 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) Biden Admin Claims Russia May Use Pretext to Attack Ukraine, Kremlin Denies Officials with the Biden administration on Sunday again claimed that Russia may attack Ukraine soon and the Kremlin might create a surprise pretext for an invasion, although Moscow denied the allegations. We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begina major military action could beginby Russia in Ukraine any day now, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN on Sunday, repeating a claim that he made during a news conference on Friday. Sullivan said Moscow may consider attacking its Eastern European neighbor before Feb. 20, or before the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. He did not provide a specific piece of evidence to corroborate his claim. To make his argument for Moscows plans of an imminent invasion, Sullivan said that Russia has built up and maneuvered its forces in a particular way around Ukraine. We are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed, he said. Sullivan said Washington would continue sharing intelligence with the world to deny Moscow the ability to stage a surprise false flag operation that could be a pretext for an attack. In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby was asked about a Politico report claiming Russia would begin its invasion on Feb. 16. Im not in a position to confirm those reports, Kirby said. We want to be careful about publicly talking about intelligence and sources and methods and that kind of thing. What I can tell you [is] we believe a major military action could occur any day now, he continued. Ukrainian Military Forces servicemen attend a military drill with Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launchers at the firing ground of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Jan. 28, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images) In comments to Russian media outlet Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such allegations are empty and unfounded and serve as a ploy to escalate tensions. However, Peskov said Russia isnt ruling out what he described as provocations aimed at justifying those allegations. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday accused some U.S. government officials of colluding with mainstream U.S. media to start a hysteria. Zakharova said the United States could be attempting to provoke Russia. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with President Joe Biden by phone. The Kremlin said Putin told Biden that Washington had failed to take Russias main concerns into account and it had received no substantial answer on key elements of its security demands. That same day, Washington ordered most of its staff out of the embassy in Kyiv as American citizens were urged to immediately leave Ukraine. Other European countries have also scaled back their staffing in Ukraine, while also telling their citizens to flee. The diplomatic path remains open. The way for Moscow to show that it wants to pursue that path is simple. It should de-escalate, rather than escalate, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said after he held talks on Saturday with Asian allies. Starting in 2014, Russian forces captured Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and also have been funding separatist rebels in the Donbas region. In recent months, Russia has positioned upwards of 100,000 troops along its borders with Ukraine and carried out military drills in nearby Belarus, an ally of Moscow. Reuters contributed to this report. "Commander," the new dog of President Joe Biden, plays in the South Lawn of the White House on Dec. 24, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Dog Commander to Make TV Debut During Puppy Bowl WASHINGTONPresident Joe Bidens puppy Commander will make his TV debut on Super Bowl Sunday. The German shepherd will appear with Bidens wife, Jill, in a video message about pet love during Sundays broadcast of Puppy Bowl XVIII on Animal Planet. The first ladys office posted the video on Twitter Thursday. Both contests will be held on the day before Valentines Day, which is Monday. Hi there. Im Jill Biden, here at the White House with our new puppy Commander, the first lady says. You know, Valentines Day is one of my favorite holidays because its all about love. The first lady, wearing a gray turtleneck sweater with AMOUR in pink letters across the front, is seated in the White House movie theater with Commander by her side. Whats so wonderful about having pets is they bring us unconditional love, joy and comfort every day, she adds. All of us are wishing you a very happy Valentines Day. Other footage shows the two playing in a White House hallway. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Bidens new dog Commander, a purebred German shepherd puppy, arrives to meet virtually with service members around the world, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington on Dec. 25, 2021. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo) Last year, Jill Biden filmed a public service announcement focused on mask-wearing in a pandemic to air during Puppy Bowl XVII. She was surrounded in that ad by the familys German shepherds, Champ and Major. Champ died last year; Major now lives in Delaware after behaving aggressively at the White House. The Bidens recently welcomed a cat named Willow to the White House. By Darlene Superville Nursing is a demanding profession with more skills and challenges than ever before. Nursing professionals do far more than most people imagine and their impact is enormous. Join The Citizen in honoring and celebrating nurses throughout the area with a nomination campaign culminating in honoree pages on May 8 recognizing 10 of the top nurses in our area. Nominate a nurse who made a difference in your life or the life of a loved one during 2021 by making a submission at by visiting https://go.auburnpub.com/Nurses2022. The nomination deadline is March 14. After collecting nominations, an independent panel of judges will choose nine extraordinary nursing professionals to represent thousands of their colleagues in our Nurses Week appreciation pages on May 8. Additionally, there will be one readers choice honoree as voted on by friends, family and staff from March 1724. The honored nurses will be featured in The Citizen on May 8 and on auburnpub.com. To nominate, upload a picture of a deserving nurse and provide a brief description or story about why he or she deserves to be recognized. Think about: Who has inspired you with their comfort, care and skill? Who has touched your life, health and family in so many ways? Join us in celebrating amazing nurses across the area by sharing your story about a nurse who has touched your life. Michelle Bowers is The Citizen's president and director of local sales and marketing. She can be reached at (315) 282-2213 or mbowers@auburnpub.com. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 1, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) Biden Speaks With Ukraine Leader, Says US Will Respond Swiftly and Decisively President Joe Biden communicated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone on Feb. 13 and the two reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a White House statement. The White House, in a readout posted online that offered few details, said that Biden told Zelensky that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its Allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russias military build-up on Ukraines borders, the readout concluded. The two leaders previously spoke on Jan. 2. The conversation came a day after Biden spoke via phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that a U.S. response to an invasion of Ukraine, which Russia is denying via official channels, would be swift and severe, according to a readout provided by the White House that also offered few details. Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios, the White House said Feb, 12. In the call, which reportedly lasted an hour, Biden also told Putin that the United States and NATO will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs if an invasion is carried out. Over the weekend before his call with Biden, Zelensky told reporters that he wants proof after White House officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, warned that Russia would invade Ukraine in the near future. Meanwhile, the United States and other Western countries have withdrawn their embassy staff and warned their citizens to leave Ukraine. There has been too much information about a full-scale war with Russiaeven specific dates have been announced. We understand there are risks. If you have any additional information regarding the 100 percent guaranteed invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 16 February, please give it to us, Zelensky told reporters on Feb. 12, adding that warnings about an imminent invasion are stoking panic in his country. Despite Zelenskys comment, Sullivan on Feb. 13 told CNN that Russia could invade Ukraine any day now, while offering few details. He made similar remarks during a news conference in Washington. We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begina major military action could beginby Russia in Ukraine any day now, he said. In comments to Russian media outlet Tass, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said allegations about an imminent invasion are empty and unfounded and are designed to escalate tensions. However, Peskov said Russia isnt ruling out what he described as provocations aimed at justifying such allegations. Russia has amassed around 100,000 troops situated near Ukraines borders. In 2014, Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula and began funding separatist rebels in the Donbas region. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also accused U.S. government officials of colluding with mainstream news outlets to create hysteria. Zakharova said the United States could be attempting to provoke Russia. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with members of the media during a visit to Warszawska Brygada Pancerna military base in Warsaw, Poland, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Daniel Leal - Pool/Getty Images) Boris Johnson to Restore a Smaller State After 2 Years of COVID-19 Curbs: UK Minister British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is committed to restoring a smaller state and taking a step back from peoples lives following two years of COVID-19 restrictions and massive public spending, his new chief of staff has said. Steve Barclay, who was handed the role as part of the shake-up of Number 10 Downing Street in response to the partygate scandal, said the prime minister is taking a close look at where he can cut the size of the state. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay arrives for a regional cabinet meeting at Rolls Royce in Bristol, southwest England, on Oct. 15, 2021. (Steve Parsons /Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Barclay said the government made the right decisions in spending 400 billion ($543 billion) fighting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. But he said the priority now is to restore a smaller stateboth financially and in taking a step back from peoples lives. Its time to return to a more enabling approach, he said. To trust the people, return power to communities, and free up business to deliver. Barclay said the prime minister is raring to get the economy fully firing and determined to build more efficient and more responsive public services. Number 10s pledge to cut back the size of the state comes as Johnson strives to keep Conservative MPs on side while facing questions from police investigating alleged lockdown breaches in Downing Street, including in his own flat. Downing Street confirmed on Friday that the prime minister will respond to a police questionnaire about events in Number 10 during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fifteen Tory MPs have publicly called for Johnson to quit, while more are thought to have privately written to the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs calling for a no-confidence vote. More are poised to do so if the prime minister is found to have broken his own COVID-19 laws. Barclay said he knows how frustrating the recent weeks of speculation about the workings of government have been. But he said Johnson has apologised and is the best person to deliver the mission of renewal and recovery. Number 10 said the prime minister will start the week with a visit to a manufacturing site in Scotland before heading to an oncology centre tackling COVID-19 backlogs in the northwest of England. In a statement, Johnson said: Im getting out of London this week and taking a simple message with methis government is getting on with the job of uniting and levelling up the country. PA Media contributed to this report. CDC Proposes New Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids, Dropping Specific Dosage Recommendations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has proposed new opioid prescribing guidelines that will drop its prior recommendation of specific limits on doses of opioid painkillers when treating chronic pain patients, among other changes. The proposed update seeks to amend the CDCs current guideline for prescribing opioids, issued in 2016, which had sparked a dramatic decline in pain pill prescriptions across the United States, but drew criticism from chronic pain sufferers, who contended they were being denied much needed pain relief. We began to hear how the guidelines were being misused and misapplied, the CDCs Christopher Jones, a co-author of the draft guidance, told The Associated Press. The latest proposal acknowledged that studies have been published on doctors misapplication of the 2016 CDC Guidelines, which the agency pointed out were not mandatory in the first place and were intended to be flexible to support, not supplant, individualized patient care. Such misapplication includes extension of the 2016 CDC Guideline to patient populations not covered in the 2016 CDC Guideline (e.g., cancer and palliative care), opioid tapers and abrupt discontinuation without collaboration with patients, rigid application of opioid dosage thresholds, application of the Guidelines recommendations for opioid use for pain to medications for opioid use disorder treatment, duration limits by insurers and by pharmacies, and patient dismissal and abandonment, the CDC noted. These actions are not consistent with the 2016 CDC Guideline and have contributed to patient harm, including untreated and undertreated pain, serious withdrawal symptoms, worsening pain outcomes, psychological distress, overdose, and suicidal ideation and behavior. In the new proposed guidance, the CDC has left out recommendations of specific amounts and duration of pain medications it initially had in the 2016 version. This includes dropping the recommendation that doctors should avoid increasing dosage to a level equivalent to 90 milligrams of morphine per day, and the suggested approach of trying to limit opioid treatment for acute pain to three days. The guideline, spanning 229 pages, is published on the Federal Register and is open to a 60-day public comment period from Feb. 10. The CDC will review the comments before issuing a final guidance, most likely before the end of the year. The general intent of the revision is to foster individualized patient care, Jones told the AP. The guidelines offers more options for treating the kind of short-term, acute pain that follows surgeries or injuries. It cites new research on alternative treatments to treat pain, which includes non-opioid prescription medications and non-drug options. Per the text of the CDC draft guidelines, The clinical evidence reviews found that non-opioid therapies are effective for many common types of acute pain and found insufficient evidence to determine long-term (>1 year) benefits of opioid therapy for chronic pain. Recommendations include that opioids should be used only when benefits for pain and function are expected to outweigh risks. The new guidelines advise clinicians to, when starting opioid medication, prescribe the lowest effective dosage of immediate-release opioids for no longer than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids. Clinicians should avoid abrupt discontinuation of opioids, especially for patients receiving high dosages of opioids, should avoid dismissing patients from care, and should ensure (provide or arrange) appropriate care for patients with pain and patients with complications from opioid use (e.g., opioid use disorder). The CDC has substantially expanded content on use of opioids for acute pain and on tapering opioids for patients on high doses for their chronic pain, it said. A new DJI Mavic Zoom drone flies during a product launch event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City, on Aug. 23, 2018. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Chinese County Deploys Hundreds of Drones to Monitor Residents Movements Amid COVID Lockdown A northern China county imposed stay-at-home quarantine upon citizens during Chinese New Year holidays starting from Feb. 1, sending hundreds of drones to monitor movement in the region. But one resident said the Chinese regimes harsh measures aim at enforcing control rather than battling the outbreak. The health commission of Gucheng County, Hebei Province, reported four infections on Jan. 31 and one more on the following day. News came out that residents underwent four large-scale tests for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as COVID-19, for five consecutive days. However, the authorities did not publish the results of confirmed cases. So far, the actual situation, including the number of new cases, remains unconfirmed due to the lack of transparency in Chinas pandemic reporting system. A resident living in the downtown area, surnamed Lin, verified with The Epoch Times on Feb. 3 that the whole county was thrown into a strict lockdown. I knew of more than 200 residents were taken away from the village of Yezhuang, he said. Now nobody is allowed to leave home. According to Lin, all communities were designated as closed control areas and any visitors would get a yellow health code as soon as they set foot in the region. [Police] will arrest you within ten minutes if you show up on the street unless you have a special permit, said Lin. Now, big data leaves you with nowhere to go. He cited one of his friends as an example, who attempted to stealthily return to his birthplace village. But a police vehicle intercepted the man and disrupted his travel plans even before he left the town he was living in. Police officers gave him a warning and set him free, warning that he would face a 15-day detention if caught again. Lin confirmed use of drones by the local authorities to control movement as well as teams of police cars patrolling on the streets. Every day, drones keep flying to and fro in the air, said Lin. Right now, while Im receiving your interview, they are in the sky. He said that there was no atmosphere for celebrating the Chinese New Year, the largest holiday in the country. A Tianjin-based resident, surnamed Liu, told The Epoch Times on Feb. 3 that he questioned the motives behind the Chinese communist regimes harsh anti-COVID measures. I think that the primary cause to the governments harsh curbs is maintaining social stability, Liu said. I heard from a community worker that they are banned from disclosing internal information to outsiders under their internal rules. Personally speaking, I feel the authorities are conducting stability drills and getting more skilled in surveillance over time, Liu added. I dont believe what the CCP says, not even a single punctuation mark. He was skeptical of so-called Chinas zero-COVID policy and of whether true tests were conducted, he added. Zhao Fenghua and Hong Ning contributed to this report. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet has agreed to pay $10 million on behalf of itself and Bruce Monk in exchange for a dismissal of claims against the two. (ShutterStock) Court Approves $10M Settlement in Lawsuit Over Royal Winnipeg Ballet Photographer WINNIPEGThe Royal Winnipeg Ballet is apologizing to students on the same day a court approved a $10-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over allegations a former teacher and photographer took intimate photos and released them without consent. The dance company has posted on its website a one-page apology, which was a term of the settlement agreement. In the post, the organization acknowledges that the photography sessions were traumatizing for many students. The lawsuit alleged Bruce Monk took nude, semi-nude and intimate photos of students, some of which he published, sold and disseminated online. The action was brought on behalf of students who attended the ballet school between 1984 and 2015 and were alleged to have been photographed by Monk in a private setting. The lawsuit did not allege Monks conduct was criminal and none of the allegations have been proven in court. The school says its sorry it failed to provide a safe and supportive environment for its former students. The Royal Winnipeg ballet is deeply sorry and regrets that the class members, all of whom were talented and vulnerable young people, were not protected as they should have been, it says in the apology posted Friday. In a separate statement, the ballet company said the Ontario Superior Court of Justice had approved the settlement. Andre Lewis, artistic director and chief executive officer of the company, thanked students for sharing their stories. We offer a heartfelt apology to all the victims and those that have been impacted, he said in the statement. I commend former students for their bravery and courage in coming forward and telling their story, and I want them to know that we are 100 percent committed to fostering training, working, and living environments that are safe and positive, and where every person feels valued and supported. Toronto-based law firm Waddell Phillips said the lawsuit alleged Monk distributed the photos without the students consent and used his position of trust and power to invade the privacy of students. The company dismissed Monk in 2015 after the allegations came to light. The settlement includes a one-time payment of $1,000 for health services to any eligible student and a total payment of up to $2,500 for family members affected by a students trauma. The balance is to be paid to the students based upon the severity of harm done. Claims will be open for 12 months. By Brittany Hobson A flag waves in the wind at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 24, 2022. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters) COVID-19 Vaccine Needed for Americans Fleeing Ukraine Into Poland: State Department The U.S. State Department said U.S. citizens who are trying to flee Ukraine into Poland amid escalating tensions with Russia have to present proof theyve been vaccinated for COVID-19. Poland has indicated to the U.S. government that U.S. citizens may now enter Poland through the land border with Ukraine. No advanced approval is required, said the U.S. Embassy in Ukraines website on Feb 12. We encourage those traveling into Poland by land from Ukraine to cross at the Korczowa-Krakovets or Medyka-Shehyni border crossings. U.S. citizens must present a valid U.S. passport and proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Travelers are also encouraged to present a negative test result from a PCR or antigen COVID-19 test, which will facilitate entry into Poland, the Embassy said. Its not clear what may happen if an American citizen cannot provide proof of vaccination. In order to enter Ukraine, the country has for months required travelers to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19, the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, or they have to show a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within three days, or a certificate of recovery from the virus. The Embassy statement comes amid escalating rhetoric around whether Russia will invade Ukraine. While Russian officials have denied White House allegations, top Biden administration officials have said that Moscow is planning to attack its neighbor in the coming days. On Sunday, President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a day before that, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the weekend, Zelensky urged calm and demanded evidence from the United States while playing down warnings. There has been too much information about a full-scale war with Russiaeven specific dates have been announced. We understand there are risks. If you have any additional information regarding the 100 percent guaranteed invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 16 February, please give it to us, Zelensky told reporters on Saturday. The United States largely has not made public the evidence it says is underlying its most specific warnings on possible Russian planning or timing. Were not going to give Russia the opportunity to conduct a surprise here, to spring something on Ukraine or the world, Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, told CNN on Sunday, about the intelligence warnings. We are going to make sure that we are laying out for the world what we see as transparently and plainly as we possibly can, he added. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Commentary With the approval of President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill, it now turns out the U.S. government is even in control of a kill switch that could disable your car if you are deemed impaired. Likely few voters realized the 2020 election was essentially a referendum on whether or not the feds allow you to drive your car. Elections should matter, but only if you care who gets the contract to repaint the town sign. However, for questions of individual significance, elections shouldnt matter whatsoever. And they shouldnt matter, since a vote cannot resolve questions of significance. Nevertheless, elections do matter, especially federal ones, which explains the rising rancor and sectional division in our society. As the realm of the state expands, the questions being decided by a ballotwhether office or issueare rarely inconsequential or trivial. Instead, the answers to those questions decide who, through the state, gets to initiate aggression and who suffers the consequences. This is not how it should be. Consider a question before a voluntary organization that is to be decided by vote, such as five friends choosing where to have dinner. Since the organization is voluntary, the selection should be one that satisfiesat some levelall five. Otherwise, anger and alienation will arise, and some form of secession may occur as one or more members decide to boycott the decision. From an individual standpoint, there are questions of little significancesay, whether the group meets at 6:30 or 6:40. Then, there are questions of some significance, though not consequential significance, questions where the individual decides to remain with the group instead of secedingit could be an individual preference for a burger over pizza, with the bundle of pizza and group being preferred to a burger and secession. Finally, there are questions which are both consequential and significant, such as adherence to vegan ideals when the majority favors burgers served in a cloud of burnt grease. In this instance, secession might be the peaceful solution. Nevertheless, where partial (nullification) and complete secession are not allowed, issues arise. Questions of no significance are of no significancethey are de minimis, so to speak. However, questions where the preference to remain in the group is bundled with other questions are of interest. Lets assume you always favor burgers, while your four friends always favor pizza. In this instance, a vote is of no value to you. Democracy will never serve your personal interests. Instead of a vote, you need an agreement giving voice to the minority (you), such as one where each member has a turn selecting the restaurant. Or maybe you and one friend always go for burgers, two others are stuck on pizza, and the fifth can be swayed either way. In this instance, campaigning and voting might make sense. Those activities may be fun sport for all, with the campaigning and outcome of no real consequence to either sideremember that the preference for the group is, in most instances, higher than the choice of meal. However, depending on the level of subterfuge and similar tactics, the campaigning may poison the outcome and fracture the group. Before this happens, the group should decide whether it wants continued reliance on voting and its associated outcomes or to create an agreement that satisfies all. Then we have those issues where a vote can never resolve the question. Must a vegan eat meat simply based on majority rule? Of course not. But what if secession is forbidden? What if the majority of the group believes the sanctity of the group exceeds that of the individual, with force holding the group together? Rancor and division must arise. None of the voting issues above would improve if, instead of a direct vote, the group chose so-called representatives to function as proxies. These wouldnt be proxies, as they couldnt be proxies. There is no way an altruistic representative could express the complete desires of more than one voter on any given issue of individual significance, let alone a lengthy agenda. And since representatives cannot vote the desires of their constituents, they are free to vote their own preferences, which are the only preferences that matter to them. So much for representative government. As I detailed above, questions of individual significance cannot be settled by vote, so they shouldnt be subject to vote. Questions of individual significance must be settled by agreement that allows for partial (nullification) or complete secession. Any other system implies force and will ultimately end in strife and violence. We should live in a society bounded by contracts with regard to the essential matters and ruled by voting for matters that are of no real individual consequence. But that is not our world; we live in the opposite. Now, it turns out our previous presidential election was (inter alia) over a possible kill switch. That is, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed last month, requires the installation and use of technology designed to passively monitor the performance of a driver of a motor vehicle to accurately identify whether that driver may be impaired. And if the driver is impaired? Then, the new tech shall prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected. The potential here for abuse, of course, is quite remarkable, as the legislation requires widespread surveillance of drivers and the built-in ability to disable a vehicle. It all carries with it the potential for disabling the vehicle by others outside the vehicle. Who knew that election would decide this issue? I surely didnt. Of course, we have no foreknowledge of the impacts of the new law. But we can and should assume the worst. Will a kill switch be realized? And, if so, what will the implications be? Will it apply to just impaired drivers? But who defines impaired? Is a honk in support of an American version of the Canadian truck convoy a sign of mental impairment? The kill switch, and the power to control it, along with a myriad of similar laws and regulations of consequential significance, are not questions to be decided by vote. Those questions could be resolved by valid contractual agreements, with unanimous approval of all impacted. Yet they are not. The answers to those questions arise from votes that resolve nothing other than the certainty that dissent, disagreement, and division will arise. So instead of living in a world where I pass the town sign and mutter to myself, I wonder who got that contract?, I live in a world where, in just a few years, I may mutter, Who truly owns or controls my car? And nothing good will come of that. By Jim Fedako Exploding Maple Trees Rock Texas Winter Phenomenon familiar to polar explorers, Sioux Indians, modern survivalists The next time you hear a loud crack outside on a moonless winter night, dont assume its someone firing a weapon. It could just be an exploding tree. In Collin County, Texas, locals recently heard a number of trees cracking in the icy weather. We listened to them all night. Sounds like gunshots going off, Lauren Reber of Princeton said, as reported by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2005, exploding maple trees were the basis of an April Fools Day hoax from the media. But while trees dont exactly detonate like bombs, they have long been seen as vulnerable to the frigid weather this time of year. In Works and Days, a guide to farming written around 700 B.C., the ancient Greek poet Hesiod tells of the harsh conditions during Lenaion, a month corresponding to January and February: In the month of Lenaion the days are bad; they skin oxen alive. Beware of this month and its frosts that grip the earth when the gusty north wind stirs the broad sea and blows through Thracethat nurturer of horsesas land and forest bellow. Up the mountain woodlands it blows against many high-crested oaks and sturdy firs and fells them to the rich earth as the vast forest groans. (trans. Apostolos N. Athanassakis.) Explosive frost-cracking is also well documented. In his Narrative of an expedition to the Polar Sea, in the years 1820, 1821, 1822 & 1823, the Baltic German adventurer Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel described the effects of bone-chilling cold in the Russian Far East. The thickest trunks of trees are rent asunder with a loud sound, which, in these deserts, falls on the ear like a signal-shot at sea, wrote von Wrangel, as translated by Elizabeth Sabine. In North America, meanwhile, the Sioux tribe have historically referred to January as the The Moon of Cold-Exploding Trees. Wilderness expert Linda Runyon described seeing and, at night, hearing maple trees explode in the bitter chill while living off-grid in upstate New York in her book, The Essential Wilderness Survival Guide. When it was 40 degrees below zero at night, I lay awake and listened to trees explode. Thats a true wilderness thermometer! Runyon wrote. Like Runyon, Stuart Mackenzie, a master arborist and expert at Trees.com, is personally acquainted with the phenomenon. I have been awakened many cold winter nights hearing the trees explode, he said. Sugarmaker Tig Tillinghast told The Epoch Times in an email: Being out in the woods, I can tell you from my own experience that this phenomenon is linked to cold nights and warming mornings. My birches and maples pop all over the placeespecially when it gets below zero at night, and then warms in the a.m. A volley of gunshot-like pops isnt the most reassuring sound on a February night. Fortunately, trees that crack in this way normally heal quickly. Watch for disease, pests, and pathogens that may affect the wound, Mackenzie said. Father of Drowned SEAL Candidate Demands Answers From US Navy The father of a U.S. Navy SEAL candidate who died during training several years ago levied several accusations against the military after another SEAL candidate died earlier this month. Id like to send my condolences to Kyle Mullens family. No one can relate to their situation like I can, James Lovelace told Fox News on Feb. 13, referring to the SEAL candidate who recently died. I know what theyre going through and what theyre about to go through with the lack of information that theyre going to get from the U.S. Navy surrounding their sons death. Lovelaces son, James Derek Lovelace, died in 2016 during training. But the elder Lovelace has claimed that the Navy fabricated information relating to his 21-year-old sons death and hasnt acknowledged any wrongdoing. Im kind of reliving my sons incident six years ago all over again, Lovelace told Fox. Its a sad world when this is what it takes for me to get some attention for my son: another young man dying. Derek Lovelace was partaking in a swimming drill when he died in May 2016 during the first week of SEAL training, an especially grueling stage in the training known as Hell Week. A copy of his autopsy report that was subsequently obtained by The Associated Press shows that he was wearing his gear and a dive mask while treading water when his face turned purple and his lips turned blue. According to the AP report, citing the autopsy, video camera footage shows a SEAL instructor dunking him underwater several times. The San Diego Medical Examiners Office ruled his death a homicide with contributing factors related to a heart defect. The elder Lovelace noted on Feb. 13 that the instructor was allowed to effectively walk away scot-free, while my only son lays to rest. His lifelong dream of becoming a Navy SEAL was taken from him. Lovelaces comments come after SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen was confirmed to have died on Feb. 4, also during Hell Week. Mullens family issued a statement that they could not be more proud of their loved one. Kyle dreamed of serving others and enlisted in the Navy with the hopes of joining the best of the bestthe Navy SEALs. He would not settle for anything less, they said in a statement. Kyle was exactly where he wanted to be in life when he was with his fellow seamen/warriors/classmates at Coronado. He took on every challenge, and failure was not an option as he strived toward reaching his goal of passing Hell Week and receiving his brown shirt. Hell Week consists of 5 1/2 days of cold, wet, brutally difficult operational training on fewer than four hours of sleep, according to a Navy SEALs website. Hell Week tests physical endurance, mental toughness, pain and cold tolerance, teamwork, attitude, and your ability to perform work under high physical and mental stress, and sleep deprivation, the website reads. On average, only 25 percent of SEAL candidates make it through Hell Week, the toughest training in the U.S. Military. It is a miserable time, it is well-named, said Paul Anderson, a retired Navy SEAL chief, FOX5 reported. Its a gut check. You get approximately four hours of sleep the whole week. You are constantly doing physical evolutions whether its physical obstacles, going in and out of the surf zone with your boats, running, you are constantly wet and you are always sandy. The Naval Special Warfare Command earlier this month said it has launched an investigation into Mullens death. U.S. Naval officials didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. German Court Rejects Petitions Against Targeted Vaccine Mandate KARLSRUHE, GermanyGermanys 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. Germanys current coronavirus wave is expected to peak around mid-February, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said last month. Lauterbach has warned against lifting restrictions fast. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that the fifth wave of the coronavirus driven by the Omicron variant was approaching its peak, allowing a gradual return to normal life. Details of lifting some restrictions will be finalized during a meeting this week between Scholz and leaders of Germanys 16 states. The scientific prognoses show us that the peak of the wave is in sight, Scholz said in a speech in the Bundesrat upper house of parliament. This allows us at the meeting between the federal government and states next week to take the first reopening steps and consider more steps for spring. Wendy White, 67, has been watching a lot of YouTube tutorials. Her long career as an attorney, criminal justice coordinator, founder and former director of Flagstaff Shelter Services did not prepare her to remove Freon air conditioning units from a 40-foot school bus. Theyre a pain, White said, especially the riveted metal plates they leave behind. She and her husband tried drilling out the rivets, but eventually resorted to using a hand-held jack hammer to pop the metal from the bus ceiling. The racket is deafening. Even from outside the bus, with the doors closed, its enough to stop a conversation and scare the ravens from the pines that shade the dirt lot outside Whites Mountainaire home. White purchased the gutted 2001 Bluebird school bus in September 2021. The bus already had 216,000 miles on the International Harvester engine, but White wasnt concerned. According to my sources, these things can go to 500,000 or more, she said. The more the better, because this bus has quite the future. Its undergoing a transformation. Where there were air conditioning units there is now standing room. Wheel wells have been covered with cabinetry and walls have been erected to divide the interior into multiple rooms. Even the classic yellow school bus paint went the way of autumn leaves and is now covered in a coat of snow white, a blank slate. Come spring, the bus will start its new life as a mobile outreach center designed to serve the unsheltered population of Flagstaff. The center will include resting space, a coffee maker, a restroom complete with shower, and the capacity to distribute essentials such as food, hygiene kits and warm clothing. Converting the bus has been a huge undertaking made possible by volunteers, a GoFundMe and a Neighborhood Sustainability Grant from the City of Flagstaff. Its also the first project of the recently formed nonprofit Community Assistance Teams of Flagstaff CATs for short. White formed CATs with Darrell Marks, a Flagstaff High School teacher and recipient of the JFK Profile in Courage Award. Marks and White also work together through another nonprofit, the Southwest Center for Equal Justice (SCEJ). The mission of SCEJ is to eliminate systemic bias and disparate treatment in the criminal justice system toward persons of color, the economically disadvantaged and persons suffering from mental illness. Part of the mission of CATs is to help people avoid the criminal justice system in the first place. The outreach bus will fit into this mission by providing resources and an alternative response that can intervene in situations that might otherwise put unsheltered people at odds with the law like a place to use the restroom, sleep safe or even just obtain the basics for survival without having to resort to desperate measures. The need for alternative responses to policing in Flagstaff became a major concern over the last two years as public protests demanded reallocation of police funding and the city began requesting proposals for alternative response contracts. While Marks and White stayed abreast of the proceedings, they were unsatisfied with what they observed. It appeared to White that the services the city was interested in contracting were driven more from a punitive law enforcement model, and she and Marks agreed that such services left large gaps in the needs of the community. We don't see law enforcement as a response to social problems, White said, noting that even services distinct from law enforcement, such as the shelter White founded, dont always work for each person who needs assistance. In order to address these gaps, CATs is driven by ke, a principle that Marks describes as acknowledging the responsibility in relationships. A ke approach to unsheltered activism is bottom-up, meets people where they are and helps integrate them into the larger community. If we're going to be a functional community, then we need to acknowledge all of the threads that are woven through the fabric of our culture, Marks said. [White] and I both have a lot of connections to folks who are unsheltered and are struggling through systems that are not accessible to them. According to Marks, CATs work is a matter of sustainability not only for the way it can reduce pressures on agencies and services not equipped to handle each persons needs, but also because the people served can be of better service to each other. We have we have a number of talented people in our community that don't get the opportunity to engage, he said. Human beings come from all walks of life. When we come together, we can learn from one another, and we can build together. The CATs bus itself has been built by White, Marks and a community of volunteers; its function will also be defined through collaboration. Marks and White foresee that when they roll out the bus, they will refine its exact routine through feedback and community need. As a starting point, they anticipate beginning service as both an alternative response for unsheltered people in crisis and as a mobile center that can routinely post at known locations. But there are still some things to be done before they are up and running. The buss interior needs finishing. So does its exterior. Marks and White are working with a handful of artists to come up with an Indigenous-themed mural to decorate the sides. I want it to be identifiably recognized by Indigenous persons as being welcoming to them, White said, recognizing that when it comes to unsheltered services, Indigenous people often face accessibility issues exacerbated by historical and cultural trauma. I want to make sure that we're getting to people who aren't engaging in services." The CATs bus is still a work in progress, but White hopes to have it ready for beta testing by the end of the month. Once the bus is up and running, Marks and White plan to pursue complementary projects such as a tiny home village, safe sleeping sites, and a land based respite center. The bus is only the beginning, Marks said. This is just one piece to the greater purpose that we're working towards. To support CATs, visit their GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/mobile-outreach-services. Sean Golightly can be reached at sgolightly@azdailysun.com Love 9 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Graces Last Day: A Father Questions Hospital Protocols Leading Up to His Daughters Death On Grace Scharas last day, she had been given a combination of a sedative, an anxiety medication, and morphine leading up to her time of death at 7:27 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2021. With an armed guard standing near the doorway of her room at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, Jessica, Graces sister and patient advocate, screamed at nurses she saw standing in the hallway begging them to help Grace, who had been admitted to the hospital on Oct. 6 after testing positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus on Oct. 1. Grace felt cold after the 6:15 p.m. morphine injection, Jessica reported. She attempted to get a nurses help and was told this was normal. Jessica Facetimed her parents, Scott and Cindy, at 7:20 p.m. They both joined Jessica in her pleas. There was nothing to be done, a nurse responded from the hallway, because Grace had been coded as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). Scott and Cindy yelled that she wasnt DNR. Save our daughter, they cried. Amid a back and forth of shouting, Scott and Cindy watched their 19-year-old daughter die on Facetime at 7:27 p.m. I wake up a couple of nights a week and think, Why didnt I do this? Why didnt I do that? Scott told The Epoch Times. Why didnt I get her out of there? All of these things I still play in my mind. Scott hasnt stopped asking questions. Why Did They Ignore These Warnings? He referenced the package insert for the morphine injection, which states that the opiate shouldnt be used in combination with benzodiazepines (Lorazepam) or other depressants (Precedex), both of which Scott said Grace had been given without the familys knowledge. It says right in the insert, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death, Scott said. Then it says to have a Naloxone injection available to resuscitate, but with all the nurses in the hallway, no one did this. Why did they ignore these warnings? For Scott and his family, Graces time in the hospital was ridden with problems that arent unlike the hospital experiences many others have reported over the last two years. From the beginning, Scott said Graces status as an unvaccinated patient was the subject of scorn, and Scott reported medical staff to be critical of the family for following the medical advice of Americas Frontline Doctors, an organization of physicians that supports the use of early-treatment protocols such as ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins C and D, and zinc. Though family members havent been allowed to be in the hospitals with their loved ones since COVID-19 began, both Scott and Jessica were permitted as patient advocates through the American Disabilities Act because of Graces Down syndrome, though Scott said hospital staff initially resisted this. While staying at the hospital, Scott was virtually guaranteed that he would test positive for COVID-19, which he did on Oct. 7. He was eventually kicked out of the hospital for turning off the alarms that went off in Graces room at night so she could sleep after Scott said he had asked staff several times to make them sound off only at the nurses station. He was also told the prior three shifts of nurses didnt want him in the room. When the guard escorted him out, Scott said the guard told him that he needs to report to the higher-ups what was happening to his daughter. This wouldnt be the last time a hospital staff member would indicate to the family that what the hospital was doing wasnt right. There were several circumstances Scott cites in his report in which he said hospital staff were arbitrarily recording Graces oxygen levels lower than what they were to justify the use of a ventilator. In one of these situations, Scott said a doctor was using faulty data recorded at 11:30 p.m., the night prior after an incident that put Graces blood pressure at 235 over 135 with a heart rate at 150 beats per minute. When I insisted they retake the blood numbers, Grace was fine, and at no time did she need a ventilator, Scott said. When Scott and Cindy were asked four additional times about Grace potentially needing a ventilator, the request was couched in the explanation that these things tend to happen in the middle of the night when we cant get a hold of the family. So, they wanted to have us make a preemptive decision so then they could decide whenever they wanted to put Grace on the ventilator, Scott said. Thats significant because this is what they do: they want this decision by the family to be in their back pocket. Scott said its also significant because, since COVID-19, families havent been in the hospitals to witness any inconsistencies. Because of his time as an advocate, he said, he was able to investigate and find that the arbitrarily low oxygen readings were based on consistently faulty equipment and staff not fixing the equipment timely. If I hadnt been there, as many families arent able to be, they would have just put her on the ventilator, which itself is a death sentence, Scott said. On the morning of Graces last day, Jessica wanted to take a shower, but the nurse told her she had to shower at home, Scott said. This is unusual, Scott said, because when Scott was an advocate, he was told he could not leave the hospitalthen returnto prevent the risk of leaving with and bringing in COVID-19. So, why did they have a different set of rules for her that day than they did for me? Scott asked. While Jessica was gone for that hour, Scott said hospital staff strapped Grace into the bed because staff later told Jessica that Grace had wanted to use the bathroom. Because no underlying reason was given for their restraining Grace, other than for her safety, Scott said he can only speculate that it was because of Graces Downs syndrome, though as Scott pointed out, Grace was high functioning. Would they have done that to you or me if we were a patient? Scott asked. When Jessica returned, she found Graces health had declined. Scott said he later discovered that the staff increased the level of sedation. Grace Schara. (Courtesy of Scott Schara) They Didnt Believe Grace Shouldve Died Cindy reported that a nurse helping the family take Graces belongings out to their truck told Cindy that she and some other nurses didnt believe Grace shouldve died. According to Wisconsin state statute, Graces health care agentwhich was her mother Cindymust consent to and sign the DNR order, which Scott said never took place. State statute also requires a DNR bracelet to be placed on the patient, which Scott said was never on Grace. In addition, state statute gives DNR-revocation authority to the health care agent. When we yelled, shes not a DNR, please help our little girl, and the nursing staff stood there saying, Shes DNR, that was the final violation that resulted in her death, Scott said. We were giving them direction to resuscitate the patient, and they didnt. Graces cause of death, according to the death certificate, is acute respiratory failure with hypoxemia as a consequence of COVID pneumonia; however, Scott argues that the respiratory failure was caused by the combination of drugs. Through legal means, Scott said hes trying to get the cause of death changed to gross negligence. In a 14-page report sent to the hospital, Scott details the events leading up to Graces death, which he alleges was one incident of negligence after the other. Scott gives those details to people who connect with him on the website, www.OurAmazingGrace.net, where he highlights moments from her life and provides support and networking for people who have had the same experience. A Different Experience Scott later checked into St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he said he had a completely different experience, despite being in worse condition than Grace. He said they put him on vitamins and supplements instead of sedatives and anxiety medications, with a daily nebulizer treatment. They never pushed for a ventilator or remdesivir, he said. I truly believe that if Grace had come to this hospital she would still be alive today. St. Elizabeth Hospital didnt immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. The Hierarchy Todd Callender, an international lawyer with Disabled Rights Advocates and legal counsel to the Truth for Health Foundation (spearheaded by Dr. Lee Vliet), told The Epoch Times hes taken calls asking for help for cases like Scotts every day since July 2021. Both organizations investigate and give legal and medical support in areas of civil rights surrounding COVID-19 treatment and restrictive policies while researching future developments. The protocols with which Callender has become familiar with and recognize in Scotts case are passed down hierarchically from the World Health Organization (WHO) to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Institute of Health (NIH) arising from the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) and Health and Human Services authorization to release funding for the declared pandemic that sets the protocols in motion, Callender said. From there, hospitals that are federally funded through Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) use coding tied to NIH and CDC-written protocols. If those hospitals take that funding, they must follow those protocols, starting with ICD-10 codes (International Classification of Diseases). According to Callender, the CDC and NIH protocols are based on the WHOs 2005 International Health Regulations that directs each of its 196 signatory countries to cede all sovereign powers to the WHO in the case of a declared health emergency. The WHO then directs the various state health bodiesin this case, the CDC and NIHon treatment, Callender said. This is why every country is responding in the same way at the same time globally; its a back door to a one-world dictatorial government. When these protocols are passed down to the hospitals that take funding, under the emergency declaration, patients rights are waived under the CMS COVID waiver program in conjunction with the PREP and CARES Act, giving participating hospitals legal immunity. In the Hospital Say a patient goes into the hospital for a broken arm, Callender said. That patient is given a COVID test, which the test will almost always come back positive, and if it doesnt, theyll test again until it does. Then, the patient is admitted and put on an IV bag with a tranquilizer that lowers their oxygen absorption, which then justifies putting the patient into COVID isolation where the antiviral drug remdesivir which Callender called lethal is added to the bag before being moved into the intensive care unit where the patient is then given morphine and fentanyl while being deprived of nutrition, Callender said. Each of these procedures brings in high federal reimbursements of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars; however, pinning down a specific number reflecting an exact amount is difficult due to overlapping charges and variations from state to state. And these protocols are enforced, Callender said. In 2006, the Department of Justice created a new program to merge public health with law enforcement, such that hospitals are now a part of the criminal justice enterprise and therefore enjoy the protection of in-house police who often arrest the disheartened family members trying to help, Callender said. Most every time Ive called law enforcement to do a health, safety, and welfare check or civil standby, either the police refuse to come or issue trespass citations to my clients. In other words, law enforcement wont do anything, and Ive even filed criminal complaints with the FBI who refuse to help. A lawyer for a hospital in Ohio where Callender was attempting to remove a patient told Callender that his client would die in his hospital and there was nothing I could do about it, Callender said. He died there weighing only 85 pounds, Callender said. Similar stories have been reported, such as that of Scott Quiner, who doctors in Texas said they found malnourished when Scotts wife Anne went through a legal procedure to have him moved out of a hospital in Minnesota where she alleged negligence was taking place. Everybody talks about their fear of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) death camps, Callender said. Well, theyre already here; theyre called hospitals. Earthly Dad Scott and his family continue to grieve, having good and bad days, he said. He remembers Grace calling him her earthly dad, Scott said, because she knew who her heavenly dad was. She was the best kid you could ever have, Scott said. She had a love for the Lord that was hard to grasp. Today, hes using the familys loss to inform others, he said. Im motivated to get this story out, not just because of my daughter anymore, Scott said. Whats motivating us is people dont know this is happening, and its real. Grace Schara. (Courtesy of Scott Schara) Trucks and other vehicles drive on Highway 15 near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing, as part of a protest convoy demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, in Surrey, B.C., on February 12, 2022. (Jason Redmon/AFP via Getty Images) Here for the Long Haul: Convoy Protest Digs In at BCWashington Border Crossing SURREY, B.C.Despite the Royal Canadian Mounted Polices (RCMP) redoubled efforts to prevent a convoy of trucks and other vehicles from establishing a stronger presence at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, British Columbia, one truck managed to get through the police blockade. On Feb. 12, an initial surge of about 20 commercial and personal vehicles had broken through the blockade before police reinforcements were quickly dispatched to halt access to the intersection eight blocks north of the border, later expanding it to 16 blocks. The sole truck, a white Ford F-350, was immediately swarmed by police on foot to prevent the driver from advancing. However, protesters locked arms and circled the police after a rousing singing of O Canada, while others cleared hundreds of people to allow the driver a narrow passage on the road leading down to the other trucks, which had crossed before the RCMP strengthened the blockade. An RCMP officer directs a truck through congestion as protesters demonstrate on Highway 15 near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) The driver, who didnt provide his name, told The Epoch Times that his entry into the forbidden zone was necessary to demonstrate the importance of the ongoing convoys and protests at other border crossings and in Ottawa. Im here for the long haul, he said. Everybody should be off the couch and down here. What else are we going to do if we dont stand up now for our freedoms? Colby Seiz was the first to make it through the blockade on Feb. 12 with his massive Oshkosh rig. I just started driving and regular Canadians started to open it up, Seiz told The Epoch Times. It was like Moses and the Red Sea just parted ways, and we were able to go. Seiz was part of the convoy that began in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and stretched approximately 40 kilometers (about 25 miles), with more people joining as they approached Surrey. He estimated thousands and thousands and thousands had joined the convoy; other protesters said the lineup was more than 90 blocks long. All feeder roads north of the U.S. border also were clogged as vehicles in the convoy tried to find alternative routes to reach the rally, forcing many to park more than a kilometer away and walk in, or give up and go home. Although the main route to the Pacific Highway border crossing was closed on Feb. 12, the border remains open. The Canada Border Services Agency said travelers should use an alternative processing site until the road clears. Regarding breaking through the blockade, the RCMP said in a statement that such behaviour is not being tolerated, and is being investigated. Police arrested four people for mischief on Feb. 13. The vast majority of the protesters remained behind the police barriers, playing loud music and displaying signs that demand an end to COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Carrying a Canadian flag, Pam Banks was one of those who believed she needed to make her way to the border. Im here fighting for our freedom in Canada, she said in an interview. Im fighting for my grandchildren to grow up the way I grew up. I just want my country back and Im here supporting everybody. James Topp demonstrates against COVID-19 mandates at the Pacific Highway Canada-U.S. border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jeff Sandes/The Epoch Times) Warrant Officer James Topp, who was recently released from Canadas Reserve Force because he refused to take a COVID-19 vaccine, said his mission now is to raise awareness of the threat to Canadians freedoms. This is difficult for me because of the heat and light that will probably be put on me because of what Im doing right now, but I think its the right thing to do, he told The Epoch Times, emphasizing that hes speaking individually and not representing the armed forces. Im here because I am taking a stand against government mandates being imposed on Canadians who choose not to receive a vaccination in order to work, he said. Topp is going to walk to Ottawa, leaving Vancouver on Feb. 20, and will possibly be joined by others along the way. Hes developing the website www.canadamarches.ca to chronicle his journey. The intent is to create a pebble in the pond and hopefully, have a wave go out in front, he said. A driver (L) gives a thumbs-up to protesters driving on Highway 15 toward the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images) We Are United Support for the Pacific Highway border protest crossed into the United States; a handful of Americans walked up to the Canadians from their border town of Blaine, Washington, holding U.S. flags and shouting encouragement. Meanwhile, an American convoy of about two dozen commercial vehicles drove along Interstate 5 to offer support for the Canadian protest, according to Marcella Willia, who was one of the speakers at the rally. This is support. This is family, and we are united, Willia said in a passionate speech, mixed with excerpts from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Thank you to our Canadian truckers, and can I also say thank you to the truckers whose eyes are on Canada. Kanwaljit Singh is the co-founder of the Sikh Freedom Alliance, a group dedicated to achieving freedom for all humanity. In Canada, he and his group are ardent supporters of the truck drivers and their efforts to have government mandates dropped. But his support has additional motives. The media has been labeling these protests and this movement as white supremacists in a racist movement, so I want to defeat that divisional message, he said in an interview. You cannot label us like that. So that will defeat the message when they look at me, Singh said. Supporting the truckers, we want to be a part of that because its for all of us. A protester demonstrates against COVID-19 mandates at the Canada-U.S. border by the Pacific Highway in Surrey, B.C., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jeff Sandes/The Epoch Times) Singh said he has spent the past two months speaking to people in the Sikh community, who virtually all want the mandates to end but are often afraid to speak out. So he is willing to do it for them. He said people in the community are worried they will lose their jobs or lose their ability to fly to India, and for those trying to become Canadian citizens, speaking out publicly against government restrictions might jeopardize that chance. Thats why theyre painting this as racist, because if the minorities stand up with the mainstream population to form unity against these mandates, the government will fold, Singh said. Seiz summed up the attitude of the several thousand people who managed to make it to the border. Canadians just want freedom, he said. They want to be free and not be told what to do. The Canadian Press contributed to the report. Pigs are pictured during a farmers protest in front of the Italian parliament in downtown Rome on Dec. 5, 2013. (Remo Casilli/Reuters) Italy Appoints Commissioner to Deal With Swine Fever Outbreak ROMEThe Italian government appointed a special commissioner on Friday to coordinate measures aimed at eliminating an outbreak of African swine fever, the prime ministers 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. Chinas agriculture ministry announced last month that it was suspending pork imports from Italy because of the outbreak. John Durham: Trump White House and Residences Spied On Special counsel John Durhams team alleged on Feb. 12 that a tech executive aligned with the Democratic Party spied on former President Donald Trumps residences and the White House when Trump was president. Durham said in a court filing (pdf) that the spying took place in order to establish an inference and narrative to tie Trump to the Russian government. Durhams office made the claim as part of his investigation that had brought charges against Michael Sussmann, a lawyer who had worked on behalf of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign and who is currently charged with making a false statement to the FBI. Durham alleged Sussmann had assembled and conveyed the allegations to the FBI on behalf of at least two specific clients, including a technology executive (Tech Executive 1) at a U.S.-based internet company (Internet Company 1) and the Clinton campaign, according to a section in the court filing, titled Factual Background. Billing records he obtained suggest that Sussmann repeatedly billed the Clinton Campaign for his work on the Russian Bank-1 allegations and that the unnamed technology executive met and communicated with Mark Elias, a lawyer who has filed numerous election-related lawsuits on behalf of the Democrats. Sussmann previously pleaded not guilty and accused Durham of acting in a politically motivated manner. Tech Executive-1 also enlisted the assistance of researchers at a U.S.-based university who were receiving and analyzing large amounts of Internet data in connection with a pending federal government cybersecurity research contract, Durhams filing states. The executive also tasked these researchers to mine Internet data to establish an inference and narrative tying then-candidate Trump to Russia, the filing states, adding that the technology firm that the executive worked for had come to access and maintain dedicated servers for Trumps executive office. Tech Executive-1 and his associates exploited this arrangement by mining the EOPs DNS traffic and other data for the purpose of gathering derogatory information about Donald Trump, Durhams filing reads. EOP refers to Trumps office, while DNS traffic refers to traffic coming in and out of a server. Michael Sussmann in an undated interview. (CNN/Screenshot via NTD) Durham further wrote that Sussmann provided an updated set of allegationsincluding the Russian Bank-1 data and additional allegations relating to Trump to another federal agency that isnt the FBI. Claims that Sussmann provided in a meeting in February 2017 relied on the purported DNS traffic that Tech Executive-1 and others had assembled pertaining to Trump Tower, Donald Trumps New York City apartment building, the EOP, and the aforementioned health care provider, according to Durham. Sussmann, his court filing added, provided data which he claimed reflected purportedly suspicious DNS lookups by these entities of internet protocol addresses affiliated with a Russian mobile phone provider in the February 2017 meetings. Sussmann also said such DNS lookups demonstrated that Trump and/or his associates were using supposedly rare, Russian-made wireless phones in the vicinity of the White House and other locations, which Durham described as false. The Special Counsels Office has identified no support for these allegations, Durham wrote. Indeed, more complete DNS data that the Special Counsels Office obtained from a company that assisted Tech Executive-1 in assembling these allegations reflects that such DNS lookups were far from rare in the United States. Lawyers for Sussmann, in response to the Durham filing, said Monday that the motion included prejudicialand falseallegations that are irrelevant to his motion and to the charged offense, and are plainly intended to politicize this case, inflame media coverage, and taint the jury pool. Information about DNS traffic in Durhams filing was not necessary to identify any of the potential conflicts of interest with which the motion is putatively concerned, his lawyers added. Why then include them? The question answers itself. After Durhams court filing was unsealed, Trump on Feb. 12 issued a statement claiming it provided indisputable evidence his campaign and office were being spied on by Democrats in a bid to connect him to the Russian government. The former president has long decried the TrumpRussia collusion narrative as a falsified witch hunt designed to imperil his political chances while bolstering left-wing mainstream media outlets ratings. This is a scandal far greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate and those who were involved in and knew about this spying operation should be subject to criminal prosecution, Trump stated. And Kash Patel, a former U.S. intelligence official who hosts EpochTVs Kashs Corner, said the filing reveals a most intricate and coordinated conspiracy to target Trump while he was a candidate and later as president. Correction: A previous version of this article stated that a political campaign paid the executive for the spying. This has yet to be proven. Last Living Premier Who Signed Canadas Charter in Speech to Freedom Convoy: Section 1 of Charter Being Illegally Used by Governments It's vital to defend rights and freedoms if our democracy is to survive, says Brian Peckford The following is a speech delivered by Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland and the last surviving architect of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, at the Freedom Convoy rally in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. Let us declare to the world today that we have a right to be right here. Let us declare to the world and to the prime minister and all the premiers of Canada that we have rights and freedoms that they cannot take away from us. In 399 BC, Socrates stood before his accusers defending his right to free expression, which happens to be in our charter. In first century BC, Cicero stood before the Senate in Rome to defend the rights of the Roman citizens. In 1215, the nobles and the commoners stood and told the monarchy, We must have our individual rights and freedoms. The American colonists [in] 1776 fought for the freedoms to be an independent nation. And then the French Revolution of 1789, where the peasants of France, who lost later, were trying to defend their rights as individuals to have rights and freedoms. And here we are today, after that quick history where people were trying to establish their rights, we find ourselves trying to defend the rights that we have. After 2,000, 3,000 years of people getting the rights, were now forced to try to defend to keep our rights. How ironic history is to us. How ironic history is to us. Just down the road here in the Chateau Laurier, in 1981 I made a proposal to the provinces for a charter of rights and freedoms and a patriation act. It was the one that was ratified, ratified the next day, to become the Constitution Act of 1982, in which your rights as individual Canadians were protected. Brian Peckford holds a press conference to highlight previously unpublished documents dealing with the patriation of the Constitution, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 19, 2012. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) There are only two major written documents of your Constitution: the BNA Act of 1867, which created the country, and the Constitution Act of 1982, which established the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And in that charter, very few people today quote the following. The first words of the charter are, its not Section 1, it is we, as a country have two principles: the supremacy of God and the rule of law. Hardly any court today even acknowledges that theyre operating under those two principles. Everything else comes after that. Section 2 of the Constitution gives you your freedom of expression, your freedom of religion, your freedom of conscience, your freedom of thought, and your freedom to assemble, and your freedom to associate as youre doing here today. Section 6 gives you the right to travel anywhere in Canada, or leave Canada. Section 7 gives you the right to life, liberty, and listen to this one, the security of the person. What does the security of the person mean? You cant touch me unless I agree. You cant inject into me anything unless I agree. And Section 15 of the charter says every Canadian, every Canadian, from Prince Rupert to Bonavista, from Niagara to Iqaluit, every Canadian has the right to equality before the law. Theyre the main four principles of your Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Now, if youve got a moment, the governments of Canada are trying to say that they can override those rights through Section 1. I want to tell them that I was there: Section 1 was to be only used in war, insurrection, or the threat or peril of the state. It wasnt to be used to try to combat a virus for which 99 percent recover and a less than 1 percent fatality rate. Thats not a threat to the state. Section 1 is being used illegally by the governments of Canada. And ladies and gentlemen, Canadians, even if it did apply in a war insurrection situation, it would have to pass four tests before they can override it, and the four tests are these: demonstrably justify what youre doingnot just justify it, demonstrably justify it; it has to be done by law; it has to be done within reasonable limits; and it has to be done in the context of a free and democratic society. They have not met any of those four tests. So were in a situation here. And after 114 years of depending upon unwritten common law to defend our individual rights, we finally after 114 yearsremember the Americans formed a country in 1776, they had a bill of rights in 1791we created the country in 1867, we never got a written bill of rights until 1982. And so weve only had it for 40 years, and then somebody comes along and tells you and me that theyre gonna steal that away from us, thats in the Constitution? Remember, your Charter of Rights and Freedoms are not in the bill of the federal Parliament. Its not in a bill of any provincial legislature. This is what you have to understand. Its in the Constitutionthe holy grail of any decent democracy. A constitution means permanent values, things that cannot be changed overnight to suit the whims of a politician. These are permanent values. It is a sad day indeed when I have to stand alone on this stage, as a former politician, to defend our rights and freedoms. Im here for a number of reasons. Im here because of my own right and because I believe in what I say. Im here also to represent those politicians who I know would be on this stage if they were alive. [Former Alberta premier] Peter Lougheed would be on the stage with me today. [Former Saskatchewan premier] Allan Blakeney would be on the stage here with me today. [Former B.C. premier] Bill Bennett would be here on the stage with me today. And the man in Prince Edward Island whose name you dont know, but whose person I shall never forget, a man by the name of Angus MacLean. He was a decent Prince Edward Islander, a fantastic Canadian, and he would be standing on the stage here with me today to defend the charter that he helped create with me and others. So Im here for those people. But Im here most of all to defend what I thought was impossible to override. Im here to defend the rights of you, and every single individual Canadian, because its so important for our democracy. This is our first big test as a democracy. This is our first big test of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Are we [going to] stand tall for the charter after 114 years? Are we [going to] relinquish our charter rights? We will stand tall. Freedom! Freedom! Its very sad today that some of the former politicians, all of the first ministers, have passed away, but there were a lot of people at that 1982 conference who are still alive. Former ministers, provincial ministers and federal ministers, former bureaucrats, deputy ministers, university scholars and the like. Where are they? I didnt realize until recently that were always onlyeven in the best of timesa heartbeat away from tyranny, that democracy is one of the most fragile concepts in the world. Thats why most of the world doesnt have democracy. Its a tough, tough thing to sustain. You can create it, but sustaining it, its very, very difficult. We see that now today. We see that now today in spades. And were going to say, democracy may be fragile, but we shall defend it. Remember what Ronald Reagan said, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall. Mr. Trudeau, tear down those mandates. Mr. Ford, take away that emergency order. All the premiers of Canada and all the first ministers, stand up for your country, stand up for freedom, stand up for liberty. What has happened to you? You have succumbed to the corporate world and to power-hungry politics and forgot your nation and your liberty and your freedom. But were [going to] hold you to account. [] Every day, since I launched my own personal lawsuit against the government, everybody always says its easy to talk the talk, how about walking the walk? Were going to walk the walk. Every day I get hundreds and hundreds of emails from Canadians all across the country. And many of them are heart-rending where people have lost jobs. Divorced mothers of two or three kids, shes a professional and suddenly shes told she doesnt have a job. I have veterans who cried to me about what they tried to defend in 1940 and 41 and 42 during the Second World War. I have immigrants who said we came here 40 years ago for freedom and now we smell it escaping us, fading away. And I had this one that I want to share with you. I was 9 years old when the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enshrined in our Constitution. The day stands out in my memory primarily because my mother lined myself and my three sisters along the couch and actually told us to watch TV. How could I forget that? But I also remember what she told me about what we were watching. She said that now we had the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada was its own country. Who could have ever imagined on that day that the situation would find ourselves in now? Did you ever think, talking to me during the process of establishing the charter, that our governments would make the decisions that they have to supposedly manage a global pandemic? I am writing you to thank you for speaking out. You have reminded us, in some cases taught us, about our fundamental freedoms. I cant say that I thought very much about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms since that day of TV-watching on our family couch. But because of your actions, I have learned that its not true that we only have the freedoms that government allow us to have, that we have fundamental freedoms that have been unjustly taken from us. Ironically, my family does not own a television set now. We have however, been glued to various internet resources, totally captivated by the Freedom Convoy, and our hearts are full of joy and enthusiasm. I believe that is because you are speaking up, educating all of us about the charter and the rights that we are guaranteed, that this truck convoy is happening and will be successful. You can be assured that I have lined my own five children along our couch and told them about the charter, the rights we are guaranteed, and they know your name and the importance of your actions. Every family that visits our home hears my Brian Peckford speech. You are my hero, Mr. Peckford. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the work you are doing to ignite our democracy, by praying that God will bless you and provide all of you what you need to continue this fight until we are victorious. With much respect and gratitude. We shall overcome, we shall overcome some day. Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome one day. All the best. Long live Canada! Thank you for being a part of this. [] Two things you should also know . Back in October, I wrote all the premiers and suggested that you can, with one stroke of the pen, refer your mandates to your highest court to see whether its constitutional. They all refuse. I didnt send it to the prime minister. Im asking the prime minister today: Refer your mandates to the Supreme Court of Canada to see if its constitutional. You can do that today with a stroke of the pen. None of them will do it. Why? Because theyre afraid there may be just a couple of judges left who think like me and you. The call goes out again today. So theres one solution to help solve this. Another one would be, which Im sure the truckers convoy would agree with as well: Establish an inquiry, an independent inquiry, to determine what went wrong here, as the doctors point out, how did we get off on this wrong course and try to destroy our freedoms and rights . So if anybody asks you after this is over, Well what solutions did they give you? You say, Mr. Peckford just gave two. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Bear Henry is joined by friends Nakita Sekhon, left, and Shae Perkins during a press conference at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, Feb. 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito) Lost in the BC Woods for 74 Days, Bear Henry Thankful to Forestry Workers Rescue VICTORIABear Henry says they survived more than 70 days stuck in a camper van on a remote Vancouver Island mountain forest road with only a few days worth of canned beans, raw rice, cat food and melted snow. Henry said Friday they are about 30 kilograms lighter than when they left Victoria Nov. 27 to find a camp in the Fairy Creek area northwest of Victoria where people had been protesting old-growth logging. Henry, 37, who is a two-spirit Indigenous person and uses gender-neutral pronouns, said they spent their days napping, daydreaming and trying to stay sane in their van, while hearing search helicopters on the other side of the mountain. I was just trying to go camping in Fairy Creek and visit the camps that were up there, they said. It was just raining so hard; I literally blew past the Caycuse (camp). Henry said the gravel road kept getting steeper and more treacherous, but they decided to keep driving. I just kept going to try and find a place to turn around and eventually I just got to a part where it got even worse. At one point they hit a bump and the whole van just shut off. Henry said the food started to run out in mid-December, but they remembered the advice of an uncle who said to survive in the wild stay calm, conserve energy and stay put as long as possible. Henry said it was difficult to remain composed when fighting for survival. It was so scary, they said. My God, am I going to die?' Is this it? This is really real. Henry was assaulted and injured with a knife while in his 20s and has had serious back trouble since then. Aside from not knowing where they were, Henry said they werent sure they could make the hike out. When Henry finally did decide to leave, they walked for 15 hours before a pair of forestry workers drove down the logging road. The two men recognized Henry as the person reported missing by police and each handed over $20 when they dropped Henry at a coffee shop in Lake Cowichan. Henry said they was astounded when the workers said they had been in the forest for more than two months. It felt like just days, they said. How does it become 74 days? Thats not humanly possible. I lost 61 pounds. Henry said it was terrifying being lost in the forest and not knowing if they would survive, but there were also moments of macabre humour, especially when a bear was prowling the area. Every day, I was so scared to get out of my van. Every day I wondered if someone would come and attack me. No one could hear me scream. No one knew where I was. Every day it was just terrifying, Henry told reporters. I saw bear scat and I was like, Bear gets killed by bear in the woods. It made me laugh. By Dirk Meissner In many corners of the world, children lacking the most basic amenities such as shoes are still commonplace. However, one entrepreneur who saw this situation firsthand came up with a brilliant idea: The Shoe That Grows. Inventing a leather sandal that expands five sizes and lasts for years, 37-year-old Kenton Lee has successfully impacted thousands of lives around the world. In 2007, when Lee, from Nampa, Idaho, was volunteering at a small orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, he had a lightbulb moment. One day, I was walking with all the kids down a dusty road in the village, he told The Epoch Times. A little girl with a white dress was walking next to me, and I noticed that her shoes were way too small for her feet. The girl had to cut open the front of her shoes in order to let her toes stick out. Witnessing this, Lee was sparked with the idea of a shoe that could last for years. It was the start of a six-year-long process requiring resolve and ingenuity from Lee and his team. We tried to give the idea away to a major shoe company, but nobody wanted to help us, Lee said. Instead of giving up, a determined Lee tried to make a prototype by himself in his garage. However, without any idea in design, Lee said he didnt do a very good job. Fortunately, he finally found a small shoe design company that helped his dream become a reality. Although it took a year for the design process, it was a great prototype. We tested 100 pairs of the prototype in four different schools in Kenya, Lee said. And then we worked with a factory to make our first batch of 3,000 pairs of The Shoe That Grows. Lee, who studied business and nonprofit management at college, then set up his company, Because International, with a clear goal in mind. Our mission is to use products as solutions to alleviate poverty, he said. Our vision is to distribute The Shoe That Grows to kids around the world and to create as many jobs as possible through our Because Accelerator entrepreneur training program. Founder of Because International Kenton Lee. (Courtesy of The Shoe That Grows) So how does the leather shoe that is made of long-lasting materials actually work? Basically, the kids can adjust the shoe on the top with Velcro straps and an adjustable toe piece, Lee said. Then the bottom of the shoe unfolds as the foot naturally grows. According to Because Internationals website, the shoe expands in three different places to grow five sizes and is available for kids of all ages. The shoe is a gamechanger in a world where almost 1.5 billion people suffer from soil-transmitted diseases. The website states that without shoes, kids are most vulnerable to soil-transmitted diseases and parasites that can cause illness and even death, the impact of the former being that children miss school and are put in a position where theyre unable to help their families. With kids feet growing each year, donated shoes also dont seem to serve the purpose, and thus this simple yet effective concept has drawn worldwide attention. So far, working alongside partners in many different countries, the nonprofit organization has sent its shoes to 100 countries around the world, with the majority to Africa, especially East Africa, Lee told The Epoch Times. Over the years, the company has distributed over 350,000 pairs and helped children to lead healthier lives, attend school more regularly, and have confidence in themselves. The nonprofit has also received immense support from kids and adults around the United States and the world. People really love the innovation and compassion of our shoes, Lee said. We are honored to receive much support. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Media Predictably Silent on Communist Flags Carried at Ottawa Counter-Protests: Kenney Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the media has been predictably silent on the display of communist signs at pro-lockdown counter-protests in Ottawa, drawing a contrast to the wide condemnation of Nazi symbols that appeared in isolated incidents at the beginning of the trucker protests. Two weeks ago I called on convoy organizers to disassociate themselves from symbols of hatred displayed by a small number of people. They did so, Kenney wrote in a post on Twitter on Feb. 12. Today pro-lockdown counter protestors displayed Communist flags & signs in Ottawa, but the media has been predictably silent about it. The continued romanticization of Communism by some on the Canadian left is vile, & is consistently ignored by mainstream media, he added. According to Harvard University Presss Black Book of Communism, the violence and repression inherent in communism has resulted in the death of more than 100 million people worldwide. As the death toll mountsas many as 25 million in the former Soviet Union, 65 million in China, 1.7 million in Cambodia, and on and onthe authors systematically show how and why, wherever the millenarian ideology of Communism was established, it quickly led to crime, terror, and repression, reads a description of the book. The continued romanticization of Communism by some on the Canadian left is vile, & is consistently ignored by mainstream media. According to Harvard University Presss Black Book of Communism, >100 million people have been killed by Communist regimes: https://t.co/xQaLnVyW3D Jason Kenney (@jkenney) February 13, 2022 The ongoing Freedom Convoy in Ottawa began as a protest against the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers crossing the Canada-U.S. border, but soon expanded to become a national movement calling for an end to all COVID-19 restrictions. On Jan. 29, when the convoy arrived at the nations capital, Tory MP Michael Cooper brought a container of coffee to the rally to show our appreciation for the truckers. But a demonstrator carrying an upside down Canadian flag with a Nazi symbol drawn on it was caught on camera behind Cooper while the latter was doing a TV interview with CBC News. CBC subsequently published an article saying the MP came under fire for the photo, which was circulated online. Cooper later issued a statement saying he wasnt associated with the person carrying the flag, and if he had seen the Nazi symbol he would have condemned it. Whoever flew this flag is personally responsible for that reprehensible decision and should be eternally ashamed of himself or herself, he said. He or she does not represent the thousands of peaceful protesters who waved Canadian flags and acted responsibly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has refused to meet with the truckers, has said the protesters are a fringe minority who hold unacceptable views and espouse conspiracy theories. He accused them of showing Nazi symbolism and racist imagery. Trudeaus comments drew criticism from several Tory MPs, including Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, Ont., who said on social media on Jan. 21 that many of his constituents were angered by the prime ministers hateful language. The PMs egregious statements were, many believe, made with the express aim of promoting hate against an identifiable group of citizensand specificallyagainst individuals who, for whatever reason, remain unvaccinated, Carrie said. On behalf of my constituents and those Canadians who are angeredand saddenedby the PMs hateful language and demonization efforts, Ive urged the Commissioner of our national police force to uphold the law and Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to investigate the PM for using his position to bully, coerce, punish, or demonize a subset of Canadians. At least two Liberal MPs have also condemned Trudeaus remarks about the protesters. At a press conference on Feb. 8, Quebec MP Joel Lightbound listed the harms caused by his governments COVID-19 mandates and called for an end to approaches that demonize those who voice legitimate concerns about pandemic policies. From a positive and unifying approach, a decision was made to wedge, to divide, and to stigmatize. I fear that this politicization of the pandemic risks undermining the publics trust in our public health institutions, Lightbound said. A day after Lightbound accused his party of using the issue of vaccination as a wedge to divide Canadians, Liberal MP Yves Robillard, another Quebec MP, followed suit in publicly denouncing his governments COVID-19 policies. On Feb. 9, Robillard told The Hill Times in an interview that Lightbound said exactly what a lot of us think and that he agrees with everything Lightbound said. In this image taken from Minneapolis Police Department body camera video and released by the city of Minneapolis, 22-year-old Amir Locke wrapped in a blanket on a couch holding a gun moments before he was fatally shot by Minneapolis police as they were executing a search warrant in a homicide investigation in Minneapolis on Feb. 2, 2022. (Minneapolis Police Department via AP) Minnesota Judge Approved No-Knock Search That Killed Amir Locke to Protect Officers: Document A Minnesota judge approved the no-knock raid that killed Amir Locke in Minneapolis last week, believing it was needed to protect the investigating officers and the public, court documents released on Thursday showed. Officers who requested the warrant to enter a Minneapolis apartment were investigating a previous fatal shooting in St. Paul in which a firearm capable of penetrating police body armor was used. That justified the need for a no-knock entry to catch suspects off guard, the requesting officers said. The court further finds that no-knock entry, without announcement of authority or purpose, is necessary to prevent the loss, destruction, or removal of the objects of said search or to protect the safety of the searchers or the public, a court document signed by Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said. Locke, a 22-year-old man, was not named in the warrant. Minneapolis police have acknowledged it was unclear how or whether he was connected to their investigation. Cahill is the same judge who oversaw the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020. In the days after Lockes killing on Feb. 2, police released video footage of the raid. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a moratorium on such searches on Friday, and some state lawmakers are seeking to enact legislation to limit them. Video footage from the raid showed Locke holding a gun as he twisted beneath a blanket on a sofa after being roused by officers. Police say he pointed the gun at officers before they opened fire, but Lockes family refutes that claim. Activists have said Locke had a right to possess a weapon in his own home and was never given the chance to disarm himself in the chaotic moments as police entered his apartment without warning. The no-knock warrant was issued in relation to a homicide probe led by detectives from the St. Paul Police Department. The document mentions four suspects and names two of them, redacting the identity of one. Mehkia Speed, a named 17-year-old suspect, was arrested this week in connection to the killing of Otis Elder, 38, in Saint Paul, according to authorities. The apartment raided on Feb. 2 was registered to the girlfriend of Speeds brother, according to a charging document filed by Ramsey County Attorney John J. Choi. Speeds brother, his girlfriend, and Locke were at the apartment at the time. New York State, City Sued Over COVID-19 Treatment Order That Discriminates Against Whites Two men who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are suing the city and state of New York for unconstitutional racial discrimination for directing medical providers to consider race in distributing lifesaving treatments. The lawsuit comes after former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson ridiculed the citys directive as an example of critical race theory in action. I certainly dont think that the virus discriminates, Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, told The Chris Salcedo Show last month. I think it takes everybody. And this is absolute absurdity. Weve gone crazy. This is, you know, critical race theory infiltrating everything. Plaintiffs Jonathan Roberts, 61, and Charles Vavruska, 55, are ineligible for treatments because they are non-Hispanic whites, say their lawyers at Sacramento, California-based Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), a national public interest law firm. PLF senior attorney Anastasia Boden said this policy is part of a growing trend to continuously view the world in terms of race, to not see people as individuals, but solely as members of the groups theyre born into, and to dole out benefits and burdens on the basis of immutable characteristics, and thats exactly what the Fourteenth Amendment was intended to prohibit. That amendment was meant to allow people to be seen as individuals and to make race an arbitrary and unimportant characteristic, Boden told The Epoch Times. New York is elevating race above everything else. Both the state and city allocate very important but scarce COVID treatments not only on the basis of things like chronic disease, cancer, and diabetes, but also on the basis of race, Boden said. We have no control over the race into which we are born, and to make that a determinative factor is both deeply unfair and unconstitutional. The Constitution prohibits the government from drawing lines in the sand on the basis of immutable characteristics, she said. The legal complaint (pdf) in Roberts v. Bassett, court file 1:22-cv-710, was filed Feb. 8 in federal court in Brooklyn. The defendants are Mary Bassett in her official capacity as Commissioner for the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), along with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene of the city of New York. Last month, as the new Omicron variant sparked a surge in COVID-19 cases, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock told Congress most people are going to get COVID. Around that time, the state acknowledged there were severe supply shortages for all COVID-19 outpatient therapeutics, and that the most effective oral antiviral, Paxlovid, goes out of stock frequently, the legal complaint states. This antiviral superstar that received FDA emergency use authorization in December 2021 reduces the rate of hospitalizations by around 90% with no safety issue beyond placebo. Although drug production will speed up, it is currently in short supply, so state and city told providers to follow the states directive for allocating scarce COVID-19 treatments for Paxlovid, oral antiviral Molnupiravir, and monoclonal antibodies. The NYSDOH issued a rationing order on Dec. 27, 2021, directing health care providers and facilities to prioritize the administration of treatments because of shortages. The department laid out eligibility criteria for oral antivirals, listing risk factors, among them non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. It justified this racial criterion by saying longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. The same day, the city published 2021 Health Advisory Number 39, instructing health care providers to adhere to state guidance on prioritization of high-risk patients for anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies during this time of severe resource limitations. New Yorks designation of race as an independent risk factor has no basis in science, the complaint states. Evidence that race by itself makes an individual more susceptible to suffering adverse effects from COVID-19 doesnt exist, because race is an arbitrary classification that lumps in many different individuals with different attributes and different needs. The Mayo Clinic found in August 2020 that theres no evidence that people of color have genetic or other biological factors that make them more likely to be affected by COVID-19. Moreover, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data gathered by Emory University show in New York, the rate of deaths due to COVID-19 for white non-Hispanic individuals exceeds the death rate for any other group. NYSDOH spokesperson Erin Silk declined to comment on the lawsuit, but defended the treatment guidance. These are neither qualifications nor requirements for treatments. Qualifying risk factors include a long list of medical conditions, as well as age and vaccination status, Silk said by email. She said the guidance states that Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered one of the many risk factors, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. This risk factor is based on CDC guidelines that show COVID-19 mortality rates are higher among certain demographic groups, including senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals and non-white/Hispanic communities. But Silk said, no one in New York who is otherwise qualified based on their individual risk factors will be turned away from life-saving treatment because of their race or any demographic identifier. Boden rejected Silks explanation. I take the guidance to mean what it says it means: Race alone can be a determinative factor in whether someone is eligible for or eventually receives COVID treatment, she told The Epoch Times. What does otherwise qualified even mean? Boden said, referring to the phrase used by Silk. For some, race will be the reason they qualify. The New York City Law Department declined to comment when contacted by The Epoch Times. 100 years ago 1922: With Dr. Tex Mackie as chairman for the day, the Rotary Club luncheon meeting Tuesday went over with zippy zest. Dr. Mackie said he thought the program should be devoted to discussing matters essential in improving Flagstaff, and introduced the Captain of the Flagstaff Battery D. If the average of attendance at battery drills was higher, the income to Flagstaff could be increased to $27,344 a year, all brought in from outside of the city and all spent in Flagstaff. Dr. Mackie wittingly pictured the effects this additional money has on Flagstaff and its benefits to every business here. He said in 10 years it means $100,000 worth of improvement in dear old Flagstaff. He introduced Lieutenant Francis Chisel, county farm agent, who said that Flagstaff makes a good impression on tourists. But he pointed out that there is still vast room for improvement. There are too few trees and shrubbery. He said the two varieties of elm, two of locust, native cottonwood, box elder and hackberry can be successfully grown in Flagstaff. Mr. J.C. Shelton, a young man living at Flagstaff in Coconino County, has perfected a method by which he transmits halftone cuts, like the ones of the old-timers in our county chronology. Mr. Shelton has several times come to the Sun office for old cuts that we could spare him to experiment with and recently came in with a print of one of them made by telegraphic mode. Transmitting pictures by wire is now being extensively done and newspapers frequently use this method. Mr. Shelton claims that his method is a big improvement over the one now in use, and he believes he may be able to secure its adoption in place of the present method. In which case he will be greatly profited. 75 years ago 1947: An exhibit of captured Japanese equipment featuring a suicide PT boat will be exhibited in Flagstaff by the United States Navy Club Friday Feb. 14. The PT boat is known in Japan as the Shinyotie, which translated means earth-rocking ocean boat. It is 16 feet long and is powered by a Japanese built six-cylinder engine of American design. It is capable of a speed as high as 50 knots per hour. The suicide pilots job was to ram the boat into an American ship. The pilot was expected to join his ancestors in the fulfillment of his mission. Valentines Day is a holiday in Arizona. Arizona will observe its 35th birthday as a state tomorrow, February 14. It was on Feb. 14 in 1912, Valentines Day, that Arizona was admitted as the 48th state. Banks, state, county, and city offices will close in observance of the legal holiday. Business houses and schools will be open as usual. 50 years ago 1972: In early 1958, a board of 14 Flagstaff citizens was assembled by city council and, under the chairmanship of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors chairman, was handed the job of drafting a charter for the City of Flagstaff. The charter was adopted in a special election and was ratified at a special Council meeting later. With ratification, Flagstaff moved out of the era of council clerk form of government into what is known as council manager form of government, with a mayor, elected specifically for that job, designed to be as much a figurehead as anything else. Now, overdue changes are being made to the city charter. The changes fall in several different categories. There are major changes, such as those giving the mayor full membership and voting rights on the Council, granting it the power to amend and possibly extend the present sales tax ordinance without seeking a vote of the people, and the placing of city officers, such as the attorney clerk and treasurer, under the direct leadership and pleasure of the city manager. There are procedural changes, such as those changing the dates of terms of service for the mayor and members of city council. The city hopes by today to have all the changes done in printed form. 25 years ago 1997: When Jay Loeffers signed up to sell cleaning fluid door to door, he was told he would be put up at the best accommodations. He didn't realize that would include the Coconino County jail, where he wound up for one night when his employer failed to secure a city sales tax permit. Loeffers said they told him that they would pay for travel and hotels, and he said it looked like a real good operation. He was hired by Texas based Hy-Pro Chemical Corporation to sell its cleaning fluid. The manager was driving around in a brand-new Lexus. "They said that I would get 50% of all the sales I made, there'd be cash bonuses, plus if I did well, I would end up with a leather jacket like the best salesman." Loeffers, who lives at the Motel Dubois in Southside, claims that the outfit is not quite as positive as it claims to be. Loeffers said that when he read about the job openings in the Arizona Daily Sun classified, he interviewed in Flagstaff with the sales crew for the Texas-based company on Monday, was hired on the spot, and started selling door to door the following day. By Wednesday, he was in jail. Flagstaff police arrested him and two others for selling without a city sales tax permit. Loeffers had been arrested along with one other person. That person failed to show up for a court appearance. All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. Bruce Carl Ertmann assisted with compiling the events. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Over 600 Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines Given in Clinic Were Stored Improperly: Connecticut Officials Hundreds of individuals who received COVID-19 vaccines at a clinic in New Haven, Connecticut, need to receive another shot, officials said. The reason why, said the New Haven Health Department on Feb. 11, is because vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were improperly refrigerated before they were administered, reported the Hartford Courant. After consulting with Pfizer and the Connecticut Department of Public Health it was recommended that those who received the improperly stored Pfizer vaccine or booster get revaccinated as soon as they can, Health Director Maritza Bond told the outlet. The doses were administered at the New Haven Health Department clinic at 54 Meadow Street between Dec. 25, 2021, and Feb. 7, 2022. Pfizer officials told New Haven health officials that the improperly refrigerated doses could be less effective, according to the Courant. This issue was identified this week when the Health Department was conducting an inventory of our vaccines, Mayor Justin Elicker said in a statement. Following this notification, action was taken to investigate the issue and the director of health immediately reached out to the state Department of Public Health as well the vaccine manufacturer, Pfizer. Authorities told local Connecticut media that the mishap impacts upwards of 650 people. Officials said that about 22,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were administered before coming across the storage issue. Those who were impacted by the storage mishap will be contacted by the city health department, Elicker, a Democrat, told the Hartford Courant. However, he said that anyone who received a shot between Dec. 25 and Feb. 7 at the New Haven Health Department on 54 Meadow Street should visit the citys website. Theres specific directions about how long vaccines should be in a freezer versus put in the refrigerator and that timeline was not appropriately followed, Elicker said. Elicker added that a lot the folks were receiving boosters and most were being fully vaccinated but there are (sic) a lot of evidence that boosters really help out, so we want to make sure, as quickly as possibly can, we provide a recommendation, where in other circumstances, this has also happened, is simply to get an additional dose, Elicker said. The Food and Drug Administration in May 2021 authorized thawed and undiluted vials of Pfizers vaccine to be stored between 35 degrees F to 46 degrees F for up to one month. Previously, the agency said that such vials could be stored for up to five days. In late 2021, a pharmacy in Virginia incorrectly administered the wrong dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine to dozens of children aged 5 to 11. Around the same time, a hospital in Iowa said it administered the wrong vaccine to more than 100 children. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pauses while speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon, in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) US Losing Ground to China Due to Pentagons Wasteful Bureaucracy: Former Chief Software Officer News Analysis Bureaucracy and waste are hamstringing U.S. military development and adversely affecting the nations military readiness, according to the former chief software officer of the Air Force. That means the United States is less prepared for a potential conflict with China. Any bureaucracy which slows down outcomes for the sake of bureaucracy is going to ensure we get behind China, Nicolas Chaillan, who resigned in September, said in a recent interview. China doesnt let complacency or bureaucracy get in the way of [its military], he told The Epoch Times. He made the comments amid increasing tensions between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concerning the de facto independence of Taiwan, mass intellectual property theft, and human rights abuses in Xinjiang and elsewhere. As that competition becomes more adversarial, the CCP has focused on technological development in sectors that its leadership considers vital, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (AI/ML). According to Chaillan, its these sectors, and IT more broadly, that U.S. military bureaucracy is negatively affecting the most. A Toxic Budgeting System There are long-running concerns that the Pentagon is encumbered with red tape, redundant oversight measures, and safety protocols that slow military development to a snails pace. Indeed, the bureaucracy has become something close to synonymous with the Department of Defense (DoD), according to its leadership. Gen. John Hyten, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, said in October 2021 that the Departments bureaucracy was brutal, and that a risk-averse culture among military leadership was stifling technological development and allowing the CCP to seize the advantage in critical sectors such as hypersonic weapons development. The pace [China is] moving and the trajectory that theyre on will surpass Russia and the United States if we dont do something to change it, Hyten said. It will happen. We can go fast if we want to. But the bureaucracy weve put in place is just brutal. When asked if he agreed with that assessment, Chaillans response was matter-of-fact. Yes, without a doubt, he said. Everything from the budget process with Congress to the acquisition process that is cumbersome and prevents agile acquisition due to reporting requirements and [the fact that] budgets are allocated so far ahead that we are stuck in time. He added that the sheer amount of compartmentalization within the DoD makes it difficult to build consensus among leadership and to get anything done. Chaillan also said that such difficulties were particularly burdensome in terms of developing cutting-edge technologies, as it was difficult within the DoD to upgrade to yesterdays technologies, much less tomorrows. He noted that the budgeting process as a whole ultimately is the responsibility of Congress to fix. The processs knock-on effects throughout the DoD were dangerous nonetheless, he said. Key among them, he said, was the need to allot finances for specific projects many years in advance. Currently, Pentagon leaders develop a five-year program that will serve as an outline for the scope and funding of their endeavors. This program is then used to inform the branchs budget request of Congress. Congress then allocates funds for future use, as it dissects the Pentagons alleged needs. The problem, of course, is that military responses to emerging threats and IT development cant be pre-allocated, meaning that many programs come into existence and end up being unnecessary, while other needed technologies go unfunded. [The budget process] isnt the Pentagons fault, but it has toxic ripple effects across the building as the Pentagon is now working the 2024 to 2029 budget, Chaillan said. How could this even work out? No one knows what IT will look like in 2025, let alone 2029. As such, he said, current acquisition processes hinder the integration of expert industry experience into the military, effectively preventing the military from expanding its talent pool. This is because the Pentagon cannot effectively train and continuously fund IT workers whose expertise needs to be continuously changing with the technology, as the budget process forces them into long-term, semi-static programs agreed to at times years in advance. Such statements echo similar remarks made by Michael Sekora last month. Sekora, who spearheaded Project Socrates, a Reagan-era Defense Intelligence Agency program designed to increase U.S. competitive advantage, lambasted what he referred to as a finance-planning model of defense. In such a system, Sekora said, the government merely allocates funds year by year, in the hope that the funds will somehow be transformed into the technologies that are needed when they are needed. The CCP, meanwhile, was pursuing a technology-based strategy whereby specific technologies were created and deployed in a whole-of-society effort to address real problems in real time. China understands that exploiting technology more effectively than the competition is the foundation of all competitive advantage, Sekora said. Anything else is a guaranteed exercise in futility. Talent Retention Worse Than Ive Ever Seen To that end, Chaillan noted that a vital aspect of working in technology-oriented fields is the need to be forever learning, improving, and iterating. Unfortunately, he said, making continuous learning a part of the job is not something that the military bureaucracy allows much of. We dont invest enough in our talent, Chaillan said. We must understand that with the pace of IT, the only answer is continuous learning. Chaillan said that when he was chief software officer for the Air Force, he would give his team an hour every day to dedicate to learning new concepts. That model isnt in vogue with the Pentagon, however, which typically approaches IT-related fields from a managerial perspective. Usually, learning is seen as a yearly thing or worse, Chaillan said. Additionally, the DoD believes in this concept of knowing everything where no one is supposed really to become an expert at something, they just learn to manage and they supposedly can manage anything from a [fighter] wing to a maintenance crew to an IT team. This managerial approach was negatively affecting IT in the military, which requires a more active and entrepreneurial approach, Chaillan said. Moreover, it encourages the placement of military officers to leadership roles based purely on rank rather than in-field qualifications. We are setting up critical infrastructure to fail, Chaillan wrote in a separate open letter in September that explored his reasons for resigning from the Pentagon. We would not put a pilot in the cockpit without extensive flight training; why would we expect someone with no IT experience to be close to successful? That problem was compounded, Chaillan said, by a lack of opportunities for IT professionals in the military to actually apply themselves at the jobs they were trained to do. Obviously, that doesnt work with IT, Chaillan said. That means that many IT professionals in the military are prevented by bureaucratic processes from further developing professionally, eventually becoming stale at their skill set. Its a problem that Chaillan himself cited as a reason for his own departure from the Pentagon. Perhaps because of this, many of the companies at the forefront of new technological development simply wont work with the DoD, Chaillan said. Unfortunately, many companies still refuse to work with DoD, which isnt helping us get access to best-of-breed talent, Chaillan said. We also have a very tough time retaining talent right now, particularly in IT. Its worse than Ive ever seen. Chaillan lamented the fact that chief information officers in the DoD werent being fully utilized, and were effectively being treated as lottery tickets whose projects may or may not be picked for funding rather than as drivers of innovation. DoD Chief Information Officers are just seen as policy shops instead of actual doers, Chaillan said. That would never happen on the commercial side. That must be changed. Indeed, in his open letter, Chaillan wrote that the very same happened to him, much to the detriment of U.S. defense needs and equally to the advantage of the CCP. He was underutilized, he said, and spent the majority of his professional time trying to convince others to consider more efficient solutions to well-known problems. The DoD should stop pretending they want industry folks to come and help if they are not going to let them do the work, he wrote. While we wasted time in bureaucracy, our adversaries moved further ahead. Four Cents of Real Value on a Dollar That mismanagement and the adverse effects it has on military readiness are only the tip of the iceberg, however. By Chaillans estimation, the Pentagon is only utilizing 4 percent of its funds on actual solutions. Overall, I believe we get four cents of value out of one dollar of taxpayer money spent, Chaillan said. First, probably 60 cents are wasted due to cumbersome acquisition processes and requirements which were made to prevent fraud or conflicts of interest or bad behavior, but really ended up creating a massive bureaucracy which created more waste than it is preventing. Second, because we are stuck in time and get requirements that are five to 10 years too old, we effectively buy many things that are obsolete or arent a good fit to the current mission and should have been voided but we dont because we spent years trying to get the contract done. Thats probably another 30 cents. Another six cents is wasted by making mistakes, which are fair and common. Thats four cents of real value on a dollar. With $750 billion funding, that means $30 billion is actually real tangible value. Chaillan was careful to point out that the figure is only his opinion but said that most of his professional acquaintances would agree that the DoD loses at least 60 percent of its funds to such wastage. Regardless, bureaucratic waste remains widespread, and outdated or otherwise unneeded technologies remain a persistent problem. The fact is that parts of the military, for its trillions of dollars received over the years, simply dont have adequately functioning technology. That problem was highlighted in an open letter to the DoD penned in January by Michael Kanaan, director of operations for the Air Force-MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, a joint AI research endeavor, in which he flogged military leadership about the fact that its IT professionals were working with computers that were decades old. Want innovation? You lost literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of employee hours last year because computers dont work, Kanaan, who was Air Forces first chairman for AI, wrote. Fix our computers. Its not a money problem, its a priority problem. US Approaching The Point of No Return Such problems and the waste that causes them are not new, however, nor are they a secret. Indeed, in many instances, such waste is baked into the U.S. defense-industrial complex by excessive congressional oversight. In 2015, then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said that 20 percent of the defense budget was pure overhead. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, meanwhile, set that number at closer to 40 percent. Likewise, another former Navy secretary, John Lehman, said that roughly half of all uniformed personnel serve on staffs that spend most of their time going to meetings and responding to tasks from the hundreds of offices that have grown like mold throughout the vast Defense Department. In 2015, a DoD report was compiled to examine the problem, and found that $125 billion, roughly a quarter of its annual budget at the time, was lost on administrative waste over the course of five years. The Pentagon ultimately buried the report, classifying its data out of a fear that Congress would cut its budget. Likewise, accounting firm Ernst and Young found in 2018 that the Defense Logistics Agency, the Pentagons main procurement wing, failed to properly document more than $800 million in construction projects. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Pentagon also failed all three of its audits, each conducted since 2018, when it was subjected to its first independent and department-wide audit. In 2020, then-DoD Comptroller Thomas Harker said that the department likely wouldnt pass an audit until at least 2027. In sum, the Pentagon is failing to invest in relevant new technologies because its bureaucracy is slowing the investments it does make. Meanwhile, its funding structure and excessive administrative oversight are hemorrhaging most of the funds it receives before the money gets to projects that might be outdated or unnecessary by the time the budget is approved. According to Chaillan, the United States must compete with Chinas superior population by becoming more efficient, more innovative, and more agile. Under the current bureaucratic structure, however, the likelihood of that happening is fast becoming an impossibility, he says. Even as the CCP invests in AI/ML, autonomous systems, space warfare, and quantum computing, the U.S. military is struggling with a lack of basic, functioning IT equipment. Moreover, Chaillan said, its failing to deliver on the tangible products required to win a war. The biggest threats to readiness today [are] our lack of access to basic IT capabilities like Edge computing, Edge cloud, proper connectivity, modern devices, and ensuring we can connect all the military domains to get a full picture of our current situation, Chaillan said. More importantly, the lack of investment in AI/ML tangible military outcomes instead of focusing on AI/ML ethics will be what leads us to getting behind to the point of no return if that doesnt change by December 2022. Photo Report: Spirits High in Ottawa as Protest Enters Third Week OTTAWAThe mood was again very festive in Ottawa this Saturday with thousands of participants attending the Freedom Convoy protest which entered its third week. This was despite the state of emergency declared by the city and the province and the calls from elected officials of all government levels and stripes to put an end to these activities. Many families attended, multiple dance parties continued, and the free hugs givers were seen throughout. A protester walks on Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A trucker talks to protesters in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A young family walks through the protest on Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester dances and waves a Canadian flag in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester holds a sign as she walks on Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester holds a sign on Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester dances and holds a Canadian flag at one of the dance parties in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester holds a sign on Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A protester participates in one of the dance parties in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A man dances and offers free hugs on Sparks St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) Protesters walk down Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A man holds a Canadian flag as he walks up Wellington St. in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) A man has transformed his house into a groovy 70s-inspired home for roughly $3,300 (2,500 pounds). Ben Scott, 28, was inspired by his grandparents home when decorating his own house in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in England. His home is filled with floral patterns, oranges, and browns along with retro furniture including a gas fireplace. The former support worker renovated his home using items purchased from eBay and Facebook Marketplace. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) I absolutely love 70s decor, he said. I find modern houses all look the same. Mine has a bit of personality and guests instantly know what I like by walking through my door. The walls used to be magnolia but it felt so cold. Whereas now I have lots of warm tones such as yellows, oranges, and browns. Everything in my house is either free, from eBay or Facebook Marketplace. My sofa was free from a stranger on Facebook and it was barely ever sat on. In the 70s, a lot of people used to use their living room as more of a showroom, so that has worked in my favor with the sofa. The fireplace was 20 pounds (approx. $25) and so was the unit next to my bed. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) The most expensive item in Bens home is the armchair, which cost 80 pounds (approx. $110). I usually pay around 20 pounds for an item or less, he said. I have a large west German lamp in my living room which looks more than 20 pounds. The kitchen wallpaper was 10 pounds and the yellow floral wallpaper in my bedroom was 20 pounds. Some things are second hand whilst others have never been usedeither way, I dont mind. Everything from the bath rug to dinnerware is 70s inspired in my house. (Courtesy of Caters News) I have a wooden cabinet in my living room and I have stuck 70s-inspired vinyl wallpaper to the back of it. I have been decorating for the last two years but it really spiraled during the lockdown as I found decorating helped with my mental health. I am now surrounded by vibrant floral patterns that I love. My home definitely helps lift my spirit. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) Ben was inspired by his late grandparents Sarah, 82, and Jeff, 73. Growing up I lived with my grandparents and their house was similar, he said. So now my home feels as safe as it did back then. It is comforting being in my house as it reminds me of them. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter An adorable 3-year-old black German shepherd has dozens of animal friends from different species: rabbits, ferrets, rats, and a whole lot more. Owner Nicole Yates, 36, of Melbourne, Australia, has been sharing pictures of her dog Nuka with her other pets. Nuka is the gentlest dog in the world and absolutely loves getting his picture taken, Nicole said. I have a lot of smaller animals at home, and he is just fascinated by them and always is happy to let them cuddle up to him and play. It is almost like a natural instinct he has to protect and be gentle with the animals. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) Nuka seems to have a best friend from every group of animals that Nicole has. I am not sure how he does it, but he seems to find his favorite from each group of animals I have every single time, she said. For example, I have 40 rats and Nuka is specifically drawn to one who he spots every time based on his fur color, which never ceases to amaze me. He also finds his favorites amongst my rabbits, ferrets, and birds in the same way. (Courtesy of Caters News) (Courtesy of Caters News) Nukas best friend of all, though, has got to be one of Nicoles ferrets, called Raye. She said: We often go out to see the ferrets because they are very sociable animals and always want to play when we visit hes always focused on Raye. She is just his best friend and always seems to brighten his day when he goes to visit. (Courtesy of Caters News) Nuka was adopted by Nicole from a breeder in New South Wales in April 2018 when he was just 8 weeks old. I made a 12-hour drive to pick him up to take him home and just fell in love the second I saw him, she said. I had to stay overnight at a facility that didnt allow dogs, so we had to sneak him in, and I was terrified he would be really noisy and cry all night. I was so surprised with how well he slept and how relaxed he was, so when we finally got him home, it really didnt take him long to adjust to his new setting. (Courtesy of Caters News) Nukas love for his animal friends started really early in life, with Nicole eager to introduce him to her other pets. When we brought him home, we had an older shepherd called Zeki who was 13 at the time. Nuka learned a lot from Zeki, which was really beneficial to his development from an early stage and also helped his behavior around the animals. Zeki was also an incredibly smart dog who was brilliant with other animals, and her presence around Nuka molded him into the dog he is today. (Courtesy of Caters News) Over time, Nicole gradually introduced Nuka to more of her animals once she felt his confidence had grown. She explained: We introduced him to the chickens really early on and he was really good around them. We then progressed to a rat, followed by the guinea pigs, and at 6 months old, he met the first rabbit I took in. I was nervous with the rabbit because it was larger, but it was honestly incredible to see them interact, as Nuka just sniffed and licked a couple times before wanting to cuddle and play. Nicoles pet animals have found their way to her through many different routes, with most of them being predominantly animals rescued from families who just couldnt keep them anymore. A lot of children sadly lose interest in, and they become an expense for the family, so I am always happy to take in and care for small animals if I have the room, she said. I have bred the rats, and the chickens are from a farm, but the vast majority of the others come either through this route, or perhaps a rescue charity may reach out and ask if I can take them in. (Courtesy of Caters News) Nukas Instagram page, @nuka.and.co, boasts nearly 10,000 followers, who regularly interact with the posts and reach out to Nicole for advice for their own animals at home. She said: It was about two years ago we made the account after my family members helped me set it up after mentioning how the pictures would be enjoyed by lots of people. It is really humbling to hear people love the pictures, and on a couple of occasions, I have had people saying how they have been going through a tough time and Nukas pics have cheered them up. It just goes to show that cute animal pictures can really be medicine for the soul! Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter A woman, walks past Champs Elysees Avenue near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in France, on Jan. 25, 2021. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) Police Fire Tear Gas at Freedom Convoy Protesters in Paris French police fired tear gas at the Canadian-inspired Freedom Convoy demonstrators protesting on Feb. 12 on the Champs-Elysees in Paris against COVID-19 restrictions imposed on the capital city. Police had already stopped 500 vehicles at three checkpoints in Paris early on Feb. 12. By mid-morning, almost 300 tickets were handed out. The situation turned tense, with scuffles breaking out around lunchtime, according to local media outlets. The Freedom Convoy vehicles had blocked the Place de lEtoile around the Arc de Triomphe by 4 p.m., with large crowds gathered on the streets. Riot police were attempting to disperse the demonstrators with the repeated firing of tear gas, journalist Catherine Trent wrote in a Feb. 12 Twitter post. Canadas anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protests have paralyzed certain regions of Ottawa since late January, and theyve also blocked crucial crossing points on the U.S.Canada border. The protests currently happening in France are against rules that mandate vaccine passes to enter public places. The vaccine pass, which replaced the health pass and took effect on Jan. 24, has been made a requirement to enter bars, restaurants, fairs, shopping centers, theme parks, and museums, as well as to access certain social and medical services. Weve been going around in circles for three years. We saw the Canadians and said to ourselves, Its awesome, what theyre doing. In eight days, boom, something was sparked, pensioner Jean-Marie Azais told Reuters, referring to Frances anti-COVID-19 strategy. A woman who cheered for the motorists told the media outlet that protestors should defy the police order, which asked demonstrators to remain outside the Paris city limits. The health pass of adults who havent taken a COVID-19-vaccine booster dose four months after the second dose will be deactivated, beginning on Feb. 15. French police had sent more than 7,000 officers, as well as water cannon trucks and armored personnel carriers, to manage the protests. The police arrested five protestors from the southern Paris region for carrying hammers, gas masks, slingshots, and knives. Police at the scene were tense, and they fired tear gas after multiple photographers took photos of officers subduing and kicking a protestor, according to an Associated Press report. One AP photographer was hit in the head with a canister of tear gas. French Prime Minister Jean Castex issued a stern warning to protesters. If they block traffic or if they try to block the capital, we must be very firm about this. The right to demonstrate and to have an opinion are a constitutionally guaranteed right in our republic and in our democracy. The right to block others or to prevent coming and going is not, Castex told France 2 TV. French President Emmanuel Macron said citizens were feeling fatigued because of the pandemic dragging on for years. In an interview with a local newspaper, Macron said such fatigue leads to anger. I understand it, and I respect it, he said. But I call for the utmost calm. Multiple holes in windows can be seen at a house where five Phoenix Police Department officers were shot and four others were injured after responding to a shooting inside the home, in Phoenix, on Feb. 11, 2022. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo) Police Used Shields to Rescue Baby During Phoenix Standoff PHOENIXSWAT officers used ballistic shields as they rescued a baby girl during a standoff with a gunman who earlier shot and wounded five patrol officers, including four while they moved to take the baby to safety, Phoenix police said. Initial accounts of the incident Friday that left the gunman and a woman believed to be his ex-girlfriend dead and the baby unharmed hadnt explained how police rescued the baby after the first attempt was thwarted. All of the five wounded officers were expected to survive, police said. Four additional officers had minor injuries after being struck by shrapnel or ricocheting bullets, police said. In a statement released late Friday, police also said that after he shot one officer, the gunman tried unsuccessfully to drive out of the garage of the home where he later barricaded himself and was found dead inside hours later. The getaway attempt was thwarted because a parked patrol car blocked his vehicle, the police statement said. When he was unsuccessful, he went back into the house. Police on Friday identified the dead suspect as 36-year-old Morris Richard Jones III. Federal court records showed Jones had a criminal history dating back to at least 2007, including convictions in Oklahoma for using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction and in Arizona for conspiring to transport, for profit, people who were in the country illegally. The woman who died at a hospital after being found critically wounded in the home after the standoff ended has been identified as Shatifah Lobley, 29, of Phoenix, and family members told police that the baby was a 1-month-old child of Lobley and Jones, police spokesman Sgt. Andy Williams said Saturday. Lobley was shot before police arrived at the scene, Williams said. 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, in Phoenix, on Feb. 11, 2022. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo) Still unknown was whether Jones killed himself or died from shots fired by police. Police went to the home in response to a 911 call reporting the shooting of a woman. The first officer was ambushed and shot as he approached the door but was able to back away and find cover, the statement said. The second officer to arrive fired at Jones, who went back into the home, the statement said. During the ensuing barricade situation, a man whose identity hasnt been released stepped out of the front door, put a baby down, and then surrendered to police, police said. Officers then approached the front door to rescue the baby but Jones shot at them, wounding four with bullets as four others were struck by ricochets or shrapnel, police said. After members of the police departments Special Assignment Unit arrived at the scene, those officers used shields to reach the child, the statement said. Jones also fired shots at the SAU officers during the barricade. A baby is safe today because of our Phoenix police officers, Mayor Kate Gallego said at a news conference near the scene. The statement said police tried unsuccessfully to get Jones to leave the house. After using a camera to look inside and seeing that Jones wasnt moving, police entered and found him dead, the statement said. The statement didnt describe the camera but a city councilwoman said a Glendale police drone assisted Phoenix police during the incident. Detectives believe the man who carried the baby out of the home and Lobley were siblings, Williams said Saturday. Williams said three of the wounded officers remained hospitalized Saturday. During the incident, neighbors took shelter from the gunfire. Austin Michael, who had been working on a car he recently bought, told the Arizona Republic he took shelter in his pickup camper after seeing a police vehicle go by and then hearing gunfire before seeing more police vehicles and news vehicles arrive. Michael said he saw an officer being loaded into an ambulance and TV crews take cover as bullets went over their heads. That was so close, thats when everything got extremely serious and it was not a joke anymore, he said. By Paul Davenport People attend a spiritual service in Pine Trails Park with leaders of several faiths in tribute of the victims of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2020. (Leila Macor/AFP via Getty Images) Racially Sensitive Restorative School Discipline Isnt Behaving Very Well News Analysis The fight outside North High School in Denver was about to turn more violent as one girl wrapped a bike chain around her fist to strike the other. Just before the attacker used the weapon, school staff arrived and restrained her, ending the fight but not the story. Most high schools would have referred the chain-wielding girl to the police. But North High brought the two girls together to resolve the conflict through conversation. They discovered that a boy was playing them off each other. Feeling less hostile after figuring out the backstory, the girls did not fight again. This alternative method of discipline, called restorative practices, is spreading across the countryand being put to the test. Many schools are enduring sharp increases in violence following the return of students from COVID lockdowns, making this softer approach a higher-stakes experiment in student safety. Kids are getting into more fights and disturbances because they are struggling, says Yoli Anyon, a professor of social work at San Jose State University. So schools are relying on restorative practices as a way to help young people transition back to the classroom. Long pushed by racial justice groups, the method aims to curb suspensions and arrests that disproportionately affect students of color. It replaces punishment with discussions about the causes and harmful impact of misbehavior, from sassing teachers and smoking pot to fighting (serious offenses like gun possession are still referred to the police). The hope is that students, through apologizing and making amends, will learn from their misdeeds and form healthier relationships with peers and teachers, making school violence less likely as they continue their education. Orange County, California, is spearheading an expansion of the program into 32 schools, and Iowa City just started its own. Many other large districtsincluding Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, Miami, New York City, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Washington D.C.introduced the alternative in recent years. Denver, which pioneered restorative practices more than a decade ago and inspired districts to follow its lead, seems a good place to ask: Is the kinder approach working? Yes and no, and often the answer depends on the eye of the beholder. Suspensions have fallen significantly, in keeping with the intent of the changed discipline policy. But fighting and other serious incidents have not meaningfully declined, the district says. Other cities have reported similar outcomes, according to evaluations and school leaders. Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz is shown in court at the defense table with his defense attorneys, Gabe Ermine, left, and David Wheeler at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP) Critics point to the massacre in Parkland, Florida, as a chilling example of what can go wrong. Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 fellow students and staff members in 2018, was able to stay in schooland pass a background check to purchase the weapon he usedbecause the district tried to address his violent behavior before the shooting through counseling instead of referring him to authorities. The reasons for the mixed results in Denver, where Latinos and blacks make up two-thirds of the students, and other cities are complex. Some teachers and administrations dont buy the restorative philosophy. In schools struggling with low test scores and overcrowded classrooms, it seems like another time-consuming educational fad. And students who are demoralized by school sometimes see a restorative conversation as an easy way to escape suspension rather than a learning experience. Restorative practices arent a silver bullet that alone fix behavior problems, says Don Haddad, the superintendent of Colorados St. Vrain Valley School District, which has used the program for years. It only works as part of a comprehensive improvement of schools, with better academic programs that give students hope for the future. Otherwise, it has the potential to be just another feel-good program. Cops Get the Boot Last year, Denver doubled down on restorative practices when it expelled police, called school resource officers (SROs), from its schools. Officers ticketed and arrested 4,500 students at school from 2014 to 2019 in a district of about 90,000 pupils. Critics of the use of SROs say many of these incidents, like marijuana possession, should have been handled by restorative conversations. The Black Lives Matter protests after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020 gave the progressive Denver School Board an opening to move against the SROs. When Denver police used tear gas on protesters, Tay Anderson, who joined the board after serving as a restorative coordinator at North High, says he decided to ride the momentum against law enforcement that was sweeping the country. He immediately helped draft a resolution to phase the officers out of schools by the middle of 2021. Many school leaders, who werent consulted about the order, objected. North High Principal Scott Wolf told board members that the role of SROs in schools is misunderstood. He called them an incredible asset by building positive relationships with students and helping improve the schools culture. In the model of community policing, SROs serve mostly to deter crime. Washington police officer Todd Foremana Washington High School Resource officerwalks the hallways at school at part of his duties in Washington, Pa. Foreman, a city patrolman and detective who started at the district in 2004, says that forging relationships with students helps avoid or de-escalate potential problems. (Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter via AP) But the board passed the measure unanimously, joining more than 30 districts nationwide in removing police from schools. In late summer, when Denver students returned to the school buildings after more than a year of remote learning, the police were no longer there to help tamp down the violence. The outbreak in Denver was alarming. In just the first month of instruction, there were 102 student fights, 11 sexual assaults, eight assaults on staff, and 29 weapons violations; including four loaded firearms and a stabbing of a student with a knife, according to Boardhawk, a news website that covers the district. Michael Eaton, chief of the Department of Safety for Denver schools, warned in November that hes never seen such a surge of crime in his 10 years of service. The murder of George Floyd had nothing to do with SROs, but for political reasons, districts made the decision to remove a very protective element from their schools, says Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. We now see that this didnt make schools safer. Officials in Alexandria, Virginia, and at least one other district called the police back to school last fall to combat the jump in assaults and gun threats. But Anderson, a progressive leader of the Denver board at age 23, rejects the criticism that it blundered. We would have seen these spontaneous incidents across the district whether there was an officer present or not, he says. The Rise and Fall of Suspensions Denver and other districts nationwide saw a rise in suspensions after one of the most tragic days in Colorado school history: the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School by two armed students. Districts adopted zero-tolerance policies in the wake of Columbine, handing out tougher penalties including suspensions for a long list of offenses, from talking in class and insubordination to gang fights. Three years after Columbine, suspensions in Denver rose to 13,679. Violence in schools fell during the early days of zero tolerance along with a national decline in crime, making this policys impact hard to discern. Amid the inevitable excesses, such as elementary students suspended for playing with make-believe guns, one fact stood out: black students were being suspended at three times the rate of whites, according to the U.S. Office of Civil Rights. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House on Aug. 5, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) The debate over the causes of the racial disparity continues today: Are schools acting with racial bias in suspending a higher percentage of blacks, or are these students misbehaving more often than whites? The question isnt merely academic, since students who are suspended or expelled are about three times as likely to be involved with the juvenile justice system the following year, research shows. The Obama administration took sides, warning schools that it saw racism at work and would carry out civil rights investigations against schools that didnt rectify the disparity in suspensions. More than 300 investigations were launched, causing schools to change their discipline policies to penalize fewer blacks and Latinos. The Trump administration rescinded Obamas guidance as a misuse of federal power. Now President Bidens education secretary, Miguel Cardona, is preparing new guidance that appears to be in line with Obamas. While bias is hard to prove, researchers have approached it from several angles. In a study of Denvers K-12 schools, Professor Anyon controlled for several factors such as whether students had disabilities, were identified as gifted, or came from low-income families. She found that black and Latino students were often punished more harshly than their white peers for the same offenses and were at greater risk for suspensions. In a Stanford study of implicit bias, 191 teachers were presented with vignettes of a range of misbehavior by students with both black (Deshawn) and white (Jake) sounding names. When asked if they could imagine suspending the students, the teachers were significantly more likely to suspend the students they thought were black. But the findings of subtle bias have run up against a straightforward factAfrican American and Latino students get into more fights than whites and Asians. Since 1993, the National Center for Education Statistics has surveyed students in grades 912, asking if they have been in a physical fight at school. In 2019, American Indian students fought the most (18.9 percent), followed by blacks (15.5 percent), Pacific Islanders (9.1 percent), Latinos (7.8 percent), whites (6.4 percent), and Asians (4.9 percent). These differences have held steady over decades. Gail Heriot, a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, says advocates wrongly dismiss evidence that shows behavior, rather than bias, better explains the disparity in suspensions. This includes her fellow commissioners, whom Heriot took to task in a dissent to a 2019 report claiming that students of color dont commit more disciplinable offenses. Gail Heriot, law professor at University of San Diego (L) and U.S. Commission on Civil Rights member Peter Kirsanow. (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights & Screenshot via youtube/C-Span) Sometimes people simply neglect whats clear from the data, says Heriot, a professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. It seems to me that woke-ism is a large part of why people reject the data. Do blacks and Latinos fight more because some live in communities torn apart by poverty, violence, and gangs, and bring these animosities with them into schools? To me, thats a racist narrative, says Anyon. The vast majority of kids from low-income communities are not involved in gangs. They are not violent. Their parents are not criminals. But its what we see in the media. Anyon says the root of the suspension problem isnt unruly behavior. Rather, its the limited resources available to segregated schools and the lack of training for staff to prevent conflicts from escalating. The fix? Restorative practices. Denvers Model of Justice Denver School Board leaders were lobbied to adopt restorative practices by Padres & Jovenes Unidos and other racial justice groups. The city started in 2006 with a pilot project at North High and three other schools, supported by more than $1 million in state grants, and a revamp of its discipline code. Federal and state laws require schools to report to police the most serious offenses, such as possessing a firearm, assaults that cause injuries, and selling drugs. But Denver changed how it handled the more common incidents, such as fights, verbal abuse, and smoking marijuana, by often sending students through a restorative process rather than suspending them or calling the police. After a fight, each student talks separately with a restorative coordinator, often a recent high school graduate who is hired as a full-time employee and trained in the practice. The coordinator calms down the students and explains the process before they all meet. During the restorative conversation, the goal is to get students to discuss the harm they have caused other students by disrupting class or bullying them. They also agree on a prevention plan, like going to counseling. Some make amends by cleaning the lunchroom or writing a letter of apology. Some students develop empathy by seeing the implications of their actions and afterward get along better with peers, says Haddad, the superintendent. Several years ago, a group of students caused a lot of damage to a school building as part of a senior prank that got out of hand. Instead of facing vandalism charges, they went through a restorative meeting, wrote letters of apology, and helped repair the school. When we see these kids today, they still thank us for giving them a chance to avoid a police record, which would have been very problematic, he says. But the practice doesnt always work. Sometimes students brawl again and again, forcing the coordinator to change their schedules so they wont encounter each other in class or the hallways. At times, victims of a fight demand the arrest of their attackers. While the coordinator will try to dissuade them, the school cant stop them from calling the police. Austin Eubanks hugs his girlfriend during a community-wide memorial service in Littleton, Colo., for the victims of the shooting rampage at Columbine High School on April 25, 1999. (Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo) What happens when students are caught smoking marijuana? We realized that sending students home for cannabis use was not the best thing since they continue to use it and play video games rather than being in class, says Jay Grimm, Denvers district director of restorative practices. Instead, we brought in 25 health professionals to run education sessions and provide therapy to drug users. Denver now hopes to bring restorative practices directly into the classrooms by training its teachers, who are predominately white, to check their possible racial biases. Grimm says teachers sometimes trigger conflicts that can lead to suspensions by their unforgiving responses to minor infractions, like using a cellphone in class or being tardy. If the teacher scolds and shames Carlos in front of the class for being late, he might talk back and then get kicked out, Grimm says. But teachers can also just say, Welcome, Carlos. Lets talk after class. Resistance From Teachers The challenge for Denver is that the entire district isnt onboard with restorative practices. About 63 percent of the districts more than 230 schools have chosen to hire a restorative coordinator, a relatively low-paying job that doesnt require a college degree. Some schools use coordinators to enforce traditional discipline as hall and lunchroom monitors. Grimm estimates that about a third of teachers, who are currently dealing with students who fell behind during the pandemic, arent supportive. Some teachers object because restorative practices are not part of the union agreement. Others dont believe it works. Whether Denver is a success story depends on the measuring stick. The district sees its sizeable drop in suspensions, even as the student body grew, as a big win. Suspensions fell from 10,344 in the school year ending in 2010 to 4,160 nine years later before the pandemic closed schools, according to district data. But the aggressive behavior of students didnt change a lot during that time. The district experienced a small increase to 714 in referrals of serious incidents to police. However, the number of mutual fights dropped to 915 in 2019 from 1,069 four years prior. Sam Song, a professor of psychology who evaluates restorative programs in Nevada, says they cant be expected to solve the complicated problem of violence in schools. Its so hard to make changes in schools, but we have lots of examples where restorative practices made a positive difference in a students life, he says. So if it helps only 50 percent of the kids, I think thats worth it. This article was written by Vince Bielski for RealClearInvestigations. The Department of Justice (DOJ) logo is pictured on a wall after a news conference to discuss alleged fraud by Russian Diplomats in New York, on Dec. 5, 2013. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) Raytheon Says It Is a Target of a DOJ Probe Into Industry Hiring Practices Raytheon Technologies Corp said it is a target of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into hiring practices in the aerospace industry, the U.S. aerospace and defense firm said in a filing on Friday. No criminal charge has been filed against the company or its affiliates, the company added. Raytheon had received a subpoena in late 2019 focused on alleged hiring restrictions between Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of Raytheon, and some of its suppliers of outsourced engineering services. It also included requests regarding Collins Aerospace. A former Pratt & Whitney employee and some other employees of outsourced engineering suppliers were charged in December for restricting the hiring and recruiting of engineers and skilled laborers in a way that violated antitrust laws. Raytheon Technologies is committed to complying with applicable state and federal laws and is cooperating fully with the governments inquiry, the company said in a statement. Daniel and Patti Houck attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse, N.Y., on Feb. 12, 2022. (Frank Liang/The Epoch Times) SYRACUSE, N.Y.Daniel Houck, a pastor, explained why he and his wife Patti, were unafraid to come and see Shen Yun Performing Arts. I think God made us to be relational people and the last couple of years, a lot of folks have been isolated and its impacted who they are, he said. Honestly, neither my wife nor I have lived in fear. During the pandemic, we both were afflicted with COVID early on. Weve lost some friends to COVID, so we recognize its a real thing, but weve chosen not to live our lives in fear. New York-based Shen Yun is touring the world reviving Chinas 5,000-year-old culture and traditional beliefs through dance, mini-dramas and music. Daniel, who had reluctantly come along to keep Patti company, said he had been utterly surprised by the performance at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse. It was very, very beautiful very professional, and you know, any time you can be in touch with the beauty that God arranges to show us, its a beautiful thing, Daniel said. Patti Houck, who loves dance, works in her son-in-laws business serving people going through the mortgage process. I was impressed by the modesty of the costumes. [The performance] made me think about what China is like now, the persecution [of religious believers], and that we are so blessed to be in this country, Patti said. Before the imposition of communist rule on China, the Chinese people participated in a very long and rich history embedded in a divine culture that emphasized values. Daniel was impressed by the ability of Shen Yun to create a seamless transition between the performers on stage and the 3D projections that use the companys own patented technology. And the orchestra was amazing. The timing was amazing. Obviously, many, many hours of practice which is pretty cool to see, Daniel said. Shen Yuns orchestra pioneered a unique blend of Western classical and Eastern traditional instruments that creates unforgettable melodies. Gods beauty was very much evidenced today in not only the dance but the music, the sceneryall of it. It was very encouraging, Daniel added. For Daniel, Shen Yuns message is all about hope. No matter what season were in, we always have hope. Hope can always be found in God. No matter what kind of persecution, nothing matters when we have hope in God. Daniel said having a personal relationship with God is the foundation to his faith. And Id like to think that some of the scenery and some of the message that people saw today would draw them closer to their Creator, he said. Daniel said it was good to know that in the pre-communist era, Chinese people enjoyed a freer society. Communism to me is very oppressive and its never a good thing. I think God gives us a lot of freedom. I feel bad that people sitting under communism dont know how to get to experience that freedom, he said. Learning that hundreds of years ago, Chinas culture was very different, was very encouraging, and gives people hope, he said. Reporting by FrankLiang and Diane Cordemans. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone figured out how to build wind farms that dont negatively impact birds, bats and other wildlife? Does building them off-shore help? -- Mary B, Hyannis, MA As the U.S. tackles the issues of climate change, the Biden administration is investing in wind power as a key strategy for sustainably meeting the countrys energy needs. Federal officials estimate that the U.S. coastline could host 30,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2030 -- which would be enough energy to power as many as 10 million American homes. Wind power is a necessary tool for fighting climate change, but it can be a threat to birds. A 2013 study by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute found wind turbines to be responsible for killing up to 328,000 birds annually in the U.S. alone. Bats, another species playing a vital role in ecosystems, are also seeing negative impacts by wind farms. Research has shown that larger, migratory bats are at the greatest risk. In response to these problems, the federal government has allocated $13.5 million specifically earmarked to addressing the impact of windfarms on birds, bats and marine species. Scientists are focusing their efforts on site analysis, species monitoring and wildlife deterrents. Large birds of prey are the bird species most at risk. In response, some wind farm developments are incorporating new technology that can recognize eagles, hawks and other raptors as they approach in enough time to pause any turbines in the flight path. This tool, called IdentiFlight, can detect 5.62 times more bird flights than human observers alone, and with an accuracy rate of 94%. Developing the best strategies for protecting bats is a bit more of a challenge, but the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is investigating migratory bat behavior with an interdisciplinary approach that will analyze migratory movements, mating and feeding behaviors to determine if they can find patterns that play a role in turbine collisions. Locating wind farms offshore has been identified as a potential solution to species loss caused by on-land wind turbines. But as with any man-made structure, it is important to subject this potential solution to environmental impact assessments to have a clear understanding of the risks and possible benefits. One study in the United Kingdom found evidence that offshore wind farms could actually increase biodiversity if siting and timing of construction are chosen carefully. The study describes the structures acting as artificial reefs, mimicking natural habitat that can then be colonized by a diverse set of species. Indeed, as we move toward utilizing more renewable energy, efforts to mitigate impacts on wildlife and surrounding ecosystems will take on increased importance to optimize the overall benefit to humanity and the environment we depend up on to sustain us. EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Thousands Pour Into Ottawa Amplifying the Voice of Protest Around the Capital OTTAWA, OntarioThe center of Canadas capital city was flooded on Feb. 12 by thousands of protesters demanding an end to the countrys COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Many more joined the ongoing trucker-led protest in Ottawa with the arrival of the weekend. Its numbers grew from the night of Feb. 11 into the next morning, as supporters seemingly poured into the city. Greater masses of people were particularly noticeable on Parliament Hill and then later on the streets, where they spilled out from the immediate vicinity of the truck blockade. An influx of newcomers swelled the ranks of anti-mandate protesters in the Canadian capital of Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) At about 10 a.m., several thousand protesters were marshaled into groups to form the word freedom. They then waved their red and white maple leaf flags and sang the national anthem, O Canada, with passion and rousing volume. On finishing, they burst into loud cheering and the maple leaves waved again. The effort helped rouse the spirits of the protesters on what was a very cold winters day, as the morning temperature reached as low as negative 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), and snow was being whipped into the air by a gusty wind. Protesters enjoying the music played during the blockade on Feb.12, 2022, in Ottawa, Canada. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Denis Cadieux, a carpenter from Orleans, told The Epoch Times that he liked almost everything about the protests and the way that people had behaved. If there were one thing he would change, it would be to cut out the negative signs and messages. They make us sound violent, he said. Cadieux said the main phrase he didnt like was the one that said, [Expletive] Trudeau. Trudeau is a human being like anybody, he said. He makes mistakes and, unfortunately, he is making such a big mistake he needs to step down. And that we understand, but we cannot hate him for that. Hate is a big word. I think we all need to be respectful of everybody. I respect Trudeau for what he did. But for us, it doesnt work and he needs to step down. But take down the signs. As supporters, we need to take [expletive] out of the equation. Denis Cadieux supports the Ottawa protests but would like to remove some negative messages. This photo was taken on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) And there were other things Cadieux saw that he viewed as negative. This morning, I saw a video of a gentleman who is against the truckers. What I didnt like about the supporters was that instead of being positive, they were burying him with chanting Freedom, freedom. The poor man was overridden by these people, and that was negative. So now we are losing viewers as well. If we had treated this gentleman with dignity and honest respect, he would probably have said, OK, well, they were nice. Instead, we lost that gentleman for good. But overall, Cadieux said he expected the protesters would win people over by the way they have behaved. Protesters on Wellington St near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Children at the protest in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) We wont win everybody, but honestly, I think this is great, he said. He also noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the mainstream news had made it sound like we are disrupting the economy, but actually, it is their delays in not sitting down to speak with us that are disrupting the economy. Electrified Crowd Protesters in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) The mass gathering on Feb. 12 had a carnival atmosphere along Wellington Street near Parliament Hill, and spirits were sent soaring as people stood and sang along in unity with a very well-received song list. Speeches were made throughout the day, during which key words and phrasessuch as freedomearned cheers and whistles from the packed-in crowd. Regular cries of Freedom were shouted out and answered in similar fashion, while vehicles with national emblems fluttering above their flatbeds honked their horns as they cruised the snow-covered streets. Thousands of people joined the mandate protesters in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) A protester with a sign in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Flag-waving Canadians in Ottawa, Canada, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Business, Protest, and COVID-19 Regulation At one restaurant at the edge of the city center, a small group with a Canadian flag came in without masks and were asked for proof of vaccinations. They didnt have them and were told that they couldnt be served. We didnt want to eat here anyway, one member of the group said as they left. A server at the restaurant said of the protest and the situation, This is killing our business. Less than a month ago, the restaurant had eight servers. Now, we have two, the server said. The eatery has been very careful about taking COVID-19 restrictions seriously. But just two weeks ago, it was reported for not checking for a womans vaccination card. She was a regular customer who had left her card at home. A customer reported the incident, and the restaurant was fined $1,000. Undated handout file photo of the Cuadrilla hydraulic fracturing site at Preston New Road shale gas exploration site in Lancashire. (Cuadrilla/PA) UK Conservatives Urge PM to Lift Fracking Ban to Avoid Future Energy Crises A group of senior Conservative lawmakers has called on Boris Johnson to reverse the governments ban on fracking as the UK faces an acute energy crisis. In a joint letter to the prime minister, 30 Conservative politicians, including former Brexit minister David Frost and former culture secretary John Whittingdale, said it is time to reverse this moratorium on shale gas mining, which came into effect in 2019. UK consumers are under immense pressure from rapidly rising energy prices. Another rise in energy costs is expected in April as suppliers are due to increase prices after the cost of gas in wholesale markets rose by more than 500 percent in less than a year. The letter to Johnson, organised by the Net Zero Scrutiny Group of Conservative MPs, stated that shale gas mining would allow us to combat the cost of living crisis, level up, create jobs, opportunity, and a renewed sense of community in the north, improve our energy security, reduce our reliance on imported gas, stabilise energy prices, and achieve net zero without increasing the cost of living for already hard-pressed working families. Undated file photo of former Brexit minister Lord David Frost. (Peter Byrne/PA) Talking to The Telegraph, Lord Frost said reversing the fracking ban would herald a British energy renaissance. If we dont produce it here, as we have seen, all we do is import gas from elsewhere, and push up overall carbon emissions too, he said. So lets reverse the moratorium on shale gas and let a British energy renaissance begin. The intervention comes after energy company Cuadrilla was ordered to seal up two of Englands only viable shale gas wells, despite the worsening energy crisis. Writing in the Telegraph, Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan hit out at the move, saying using domestic shale gas should be a no-brainer. Developing and producing this precious resource would create tens of thousands of well-paid jobs and empower local communities in the North, he wrote. But Lord Goldsmith, the minister of state for the Pacific and the international environment, voiced opposition to the push within his party to reverse the fracking ban. In a series of Twitter posts, he said: To replace half the gas we import, wed likely need around 6,000 new wells, with all the associated industrial equipment & endless movements of trucks ferrying toxic chemicals & wastewater to & from sites. Its hard to imagine communities across the UK being ok with that. He said fracking is unpopular as people do not want large-scale industrialisation of the British countryside, citing data from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy showing that only 18 percent of the British public support the mining of shale gas. PA Media contributed to this report. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks during a press conference following his meeting with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at the British Embassy in Moscow, on Feb. 11, 2022. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AFP via Getty Images) UK Defence Chief Cancels Holiday, Says Ukraine Conflict Highly Likely British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has left a family holiday in Europe early, as he said it is highly likely Russia will launch an attack on Ukraine despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts to avert war. Wallace said on Twitter on Sunday morning that he was returning from a planned long weekend abroad in Europe with his wife and children because we are concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine. He only started his holiday a day earlier, having arrived back in the UK from Moscow in the early hours of Saturday. A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman aims with a Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launcher during a drill at the firing ground of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Jan. 28, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images) Senior British officials including then foreign secretary Dominic Raab were heavily criticised last August for going on holiday when the Taliban took over Afghan capital Kabul. Raab later said he regretted not returning from his holiday. He was demoted to justice secretary in a Cabinet reshuffle a month later. An estimated 130,000 Russian troops have been massed along Ukraines border, though Moscow has insisted it has no intention to invade. Wallace said in an interview with the Sunday Times that Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch an offensive at any time. It may be that he just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, he added. The Munich Agreement was a 1938 agreement in which Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland. It was an act of appeasement but eventually failed to prevent the Second World War. Ukrainian officials expressed unease over the reference to Munich as it appeared to be a criticism of the ongoing diplomatic push to prevent war. Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraines ambassador to the UK, told the BBC that its not the best time for us to offend our partners in the world. Prystaiko also warned that the panic being caused by the West in sounding the alarm could be playing into Putins hands. Theres panic everywhere not just in peoples minds but in financial markets as well, he added, warning it is hurting the Ukrainian economy. But government minister Brandon Lewis insisted Wallace was not criticising European allies with his Munich remark. He said that the defence secretary was expressing concerns over the reality that while theyre having these diplomatic conversations, Russia has continued to move troops. Weve got to be cognisant of the reality that they could move very quick, said the Northern Ireland secretary told the BBC. PA Media and Reuters contributed to this report. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet delivers a speech at the opening of a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council on Afghanistan in Geneva, Switzerland, on Aug. 24, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) UN Neglecting Chinas Human Rights Abuses Because of Beijings Influence: Whistleblower The U.N. is neglecting the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) human rights abuses because of Beijings diplomatic and financial influence over the global body, according to whistleblower Emma Reilly. There is an actual policy that the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the secretary-general, and various other senior officials do not meet with Uyghurs, Tibetans, Taiwanese, Falun Gong, anyone that might upset China, Reilly, a human rights attorney and former U.N. employee, told Epoch TVs China Insider on Feb. 9. Reilly is a whistleblower who exposed the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for handing the names of dissidents and human rights activists to the Chinese regime, violating the Human Rights Councils rules for their protection. That resulted inevitably in the Chinese government sending police to peoples family homes, the arrest of peoples family members, being forced to tell them [about] their international advocacy, she said. Some truly horrible stories of torture [emerged as well]. In 2013, Reilly, who worked at the OHCHR, reported this practice to her superiors and other U.N. offices, but to no avail. As a result, she faced retaliation and attempts to silence her within the U.N., she said. She was eventually fired in November 2021. The scandal came amid rising concerns over the CCPs growing dominance at the U.N. Delayed Report on Uyghurs According to Reilly, the U.N. has been dragging its feet on a report on Chinas human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. The OHCHR stated in December 2021 that it hoped to publish its report in the coming weeks and that there had been no concrete progress in long-running talks with Chinese officials on a proposed visit. However, Reilly believes that the visit isnt necessary to finish the report. Theres enough evidence outside of China to declare that its a genocide [against Uyghurs]. We had the Uyghur tribunal [and] a number of parliaments to declare the genocide. The evidence is very clear, particularly as regards things like the forcible sterilization of massive numbers of the population, she said. The CCPs campaign against Uyghurs in Xinjiang has been labeled a genocide by human rights groups, as well as by several nations. This includes both the former and current U.S. administrations, as well as the parliaments of Canada, The Netherlands, Lithuania, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the UK. An independent peoples tribunal, known as the Uyghur Tribunal, ruled in December 2021 that the Chinese regime has committed genocide against ethnic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang through an array of repressive acts that include mass internment, family separation, sterilizations, and forced labor. I think when the genocide is on course and youre the secretary-general of the United Nations, just maybe ask for the genocide to stop and not just for a guided tour of it, Reilly said. According to the whistleblower, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the OHCHR try to avoid criticizing China. She said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet hasnt condemned human rights abuses against the Uyghurs or the practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice in which adherents have been systematically persecuted by the CCP since 1999. If you look at a lot of the reports that come out in the press that says, The U.N. said this about Chinas human rights record, its always an independent expert that said that. So, its not actually someone from the U.N. Its a person who is independent from the U.N., but appointed as an expert in a particular area to look into that, Reilly said. Diplomatic and Financial Influence Reilly believes there are two reasons behind the special treatment that China receives from the international body: Beijings diplomatic and financial influence. Chinese diplomats regularly exert pressure on U.N. employees in an attempt to influence the content of their reports on human rights abuses, according to the attorney. She said China will have access to the upcoming Uyghur report before its published. Regarding financial influence, Reilly said countries that are part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) tend to speak in favor of Beijing at the 47-member Human Rights Council, the U.N.s highest body for human rights. BRI is Beijings massive infrastructure investment project that serves to expand the CCPs political and economic influence worldwide. The plan has come under scrutiny in the West and has been described as debt-trap diplomacy that saddles developing countries with unsustainable debt levels. Reilly also questioned Bachelets impartiality regarding China, noting that when she served as president of Chile, she was a regional representative for BRI. In a BRI forum in 2017, Bachelet was cited as praising Beijings initiative, the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported. Its not like she entered the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and suddenly forgot her past. Senior U.N. officials have been promoting the BRI, according to a report by Foreign Policy. In particular, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised BRI, emphasizing the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the [U.N.] Sustainable Development Goals. In 2016, China signed an agreement with the U.N., taking on the commitment to invest $20 million annually for 10 years in its U.N. Peace and Development Trust Fund. Reilly described this pledge as a slush fund, to promote the Belt and Road initiative, but as a jointly run [initiative] by Antonio Guterress office and the Chinese government. Now, they obviously think theyre getting something out of that. And I would suggest that that thing could be his silence, she said. The Epoch Times contacted Guterres, inviting the secretary-general to an interview on the topic. However, he declined on the grounds of not wanting to interfere with negotiations between the high commissioner and Chinese authorities relating to a visit to Xinjiang, saying that he didnt want to undermine the possibility of the credible mission to the region that he had requested. The OHCHR didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Alex Newman contributed to this report. A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor arrive at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Tech Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick/U.S. Air Force via AP) US F-22 Fighter Jets Arrive in UAE After Houthi Attacks DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesU.S. F-22 fighter jets arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, part of an American defense response to recent missile attacks by Yemens Houthi rebels targeting the country. The Raptors landed at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, which hosts some 2,000 U.S. troops. American soldiers there launched Patriot interceptor missiles in response to the Houthi attacks last month, the first time U.S. troops have fired the system in combat since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. American officials declined to say how many F-22s deployed or the number of airmen supporting the aircraft, citing operational security. However, they identified the unit involved as the 1st Fighter Wing, located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. A photo later released by the Air Force showed six F-22s in a line on a taxiway at Al-Dhafra. The Raptors presence will bolster already strong partner nation defenses and puts destabilizing forces on notice that the United States and our partners are committed to enabling peace and stability in the region, Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, the commander of the U.S. Air Forces Mideast command, said in a statement. U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors arrive at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 12, 2022. (Tech Sgt. Chelsea E. FitzPatrick/U.S. Air Force via AP) The deployment comes after the Iranian-backed Houthis launched three attacks targeting Abu Dhabi last month, including one targeting a fuel depot that killed three people and wounded six. The attacks coincided with visits by presidents from South Korea and Israel to the country. A shadowy Iraqi group claimed launching a drone attack targeting the Emirates in early February, though authorities say they intercepted them. Though overshadowed by the Ukraine crisis, the missile fire targeting the Emirates has sparked a major U.S. response. The American military has sent the USS Cole on a mission to Abu Dhabi. The spillover of Yemens years-long war into the UAE puts American troops in the crosshairs of the Houthi attacksand raises the risk of a regional escalation at a crucial moment of talks in Vienna to potentially restore Irans nuclear deal with world powers. By Jon Gambrell The lymphatic system is the part of the immune system that helps fight infections with white blood cells. Think of white blood cells as soldiers, always alert and ready for a fight. They flow through the bloodstream to fight viruses, invasive bacteria, and anything else foreign that could threaten your health. White blood cells are made in bone marrow and stored in the blood and lymph tissues. When you have cancer in your bloodincluding leukemia and lymphomait develops in the cells in your lymphatic system. Lymphoma is unchecked growth of abnormal white blood cells. After eleven days in the hospital, the 61-year-old British man was well enough to go home. A follow-up scan for lymphoma uncovered something astonishing. Not only had he made a full recovery from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, but there had also been a widespread and unexpected reduction in the cancer in his lymph nodes. Without any cancer treatment at all, the disease was almost gone. The medical scans tell a visual story: Before he got a bad case of COVID-19, the cancer-affected areas were lit up like a birthday cake. After the severe infection, many of those areas disappeared completely. Others were significantly reduced. His doctors, who wrote up his case in an article published in January in the peer-reviewed journal Images in Haematology, argue that the severe COVID-19 infection may have had an anti-tumor effect. There have been many documented cases of people with cancer who have then gotten a viral or bacterial infection and their cancer goes away, says Laura Orlando, whos been teaching classes on environmental health for almost 20 years and was not involved in the study. The presumption is that the immune system gets revved up in a manner that addresses the cancer, says Orlando, an adjunct professor at Boston Universitys School of Public Health as well as the executive director of the Boston-based, Resource Institute for Low Entropy Systems, a nonprofit that works at the intersection of human health and the environment. Benefits of Viral Infections At first glance, it would seem almost impossible for there to be any benefit in getting COVID-19. Weve been bombarded with fear around catching COVID-19 for over a year. Especially terrifying to many is the idea of becoming a long-hauler. Long COVID is the term used for people who continue to feel sick for months after any measurable sign of the infection is gone. Long-haulers test negative but dont feel well. Anthony Komaroff, M.D., editor of the Harvard Health Letter, estimates that tens of thousands of people are suffering from long COVID. A recent study in Nature confirms that COVID-19 long-haulers are at increased risk of death and other poor health outcomes (including lung problems, heart issues, gastrointestinal upset, anxiety, and fatigue) than people who never had COVID-19. So how is it possible that having COVID-19 may have the unexpected benefit of waking up the immune system to fight back against cancer? Evidence in the scientific literature shows that there can be myriad unexpected benefits to getting sick. For example, weve known since 1966 that women whove had mumps in childhood have much less risk of developing reproductive cancer later in life. In fact, at least eight studies have found that getting mumps is protective against ovarian cancer. One theory for why this is the case is that an acute inflammatory event, like mumps, leads to the body creating antibodies that can later recognize and clear cancer cells. And consider this: According to a Japanese study published in 2015, measles and mumps infections in childhood reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Surveying over 100,000 men and women ages 40 to 79, researchers from Osaka University found that getting just measles or mumps were both associated with a decreased risk of death from heart disease. Interestingly, people who had both illnesses in childhood had the lowest risk. Homeopaths have long argued for childhood illnesses to be left alone because they have beneficial effects, says Annette Fang, a mother of three who has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry. Fang studied homeopathy for three years and uses remedies to help her children and husband (also a chemist) when they get sick. In the end, these diseaseseven the common coldare detox reactions, Fang says. In homeopathy, we call a cold the drain of the brain. Its good for the brain and your whole system. Benefits of Fever One common symptom of illnesses like mumps, measles, and SARS-CoV-2 is fever. Most people normally have a body temperature between 97 and 99 degrees, so anything higher than 100.4 is considered a fever. My youngest daughter maintains a chipper attitude even when she has a fever, even asking her dad to take her to the skate park one afternoon even though she was burning up. For most, a fever feels awful. A low-grade fever may not make you feel very sick, but a higher fever is often accompanied by whole-body aching and lethargy. When you or a loved one is burning with fever, its hard to imagine theres anything beneficial about it. But its not just humans that spike fevers when theyre sick. Fish, reptiles, and other mammals, including rabbits and dogs, get fevers as well. Studies of both animals and humans have found that fever has beneficial effects. In one 2019 study, a team of Chinese scientists found that fever helped make the immune system more effective. Fever appeared to boost two specific molecules: alpha-4 integrin and heat shock protein 90. These molecules help white blood cells get from blood vessels into the lymph nodes where they can team up with other immune cells to attack infections. And scientists have found that when we reduce fevers, infections get worse. Children with sepsis are more likely to die if their temperatures are lower. According to Paul Offit, M.D., writing in The Daily Beast, reducing fever via anti-pyretic medication has also been found to prolong symptoms of influenza, the common cold, and chickenpox. Beyond helping the individual whos feeling sick, fever may also be natures way of protecting the herd. My daughters spunk notwithstanding, when most people have a fever, we dont want to be around others. Because we feel so unwell, we want to be in bed, resting or sleeping. This self-imposed isolation, courtesy of the fever, not only helps us heal, it keeps us away from other people, which helps them avoid getting sick. Benefits of Getting Worms Over 50 years ago, a medical doctor with the British Royal Navy, uncovered something baffling. Peter John Preston reported that a dozen officers broke free of their seasonal allergies after acquiring human roundworm. The exposure to worms appeared to heal their hay fever. Another scientist, John Turton, intentionally gave himself hookworms, which also seemed to cure his seasonal allergies. William Parker, Ph.D., an immunologist at Duke Universitys medical school, has been studying using wormsalso called helminth therapyto treat auto-immune disorders for over a decade. Its a hard sell, Parker admits, but we humans and all other mammals have actually co-evolved to live with worms. We dont usually think of the human body as an ecosystem, but thats precisely what we are. We have beneficial microbes that live on us and inside us, microscopic mites that live on our faces, feeding off the oils secreted by our hair follicles, and fungi of all kinds that live on our skin and in our ear canals. All these critters make up the zoo in you, what researchers call the microbiome. We know that beneficial bacteria plays a key role in human health, and it turns out other parasites do too. Parker says that dozens of scientific studies have shown that symbiotic worms can alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and several other autoimmune, allergic, and digestive conditions. His own research has also shown that helminths may help with anxiety, migraines, and neuropsychiatric disorders. One of the things thats very tricky about this research is that theres no standard dosing for worms, Parker tells me. Take the rat tapeworm, for instance. Some people need five every six weeks, others need 250 every three days. It depends on the person, and theres a lot of variability. This research, as you can imagine, remains controversial. Dosage matters, as does how the worms are cultivated, which Parker argues are the main reasons why some scientific studies have failed to show beneficial effects. Having too many worms in your system can make you sick. The illness often manifests as gastrointestinal upset, though this varies based on the worm, Parker says, and its easily treatable with anti-helminth medication. But when you co-habitate with helminths in the right balance, Parker says, the benefits significantly outweigh the harms. Weve seen that people can resolve autoimmune and other chronic problems, he says. If It Doesnt Kill You This brings us back to COVID-19. One of the questions we havent been asking is why some people get so sick from COVID-19 (or any other viral illness) but others remain asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that quickly resolve. We want our immune systems to be awake, and our bodies to fight off whats harmful, but we dont want our immune system to overreact and harm us, as happens during a cytokine storm. We also dont want to attack our own cells and tissuesan over-active immune system with nothing to fight against creates autoimmune diseases. Its not this virus in particular, or illness in general, that we need to fear. The problem comes when we have a severe reaction to the virus. How resilient you are in the face of challenges is what matters most, says Martha Herbert, Ph.D., M.D. Herbert, 69, retired recently from Harvard Medical School, where she was on the faculty of the Department of Neurology for 20 years. Our bodies are capable of handling a whole range of challenges, and we have the power to upgrade how well we handle them, but people arent taught that, she says. In other words, the problem is not getting sick. The real concern is suffering long-lasting health problems or dying from infection. Being sick is usually showing you something isnt tuned properly, either in your lifestyle or in your environment, Herbert says. She argues that illness can be a transformative experience, one that helps you get out of your ruts. It should alert you to go into Sherlock Holmes mode of what you should improve, not in a scared or fanatical way, but in an informed way. So what information do you need for your body to be resilient to infections, toxic exposures, and catastrophic diseases like cancer? Herbert says we build resilience by eating nutrient-dense food, reducing our stress levels, exercising, and taking better care of ourselves. Regenerating soil thats been depleted of nutrients because of industrial farming practices is important too. By eating well and avoiding toxic exposures (which includes stress), Herbert says, we help our bodies marshal the biological resources that allow us to heal. Laura Orlando, 58, is a colleague of Herberts. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 52. It was terrifying news: Orlandos mother died of colon cancer at 51 and her brother died of brain cancer at 52. By the time she got the diagnosis, the cancer had metastasized to her lymphatic system. Orlando, who has a masters in public administration from Harvard, teaches classes on wastewater and health, water quality, and international development. She grew up in farm country in Southwest Michigan, with two nuclear power plants nearby. As a child, she was also exposed to pesticides, herbicides, and many other toxins in the soil, food, air, and water. Her family also used to burn their garbage. Though treating the cancer was an exhausting ordeal, Orlando found unexpected benefits to being sick. I wouldnt say I was glad I had cancer, she says. But my cancer is a reflection of the world I live in thats awash with poisons that affect different bodies in different ways. So it brought my work into my life in a deeply personal and intimate way. One positive aspect to having cancer for Orlando was finding a community to rally to her aid. Two or three friends, some who had never met each other before, came with her to every treatment. The conversations they had were so intense and interesting that she would be sorry when she dozed off. As strange as it sounds, she tells me, though one of the hardest periods of her life, she and her partner think back fondly on those chemo days. My experience was not one of trauma or loneliness, Orlando says. There was misery in there for me, of course, but it was trumped by community. As someone who teaches systems thinking, Orlando had a different way of thinking about her cancer. She was not battling the cancer, but rather trying to keep it from overwhelming her body. Im in relationship with my cancer. I dont want to die of cancer. But I would never say Im fighting it. I would say: How do I live with this particular disease? Orlando says this is the question we have to ask, also, about COVID-19. Not how do we fight against and conquer it, but how do we cohabitate with it. There are huge numbers of viruses in the soil and the seawater. They are not these boogeymen theyre made out to be. In recent years, weve come to know the human microbiome. We are multitudes. My body is in relationship to the world around me, to the viruses, the bacteria, the pollen in the air, the food I eat, the chemicals around me. Our bodies are amazing. If we see viruses, bacteria, or even cancers as killers, then were operating from a place of fear. But fear shuts down our thinking around how to live in relationship with every aspect of our environment. Instead of trying to eradicate it, Orlando says we should figure out what we need to do to limit the possibility that a given disease is going to make us really sick. Since its likely SARS-CoV-2 will be cohabitating with us for some time, we have to ask: How do I live with this? This virus is a teacher, Orlando says. Lets take it on. Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., is a science journalist based in Oregon. Shes appeared live on prime-time TV in France and worked on a child survival campaign in Niger, West Africa. A Fulbright grantee and sought-after speaker, she authored Your Baby, Your Way, and co-authored The Vaccine-Friendly Plan. Learn more at www.JenniferMargulis.net Residents drop mail-in ballots in a ballot box outside of the Tippecanoe branch library in Milwaukee on Oct. 20, 2020. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Ballot Drop Boxes to Be Banned in April Election The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that it will allow a ban on absentee ballot drop boxes to be in effect for the states April 5 election. The 43 decision (pdf) on Feb. 11 upholds a lower courts ruling in mid-January, in which Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal in Wisconsin. The lawsuit was brought by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on behalf of two voters from Waukesha County. A Wisconsin appeals court issued a stay of Bohrens ruling in late January, thereby allowing drop boxes to be used for the Feb. 15 Wisconsin primaries, because it was happening so soon. The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld that stay. The latest Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling denies a request from the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) and other groups to extend the stay. According to the courts majority, theres enough time for the WEC to comply with Bohrens order for the April election. The record before us, including the timetable for making the necessary administrative changes as outlined by the court of appeals, indicates that the Commission can comply with the circuit courts order so as to ameliorate concerns about voter confusion and election administration before the April 5, 2022, election commences, they wrote. The Commission [WEC] 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. The need for additional relief in the form of an extended stay has not been established. The latest ruling isnt final. As such, whether drop boxes will remain for the states August primary and November general election is uncertain. The majority wrote in their Feb. 11 order, [W]e have yet to hear oral arguments, which will be addressing the merits of the issues. In 2020, some voters across the United States opted to use drop boxes to cast their ballots amid the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus. At the time, many Republicans and conservatives spoke out against the drop boxes, citing concerns that they could increase the chances of fraud, while Democrats and liberals said drop boxes helped maintain or increase voter turnout amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Republican-led state legislature approved measures to restrict ballot drop boxes, but Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed them. As we usher in 2022 not many things excite me as much as the Greater Flagstaff Chamber Annual Meeting and ATHENA AWARDS. What an impressive way to gather together and kick off a business year ahead by celebrating where we are and forward momentum! What a great opportunity to honor and celebrate female leaders from all types of professional careers for their excellence in their chosen fields, their mentorship of others to climb their career ladders and their commitment to community service. Before I go on, we are immensely grateful to Governor Doug Ducey and to Dr. Jeffrey Trent, founder of TGen, for joining the community as our keynote speakers. For 33 years the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce has chosen to invest in the spirit of the ATHENA awards as a way to recognize individuals that might otherwise go unnoticed for the passion and dedication they bring to the workplace and community at large. The awards were founded in 1982 by Martha Mertz, then at the Lansing Michigan Chamber of Commerce to not only honor the accomplishments of individuals but the traits that help make them effective and stand-out personas. So, along with visible recognition, the spirit of the awards is actually based on leadership tenets which, through the years have become the foundation of enlightened and successful leadership. They tenents are: Live authentically, learn constantly, advocate fiercely, act courageously, foster collaboration, build relationships, give back and celebrate. Im sure that you will agree that one or more of these best practices really resonate with you and how you live your life. They certainly inspire me to be all I can be in this crazy world. Over the past 15 years I have had the deep honor of reviewing and getting acquainted with hundreds of the nominee forms for both the ATHENA and ATHENA Young Professional Awards. Little did I know how moving and impressive the process of selecting a recipient could be. Little did I know that each year, I could hardly wait to read about the accomplishments these ladies are all about. This year is no different and I encourage you to take some time to read the biographies of those nominated, each of which are published by the Arizona Daily Sun. Today hundreds of cities in the US and dozens of foreign countries are engaged in ATHENA largely due to the efforts of Martha Mertz and her team traveling the globe to help female leaders earn respect and recognition. For those efforts and for the community of Flagstaff embracing this leadership model, we are forever grateful at the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. The recipients will be named at the Chambers Annual Meeting on Friday, February 18 at the High Country Conference Center. Thank you to all who invest in the Greater Flagstaff Chamber. Together we have impacted our region and helped businesses be successful since 1891! Sincerely, Julie Pastrick President, CEO, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over the failure to publish copy of the agreement the Federal Government recently signed with Twitter, Inc, and thefailure to publish the details of the terms and conditions of any suchagreement. Joined in the suit as Respondent is Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture. The Federal Government had in January lifted the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria, stating that, Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgement of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history. But in the suit number FHC/L/CS/238/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel President Buhari and Alhaji Lai Mohammed to release and widely publish copy of the agreement with Twitter, and the terms and conditions of any such agreement. In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: It is in the interest of justice to grant this application. Publishing the agreement would enable Nigerians to scrutinise it, seek legal remedies as appropriate, and ensure that the conditions for lifting the suspension of Twitter are not used as pretexts to suppress legitimate discourse. SERAP is also arguing that, Publishing the agreement with Twitter would promote transparency, accountability, and help to mitigate threats to Nigerians rights online, as well as any interference with online privacy and freedom of expression. According to SERAP, Any agreement with social media companies must meet the constitutional requirements of legality, necessity, proportionality and legitimacy. Secretly agreed terms and conditions will fail these fundamental requirements. SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus to direct and compel President Buhari and Alhaji Lai Mohammed to clarify the manner and scope in which the agreement with Twitter will be enforced, and whether the agreement incorporates respect for constitutional and international human rights. SERAP is further arguing that, The government has a duty to demonstrate that the conditions for lifting the suspension of Twitter would not threaten or violate the enjoyment of Nigerians human rights online, and that the conditions are in pursuit of a legitimate goal in a democratic society. According to SERAP, Alhaji Lai Mohammed responded to our freedom of information request but his response is completely unsatisfactory, as he merely stated that the details are in the public space, without sending a copy of the agreement signed with Twitter as requested. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: Nigerians are entitled to their human rights, such as the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, privacy, peaceful assembly and association, as well as public participation both offline and online. The operation and enforcement of the agreement may be based on broadly worded restrictive laws, which may be used as pretexts to suppress legitimate discourse, interfere with onlineprivacy, and deter the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression. The statement by the Federal Government announcing the lifting of the suspension of Twitter after seven months used overly broad terms and phrases like prohibited publication, Nigerian laws, national culture and history. These open-ended terms and phrases may be used to suppress legitimate exercise of human rights online. Any agreement with social media companies must not be used as a ploy to tighten governmental control over access to the internet, monitor internet activity, or to increase online censorship and the capacity of the government to restrict legitimate online content, contrary to standards on freedom of expression and privacy. Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee the right to hold opinions without interference, and the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers and through any medium. The Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties impose duties on the government to ensure enabling environments for freedom of expression, privacy rights and other human rights, and to protect their exercise. While human rights law requires States to prohibit advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, States must still satisfy the cumulative conditions of legality, necessity, proportionality and legitimacy in any agreement with social media companies. The government has a legal obligation to promote universal Internet access, media diversity and independence, as well as ensure that any agreements with Twitter and other social media companies are not used to impermissibly restrict these fundamental human rights. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 13/2/2022 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: [email protected] ; [email protected] Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202 Four members of Nigeria Police Force have been killed on Saturday evening by unknown gunmen in Amodo Obeagu in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. This was reported barely 48 hours after three cops were shot dead by yet unknown gunmen in the State . We learnt that this development has triggered fear among the residents of the state. According to reports, the gunmen stormed a police checkpoint along Agbani Road, opened fire on the police officers, and four were reported dead instantly. Residents disclosed that the attack on the policemen lasted for about five minutes, stating further the suspected hoodlums drove away in two Sienna cars. Before the yesterday attack, the gunmen had last Thursday, shot three policemen dead at the Independence Layout where a popular leader of the Vigilante group known as Jango was also killed along Agbani Road. We gathered that in the same day, the the gunmen also attacked customs officers at Ozala, near Four Corners Junction, Enugu State. Efforts put to reach out to the state police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, were fruitless as he could not pick his calls as of this period of report. Meanwhile, a police source said that four policemen were killed at Amodo during yesterday attack. According to him: They are boys looking for guns but we are going to restrategize and carry out massive patrolling of Enugu". A non-governmental organization, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has said it will embark on free HIV testing and providing free condoms to people in Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom Benue, Kogi, Anambra and Cross River State. AHF also disclosed that presumably, over one million people across the world acquire sexually transmitted infection (STI) on a daily basis. While make a remark at an event to mark the 2022 International Condom Day (ICD) Dr Echey Ijezie, Programme Director of AHF Nigeria, made this known on Friday in Abuja. Dr Echey Ijezie also expressed fear that there are currently 1.5 million new HIV transmissions yearly around the globe. He added that the AHF Nigeria has dispensed over twenty million free condoms across the country. And, it will remain committed to give support to the National Condom Policy of the Federal Government by widening Nigerians access to condoms which is the most affordable and effective means of preventing STIs, including HIV and unplanned pregnancies. According to him: In addition to the emoji campaign, AHF country teams from most of its 45 countries of operation will host exciting and informative Safer is Sexy and Always in Fashion ICD events. ICD festivities are always fun and a great way to remind the world that condoms remain the most cost-effective method for preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. In Nigeria, advocates shall be joining AHF Nigeria in Calabar and Ikom, Cross Rivers State for a walk to create awareness and distribute free condoms, as well as provide free HIV testing to the people. This walk is in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Health, while there is also a media component that sees safe sex education on airwaves. In Abuja, AHF Nigeria is partnering with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for a night event on Valentines Day to distribute free condoms and also test people for HIV. Also in Abuja, AHF Nigeria Girls Act members shall be reaching their peers with condom education and tips on safer sex practices. Across other AHF Nigeria states of Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Nasarawa and Akwa Ibom, our teams shall be conducting free HIV testing and giving out free condoms to the people. Its time we drop the stigma around condoms and make it easier to communicate about having safer sex. Finding a safe space Where do Phuket expat women turn to when they experience emotional or mental health distress? Of course, it goes without saying that if one experiences an urgent mental health anguish, one should seek professional help immediately. But what about those who are enduring personal struggles and looking for support with their mental health? Community By The Phuket News Sunday 13 February 2022, 11:00AM Photo: APG Graphics / Pexels Sure, some women can talk to their circle of friends in Phuket, back home or elsewhere but lets face it, not everyone has the privilege of having a supportive circle of friends who have the capacity to listen with empathy and free of judgement. Talking about emotional and mental health issues can be intimidating and nerve-racking as it puts the person in a vulnerable position. So, who can one turn to? In my 10 years of living in Phuket as an expat, I have not come across any support groups for emotional and mental health on the island; perhaps I did not look hard enough for one. This begs the question, why should one search high and low to find a local support group? In contrast, a simple Google search for AA, NA, and CA meetings in Phuket and you can easily locate one nearby no muss, no fuss. According to Minds Side by Side Research Consortium (2017) Developing Peer Support in the Community: a Toolkit, based on research undertaken by St Georges, University of London, the McPin Foundation, and the London School of Economics, peer support happens when people who have similar experiences of mental health difficulties, trauma, or other forms of social or emotional distress come together to support each other. A peer support group offers a safe space for the participants to freely and authentically express themselves, without fear of judgement. Participants are able to talk about their personal issues and experiences with other participants who truly understand what theyre going through and share insights that can only come from firsthand experience. A peer support group is born As one of the administrators of the Phuket Womens Collective Facebook Group an English-language closed group for those who identify as a woman (cisgender, transgender or non-binary) living in and around Phuket I have noticed an uptick in the number of mental health-related questions being asked by some women in the group in the past few months. It became apparent that a support system for emotional and mental well-being for women is much needed. On Jan 15, the Phuket Womens Peer Support Group for Emotional and Mental Health met for the very first time. The peer support group is co-facilitated by a mental health advocate with firsthand experience and a counsellor with a degree in psychology. The support group aims to create a safe, positive and supportive environment for women who need to talk about their personal issues, experiences and struggles without judgement. Privacy and confidentiality are at the core of the support group. This means that what people say and who comes remains private. Anything said in the room will not be repeated or discussed at another time or place. Simply put, What you say in the room, stays in the room. The peer support group believes that sharing experiences and exchanging coping strategies will allow participants to give and receive support from each other. By doing so, participants can feel less alone or isolated. The peer support group meets every two weeks on Saturday from 10:30am to midday at the Endless Summer store and coffee shop, in a Sino-Portuguese mansion on Yaowarat Rd, in the heart of Phuket Town. Although there is no cost for attending, participants are encouraged to help support the local business which has kindly provided the space by buying one of the refreshing beverages on the menu. The peer support group is open to all English-speaking women expats and locals alike. Reservation to attend is preferred as space is limited to 10 people. For enquiries or reservations, email: phuketwomengroup@gmail.com. By Milla Budiarto Frenchman arrested for B6.3m swindle CHON BURI: A French national was arrested on Saturday for cheating a number of foreigners in Pattaya out of 6.3 million baht in total. crime By Bangkok Post Sunday 13 February 2022, 05:57PM Pattaya police question Frenchman Herve Christian Robert Leonard (left) on Saturday on fraud allegations. Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong / Bangkok Post Pol Maj Gen Atthasit Kijjaharn, the Chon Buri police chief, said the arrest of Herve Christian Robert Leonard, 59, was made on seven warrants issued by the Pattaya Court for seven separate swindle cases six in Pattaya and one in the Nong Prue area, reports Bangkok Post. A number of foreigners in Pattaya filed complaints with police, accusing the Frenchman of cheating them of 6.3 million baht in total. The complainants said the man had swindled them through sales of big bikes and a claim that he could help them settle their legal cases because he had developed a close relationship with some police officers. The French embassy also received the same complaints and coordinated with the police for action. A police investigation led to the arrest of the Frenchman on Saturday (Feb 12) from a housing estate in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. He denied the accusations. The police also found that the Frenchman had overstayed his visa by one year, four months and 27 days. He was handed over to Pattaya police for further legal proceedings. House of Representatives approves same-sex marriage bill BANGKOK: The draft act on same-sex marriage has been passed by the House of Representatives and will be sent to the cabinet for further consideration. sexculture By National News Bureau of Thailand Sunday 13 February 2022, 10:00AM Photo: NNT Members of the Parliament voted 219 to 118, with twelve abstentions and one no vote, on Wednesday (Feb 9) to approve the same-sex marriage bill proposed by the Move Forward Party. The proposal will also be forwarded to the cabinet for a 60-day study. The Move Forward Party said the draft proposal is a revised draft of the Civil and Commercial Code presented earlier in 2020. It has been updated to align with the goals of the same-sex marriage draft campaign, which has received over 290,000 signatures on the website www.support1448.org. The goal is to amend Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, as well as the sections that follow. Campaigners want to modify the definition of marriage from man and woman to two persons to ensure equal rights for everyone. Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party, stated that the bill would serve as a starting point for equality and a new standard in Thai society. Phuket student accuses boat crewman of physical attack, intimidation PHUKET: An unnamed 22-year-old female student of a Phuket university filed an official complaint with Phuket City Police accusing a boat crewman of physical attack and intimidation during her internship with a marine tour company working from Asia Marina in Rassada. crimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 13 February 2022, 04:34PM Police questioning the student after she filed an official complaint. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The complaint was filed on Feb 10 and received by Lt Wichit Nokkeaw of Phuket City Police. According to the student, some Mr Wanchai Kafu Somphan a boat crewman and her coworker kicked her in the back, threw a glass of water at her, punched her in the neck and damaged her mobile phone. The student went to Vachira Phuket Hospital to have her wounds examined. Also the student informed police that Mr Wanchai sent her photos with firearms and threatening messages so she doesnt feel safe and thus wants police to take actions against the crewman. I am an intern. That week I had to go to the pier and board a boat to Khai Island. He is a boat boy. He is usually a tease by nature, the student said. According to the young woman, on the first day of the conflict Mr Wanchai tried to sit close to her on the boat and talk to her, but she did not want his company. Later during the trip to Khai Island Mr Wanchai stepped on the interns foot and poked her back with his foot. I told the owner about the incident and said that Im not okay with Mr Wanchai doing this. As a result I wasnt let on the boat to go home from Khai Island, the student said. The woman didnt explain how she actually returned to Phuket but said that she talked about the incident to her brother who decided to interfere and tried to talk to the crewman sending him a message. The crewman did not show any remorse or apology and offered her brother to meet next morning in person. He added that the students brother will only find problems and sent a picture of a gun. The students brother never appeared at the pier which didnt prevent escalation of the tension between her and Mr Wanchai. He talks like I did something to him first though I didnt do anything. He started first. I feel uncomfortable and insecure. He sent a picture of a gun to threaten me and is he not planning to apologise. There is only one thing to do, the student said presuming going to police. Police reveal names of Sandhu killers, get arrest warrants PHUKET: Police have gathered enough evidence to get arrests warrants for the killers of 31-year-old indian gangster Jimi Slice Sandhu (also known as Mandeep Singh) who was gunned down in Rawai on Feb 4. The suspects are named Gene Karl Lahrkamp and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, both Canadian nationals. crimemurderpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 13 February 2022, 02:36PM Deputy Royal Thai Police spokesman Col Krisana Pattanajaroen. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Jimi Sandhu was killed by two foreign men in front of the Beachfront Hotel Phuket in Rawai on Feb 4. CCTV footage at the resort showed Mr Singh/Sandhu pull up in front of the building in a red MG car at about 10:30pm. As he got out of the car two men jumped out from the bushes and opened heavy fire with handguns. The shooters then left the scene, threw their weapons into the sea (a CZ and a Walter handguns were later found with the use of metal detector) and got rid of some of their cloths. When Sandhus body was found on Feb 5, police discovered on him two different pieces of identification: a passport bearing the name of a Canadian of Indian descent, and a drivers license bearing the name of another Canadian of Indian descent. None of them were in the name of Jimi Sandhu though. The real name was later revealed by Canadian media and confirmed by Thai police. Meanwhile the suspects left Thailand on Feb 6, as was announced by the national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk during his visit to Phuket on Feb 10. According to the most recent report, by Feb 12 Chalong Police had gathered enough evidence to request warrants to arrest the suspects Canadian nationals Gene Karl Lahrkamp and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, both aged 36 and having served in the military. Before applying to the Phuket Provincial Court, offices had gathered various pieces of evidence, studied records from CCTV cameras in the area and inspected the area itself, questioned witnesses and received relevant information from foreign authorities in order to track and arrest the suspects for prosecution within the framework of the law. All had been done in order to build confidence among people and tourists (sic). The Phuket Provincial Court approved arrest warrants for the two suspects, who are Canadian nationals, on the charges of joining to commit a premeditated murder or to prepare to committing other offenses; possession of firearms and ammunition without permission; carrying firearms in towns, villages or public on roads without justifiable urgency; firing guns in a towns, villages or communities, Deputy Royal Thai Police spokesman Col Krisana Pattanajaroen said. The next step after the court has issued arrests warrants is coordinating with Interpol for the agency to consider issuing Red Notices [a notice to arrest a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to their extradition] and informing all 195 member countries around the world [about the need to arrest the suspects], Col Krisana added. Col Krisana added that Gen Suwat has emphasized that all police officers involved in the investigation and arrest of the suspects to expedite the investigation to build confidence among people, including tourists. Moreover, news related to the case is now widely presented on social media. This can cause confusion and misunderstandings. Therefore, people are asked to follow the news from the government only. If there is any additional information, it will be announced later, he added. Now it is know that the suspects arrived in Thailand on Dec 18 as tourists and their passports were genuine. Gen Suwat confirmed that police knew where the men fled to, but it was not revealed which country the fugitives landed in after leaving Thailand. Police to seek Red Notice for Sandhu killers PHUKET: The Royal Thai Police will formally request Interpol to post a Red Notice for the two men wanted for shooting dead known criminal Jimi Slice Sandhu in Phuket, deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanajaroen revealed yesterday (Feb 12). murdercrimepolice By The Phuket News Sunday 13 February 2022, 09:30AM Deputy police spokesman Pol Col Krisana Pattanajaroen. Photo: Royal Thai Police The two men, both aged 27, are Canadian citizens, Colonel Krisana confirmed through a release issued through the Public Affairs Division Royal Thai Police late last night. Phuket Provincial Court has approved arrest warrants for the two men for murder, illegal possession of firearms and discharging a firearm in a public area, Col Krisana added. The police will coordinate with Interpol, for them to consider issuing a Red Notice to inform all 195 member countries around the world, he said. The request is to request help and to inform law enforcement around the world with useful information so that they can arrest the men and to begin the extradition process for the men to be prosecuted in Thailand, he explained. Col Krisana said that national police chief Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk has emphasized that all police officers involved in the investigation and arrest of the suspects to expedite the investigation to build confidence among people, including tourists. Moreover, news related to the case is now widely presented on social media. This can cause confusion and misunderstandings. Therefore, people are asked to follow the news from the government only. If there is any additional information, it will be announced later, he added. Gen Suwat in Phuket in person during the past week confirmed that the two suspects had already fled Thailand. The two men arrived in Thailand on Dec 18 as tourists, and left the country last Sunday (Feb 6), he explained. The two men did not travel on forged passports, Gen Suwat said. Gen Suwat confirmed that police knew where the men fled to, but he declined to reveal which country the fugitives landed in after leaving Thailand. Police still have yet to reveal the mens names. The sun never sets on lawn mowers made by the hands of Beatrice residents. They slice and churn green grass beneath seated Australians, Germans, Canadians and many more. Beatrice, for no discernible reason, is a hub of international lawn mower manufacturing. Worldlawn Power Equipment Inc. is one of the companies that finds itself exporting that product from Beatrice to the rest of the world. And though both Tino Muratore and Nathan Antons, the companys respective general manager and national sales manager, said theres a lot to look forward to with the future of the company, any company with international reach faces down the barrel of the worlds supply chain crisis. With the current supply chain issues, were really struggling as far as how we can progress, Antons said. Were kind of held captive on some level. Muratore said the company is taking it day by day. There are so many unknowns, he said. We have to do the best we can with what we have. Muratore said hes hopeful this scarcity, these global problems of supplyespecially felt in a lack of engineswill lead to innovation. One innovation Muratore and Antons said theyre excited about is a battery powered mower. In some areas, the market is drifting away from fossil fuels. Its too early to tell, Muratore said. But there are a lot of advantages to a battery-powered mower. Its quieter and cleaner. You save money because you don't have to buy the fuel. Muratore said a major drawback is still the run-time, though. Batteries work well for residential lawns, but the battery will only last so long and can take hours to recharge. The company is working on its own battery-powered prototypes. Were in the developmental stages on that, Antons said. Muratore has worked as the general manager for 6 months now. He said hes especially enjoyed working in the culture created at Worldlawn. Antons said the culture allows the more than 40 employees to form a strong community. The work culture is a very small-town culture within the company, Antons said. You get to know pretty much everyone. Muratore said that community culture is important for feeling like you're a part of a team. Worldlawn also does its share of philanthropy and outreach in the community. It has donates money and fundraising items to local high schools and purchases sponsorships at the Gage County Fair, amongst other charitable giving. Worldlawn is currently looking for about 10 more employees. For more information, you can reach the business at 402-228-4255. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 18C. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 11C. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. A GoFundMe page was set up by Eva Fanous Flores to help support the victims family during this tragic period. Lucas was a pure hearted son, brother, friend and teammate, Flores wrote. Lucas Gaudet, a sixteen year old Pierrefonds hockey player and John Rennie High School student, had suffered violent and fatal injuries resulting from an altercation and later passed away on February 10th, 2022. This fundraiser was made to help his family with the hospital and funeral expenses. ALTON The Alton Area Black Chamber of Commerce, the Alton chapter of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, is ready to expand its mission and vision, and fine tune its focus on supporting and helping Black-owned business whether an official member or simply a part of the St. Louis metropolitan communities, the chambers Alton president said. The Alton Area Black Chamber of Commerce was established at the end of 2018 and is led by Chamber President William Christopher Harris, pastor at Browns Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, 2603 Main St., in Alton. The group is set up for membership in categories such as sole proprietor, limited liability company, incorporation, corporate, collegiate and so on. We formed the Alton chapter right before the pandemic happened and we havent been as active," said Harris. "But one of the things were going to do locally is take our focus down a different path to hopefully identify African-American-owned, Black-owned businesses." Theres several new businesses recently since the pandemic started and we didnt get a chance to do a lot of public appearances for existing businesses," he said. "And we want to identify Black-owned businesses regardless if those are a member of the Chamber. We want to know that youre out there and help that business when they need support and resources. The group offers resources, advocacy, outreach and networking to all minorities, particularly African-American entrepreneurs and small-business owners but also women, Hispanic and other minorities. The Alton chapter is one of nine chapters of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, based in Decatur, led by its founder and the organizations state president Anthony Corey Walker, a Decatur native. Harris works full-time as a mechanical corporate engineer for Zoltek, a carbon fiber manufacturer in St. Louis. The Carbondale native and graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale moved to Alton 14 years ago where he lives with his family. The Alton chapter started with a handful of members. The state office of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois is in Bloomington, with satellite offices in Chicago and Decatur. Our mission is to support black businesses and entrepreneurs, enterprise and commerce, here in the area, Harris said. But not just as a call for a greater need in one sector, but extending to all minorities in the area to better help them leverage what they bring to the table in business, commerce and small business administration. Thats how we see it: anyone underrepresented, particularly African Americans. The Alton chapter will offer several different incentives to small businesses and entrepreneurs business plan development from obtaining financial resources for financing to alternative funding to help get businesses certified as either a Black Business Enterprise (BBE) or Women Business Enterprise (WBE). Contracts are available for BBE and WBE certification holders, whether local or federal, within the state for small business owners, particularly for African Americans. Substantial allocation of funds are available for BBE and WBE, Harris said. We want to facilitate and bridge that gap to help small business owners to expand, grow and get to that next level and in business and enterprise. The Alton chapter also will act as an advocate on behalf of minority-owned businesses. We will look at what is needed in our community thats not there, not only for funding, but through policy, legislation, Harris explained. The Alton chapter also will conduct mixers where business owners can network. Weve attended many of those, an opportunity to network in an after-five setting, with business owners and not just the owners, but also other individuals, such as someone in the working class who can come, connect and partner with these businesses, Harris said. We want to bring that here, so that we again can really, not just do something here in Alton, but something within our region here, including East Alton, Wood River, Granite City, Edwardsville, Grafton, Bethalto, all the towns and cities in the area to be a blended family here, as well as across counties, the Metro East, Harris said. Harris own personal mantra is, Empower to make an impact. Thats what I feel Im here for, is to empower others," he said. "After empowering, help others to make an impact. The Alton chapter currently is housed at Harris church. He and his wife, Jocelyn, also are entrepreneurs who operate a seasonal shaved ice business at 2500 Locust Ave. in Alton. Email altonareabcc@gmail.com for more information about the Alton Area Black Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois visit www.bcciinc.org or email bccillinois.inc@gmail.com. Other organizations helping Black-owned businesses include Ourblex at www.ourblex.com and STL Black Biz at www.stlblackbiz.com. 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." Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ALTON The curiosities and dark history in a re-imagined museum in Altons Mineral Springs Hotel seeks to tap into the regions haunted tourism trend. The Soul Asylum, a moniker used with the permission of the famous 1990s rock band of the same name, is located in the space occupied by the former Historic Museum of Torture Devices. The new museums developer hopes to have a grand opening March 5-6 nd then maintain regular hours Thursday through Sunday. David Nunnally, owner of the Mineral Springs Hotel business Its Raining Zen, has purchased the assets of his friend Janet Kolar who owned the old torture devices museum. Nunnally has been busy transforming the space into an experience with a little of the old and a lot of the new. The Soul Asylum completely re-imagines and re-invents the museum, Nunnally said. Janets torture devices have stayed. But I have added at least 1,000 other items. Return visitors will recognize the guillotine, stocks, rack and other reconstructed torture devices. But most of the new museum space is filled with exhibit cases and cabinets containing artifacts and images pertaining to medical oddities, serial killers, hauntings and the history of the Mineral Springs Hotel. It ties in with everything that has been going on in Altons paranormal tourism industry, Nunnally said. Its a good place for the community to come and learn about what has happened here. And its not just about Mineral Springs, because the McPike Mansion, the Enos Sanitarium and the other haunted locations in town have loaned us things to display on their behalf. The first thing Nunnally did after taking over the space was tear down the old partitions and open up the area. He then repainted the entire large room to remind visitors it was the original Mineral Springs Hotel Ballroom in 1914. The ballroom downstairs was added in 1950, so in this room you get the grandeur of the original hotel, Nunnally said. We have also pieced together a revised history of the hotel by going through every edition of The Telegraph to get the stories that had been written about the building since it opened in 1914. Right now we are featuring the history of Alton some of it haunted history and we actually have some original artifacts from the hotel including a one-of-a-kind lamp that still works, Nunnally said. We are displaying all of the things that we have collected over the years. Saturdays soft opening for The Soul Asylum came during the annual Dead of Winter Festival in the hotel, and for good reason. The crowd that comes to this festival is exactly the kind of crowd that would come to this attraction, Nunnally said Saturday as curious visitors browsed the museum. Mineral Springs is already one of the big tourism draws in the community, and this will make it even bigger. Admission will remain $8 per person, the same fee charged for the torture devices museum. Unlike the previous operator, Nunnally will encourage visitors to touch and pose for photos with the torture devices, since they are not original and have been rendered safe for the public. For instance, there wont be any head-lopping with the guillotines fake blade. A few of her exhibits have remained, but there are hundreds more. Its an all-new experience and the exhibits are going to change, Nunnally said. I have a pretty big collection of stuff, so we are going to add, take away and make this a dynamic place. Weve got room to expand and well keep doing that. GREENVILLE Two people are dead after a shooting Thursday night in Greenville. At about 7:24 p.m. Thursday, Illinois State Police (ISP) District 11 and ISP Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Zone 8 agents responded to the 600 block of East South Street in Greenville where Laquita Sullivan, 37, of Greenville was found dead. State police said it was later learned that, moments before the homicide, a red Dodge Challenger believed to be involved in a separate shooting, had fled the scene. A 33-year-old man that was in the area when the fatal shooting occurred went to the residence of an acquaintance on East Main Street in Greenville, police said. At about 1 a.m. Friday, state police detained the man, who was released after questioning. His name has not been released. At approximately 9:06 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle matching the description of the Challenger was seen in Wood River, state police said. When the vehicle failed to stop for Wood River Police, a pursuit involving multiple agencies ensued. The vehicle subsequently left the roadway and overturned on Illinois 203 near the entrance to Eagle Park in Madison County. Two occupants of that vehicle were taken to an area hospital, a 25-year-old man from Greenville and a 23-year-old man from Anna. According to state police, the 25-year-old died from his injuries in the accident. Their names have not been released. State police thanked all of the agencies involved in the investigation, noting it is open and ongoing. They also are asking anyone with information about the events surrounding the incident to contact Crimestoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS). To the Editor, As a retiree from the area construction industry, I normally read without comment the oftentimes feeble attempts of our local scribes (hello Don W). But the February 10 letter of Alicia Martin irritates me to the point I must dust off my poison pen and lash out at the false and misleading information contained in her letter. Ms. Martin attacks the federal Project Labor Agreements that she alleges excludes the Associated Builders & Contractors. In her diatribe she uses the same old lies and half-truths I experienced a decade age when I was in the middle of the fight. The ABC is misleading when it says non-union contractors are excluded from bidding on a PLA project. Any contractor may bid such a project as long as it agrees to pay the prevailing wages & benefits for that area (which around here is the union rate). In my 20-plus years of activity in this business the non-union NEVER submitted a bid for such work. Why is that? I can only surmise these contractors did not want their employees to realize the difference in the wage/fringe rate of pay. The employer did not have to sign an agreement with the union, they did not have to hire union members, they did not have to pay anything to the union. They only had to pay their loyal employees a fairly agreed upon wage rate, which is undoubtedly greater than he normally agrees. What's wrong with that? Ms. Martin's assertion that projects worked under the PLA cost "12 to 20% more" makes me call B.S. on that. What studies does she cite? Where did she get her facts? I could show a myriad if studies that show just the opposite. You show me your & I'll show you mine. I did take Ms. Martin's advice and scanned her website to discover her "truth" about PLA's. The website was exclusively concerned about the exclusion of local people from working on a PLA project. I believe I can allay her concerns. First of all, this area has a large, well-trained work force capable of building anything from a Lock & Dam to a Clark Bridge to a complete rebuild of an oil refinery. and this workforce is all unionized. Finally, if Ms. Martin is so concerned about our poor unappreciated workforce why have I never heard of her until today? Where do you live Ms. Martin? I'll bet she doesn't have an Illinois or even a Missouri zip code. Jack Tueth Godfrey To the Editor, Normally I don't waste time trying to reason with members of the far right as such is clearly impossible, and I usually ignore their false statements. However Jim Schwegel's recent attempt to call my last letter false has some points in it that are too egregious to let pass by. First off he claims the left in America wants to deny history by removing statues of Confederate "heroes." That's false; the left doesn't want to bury parts of American history it doesn't like. That's what the right is doing with its efforts to ban parts of history it calls "critical race theory." Removing memorial of Confederate "heroes" is actually saying that people who fought to keep millions of human beings in slavery do not deserve to be memorialized. I wonder if Jim Schwegel has ever thought how it would feel to be a Black person in the deep south and see a statue dedicated to a man who fought to see to it he would have been born a slave if the cause he fought for had succeeded standing proudly outside the state capitol or his local courthouse. I rather doubt it He also said that President Biden picking Kamala Harris as his VP proved his incompetence. Hmmm, what could it be about her that makes Schwegel view her appointment as an act of obvious incompetence? Maybe the same thing that sent people like him on an 8-year screaming tantrum against President Barack Obama? Maybe. As to the rest of the letter, Fox News talking points, "Demmykcrats are poopyheads, blah blah..." As for me I'm happy with having someone in the White House who doesn't talk about "super duper missiles" that fly 16 times faster than anything else which, even if they existed, would be a military secret not to be divulged, or talks about the existence of airports in the revolutionary war. Russ Bullman East Alton MADDY BARRETTE, Chariho, Softball, Sophomore; Barrette hit a two-run single in the seventh inning, lifting Chariho past Cumberland. For the week, Barrette was 4 for 8 with three RBIs and a double in three games. MADDIE STEPSKI, Stonington, Softball, Senior; Stepski hit two home runs in back-to-back games for the Bears. In three games during the week, she was 10 for 13 with four homers, two doubles and 12 RBIs. Stepski is hitting .750 for the season with 22 RBIs and six home runs. MICHAEL POOLE, Westerly, Baseball, Freshman; Poole struck out 14 Rogers batters to earn his second win of the season. Poole pitched a four-hitter and allowed just one earned run. For the season, Poole has 19 strikeouts in 12 innings with a 1.14 ERA. SEAN BERGEL, Wheeler, Baseball, Sophomore; Bergel pitched a complete-game two-hitter in a 1-0 win against Putnam. Bergel struck out seven and did not walk a batter. He is 2-1 with a 1.68 ERA this season. Vote View Results Tifton, GA (31794) Today Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. A Canadian man who pleaded guilty to plotting the death of a Bismarck man in what authorities say was a love triangle with plans to cash in on an insurance policy will be sentenced Monday. Earl Howard, 43, pleaded guilty to four felonies in October, just days before he and co-defendant Nikkisue Entzel, 40, were to stand trial in the death of Chad Entzel, 42, who was Nikkisue Entzels husband. His body was found Jan. 2, 2020, after emergency workers responded to a call of a house fire northeast of Bismarck. Authorities say the fire was intentionally set in an attempt to cover up Chad Entzels killing. An autopsy showed he died of gunshot wounds to the head. Nikkisue Entzel was arrested Jan. 7, 2020, and is set to go to trial late this month. Howard, who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada, turned himself in Jan. 9, 2020, on the Blue Water Bridge connecting Port Huron, Michigan, with Ontario, Canada, a day after North Dakota authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. Burleigh County Deputy Sheriff Brian Thompson testified during a hearing early in the case that Nikkisue Entzel took out a $26,000 renter's insurance policy in the days before Chad Entzel's death, and that she tried to collect on the policy soon after he died. Howard and Nikkisue Entzel were in a romantic relationship, verified by video and photos provided to law enforcement, the deputy said. Howard's deal A plea agreement by Burleigh County State's Attorney Julie Lawyer and Howards attorneys calls for a 50-year prison sentence with 25 years suspended on a murder conspiracy charge; 10-year suspended sentences on arson and arson conspiracy charges; and a five-year suspended sentence for evidence tampering conspiracy. South Central District Judge Douglas Bahr in May dismissed a murder charge against Howard at the request of Lawyer. An evaluation of the firearm did not show evidence as to which defendant allegedly shot Chad Entzel. Without that, the state could not corroborate Nikkisue Entzels statements to law enforcement that Howard shot him, Lawyer said. Howards plea removed the possibility of life in prison without parole. Bahr in October tentatively accepted the agreement pending the outcome of a presentence investigation. Bahr last week cleared the way for Howard to attend the sentencing hearing in person. Presiding Judge Bruce Romanick on Jan. 25 issued an emergency order canceling transport of prisoners to the courthouse for in-person hearings because of a spike in COVID-19 cases. Those numbers have decreased significantly since then, Bahr said, adding that he also weighed in his decision the serious nature of the case and the opportunity for in-person testimony from Chad Entzels family. Howard will be tested for the virus before he is transported to the courthouse. The hearing will be available to the public by electronic means. Nikkisue Entzels trial Lawyer wanted Howard's sentencing to take place before Nikkisue Entzel's trial to avoid the possibility of Howard withdrawing his plea and requesting his own trial. Howard in previous motions had asked that he and Nikkisue Entzel be tried separately. Lawyer and Justin Balzer, who is Nikkisue Entzels attorney, after Howards guilty pleas also agreed they would need more time to prepare for a trial with a single defendant. Bahr last fall agreed to reschedule the trial with great reluctance, noting Nikkisue Entzel had already spent 22 months in jail at that time. The judge also reset Howard's sentencing date after telling attorneys at a Jan. 6 hearing that the presentence investigation might not be available until a few days before the original sentencing date of Jan. 21. A defendant by law is allowed 14 days to review the report before being sentenced. That didn't impact Nikkisue Entzels trial, which starts Feb. 28. Ten days are set aside. She faces three conspiracy charges -- murder, arson, and tampering with physical evidence. She could face life in prison if convicted. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Cumberland, MD (21502) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 75F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with thundershowers developing overnight. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Barre, VT (05641) Today Overcast. High 63F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Periods of rain. Low 47F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 63F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Tesla is planning to build its new design center in Beijing later this year, according to a new document released by the Chinese government. Shortly after announcing Gigafactory Shanghai, Tesla made it clear that it not only wants to tap into Chinas incredible capacity in manufacturing, but it also wants to take advantage of the countrys incredible engineering and design talent. https://electrek.co/2022/02/11/tesla-new-design-center-beijing-govt/? U.S. President Joe Biden told Russias Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the West would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine, adding such a step would produce widespread suffering and isolate Moscow. In the latest effort to manage growing hostility, the two men spoke by phone for an hour a day after Washington and its allies warned that the Russian military, which has 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, could invade at any moment. Moscow has dismissed those warnings as hysteria. Neither side said there had been any breakthroughs. A senior Biden administration official said the call was professional and substantive, but that there was no fundamental change. The Kremlin said Putin told Biden Washington has failed to take Russias main concerns into account, and it had received no substantial answer on key elements including NATOs expansion and the deployment of offensive forces to Ukraine. The senior Biden administration official said it was unclear whether Putin was committed to diplomacy even as he agreed to stay in touch with Biden. The call took place as Israel, Portugal and Belgium joined the list of countries that have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. The U.S. State Department ordered most of its embassy staff to leave Ukraine. The Pentagon said it was withdrawing about 150 military trainers. Australia said on Sunday it was evacuating its embassy in Kyiv, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling on China to speak up for Ukraine and not remain chillingly silent as Russia massed military forces on its border. Morrisons comments to a news conference followed criticism by China of a meeting of the U.S., Australian, Japanese and Indian foreign ministers last week in Melbourne. The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on, Morrison said. TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY Biden was due to compare notes with French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday, according to the White House. Bidens top military and diplomatic officials held calls with their Russian counterparts. Putin also spoke with Alexander Lukashenko, leader of Ukraines northern neighbor Belarus, which is engaged in major joint military drills with Russia. After Macrons call with Putin, a French presidency official said there were no indications from what Putin told Macron that Russia is preparing an offensive against Ukraine. We are nevertheless extremely vigilant and alert to the Russian (military) posture in order to avoid the worst, the French official said. Russia said on Saturday that it had decided to optimize its diplomatic staff numbers in Ukraine, fearing provocations by Kyiv or others. It said its embassy and consulates in Ukraine continued to perform their key functions. A U.S. official on Saturday said there was no telling what Putin has decided, but that the steps Russia is taking in plain sight make them fear the worst. ZELENSKIY CALLS FOR CALM Biden told Putin during their call that the United States is pushing for diplomacy but ready for other scenarios, the White House said. In Kyiv, several thousand Ukrainians filed through the center of the city, chanting Glory to Ukraine and carrying banners that said Ukrainians will resist and invaders must die. read more Zelenskiy, who attended police drills in the southern Kherson region, echoed Washingtons assessment that a Russian attack could happen at any time, but stressed that it was important for Ukrainians to remain calm. The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country, he said. Putin, jostling for influence in post-Cold War Europe, is seeking security guarantees from Biden to block Kyivs entry into NATO and missile deployments near Russias borders. Washington regards many of the proposals as non-starters but has pushed the Kremlin to discuss them jointly with Washington and its European allies. Moscow has repeatedly disputed Washingtons version of events, saying it has massed the troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. Also on Saturday, the Russian military said it had used appropriate means to make a U.S. submarine depart from Russian waters in the far east after the vessel ignored a Russian order to surface, Interfax news agency reported. The submarine was detected in Russian waters as elements of Russias Pacific Fleet conducted naval exercises near the Kuril islands, the defence ministry was quoted as saying. In a statement, a U.S. military spokesman denied it had carried out operations in Russian territorial waters. SOURCE: REUTERS South Sudan risks a return to war, the United Nations warned Friday, with outbreaks of interethnic violence and political infighting threatening to undo even the limited progress made in implementing its lumbering peace process. The worlds newest nation has suffered from chronic instability since independence in 2011, including a brutal five-year civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar that cost almost 400,000 lives. The 2018 agreement which ended the war has been bedevilled by bickering between rival parties. Key provisions are yet to be implemented, with less than a year left before the country is due to hold elections. There is a real risk of going back to conflict, Yasmin Sooka, chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, told journalists on Friday during a visit to the country. The failure to form a unified armed forces command a key component of the peace deal has created an environment in which violence remains rife, the UN said. Thirty-two people, including children, were killed in armed raids in Jonglei state last month. Political instability has added to the challenges, with Machar facing growing opposition within his own ranks, as top cadres complain about losing ground to Kiirs party. The pairs shaky alliance faced a fresh threat in August when fighting erupted between rival factions of Machars party, leaving at least 32 people dead. Machar said the clashes were aimed at derailing the formation of a unified army, which remains a major sticking point between him and Kiir, with the parties yet to agree on a power-sharing deal on the issue. South Sudan has struggled with war, famine and chronic political and economic crisis since celebrating its hard-fought independence from Sudan in July 2011. As discontent has deepened, some citizens have called for a peaceful public uprising to topple the current regime. But the authorities have cracked down on protests, forcing activists into hiding. Members of South Sudanese civil society who met with the Commission said they are scared to discuss the human rights situation, for fear of retaliation by state security services with a track record of violently repressing the expression of political views, the UN said in a statement Friday. The lack of progress in implementing key provisions of the (peace deal) contributes to the persistent insecurity and impunity in which human rights violations occur, it said. SOURCE: AFP The United States said on Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine any day now and might create a surprise pretext for an attack, as the German chancellor prepared for talks this week with President Vladimir Putin to try to ease the crisis. Washington has said the door for diplomacy remained open but it has also repeatedly said Russias military, which has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, was poised to act. Moscow denies any such plans and has called comments hysteria, but no breakthrough that could ease the crisis has yet emerged from high-level talks between top Russian and Western officials in recent days. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for Russia to de-escalate on the eve of his trip that takes him to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday. A German official said Berlin did not expect concrete results but said diplomacy was important. Scholz warned of sanctions if Moscow did invade. We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begin a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN. Sullivan said Washington would continue sharing intelligence with the world to deny Moscow the ability to stage a surprise false flag operation that could be a pretext for an attack. U.S. officials said they could not confirm reports that U.s. intelligance indicated Russia planned to invade on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden, who is due to speak to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday, told Putin in a call on Saturday the West would respond decisively to any invasion and such an attack would harm and isolate Moscow. A senior U.S. administration official said Bidens call was substantive but that there was no fundamental change. The Kremlin said Putin told Biden that Washington had failed to take Russias main concerns into account and it had received no substantial answer on key elements of its security demands. Putin wants guarantees from the United States and NATO that include blocking Ukraines entry into NATO, refraining from missile deployments near Russias borders and scaling back NATOs military infrastructure in Europe to 1997 levels. Washington regards many of the proposals as non-starters but has pushed the Kremlin to discuss them jointly with Washington and its European allies. DIPLOMATIC PATH The diplomatic path remains open. The way for Moscow to show that it wants to pursue that path is simple. It should de-escalate, rather than escalate, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said after he held talks on Saturday with Asian allies. Washington ordered most of its embassy staff on Saturday to leave Ukraine immediately. Its European allies and others have also been scaling back or evacuating staff from their Kyiv missions and have urged citizens to leave or avoid travel to Ukraine. U.S. staff at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) began leaving by car from the rebel-held city of Donetsk in east Ukraine on Sunday, a Reuters witness said. The OSCE conducts operations in Ukraine including a civilian monitoring mission in Russian-backed, self-proclaimed separatist republics in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where a war that erupted in 2014 has killed more than 14,000 people. Amid the tension, Dutch carrier KLM said it would stop flying to Ukraine and Germanys Lufthansa said it was considering suspending flights. An adviser in Ukraines presidency, Mykhailo Podolyak, said that regardless of what airlines chose to do Kyiv had no plans to close its airspace as such a move would resemble a kind of partial blockade. A French presidency official said on Saturday, after President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Putin, that there were no indications from what the Russian leader said that Russia was preparing an offensive. But the official said Paris remained extremely vigilant. British defence minister Ben Wallace cautioned against putting too much hope in talks, saying there was a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, referring to a 1938 pact that failed to halt German expansionism under Adolf Hitler. The worrying thing is that, despite the massive amount of increased diplomacy, that military build-up has continued, Wallace told The Sunday Times of London. SOURCE: REUTERS BALLSTON SPA As anyone familiar with teenagers knows, they're often perfectly willing to point out when adults are doing something that seems nonsensical or hypocritical. So in that sense, it wasn't particularly surprising that 50 or 60 students at Ballston Spa High School roughly 20 percent of the senior class participated Thursday in a protest against the continuing mask mandate in New York schools. The students simply refused to wear their masks when they arrived at the Ballston Avenue school in the morning. The timing wasn't an accident. Thursday, after all, was the day when the state's mask mandate for businesses ended, an important step toward normalcy for adults as COVID-19 cases plummet. But no such step was on the calendar for students, who, as I've argued before, have borne a particularly heavy burden during a pandemic now entering its third year. Many are wearing their masks without significant interruption for eight hours of the day or longer. More and more, our mandate makes New York an outlier even among other deep-blue Northeastern states. In recent days, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Connecticut have all announced end-points for school mask mandates, yet Gov. Kathy Hochul is stubbornly hanging on, saying only that she might revisit the mandate in March. "Students still need adults looking out for their health," the Democrat said. "This is all about protecting our children." But the risk for children is very low. As David Leonhardt of The New York Times has noted, statistics out of Britain suggest unvaccinated children under 12 are at less risk from COVID-19 than vaccinated adults in their 40s if not their 30s. That doesn't mean there's no threat to children, he reports, but it is roughly equal to other respiratory illnesses we accept as normal. Leonhardt also notes that "the benefits of universal masking in schools remain unclear. Studies in Florida and in England, for example tend to find little effect on caseloads," while a study that found an effect has been largely debunked. There are critics who believe Leonhardt underplays pandemic risks. Still, it is increasingly difficult to conclude that the science is on Hochul's side of the school-masking argument. The detrimental effects are less ambiguous. Anya Kamenetz of NPR reports "that numerous scientific papers have established that it can be harder to hear and understand speech and identify facial expressions and emotions when people are wearing masks." That's particularly harmful for children who are just learning to speak and are developing emotionally. For those reasons, and others, the World Health Organization doesn't recommend masks for children under age 5, while the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control doesn't recommend them for children under age 12. That doesn't make those organizations anti-mask. It just means they're weighing the pros and cons. In Ballston Spa, students seemed to feel that their voices weren't being heard. The adults were arguing about them, in other words, without listening to them. "We protested because we felt as if our school wasn't doing anything to help us in regards to the mask situation," senior Allison Ricci told my colleague Kathleen Moore. "At this point, pretty much everyone I know has had COVID or been vaccinated, so I don't understand why there's still such a concern." The protest generated significant support but also a predictable backlash. On social media, the students were derided as ignorant about science or selfish, while some suggested they should be punished. I even saw one person say they should have their college scholarships taken away. I find that baffling, even frightening. Should Americans really be punished for free speech? Has the right to protest vanished? Do we really want to demand thought conformity? If we're answering yes to those questions, we're doomed. The students found more support from Ballston Spa Superintendent Ken Slentz, who described both the experience and the reaction as tremendous learning experiences for the protesting students, who were asked to stay in the high school library for the day. By Friday, the school had returned to normal. "I understood and admired what they were doing," Slentz told me, adding that the reaction illustrated "what we all know exists a deep divide in our community around these issues, particularly about masks." In part, student frustration centers on the lack of any health metric or target that will lead Hochul to lift the mandate, even as schools in most other parts of the country return to normalcy. The requirement feels arbitrary, and endless. "That has been a gut punch to a lot of people," Slentz said. Like some of the adults attending school board meetings these days, many of the protesting students asssumed the school district could lift the mandate on its own accord. Correcting that assumption was part of the learning process, Slentz said. The proper audience for the protest was Hochul, of course. Whether she'll listen to the students or the evolving science is anyone's guess. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill GREEN ISLAND Every Green Island High School student has been sent home to learn virtually for the next week, after incidents of violence and bullying occurred recently at the school. So many of our learners are in crisis, said Superintendent Kimberly Ross. A temporary pause of in-person learning will give all of the members of our community an opportunity to discuss solutions. She described the situation as a series of physical altercations at the high school. One student was arrested after an attack on another student Wednesday, Green Island police said. They charged a 17-year-old girl with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. A 16-year-old girl told police she was attacked while walking down the hallway. She had bruises to her face and head, according to police. School leaders are holding a parent forum at the school gymnasium from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. They are making arrangements for babysitting so that more parents can attend. (Details on that will be on the districts website after plans are finalized.) The goal of the meeting is to get the entire community actively involved, Ross said. She emphasized that the community needs to find a way to create a safe learning environment. District officials have already added de-escalation training for staff and then posted them in the hallways during the class changing periods. Theyve also added two new guidance counselors, a social worker and a school resource officer. Teachers have increased social-emotional learning, which among other goals helps students learn to regulate their emotions. But it was not enough. Ross said she had to move to remote learning for a week to ensure the safety of all students and staff. The move was announced Thursday, to take effect the next morning. Students in grades nine to 12 will learn by remote instruction through Friday, Feb. 18. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Issues revolve around violence and bullying, but she declined to go into the extent of any injuries or how many students were misbehaving. Due to the privacy of the students involved, I am unable to discuss the specifics of the incidents or severity, she said. In two letters to parents, she asked for their help. The district is committed to creating a respectful learning space for the community. By working together, we can help students face their challenges, she wrote. It is my hope that by working together to address the challenges our students are facing, we can move forward and model civility for our children. Last year, high school students attended in person only two days a week, until March 15, when virtual school was cut back from three days to one day a week. In February 2020, federal agents stormed the barns and offices of a racehorse training facility in Middletown. They had intercepted communications suggesting an employee of the Mt. Hope Training Center was the source of drugs used to dope horses on behalf of the facilitys owner, Richard Banca, according to a federal criminal complaint. The evidence recovered by investigators at the Orange County training facility that day helped the U.S. Department of Justice build one of the biggest doping cases in the history of horse racing allegations that continue to reverberate through the sport two years later. The case, which would lead to 29 arrests and the dismantling of an expansive racehorse doping ring, marked an extraordinary moment in the history of a sport that has long been policed by commissions or bodies that regulate racing at the state level. It also raised questions about why it took a federal agency to clean up an industry where cheating has endured, in part, because of languid state investigations that rarely involve law enforcement authorities. Inside Banca's personal office on the barn's second floor, agents found a handwritten ledger with a list of horses names. There was a syringe on top, along with a note offering instructions on how to administer a custom drug concoction through a tube inserted down a horse's nose and throat, according to the federal complaint. They found a substance labeled bleeder believed to have performance-enhancing effects next to another syringe. A second bottle in the office contained adrenaline. Another medication they found was from a company that wasn't authorized to make animal drugs. Federal agents arrested Banca and his assistant trainer Conor Flynn a few weeks later on charges of obtaining misbranded or adulterated drugs through interstate commerce. They have pleaded not guilty; Banca's attorney said he would vigorously fight the allegations against him in the appropriate forum. Other attorneys either declined to comment or did not respond to the Times Union's queries. The 27 other people charged include top thoroughbred and standardbred trainers, veterinarians and their partners who allegedly supplied illegal performance-enhancing substances. About this series Horse Racing Unbridled The Times Union spent more than six months examining the horse racing industry in New York and beyond, conducting dozens of interviews with key stakeholders, from trainers, owners, scientists, investigators, track operators and lawmakers to advocates who believe the sport is cruel and should be shut down. The newspaper also sifted through court records and reviewed data sets on testing, injuries, equine deaths, taxpayer subsidies, enforcement and more. While the reputations of many of those arrested made the case high-profile, what seemed to shock many racing insiders was the mere fact that law enforcement agencies were involved. Similar probes into the doping of racehorses have rarely been handled as criminal cases more often triggering administrative and disciplinary proceedings for those accused. Trainers, investigators and other sources in the industry told the Times Union that lackluster state investigations in New York, combined with underfunded drug testing, have for decades contributed to a proliferation of doping in standardbred and thoroughbred racing. The drugs these guys are using to cheat with have become so sophisticated, unless you can detect them within hours, if not minutes, they'll disappear, said Barry Irwin, an owner whose horse Animal Kingdom won the Kentucky Derby in 2011. Irwin contends there is too much focus on the never-ending cat-and-mouse game of testing, which can only detect a fraction of the performance-enhancing drugs in circulation. "The important thing is the police work, and the investigation," he said. "You need the boots-on-the-ground people to catch them in the act ... with the syringe and you test that, and then youve got them." Most drug violations, caught through administrative investigations and routine testing, generate scant public attention. The consequences that trainers face are far less severe than those doled out in criminal cases: Violators may have to forfeit race winnings, but often pay only modest fines; if they're barred from competition, it's typically for a matter of days or weeks and usually only in the state where they were caught. In New York, pursuing cheaters at race tracks is primarily the job of the state Gaming Commission, which employs investigators, administrative judges and attorneys to handle drug use and other rules violations. The operators of some tracks, including the New York Racing Association and Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs, augment the state's investigative efforts by employing their own investigators. The Gaming Commission refused to make its head of investigations available for an interview for this story, and declined to answer all questions from the Times Union on this topic. Across the country, horse racing investigative forces haven't seen much improvement over the past 30 years, said Mike Kilpack, a security and integrity consultant for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and a former supervising investigator for the California Horse Racing Board. Id like to say there is more security and boots on the ground, but they dont (have it)," Kilpack said. "Thats the problem. The Gaming Commission would not say how many investigators it employs, but sources told the Times Union there are currently about a dozen investigators statewide. The agency generally employs one investigator for each of the state's 11 tracks and a few others who move among the them. SKIP DICKSTEIN/Albany Times Union Dont make any waves When New York has performed proactive, hard-charging investigations, they have at times uncovered evidence of significant drug use. On Dec. 9, 1997, Gaming Commission investigators locked down every harness racing track in New York for a comprehensive sweep the first and only time they undertook such a massive enforcement effort. At Yonkers Raceway, investigators filled two 55-gallon buckets with discarded needles and medications found in the barns and other track property, said Joel Leveson, the Gaming Commissions former top investigator, who led the search. In one night, they stopped 10 trainers or grooms who were attempting to enter the track with syringes; many of them also carried written instructions from veterinarians on how to administer performance-enhancing substances. The Yonkers sweep prompted 60 administrative drug violation cases against various trainers, Leveson said. At Saratoga Race Course and other thoroughbred tracks, they inspected the vehicles of veterinarians and confiscated bottles of mislabeled or unlabeled drugs for testing, he said. Prior to that sweep, the investigative division generally moved slowly and was ineffective, Leveson said. I inherited patronage policeman who were given (the jobs) by the governor for a donation," he said. "They werent bad people, but they didnt know horses and they didnt want to particularly learn about them. ... It was about a 50 percentile or less workforce. After the crackdown in late 1997, the atmosphere changed at least for a while: Leveson was invited to speak to horse racing investigators around the country, and was empowered to hire new investigators to shake the dust off what he described as a sleepy unit. Diligent investigations require intense amounts of work, according to current and former investigators in multiple states. Investigators inspect barns, search vehicles, develop informants, conduct surveillance and visit stables and properties away from the tracks. They need to understand law enforcement techniques like maintaining a chain of custody for evidence, but also must have intimate knowledge of the sport of horse racing something many new investigators lack when they join up. Good investigators can turn up evidence of drug use that's undetectable by testing, or use their information to ensure out-of-competition testing is conducted at just the right time to catch cheating. Leveson began as an investigator for the Gaming Commission in 1995, corresponding with the arrival in office of Gov. George E. Pataki, who the investigator said encouraged him to hunt down dopers in racing. But Leveson said that during the subsequent tenures of former governors Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson and Andrew M. Cuomo, he was pushed to go back to the old way of 'Dont make any waves.' Administrative judges, who ruled on the evidence that Leveson produced, had been given the edict to keep the lid on things, he said. As budgets tightened particularly under Cuomo each hire of a new investigator became more difficult unless they had political backing, Leveson recalled. He left his post with the commission in 2014. Kilpack, who worked security for the New York Racing Association for multiple years while monitoring the high-profile Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes races, called investigations the perennial "whipping child." "It doesnt make money for the organization," he said. "When there are cutbacks, you always cut back security. ... Its like that at every race track. Kilpack agreed that politics can influence the quality of state's investigative efforts. Do they want a big scandal?" he said. "Nobody wants a big scandal. Al Bello/Getty One trainer, 1700 drug administrations, zero positives About a decade ago, Lou Pena was temporarily banned from Yonkers Raceway in New York. A leading trainer in harness racing, Pena had a remarkable win record. But suspicions had grown that his success might be fueled by doping. Pena allegedly sidestepped the ban by transferring his horses to other trainers to keep them racing and bringing in winnings, a practice known in the industry as using a "beard." State regulators began receiving complaints that Pena was using beards, recalled Rick Goodell, who was associate counsel to the New York Gaming Commission and its predecessor, the Racing and Wagering Board from 1999 to 2021. The state subpoenaed veterinary records and other business documents from trainers and owners working with Pena, according to Goodell, who represented the state in the case. The veterinary documents revealed more than 1,710 instances between 2010 and 2012 when various drugs were recorded as having been given to Penas horses too close to race days. But there wasn't a single horse that tested positive for the drugs when samples were collected after races as part of routine checks for drug violations. The episode highlights some of the limitations of drug testing. And it wasnt an isolated case: Goodell said those situations turn up "every once in a while." While Goodell called New Yorks drug lab an "industry leader," their attorneys and investigators would still sometimes pinpoint other equine drug violations that went undetected by the testing process when probing drug use identified by a positive test, he said. While some drugs are detectable in post-race tests, some have a very short window of detectability, despite long-lasting effects. That means diligent state investigators, tasked with rooting out illicit activity at tracks, are critical to ensuring the right horses are being tested at the right times when drugs are detectable in their system. Routine foot patrols and inspections and equine drug testing cannot detect all illegal activity, Goodell said. Even a vastly more expensive approach, such as confining all horses to the grounds and limiting access to horses and drug treatments to third-party veterinarians (themselves subject to constant visual and electronic surveillance), would not be infallible. Will Waldron/Albany Times Union What the tracks do The New York Racing Association, which operates Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park, employs four full-time investigators who share relevant findings with the Gaming Commission and law enforcement, said Patrick McKenna, a spokesman for NYRA. Anthony Patricola, the association's lead equine safety investigator and a former police officer, described his duties in testimony during a NYRA suspension hearing as inspecting offices, barns and tack rooms at the tracks, as well as investigating incidents at race tracks with riding personnel or trainers that affect the welfare of horses. The association also has at various times up to 40 staff trained by the Organization of Racing Investigators and the Racing Officials Accreditation Program working on "horse watch detail" to monitor the activities of people on the backstretch. "NYRA has a strong investigative staff," said Don Ahrens, director of security and parking at the Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, who has also worked security at the Belmont and Travers Stakes races. When something gets to the stewards' level, I believe it gets dealt with effectively. Jeffrey Gural, a New York horse owner, breeder and operator of the Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs harness racing tracks in New York as well as the Meadowlands in New Jersey, said he employs one investigator for all three tracks. John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at the Saratoga harness track at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, said it's the prerogative of the Gaming Commission to police for drug use at his track. "They're in charge of that," he said. "They have investigators on properties; they do blood samples every race. The program they have in place is the program that we use right now, and it is up to them to really enforce the policies and the directives that they've stated. ... If we find that there is something ... that needs to be investigated that gets brought to our attention, we immediately bring it to the Gaming Commission's attention." Collaboration with police New York does not deploy state troopers at tracks on race days, although they often provide traffic assistance at those locations, said Beau Duffy, a spokesman for the State Police. State Police are assigned at most casinos in the state. Other states, including Iowa, have State Police units devoted to horse racing, but that's a rarity now, according to Ahrens. You have cops at malls. Here you have betting, and you have no police here, said an active racetrack investigator, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of his work. You have nobody investigating a $2 billion industry. Several current and former track investigators told the Times Union that their collaboration with law enforcement is typically piecemeal and dependent on relationships with individual police officers, prosecutors or federal officials. If you make a cold phone call (to an unfamiliar law enforcement office) ... theyre going to look at you like you have three heads," Ahrens said. "You have to educate them on what these things all mean. In his 22 years involved in investigations in New York, Leveson said that police or prosecutors only took cases from him less than five times, despite many more referrals. He said he was told directly they didn't have the time or expertise in horse racing to pursue the cases. If it was a slam dunk, they would think about it," he said. "Otherwise, it was very hard to coerce any of them to step out of their comfort zone. Sue McDonough, a former New York State Police trooper and investigator with a career spanning 1978 to 2004, specialized in animal abuse cases. She now gives training seminars for law enforcement and others on animal abuse law. Sometimes New York horse racing investigators attend her courses, she said. A lot of them dont even know what the laws are," McDonough said. "How many times have you heard that happen that any trainer or owner or jockey has been arrested? KEVIN R. WEXLER/KEVIN R. WEXLER/ STAFF PHOTOGRAP Private investigators Until two years ago, arrests in horse racing doping cases were rare. About three years ago, the Jockey Club, the premier U.S. organization devoted to thoroughbred breeding and racing, was eager to crack down on drug use in racing. The Jockey Club, with Gural, decided to take matters into their own hands. They hired 5 Stones Intelligence, a private investigations firm staffed by former employees from the Central Intelligence Agency, Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI. They fed the group tips about individuals suspected of serious doping. Every six months, I would call them and say Whats happening? I'm paying you a lot of money, said Gural, who supported the Jockey Club's efforts. Then, finally one day, we had pretty much run out of money; I had spent at least $500,000. ... I was paying it out of pocket. They said, Dont worry, youre going to be very happy.'" The February 2020 raid on the Mt. Hope Training Center and the alleged scheme it helped to uncover involving defendants who raced, trained or treated horses in New York stemmed in part from the work of 5 Stones, he said. Gural said he and the Jockey Club are still paying 5 Stones to continue its investigations. The U.S. Department of Justice is also continuing its efforts. It wouldnt surprise me if undetectable, illegal medications are still being used in New York, since there is very little vigilance rooting out the trainers," Gural said. Thanks Ireland - the message on a delicious gateau, captured the genial spirit of the gathering in the Old Courthouse in Bank Street, at lunchtime on Thursday last. The five Syrian families now living in Templemore, provided the many visitors with an opportunity to sample Syrian food, including stuffed vine leaves, kibbeh and tabula. The Syrian Food Fair was organised by the Tipperary Refugee Resettlement Programme, an opportunity for local people to meet and mingle with their new neighbours. Children of the five families are now comfortably settled into the primary and secondary schools and have joined sports and youth clubs. Transition year students enjoyed the experience of meeting the parents of their Syrian classmates and partaking of the refreshments. Visitors were very impressed with the effort and determination shown by our new neighbours to settle in and adapt to Irish life and especially the enthusiasm of adults and children alike in furthering their studies. All enjoyed the variety of colours and tastes of Syrian food shared at the event. For weeks now, Britons have been promised that Prime Minister Boris Johnson, beset by scandal after scandal and historically unpopular, will be forced to resign. Any day now! And yet it never quite happens. David Mitchell (of Mitchell and Webb fame) writes that it should be more obvious that he's getting away with it, but everyone's invested in the story that he hasn't. The problem with this prolonged period of anticipation is that all the voices raised in protest against Johnson's government start to sound shrill, like Kermit the Frog endlessly introducing an act that never comes on. The prime minister has understood this from the moment the current scandal broke. He's let the evidence of all the various No 10 booze-ups accumulate, until the specifics get jumbled the summer party, the assorted leaving dos, the cheese and wine, the Christmas one, the one the TV lady resigned for, the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral drinks, was it? I think there was a birthday cake at some point? But not the one in the photo that was presented to him by a school. It's dismally funny watching British media failing to acknowledge that the old norms are dead. They even have their Mueller in Sue Gray, the political establishment lifer they thought would take BoJo down, with "devastating" report and all. We linked this earlier in the week but the deets of the drama deserve a second look for Saturday. Of course the case inspires some giggling but only because it was a female teacher accused of the formerly illegal behavior. Here's the sitch . . . The 26-year-old woman was charged in February 2019 for sexual contact with a student by a teacher after she allegedly confessed to having sex with the student at her home a month prior. As reported by The Joplin Globe, prosecutors dropped their case against Baylee Turner earlier this week due to her marriage to the student, which introduces the potential for spousal privilege. Under the protection of marital or spousal privilege, the student would not be required to testify against Turner in court. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Social media trolls attempt to mislead locals in the last days of this celebrated Kansas City exhibit. Here's the note from Union Station . . . "While we would rather not post this warning again, the fake "ticket for sale" comments continue to be posted at a high rate, and we continue to see people respond to those comments in the hope of acquiring tickets for sold out dates," Union Station said on its Facebook page. "We will continue to remove these comments as fast as we see them and again urge caution in purchasing any tickets offered for resale by any third party." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Some of the best & brightest TKC readers advise us . . . Whatever you do . . . DO NOT GOOGLE RICK SANTORUM!!! Meanwhile, here's a peek at a Sunflower State political ploy that hopes to push back against the Feds in a "state's rights" debate that's so very serious right up to the point we start talking about all of the funding that flows from the nation's capital. Here's the premise now that we already gave away the punchline . . . Proponents of the resolution argued there is a growing need for a rebalancing of power between the federal government and the states. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum said Article V was the best avenue to accomplish this goal. I dont think our Founding Fathers would be surprised that the federal government has claimed more than its constitutional share of power, Santorum said. They would be surprised that we have not used the most effective tool they gave us for curbing it. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Kansas reps join Santorum in call for constitutional convention TOPEKA - A renewed effort to call a constitutional convention drew a former U.S. senator, state legislators, and a handful of concerned citizens to a Kansas panel hearing Tuesday to debate the action. HCR 5027 would, under Article V of the U.S. Developing . . . With the recent release of thousands of pages of state budget documents not exactly light reading details of Gov. Kathy Hochul's $10 billion plan to remake the state's ailing health care system are becoming clearer. Well, marginally clearer. One big takeaway: Her budget proposes making $1.6 billion available to fund capital improvements for health care facilities and nursing homes, as well as to build out ambulatory care infrastructure for struggling hospitals. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. That additional funding would be on top of the $3.8 billion the state has appropriated since 2014, which would bring the total capital investment for health care providers to $5.4 billion through fiscal year 2028. Some are questioning whether the additional funds are warranted. For instance, of the $3.8 billion allocated to health care capital grants over the last eight years, $2.1 billion has not been spent, according to Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank in Albany. Perhaps the most noteworthy spending announcement for those funds came in March 2016, when the state doled out $1.5 billion for 162 projects statewide. That included about $156 million for Western New York, including $57 million to support Brooks-TLC Hospital System's affiliation with Kaleida Health, nearly $28 million to Catholic Health for information technology improvements and $20 million to the then-under construction John R. Oishei Children's Hospital. For the new $1.6 billion, Hochul's budget provides some clarity on where it would go, though much remains cloaked beneath generic terms: $750 million in grants to providers for projects that build "innovative, patient-centered models of care; increase access to care; improve care quality; and ensure health care provider financial sustainability." $450 million for "a mix of traditional health care capital investments," with $50 million of that pot guaranteed for nursing homes and $25 million each for community-based health care providers and behavioral health centers. $200 million for the modernization of emergency departments of "regional significance." $150 million to build out information technology infrastructure and telehealth. And you still with me? $50 million to support a model that delivers nursing home-level care in small residential houses where residents live and receive care. Of course, this is all subject to negotiation with the state Legislature. Stay tuned. Missed our other state budget coverage? Catch up with these stories: TIME FOR FUNDS Spectrum Health & Human Services and Evergreen Health recently received a $2.65 million federal grant to expand services in Western New York's rural counties over the next five years, reaching 10 counties. This initiative is the latest partnership for the two organizations, which are in the midst of exploring a "strategic affiliated partnership" that would allow them to expand services while trimming operational costs. THE LATEST What: The University at Buffalo School of Nursing has landed a $2.3 million federal grant to design a program to reduce burnout and promote resilience among health care workers in rural and underserved communities. Tell me more: It's a three-year program and three health care systems will participate, with the goal of developing a plan using evidence-based strategies. Why it matters: Many, if not all, health care workers are exhausted, a situation that was exacerbated by a pandemic that is nearly two years in. It's caused many workers to leave for travel nursing or quit or take early retirement, and employers have had a hard time retaining staff. Clearly, long-term solutions are needed. WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH... Mercy Ambulatory Care Center Then: It was way back on Nov. 9 when Catholic Health decided to keep its emergency department at the MACC in Orchard Park closed so it could focus its staffing on ramping up services at Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo following the 35-day labor strike. Now: It's back. The health system opened the MACC's emergency department on Jan. 30, and expects to see 40 to 60 patients a day initially. Have a tip, question, complaint? Reach me at jharris@buffnews.com Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Johnstown, PA (15901) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 69F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. Tullahoma, TN (37388) Today A mix of clouds and sun with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms. Low 62F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is allocating UAH 16.6 billion to guarantee the safety of flights in Ukraine's airspace, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. He wrote this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "Today, at an extraordinary meeting, we approved changes to the use of funds from the state budget's reserve fund. We also allocated funds to ensure flight safety in Ukraine for insurance and leasing companies," Shmyhal added. He said this decision would help stabilize the situation in the market for passenger air transportation and guarantee the return to Ukraine of Ukrainian citizens who currently stay abroad. Earlier reports said that the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine had prepared draft government decisions to address the situation caused by the announcement of the world's largest insurance companies that within 48 hours they will terminate the insurance of aircraft for flights in Ukraine's airspace. On February 12, 2022, the world's largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian airlines that they would terminate the insurance of aircraft for flights in Ukraine's airspace within 48 hours. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine said earlier that the sky over Ukraine remains open, with the government working to prevent risks for airlines. The ministry stressed that reports about the closure of Ukraine's airspace were untrue. op A Cheektowaga eye doctor made a dismaying discovery in February 2019: Someone looted his entire cryptocurrency account valued at $12 million. More bad news followed. A cybersecurity software company refused to cover any of his losses under an identity-theft protection policy he had purchased. So Dr. Ephraim Atwal sued NortonLifeLock Inc. in state court, saying his LifeLock Ultimate Plus policy should provide him up to $1 million for stolen funds reimbursement, personal expense compensation, and coverage for lawyers and experts. The lawsuit moved to federal court, and U.S. District Judge William Skretny recently weighed in with a split ruling on the Arizona company's bid to dismiss the case. The judge's Feb. 3 ruling allowed the doctor to pursue two claims: that he is entitled to the coverage and that the cybersecurity software company breached the policy when it refused to cover any of the doctor's losses. Skretny, however, dismissed the doctor's claims of unjust enrichment and breach of good faith. The case could turn on whether the policy's definition of "account" includes the kind of cryptocurrency account the doctor maintained. Beginning in June 2017, Atwal maintained a private cryptocurrency account, using a popular digital currency that operates on blockchain technology. That technology uses linked computers to record transactions on permanent digital "blocks." The currency can be purchased on crypto exchanges. The theft of Atwal's cryptocurrency and the lawsuit that followed highlight the troubles that have grown out of the fast-growing world of digital currency such as Bitcoin. The virtual currencies remain highly unregulated and offer less regulatory protection than traditional investments. Last week, for example, federal investigators seized $3.6 billion worth of cryptocurrency and arrested two people in Manhattan for laundering virtual currency stolen in a 2016 hack. The Department of Justice said the financial seizure was its largest ever. A Western New York crypto theft Atwal, a medical director at Atwal Eye Care in Cheektowaga, specializes in laser vision correction and has provided free cataract surgeries to non-insured and low-income residents as well as military veterans and immigrants through his role as chief medical officer for Eyes on America, a nonprofit. He opened a private crypto account in 2017 and had key credentials to access it, but in late August 2018, someone obtained the credentials through a fraudulent mobile device app, according to his lawsuit. In February 2019, the doctor's misappropriated credentials were used to steal all the funds then in his account. Attorney Anna Mercado Clark, who represents Atwal, declined to discuss the specifics related to the case, citing the ongoing litigation. Speaking generally, she said "data security and data protection are fields that continually evolve as new technologies emerge." While Atwal's case focuses on cryptocurrencies, Clark noted that data protection involves a wide-range of new technologies such as "surveillance technologies, peer-to-peer financial technologies, social media and much, much more," said Clark, a partner at Phillips Lytle. Was theft a stolen identity event? NortonLifeLock, in court papers, said Atwal's policy covered U.S. regulated checking, savings, money market, brokerage and credit card accounts held by a financial institution and established primarily for personal, family or household purposes. It defines a financial institution as a bank, savings association, credit union, credit institution or company using credit. Cryptocurrency is not subject to control or oversight by any governmental agency, NortonLifeLock's lawyers said in court papers. "Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender ... are not accepted as currency by the government, and are not accepted as payment by the overwhelming majority of private business and individuals, according to the company's court papers. "Importantly, virtual currency does not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction." So LifeLock did not breach any contractual obligation by denying coverage because the doctor's cryptocurrency does not fall within the definition of account under the policy, and that means the theft does not qualify as a "stolen identity event" under the policy, according to the company's court papers. NortonLifeLock's lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. A company spokesperson said the company did not have data available about the prevalence of cryptocurrency scams it deals with. Policy purchased to guard against theft Atwal purchased the stolen identity insurance police precisely to protect against identity theft, said Clark and her co-counsel Daniel R. Maguire in court papers opposing the company's request for the case to be dismissed. After benefiting from Atwals premium payments, LifeLock now seeks to avoid its obligations under that policy by incorrectly claiming that the misappropriation of his credentials and theft of his funds are not covered by the policy, according to court papers for the doctor. A "bad actors use or access of an account is not necessary for what the company considers a "stolen identity event," his lawyers told the court. "All that is required is the misappropriation of personal information or personal data," they said. Atwal adequately alleged that his account qualifies as an account under the policy anyway, according to his lawyers. "Dr. Atwals account does constitute a brokerage account," they said. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the security situation around Ukraine, according to a statement posted on the website of the White House. "President Biden reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its Allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders," the statement said. Russia and Belarus on February 10 launched a joint large-scale military exercise "Allied Resolve 2022" near the border with Ukraine. In addition, Moscow continues destructive activities in the Azov and Black Sea region, declaring large areas of the Azov and Black Seas unsafe for navigation for the period from February 13 to 19 in connection with exercises involving missile and artillery fire. According to intelligence, Russia continues to increase the number of tactical military groups on Ukraine's borders. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday, February 11, that Russia had sent more forces to the border with Ukraine and could launch an invasion at any time, including during the Beijing Winter Olympics, which run until February 20. Earlier, the United States called on Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately due to the "increased threats of Russian military action" against Ukraine and the situation with COVID-19. op Ukraine has requested an emergency meeting within the OSCE after Russia ignored Ukraine's request under the OSCE Vienna Document to clarify Russia's military activity along its border with Ukraine and in temporarily occupied Crimea. According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this on his Twitter account. "Russia failed to respond to our request under the Vienna Document. Consequently, we take the next step. We request a meeting with Russia and all participating states within 48 hours to discuss its reinforcement & redeployment along our border & in temporarily occupied Crimea," Kuleba said. According to him, if Russia is serious when it talks about the indivisibility of security in the OSCE space, "it must fulfill its commitment to military transparency in order to de-escalate tensions and enhance security for all." On February 11, Ukraine officially triggered the Vienna Document 2011 on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures and asked Russia to provide detailed explanations of its military activity in the areas adjacent to Ukraine and in temporarily occupied Crimea. According to the Vienna Document, Russia had to specify the exact areas of military activity, the date of its completion, as well as the name, subordination, number of military formations, and the types of weapons and military equipment involved. According to the procedure, a response from Russia was to be provided within 48 hours. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that if there was no response or insufficient or inadequate information, Ukraine would address Russia and other member states of the Vienna Document in order to convene an emergency meeting within the OSCE at which Russia will have to provide explanations. op Annie Charnley Eveland is a retired newspaper editor and journalist. A freelance writer, she produces the weekly Etcetera column Sundays in the Union-Bulletin. Send news with contact name and daytime phone number to acereporter1979@gmail.com. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on. Get started! Wayne Bacon, a Buffalo industrialist turned entrepreneur, launched a medical device venture almost eight years ago, hoping to create an adhesive bandage with infection-fighting ingredients. University at Buffalo medical school researchers had a different idea: Why not focus on an experimental concept to use electrical stimulation to help joint-replacement patients fight off infections? Now Garwood Medical, Bacon's refocused company, has a chance to become the next hot Buffalo startup. The company has raised more than $14 million, hired a small staff and helped patent a new technology, called BioPrax, that is so promising the FDA granted it breakthrough device status two years ago to speed up the federal approval process. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. As Buffalo Niagara reinvents itself, Garwood Medical offers the kind of economic kindling regional development experts crave. The effort started with research at the University at Buffalo and Syracuse University. University and company scientists have collaborated since. And a novel idea continues to attract money and expertise in the push toward commercialization. From Silicon Valley to Boston to Austin, that is a proven startup path. The company's potential is big. Treating an infected hip or knee replacement can require two surgeries and implant removal, as well as long hospital stays and rehabilitation. An estimated 40,000 such procedures take place every year in the United States. Almost half of patients never get another implant and the five-year mortality rate is 34%. The medical costs, studies suggest, approach $2 billion. Bacon sees an even bigger market. He and other Garwood founders hope it will become standard treatment for other implants shoulders, spine and maybe even dentistry. Our long-term goal is for this technology to prevent infections in the first place, said Brian Peterson, a Garwood co-founder. But Garwoods obstacles are big, too. The company's next major hurdle is getting FDA permission to start a small-scale human trial. If that shows promise, a broader study must follow. Under the best of circumstances, the first BioPrax sale is likely at least three years away. This is a test for Buffalo Niagara. The region doesnt have a robust medical device industry to supply the talent, capital and advice that Garwood needs to grow. And for startups, there is always the chance that an established company will buy them and move them elsewhere. The region must prove such a company can take flight here. For the company to take off and be successful would be a game changer for how joint replacement patients are managed and the market for that would be absolutely huge, said Dr. Timothy Murphy, professor and senior associate dean in the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The technology of this is most exciting to me. The $2 billion problem Garwood Medicals treatment is aimed at a stubborn problem: About 2% of the more than 1 million knee and hip replacement surgeries each year become infected. Antibiotics often can't treat the infections in the area around the joint and the surrounding bone and tissue. Surgeons must then remove the artificial joint, scrub away the infection, disinfect the area and implant a temporary cement spacer. Patients may spend months on IV antibiotics before a surgeon can consider implanting a new prosthetic joint. The costs can run as high as $270,000, 10 times more than joint replacement surgery. This bankrupts people, Bacon said. Garwoods invention essentially turns the implant itself into an infection-killer. A thin needle is inserted into the joint to make an electrical connection with the implant. That causes a reaction that generates infection-fighting activity around the implant. The magic is finding the most effective voltages to use on different implants, depending on the type of metal they contain. Garwoods staff has spent the last four years improving the system. This is actually more natural than antibiotics, said Peterson, an electrical engineer. The start: An inquisitive graduate student The idea for Garwoods novel treatment started 15 years ago with Mark Ehrensberger, an Erie, Pa., native and bioengineer, who began exploring the idea while a doctoral student at Syracuse University. After graduating in 2008, Ehrensberger came to UB to become director of the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory. Two months after he arrived, he contacted Anthony Campagnari, the medical school's senior associate dean responsible for encouraging collaboration among medical researchers. I didn't really have a good foundation in the microbiology and he's a professor of microbiology, Ehrensberger said. The duo forged a research team that has secured more than $3.2 million in grants, starting in 2010 with a $620,000 Department of Defense idea grant to evaluate the fundamental technology that would become the BioPrax therapy. Animal studies from 2014 through 2016 showed that the process could reduce infections on the implants, as well as on surrounding bone and tissue. Adding antibiotics to the treatment heightened the effect. UB and Syracuse University jointly own the U.S. patent for the BioPrax technology, awarded in 2017. The schools exclusively licensed it to Garwood Medical Devices for commercialization. A restless businessman and a bioengineer Wayne Bacon wasnt an expert in knee replacements or medical devices. But he was a veteran businessperson he owned Mills Welding & Specialty Gases in Buffalo for 24 years before selling it in 2007 to Praxair. After the sale, he dabbled in real estate and thought he would coast into semi-retirement, but he couldnt shake his lifelong interest in building companies. So in 2014 at age 66 Bacon started exploring an infection-fighting bandage. He recruited Peterson, who was working in Boston for Greatbach Medical, a device company based in Alden. Later that year, Bacon and Peterson co-founded Garwood Medical Devices. In early 2016, while Bacon, Peterson and UB researchers were using UB supercomputers to model how energy flowed through the body with the infection-fighting bandage, Jeffrey Dunbar, director of the university Technology Transfer office, suggested the company owners might be interested in BioPrax. Bacon was sold. Peterson worked from outside Boston as the new company developed, trying to help find the best combinations of metals and electrical current. "Electrochemistry is very dependent on the metal you're attaching to, so we have done a lot of work," Peterson said. Our electronics have simplified a very complex science, so you just hit a button and the device handles the control parameters. Peterson, a New England native, helped apply for the BioPrax-related patent, then started full time after patent approval the next year. He moved to East Aurora in 2019, after the Food and Drug Administration granted breakthrough device status to BioPrax. I am actually a Buffalo Bills fan, he said. I had to bring in pictures to prove it. Bacon funded the company for its first two years, until Garwood raised $3.6 million from investors in 2016. It raised $3.8 million more in 2019 and $7 million last year. Most investors came from the region, though some in the latest round hail from Mexico and Sweden. The next big test: human trials Garwoods next big test is the first human clinical trial, expected to start next year in Buffalo and up to five other sites. It will involve as many as 15 patients with implant-related infections and will take six months to a year to get trial results. If they prove promising, Garwood Medical will start preparing for a bigger trial involving other specialists and as many as 200 patients from across the country. Clinical research studies are challenging. Many never reach completion, often because of a lack of research participants. UB researchers doubt that will be the case with BioPrax because of pent-up demand. The company continues to do some of its work in UB labs on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, but in June it opened a red shed research and manufacturing building at the Northland Corridor Redevelopment Project on the East Side. It now has a staff of 14, including the first machinist trained next door at the Northland Center. They have assembled a pilot production line and employed a half-dozen UB researchers who otherwise would have moved from the region. At the insistence of the co-founders, the company tries to source more than half of its billable material and assemblies from Western New York. The aim is to increase the initiative's spin-off impact on the Buffalo Niagara region by using local sources for things ranging from injection molders, electronics supplies, packaging, powder coating and metal stamping to printing and legal support. Bacon, Peterson and their staff are big on Buffalo. A successful launch of production in the region will mean FDA registration here, Bacon said, helping to ensure that we keep the production jobs in Buffalo, even if someone else invests in or purchases the company long-term. Will it work? Every startup is bullish, but Dr. Scott Nodzo, an orthopedic surgeon who will lead the human clinical trials, exudes confidence. We're still doing most of the same things we did 40 years ago and our outcomes haven't dramatically improved, Nodzo said. In terms of joint replacements, this is huge. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. (@FahadShabbir) Geneva, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2022 ) :The Swiss voted on Sunday to tighten their notoriously lax tobacco laws by banning virtually all advertising of the hazardous products. Nearly 57 percent of voters and 16 of Switzerland's 26 cantons backed the near-total tobacco advertising ban, a final tally of votes showed. "We are extremely happy. The people understood that health is more important than economic interests, " Stefanie De Borba of the Swiss League against Cancer, told AFP as the results became clear. Switzerland lags far behind most wealthy nations in restricting tobacco advertising -- a situation widely blamed on hefty lobbying by some of the world's biggest tobacco companies headquartered in the country. Currently, most tobacco advertising is legal at a national level, except for ads on television and radio, and ones that specifically target minors. Some Swiss cantons have introduced stricter regional legislation and a new national law is pending but the campaigners who forced the issue to a vote under Switzerland's direct democracy system demanded far tighter rules. - 'Kills half of all users' - Opponents of the initiative, which include the Swiss government and parliament, had argued that it goes too far. "Today we are talking about cigarettes, but we will soon be talking about alcohol and meat," warned Philippe Bauer, a parliamentarian with the rightwing Liberal Party. "It annoys me to live in a society... with this dictatorship of the politically correct, where everything has to be regulated," he told the RTS broadcaster. His concerns echo those voiced by Philip Morris International (PMI), the world's largest tobacco company, which, like British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco, is headquartered in Switzerland and has helped fund the "No" campaign. "This is a slippery slope as far as individual freedom is concerned," a spokesman for PMI's Swiss section told AFP, decrying Sunday's result. When drafting the decision into law, he urged parliament to do so with "moderation and measure", and ensure advertising directed at adults will remain legal. "A total ban on advertising for legal products is contrary to the freedom of trade and industry enshrined in the Constitution. " Jean-Paul Humair, who heads a Geneva addiction prevention centre, hailed Sunday's win as "a very important step" in the battle against tobacco use, and flatly rejected the industry's arguments. "This is not a question of freedom... It is an illusion of freedom," he told AFP, pointing out that tobacco use creates severe dependency. "There is no other consumer product that kills half of all users." Campaigners say lax advertising laws have stymied efforts to bring down smoking rates in the Alpine nation of 8.6 million people, where more than a quarter of adults consume tobacco products. There are around 9,500 tobacco-linked deaths each year. Sunday's win means that the new tobacco advertising restrictions will be added to a new tobacco law already due to take effect next year. That law, which Swiss lawmakers voted through last September after years of debate, for the first time sets a nationwide minimum age for the purchase of tobacco -- at 18. - Animal testing - Other issues on Sunday's ballot did not fare as well in the polls. Nearly 80 percent of voters rejected a call to ban on all animal testing. All political parties, parliament and the government had opposed the initiative, arguing it went too far and would have dire consequences for medical research. Researchers say medical progress is impossible without experimentation, and even the Swiss Animal Protection group has warned against the initiative's "radical" demands. Swiss authorities also stressed the country already has among the world's strictest laws regulating animal testing. In another animal-themed vote, inhabitants in the northern Basel-Stadt canton also massively rejected a bid to afford non-human primates some of the same basic fundamental rights as their human cousins, with nearly 75 percent opposed. More than 55 percent of voters also rejected a plan by the national government to provide additional state funding to media companies, which have seen their advertising revenues evaporate in recent years. Nearly 44 percent of eligible Swiss voters took part Sunday, which is not unusually low in a country where such popular votes are held every few months. Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that disease surveillance is the backbone of an efficient healthcare system LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Feb, 2022 ) :Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that disease surveillance is the backbone of an efficient healthcare system. She was speaking in a joint meeting with Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan. The meeting was held here on Saturday to review progress on development of common dashboard for notifiable diseases and upgradation of health facilities in rural areas. She said that the development of an integrated dashboard for notifiable disease was extremely important. "Communicable diseases like polio and COVID-19 require global response," she said. Improvement in the healthcare facilities at rural level was on priority, she said. The minister said that the facilities were being upgraded in areas away from large urban centers as Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to bring them at par with developed areas, adding that new health facilities were being developed for people in rural areas. Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan said an inter-provincial meeting would be called very soon to develop integrated disease surveillance dashboard. He said all provinces would be able to launch responses after development of the dashboard for notifiable disease. Secretaries of both Health Departments Imran Sikander Baloch and Ahmed Javed Qazi, Special Secretaries Saleha Saeed, Ajmal Bhatti and Dr. Asif Tufail, Additional Secretary Dr. Awais Gohar, Dr. Naeem Majeed were present in the meeting. Vice Chancellor Rawalpindi Medical University Professor Dr. Omar and Vice Chancellor Faisalabad Medical University Professor Dr. Zafar Chaudhry joined the meeting via video link. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday it has handed over a note to the US military attache over the violation of Russian territorial waters by a US submarine earlier in the day MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2022) The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday it has handed over a note to the US military attache over the violation of Russian territorial waters by a US submarine earlier in the day. A Virginia-class US submarine was spotted in the Russian territorial waters near the Kuril islands on Saturday evening. It ignored the initial request to come up to surface and left the Russian waters once a Russian patrol frigate used the "relevant measures" prescribed for incidents like that, the ministry said. "On February 12, a representative of the US embassy's military attache office for defense issues was handed over a note at the Russian defense ministry's main directorate of international military cooperation in Moscow in relation to the violation of Russia's state border by a US navy submarine," the ministry told journalists. The US official was told that Russia considers the submarine's behavior as a gross violation of international law. "The provocative actions of the US warship posed threat to Russia's national security. The Russian defense ministry insists that the United States must take measures to prevent similar situations in the future," the ministry said. "The Russian defense ministry reserves the right to undertake any measures possible to ensure Russia's security in its territorial waters," the statement said. Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged to tackle gun violence across the state, and she asked the congregation of a Buffalo church that has buried several members who were fatally shot to stand with her as she battles in Albany for programs that give young people an alternative to violence. Hochul returned Sunday morning to True Bethel Baptist Church, the congregation she credited with restoring her faith in continuing in the political arena following a difficult 2012 election loss when she tried to retain her seat in Congress. Right after I lost that seat in Congress, I thought this was the end of the path the Lord had for me in public service. I came here, and you restored my faith. You gave me hope, Hochul told the congregation at the 10 a.m. service in the East Ferry Street church. Hochul said she realized then that she had to put herself in Gods hands, and it ultimately led to her becoming the first governor from Buffalo in more than a century. Hochul spoke for about five minutes before returning the stage to the Rev. Darius G. Pridgen, True Bethel pastor and Buffalo Common Council president. She was joined at the service by state Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy, D-Buffalo; Mayor Byron W. Brown; and state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, a member of True Bethel. The governor touched upon Mary Burnett Talbert, the Buffalo civil rights activist who helped found the Niagara Movement, precursor to the NAACP, and praised People-Stokes for making history as the first black woman to serve as Assembly majority leader. Hochul said she would count on support from True Bethel congregants to reduce gun-related deaths and injuries across the state. I want you to know Im committed to fighting gun violence in our streets, and I need you with me. Were going to take that fight to Albany and say, Every life matters. We no longer want to be burying our children from this place or anywhere else in the state of New York, she said. Hochuls first executive budget set aside $224 million to combat gun violence, including increased funding for local law enforcement efforts; $13.1 million to expand the use of state troopers working alongside local police officers; and $25 million for hospital-based and street outreach programs aimed at providing wrap-around services for youth, job-readiness training and work-placement training. I will not forget the people who gave me my chance. I understand there are still young kids who need a different path in life. And, yes, its through education. But they need an alternative to the streets, some of our young men. They need to know that theres a better path that God has for them, that they can find a way. So yes, education, but some of those other programs, the violence disrupters, the workforce program, said Hochul, who mentioned the Northland Workforce Training Center on Northland Avenue, near the church. Hochul did not discuss any specifics about her proposed budget or address the status of negotiations with the Buffalo Bills over a new stadium, and she declined through a spokesman to field media questions after the service. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. USF Muma College of Business Opens New Fintech Center, Appoints Director By Elizabeth L. Brown TAMPA (February 10, 2022) The University of South Floridas Muma College of Business is opening a new center specializing in the rapidly evolving financial technology industry one that will serve as a hub of excellence for all things fintech-related. The Fintech Center at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance will be a hub of engagement and activity where academic research, world-class teaching, business engagement, and innovations surrounding the expanding financial technology sector, or fintech, will be under one roof. The college has appointed Michael D. Wiemer as its inaugural director. Wiemer is a C-level executive with more than two decades of progressive leadership in business education. Most recently, he was chief officer of the Americas for AACSB International, the worlds foremost accreditor and largest association of business schools. As a research-intensive university, our goal is to make the Fintech Center at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, and the Tampa Bay region, a hub of excellence for fintech, said Wiemer. We endeavor to be the leading university-based fintech center and entrepreneurial ecosystem for fintech education, research, and innovation. The school is located on the St. Petersburg campus and is one of six schools within the USF Muma College of Business. Wiemer sees the center as a place to harness the growing energy from tech startups and entrepreneurs in the Tampa Bay area and weave it together with the high-caliber research, teaching, and innovations coming from USF faculty researchers. Fintech is a rapidly emerging multidisciplinary space that embodies a broad range of traditional subjects and concepts, he says. Fintech is transforming entire industries, from banking and financial services, to insurance, real estate, health care, and many more. One of the goals for the center is to provide the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for current and future students to successfully navigate and lead in todays rapidly changing high-growth environment, he said. Wiemer says he anticipates a wide range of USF business students interacting with fintech and the Fintech Center. Students, whether traditional or lifelong learners, will have opportunities to gain valuable knowledge of fintech through industry internships and experiential learning, exposure to cutting-edge research, world-class teaching, and by engaging in the centers business incubator and accelerator activities as part of their educational journey with USF, he said. He also believes that the centers combined activities will provide USF business students with highly competitive skill sets and experiences that align with the current and emerging needs of the fintech industry. Fintech encompasses an expanding range of technologies and concepts, including cryptocurrency, blockchain, decentralized finance and applications, smart contracts, non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, and algorithmic trading, among others. Wiemer said he is excited to help lead the Fintech Center. I am honored to join this impressive team, and to help create and lead a university center that is positioned to take advantage of one of the most significant shifts for business education in many years, he said. The Center will provide transformative fintech learning, market leading research and high value engagement with the rapidly expanding fintech business community. Its an exciting opportunity that will have a positive impact on many lives and organizations. Wiemers career in higher education includes leadership roles at the institutional and industry levels, including working closely with hundreds of the worlds leading business schools while with AACSB. He has worked extensively developing cross-sector partnerships that bridge the academic and business communities, and creating transformative learning experiences at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive education levels. He also served as the director of international programs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he led the international MBA degree and international business exchange program. Before that, he held leadership positions at the Dominican University of California where he launched a Latin American executive education program and formed a new university center for international programs. Wiemer earned an MBA in international business from the Dominican University of California and a bachelors degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota. Islamist militants attack a minor seminary in Burkina Faso desecrating a crucifix and stealing a car, according to Aid to the Church in Need. By Devin Watkins The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reported Friday that the minor seminary of St. Kisito de Bougui was attacked by unidentified armed men on Thursday night. No one was killed in the incident but extensive damage was inflicted on the seminary in the Diocese of Fada NGourma, in eastern Burkina Faso. Destruction of religious items Local sources told ACN that 30-odd Islamist jihadists rode into the seminary compound on motorbikes around 8 PM, staying for about one hour. They burned two dormitories, a classroom, and one vehicle, stealing another vehicle. ACN reports that the militants destroyed a crucifix, telling the seminarians that they dont want to see crosses. They also told the seminarians to leave, and threatened to return and kill anyone who remains on the premises. Read also 24/01/2022 Coup suspected in Burkina Faso as President reported captured Mutinous soldiers have reportedly detained Burkina Fasos President Roch Kabore, as heavy gunfire in the capital Ouagadougou indicates the possibility of a coup detat. Prayers for seminarians After the attack was over, the seminarians were sent home for a week to await further developments. Local residents of Bougui expressed fear to ACN and a desire to leave in the wake of the attack. ACN has asked for prayers for all the seminarians, formators, and people of Burkina Faso. The seminary currently hosts 146 minor seminarianswho are of secondary school ageand 7 adult formators. Violent unrest The West African nation of Burkina Faso has seen an uptick in jihadist violence in recent years. The governments inability to stem the insecurity was cited as a reason for a military coup that ousted President Roch Kabore on 23 January. Pope Francis urges world leaders to seek a peaceful solution to the situation in and around Ukraine, as Western nations warn Russia could invade its neighbor at any time. By Stefan Bos & Devin Watkins As a host of Western nations urge their citizens to leave Ukraine, Pope Francis has renewed his prayers for the eastern European country. Speaking Sunday at the Angelus in St. Peters Square, the Pope said the news coming out of Ukraine is very worrying. He entrusted the situation to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and appealed to political leaders to spare no effort to seek out peace. And he invited everyone to pray in silence for a moment so that peace might prevail. The news coming out of Ukraine is very worrying. I entrust to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, and to the conscience of political leaders, every effort on behalf of peace. Let us pray in silence. Potential for widespread suffering Pope Francis' call to pray for peace came a day after US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart that invading Ukraine would cause "widespread human suffering." The White House said Biden also told Russian President Putin that the West was still committed to diplomacy to end the crisis. But President Biden stressed that Western allies were, in his words, "equally prepared for other scenarios." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained that those scenarios could include sanctions and military action in Eastern Europe. "We and our allies have made this crystal clear to Moscow: If President Putin decides to take military action, we will swiftly impose severe economic sanctions in coordination with allies and partners around the world. We'll bolster Ukraine's ability to defend itself; we will reinforce our allies on the eastern flank of NATO," Blinken told reporters. He added that he would "underscore this unity and resolve" when speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Military build-up As the Russian military build-up continues, Blinken also said the "imminent" threat of a Russian invasion justified evacuating the US embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Vice-Admiral Nils Andreas Stensnes, the head of the Norwegian intelligence service, said Russia now had 150,000 troops massed around Ukraine. That's more than previous Ukrainian and US estimates. The White House did not suggest that Sunday's hourlong call between Presidents Biden and Putin diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went out of his way to urge calm. He said his nation is now better prepared after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and supported pro-Russian separatists in the east. "We have to be ready each day. And it [the tensions with Russia] began not yesterday. It began in 2014. So we are ready," he said. Zelensky stressed that he realized "it can be each day" [that a Russian invasion begins]. That is why I have to analyze all the information which we have. We have a lot of information because we are on these borders. They are our borders; it is our territory," he said. Armageddon fears "And now the best friend for enemies that is panic in our country. And all this information only helps to create panic. It doesn't help us," the Ukrainian leader added. His call for calm also follows remarks from a leading Russian military expert. Colonel Konstantin Sivkov, deputy president of the Kremlin-backed Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, fears a conflict between Russia and the United States over Ukraine could escalate into nuclear warfare. That, he said, would be "the path to Armageddon," referring to the Biblical battle of the end times. He said such a nuclear war would destroy the US and Russia known today, and change the world forever. With so much at stake, diplomacy continues to overcome what has been called Europe's biggest security crisis in decades. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. Roza Barakat's tormentors have been defeated, but the horrors she endured still hold her captive. She was 11 years old when she was captured and enslaved by the Islamic State group, along with thousands of other Yazidi women and girls taken when the militants overran northern Iraq in their brutal 2014 campaign. Torn from her family in the town of Sinjar, the enclave of the ancient religious Yazidi minority, she was taken to Syria, sold multiple times and repeatedly raped. She bore a child, a boy she has since lost. Now, at 18, she speaks little of her native Kurdish dialect, Kurmanji. With the defeat of IS in 2019, Barakat slipped into the shadows, opting to hide in the turmoil that followed the worst of the battles. As IS fighters were arrested, their wives and children were packed into detention camps. Barakat was free, but she couldn't go home. "I don't know how I'll face my community," she told The Associated Press, speaking in Arabic, as she nervously played with the ends of her long dark braid, the red polish on her dainty fingers fading. For years, her IS captors told her she would never be accepted if she returned. "I believed them," she said. Barakat's tale, corroborated by Yazidi and Syrian Kurdish officials, is a window into the complicated realities faced by many Yazidi women who came of age under the brutal rule of IS. Traumatized and lost, many struggle to come to terms with the past, while the Yazidi community is at odds over how to accept them. "What do you expect from a child who was raped at 12, gave birth at 13?" said Faruk Tuzu, co-chair of Yazidi House, an umbrella of Yazidi organizations in northeastern Syria. "After so much shock and abuse they don't believe in anything anymore, they don't belong anywhere." The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission. Barakat spoke to the AP from a safe house run by Tuzu's group just a few days after the leader of the Islamic State group, believed to have played a key role in the enslavement of Yazidi women, was killed in a U.S. raid in northwestern Syria. She shrugged off the news, saying it doesn't make a difference. IS first sold Barakat to an Iraqi from Tal Afar, a man older than her father. She shudders as she recounts how he "made me call his wife 'mother.'" After a few months she was sold to another man. Eventually, her IS captors gave her a choice: Convert to Islam and marry an IS fighter, or be sold again. She converted, she says, to avoid being sold. She married a Lebanese they chose for her, a man who ferried food and equipment for IS fighters. "He was better than most," she said. At 13, she gave birth to a son, Hoodh. At the peak of the militants' self-proclaimed "caliphate," they lived in the city of Raqqa, the IS capital. Once, she begged her husband to find out what happened to her older sisters who had been taken just like her. She had lost hope that her parents were still alive. Some weeks later, he told her he found one of her sisters, holding up a photo of a woman in Raqqa's slave market where Yazidi girls were sold. "How different she looks," Barakat remembers thinking. By early 2019 as IS rule was crumbling, Barakat fled with her husband first to the eastern Syrian city of Deir el-Zour, and then to the town of Baghouz, which became IS's last stand. As U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces surrounded Baghouz, a safe passage was offered to women and children. At this point, Barakat could have stepped forward and identified herself as a Yazidi and sought safety. But instead, she clutched Hoodh in her arms and walked out of the town with other IS wives. Today, over 2,800 Yazidi women and children are still missing, said Tuzu. Some have cut ties and are building new lives outside the community, believing that if they return, they'd be killed. Others fear being separated from their children, fathered by IS members. Iraq's Yazidi community has forced women returning to Sinjar to give up their children as a condition to return. Many were told their children would be adopted by Syrian Kurdish families but dozens have ended up in an orphanage in northeastern Syria. The fate of the children has been at the center of an ongoing debate within the Yazidi community. In 2019, the Yazidi Spiritual Council, the highest authority among Yazidis, called on members to accept all Yazidi survivors of IS atrocities. Days later, the council clarified the decision excluded children born of IS rape. "This is our mistake, and we recognize that we didn't allow the children to stay with their mothers," said Tuzu. He confirmed that some Yazidi women are still at al-Hol camp, which holds tens of thousands of women and children, mostly wives, widows and children of IS members. Many of the missing Yazidis scattered across Syria and Turkey, others live clandestine lives in the Syrian city of Aleppo and in Deir El-Zour. Tuzu expects the majority may have gone to the rebel province of Idlib, where al-Qaida is dominant but where IS also maintains a presence. After walking out of Baghouz with other IS women in March 2019, Barakat slipped away to a nearby village rather than end up in a camp. With the help of IS sympathizers, she took a smuggling route and ended up in Idlib, in northwesten Syria, in a home for IS widows. Her husband was killed in Baghouz. Here, Barakat's story diverges from what she told officials. Initially, she told them she had left her son behind in Idlib to find work elsewhere. She told the AP that Hoodh died after an airstrike in Idlib. When pressed to clarify, she said: "It's hard. I don't want to talk about it." With the help of a smuggler, she made her way to Deir el-Zour and eventually found work at a clothing market, saving up for a new life in Turkey. She still dreamed of making it to Turkey when Kurdish internal security forces caught her last month, waiting in a house in the town of al-Tweinah to be taken by smugglers across the Syria-Turkey border. She was held and interrogated for days. "I did everything to hide that I was Yazidi," she said. She told the investigators she was from Deir el-Zour, and was hoping to get medical treatment in Turkey, but they didn't buy it. One held up an old photo found on her mobile phone a young Yazidi woman in an IS slave market and asked her to explain. "The words just came out: 'That is my sister,'" Barakat said. Once the truth was out, Barakat was taken to a safe house in the village of Barzan, in Syria's Hassakeh province, where the Yazidi community welcomed her. "I was in shock to hear their kind words, and to be welcomed the way I was," she said. She isn't ready to go back to Sinjar just yet. Her entire family was either killed or is still unaccounted for. What is there to go back to, she wonders. "I need time, for myself." Aid organizations are warning of a humanitarian disaster brewing in Afghanistan. Millions of people need immediate food aid. Abject poverty and lack of work has led people to go to extreme measures. VOA's Ayesha Tanzeem went to a neighborhood in Herat province where selling one's kidneys seemed to be a common practice. In January, the United Nations launched its largest funding appeal for a single country, $4.5 billion, for Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took over the country six months ago, the withdrawal of foreign assistance, coupled with sanctions, has had a devastating effect on the economy. Hunger has led people to take extreme measures. VOAs Ayesha Tanzeem went to a neighborhood in Herat province, where selling one's kidneys seems to be a common practice. Camera: Habibullah Azizi, Producer: Malik Waqar Ahmed The guessing game about Russian President Vladimir Putins intentions continued Sunday, with alarmed Western military officials and independent experts agreeing the Kremlin has amassed sufficient forces to invade Ukraine. Disagreements persist, though, among allies over whether the military buildup is a feint designed to extract Western concessions or an invasion force primed for assault. Washington and London believe Russia is not pretending, and that the forces deployed on three sides of Ukraine are not just mirroring an invasion force but are ready to mount an offensive. The worrying thing is that despite the massive amount of increased diplomacy, that military buildup has continued. It has not paused, it has continued, Britains Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Saturday. Wallace likened Western diplomacy aimed at averting a Russian invasion of Ukraine to appeasement, telling newspapers in London theres a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, a reference to the Munich agreement of 1938 that allowed Nazi Germany to annex Czechoslovakias Sudetenland. Despite Wallaces fighting talk, the British flag was lowered Sunday at the countrys Kyiv embassy, with local staff saying they had been told the mission in effect will be closed Monday, with only the ambassador and military attaches remaining. While British officials fear Putin is ready to discount the threat of Western sanctions and has priced them into his war calculations, their counterparts in Paris and Berlin believe an escalation will not happen this week. French officials are playing down a detailed intelligence report from the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies, which has been shared with NATO allies, outlining a Russian invasion plan they believe could be scheduled for this Wednesday. Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron talked for two hours Saturday. An Elysee palace official told French media that Putin made no indication that he is going to go on the offensive. French officials still hold out hopes that diplomacy can avert a conflict and say Putin and Macron agreed to pursue further dialogue, much as U.S. President Joe Biden and the Russian leader agreed to do so during their hourlong phone conversation Saturday. Nonetheless, Paris is observing the same precautionary principle as the United States and other European nations and recommending foreign nationals leave Ukraine immediately. We are nevertheless extremely vigilant and alert to the Russian posture in order to avoid the worst, a French official said. Germany is moving its consulate based in Dnipro in central Ukraine to the western Ukrainian town of Lviv. This is its second relocation it was moved from Donetsk in 2014 when Russian armed proxies seized the city. Britain is also moving its Kyiv consulate to Lviv, and consular staff will focus on assisting British nationals who want to leave Ukraine, say local staff, who will receive advance payments, which can be paid into foreign bank accounts, if they want. The Kremlin denies it is planning to invade Ukraine. Russias Foreign Affairs Ministry Sunday accused Western media of colluding in a smear campaign against Moscow with the goal of discrediting Russias fair demands on security guarantees and justifying the Wests geopolitical aspirations and militarization of the territory of Ukraine. Russian officials echoed a claim made Saturday by Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who also spoke on the telephone. Lavrov accused Washington of encouraging Kyiv to launch a false-flag military offensive in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, part of which has been occupied by Russian forces and Kremlin-backed proxies since 2014. This is the mirror of a charge being made by Western officials that Russia is preparing a false-flag provocation to trick the Ukrainians into responding, giving the Kremlin a pretext for an offensive. The Conflict Intelligence Team, a group of independent military investigators based in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, said in a statement Saturday the force Russia has massed on Ukraines borders is highly sophisticated and equipped for an invasion. We definitely cannot rule out that building up this offensive force is nothing more than an infowar. But what we see on the ground is no different from an actual preparation for an invasion, the group said. References to Munich were being made Sunday by other European politicians, aside from Wallace. In Britain, senior Conservative lawmaker and chair of the British Parliaments defense committee Tobias Ellwood criticized Western powers decision not to deploy forces in Ukraine to act as a deterrent in an article for The Sunday Telegraph. What leverage have we assembled to dissuade Vladimir Putin from invading? he asked, Where is the deterrence? Simply put, we have no Russia strategy. As soon as we ruled out sending NATO forces into Ukraine, we were no longer in control of events, he added. This is about much more than Ukraine. Its a totemic moment as we enter an era of increasing instability, he concluded. In this situation of increasing tension it must be important for countries as well as others to have key diplomatic staff close to the authorities. Embassies now leaving Kyiv send absolutely the wrong signal, tweeted former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt. In Kyiv, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the countrys ground forces, told reporters his troops are ready and capable. We will not give up a single meter of Ukrainian land without a fight, he said. Ukrainian officials were fuming Sunday, though, at the Western evacuations, saying they are encouraging the Kremlin. Ordinary Ukrainians have been calm about unfolding events, but the closure of embassies and relocation of consulates have caught their attention, and those with connections to Westerners appear now to be starting to get alarmed. The West does not know what to do with all this mess between Russia and Ukraine and they will be happy to get rid of the headache as soon as possible, reckons Iuliia Osmolovska, a former Ukrainian diplomat and now an analyst at the Eastern European Security Institute, a think tank in Kyiv. Like some other analysts and Ukrainian officials, she suspects Western powers will urge Kyiv to accept the 2015 Minsk Accord, an agreement Ukraine made with Moscow to halt fighting in the Donbass. The agreement has never been implemented and is highly unpopular in Ukraine as it would allow the Kremlin to interfere in Ukraines domestic politics. Osmolovska does not think that the West has given up on Ukraine, because it will suffer huge reputational loss worldwide, but she doubts that the Western threats of severe economic sanctions will deter Russia and judges that the Kremlins menacing military posture will strengthen the Kremlins negotiating position in security talks with U.S. and NATO. A high ranking United Nations official dismissed comparisons to Munich, telling VOA: Biden and his team are doing their best including publicly exposing potential Russian moves ahead of time to ward off the attack. Australia said on Sunday it was evacuating its embassy in Kyiv as the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border deteriorates, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling on China to not remain "chillingly silent" on the crisis. The United States and Europe stepped up their warnings of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine, 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. Australia's embassy staff in Kyiv was directed to a temporary office in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, around 70 kilometers from the border with Poland, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement. "We continue to advise Australians to leave Ukraine immediately by commercial means," Payne said. Morrison said that the situation "is reaching a very dangerous stage" and added that "the autocratic unilateral actions of Russia to be threatening and bullying Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable." Morrison, whose government has frigid ties with China, called also on Beijing to speak up for Ukraine, after China criticized a meeting of the U.S., Australian, Japanese and Indian foreign ministers in Melbourne last week. "The Chinese government is happy to criticize Australia yet remains chillingly silent on Russian troops amassing on the Ukrainian border," Morrison told a news conference. "The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on," he added. Relations between Australia and China, its top trade partner, soured after Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from its 5G broadband network in 2018, toughened laws against foreign political interference, and urged an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. U.S. President Joe Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday of Washingtons commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity even as the United States says the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine looms as a distinct possibility in the coming days. Biden conferred by phone with the Ukrainian leader from the Camp David presidential retreat outside Washington, where the U.S. leader is spending the weekend as Western officials express increased fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attack the one-time Soviet republic in the next few days, possibly by Wednesday. The White House said in a statement that Biden made clear [to Zelenskiy] that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine. Biden, however, has ruled out sending U.S. troops to fight alongside Ukrainians in the event of a Russian invasion, while vowing to impose swift and severe economic sanctions. The White House said Biden and Zelenskiy agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence to a Moscow invasion, although Western diplomatic overtures to Putin have so far failed to end the stalemate. Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, told CNNs State of the Union show that the U.S. cannot predict whether Russia might invade this week or after the Beijing Olympics end in a week, but that there is a distinct possibility there will be a major military action. While the U.S. has warned for several months of the threat of a Russian attack, Sullivan said in the last few days Moscow has accelerated its military buildup. Biden, in an hour-long call Saturday with Putin, warned the Russian leader that invading Ukraine would cause "widespread human suffering." Biden said the United States and its allies remained committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but were "equally prepared for other scenarios." Russia said Biden continued to fail to address Moscows main security concerns, including ruling out Ukraines possible membership in the 30-country NATO military alliance led by the U.S. The Western allies have ruled out Russian veto power over NATO membership as a nonstarter but said they are willing to negotiate other security issues, such positioning of missiles in NATO counties closest to Russia and NATO troop training exercises. Moscows troops have now surrounded much of Ukraine with more than 130,000 troops, to the north of Ukraine in Russian ally Belarus and along Ukraines eastern border with Russia, while positioning warships to the south in the Black Sea along the Crimean Peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Im not handicapping what will happen, Sullivan said, but added that the U.S. and its allies would impose a significant strategic [economic] loss on Russia if it attacks Ukraine. While ruling out sending the U.S. military to fight in Ukraine, Biden sent 5,000 U.S. troops to NATO countries in eastern European countries closest to Russia to help bolster their fighting forces. The U.S. has urged all Americans living in Ukraine to leave immediately, and the Defense Department has pulled out 160 military advisers who had been assisting the Kyiv government. Sullivan said the U.S. believes a Russian attack could start with a barrage of missiles and aerial bombings followed by a ground invasion. Civilians could be killed regardless of their nationality, he said. Numerous countries have ordered their diplomatic personnel to leave Kyiv, while some are keeping smaller contingents in consulates in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, near the Polish border. Several international airlines have stopped flying into Ukraine because of the impending threat of warfare, although Ukraine said it has not closed its airspace. Dutch airline KLM said Saturday that it has canceled flights to Ukraine until further notice. Dutch worries about the potential danger in Ukrainian airspace are high in the wake of the 2014 shootdown of a Malaysian airliner over an area of eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed rebels. All 298 people aboard were killed, including 198 Dutch citizens. The Ukrainian charter airline SkyUp said Sunday that its flight from Madeira, Portugal, to Kyiv was diverted to the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, after the Irish leasing company that owns the plane said it was banning flights in Ukrainian airspace. Some material in this report came from the Associated Press. Press Release February 13, 2022 Lacson Calls for Economic Safety Nets from Potential Russian Invasion of Ukraine More at: https://pinglacson.net/article/lacson-calls-for-safety-nets-from-economic-fallout-from-russian-invasion-of-ukraine The Philippine government should lose no time in preparing safety nets to protect Filipinos from a possible economic fallout caused by Russia's "imminent" invasion of Ukraine, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson said. Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said that while Ukraine is far from the Philippines, an invasion there may have adverse effects worldwide. "We might think that Ukraine is far away, and that there is no danger for the Philippines. We are all living in a global village. An invasion of Ukraine may adversely affect the stock markets all over the world. Prices of basic commodities and fuel may increase. We need to be prepared for this, not to mention that we are still suffering from the pandemic and are far from economic recovery," Lacson said. "We hope that there are contingency plans for increases in prices, disruptions in supply chains and possible repatriation of Filipinos not just in Ukraine but in neighboring countries," he added. Earlier reports indicated the United States had escalated its warnings about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding it may even take place within days. Meanwhile, Lacson inquired if the government is making preparations for Filipinos in Ukraine, noting that the United States, United Kingdom and other countries like Estonia are asking their citizens to leave Ukraine within the next 48 hours. Citing figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs, he said there are some 380 Filipinos in Ukraine. "I would like to know what preparations are being made for them in the event that war breaks out," he said. "What is happening in Ukraine may create instability in other potential flashpoints in the world including that of our Region." Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday in Buffalo at the border spanned by the Peace Bridge to echo the continuing backlash against Covid-19 mandates across Canada, in Ottawa and at key international crossings. Unlike earlier protests featuring hundreds of heavy trucks in places like the Ambassador Bridge at Detroit-Windsor, Saturday's event based in Pat Sole Park near the Buffalo end of the bridge featured only small vehicles festooned with flags and anti-mandate slogans. And despite the bitter cold, the people who showed up seemed committed even delighted to demonstrate solidarity with truckers leading efforts in Canada. At one point Saturday afternoon, dozens of flag-waving participants crossed busy Niagara Street, stood against fencing almost at the edge of America, and chanted toward Fort Erie, Ont. "We're with you, Canada!" many shouted, even if nobody could hear across the wide Niagara River. Some passing cars honked their horns in support, while others were seen expressing disgust with shouts and hand gestures. At one point witnesses saw a verbal exchange between the protesters and a group that accompanied former Buffalo mayoral candidate India B. Walton to the scene. The gathering of protesters wearing patriotic colors and carrying signs extolling "freedom" and denouncing "government overreach" mirrored many local events of recent months against mandates ordering New Yorkers to wear masks or obtain Covid vaccinations. But the Saturday event gained widespread attention because of its border venue, just as did more disruptive protests at the Ambassador Bridge. CNN featured Mayor Byron W. Brown in an indication of the far-flung interest in the story. "People want to make their statement," Brown told CNN. "We hope that they will make their statement. Do it responsibly, and then move on." Later he told The News city officials were in constant communication with state, federal and local law enforcement to monitor the situation. "But we're not anticipating anything like what happened in Canada," he said. "Emergency vehicles can get in and out if necessary." The event also caught the attention of Gov. Kathy Hochul while in Buffalo. "Today I visited the interagency command center in Buffalo to ensure we're prepared for any impacts from protests near the Canadian border," she said. "We are ready to address any potential travel and commerce disruptions, and also ensure we can protect everyone's right to peaceful protest." Convoys originating in Nashville and New York City have also indicated plans for further activities near the bridge throughout the weekend, raising the possibility of more crowds. In Canada, protests at various border crossings mushroomed in recent days following a truck parade that ended in occupation of the capital in Ottawa, paralyzing the city. Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency throughout the province last week. He warned of "severe" consequences if truckers gathered in Windsor did not disband, noting the significant damage to auto plants on both sides of the border unable to supply each other. The Canadian opposition to mandates began to take shape in earnest last month when Canadian truckers rebelled against the government's requirement they be vaccinated to cross the border. It has since taken on a right-wing flavor mirroring some U.S. efforts. The main local ramification appeared to be the closure of the Buffalo-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way in Fort Erie. Niagara Regional Police advised Saturday morning that the U.S.-bound Queen Elizabeth Way was closed at Gilmore Road "for an unknown duration." A CHCH News reporter tweeted video showing about three dozen protesters with Canadian flags on the QEW. At one point, the protesters, who were on foot, formed a line and blocked a tractor trailer from proceeding. Later, they stood on one side of the highway as law enforcement formed a line between them and passing trucks. In the United States, federal, state and local governments have not mandated that any of their citizens get vaccinated against Covid-19 outside of some of their own workers, health care groups and others. And regarding truckers, governments around the world impose many restrictions on those seeking to cross their borders. But the Saturday protesters also point to orders to wear masks and other measures they consider restrictions on their personal liberties. At the Buffalo end of the bridge, Nancy Orticelli of West Seneca, who helped organize the event, jumped off a pickup truck at Pat Sole Park to describe the protesters' role as "freedom fighters." "We recognize that tyranny has gotten out of control, that rights have been taken away from us, and we're standing in solidarity with the truckers," she said, adding she did not know exactly how many people were roaming the West Side neighborhood. "Even if there were only five people I'd be happy," she said. And Frank Kolbmann, who was shouting instructions to the crowd through a bullhorn, noted that border restrictions have prevented him from seeing his family in Canada for two years. "If things don't change, I won't be able again to visit my birth country or see my family," he said. The Saturday event began with about 75 vehicles and 100 people in the City of Tonawanda, flying American flags, honking horns, and gathering for a "convoy" to Buffalo City Hall and Pat Sole Park. Some displayed banners denouncing President Biden. A slogan on one pickup truck window seemed to sum up the objective: "Do Not Comply." Wendy Dominski of Youngstown was among those readying for the trip to Buffalo. "Our soldiers did not die in vain for our God-given freedom and we need to stand together, united as Americans, against this tyranny," she said. "We need our freedom of choice back." Pete Wigdor, who said he was from Charity Baptist Church in Buffalo, was approaching several vehicles to thank them for participating. "It's about time the peoples' voice be heard, and about time that we live free again," he said. "Back in the day we had statesmen who listened to the peoples' needs. Then they became representatives. And now they've become career politicians." The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Robert J. McCarthy Political Reporter Follow Robert J. McCarthy 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 In a bid to boost agro-tourism, the Botswana government is offering wildlife start-up stock to farmers to keep in their ploughing fields. The government says the move will give locals an improved stake in the lucrative tourism sector. Botswanas National Parks and Wildlife director, Kabelo Senyatso, said the government will run a pilot project between February and July this year, where farmers will receive start up stock. Each farmer will get five animals per species, Senyatso said. The species that the department would be availing are impala, gemsbok, zebra, eland and warthog. It is important to clarify that applicants should not restrict themselves to these species, people can keep whatever wildlife that they are keen to keep. It is also important to clarify that the scheme that we are referring to relates to keeping of herbivores. It excludes carnivores, said Senyatso. He said farmers must meet certain water, fencing and space requirements depending on the species they want to keep. Randy Motsumi, a professional hunter, is keen to keep animals within his holding. However, he is concerned the costs will be prohibitive due to start-up capital required. This is a very good initiative. But the problem now is the expenses. It is going to be very expensive for an ordinary Motswana. Just fencing will cost an ordinary Motswana over P1million [approximately $100,000]. So this initiative is good, but it needs a lot of funding, he said. According to requirements, game keepers must ensure there is adequate fodder and reliable water supply. The fence height should be between 1.5 and 2.4 meters depending on the species kept. Conservationist Map Ives agrees that the venture requires a lot of resources. Wildlife farming or keeping is a highly specialized business, which requires huge capital outlay. If you are going to keep animals like eland which are capable of jumping extreme heights, you are going to need infrastructure. You will also need reliable water infrastructure supplying fresh portable water. A lot of water in western Botswana is quite saline," said Ives. He adds the initiative might end up benefiting an elite few who have access to resources. "I understand the principle of spreading the ownership or keeping wildlife to the people. They are also trying to spread tourism away from national parks or wildlife management areas into other parts of Botswana but again, I believe this is not well thought through and will probably benefit only elites who can afford to have large tracts of land, high quality infrastructure and people to look after that wildlife," he said. In announcing the initiative in 2020, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said it was one of the ways to revive a tourism sector hard hit by COVID-19. Botswana is one of Africas leading tourism destinations, with the sector contributing 13% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. America's elite colleges are facing growing calls to end the decades-old tradition of giving an admissions boost to the children of alumni a practice that critics say is rooted in racism and bestows an unfair advantage to students who need it least. Fueled by the national reckoning with racial injustice, opponents say they are gaining momentum in the battle over the contentious policy of legacy preferences. Ivy League students are pressing administrators to abandon the policy. Yale's student government took a stance against the practice in November. A recent vote of Harvard students found that 60% oppose it. Hundreds of students and alumni across 30 colleges have promised to withhold financial donations over the issue. Civil rights groups are increasingly adding their support, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which is tackling legacy preferences as part of a campaign against systematic racism. And a bill in Congress aims to eliminate the practice. The proposal from Democrats would outlaw preferences for children of alumni or donors at colleges that receive federal money. It's being pushed by the party's progressive wing but has gained support from some conservative activists who want college admissions to be based on merit alone. Legacy preferences give an extra boost to predominantly white and wealthy legacy students, while "leaving out millions of Black and brown kids," said Representative Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat from New York, a sponsor. "There has been a shift in the consciousness of the country around issues of inequity and inequality," Bowman said in an interview. "There's a real yearning to right the wrongs of our past." In the heavily guarded world of college admissions, it's hard to know exactly how many legacy students get a nudge. But at some of the most selective colleges, students with family ties make up 10% to 20% of the latest incoming class, according to data released by colleges in response to an Associated Press request. On many campuses, the opposition is being led by students of color and those who are the first in their families to attend college. They say legacy status is one more advantage for students who are already more likely to have access to tutoring, test prep and other help applying to college. Zoe Fuad, a junior at Brown University, said it reinforces a "cycle of inequity" that was designed to serve wealthy white men. "By perpetually giving advantages to their descendants, we're ensuring that those who were systemically favored continue to be favored," said Fuad, 20, who leads a student group that's challenging the practice at Brown. Many prestigious colleges defend legacy admissions, saying it helps build an alumni community and encourages donations. Officials at Harvard and other schools argue that legacy status is just one of many factors considered in admissions, along with grades, test scores and pursuits outside school. At most, they say, it can provide a slight tip in a student's favor. Still, two colleges have ended the practice recently, giving opponents hope that others will follow. Amherst College in Massachusetts dropped the policy in October, saying it "inadvertently limits educational opportunity." Johns Hopkins University announced in 2020 that it had phased out legacy preferences. Since then, the school has drawn growing numbers of Black and Hispanic students, along with those from low-income families. The pushback against legacy preferences is advancing amid a broader debate over fairness in college admissions. Last month the Supreme Court agreed to review whether colleges can consider applicants' race as a way to expand diversity. The court will take up lawsuits alleging that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina discriminate against Asian American applicants in favor of Black and Hispanic students. In a rare moment of bipartisan unity, the conservative strategist behind those suits voiced support for the Democrats' bill against legacy benefits. In a statement, Edward Blum said too many colleges "lower the admissions bar for the children of their alumni." Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, a sponsor of the bill, said it aims to level the playing field for minority students and those from working-class families. "More and more of the good-paying jobs in America require a college education," he said. "It's important that ordinary students from regular backgrounds have a fair chance to go to these institutions." Most schools are not required to disclose how many legacy students they enroll and many keep it private. Among the nation's 30 most selective colleges, only eight provided basic data on the subject in response to an AP request. At those colleges, the share of legacy students in this year's freshman class averaged 12%. The lowest share was at Rice University in Houston, where 4% of this year's first-year class had legacy status. The University of Notre Dame said legacy students have averaged 23% of the student body over the past decade. Legacy students outnumbered Black students in freshman classes at four schools: Notre Dame, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Southern California. At Brown, the share of legacy and Black students was about even. Harvard refused to disclose details, but data made public during its trial over affirmative action showed that family ties carry outsize weight. From 2014 to 2019, the acceptance rate for legacy applicants was 34%, compared with 6% for applicants without legacy status, according to an analysis by the suit's plaintiffs. Critics of the practice say it contributes to persistently low numbers of Black students at top colleges. During the racial reckoning following the killing of George Floyd by police, hundreds of students at Georgetown University signed a letter calling for an end to legacy preference, saying it "relegates qualified Black students to second-tier status." Historians have traced legacy preference to the 1920s as elite colleges sought to limit the number of Jewish students. It continued for decades at a time when the majority of college students in the U.S. were white men. At many schools with legacy preferences, Black students were not admitted until the 1960s, said Michael Dannenberg, a vice president at the Education Reform Now think tank. "White applicants have between eight and 16 generations of ancestors on which to establish an alumni connection," said Dannenberg, who has opposed the practice since he was an aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy, the late Massachusetts Democrat, two decades ago. "For the vast majority of Black and Latino applicants, there's maybe one or two generations." On college campuses, student activists say they continue to face resistance from school leaders who defend the policy. But at a time of rising populism in the United States, colleges are unlikely to find allies in Congress and other halls of power, said Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank in Washington. Especially in the wake of the Varsity Blues admissions scandal, he said, it's becoming more difficult for colleges to defend policies that benefit the wealthy. "They are clearly vulnerable on this issue," he said. In the wake of that scandal, Colorado became the first state in the nation to outlaw legacy preferences at public colleges. California lawmakers required colleges to disclose how many legacy students get accepted. Among campus activists, there's a driving desire to change the perception that top colleges are ivory towers reserved for the wealthy. When Viet Andy Nguyen applied to Brown University as a low-income, first-generation student, he knew he was competing against wealthier students with alumni connections. It made him question whether Brown was really a place for people like him. After graduating from Brown in 2017, he launched the nonprofit EdMobilizer with the goal of expanding access to college and ending legacy preferences. He has orchestrated a donation boycott at schools across the U.S., and he's helping students fight the practice on scores of campuses. It isn't lost on him that he's challenging a policy that could benefit his future children. He has faced resistance from some students of color who wonder why he wants to end it now, when campuses are more racially diverse than ever. But to him, the goal is to open doors for students who have been excluded, not to create "an elite lineage of people of color." "My kids will be fine," he said. "They don't need an additional bump just for being my offspring." Afghanistans former president, Hamid Karzai, joined the Taliban rulers Sunday in urging the United States to review its decision to allow half of the roughly $7 billion in his countrys foreign frozen assets to be reserved for families of victims of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The people of Afghanistan share the pain of the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy of September 11. We commiserate with them, Karzai told a news conference in Kabul. However, the Afghan people are as much victims as those families who lost their lives, Karzai said. Withholding money or seizing money from the people of Afghanistan in that name is unjust and unfair and an atrocity against the Afghan people. Da Afghanistan Bank, that countrys central bank, had funds on deposit at the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The money has been frozen since August, when the U.S.-backed Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban seized control of the country. Critics say the U.S. freezing of Afghan funds has worsened an already bad humanitarian situation in the conflict-torn country and pushed its foreign-aid dependent economy to the brink of collapse. On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order calling on banks to set aside $3.5 billion of the frozen assets in a trust fund slated for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. The remaining funds, $3.5 billion, would stay in the United States to finance payments from lawsuits by U.S. victims of terrorism that are still working their way through the courts. I ask the U.S. courts to do the opposite, to return the Afghan money back to the Afghan people. This money does not belong to any government. Much of this money was collected during my time in office. This is the property of the Afghan people, Karzai said. Karzai served as president for 13 years starting December 2001, shortly after the U.S.-led foreign military invasion ousted the then-Taliban government from power for harboring al-Qaida planners of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States. Washington and the global community at large have not recognized the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. U.S. officials have said Bidens executive order also is designed to provide a path for the funds to reach the people of Afghanistan, while keeping them out of the hands of the Talibans malicious actors. Taliban authorities condemned the unilateral U.S. move, saying it shows the lowest level of morality and humanity of a country and a nation. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban permanent representative-designate to the United Nations, on Sunday reiterated his governments call for Washington to release the Afghan funds, saying using them for any other purpose was unacceptable. It is only used for implementation of monetary policy, facilitation of trade and boosting financial system of the country, Shaheen argued. It is never intended to be used for any other purpose rather than that. Its freezing or disbursement unilaterally for any other purpose is injustice and not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan, the senior Taliban official wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi traveled to Doha on Sunday for meetings with representatives of European Union, Gulf countries, and foreign diplomatic missions to Afghanistan operating out of the capital of Qatar after the fall of Kabul to the Islamist group last summer. Taliban sources said Muttaqi would also raise in the meetings Bidens controversial order on frozen Afghan funds. Protesters gathered in the Afghan capital Saturday, asking for financial compensation for the tens of thousands of Afghans killed during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. The U.S. withdrawal last August ended the nearly 20-year war. but United Nations and other international relief groups say Afghanistan faces one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, which stems from more than four decades of conflict and natural calamities. More than half of the countrys poverty-stricken population, or an estimated 24 million Afghans, face an acute food shortage and some one million children under age 5 could die from hunger by the end of this year, according to U.N. estimates following the U.S. withdrawal from the country. Mexico said on Saturday the United States has decided to temporarily suspend avocado shipments on security grounds from the western state of Michoacan, a major producing region that has faced chronic problems with gang violence. Mexico's Agriculture Ministry said U.S. health authorities had notified Mexico of the decision after one of its officials, who was carrying out inspection work in the city of Uruapan, Michoacan, received a threatening call to their cell phone. The ministry said the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is carrying out an investigation to assess the threat, and to determine what measures are needed to guarantee the safety of its personnel working in Michoacan. The news is a setback to the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, with United States the top consumer of Mexican avocados, snapping up many thousands of tons each year to make guacamole, a favorite Super Bowl snack. The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday. The announcement was made hours after the U.S. government expressed dismay about violence against journalists in Mexico, following the latest in a series of killings of Reporters. Michoacan has long been one of the most troubled states in Mexico and Lopez Obrador has struggled to impose himself against gangs that have kept violence near record levels on his watch. The state has frequently been convulsed by turf wars between gangs, in particular the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful outfits in the country. Earlier this week, the Mexican Army said it had entered a part of Michoacan regarded by security experts as a stronghold of the CJNG, and restored order in 43 localities. In the past six weeks, Michoacan exported over 135,000 tons of avocado to the United States, the ministry said. Dozens of rights groups are demanding a crackdown on an artificial intelligence system used to eavesdrop on U.S. prisoners' phone calls, after a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation highlighted the risk of rights violations. Documents from eight states showed prison and jail authorities were using surveillance software called Verus, which scans for key words and leverages Amazon's voice-to-text transcription service, to monitor prisoners' phone calls. California-based LEO Technologies, which operates Verus, says it has scanned close to 300 million minutes of calls going in and out of prisons and jails in the United States, describing the tool as a way to fight crime and help keep inmates safe. But a coalition of civil and digital rights groups said the surveillance sometimes overstepped legal limits by targeting conversations unrelated to the safety and security of detention facilities, or possible criminal activity. "This surveillance infringes the rights of incarcerated Americans, many of whom have not been convicted and are still working on their defenses, as well as those of their families, friends, and loved ones," the groups wrote in a joint letter. Four different letters were sent to the attorney general's office in New York State, the state's Inspector General and the federal Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ provided a $700,000 grant to the sheriff's office in Suffolk County, New York, to implement a pilot of the AI-powered voice-to-text surveillance system in 2020. Undersheriff Kevin Catalina, who helps run the Verus program in Suffolk, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the system is crucial for alerting jail authorities to people who are suicidal and to identify gang members behind bars. "It saves lives," he said. A DOJ official said the department is reviewing technology programs receiving federal funding to ensure they are enhancing public safety while respecting constitutional rights. A spokesperson for the New York State Inspector General's Office said in emailed comments that they would review the letter and "thoroughly investigate" complaints that are sent in. More than 50 advocacy groups are part of the campaign, among them the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Worth Rises, the Innocence Project, and Access Now. They also raised concerns about the prison phone call company Securus, and the possible recording of conversations protected by attorney-client privilege. A Securus spokesperson said the company is committed to protecting civil liberties, that users can set attorney numbers to private - meaning calls are not recorded and cannot be monitored - and that they act immediately to delete "inadvertent" recordings. A representative for LEO did not respond to requests for comment on the letters. "It seems like the regulators have been asleep at the switch at the federal, state and local level," said Albert Fox Cahn, head of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, which helped draft the letter. 'Unproven, invasive, and biased' As Suffolk County was trialing Verus, it also expanded beyond New York, winning state contracts in Georgia and Texas, and in local sheriff's departments across the United States. The rights groups urged regulators to block further expansion of surveillance tools in prisons and jails, saying they have the potential to produce racial bias and undermine privacy rights, without any clear track record of success. In their letter addressed to the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, the groups cited research showing voice-to-text tools have a much higher error rate for Black voices. Black people are disproportionately represented among U.S. prisoners. "Even absent discrimination, Verus and similar technologies exceed prisons and jails' lawful surveillance powers," they wrote. Documents obtained by the Thomson Reuters Foundation from the pilot site in Suffolk County showed Verus was used to analyze more than 2.5 million calls between its launch in April 2019 and May 2020 - leading to 96 "actionable intelligence reports." While Catalina did not specify how many prisoners had been disciplined or faced charges based on those leads, he said the tool had helped prevent 86 suicides. The rights groups also raised concerns about mission creep, noting the technology had been used to identify conversations that could flag problems for prison or jail administrators - such as complaints about their response to COVID-19. Catalina said the sheriff's office reviews all its surveillance strategies on a monthly basis to make sure that their terms used in the Verus system are appropriate, and that it has never found any issues. The surveillance of detainees' phone calls is especially troubling in county jails, where people are frequently held before being convicted of any crime, said Bianca Tylek, executive director of criminal justice nonprofit Worth Rises. "People who are innocent, (who) have the presumption of innocence, who cannot afford bail ... should not be subjected to surveillance that no one else is," said Tylek. Besides infringing the privacy of incarcerated people and their relatives, AI-powered surveillance in prisons and jails could also lead to increases in the cost of phone calls for prisoners, rights campaigners fear. The average 15-minute phone call from a jail already costs $5.74, according to a 2019 report from the Prison Policy Initiative, while 2015 research found more than a third of families reported getting into debt to pay for calls or visits. Worth Rises, which has been pushing to reduce the cost of prison phone calls across the country, is urging state and local law enforcement to offer calls for free. Emails between LEO and sheriff's offices, which were obtained through public records requests, show use of LEO's Verus system could cost as much as 8 cents per minute. They also give a picture of how the company worked in tandem with law enforcement officials to raise funds - enlisting PR personnel, helping draft federal grant proposals, and making appeals to lawmakers. In Suffolk County, the Sheriff's office discussed plans to pass the cost onto prisoners themselves if grant funding ran out, the emails reveal. The office said that while it had considered passing along the costs to prisoners, they ultimately decided not to. Tylek said the federal government should not be funding pilots involving systems like Verus, warning that authorities rarely relinquish surveillance powers once they have been granted. "It (becomes) almost impossible to pull it out," she said. The head of Sudans Sovereign Council has ordered various armed groups to leave major towns in the nations troubled Darfur region, to be replaced by a new hybrid defense force made up of government troops and those of armed groups that signed a landmark 2020 peace accord. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan told reporters Wednesday that within this week fighters unaffiliated with that hybrid force would be expected to vacate major towns and assemble at designated areas in Darfur to pave the way for the joint force to take control of security in Darfurs major towns. There are other negative armed forces that are trying to cause havoc, al-Burhan said. We have jointly agreed to fight them and prevent them from causing insecurity for our civilians. Al-Burhan delivered his comments in North Darfurs provincial capital, el-Fasher, where he and his ruling Sovereign Council deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo met with leaders of the nine armed groups that were signatories to the Juba Agreement of October 2020. They recommitted to create the joint force that had been approved by the pact but never implemented because of instability in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. That led to a complete military takeover last October 25, which al-Burhan defended, saying he was saving Sudan from civil war. The joint force should be in place by next week, said al-Burhan, commander in chief of Sudans armed forces. The Juba Agreements terms call for a joint force of 12,000. Residents of Darfur have complained of brutal treatment by a variety of government-backed militias, a problem exacerbated by a resurgence of tribal clashes across the region. In December, Sudan political leaders and anti-coup demonstrators rejected a deal worked out between al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who had been reinstated after initially being removed in the coup. At least 76 people have been killed in anti-coup protests as of last week, according a Sudanese doctors group. On Wednesday, hundreds of internally displaced people rallied in el-Fasher to protest al-Burhans visit and the ongoing insecurity. Police used tear gas to disperse them, and at least five people were reported injured. Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the group General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugees, said its members would continue to protest killings and lootings allegedly carried out by government militias in Darfur. The militias have not been held to account, Rijal told South Sudan in Focus via a messaging app. There is no one that would write a regular report to the United Nations Security Council, he said. That is why they continue with their brutality against the people. The Sudanese government should take responsibility for these mistakes. Al-Burhan on Wednesday said the transitional government was committed to protecting civilians and carrying out the deals security arrangements. I would like to assure our relatives in Al-Fashir and other towns that we are keen to work together as one people to maintain the security of our citizens, he said to reporters. We would also ensure that our brothers and sisters who have come back to resettle, that they live in peace and stability. This report originated with VOA English to Africa Services South Sudan in Focus program. Two Malian soldiers were killed early Sunday in northern Mali in an attack on their post blamed on jihadists, the army announced on social networks. An "armed terrorist group" attacked the Niafunke post in the early hours, the army said, using a term commonly used to refer to jihadists. "The toll is two dead on the FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) side and five dead on the attackers' side," it added. The deaths are the first announced by the Malian army since a January 5 report of six deaths during clashes in November and December. In the meantime, the Malian army has claimed responsibility for the death of dozens of jihadists and the destruction of several of their bases since the launch in December of operation Keletigui. Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that first emerged in 2012 and has since spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. The country has been increasingly at loggerheads with its international partners since the military seized power in the Sahel state in 2020, ousting President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The top diplomats of the U.S., Japan and South Korea met Saturday in Hawaii. The meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong was held to discuss the countries shared concerns. Underscoring the importance of trilateral cooperation as we navigate an increasingly complicated world, the Secretary and Foreign Ministers committed to expand cooperation and collaboration across a range of regional and global security and economic priorities, the diplomats said in a joint statement issued after the meeting. Among the priorities is the presence of thousands of Russian military forces along Ukraines border and the diplomats shared unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said, and committed to work closely together to deter further Russian escalation. Another concern is North Korea and its nuclear program. The diplomats condemned North Koreas recent ballistic missile launches and expressed deep concern about the destabilizing nature of these actions. The secretary and the foreign ministers said, in the statement, that they are committed to close trilateral cooperation to achieve complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The meeting was the last stop on Blinkens Asian tour, which included stops in Australia for a meeting of the Quad nations Australia, India, Japan and the United States, and Fiji, where he held a virtual meeting with Pacific nation leaders. The White House ordered U.S. military trainers out of Ukraine in the same week it reduced embassy personnel there to bare bones (minimal). With at least 100-thousand Russian troops encircling Ukraine, Washington says an invasion could be any day now. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has the story. Contribute: Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it. Flag as inappropriate. Mark as helpful or interesting. Send your own user report! Translate Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s It happened asit happens we cannot say unexpectedly nor expectedly .However someone may say that these are expected but we don't use the words so because they don't happen at definite and fixed intervals generally. That is why we should say we have to dev | 122 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app The last of my reports is not read in between.It is inconsistent. Publish it again. / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Everybody experiences shaking when it happens but everybody has his own way to react.One is that we express the scare . The other is how we feel.Somebody may save himself, his family and his neighbours.Somebody may not be interested in others.Somebody may | 113 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Man does not live alone. A man used to be alone is so of the society. He comes out of his aloolfness to the society out. He goes to his aloofness as one getting into a compartment of the structures of his times , he has to live . He can't shun with wh | 108 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Sometimes we feel like some misfortune is never to happen. It is when it was a longer time it had happened.Soometimes we feel it can happen and with more vehemence.It is when it has just happened.But they are bound to happen somewhere.To accept them here | 18 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : We do what we have to do. We believe in what we do. We trust what is with us .It may be weak or stronger , we believe in how we handle it , in how we try taking it ahead. We believe that we have to rely on ourselves , ours. We take our ups and downs as th | 14 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : A broken heart is that it lead the life of its love when it could not lead.It is that it saw its goodluck ahead when some misfortune befell.It is that it planned its future ahead when it saw its present losing. it is that it could offer its helping hand t | 12 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Man does not live alone. A man used to be alone is so of the society. He comes out of his aloolfness to the society out. He goes to his aloofness as one getting into a compartment of the structures of his times , he has to live . He can't shun with wh | 11 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Sometimes we do not find a way to be ahead.Sometimes we find a way but during later times. Sometimes we are early on the path of luck . Sometimes we compromise with what is around us to live with it , sometimes to march after it to where it leads . And me | 10 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Everybody loves himself.He loves his family, those he feels are his sympathisers, those he feels are lovable.It is natural that he feels for all that he loves. He feels the pain and worry of all that.It is the humane in him and humane in the broader persp | 9 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Man is born with all nature has in it .He interacts with it , observes it ,feels it ,judges it .He applies its happenings to his life .He applies his abilities to it for himself .He is able to live advance and lead .He is to follow whatever is for him .He | 8 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : I PERSPIRED .I FELT THE WALLS WOULD CRACK IF IT CONTINUED FOR A MINUTE OR SO.I THOUGHT EVERYBODY WOULD BE LEAVING HIS HOUSE.LATER I HEARD HOW SOMEBODY HAD LOST TWO OF HIS HENS JUST DURING THE SCARE. A CALF HAD SUCKED HALF THE MILK FROM THE TEATS OF THE CO | 8 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : A misgiving happens somewhere . True . It is with nature .Yes . It strikes somewhere to be felt with depths .And it is felt wide .How ? It is in our heart.We are shaken for the helpless scared , the women screaming, the children following their parents | 7 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Misgivings don't come , they happen .They do not challenge us , they are to be taken as a challenge in the sense that they are not to fight man , they are to be fought .They are a part of the world we live in .They are along whatever is to occur , got .Th | 7 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Everybody lives his life with someone he loves. He lives to care for himself and to care for someone he loves , to have someone to love while he is a man of likes and dislikes and his qualities of likes and dislikes develop with time. They grow , ke | 7 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : The atmosphere was terrible. What if some building crumbled down?What if some electric line was on the ground , what if it touched somebody's fence?. What if some house caught fire? What if the quake continued longer.What if people died? What if there wer | 7 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : I felt everything agitated .Everyone wanted help.Everyone was himself first.It should be. It was to be done by everyone.Everyone was to be out for the rescue . It was the duty of everyone.Everyone was to face the scare.The loved ones would be saved riskin | 7 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : The shaking was felt intense. I think it was felt so by many. When we are scared about what bad thing would happen next, we lose wits. We are not able to take the right decision. We are not able to judge the situation as it should be judged.It happens to | 7 users found this interesting. Mirpur, Azad Kashmir / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : On holiday staying in 9 storey tower, I am In 7th floor, building was shaking, 5-10 seconds really scary | 8 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : The best of the heart may have the worst of the heart to face . He may have to go through the worst experience that befalls .Yet he knows to come out of it with the best he has .And coming out is not that whatever is lost is gained the same time back .It | 6 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Misgivings are to be borne with a steady heart .Sudden catastrophes leave us stunned no doubt but it is the human who has to face it , the human that is where he has earned his position , the human that plans well and learns to plan better ,the human | 6 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.5 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Enjoying our joys with a smile and facing our sorrows boldly is balancing our life through what we lead .It is the balance of the present that we conclude our past and try to judge our future miles better .Our joys are to relieve us from the tense to keep | 5 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Our conscience is that we feel what we do . It is expressed as we like to express it i.e. we behave what is better for us as for our tastes are concerned . And our tastes are those that may or may not change . We may feel our tastes and likings changing | 5 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : No one has the heart to see beauty tumbled down. No one wants to disrespect one who his own companion , friend .No one wants he should be dubbed such a cruel one. No one wants to feel twice like that i . e. seeing himself with a heart that is not his own | 5 users found this interesting. islamabad / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : There was light shaking. The vase in my room began to shake and it woke me up. I was asleep at the time of the easrthquake but the light vibrations woke me up | 6 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Our civilization is that it has risen from simple systems . Man has progressed from the least to the most .Today's something is not that something of tomorrow .But we are doubtless proud that our fores have been able to keep themselves leading to what we | 4 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : Sorrows are felt with the depths of our heart .They have got their impression on our minds for a longer time .They tend to affect us in the worst manner .They affect our thought and act .They haunt our companies and our solitude. And when they are deeper | 4 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (402.1 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : It was all as if someone feels at once in some other world . It was as if some unexpected thing was happening not taken as a quake can be there at any time .It was at once that someone thinks that he can lose life and property , his loved ones , etc. whil | 3 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (402.1 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : It was all as if someone feels at once in some other world . It was as if some unexpected thing was happening not taken as a quake can be there at any time .It was at once that someone thinks that he can lose life and property , his loved ones , etc. whil | 3 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.6 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : How can't we feel for others when we know that ups and downs in life are for all ,they are individual when to talk of ourselves and general when to talk of their existence throughout ? Great griefs and catastrophes are remembered from our past .They are | 3 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : A wrenching heart is felt with the depths that touch all .It crosses to be felt as a human despite what we are , what we have been after it .It was made a human heart first , It was let to it first than to decide what it was to be for whatever it had for | 3 users found this interesting. Chinad Khushalpora , Sangrama (388.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : What is it that we hope better in the future .It is that we want it to be so ,we have been for it so ,are for it so ,do for it so .It has risen from our needs and wants .It has turned into the system that has to live with it ,the system that has to be our | 3 users found this interesting. Photo: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the largest paramilitary organization in the world, is the armed wing of the BJP. It proclaims that giving ones life to protect India by killing non-Hindus is a sacred duty. The Indian Peoples Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has just banned the Islamic headscarf (hijab) in schools in the state of Karnataka. The campaign underway for the election of the president of regional governments is reverberating with a violently anti-Muslim, and sometimes anti-Christian, rhetoric. In July 2020, 53 people were killed in anti-Muslim riots in New Delhi. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have just passed laws prohibiting religious conversions, except in the case of marriage, subject to a prior 60-day authorization from the regional state. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, converting a Hindu to another religion is punishable by 10 years in prison. The head of the regional government of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, a close friend of Narendra Modi, has become the leading figure promoting the discourse against foreign religions, Islam and Christianity. See: Already 10 months of confinement in Jammu and Kashmir, by Moin ul Haque, Dawn (Pakistan), Voltaire Network, 13 June 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Indonesia has just purchased 42 Rafales from France. His Defense Minister, Florence Parly, signed the contract with her Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, on 10 February 2022. However, hours later the Indonesian side clarified that the transaction involved only 6 aircraft and that the other 36 are on hold. A little later still, the US State Department announced that it had sold 36 F-15s to Indonesia. In September 2021, the United States and the United Kingdom had succeeded in obtaining the cancellation of a mega-contract for the sale of French submarines to Australia [1]. President Joe Biden apologized for this double-crossing. Everything seems to indicate that Washington might be up to the same tricks in Indonesia. As our favorite quarantine shows make a comeback (Tiger King 2 will be released in November 2022 and Too Hot to Handle comes out later this month), we are reminded that in these trying times, the only thing that really matters is true love. Okay, maybe gossiping about reality-show contestants on the internet can be No. 2 on the list after love. The messy, strangely addicting Netflix series Love Is Blind is back again for a season two. More hopeless romantics are put into pods that isolate them from the outside world to speed date other singles, in hopes of getting married by the time Netflix asks you if youre still watching. Once a contestant has accepted a proposal, they will be able to see their future spouse for the first time as they plan their upcoming wedding. The show has two successful relationships from their first season that led to I do at the altar. But the show also left contestants heartbroken and alone at the altar as well. Netflix confirmed via press release that the upcoming season will be set in Chicago; previously the show took place in Atlanta. Described as Will the social experiment work again?, the official trailer teases heart-to-heart connections and left-at-the-alter moments reminiscent of last season. Still hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, the first five episodes are out now on Netflix. The final episode airs on February 25, giving viewers plenty of time to decide if love is blind or just seen through a camera lens. This post has been updated throughout. Some hot topics for a cold Sunday: Back in 2000 as Hillary Clinton was wrapping up her listening tour in preparation for a U.S. Senate candidacy, Republicans were suddenly scrambling. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani had emerged as a formidable opponent to the then-first lady, and was ready to go. But the mayor developed cancer, scuttling his plans and sending the GOP searching for a replacement. Congressman Jack Quinn of Hamburg began to enter the conversation, especially as a Republican who had already demonstrated crossover appeal in an overwhelmingly Democratic district. A Quinn candidacy made sense for lots of reasons except for one: money. For years, GOP Congressman Rick Lazio of Long Island had been stoking his campaign coffers waiting for just such a moment, and Quinn got left behind (with lots of what ifs? that will always remain unanswered). The scenario prompts similar thinking this week, even if reapportionment poses different circumstances for former State Sen. Cathy Young of Olean. She seemed poised for near unanimous GOP backing to run in the new 23rd Congressional District now largely represented by the retiring Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning. After a failed bid for minority leader, Young left the Senate in 2019 to head the Cornell University facility in Geneva. But Republican leaders in the Southern Tier remained bullish about her popularity and electability. On the morning the new districts were unveiled, Young seemed like the shoo-in for the nomination and election in November. By that afternoon, however, things changed. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney came charging southward from her Utica-area base, with about $1.1 million in her campaign saddlebags. A 23rd District campaign will take lots of money for TV advertising on stations in Buffalo, Elmira and Binghamton, maybe Rochester and Syracuse too. Tenney had money; Young didnt. End of story. And oh, yes that guy in Mar-a-Lago weighed in too, On Wednesday former President Donald Trump offered Tenney his Complete and Total Endorsement, the exact capitalized words he used in 2020 to assure a primary win for Republican candidate Chris Jacobs in the current 27th District. Money and a Complete and Total Endorsement triumphed in this round of reapportionment, But like Quinn, Young will always ponder the what ifs?. New York State Democrats gather at the Sheraton Towers in Manhattan Thursday to endorse a statewide slate of Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Attorney General Tish James and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The big question will center around gubernatorial hopefuls Tom Suozzi and Jumaane Williams. Can they garner enough convention support to make the primary ballot without circulating petitions? Upon their return, Erie County Democrats will stage a major fundraiser Friday night featuring Hochul in a virtual appearance at the Chairmans Council event. Its good to be an Erie County Democrat when the governor is from Buffalo. Chairman Jeremy Zellner says he expects his Democrats to cross-endorse Republican Kevin Carter for Family Court this year, a rare African American on the local bench who is administrative judge of the Eighth Judicial District. Still on Erie County Dems, Zellner may be settling on Evans Supervisor Mary Hosler to oppose incumbent Mickey Kearns for clerk this year. A former banker who helped stabilize a troubled financial situation in Evans, Democrats like their chances with Hosler against Kearns a registered Dem who regularly runs on the Republican line (and whom they love to hate). Those crafty Democrats controlling reapportionment will now send Republican State Sen. Pat Gallivan on the campaign trail through deepest, darkest, Democratic Cheektowaga after all those years in ruby red turf. Still, Gallivan has a peculiar habit of winning in Democratic areas. If the Dems offer a strong opponent, it will signal their belief it can be done. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Showers likely along with a possible rumble of thunder this morning, then cloudy skies this afternoon. High 66F. SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Overcast. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Italians advised to leave Ukraine and to avoid travelling there. Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio on Saturday issued a statement urging "all Italian citizens present in Ukraine to return home by commercial means and to postpone all trips" to the country. Di Maio made the announcement following a meeting of the foreign ministrys crisis response unit dedicated to the situation in Ukraine, amid warnings from Western powers that an invasion by Russia could be imminent. The minister said the advice was "precautionary" and added that his ministry has decided to "bring back all the non-essential staff from our embassy in Kyiv, which obviously remains fully operational." "We are working to avoid an escalation of the Ukraine crisis", Di Maio stated, adding that in recent days he has had "talks with my European counterparts and the Russian foreign minister Lavrov." "Italy fully recognises the territorial integrity of Ukraine and is committed in close collaboration with its NATO and EU allies in defining a firm position and - at the same time - in pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis by maintaining channels of dialogue with Moscow, in the hope that concrete signs of de-escalation will arrive", Di Maio concluded. Ho presieduto questo pomeriggio una riunione operativa allUnita di Crisi della Farnesina sulla situazione in #Ucraina: https://t.co/ICAvNgPdHO Luigi Di Maio (@luigidimaio) February 12, 2022 Russia has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along Ukraine's border but denies any intent to invade, the BBC reports. The invitation for Italians to leave Ukraine follows similar calls from the US, UK, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands and Australia in issuing warnings to their citizens still in the country. Dutch airline KLM announced on Saturday that it has suspended all flights through Ukrainian airspace until further notice. There are about 2,000 Italians currently present in Ukraine, according to Italian state broadcaster RAI. Italy's latest travel advice, published on the Viaggiare Sicuri website on Saturday, said that "in light of the current situation", Italians are invited to "temporarily leave" Ukraine with the "commercial means available", adding: "Travel in any capacity to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Crimea is not recommended." It also advises postponing "all non-essential trips" to Ukraine - given the "uncertain situation at the borders" - and to "keep constantly updated on the media and on this website." Italians who are present in the country are asked to register on the website www.dovesiamonelmondo.it and download the "Unita di Crisi" APP. Italy's embassy in Kyiv can be reached on the emergency number: +380 50 310 2111. Carnevale returns to Italy's lagoon city after two years. Carnival celebrations kicked off in Venice on Saturday after the last two editions of the annual festivities were curtailed due to the covid-19 pandemic. This year's carnevale season in Venice, running until 1 March under the title "Remember the Future", comes as Italy eases its covid restrictions including the lifting of a requirement to wear surgical masks outdoors unless in crowded areas. The 2020 edition was called off at the last minute, when covid first hit northern Italy, and the 2021 carnival was held mainly online due to coronavirus concerns. This year costumed visitors can look forward to "live music, circus-theatre, puppets, acrobatics and clownery", reports news agency ANSA, with an open-air theatre at the Arsenale and a "scenographic installation" in Piazza S. Marco. Another traditional event, the Festa delle Marie pageant, will be held on 14 February at the Scuola Grande di S. Giovanni Evangelista where the 12 "Marias" will be selected, with the winner being crowned "Maria del Carnevale 2022" at Teatro La Fenice on 28 February. The Carnevale di Venezia dates back to the 14th century, maybe earlier, and over the centuries the event was frequently forbidden under various rulers. The modern version of the Venice Carnival, as we know it today, has taken place for the last 100 years. Carnival ends each year the day before Ash Wednesday which signifies the beginning of Lent, traditionally a period of fasting and abstinence leading up to Easter. For full programme details see Carnevale di Venezia official website. Placeholder while article actions load With the trial of Sarah Palins defamation suit against the New York Times now in the hands of the jury, her effort to vindicate her reputation looks pretty much done for. The reason isnt that she lacks a legitimate beef. The problem is that although libel law exists to protect reputation, reputation doesnt mean what it used to mean. The case stems from a 2017 Times editorial that inaccurately linked Palins political action committee to the 2011 Arizona shooting where six people were killed and Rep. Gabby Giffords was wounded. At the time of the editorial, the connection had been debunked, including in the pages of the Times. The paper ran a correction within hours. I have multiple biases here. I was raised by my parents to love the Times, and I still consider it the worlds greatest newspaper. My writing occasionally appears in its pages. But anyone can see that the editorial was a dreadful mistake. Advertisement So why does Palin have a problem? Lets start with her testimony. She told the jury how devastating it was to read a false accusation that I had anything to do with murder, murdering innocent people. She described a stress so great that she had trouble sleeping: Its hard to lay your head on the pillow and have a restful night when you know that lies are being told about you. But on cross-examination, Palin was unable to point to evidence of particular harm to her reputation. This difficulty matters because defamation law only compensates ones personal pain and suffering in certain narrow circumstances. (At Palins trial, the judge essentially instructed the jury not to consider the issue.) Instead, a plaintiff must show that the statement in question harmed her reputation. Thats a lot harder than it used to be. Advertisement Defamation law began in an era when reputation was jealously guarded, especially among the upper classes. Litigation was often the only alternative to pistols at ten paces, and judges took the task seriously. During the early years of the nineteenth century, a newspaper could be forced to pay recompense simply for republishing a defamatory allegation made in a civil lawsuit. In an 1814 libel case, a federal court ruled that the fact that a newspapers source for the key statement was an open debate on the floor of Congress was no defense. (Although the claim might mitigate damages.) The era was one in which the printed word was thought to be so influential that the publication of false and defamatory statements was deemed libel per se, giving rise to damages without the need to show that the plaintiff had suffered actual harm. The rule was used to protect the reputations of, say, spouses accused of cheating, or adults accused of having been born out of wedlock. Nowadays these examples might seem quaint, but defamation law has always served a social function, tailoring its details to the perceived mores of the moment. Notoriously, as late as the 1950s, a majority of U.S. jurisdictions held it libel per se to call a White person Black (but not to call a Black person White). And only in 2021 did New Yorks highest court reject the traditional rule that falsely calling a person gay was libelous per se. Advertisement Today, the social function of libel law isnt clear. For one thing, since the 1960s, when Southern segregationists weaponized libel law to punish Northern reporters, courts have elevated protecting press freedom above protecting reputation. The best-known requirement is that a public figure who sues must show not negligence but actual malice. Thats a high bar. When the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit reinstated Palins lawsuit last summer, the panel issued a stern warning that a finding of malice requires more than political opposition. Another change is the decline of libel per se. Apart from few hoary categories suffering from loathsome disease for example there isnt much left that constitutes so great an insult that reputation cant recover. Consider: In the current moment, few charges are more injurious than being labeled racist. But if you file a lawsuit, most courts will respond that racist isnt defamatory because it merely expresses an opinion. Most important, our understanding of reputation itself has changed and not only because reputations can be shredded in an hour. The larger problem is that were not much good at separating judgments about a persons character (probity, integrity, and so forth) from judgments about a persons politics. Advertisement Social scientists have long identified our tendency to believe charges of wrongdoing leveled against members of the other party and reject charges aimed at members of ours. So hardened is the habit that across the spectrum, we have trouble deciding whether an election was fair until we know who won. All of which is to say that maybe the reason Palin had trouble citing evidence of harm to her reputation was that neither her admirers nor her critics would be swayed by the editorials accusations. When reputation rests largely on political positions, its less likely to be affected by the kind of charges that once would have constituted libel per se. Im not arguing on behalf of Palin, who probably shouldnt have filed suit once the Times issued its correction. Im worried about some future plaintiff, with more at stake, for whom todays highly partisan approach to reputation might prove an unjustly impenetrable wall. Advertisement More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Congress Actually Seems to Be Working Again: Jonathan Bernstein Mask Mandates Didnt Make Much of a Difference Anyway: Faye Flam The Bill That Could Save America From Another Jan. 6: Noah Feldman This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down Americas Most Powerful Mobster. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load It has been a bad 12 months for British institutions. First the Conservative party was tarnished by the No. 10 Partygate scandals, then a member of the royal family was set to face trial in a New York court for predatory sexual behavior. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Now, Britains top police officer, Cressida Dick has been forced to resign for a failure of leadership that has allowed a toxic culture of misogyny, racism and homophobia to take root in Londons force. Ironically, Dick was the first gay woman to lead the Metropolitan Police, which has responsibility for counter-terrorism and the protection of Parliament along with regular policing duties in London. Being head of police is a difficult and politically sensitive job at the best of times and these are some of the worst. Met chiefs have two bosses the Home Secretary, currently Priti Patel, a Conservative, and the Mayor of London, Labours Sadiq Khan. The two disagree about policing priorities, though both were unhappy with Dicks performance. Divided political counsels together with poor leadership have brought policing in the capital to a crisis point. Advertisement The mystery is why Dick didnt go last summer, when Patel and Khan extended her five-year term for a further two years despite a slew of scandals in the Met. At the time, she had also been personally accused by an official inquiry of covering up the institutionalized corruption of colleagues involved in the murder investigation of a private detective. She apologized to the victims family but told reporters that I dont accept that we are institutionally corrupt. More recently, Dick placed herself center stage in Westminsters main political drama. For weeks, she refused to investigate 12 alleged breaches of lockdown in Downing Street. She then suddenly changed course and ordered the delay of a full official report into Partygate until the police could complete their own inquiry. The decision saved Boris Johnson from immediate political danger the Met chief was accused of a stitch-up with No. 10 although a decision to issue the prime minister with a fixed penalty notice could still seal his fate. Even worse, last week, the Independent Office for Police Conduct published shocking findings into gross misconduct at Charing Cross, a police station close to Parliament. The report revealed that male officers had for years routinely joked on social media about grotesque behavior. Patel was appalled and horrified. Khan, the Met chiefs other boss, finally lost patience too. The Mayor demanded that Dick provide a plan to tackle a malign police canteen culture within days or weeks. On Thursday, without consulting the Home Office, his office told her to go. Advertisement Yet both politicians must have already known, in outline, the findings of the Charing Cross report when they renewed Dicks contract last year. Perhaps they despaired of finding a better replacement, more likely they couldnt face another argument. Despite active recruitment of more women officers, the London force is now mired in allegations of misogyny. Wayne Couzens, an officer known to his colleagues as the rapist and previously arrested for gross indecency, pleaded guilty to abducting, raping and murdering a young woman last year. Heavy-handed policing of a womens memorial vigil for the victim dismayed even the Mets hardline supporters in the tabloid press. In another incident, police officers were found guilty of photographing the bodies of two murdered sisters and sharing the images on WhatsApp, calling the victims dead birds. Senior officers speak of plucking out a few bad apples in the force, but this misconduct seems rife. Dick talked the talk of reform, but on both sides of the political divide, she was regarded as overly defensive of police misconduct. Advertisement It is hard to serve two masters. The Conservatives blamed the Met chief for failures in old-fashioned policing. Homicide rates among young men have soared, and in 2021 a pathetic 5% of burglaries were cleared up by London police, the worst record of any British police force. Some Tories also accused Dick of woke policing she employed a light touch with disruptive green protests and Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Labour, however, thought she was insensitive to the concerns of minorities. Suspects frisked on Londons streets for concealed weapons skewed to young Black or South Asian males. Ten years of spending cuts, which have reduced the visible police presence on the streets, and passive-aggressive resistance to reform among the junior ranks have compounded the difficulties of the job. Weak leaders are buffeted by contradictory pressures. If seen as too soft and accommodating to politicians and the liberal media, police chiefs lose the respect of the junior ranks and senior colleagues leak against them. If perceived as being too hard on street crime, however, the police will be accused of racial profiling. But its always a false choice for a senior police officer to pit civil rights against public safety. Their duty is to uphold both. Advertisement Earlier this month Dick wrote to every police officer telling racists, homophobes and misogynists to leave now. Fine words. The police, like many other large public-facing organizations, already provides cultural training for officers. However, thats not sufficient. Bad officers need to be sacked, while whistleblowers, who call time on their misconduct, must be praised and promoted. That demands moral courage. According to Leroy Logan, the first chair of the National Black Police Association (NBPA), attitudes are heading back to the bad old days of the last century. In 1999, the Macpherson Committee condemned institutional racism in the Met following a notorious failure to prosecute the white murderers of a Black schoolboy. Pressure from Whitehall gave impetus to reform. But not all change can come from the top. The NCO class, the sergeants in charge of local police stations, says Logan, must be held accountable for misconduct too. They have access to local knowledge denied to their superiors. Advertisement With Dicks departure, the Home Secretary and the Mayor of London have been given another chance to make a fresh start. But no new Met chief will succeed unless they cut out the political gamesmanship. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens was editor of the Sunday Times from 2013 to 2020 and was formerly its chief political commentator. He is a director of the Times Newspapers board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Moscow police confronted Russian pianist Alexei Lubimov, seen here in 2015, as he performed at a recent antiwar concert. (Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) As Russia wages its war on Ukraine, the Kremlin is cracking down to quell dissent within its own borders. Snow days and school cancellations once brought a lot of joy to Texans as winter weather is a rarity in much of the state. But the fun was quickly overtaken by an uptick in stress and anxiety when an arctic blast made its way to the state in early February. Williamsvilles Village Mayor Deb Rogers should do the right thing and resign. This call for her resignation is not about the use of masks and vaccinations; its about how one individual decided to exploit her leadership position to hijack a community and use them to further her personal agenda. Williamsville residents have had no say in her decision to clash with the county and state on the mask mandate. The residents and business owners were never asked if we wanted to join her in her irresponsible campaign, yet she implied she was speaking on behalf of her constituents. Many people outside the village vowed to never to patronize our establishments because of her. Her decision to put the community in the crosshairs of public debate and ridicule is reprehensible. I ask people to not penalize our village businesses because of the unconscionable behavior of this mayor. We do not stand with her. Step down Mayor Rogers and let us rebuild. Feel free to speak at your extremist events and radio shows as a private citizen. Lobby all you want for a place at the alt-right table, but you do not have permission by the citizenry to take our village with you. Kathleen Pitts Williamsville Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. 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. According to the data, there were 24.2 million check-ins across Victoria in the first week of October and 25.2 million in the second week. Weekly check-ins rose to well over 40 million in November as Victoria emerged from lockdown. Those numbers have dropped dramatically, however, to an average of 20 million in the past few weeks despite increased movement with children returning to school. The Health Department declined to supply updated weekly figures, only saying that there had been more than 125 million check-ins in Victoria in 2022. Loading The department was more forthcoming when compliance was higher last year, providing a nine-week breakdown in early December demonstrating increasing check-ins. By the first fortnight of January, however, weekly totals had dropped to 25.2 million and then 24.4 million as industry groups called for the requirement to be dropped. Since then, the weekly average is 20.3 million check-ins, according to a calculation of the data. When asked, the Health Department did not challenge that number. The Sunday Age can also reveal mandates for using QR codes are based on health advice provided more than two months ago, before the Omicron variant took off in Victoria. Under the new pandemic-specific legislation, Health Minister Martin Foley needs to publish advice and the reasons for his decisions, how they impact peoples rights and why they are necessary. A person scans a QR code in the city in early January. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Explaining his January 12 decisions in documents tabled in Parliament this week, the minister said checking in at Victorian businesses was necessary to facilitate contact tracing and referenced advice provided by Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on December 10. Mr Foley has not sought new advice for QR check-ins since then, according to more recent decisions also published this week. His justification differs from public comments the Andrews government has made in recent weeks: that QR codes need to be maintained to avoid breaking habits in case of new variants and to enforce the vaccinated economy. Mr Pallas said it was practically impossible to trace COVID-19 cases while numbers remained high, with 7224 new infections reported on Saturday, but left the door open to tracing infections again if caseloads returned to a manageable level. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell to 487 on Saturday, the lowest figure since January 2. Hospitalisations reached a high of more than 1200 last month, having beaten modelling of the Omicron wave by 50 per cent. The Health Department said 19 people had died with the virus in the past 24-hour reporting period, and 49.9 per cent of Victorians over the age of 18 had now had a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Loading University of Melbourne epidemiologist Nancy Baxter said the requirement to check in could provide some useful information, but she believed the government could prioritise the mandate in high-risk settings such as nightclubs or aged care. She said the government needed the public to believe there was a valuable purpose to checking in, or they could lose confidence in the system and stop abiding by the rules where it mattered. Its not reliable if you dont have the public buy-in, Professor Baxter said. But if check-ins were wound back, they might need to be reinstated later, she said. PD: Im part of a team and Ive been part of a Liberal team for a long time. Were weeks, literally weeks, out from calling an election and changing a leader now is not in our party or our countrys best interests. Fitz: If you lose that election, will you stand for the Liberal leadership? PD: I think the history of parties going to opposition brings all sorts of candidates up to contest the leadership. Fitz: But lets just say that politics plays out and theres Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Dutton. Would you support the Voice, a constitutionally guaranteed First Nations voice, an advisory body in Parliament? PD: I would support further recognition and I have had long discussions with Noel Pearson about the Voice and about other ways in which we can do practical recognition. I would consider the Voice and there are a few alternatives around that at the moment. Fitz: While federal politics is by nature a hard-ball game you have played it harder than most and youve frequently been vilified by it for your role, including by me, to the point your wife recently made headlines saying My Peter is not a monster. Does that stuff ever get to you? Do you ever think maybe I did go too far? PD: Look, sometimes I do, but I signed up to play tackle, not touch and Im here, Ive missed out on a large part of my kids growing up and Im not wasting days whilst Im here, I want to make each day count. Loading Fitz: Speaking of going too far, on Thursday in Parliament you all but said Anthony Albanese was an agent of Chinese Communist Party, or at least their pick as their preference to be PM. Malcolm Turnbull called your comments reckless and said they undermine Australian security, [using] matters of grave national security purely for crass political advantage. By any measure, he has a point. PD: Its silly to suggest I called him an agent of China; of course hes not. But there is no question the [Chinese] Communist Party wants to see a change of government. And sadly Malcolm is just consumed by hatred - Ive been there when Malcolm had the briefings on CPP interference in our system, and its only got worse since he left politics. Fitz: On the subject of the issue du jour, Bob Carr (him again) dropped what we call in the trade a bombshell this week, saying you were the federal minister who called the PM a psycho and gave Peter van Onselen permission to use it. Youve strongly denied it. But it is said that the screenshot had been circulating beforehand. Had you at least seen that screenshot before it emerged in the public domain? PD: No. I was sitting opposite to Peter van Onselen at the Press Club when he asked the question and I think the photos captured my face; the first time Id heard it. Id never seen it before. Fitz: You threatened defamation action against Bob Carr, and yet he hasnt taken it down. Have you called your lawyer? PD: Its a couple hundred grand to go to court and, you know, its a big distraction. I think it is clearly defamatory but . .. Brittany Higgins spoke at the March 4 Justice protest to rally in March 2021 against the ongoing abuse and discrimination of women in Parliament House. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Fitz: The other burning issue, not just of today, but of the times, is the treatment of women. Last year you said of the Brittany Higgins rape allegations, it was a he said/she said scenario. Do you regret that, Minister? PD: (Pause.) I regret that any offence was taken to it. But, look, I was a detective and I worked in the sex offenders squad, Ive arrested people for rape. Ive dedicated my adult life to protecting women and children from sexual assault and that was probably a return to a police phrase where there was a conflicting view . . . there was no offence intended. Fitz: The governments account of who knew what and when is that you knew of the devastating allegations of Ms Higgins before they broke but you did not tell the PM. Why not tell him something of that magnitude? PD: Because Id been told in confidence by the AFP commissioner and my job at the time was as minister for home affairs and there were briefings on sensitive matters every day from the commissioner to me, and its not a confidence that I would ever break. That responsibility rests with the minister who has [direct] responsibility, and its not to receive the intelligence or receive the advice on a matter and then go and blab it to another party. Loading Fitz: Do you really think the PM didnt know of an allegation of something of that magnitude 50 metres from his door? PD: I think hes been pretty clear about it . . . Fitz: Yes, very clear about it, but seriously, do you believe that he could not know a whiff of such an allegation? PD: Yes I do, Ive worked now for four PMs, and they go from daylight to dark and there are a hundred balls in the air each day and they have a lot on their plate so . . . I take the Prime Minister at his word. Fitz: Alright, John Howard said once, that if ever he had to run a wartime cabinet, Kim Beazley was the one ALP parliamentarian hed be delighted in having on it. When you personally scan the opposition benches is there someone whose acumen you admire across tribal lines? Can you surprise us all by saying something nice about one of them? PD: On the current frontbench my first pick would be Richard Marles with whom I have a long standing friendship. I have a friendship with a number of other Labor MPs past and present but Richard Marles I think has a particular quality and capacity and intellect that if youre being objective you would admire. Tweet of the week @Brendon5374 in the wake of the Religious Discrimination Bill falling over, amid bitter criticism from the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL). Quote of the week The PM is looking like the slowest wildebeest of the herd and ... weve seen Peter [Duttons] head pop up from behind the bushes like the lion licking his chops. Richard Marles, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, on the Today Show. What they said Being an Aussie is much more than punting on the Melbourne Cup and shouting Go Saints or Go Sharkies. Its a bloody diverse place, its black, its white, its brown, it prays in a church, in a mosque, it prays in a shrine, in a synagogue, in a hall, or on a surfboard just behind the breaks. Its men, its women, its straight, its gay, its trans, its intersex its our whole bloody lot. We are the Australia of Storm Boy, of Breaker Morant, of Puberty Blues and yes, of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Its not easy crafting a national story that includes all of us, but thats our damned job and the national story must have a place for all of us and all of our kids - how we imagine them but more importantly how they are. Federal Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones, who revealed the suicide of his gay nephew and fears for his own high-heel wearing sons safety in a powerful intervention during debate on the proposed religious discrimination bill. Paddy Quilter-Jones says he is just Paddy and wants other kids like him to know they can be themselves. My thoughts were, if Im feeling nervous, whats a child whos grown up with a family that doesnt support them and doesnt have that network of people around them? They need someone they can see and has done this for a while and has experienced it. Paddy Quilter-Jones, the high-heel wearing, handbag-carrying son of Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones, who says he gave his father permission to talk about him in Parliament during the religious freedom law debate to encourage LGBTQI kids who dont enjoy the support of their families. I am sorry. We are sorry. Im sorry to Ms Higgins for the terrible things that took place here. And the place that shouldve been a space of safety and contribution turned out to be a nightmare. Im sorry for far more than that. For all those who came before Ms Higgins and endured the same, but she had the courage to stand up. We are sorry for all of those things. I want this to be a place where young Australians young women in particular, can follow their dreams, and not be crushed by brutality. Scott Morrison in Parliament this week. What bothered me most about the whole imagine if it were our daughters spiel wasnt that he necessarily needed his wifes advice to help contextualise my rape in a way that mattered to him personally . . . I didnt want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as Prime Minister. Brittany Higgins this week saying she was disappointed by Scott Morrisons response to her allegation of rape by a colleague in Parliament House. What people send around as texts, I frankly could not care less about. Scott Morrison, apparently blase about texts calling him a liar, a hypocrite, a horrible person and a psycho. The silence was deafening. A National after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce used a private meeting with his Nationals colleagues to admit he damaged the government by sending a private text message that called Prime Minister Scott Morrison a hypocrite and a liar. Jakara Anthony was greeted by her father Darren and mother Sue at the airport. Credit:Getty Images I reckon she can have a puppy. Jakara Anthonys father, Darren, after she won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He had previously refused her requests for a dog. I think a bill that protected some people from discrimination, but indirectly or directly discriminated another group is a crap bill, that needs to go in the bin at the best of times. Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott on Q&A, talking of the religious discrimination bill. Joke of the week Due to a major power blackout, only one paramedic is able to respond to a call from a woman who is suddenly caught short and about to give birth in her own home. The house is very, very dark, so the paramedic asks the womans three-year-old daughter, Katelyn, to hold a flashlight high over her mother so he can see while he helps deliver the baby. Very diligently, Katelyn does as she is asked. Nir Oz: Israels iconic communal farms known as kibbutzim have faced a constant threat of extinction since the country pivoted to capitalism four decades ago. But a lucrative new cash crop is now promising to help keep the kibbutz movement alive: cannabis. It feels like we could be pioneers, said Gil Rabinovitch, 33, who heads cultivation at the Intercure marijuana farm in Nir Oz, in the Negev desert nearly five kilometres from the Gaza Strip. Gil Rabinovitch outside his home on the kibbutz. Credit:Photo for The Washington Post by Heidi Levine The kibbutz has dedicated about 17 hectares to cultivate marijuana. Inside the cavernous greenhouses, the plants are arranged in biodegradable bags on long tables, a variety of bespoke strains in shades of green and purple. Sensors monitor the plants, and about 100 employees in protective coverings trim, dry and cure the cannabis with a technique the company says enhances the plants medical properties. Dozens of kibbutzim like Nir Oz have entered Israels burgeoning medical marijuana industry as it moves to the countrys mainstream, said Saul Kaye, a pharmacist and founder of the cannabis pharmacy group HiPharm. Just to be clear, this is for the Mounties from Mount St. Joseph Academy (MSJA), whose 1908 building on Main Street is now part of that great educational amoeba across the street, Canisius College, which has subsumed much of what was my old neighborhood. So not the Mounties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Im pretty sure there were no Canadians in my class, though we did have a couple of equestriennes or the Mounties from Mount St. Mary or Mount Mercy, those institutions still thriving, to their great credit. Not for them, but for my Mounties, specifically the MSJA Class of 1972. Yes, we graduated 50 years ago. Some of us are talking reunion should we do it or not? Last time we got together was in celebration of 20 years. Three decades on and well into a pandemic, so much has changed. Should we risk it, and not just in fear of the vagaries of a virus? Should we risk showing our much older faces? Exposing disappointment and dreams derailed we were a generation with such high hopes, nurtured by nuns who encouraged us to experiment, and inspired us to excel. Perhaps its best to just thumb through our fading yearbook and remember that bright, bold promise of youth. After all, it's harder to organize a major reunion when your school is defunct. The Sisters of Saint Joseph the order of nuns who presided over us are still around, but no school building to meet in, no office with archives to mine. We look in old yearbooks and try to locate classmates with whom weve lost touch. Some moved away, a few have died. Many changed their names, matrimonially. I didnt not anticipating any reunion-invitation sleuthing; just my choice. For the record, Ive been married to the same man for nearly 43 years. He didnt change his name either. But this is about a high school reunion, a story that is just about to begin, if we can get our act together. We started high school in 1968, a maelstrom of social change. Nuns, post-Vatican II, were doffing their medieval habits, and reverting to baptismal names. So Sister Peter Eymard became Sister Bea Manzella, and by the time we graduated, our principal. We admired out-of-habit art teacher Sister Adrienne Polacci, in her cool long vests and wide belts. By the time we were sophomores, school uniforms were jettisoned. That felt like a loss, at the time and in retrospect. Something to be said for not having to agonize over what to wear, too often the bane of a high schoolers existence. Besides which we had the most fashionable uniforms of any school in town black shirtwaist dresses accented with white collars and cuffs. Kind of couture. It should be noted that the Sisters of St. Joseph originated in France, a country that knows something about style. Fifty years is a long time in so many contexts a long time to be married, a long time to wait a long time since we were those other people, those fresh-faced, long-haired, blue eye-shadowed, miniskirted (once we got out of uniforms) fledgling women fiercely facing the wide world ahead of us. What would become of us? I will tell you: We became doctors and nurses, professors and authors and therapists and educators, dancers, singers and artists, teachers, lovers, mothers, grandmothers, widows. We buried our parents. We came to great happiness; we came to grief. Reunions affirm our bond. US President Joe Biden (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) (PA Wire) US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that invading Ukraine would cause widespread human suffering, as Britons urged to flee the region began arriving back in the UK. The White House account of the crisis call on Saturday said Mr Biden warned an attack would diminish Russias standing as the West pinned hopes on diplomacy to avert war. They were said to have spoken for around an hour after French President Emmanuel Macron also shared a call with Mr Putin, with fears of an imminent attack heightening. UK nationals in Ukraine are being urged by the Foreign Office to leave now while commercial means are still available. Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack very, very quickly, with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraines border. But unlike when the Taliban seized Kabul, Mr Heappey stressed that the RAF would not be carrying out evacuations in the event of war in Ukraine. The White House said: President Biden was clear that, if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russias standing. Mr Biden told the Russian leader that the US and allies are prepared to engage in diplomacy but are equally prepared for other scenarios, the White House said. President Biden spoke with President Vladimir Putin today to make clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the U.S. and our allies will impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden urged President Putin to engage in de-escalation and diplomacy instead. pic.twitter.com/HqK0b65kFm The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2022 It was understood that Boris Johnson, who spoke to the Russian president earlier this month, does not have any calls with Moscow scheduled. Story continues Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it is highly likely that Russia will invade as he seemingly likened the last-minute flurry of diplomatic efforts to appeasement. It may be that he (Putin) just switches off his tanks and we all go home, but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, he said in an interview with the Sunday Times. The US has received intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she discussed her acute concerns that Russia may launch further military aggression against Ukraine in coming days during a call on Saturday with US secretary of state Antony Blinken. We agree Russia will face massive consequences for any invasion, including severe sanctions, she said. Spoke to @SecBlinken today about acute concerns that Russia may launch further military aggression against Ukraine in coming days. We agree Russia will face massive consequences for any invasion, including severe sanctions. Russia must deescalate and engage with @NATO proposals Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 12, 2022 After UK nationals in Ukraine, thought to number in the low thousands, were ordered to leave on Friday night, passengers arrived on a flight to Gatwick Airport from Kyiv on Saturday afternoon. Among them was 21-year-old Haider Ali from Birmingham, who said the warning had caused quite a panic with his fellow students at the Dnipro Medical Institute. The Foreign Offices order to leave was issued as intelligence and advice from experts on the ground suggested an increased threat level, with an invasion at some point deemed highly likely, the PA news agency understood. Mr Heappey told BBC Breakfast: We are now confident that the artillery systems, the missile systems and the combat air are all in place that would allow Russia to launch at no notice an attack on Ukraine. And on that basis I think it is our responsibility to share with UK citizens our view that they should leave the country immediately while commercial means are still available. There will be a big difference between what they may have seen on their TV screens in Afghanistan over the summer and what may happen over the next week or so and that is that the Royal Air Force will not be in a position to go in and to fly people out so they need to leave now by commercial means or drive out of Ukraine into a neighbouring country. British ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons was remaining with a core team in Kyiv, but some embassy staff and their families were being withdrawn. The Foreign Offices order to flee was issued as intelligence and advice from experts on the ground suggested an increased threat level, with an invasion at some point deemed highly likely, PA understands. Mr Wallace has said an invasion could come at any time, while US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said an attack before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 is a credible prospect. I am staying in Kyiv and continue to work there with a core team. The embassy remains operational. https://t.co/WWvIz4uIT4 Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) February 12, 2022 Western leaders have threatened Moscow with a damaging package of sanctions in the event of a further incursion into Ukrainian soil. Ukraine is not a Nato member and allies in the defence alliance have said they would not join fighting in Ukraine, but have bolstered forces in neighbouring nations and are threatening widespread sanctions. Though the Kremlin insists it is not planning an invasion, US intelligence suggests Russia could fabricate a false flag pretext to attack. Polands Defence Minister @mblaszczak: #NATO is united to provide security to its eastern flank. The US will send 3,000 additional troops to in response to tensions around . I spoke w/ @SecDef Austin & we are ready to receive troops in https://t.co/8pLnPZs6zP PLinNATO (@PLinNATO) February 12, 2022 Mr Heappey told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the UK personnel sent to train Ukrainians to use British-supplied anti-tank missiles will be leaving over the course of the weekend. Weatherford, TX (76086) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 59F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Campus Activities Details BSU will be selling candy valentines that students can send to their friends. Candy can be picked up on Monday 2/14 at the same location. RIDGEFIELD The town has enlisted the attorneys of Pullman & Comely, LLC, to represent it in federal court after a lawsuit accused the municipality of violating state and federal laws relative to properly keeping track of its stormwater systems. The lawsuit was one of four filed by the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound in December. The group alleges that the towns of Ridgefield, Redding, Middletown and Burlington failed to file required paperwork regarding their stormwater systems with state regulators over the past three years. Those reports which require municipal officials to map and inventory stormwater systems, identify sources of harmful discharges and detail for regulators how they are working to implement best practices are vital to efforts to reduce stormwater pollution and improve water quality, the lawsuits state. The towns contacted by the group, in part, were chosen because their stormwater systems affected rivers and streams on the states list of impaired bodies of water, according to Bill Lucey, the Long Island Soundkeeper at Save the Sound. The lawsuits mention nearly a dozen bodies of water affected by the towns stormwater systems, including the Norwalk River, which runs through Ridgefield and eventually into the Long Island Sound. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said he was absolutely shocked when the lawsuit came out considering the countless efforts the town has taken over the years to address water quality and environmental issues locally. The most recent example is a $55 million investment to upgrade sewer lines and a treatment plant, which was met with financial support from the state Department of Environmental Energy and Protection not too long after the Save the Sound lawsuits were filed. In an earlier interview, Marconi said the town engineer who had been in charge of filing annual stormwater reports retired in 2018. The position, while advertised, has still not been filled. Ridgefield has contracted Tighe & Bond in the interim to manage some of the paperwork. The firm will also conduct a drainage study of the town, Marconi said. He also pointed to dedicated efforts to mitigate nutrient loading at Mamanasco Lake and new zoning regulations relative to stormwater. We didnt file paperwork, (but) did you look at what were doing for the environment?, Marconi posed. I agree that anyone in violation should be reviewed (but) there should be an effort to work together. Although Chris Kelly, an attorney for Save the Sound, could not comment on the status of ongoing negotiations, he said the group intends to resolve the lawsuit collaboratively. Ridgefield must provide an answer to the complaint by March 11, he added. The lawsuits, which seek to force the municipalities into compliance with the Clean Water Act and state permitting regulations, were each filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. MOSCOW (AP) With the risk of war looming larger, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held a high-stakes telephone call Saturday as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days. Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions. The closely watched call between Biden and Putin began shortly after 11 a.m. and lasted just over an hour, according to the White House. Biden conducted the call from Camp David. There were no immediate details about the discussion. In a sign that American officials were getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine. Russia has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, but denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question. Read the full story: More updates: If a Republican wins the 2022 state attorney general election, five of Wisconsins elections commissioners three Democrats and two Republicans could face criminal charges. The sitting Wisconsin attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul, has made it clear he will not be charging any members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission for the actions the members took early in the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when the Wisconsin Legislature was one of the least active in the nation. The two Republicans challenging Kaul, former state representative Adam Jarchow and current Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney, have indicated that the commissioners could be brought before a jury if they unseat Kaul. Such a case could be a touchstone in the fallout from the 2020 election, which numerous recounts and court cases have confirmed Joe Biden won by more than 20,000 votes over Donald Trump, even if Trump has refused to accept the result and continued to claim, without evidence, that the election was stolen. Allegations Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling has recommended five of Wisconsins elections commissioners face criminal charges for how they advised local elections officials to not send Special Voting Deputies into nursing homes because of the pandemic, even though state law requires it. In an interview Friday, Schmaling said the WEC gave an unlawful directive. Initially, the Wisconsin Elections Commission voted unanimously, 6-0, to suspend the use of SVDs. Later, Republican appointee Bob Spindell voted against the measure. Spindell was also one of the Republicans who acted as a so-called alternate elector, signing official-looking documents calling for Wisconsins 10 electoral votes to be given to Trump instead of Biden on the same day the true electors voted the states 10 electoral votes to Biden. On Friday, Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson said she would not file charges, asserting that she does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute the commissioners. The Sheriffs Office had recommended charges of felony misconduct in public office, felony election fraud as an election official and two misdemeanor counts of being party to the crime of election fraud. Schmaling has said he would prefer the state to prosecute the case rather than a locality, arguing the allegations constitute a statewide issue. Who better to look at this than on a state level? Schmaling continued, noting that the statute of limitations for election fraud is six years. He (Kaul) is asking Wisconsinites for four more years. I would ask him to look hard at this and to do his job. Kaul has called the Racine County Sheriffs Office investigation a publicity stunt and abuse of authority. Elections officials denounced it, too, arguing that the attention drawn to the case elevated false claims of widespread election fraud and demonized elections officials doing their best during an unprecedented election. Kaul is a Democrat. Hanson and Schmaling are Republicans. Challengers In Fond du Lac County, Toney is prosecuting more election fraud cases than any other district attorney in Wisconsin. On Thursday, he filed election fraud charges against five people, bringing his countys total of ongoing election fraud criminal cases to seven and the states total to 10. Among those charged was a homeless person who used a post office box as their address when registering to vote, which isnt allowed; writing down an intersection or a park bench as a home address for the purposes of voter registration is allowed. Another person charged Thursday, who also accused of writing down a PO Box as a voting address, allegedly told police that they had voted for Trump, that since Trump lost it didnt matter if they had registered incorrectly, and then falsely asserted the election was cheated and they took it away from Trump. In a statement to The Journal Times, Toney indicated he would likely support prosecuting the WEC commissioners who voted to suspend SVDs. Toney noted that the Wisconsin attorney general does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute cases as he or she sees fit, but rather can prosecute when called upon by local law enforcement officials with very few exceptions, such as in cases of racketeering, where the AG does have jurisdiction. Election fraud prosecutorial authority is vested in district attorneys, and I am currently prosecuting election fraud cases, Toney said. As Attorney General, I would support and assist our local district attorneys and law enforcement in any election related investigation or prosecution to defend the integrity of our electoral process. If law enforcement or a district attorney requested the Attorney Generals Office handle the investigation or prosecution I would step in as Attorney General and the DOJ (Department of Justice) would take the case, including the SVD violation. Jarchow was more direct. In a tweet Friday, he wrote: Kaul is an epic failure. Wisconsins Attorney General should take off his partisan blinders and investigate allegations of election fraud/lawbreaking. 2022 elections The Wisconsin attorney general election this year is one of a few statewide races that could have a significant impact on future elections. If Gov. Tony Evers loses to one of his Republican challengers and the Republicans maintain control of the Legislature, the GOP will likely have its election bills signed, including restrictions on donations communities are allowed to accept for the purposes of funding elections and limits on absentee ballot drop boxes. In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Ron Johnson, a Republican who had planned to vote to not certify Joe Biden's 2020 election win but changed his mind within hours following the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, is seeking re-election. Current Wisconsin State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks Executive Alex Lasry, Outagamie County Executive and former Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson, and current Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes are the leading Democrats aiming to unseat Johnson. There's also the secretary of state election. Some Republicans, upset over the actions of the Wisconsin Elections Commission in recent cycles, have proposed empowering the secretary of state with election oversight powers. The office is held by Doug La Follette, a Democrat. For those elections, the primary is Aug. 9 and final election is Nov. 8. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Thank you for reading the Herald-Whig You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. OTTAWA - Canada has shuttered its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and relocated its diplomatic staff to a temporary office in the western part of the country amid fears that an invasion by Russia is imminent. In this photo provided by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Press Office, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba attend their news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Press Office via AP OTTAWA - Canada has shuttered its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and relocated its diplomatic staff to a temporary office in the western part of the country amid fears that an invasion by Russia is imminent. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced the embassy closure on Saturday, shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to reassure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Canada stands with his country. "Given the continued deterioration of the security situation caused by the build up of Russian troops on Ukraines border, (the government is establishing) a temporary office in Lviv and temporarily suspending operations at our embassy in Kyiv," Joly said Lviv is home to a Ukrainian military base that has served as the main hub for Canadas 200-soldier training mission in the former Soviet country. It wasnt immediately clear whether the temporary diplomatic office was being located on that base. The temporary office will continue to provide services to Canadians in Ukraine by appointment only, Joly said, though she warned that Ottawas ability to offer consular assistance to those in trouble "could become increasingly limited." In a sign that American officials are getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the U.S. also announced plans to evacuate most of its staff from the embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine. Meanwhile, a summary of Trudeaus conversation with Zelenskyy provided by the Prime Ministers Office indicated the Canadian leader had once again committed to imposing economic sanctions on Russia in response to an invasion of Ukraine. Russia has mobilized 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and is demanding a series of concessions from the NATO military alliance, which includes Canada. While Russia has denied wanting a war, diplomatic talks between Moscow and the West have failed to resolve the standoff and NATO leaders have started warning of a conflict in Ukraine. The White House said Saturday that U.S. President Joe Biden told Russias Vladimir Putin that the West was committed to a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, but was also "equally prepared for other scenarios." Biden also said the United States and its allies would respond "decisively and impose swift and severe costs" if the Kremlin attacked its neighbor, according to the White House. It offered no suggestion that the hourlong call diminished the threat of an imminent war in Europe. The two presidents spoke a day after Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20. The conversation between Biden and Putin came at a critical moment for what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. While the U.S. and its allies have no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, an invasion and resulting sanctions could reverberate far beyond the former Soviet republic, affecting energy supplies, global markets and the power balance in Europe. Yuri Ushakov, Putins top foreign policy aide, said that while tensions have been escalating for months, in recent days "the situation has simply been brought to the point of absurdity." He said Biden mentioned the possible sanctions that could be imposed on Russia, but "this issue was not the focus during a fairly long conversation with the Russian leader." Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the crisis. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested little progress was made toward cooling the tensions. Putin complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe. The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that "further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response." Meanwhile, Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. "We are not afraid, we're without panic, all is under control," he said. But Ukrainian armed forces chief commander Lt. Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov issued a more defiant joint statement. "We are ready to meet the enemy, and not with flowers, but with Stingers, Javelins and NLAWs" anti-tank and -aircraft weapons, they said. "Welcome to hell!" U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In addition to the 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. Russia is demanding that the West keep 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. 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 the Crimean Peninsula and then backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2022. with files from The Associated Press. The latest developments on ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, both in Ottawa and various cities across Canada. All times Eastern: The latest developments on ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, both in Ottawa and various cities across Canada. All times Eastern: 10:20 p.m. Windsor Police say they arrested a 27-year-old man at the Ambassador Bridge border blockade. They allege he committed a criminal offence in relation to the demonstration, but did not say what charges he may face. They did not release any further details about the incident. --- 10 p.m. The Prime Minister's Office says the Incident Response Group met today to discuss "illegal blockades and occupations taking place across the country." It says cabinet ministers and other officials updated the prime minister on what they're doing to end the protests. Various police forces also briefed the group on their efforts. --- 8:20 p.m. Ottawa Police say they've created an "integrated command centre" to respond to the convoy protest in the city's downtown core. The police service says it struggled with enforcement today because there were more than 4,000 protesters present and some engaged in "aggressive, illegal behaviour." But it says the integrated command centre will help the force co-ordinate with OPP and RCMP, and will lead to an "enhanced ability" to "respond to the current situation." --- 7:45 p.m. The main route to the Pacific Highway border crossing to Washington in Surrey, B.C., has closed after being clogged by anti-mandate protesters. While the border remains open, DriveBC camera footage shows protestors walking toward the Pacific Highway crossing after breaking through an RCMP barricade. DriveBC is reporting that Highway 15 is closed in both directions south of 8th Avenue due to protesters. Heavy congestion was also reported at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 15. Protesters were previously blocked at 8 Avenue, leading up to the border crossing, but highway footage from about 3:30 p.m. on shows protesters walking freely toward the crossing along 176 Street. --- 5:25 p.m. A court injunction obtained by the City of Edmonton to address noise from protests against public health restrictions appeared to have little effect as trucks and semis rolled past the provincial legislature for a third-straight Saturday. Close to 700 people also marched along Jasper Avenue in downtown Edmonton, carrying Canadian flags and signs opposing vaccine mandates. The injunction, which was granted by Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench on Friday, says people who are involved in a protest convoy must refrain from sounding vehicle horns, airhorns or other devices that create unnecessary noise. Bethany Madigan, who stood near the legislature as honking vehicles drove by, said she wasn't aware of the injunction, noting she doesn't pay much attention to mainstream media outlets. Madigan says people have been pushed to the point where they feel "they don't have very much left to lose." --- 4:45 p.m. The Royal Canadian Legion is criticizing the removal of a protective fence around the National War Memorial. The Legion in a statement released this afternoon said the removal of the fence and "reported inaction by those charged with safeguarding the site was deeply disturbing." The fence had been set up after the first weekend of demonstrations in the capital, when some protesters stood and danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the base of the memorial. Police stood by and watched as dozens of demonstrators tore down the fence before gathering around the monument dedicated to Canada's war dead. --- 4:10 p.m. Protests are continuing across British Columbia this weekend led by residents voicing their displeasure with pandemic-related mandates. Protesters lined the streets of downtown Victoria sporting Canadian flags, holding signs and waving to honking vehicles doing laps around the provincial legislature. Victoria police have said they were expecting traffic disruptions caused by large protests and have temporarily deployed closed-circuit TV cameras in the area to support public safety. --- 3:45 p.m. Hundreds of protesters are occupying a stretch of Huron Church Road in Windsor, Ont., near the Ambassador Bridge. Efforts to clear the area surrounding the bridge have hit a standstill, with more adults and children trickling in this afternoon. Some people are playing music while others are chanting or honking horns. A drone is flying above the protest site. Police officers are standing in a line and blocking the entrance to the bridge, with two armoured vehicles and police cruisers behind them. --- 3:30 p.m. The Canada Border Services Agency says services at the border crossing at Coutts, Alta. have been temporarily suspended. A protest by people opposed to COVID-19 public health restrictions has impeded or outright blocked access to the normally busy border crossing for two weeks. The CBSA says in a news release that the ports of North Portal and Regway in Saskatchewan, and Rooseville and Kingsgate in British Columbia are the closest alternative processing sites for commercial traffic. But it warns that "due to evolving circumstances" travellers should check the CBSA website for updates. --- 3:15 p.m. RCMP in Manitoba say an officer will be stationed at an access point to a hospital in anticipation of a protest on Highway 3 near Winkler and Morden today. Police advise in a news release that if anyone gets caught up in a convoy while trying to access the Boundary Trails Health Centre between the two communities, they should call 911 for help. They note it's not always apparent that someone may not be a willing participant in the convoy and is trying to get to hospital instead. A man from Morden said earlier this week that he was delayed for close to an hour on Highway 3 while trying to drive his 82-year-old sister to the facility, and a spokesperson for the Southern Health regional authority said ambulances were also delayed. Provincial RCMP also note that some traffic like emergency vehicles and agricultural trucks are being allowed to pass at a blockade near the border crossing at Emerson, Man. But they note that all four lanes of Highway 75 at Provincial Road 200 near the community are blocked and motorists should expect substantial delays, or avoid Emerson altogether. --- 1:45 p.m. Protesters have torn down a fence that was erected around the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The fence had been set up after the first weekend of demonstrations in the capital, when some protesters stood and danced on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the base of the memorial. Police stood by and watched as dozens of demonstrators tore down the fence before gathering around the monument dedicated to Canada's war dead. No one was seen standing on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was covered in flowers, and it wasn't immediately clear where the fence had gone. --- 12:50 p.m. A few hundred people have gathered peacefully near the Ontario legislature to protest vaccine mandates and other COVID-19 public health restrictions. Armed with Canadian flags and placards, the crowd of varied ages cheered as one of the emcees said the event was about freedom. Most of the placards target Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but one self-professed supporter of the Peoples Party of Canada also voiced opposition to Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The rally started a little late as vehicle access to the road that encircles the legislative building was blocked by a series of police cars, dumpsters and buses. --- 12:45 p.m. Ottawa Police say they deployed all available officers last night as protesters in the city "exhibited aggressive behaviour," including overwhelming officers and subverting law enforcement efforts. The police service says 28 arrests have been made while 140 criminal investigations are underway, with officers collecting various information to assist with prosecuting offenders. Another 2,600 tickets have been issued by bylaw officers in relation to what the service describes as an "illegal occupation." The police service, which has been criticized for not taking a harder stand with the demonstrators, says it has a plan to end the protests but is waiting for reinforcements. --- 12 p.m. More people have joined a protest near the Canada-U.S. border crossing at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont. Police officers have formed a line by the intersection of Huron Church Road and College Avenue and are slowly moving towards the protesters, forcing those on foot and in vehicles to move further away from the foot of the bridge. Police cruisers and buses can be seen blocking the intersection. The protesters are standing their ground despite earlier threats from police that vehicles will get towed and people will be charged with mischief if they block the flow of traffic. The crowd of roughly 150 protesters is cheering and chanting Freedom." --- 11:30 a.m. Police in Fredericton say local protests against COVID-19 health restrictions were quiet Friday night and are still proceeding this morning. Fredericton Police Public Information Officer Alycia Bartlett says about 300 protestors gathered in front of the provincial legislature, but things were uneventful overnight. Bartlett says no criminal charges were laid and police are in contact with organizers as the protest continues. --- 11 a.m. Police are slowly moving in on protesters near the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont. They are telling protesters to leave and stop blocking traffic or else they will be arrested for mischief or see their vehicles towed. Some protesters are still shouting at officers and standing their ground. Two RCMP armoured vehicles are on the scene and some RCMP officers carrying guns are on standby. --- 10:15 a.m. Police in Windsor, Ont. say they've begun enforcement actions against protesters opposed to COVID-19 restrictions who blocked access to the Ambassador Bridge for days. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. They say they've told protesters at the scene to head home, and several have begun packing up tents. But others are still on hand, either in trucks or on foot, carrying Canadian flags and occasionally shouting "freedom." Police are maintaining a heavy presence at the entrance to the bridge, a key border crossing between Canada and the U.S. where protesters brought traffic to a standstill for most of the week. The Ontario Superior Court issued an injunction against the protest last night, giving participants until 7 p.m. to clear out. That deadline was largely ignored. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2022. Incident: 1184 When: Feb. 5, 2022 Where: 600 block of Osborne Street A woman selected more than $300 in merchandise at a grocery store and tried to leave without paying. When stopped by an employee, the suspect threatened to stab the staff member with a used syringe before fleeing. Incident 1184 Incident: 1185 When: Oct. 27, 2021 Where: 800 block of Leila Avenue A man attempted to steal several items from a retail store. He swung a knife at an employee when stopped and made his getaway. The same person is responsible for a similar crime at another store nearby. The photos show this person at both stores. For a long time, change was something Rushford-Peterson senior Inyka Johnson was accustomed to although it didnt make adjusting each time any easier. But once she got to Rushford-Peterson Schools, she found support, stability and, most importantly, a home. Inyka Johnson is this years Above and Beyond winner from Rushford-Peterson Schools for her drive to overcome these struggles and her passion for helping others around her. While Rushford-Peterson may have been her ultimate destination, it wasnt the start of her journey. Johnson attended middle school in Winona. I went through a hard time there getting bullied and just trying to find my way to fit in because it was a new school, Johnson said. When I was younger, I moved around a lot so going to a new school, it always gives me anxiety because I feel like Im not gonna fit in right away and stuff like that. Johnson still recognizes that managing her mental health has been a struggle keeping up with. It plays a part in how I present myself to people and how I act towards people and my actions that I do around people or for people, Johnson said. She has discovered, however, that her anxiety can be used as a powerful motivational tool. Anxiety is the thing that kind of pushes me though, for school and for work because Im an anxious person and I think about if I dont go for it, nothings going to get done, she said. That motivation has been especially helpful during the last eight months as her mom works as a travel nurse, leaving Johnson as the head of the house. Its really hard when shes not home like having to keep the house clean and caring for my brothers and just staying on top of the bills, but its also helped me get ready for the real world, Johnson said. I would say that its really hard on me because, like I said, I have separation anxiety, but I like knowing that my mom is doing this for us. And thats what keeps me going, knowing that shes away so that she can take care of us when shes back and for when I go to college. She also is grateful for her grandma, who lives across the street and is very close with the whole family. Johnson also spoke to how much shes grown during the time her mom has been away and how shes learned more about independence and family. She also spoke on how much being at Rushford-Peterson has helped her come out of her shell and overcome these struggles. I would say the school is the best school that Ive ever been to my whole life. I told my mom that I was not switching my senior year because I wanted to finish school here, Johnson said. I think that everyone should get an education here because the school is amazing, and the staff and the teachers here ... do an amazing job. Johnson has a close relationship with many staff members, but one she has a strong relationship with in particular is Dan Mlsna, a social studies teacher. Mlsna called his relationship with Inyka unique. I had her for three separate classes out of a five a day so she would be in my room the vast majority of the day. And so with that, theres just a general time before and after class where you get to just check in on a person (and) see how things are going. They get to be more informal, at least with me, and ask questions, and sometimes I can ask personal questions on how theyre doing, Mlsna said. I happen to have four kids and so sometimes she could ask about that. And I think to a certain degree, she could relate because as shes helping out with her brothers now she can understand what its like to be a parent, so we kind of connect on that kind of stuff too. Mlsna described Inyka as caring and was inspired by how much she cares for others. When it comes to her mentorship, its a lot more informal, where shes just, theres not a program name. This is kind of like the old way of doing it, where just because theres not a name attached to it doesnt mean that youre not helping out and assisting and stuff like that, Mlsna said. Youre just doing kind of the right thing and helping out where you can. Thats really probably what fits her the most. While Mlsna has had Johnson in every class he teaches, he wasnt one of the first teachers she encountered at Rushford-Peterson, as Mlsna teaches juniors and seniors. That distinction belongs to Nina Torkelson, a resource room teacher, who has seen Johnson blossom since arriving to Rushford. Torkelson echoed many of Mlsnas remarks about Johnsons passion for helping others, saying, Shes very caring. She is willing to help with whatever she can. Mlsna and Torkelson both remarked what a great student Johnson is and how she strives to keep up her grades as well as looking after her brothers and their work in school. Johnson plans to attend Minnesota State Mankato for sociology, which is something shes connected with guidance counselor Jenny Helgemoe over. Helgemoe described their relationship as a natural connection. Obviously, you know, I majored in psychology and went on to be a school counselor. So shes interested in the same types of career fields, being a helper and wanting to help people, Helgemoe said. If theres anything about Johnson that Mlsna, Torkelson and Helgemoe all admire about, its her passion to help others. Her heart is truly to help others, and you can see that its a completely genuine reaching out to others in from what I can see. And shes doing it for the right reasons, Helgemoe said, Its not to pad her resume. Its truly just because she enjoys helping people. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Columbus Area Historical Society 1972 Sandy Derr, eighth grade student at St. Jeromes School was named local winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution 1972 American History Month Essay Contest. The reconstruction of Maple Avenue/Highway 60 was approved at a public hearing. The project included new sidewalks, curb and gutter, new concrete pavement and storm sewers. 1982 The Neighborhood Club of Fall River celebrated its 70th anniversary of existence with a luncheon. Annie Waterworth, a former resident joined the club in 1912, and the 93-year-old was the only living charter member. The womens club was a social and service club. The Columbus City Council Judiciary Committee discussed regulating garage sales with some concerns that several people were running season-long sales and that items other than household goods were being sold. 1992 Dawn Kruchoski was the winner of the Sweetest Lips Contest sponsored by the Journal Republican and Shopping Reminder. John Walcott, Walcott Studio, Columbus, received an Exhibition of Merit Award in national level print competition from the Professional Photographers of America, Inc. in the 100th annual Exhibition of Professional Photography. The winning photo was of a cat named Raja owned by Dale and Judy Liggert of Cambridge. 2002 Monica McKenna, formerly Monica Hein of Columbus, and a 1960 Columbus High School graduate carried the Olympic torch on its way from Greece via Atlanta to the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Sisters-in law Diane Weiner of Fall River and Diane Hayden took part in a fundraising walk for breast cancer research in a three-day 60-mile walk from Kenosha to Chicago. The Avon Breast Cancer Event included 5,000 walkers. Follow us on Facebook at Columbus, WI Area Historical Society, or email museumcahs@gmail.com. When the MadHatters come to Pardeeville for their show on Friday those in attendance can expect to be entertained, and not only by the groups wide-range of a cappella performances, but by a group of guys who like to have a lot of fun when they take the stage. Our goal when we perform is to engage the audience as much as possible, make them feel that they are a part of our show, said Haakon Schriefer, a current member of the MadHatters. Were going to be doing some old classic songs. Were going to be doing some new stuff that they might not have heard, with some jokes and comedy mixed in there too. But, I think overall, just a very entertaining night of music and fun for everyone. Thats always our goal. The MadHatters are an all-mens a capella group made up of undergraduate students from University of Wisconsin-Madison. The group, which was founded in 1997, has performed at a variety of venues over the years, including the Orpheum Theater and Overture Center in Madison. They have also performed at the Governors Mansion and the White House. Patrick Doheny is a member of the MadHatters, and the groups music director. As the music director, Doheny runs rehearsals, picks the songs the group will sing and is in charge of the on-stage performances. Doheny said the group holds auditions for new members twice a year, at the start of each semester, and only a select few will be chosen to become part of the MadHatters. We have them sing a little verse and chorus of the song that theyve chosen for us, and well do a little range test, then ask them a few questions, and then a certain percent of the people we audition, we call them back, Doheny said. A normal fall semester we will get anywhere from 50 to 70 people that will audition, and we usually end up taking maybe two to five. One of the members of the MadHatters who will perform in Pardeeville is Roderick Li, who is the groups vocal percussionist. Li, who is from China, plays an important role for the a cappella group. The vocal percussionist is basically our human drum set. They make a lot of really cool and strange sounds that sound like drums and a lot of other rhythm-section instruments, Doheny said. I think it is pretty clear when you hear a show, it sounds like we have a drummer, and especially with a microphone, he can do some pretty amazing things. So he kind of holds everything down for us. When thinking about college a cappella groups, many people probably think of the popular Pitch Perfect movie franchise. The musical comedies, which are loosely based on the non-fiction book by the same name, and star Anna Kendrick, follows the Barden Bellas as they try to win a collegiate a cappella competition. Many of the MadHatters dont do collegiate a cappella competitions, but Schriefer said some of the stereotypes from the Pitch Perfect movies are true when it comes to what the MadHatters do. There certainly is some aspect of that (movie) that probably holds, Schriefer said. We kind of do song swaps with some of the other groups (on campus) once in a while. We sing for them, they sing for us and we give each other feedback, and we do social things with them once in a while too. You see a little bit of that as well. The MadHatters traditionally perform shows all over Wisconsin and the Midwest, but that changed when the COVID pandemic began in 2020. Since then, most of the MadHatters shows have been on or around campus in Madison, but the group did have its first show outside of Madison on Feb. 4 when it performed in Sauk Prairie. Next up is a show that begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, in the Lenz Auditorium at Pardeeville High School. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, available at pasdwi.org/community/events.cfm. Schriefer said the group is really looking forward to hitting the road once again. Were very excited to come to Pardeeville. I think for us, we always look forward to coming to these smaller towns and getting out of Madison a little ways and kind of sharing our experiences in other places, Schriefer said. And for a lot of guys who are from the state, this is kind of a way to experience the entire state of Wisconsin. I think that is something we are very much looking forward to. We hope to see a lot of people there. Its always more fun when you can fill an auditorium. Hopefully we can pack that thing and give everyone a great night. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Over half of Filipinos expect the COVID-19 crisis to be over within 2022, according to a latest Social Weather Stations survey. The poll conducted on Dec. 12-16 last year showed 51% of Filipinos see an end to the pandemic this year while 45% believe the global health crisis will extend beyond 2022. The expectation the pandemic will be over this year was highest in Mindanao with 62%, followed by Balance Luzon (areas outside Metro Manila) with 51%, the National Capital Region with 49%, and the Visayas with 41%. The survey also showed 51% of respondents are in favor of enacting a law that will compel all Filipinos to get vaccinated against COVID-19, 31% are not if favor, and 17% remain undecided. The same percentage of respondents agree that unvaccinated workers should present a negative RT-PCR test every two weeks to allow them to report to work, 35% disagree, and 14% are undecided. Almost half or 49% of Filipinos said the unvaccinated should not be allowed to dine-in inside restaurants, 36% said otherwise, and 14% are undecided. Most parts of the country are now under Alert Level 2 - a more relaxed status where businesses and activities are allowed under certain government guidelines. Since the pandemic started two years ago, the country tallied over 3.6 million COVID-19 cases. Nearly 55,000 people have died while about 3.5 million have recovered from the disease. Penn Yan is a village in the US state of New York. It was built on land purchased from Native Americans in the late 18th century and incorporated in the early 19th century. The village owes its initial success to a canal built in the area. This canal, coupled with the railroad's arrival later in the 19th century, made Penn Yan an important agricultural, commercial center. Among the agricultural products produced in the area were grapes used by the wine industry. Today, viticulture and wine-making are still important in Penn Yan, as is tourism. Geography Of Penn Yan Keuka Lake in Penn Yan. Penn Yan is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, 60 miles southeast of Rochester. It is situated on the northeastern shore of the eastern branch of Keuka Lake. To the north of Penn Yan is the town of Benton. The village of Dresden is located to the east. The closest town to the south of Penn Yan is Barrington. The tiny Hamlet of Keuka Park is located to the southwest of Penn Yan, on the western shore of Keuka Lake, while the town of Potter is located to the west-northwest. The Keuka Lake Outlet, a river, flows through Penn Yan, dividing it into northern and southern sections. This river flows through the village's harbor, connected to Keuka Lake by a narrow channel. A series of small streams also flow through the village. Population Of Penn Yan The total population of Penn Yan is 4,877. Almost 96% of the village's residents are white, of which 92.2% are non-Hispanic, and 3.66% are Hispanic. African Americans make up 1.98% of Penn Yan's population, while people of multiracial backgrounds comprise 1.29%. Nearly 94% of the village's residents speak only English, and 3.1% speak Spanish. The overwhelming majority of Penn Yan's residents, 96%, were born in the United States, while 80.64% were born in the village itself. Economy Of Penn Yan The average household income in Penn Yan is $53,918, the poverty rate is 11.81%, and the unemployment rate is 3.2%. In terms of number of employees, the village's largest industries are healthcare & social assistance, manufacturing, and construction. Penn Yan is the home of Birkett Mills, one of the world's largest producers of buckwheat products. History Of Penn Yan Downtown Main Street in Penn Yan. Penn Yan was originally part of the territory of the Six Nations Confederacy, otherwise known as the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy. In 1788, two men named Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham negotiated with the Six Nations Confederacy to purchase over two million acres of land between Lake Ontario and Pennsylvania. This land included the location of present-day Penn Yan. George Wheeler purchased the land on which the village now sits in 1791. The first settlers in the new community were followers of an American preacher named Jemima Wilkinson. In the 19th century, the community was settled by people from Pennsylvania and New England. During this time, the community was unofficially called Union. The community's residents, however, disliked this name and wanted a new one. However, this led to disagreement between the settlers from Pennsylvania, who wanted a name that reminded them of their old home state, and settlers from New England, who wanted a Yankee-sounding name, as "Yankee" was used as a term for people who came from New England. Eventually, a compromise was reached when the community was renamed Penn Yan, Penn for Pennsylvania, and Yan for Yankee. Penn Yan was incorporated in 1833, the same year that the Crooked Lake Canal was opened, for which Penn Yan would be the western terminus. This canal spurred economic growth in the area. Many mills sprang up along the canal, including paper mills, plaster mills, potash mills, and tanneries. In 1850, the railroad arrived in the region. Penn Yan became a trade center for agriculture. By the late 19th century, grape-growing was particularly important in the village. Grapes that came from Penn Yan were labeled Keuka after Keuka Lake. This eventually became a brand known for its quality. During the late 1800s through the mid-to-late 1900s, Penn Yan and surrounding Yates County became home to various ethnic and religious groups. For example, Danish immigrants and their descendants ran many of the dairy farms in the area, and even today, Danish names such as Christensen and Jensen are common. In the late 20th century, Mennonite and Amish families began moving into the region. There are now Mennonite and Amish settlements close to Penn Yan, including an Old Order Mennonite settlement, the largest horse-and-buggy community in all of New York State. Attractions In And Around Penn Yan Attractions in Penn Yan and the surrounding region include the village's historic district. This district contains 281 structures, 210 of which are contributing. It encompasses the village's historic core on an area of 65 acres. The architecture of Penn Yan spans almost 200 years. Some of the buildings in the historic district include four churches, one mill complex, a library, a post office, and a winery. Structures built between 1820 and 1929 represent a variety of 19th and 20th-century American architectural styles, including Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque, Eastlake, Queen Anne, Georgian Revival, and Neoclassical, as well as vernacular and eclectic interpretations of these major styles. Winery of the Keuka Spring Vineyards in the Finger Lake Wine Country. Editorial credit: PQK / Shutterstock.com As part of the Finger Lakes region, Penn Yan and the surrounding region are well-known for viticulture and wine-making. In fact, Keuka Lake lies at the heart of the wine-making industry in the eastern United States. Thus, there are many vineyards and wineries in the area. Wine tours are also available. Visitors to the area will find wine and many other locally-made products at the Windmill Farm & Craft Market. Located on State Route 14A in Penn Yan, this market is open from the last Saturday of April to the last Saturday of November and features 160 shops and restaurants on 44 tree-lined acres. Other outdoor attractions in Penn Yan and the surrounding area include the Keuka Outlet Trail, a 6-mile linear park that follows the course of Keuka Lake Outlet. This trail is perfect for hiking and biking. Keuka College, an independent 4-year college, provides a waterfront ideal for watersports such as swimming, boating, and fishing. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the the daily White House press briefing on February 11, 2022 in Washington, DC. Sullivan spoke to reporters about the call U.S. President Joe Biden held with transatlantic leaders to discuss the ongoing tensions at the border of Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Booming family furniture firm in Chirk amongst graduates celebrating 20Twenty success This article is old - Published: Sunday, Feb 13th, 2022 A procurement manager at a Chirk-based is amongst those to graduate from an esteemed leadership programme. The successful 20Twenty Business Growth Programme cohorts were joined at the event held at Rossett Hall, Wrexham by Head of Bangor Business School, Professor Bruce Vanstone, and joint sponsor Hannah Munro, Managing Director of ITAS software specialists. 45 representatives from organisations in Flintshire, Wrexham and north Powys received their Level 4 and Level 7 certificates, with all of them thanking tutors and trainers for having a positive effect on their professional outlook and strategic operations. Lorraine Hopkins, Manager for the Leading Business Growth programmes at Bangor Business School, congratulated the 2022 alumni on completing the course virtually, and was delighted to be able to hold the graduation ceremony in person. We were thrilled to be able to bring delegates together to celebrate their achievements, she said. Holding sessions and workshops online has been challenging but the cohort showed their resilience and adaptability, characteristics which will continue to serve them well in their daily professional lives. We could not be prouder of them all and are delighted to receive such positive feedback ahead of the start of our next programme this Spring. Lorraine added: For many of them it was the first time they had met in person, so it was a real honour to have everyone in one place to mark this momentous occasion. Among those graduating was Scott Beddow, Procurement Manager at Chirk-based Archwood Group the third person from the company to complete the 20Twenty programme. Employing 125 people, the family-run business a holder of the Investors in People Gold standard has been designing, manufacturing, and supplying timber products for over 150 years. Scott says completing the Level 7 CMI Programme which is 80% funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through Welsh Government has given them fresh impetus to go on and achieve even more in the future. Despite the whole programme being delivered virtually due to the pandemic it worked out very well, we still managed to network and meet new people and the resources provided made for an interactive, enjoyable experience, he said. A lot of the group still keep in touch and share ideas, discuss our strategies and have grown together during the course, comparing styles, and knowing the difference between leadership and management. The tutors brought different skill sets and perspectives which opened our eyes to different ways of thinking. It was a really insightful and rewarding programme I would definitely recommend to any owner, manager or director in business. Earlier this year, Archwood which includes the brands Richard Burbidge, Atkinson & Kirby, and Masons Timber appointed an Environmental Action Group to develop a carbon footprint management plan focused on becoming a net zero organisation. Scott says information and guidance received via 20Twenty will feed into that and other pivotal decisions going forward. My final project was around Change Management and is already part of our operations; ensuring we all communicate and collaborate across the company, that everyone is on the same page and each member of the team plays their part, he said. Like many businesses we have faced challenges during Covid especially in the supply chain but we anticipated demand and possible delays, so it has worked for us. This kind of strategic thinking and scrutiny has benefited the company as 99% of our products are in stock given whats happened globally thats a fantastic result. Scott added: Archwood products are high quality and well established and thats what we pride ourselves on. Weve changed the way we do things and in tandem with what Ive learned on the 20Twenty programme that puts us in a very good position. But ultimately its all about passion, and we love what we do here. For more information and to sign up for the next 20Twenty Business Growth Programme, email j.whittaker@bangor.ac.uk or visit the website: www.20TwentyBusinessGrowth.com. For the latest news and information from Archwood Group, visit www.archwoodgroup.com. Praise for team behind local and fast-growing chauffeur business This article is old - Published: Sunday, Feb 13th, 2022 The MP for Clwyd South has praised the team behind a local and fast-growing chauffeur business. On Friday 21st January, Member of Parliament for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes MP, met with Chris and Maggie Millward-Hopkins, the owners of NEW Executive Transfers Ltd and North Wales Guided Tours Ltd, to learn more about how their chauffeur business operates. The couple, who live in Penycae, started the company in 2018, which has grown to become a professional chauffeur company, with business, media and tourism clients from across the UK and US. Chris acts as the chauffeur and is one of fewer than 70 people in the UK with the Guild of Professional Chauffeurs certification. Chris Millward-Hopkins said: We thank Simon for taking the time to meet us and for helping to raise awareness of the quality of services available in North Wales in general and via NEW Executive Transfers and North Wales Guided Tours in particular. We feel our area is too often seen as a budget tourism destination whereas, in reality, there are a number of companies like ourselves offering the highest standard of product and service. Simon Baynes MP said: It was a pleasure to meet Chris and Maggie and to learn more about their journey founding and growing NEW Executive Transfers into the success story it is today. This provides a chauffeur service of the highest quality and also runs chauffeur driven private guided tours for visitors to North Wales which makes a significant contribution to tourism in our area. I would like to wish Chris and Maggie all the very best for the future. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday called on the government to protect Filipinos in Ukraine and to prepare economic safety nets should Russia invade the former Soviet republic. In a statement, Lacson noted that there are at least 380 Filipinos in Ukraine, and the United States, United Kingdom and Estonia already asked their citizens to leave Ukraine amid the Russian invasion threat. I would like to know what preparations are being made for them in the event that war breaks out, he said. What is happening in Ukraine may create instability in other potential flashpoints in the world including that of our region. The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said that the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, Poland is closely monitoring Filipinos in Ukraine. Lacson also hopes the government has contingency plans for possible increase in prices and disruptions in supply chains if ever the Russian invasion happens. We might think that Ukraine is far away, and that there is no danger for the Philippines. We are all living in a global village. An invasion of Ukraine may adversely affect the stock markets all over the world, he explained. Prices of basic commodities and fuel may increase. We need to be prepared for this, not to mention that we are still suffering from the pandemic and are far from economic recovery, he added. Press Release February 13, 2022 STATEMENT OF SENATOR IMEE MARCOS Re: What the Department of Agriculture could do to reduce fish importation and smuggling (English) Recommendations are to shorten the closed fishing season or open it earlier, leave it open to commercial fishers in areas where there are severe shortages, assist the shipment of fish from Mindanao to areas in Luzon and Visayas suffering shortages, audit post-harvest investments like blast freezing and cold storage, maximize unutilized fishpond leases reaching 60% of total, amend the Fisheries Code to require NFARMC (National Fisheries and Aquatice Resources Management Council) endorsement before importation. It is clear that certificates of importation should be rescinded. There are pending cases of alleged smuggling filed by Navotas versus the DA (Department of Agriculture) and BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources). In my view, Filipino fishermen have basis once again to file cases of agricultural sabotage and technical smuggling against the DA, BFAR, PFDA (Philippine Fisheries Development Authority), and BOC (Bureau of Customs). I really regret recommending Secretary William Dar to the Department of Agriculture since he has done nothing but import rice, chicken, pork, fish, and now sugar. I also find it suspect that cooperatives with no capacity to import millions of dollars' worth of fish have again become certified importers. Weren't cooperatives also used to import rice, garlic, etc.? How can one become an importer? Why does the DA have favored importers since January 2021 who can fill up a shortage at once, who have a supply in stock or smuggled in advance? Is this another Pharmally? Everyone admires Mr. Willie's record abroad. Little did we know that upon returning to the Philippines he would fatten big importers and smugglers. _______________________________________________________________________ (Tagalog) Inirerekomenda ko na paikliin ang closed fishing season o buksan ng mas maaga; iwanang bukas sa mga commercial fishers sa mga lugar na may kakulangan sa suplay; tulungang ipa-barko ang suplay ng isda galing Mindanao hanggang sa Luzon at Visayas; repasuhan ang mga pamumuhunan sa mga pasilidad na ginagamit pagkatapos ng bawat ani gaya ng blast freezing at cold storage, ipagamit na ang 60% na paupahan sa mga fishpond; amyendahan ang Fisheries Code para di maka-import ang DA na walang pahintulot ng NFARMC (National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council). Klaro na dapat i-rescind na ang mga certificates of importation. May pending smuggling cases ang Navotas vs BFAR, DA. Sa tingin ko, may basehan magsampa na naman ang mangingisdang Pilipino ng kaso sa paglabag ng DA/BFAR, PFDA (Philippine Fisheries Development Authority), BOC (Bureau of Customs) sa agricultural sabotage at technical smuggling. Labis ang pagsisisi ko na inirekomenda ko si Secretary William Dar sa DA, at wala pala siyang aatupagin kundi mag-import ng bigas, manok, baboy, isda, at ngayon asukal naman, nakakainis! Nakakaduda rin na mga coop na naman, na walang kakayahan mag-import ng milyun-milyong dolyar na isda, ang certified importer raw. Di ba ginamit din mga hamak na coop sa pagpasok ng bigas, bawang atbp.? Paano ba maging importer? Bakit may mga "suki" ang DA mula pa January 2021 na may supply na kaagad - matagal ng may stock o na smuggle na? Pharmally na naman ba ito? Lahat naman hangang-hanga kay Manong Willie sa record niya sa ibang bansa, di naman sukat akalain na paguwi dito sa Pilipinas ay magpapalamon sila sa dambuhalang importers at smugglers. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) Despite the downtrend of COVID-19 cases in Visayas, Iloilo City remained at high risk as of Feb. 12, while Bacolod, Cebu City, Lapu Lapu, Mandaue, Ormoc and Tacloban were at moderate risk, OCTA Research reported on Sunday. OCTA fellow Guido David presented a report showing that all of the seven highly urbanized cities in Visayas registered a negative growth rate in cases compared to the previous week. However, Iloilo City and Ormoc logged "very high" positivity rates of 25% and 49% respectively. Positivity rate refers to the percentage of tested people with positive COVID-19 test results. The World Health organization recommends positivity rates to remain below 5% for countries to reopen borders. Iloilo City's average daily attack rate (ADAR) or the seven-day average number of new cases per 100,000 people was also high at 22.11, while its healthcare utilization rate was moderate at 64%. On the other hand, Ormoc's ADAR (3.70) was moderate and its healthcare utilization was low (35%). Cebu City and Lapu Lapu also have high ADARs at 12.05 and 11.17, respectively, but their healthcare utilization usage was low at 36% and 38%, respectively. Only Lapu Lapu had a low positivity rate at 9% while the rates in Bacolod, Cebu, Mandaue and Tacloban were categorized as high. All the aforementioned areas had "very low" reproduction rates, OCTA said. OCTA has advised strict compliance with safety protocols. Police arrest protesters blocking a key border crossing between the US and Canada, nearing an end to 'economic crisis' Keep tabs on 2022 session virtually The Wyoming Legislative Service Office reminds residents they can use the Legislatures website to track bills and participate in policymaking during the 2022 budget session, which starts Monday. The website is wyoleg.gov. The site "is continually updated as each bill moves through the legislative process," according to the Wyoming Legislative Service Office. A variety of resources are available on the site, including legislation and amendments sponsored by legislative committees and individual members. The text of each bill is posted on the website as soon as the legislation is assigned a bill number. The status for bills in the House and Senate can be tracked by clicking on the View and Track Legislation link on the homepage. People also can find information about how their legislators voted by clicking on the Votes tab on each individual bill page. The results are posted after each roll call vote is taken on the House and Senate floor. The public can watch live and archived video of House and Senate floor proceedings and committee meetings on the Legislatures YouTube channel. Users can access videos by clicking the YouTube icon on the Legislatures website or by searching Wyoming Legislature on YouTube. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) A health expert is urging the government not to rush in lowering the alert level in Metro Manila. Health reform advocate and former adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Dr. Anthony Leachon said the government should focus instead on ramping up health capacities such as testing and vaccination. "I think dapat i-maintain muna ang Alert Level 2 until all healthcare capacities are okay like testing na pwede i-deploy or ilibre," said Leachon. [Translation: I think we need to maintain Alert Level 2 until all health capacities are okay, such as making testing free for everyone.] New COVID-18 cases in the country are still at 3,000 to 5,000 per day. Leachon said the government should also take extra precaution as election season is now upon us. "With increased mobility because of Alert Level 1 and you have the election period which are mega gatherings, super mobility will then take place. So you will enhance the viral transmission. So therefore, surges might actually happen," said Leachon. In a press briefing on Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire announced that the country is now preparing for a shift to Alert Level 1, the most relaxed pandemic restriction closest to the "new normal." Call it "The One Without the Lesbian Wedding." Chinese streaming services have heavily censored multiple episodes of Friends featuring references to and appearances by LGBTQ characters, according to the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post. CNN also reported that conversations about Ross's (David Schwimmer) ex-wife, Carol (Anita Barone), who divorces him after coming out as a lesbian, were removed from the series' first episode, while scenes featuring the character were deleted from the second episode, per the Morning Post. Censors also reportedly removed a scene of Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) kissing on New Year's Eve and altered dialogue in the show's Chinese-language subtitles, such as changing a line about women having "multiple orgasms" to "women have endless gossips." FRIENDS -- Pictured: (clockwise from bottom left) Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty The cast of 'Friends' After the first season of Friends debuted on several streaming platforms in censored form on Friday, Chinese fans of the show took to the social media site Weibo to protest the changes, pushing #FriendsCensored to the top of the site's trending topics. However, that hashtag was also censored on the platform by Saturday morning, CNN reports. An uncensored version of Friends was previously available on Chinese streaming platforms Sohu video and iQiyi from 2012 to 2013. "Seriously, if you can't broadcast [the complete version], just don't do it at all," a popular comment on Weibo read, according to the Morning Post. "[The streaming platforms] spent big bucks to buy the rights [to the show], but efforts to alter lines and edit out scenes ended up being slammed by the audience. What for?" Western films and TV shows are often censored in China, even more so recently as the government has tightened its grip on the media. HBO Max's Friends reunion special was also heavily edited, with segments featuring stars like BTS, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber removed. Censors also purged all LGBTQ references from the special, including a reflection from a gay German Friends fan named Ricardo, who said the show helped him feel like he belonged. Story continues Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Death on the Nile will not be released in two Middle-Eastern countries due to Gal Gadots connection to the Israel Defence Forces. The Israeli actor stars in Kenneth Branaghs much-delayed Agatha Christie adaptation alongside Armie Hammer and Russell Brand. Death on the Nile was released globally on Friday (11 January). However, the film will not be released in Lebanon and Kuwait as a protest against Gadots past support of the IDF, Deadline has confirmed. It was released elsewhere in the Middle East over the weekend. The Independent has contacted Gadots representatives for comment. According to The Daily Mail, Death on the Nile was banned in Kuwait following protests on social media over Gadots role. The actor served two years in the Israeli army and famously expressed support for Israeli forces as the country led a military offensive against Gaza in 2014. Last year, she disabled comments on a tweet calling for unity amid a period of intense conflict between Israel and Palestine, which many followers had interpreted as pro-Israel propaganda. In 2017, Gadots Wonder Woman was officially banned in Lebanon and Qatar due to her involvement with the IDF. Lebanon also blocked the release of its sequel Wonder Woman 1984. Mia Wasikowska will take on the lead role in Little Joe director Jessica Hausners cult thriller Club Zero, Variety can reveal. The Australian actor will portray an unusual schoolteacher in Hausners second English-language film, which begins shooting in the U.K. and Austria in July. More from Variety Wasikowska was most recently seen in Mia Hansen-Lves Cannes-premiering film Bergman Island. In Club Zero, Wasikowskas teacher takes a job at an elite school and forms a strong bond with five students a relationship that eventually takes a dangerous turn. Discussing the film at the Doha Film Institutes Qumra event last year, Hausner described the film as a lot about eating, relating to eating disorders and eating behaviors. This will be Hausners sixth feature. Her last film, Little Joe, was in competition in Cannes in 2019 and won the best actress award for Emily Beecham. The Austrian director, who made her debut with Lovely Rita, is a regular at Cannes, where all of her previous films have shown, except for Lourdes, which was in competition in Venice in 2009. Club Zero is being produced by Coop99 (Austria), Essential Filmproduktion (Germany), Coproduction Office U.K. (U.K.) and Parisienne de Production (France). World sales are being handled by Coproduction Office. The pic is being financed with the support of the Austrian Film Institute, Vienna Film Fund, FISA Film Industry Support Austria, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Eurimages, ARTE France Cinema and ZDF/Arte (Grand Accord), ORF (Film/Television Agreement) and BBC Film. Producers are Bruno Wagner, Philippe Bober, Mike Goodridge, Johannes Schubert, Martin Gschlacht and Hausner. Story continues Wasikowskas break-out roles came via Lisa Chodolenkos The Kids Are All Right, and Tim Burtons 2010 film Alice in Wonderland and the 2016 sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass. Her other credits include Jane Eyre, Restless, Albert Nobbs, Stoker, Tracks, Only Lovers Left Alive, Crimson Peak and The Devil All the Time. Wasikowska is represented by RGM Artists, WME and Sloan Offer Weber & Dern. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan responded to claims on Sunday that the United States is sparking panic in Ukraine about a potential Russian invasion, stressing that it is Russias closing in of the smaller nation that is the source of the alarm. The intelligence official appeared on CNNs State of the Union, where he spoke to host Jake Tapper about what has become the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The U.S. recently announced plans to evacuate most of its diplomatic staff from Kyiv and ordered 3,000 troops to Poland on top of the 1,700 who are on their way there in demonstration of American commitment to worried NATO allies. At a press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the best friend for enemies is panic in our country. And all this information helps only to create panic. It doesnt help us. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the drills of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during his working trip to the Kherson region, Ukraine, on Feb. 12. (Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via Associated Press) When asked whether the U.S. is dangerously sparking panic in Ukraine, Sullivan said the White House is trying to be transparent to American citizens that they should leave Ukraine immediately, because there will not be a military evacuation in the event of an invasion. Only one country has amassed more than 100,000 troops on the border of Ukraine. Its not the United States. Its Russia. That is the source of the alarm, Sullivan said. And we are trying to tell Ukrainians to prepare and be ready for this as well, as well as coordinate with our NATO allies and partners, so that we are able to defend NATO territory and deter any further Russian aggression should they move on Ukraine. But fundamentally, our view is that were not going to give Russia the opportunity to conduct a surprise here, to spring something on Ukraine or the world, he continued. We are going to make sure that we are laying out for the world what we see as transparently and plainly as we possibly can, and share that information as widely as we can. Thats what we have done. Thats what we will continue to do. Story continues Sullivan recently also warned that U.S. intelligence shows that Russia could invade Ukraine within days, and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end on Feb. 20. The national security adviser told reporters on Friday that intelligence shows military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive. Russia has continued to deny that it plans to invade, despite its continued buildup of firepower on three sides of Ukraine. National Security adviser Jake Sullivan tells @JakeTapper that Russian forces are in a place where an invasion could take place before the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics. A major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now, he says. #CNNSOTUpic.twitter.com/Zlxmx5mhpU State of the Union (@CNNSotu) February 13, 2022 The hysteria of the White House is more indicative than ever, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, according to The Associated Press. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems. The Defense Department has publicly warned that Russian operatives were planning a false-flag operation, a plan in which the country would stage a fake attack on itself to have an excuse to intervene in Ukraine. Earlier this month, intelligence officials alleged there is a Russian plot to fabricate a graphic video allegedly staged with explosions and corpses as pretext for an attack on Ukraine. The claim received scrutiny from some reporters who called out the White House for not providing evidence for such a strong allegation. First, were not putting forward this intelligence to start a war, which has happened in the past, Jake. We are putting forward this intelligence to stop a war. And I think that fundamentally gives it, at the outset, a different level of credibility, Sullivan said Sunday, adding that a false-flag operation is consistent with the Russian playbook. Russia indeed has a history of using false-flag operations, one example being in 1968 when the Kremlin used its intelligence service to create false-flag incidents to justify Soviet military intervention in Czechoslovakia. And then, third, if you look at Russian media, they are laying the groundwork for a potential pretext by raising the possibility of attacks by Ukrainian forces on either Russians themselves or Russias proxy forces in the Donbass, he continued. And then, finally, what we have said, stood at the podium and shared with our allies that we have information that we have gathered through intelligence that indicates that there is active planning for this. And its not just the United States saying it. We have our NATO allies stepping out and saying it as well, because they have been able to review that intelligence, assess its credibility and reach the same conclusion we have reached. So, I do think the world should be prepared for Russia staging a pretext and then launching a potential military action, he said. Lithuania's military aid including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, delivered as part of the security support package for Ukraine, is unloaded from a 17 Globemaster III plane at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv on Feb. 13. (Photo: Valentyn Ogirenko via Reuters) On Saturday, President Joe Biden held an hourlong call with Vladimir Putin in which the White House said he told the Russian president that invading Ukraine would cause widespread human suffering and that the West was committed to diplomacy to end the crisis but equally prepared for other scenarios. There was no fundamental change in the dynamic that has been unfolding now for several weeks, but we believe that we have put ideas on the table that would be in our and our allies interest to pursue, that would enhance European security, and that would also address some of Russias stated concerns, just as we have been clear that we are committed to upholding Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rights of states to choose their own security arrangements, said a senior administration official who briefed reporters about the call. But it remains unclear whether Russia is interested in pursuing its goals diplomatically as opposed to through the use of force, the official said. Russia has been in aggressive conflict with Ukraine since 2014, when the latter nations Kremlin-friendly leader was ousted by a popular uprising that has demanded a democracy more aligned with the West. Moscow responded by annexing the Crimean Peninsula and backing a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has killed over 14,000 people. France and Germany helped broker a 2015 peace deal that helped halt large-scale battles. However, regular clashes have continued with efforts to reach a political settlement having stalled. The current tensions with Russia come as NATO countries deliberate whether to allow Ukraine to enter the alliance a move Russia sees as a major security threat due to its shared borders with Ukraine. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Cory Booker and Rosario Dawson Araya Diaz/Getty Rosario Dawson and Sen. Cory Booker have called it quits on their relationship of more than two years, PEOPLE confirms. A source close to the New Jersey lawmaker says the former couple aren't dating anymore but remain good friends. (A Booker rep had no comment; reps for Dawson did not respond to a request.) Dawson and Booker first crossed paths at a political fundraiser for a mutual friend in summer 2018. Though sparks didn't fly right away, months later, the two reconnected. "I mean, gosh, that night we talked for hours and hours," Booker, 52, told The Washington Post in 2019. "I had trouble asking for her phone number ... I think I said something really stupid like, 'Uh, how would I get in touch with you?' And she mercifully said something like, 'Oh, you want my phone number?' And my insides were like, 'Hell, yeah!' " RELATED: Rosario Dawson on Moving In with Cory Booker It's a 'New Chapter in My Life' Dawson, 42, told the paper she found Booker to be "so charming," "confident," and "capable" all despite their initial slow start. "It's not like that translates to being some super-smooth kind of guy," she said at the time. "That's not his style." But his sense of humor helped. "What wins me over with him is definitely the dad jokes," Dawson told the Post. corey booker, rosario dawson Drew Angerer/Getty The pair initially held off on confirming they were dating until Dawson was spotted by TMZ at a Washington, D.C., airport. "So far so wonderful," she said at the time of her romance with the then-presidential candidate. "He's a wonderful human being. It's good to spend some time together when we can." 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. Story continues A couple that includes a U.S. senator and former presidential candidate and an actress who's also an activist must be able to juggle two busy schedules and frequent time apart, which they said they remedied with weekly meet-ups, FaceTime calls and romantic gestures like Booker's habit of reading to her on the phone and sending Dawson music. By May 2020, as Booker was in the midst of his campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee, the couple took a big step when Dawson moved in with him and made his Newark, New Jersey, home her own. Cory Booker and Rosario Dawson Albert L. Ortega/Getty "This is the first time in my life I've really lived with somebody and obviously Rosario and I are enjoying and adjusting to that, right?" Booker told BuzzFeed the following October. Being under the same roof allowed the pair to spend a little more time together even if it was only 20 minutes at the kitchen table for breakfast or an early dinner after Dawson cooked a meal. RELATED: Cory Booker and Rosario Dawson Have Been 'Working on Cooking Together a Lot More,' He Says "I have not done that, really, as a bachelor, where I actually sit at a table and just, like, breathe and eat a meal," Booker said. "And just set a table I can't tell you how rarely do I set the table as a bachelor, you know, as a guy living alone. So it's just really nice to set a table, have somebody to say grace with, before a meal. It's just those small things really are, I'm finding, incredibly enriching." Booker told PEOPLE last year that they like many others in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic had been enjoying time together in the kitchen, too. "We've been working on cooking together a lot more," he said. Rosario Dawson (L) and boyfriend Democratic presidential hopeful New Jersey Senator Cory Booker SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty "Literally she just bought a food processor, a Cuisinart thing, for our kitchen yesterday," he said. "So I'm very excited about just expanding my capability to make delicious, healthy, whole plant-based food at home." RELATED: Rosario Dawson Shares Her Inauguration Day Memories 'There Was So Much Light' In January 2021, Dawson also accompanied Booker to President Joe Biden's Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. He supported her by wearing a matching mask from her company Studio 189 and she supported him by congratulating the senator on defending his seat. "So proud of and grateful for you my love. I got to vote for you here in New Jersey and am so glad that you overwhelmingly and rightfully won your seat again," Dawson wrote on Instagram after the election. "To know your leadership will continue to guide us with love, brilliance, patience, grace and effectiveness is the kind of representation and hope we need." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) Presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte continue to be the frontrunners for the May 9 polls, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey released on Sunday. Marcos score rose to 60% in the Jan. 19-24 survey from 53% in the Pulse Asia December 2021 survey. The late dictator's son still holds a wide gap over Vice President Leni Robredo, who is in far second with 16%. She received a lower rating than her 20% tally in the December 2021 survey. Marcos, a former Ilocos Norte governor and senator, secured the majority of support in all of the country's major island groups, with Mindanao being the highest at 66%. The survey also showed Marcos receiving majority of support in socioeconomic classes D (61%) and E (56%), but his numbers went down in the C class from 53% in December 2021 to 50% in January 2022. The Marcos camp said the latest Pulse Asia survey shows the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard bearer is way ahead of his opponents. "Numbers don't lie, and it is really humbling to know that our message for national unity is resonating among the overwhelming majority of the Filipino people," Marcos camp spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said in a statement. Meanwhile, Robredo's camp said the survey results are too early to influence the election outcome as the study was made before the presidential fora conducted last month. "VP Leni's stellar performance in those interviews, added to the massive rallies that have come out for her during this first week of the official campaign, give us confidence that she has the clear momentum. We have no doubt this will be reflected in the coming surveys, and of course, on election day," said Robredo's spokesperson Barry Gutierrez in a statement. Boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno are tied at the third spot with 8% each, while Senator Ping Lacson completed the top five with 4%. Moreno topped the separate Pulse Asia survey for second choice for presidential candidates with 24% followed by Lacson and Pacquiao (14% each), Robredo (13%), and Marcos (10%). In the vice presidential race, Dutertes survey score increased from 46% in December 2021 to 50% in January 2022. She also enjoys the majority of support from all socioeconomic classes. Across geographic areas, she leads in three of the four locations. Senate President Tito Sotto, who is second in the latest survey with 29%, topped the Balance Luzon group with 37% compared to Duterte's 36%. Senator Kiko Pangilinan settled for third place in the national survey with 11% followed by Dr. Willie Ong with 5% and former Manila Mayor and party-list lawmaker Lito Atienza with 1%. Sotto led the second choice for vice presidential bets with 35% followed by Duterte (15%), Pangilinan (14%), Ong (11%), and Atienza (3%). In the senatorial race, former broadcaster Raffy Tulfo sits comfortably at the top of the latest Pulse Asia survey with 66.1%. Former Senators Alan Peter Cayetano (58.2%), Loren Legarda (58.0%), and Francis Escudero (55.7%) garnered the next highest survey ratings. Rounding up the Magic 12 in the survey are former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (52.9%), reelectionists Migz Zubiri (50.3%) and Win Gatchalian (45.9%), former Vice President Jejomar Binay (44.5%), former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (40.4%), reelectionists Joel Villanueva (40.4%) and Risa Hontiveros (37.1%), actor Robin Padilla (35.9%), and former Senator JV Ejercito (35.9%). Pulse Asia said 2,400 individuals participated in the survey. Nope The trailer for Jordan Peeles next feature film has finally touched down (come on, it is Super Bowl Sunday after all). After giving a tiny preview of the film earlier last week, the director has shared the first full trailer for Nope, starring Steven Yeun, Daniel Kaluuya, and Keke Palmer. For the first chunk, the trailer focuses on Palmer as the heir to the only Black-owned ranch of horse trainers in Hollywood, with a legacy going back to the first-ever motion pictures. Its fun, its upbeat, Daniel Kaluuya is there being kind of snotty. Hey, maybe this will be a return of the Jordan Peele who wrote Keanu? Read more No, obviously. Things take a turn pretty quickly, with the power flickering out, weird lights appearing, and horses getting freaked out by something. We dont know what that something is, but involves some kind of phenomenon in the sky, like a weird cloud or maybe aliens. Steven Yeun shows up for a second, there appears to be a woman without lips, theres a chromed-out motorcyclist, and its all very strange and mysterious. Also: There certainly are a lot of those wacky waving inflatable flailing arm tube men whats that about? The full cast of Nope features Euphorias Barbie Ferreira, Michael Wincott, Donna Mills, and Terry Notary. Kaluuya previously worked with Peele on the Oscar-nominated Get Out, but everyone else in the cast are first timers. This is Peeles third time in the directors chair, with Nope serving as a follow-up to Get Out and Us. The director also helped pen the script for Nia DaCostas Candyman (2021), and like these three other films, Nope is expected to contain a mix of horror and social commentary. For Nope, Peele has teamed up with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema (Tenet, Interstellar), who shot some of the film in 65mm for IMAX. This means the film will be suited for an even bigger screen. Nope is set to arrive in theaters July 22. When it comes to shopping safely, there are so many things to consider in the days of COVID-19. When the pandemic first began in March 2020, masking up was the required protocol in most statesbut now, Walmart has lifted its restrictions on the practice for certain people. Keep reading to learn more about the policy change, and then check out 6 Things You'll See at Costco This Year. Mom and little boy buy fresh vegetable in grocery store. Family in shop. Right now, Walmart will not be requiring its vaccinated employees to wear masks while at work, unless required by local or state government. Walmart announced the new guidelines in a memo to staff on Friday, according to The New York Times. Employees unvaccinated from COVID-19, and those who work in the pharmacy, will be required to keep wearing a mask while at work. With this announcement also comes a change in Walmart's sick pay policy. Unless required by state or local government, the emergency sick pay policy the company had put in place for COVID-19 will end on March 31. The supermarket chain, which employs about 1.6 million Americans, was among the first private employers at the start of the pandemic to require its employees to wear masks. For several months last spring, the company eased restrictions for vaccinated workers and shoppers before reimposing it when the Delta variant came about. In December, as new Omicron cases began to surge, Walmart again required masks for all workers. Now, as many local and state governments begin to reanalyze their requirements, more stores may be following suit. For more Walmart news, check out Viral TikTok Reveals Walmart's New LookAnd It's A Shopper's Dream. Eat this, not that Sign up for our newsletter! Republican Rep. David Schweikert at a hearing on Capitol Hill on September 14, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Schweikert was fined $125,000 by the FEC for improper spending and misreporting of campaign funds. He was previously fined $50,000 in 2020 by the House Ethics Committee for the same issues. A staffer testified that Schweikert "did not want a whole bunch of dinners in DC showing up on his FECs." Republican Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona has agreed to pay a $125,000 fine related to repeated campaign finance violations he committed between 2010 and 2017, according to documents made public by the Federal Election Commission on Friday. The FEC found that Schweikert "knowingly and willfully" misreported who and for what his official funds were used and misused campaign funds for personal affairs. In July 2020, Schweikert was fined $50,000 by the House Ethics Committee for the same set of violations. The bipartisan panel found the congressman misused taxpayer funds for non-official purposes, pressured his congressional staff to perform campaign-related work, and exhibited a "lack of candor and due diligence" during that investigation. He admitted to 11 different violations of House rules, leading to a formal reprimand by voice vote the following month. Specifically, Schweikert failed to disclose at least $300,000 in loans or loan repayments to his campaign accounts, falsely reported other transactions, and paid $270,000 to a consulting firm operated by his chief of staff, Oliver Schwab, violating ethics rules that restrict outside income for senior congressional aides. At one point during the investigation, Schwab testified to investigators that Schweikert was "very adamant that he did not want a whole bunch of dinners in DC showing up on his FECs," directing Schwab to pay for those transactions personally and then charge Schweikert's campaign account for "consulting fees" to conceal the real purpose. All of that emerged after a 2017 opinion piece in the Washington Examiner accused Schwab of using taxpayer funds to support a lavish lifestyle, prompting a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics. Story continues Schweikert campaign committee spokesman Chris Baker blamed Schwab for the violations in a comment to Insider. "No one has been more directly harmed by the malfeasance of Congressman Schweikert's former Chief of Staff" than the campaign, he said in a statement. "While he has had no relationship or involvement with the campaign committee for several years now, we felt it was the right thing to self report his violations and enter into a conciliation agreement with the FEC." Schwab parted ways with Schweikert amid the ethics investigation in 2018. At the encouragement of OCE, Schweikert voluntarily disclosed the malfeasance specifically, submitting nearly $78,000 worth of insufficiently detailed spending reports and over $50,000 worth of transactions that listed the wrong recipient to the FEC in June of 2018. The commission ultimately voted 5-1 in August to find that Schweikert intentionally violated campaign finance laws, with Republican Commissioner Sean Cooksey the only dissenter. And last month, both Schweikert and Schwab entered into conciliation agreements with the commission, which the commission unanimously voted to approve. Schweikert's committee agreed to pay a $125,000 civil penalty and amend its prior reports, while Schwab agreed to pay $7,500 in fines. Read the original article on Business Insider Colombia has taken a step toward recovering a long-lost Spanish wreck and its fabled riches, but it may be a rough ride as Spain and native Bolivians have also staked claims to the booty. Maritime experts consider the wreck of the San Jose to be the "holy grail" of Spanish colonial shipwrecks. Long the daydream of treasure hunters worldwide, the wreck of the San Jose galleon was first located off Columbia's coast in 2015, but has been left untouched as the government determines rules for its recovery. Colombia was a colony of Spain when the San Jose was sunk, and gold from across South America, especially modern-day Peru and Bolivia, was stored in the fort of its coastal city, Cartagena, before being shipped back to Europe. This undated image made from a mosaic of photos taken by an autonomous underwater vehicle, released by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, shows the remains of the Spanish galleon San Jose, that went down off the Colombian Caribbean coast more than 300 years ago. / Credit: / AP The Colombian government considers the booty a "national treasure" and wants it to be displayed in a future museum to be built in Cartagena. According to a presidential decree released Thursday, companies or individuals interested in excavating the ship will have to sign a "contract" with the state and submit a detailed inventory of their finds to the government as well as plans for handling the goods. The uber-loot, which experts estimate to include at least 200 tons of gold, silver and emeralds, will be a point of pride for Colombia, Vice President and top diplomat Marta Lucia Ramirez said in a statement. The treasure could be worth billions of dollars if ever recovered. "The sums of wealth are invaluable, and the responsibility of the proteges has already been extracted, contributing to the history of Colombia, the Caribbean and the world," she said. Long the daydream of treasure hunters worldwide, the San Jose galleon was sunk by the British Navy on the night of June 7, 1708, off Cartagena de Indias. The San Jose was at the time carrying gold, silver and precious stones which were to be delivered from the Spanish colonies in Latin America to the court of King Philip V. Story continues Only a few of the San Jose's 600-member crew survived the wreck. The Spanish San Jose Galleon sunk in the Caribbean in 1708 after a battle with the British. / Credit: Samuel Scott "It makes it very touchy because one is not supposed to intervene in war graves," Justin Leidwanger, an archaeologist at Stanford University who studies ancient shipwrecks, told Live Science in 2015. "Can you pluck treasure off the seabed without disturbing a war grave? I doubt you can. But these are the sort of discussions that will be had." At the end of 2015, then-Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced the discovery of the exact location of the wreck, which was confirmed by the ship's unique bronze cannons with dolphin engravings. Colombia has said it will cost about $70 million to carry out a full salvage operation on the wreckage, which is at a depth of between 2,000 and 3,200 feet. Spain says the wreck is its own, as a ship of state; and an indigenous group in Bolivia, the Qhara Qhara, says the treasure belongs to them, since their ancestors were forced to mine it from what was in the 1500s the world's largest silver mine. Artifacts found in the wreckage of Spanish galleon San Jose are seen in this undated handout photo provided by the Colombian Ministry of Culture on December 5, 2015. / Credit: Colombian Ministry of Culture/Handout via Reuters What protests in Ottawa are like as Canadian police try to end border blockade Countdown to Super Bowl LVI U.S. orders embassy staff to leave Kyiv, Ukraine amid tensions with Russia When Taiwan auteur Chung Mong-hongs acclaimed drama A Sun became a hit among film critics and film buffs from around the world after Varietys chief film critic Peter Debruge named it the best film of 2020, it had reignited the hope and expectations of the islands cinematic offerings. The buzz and excitement were seen as what could be the beginning of a comeback of Taiwanese cinema on the international stage. Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. A Sun, and the directors follow-up feature, The Falls, which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (City of Sadness) and Edward Yang (Yi Yi). More from Variety There is certainly the bright side. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), a professional intermediary organization established in 2019 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture to promote the islands content industries locally and abroad, is still eager to present the islands latest offerings across international film festivals and markets, including this years virtual European Film Market at the Berlinale. Theres also a lot more Taiwanese content streaming on Netflix and other international or regional platforms than ever before, making it much more accessible to viewers abroad. Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. also announced that it would partner with Taiwans Activator to co-produce paranormal comedy Dead Talents Society, directed by John Hsu (Detention). However, as Chung predicted in an interview with Variety in September, the tide was not going to turn easily with the success of just a handful of films. And Taiwanese filmmakers, especially those from a younger generation, are still finding a balance between reaching a wider audience who may be culturally very different and maintaining a connection with local fans. Story continues The international exposure of The Sun has certainly helped to generate more buzz for Taiwanese cinema, and perhaps given investors a confidence boost in investing in Taiwan projects. But at the heart of the issue is quantity we need a high enough number of productions in order to make a difference, says Hung Tzu-Hsuan. He was nominated for the new helmer award at last years 58th Golden Horse Awards for his directorial debut, action drama The Scoundrels. The abundance of OTT platforms may have offered new opportunities for exposure of Taiwanese content, but at it has also done the same for other series and features, making it challenging for Taiwanese projects to be noticed, notes Clifford Miu, producer of family drama American Girl, winner of Golden Horse Audience Choice Award and the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festivals Fipresci prize last year. A greater diversity of genres could be an important factor for the future of Taiwanese cinema, says Hung, especially for filmmakers from a younger generation. Hung notes that among all the film genres, supernatural horror and romance are among the most developed, with a larger followers base, which made them easier to promote locally. But for other genres, its much harder, says Hung, who focuses on action thrillers. Nevertheless, Hung believes action thrillers have a chance to break out globally. His latest project is tentatively titled 96 Minutes, and follows a fictional tale about a bomb threat on a train ride from Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, to Kaohsiung, located in the southwest region of the island. And while it is supposed to be a genre film, at the heart of it is a story about human relations and emotions, he says, which can be understood by an international audience. To the Los Angeles-based Taiwanese American helmer Fiona Feng-i Roan, who won the new director award at last years Golden Horse Awards with American Girl, understanding the audience is key. We try to always keep an international audience in mind with each project, but we like to believe that any film with a universal theme and an emotional core will ultimately resonate with a global audience, she says. The appeal of certain stories largely depends on personal taste and can change over time. We cant speak for others, but wed ideally like to tell stories that are moving yet personal to us, she adds. Finding the right investors to work with would be another key issue, notes Miu. American Girl is backed by investors from around the region, including Hong Kongs Media Asia, Splash Pictures from Taiwan and GHY Culture and Media from Singapore, and having investors from different territories and regions can certainly help to boost the films exposure abroad. There are some benefits from having an international company to work with. You have to be clear what you are going for when you make your pitch, Miu says. However, he insisted that it was not a must to have overseas investors in order to court a films international exposure, as long as a story has universal appeal. After all, finding investors was never an easy task, he notes. Aiming to reach an audience abroad is certainly the way to go. A TAICCA report released last year showed that overseas revenue accounted for 39.7% of the domestic motion picture industrys total revenue in 2019. In addition to mainland China and Hong Kong, the United States and Southeast Asia are also among the major markets for Taiwan. International OTT platforms account for 12.24% of overseas licensing for domestic motion pictures in the same year, and this percentage was expected to be higher after 2019 amid an accelerating growth of international OTT platforms in the region. This is encouraging news to Hung, despite all the challenges. He sees himself standing at the forefront of what could be one of the greatest turning points for the art of filmmaking in history. With the rise of online streaming, we are living in a moment that is comparable to the times when we went from silent to sound movies, from black and white to color films. There are more opportunities to tell the stories I want to tell, stories that are original and emotionally connected with audiences, Hung says. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Erroll Royal can still remember the color of the car as it sped away, the racial slur its driver had just spit at him hanging in the air like condensed poison. He had come back to New Bern to visit his parents, on a break from college life in Raleigh. The guy was in a blue convertible and out of nowhere he said the N-word and I recall chasing him in my car," Royal recalled. "When I got home my mother said What would you have done if you had caught him? I didnt know. Though the incident took place more than 40 years ago, Royal can bring the image to the surface of his memory in an instant, a constant reminder that for all the progress on racial equality that this country has seen, the sometimes ugly past is never far behind. That truth has informed Royal throughout his life, leading him to chronicle the people, places and events that have impacted the Black community of his hometown throughout its history. New Bern native Erroll Royal will host a virtual program on Feb. 17 to discuss his book, "Traces of Places and Faces of African Americans from the New Bern Community." Royal spent two years researching and writing Pembroke: The Road Less Traveled, a historical account of the New Bern community, which was self published in 2020. His most recent book, Traces of Places and Faces of African Americans from the New Bern Community, chronicles past and present African Americans from New Bern who have made or continue to make significant contributions both locally and on a national level. The book also highlights some of New Berns historically important locations and events. More: Funeral home is oldest Black-owned business in Craven County More: New Bern's Michael Jordan chose a career in education over sports Royal will discuss the stories of those honored in his book during a Tryon Palace African American Lecture Series virtual program on Thursday, Feb. 17. The program will run from 7-8 p.m. The link for the virtual presentation is available by emailing krystal.eldred@ncdcr.gov or calling 252-639-3512. As examples of the residents featured in the book, Royal mentioned former New Bern Mayor Leander Morgan as well as Willie Mumford, the first Black female principal in Craven County. Story continues Also included is Royals fifth-grade teacher, Dorcas Carter, who taught at New Berns West Street Graded School, the first brick graded school for Black students in North Carolina. She was a real strict teacher but she was good, he recalled. If one of the kids misbehaved in class she would put us in a circle and one of the students would lead us in prayer for the other students. We had to do a lot of reading in class so that helped encourage me to be a writer. The book also details one of New Berns most devastating incidents, the Great Fire of December 1922. About 3,000 individuals suffered immensely during that devastation period, Royal said. Fort Bragg brought in some tents and a lot of those individuals had to set those up in cemeteries. Large families had to live in those tents during the summer and winter months and that lasted for about two years. It wasnt only African Americans who suffered but they were the majority. "Traces of Places and Faces of African Americans from the New Bern Community" by Erroll L. Royal Royal said he is currently working on a sequel to Traces of Places and Faces of African Americans from the New Bern Community to remember those who were not mentioned in that book. I left out a lot of individuals. A lot of people read the book and then they came forward and shared more information with me, Royal said. A personal history lesson After graduating from New Bern High School in 1973 Royal left to attend Shaw University in Raleigh, where he majored in education and psychology. He went on to study at N.C. Central University before earning his doctorate at Liberty University. He came back to New Bern in 2001 to care for his mother and took a job as an assistant principal at Bangert Elementary School. That was my most rewarding year as an educator. My mom passed away in 2002 so I stayed that year and then I came back to Raleigh and retired in 2005," Royal said. Royals birthplace, New Berns Good Shepherd Hospital, is highlighted in his book. It closed in 1963 when Blacks were able to go to Craven County Hospital. They closed it down and Good Shepherd stayed abandoned for several years before opening to an assisted living facility, he explained. Royal said he incorporated many of his own experiences, some of them dealing with segregation, into his book. There were restaurants and places where we had to go into the back door, we couldnt go in the front,' he recalled. "And some of the buildings downtown still had signs on the water fountains that said colored and white." Why its important to remember Many of the people and events featured in his new book have too often been overlooked, even among New Bern residents and educators, Royal believes. I think a lot of our children and adults too are suffering because they dont really know the history of New Bern. When I released my books I made it my business to travel to New Bern to personally present them to the library, Royal said. Royal believes there are a number of misconceptions about the role Black citizens have played in New Berns past. A lot of people dont realize that all African Americans were not poor in that era. They were affluent in real estate, in education, he commented. A lot of young people dont know that. I would tell them in order to understand whats going on now its imperative to understand your past. The history of Black Americans is important for all students to learn, Royal stressed. I dont think African American history has been fully accepted in the school system, a lot of parents are still fighting against knowing the truth of that, he commented. When we start teaching the truth to children I think they will have more respect for adults and the school system and the country, he added. I know we do children a disservice, because once they leave school and get into the real world they need to know the truth, they need to be able to think critically. Royal said he sees his excavation of New Berns past as a lifelong labor of love. The city has such a rich history. The more I read the more I want to learn." This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern's Black history comes alive in new book series From left, Leigh, Jason, Matt, and Steph Bekebrede pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Jason asked his brother Matt to accompany him on a date with Leigh, who in turn brought her sister Steph. In the end each brother married a sister. In 2007, Jason Bekebrede asked his brother Matt to be his wingman on a date. Jason was meeting Leigh, a blonde he had a crush on, at Springfield Brewing Company. He wanted me to come along, be his backup because he wasnt quite sure where things stood on his end, said Matt. Leigh Babbit asked her sister Steph to tag along, too. That night, Jason and Leigh hit it off. So did Matt and Steph. Ten months later, Jason and Leigh were engaged. But on New Years Eve 2008, Matt and Steph beat his brother and her sister to the altar. We proposed a double wedding, but Jason was definitely not for that, said Matt. By that point, Leigh and her mother were already planning a wedding. I was not going to ruffle any feathers, said Jason. He and Leigh were married the following May. The brothers served each served as best man at the other's wedding; the sisters traded maid of honor duties. Ever since that random summer night, theyve been building memories together. How they all crossed paths Steph and Leigh were raised in Kimberling City. Matt and Jason grew up in Waynesville but spent summers at Table Rock Lake visiting their grandparents in the sisters' hometown. My sister used to walk her grandmas dog. It is hard to believe we never met, Matt said. They briefly met in Springfield at Vino Cellars, which Matt owns. The sisters signed up for a wine tasting there and Steph told her sister she thought Matt was cute but that was the end of it. Then Steph and Jason met through a mutual friend and hung out in a group setting, so she got to know her future brother-in-law before her future husband. He kept talking about this blonde girl he liked, and it turned out to be my sister, Steph said. Eventually, their lives all intertwined. Jason and Leigh initially bonded over their professional backgrounds. With her background in title stuff and me being a builder, we started talking, said Jason. Jason, the older brother, owns Monticello Custom Homes & Remodeling. Story continues Leigh, the younger sister, was working as a real estate transactional paralegal, but her dad is a title agent. She is now real estate administrative manager with Jared Management. I like the passion he has for building. I love learning and he is always learning something new and striving to build the best stuff. I liked his creativity, Leigh said. At the time, Leigh had a pug that she adored. She was even throwing a birthday party for the dog. This was early in their dating stage when they were still getting to know each other. Jason made a comment about maybe we should get together and go to a dog park. He didnt have a dog, so he brought his brothers dog to the park, Leigh said. After that, they hung out again and again. He proposed to her at a house he was building on six acres where they would take her dog and let it run around. Jason was attracted to Leigh because of how much value she placed on family. Family is really important to her and I like that, he said. Both couples were raised in close families, and it was something they wanted for their future. More: How a former Ozarks educator made the switch from principal to online shopping influencer Leigh and Jason Bekebrede, top, along with Matt, and Steph Bekebrede pose for a photo on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Jason asked his brother Matt to accompany him on a date with Leigh who in turn brought her sister Steph. In the end each brother married a sister. Blending families and businesses It was those same values that bonded Steph and Matt. On one of their first dates, Matt and Steph went to Arris Pizza. I just remember when we left, sitting outside on the hood of the car and talking for hours, said Steph. They were both divorced. Matt had a child and Steph had two. Coming out of a divorce, it was nice to have someone who could relate. He didnt care that I had two kids, and that was a big deal because when youre divorced with two kids, you wonder if youll meet someone, Steph said. At that time, Steph worked for her family business and Matt had recently opened Vino Cellars. They also bonded over their love of the lake. Matt owned a boat, and to this day, when they arent working they are on the water. When it was time to get married, they tied the knot on the same property where Jason had proposed to Leigh in a different house. They got married at one of the houses I built, said Jason. They were looking for a small venue. We had not sold the house yet so we just offered if they wanted to do it there. A few years after they were married, Steph joined the business. They opened a second location, Vino Cellars at the Lake, which she runs. That spot used to be their hangout. Vino at the Lake used to be the Gourmet Grocer. When you have a ton of kids you feel guilty asking people to babysit, so wed go there as a family and have wine and cheese and talk about how if we owned this, what we would do with it, Steph said. One day when the owner wanted to sell, he approached them about buying. Working together has been great, said Matt. All spouses come home and talk about their day, but when youre invested in the same business you understand your partner. We brainstorm and bounce ideas off each other. We make a great team, said Matt. More: How a search for a lost sister and a DNA test led two Ozarks women to siblings they didn't know they had 'We understand how important family is' Jason and Leigh have an 8-year-old girl and 5-year-old boy. They live in Springfield and love to swim at Twin Oaks and spend time in their backyard. Steph and Matt have a blended family with five children who range in age from 24 to 12. People think its hilarious (that we married sisters), Jason said. They say, That makes the holidays easy. The two families used to spend more time with each other, but as the kids have gotten involved in activities, its a little harder. Still, they have many traditions. After Memorial Day, they pack up and head to Alabama for an annual summer trip. They take turns hosting Easter and Thanksgiving. Theyre together at Christmas. And family reunions. I always have my sister there. Our kids are close. Shes not just a sister, shes a friend, Steph said. The values that they were all attracted to that night have remained unchanged. The big thing for us is we both consider family to be the most important thing in our lives, said Leigh. We understood how important family is and the time you spend with it." This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Two brothers met two sisters: A story of love and blending families The following is a transcript of an interview with Dr. Scott Gottlieb that aired Sunday, February 13, 2022, on "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to former FDA commissioner and Pfizer board member Dr. Scott Gottlieb. Doctor, I have to say there was a lot of whiplash this week with the FDA and the Pfizer decision to hit the brakes on this vaccine for toddlers, for children ages four and younger. Now we have to wait until April for a decision. What happened? DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB: Yeah, there were no new safety issues coming out of the data set, the issue here is the ability for the FDA and for Pfizer to clearly define the level of efficacy that the vaccine is delivering. And what you have is a situation where the data sets continuing to evolve because we're still in the middle of this Omicron wave of infection, there still effect infections accruing on the patients in the clinical trial, both the patients who have been vaccinated and the patients who've been unvaccinated. And so, the data set is changing. And there was additional data that was submitted to the FDA late last week, on Thursday and Friday that changed the FDA's perception of the absolute efficacy of the vaccine. And given the fact that that is changing, that's evolving. New data is accruing. It's hard for the FDA to give its advisers a fixed snapshot of what the absolute efficacy is of this clinical trial, of the data set. And so, if they wait a little longer, if they administer the third dose in that clinical trial, they're not only going to have perhaps a better measure of effectiveness from this trial, but they'll also have a settled data set. They'll have a very firm picture of what- what level of effectiveness the vaccine is delivering, and that's important for patients and pediatricians to be able to make fully informed decisions because it's important to know that the vaccine is safe. But it's also important to know what the level of effectiveness that's delivering as well. Story continues MARGARET BRENNAN: It's whiplash in the meantime, as parents continue to wait. And then we also see, you know, in some areas of the country, like New Jersey, states lifting their mask requirements in schools. So should parents of children under the age of five keep their kids back- keep their kids masks in school? DR. GOTTLIEB: Look, I think there's portions of the population that are going to be in a very difficult spot right now because they remain vulnerable, one portion of the population are young children, parents who work who are at risk of bringing the infection back into the home with a child who's unvaccinated. Also, people who are older, who have comorbid conditions that put them at risk of COVID will continue to be vulnerable. But we're clearly shifting from a compact where there was a shared sense of sacrifice across the population generally to take certain measures to take certain mitigation, like wearing masks, like protecting congregate settings towards one where policymakers are clearly shifting the burden onto individuals to try to protect themselves based on their own measure of their risk and the risk of their environment. It's incumbent upon policymakers to give people the tools to do that, but there are pockets of society that don't have those tools, like young children don't have vaccines, so parents are in a difficult spot. They're going to continue to have to remain vigilant if they're concerned about the risk of infection, those young children. But this is clearly a trend right now across the country. MARGARET BRENNAN: Walmart, world's largest retailer, I mean, they set the tone for a lot of corporate America. They have decided to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated employees. You have this wave of Democratic governors, as you predicted lifting mask mandates. But the CDC and the president say it is too early. Is this just another round of the CDC being too slow or is everyone else moving too fast? DR. GOTTLIEB: Well, the CDC is setting a national standard and there's still parts of the country that have a lot of Omicron infection, not every part of the country is through this wave of the epidemic. Clearly, the Northeast is the mid-Atlantic, where cases are 20 cases per hundred thousand people per day. But when you look at states like Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, they're at about 100 cases, or Mississippi, there are about 100 cases per hundred thousand people per day. That's a pretty dense epidemic. So the CDC has a hard time setting a national standard across a very diverse experience with this- this virus. I think what you're going to see the CDC do, though, is come out with guidance that's more specific to communities. That's based on what the local prevalence is, and that's probably where they should have been all along. I think they're going to make that adaptation because there clearly are parts of the country where prevalence is low enough now and heading in a positive direction if they can start lifting this mitigation. MARGARET BRENNAN: One other question before I let you go, you tweeted this week that it's hard to believe in the middle of the worst public health crisis in modern times. Democrats are letting twist in the wind, their party's nominee for FDA chief. Why, more than a year into the administration do we not have a confirmed FDA commissioner? DR. GOTTLIEB: Well, look, I'm hoping Rob Califf, Dr. Rob Califf, will be confirmed this week is going to go before the Senate. I think he's an outstanding choice for the agency previously held that job, and I inherited the FDA from his leadership, so a lot of his policies and his team was what I inherited when I took over the agency. You know, there's different political reasons why senators have made an issue of his confirmation. One of them is the issue of opioids, which he's been very strong on advancing policies to help deal with the opioid epidemic. MARGARET BRENNAN: So well, it sounds like he has your endorsement there. Dr. Gottlieb, I have to leave it there and hit this break. Thank you so much. San Francisco Fed chief backs "measured" interest rate hike to fight inflation New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy explains decision to lift COVID-19 mask mandate CBS News poll: U.S. efforts on pandemic, economy are better, but not yet good This year's grapes came in smaller because of heat, but thats not necessarily a bad thing for wine, Yakima Valley growers said. The smaller grapes mean a greater concentration of flavor from the grapes. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) If he will be elected as president, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno vows to revive the countrys shoe industry by leading the national government in buying locally made shoes for public school students and government workers. "Bibilin ng gobyerno ang mga sapatos. 'Yung mga sapatos sa military, sa pulis dito galing lahat. Sana ganun na rin sa mga eskwelahan, sa government offices," Moreno said. [Translation: The government will buy the shoes. The shoes that will be used by the military and police must be all locally made. The same for the students and those working in government offices.] Moreno campaigned in Marikina City, the "Shoe Capital of the Philippines", earlier this week. He also visited one of the city's remaining shoe factories and took pride of the "durable, dependable, and comfortable" shoe products made in Marikina. The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer said reviving the local shoe industry is part of his 10-point Bilos Kilos Economic Agenda, with one of its aims is to support the micro, small, and medium enterprises in the country. RELATED: 'Life and livelihood' take center stage in Isko Moreno's economic agenda as president Moreno is running with Dr. Willie Ong as his vice presidential candidate and senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison. Murdered, missing and mysterious deaths of Indigenous girls and women on or near the Yakama Reservation and in urban areas: Submit An Obituary Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Go to form It is hard to understand the Supreme Courts ruling on Monday to reinstate a congressional district map drawn by the Alabama Legislature as anything other than an effort by the conservative justices to help Republicans in the midterms. In a 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the three liberal justices in dissent, the court ignored basic principles of law and essentially gave the Republicans another House seat. A federal three-judge district court in Alabama (with two Trump appointees and one Clinton appointee), after hearing seven days of testimony and reading more than 1,000 pages of briefs, concluded that the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. That provision prohibits state and local governments from having election systems that discriminate against minority voters. Alabamas population is 27% Black, but under the map drawn in November, Black voters have the power to elect their preferred candidates in only one of the states seven congressional districts. The district court found that the Republican-controlled Legislature could have and should have created a second district with a majority of Black voters. The court then ordered the Legislature to submit new maps by this week or it would appoint an independent expert to do so. Not one of the nine justices denied the discriminatory effect of the Alabama Legislatures redistricting. Nor did any of the justices claim that the district court misapplied the law in finding a violation of the Voting Rights Act. As Roberts explained in his dissent, the district courts ruling contained no errors for correction. In such cases, there is no reason to stay the district courts ruling because theres no likelihood that the ruling would be reversed. Why then did the Supreme Court stay the district court order and allow the Alabama Legislatures discriminatory map to go into effect? Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, in an opinion defending the move, speciously claimed that it was inappropriate to change the rules so soon before an election. But the Legislatures map was created in November, taking the lawmakers less than a week to draw up the plan, and civil rights advocates filed a lawsuit challenging it within hours of its enactment. This is not a situation where the federal court was acting days or even weeks before the election. The Alabama primary is not until May and the general election is not until November. Kavanaughs argument would make challenges to discriminatory voting districts nearly impossible, at least for the first congressional election after redistricting. New districts cannot be drawn until after the decennial census. If a legislature just delays redistricting long enough, then no federal court can step in to cure the discrimination before the next election. Under Kavanaughs reasoning, if Alabama drew districts that would have made it unlikely that any Black representative could have been elected, there still could be no remedy. Mondays ruling means that a map, clearly violating the Voting Rights Act, will be used in this years congressional primary and general election. This case should be seen as a continuation of conservative efforts to gut the Voting Rights Act. In 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder, the court, in a 5-4 decision, declared unconstitutional the provisions of the law that required that jurisdictions with a history of race discrimination get preapproval from the U.S. attorney general, called preclearance, before enacting significant changes in their election systems. Immediately after that decision, states such as Texas and North Carolina put into place discriminatory laws that had earlier been denied preclearance because of their discriminatory effects against voters of color. In July 2021, in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the court, again divided along ideological lines, made it much more difficult to challenge state election laws, even if they clearly have discriminatory effects on voters of color. Now it appears that the conservatives are ready to limit the use of the Voting Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in redistricting. It is surely not coincidental that all of these rulings by Republican-appointed justices help Republicans in elections and hurt Democrats. As Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her dissent, this ruling allows to stand a violation of a law this Court once knew to buttress all of American democracy. Time and again, the courts conservatives have shown that they are perfectly willing to ignore this principle. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. (CNN) A 5,000-year-old chalk drum will go on public display for the first time next week, more than six years after it was first uncovered by archaeologists in England. The object was discovered alongside the burial of three children and has been billed "the most important piece of prehistoric art to be found in Britain in the last 100 years," in a press release by the British Museum, who will unveil it next week as part of the "World of Stonehenge" exhibition. First discovered by independent company Allen Archaeology during a routine excavation at the village of Burton Agnes in Yorkshire in 2015, the drum has since been the subject of significant research and conservation work. Despite its name, the object is not thought to be a musical instrument but rather a piece of sculptural art. Project curator for the British Museum's exhibition, Jennifer Wexler, told CNN that the find was particularly remarkable in the context of three similar drums first discovered in the village of Folkton around 15 miles from Burton Agnes in 1889. "This drum is particularly intriguing, because it basically encompasses a sort of artistic language that we see throughout the British Isles at this time, and we're talking 5,000 years ago," Wexler told CNN. The Burton Agnes drum has a "solar cross" on its top, and Wexler said the drum features "all these ideas that we're seeing across the board, but in one really amazing object" -- decorated with motifs resembling others seen in Scotland and Ireland. "Because of this new discovery, we're actually able to date the skeletons with carbon-14 dating (also known as radiocarbon dating)," Wexler told CNN. "So what we have found out is that these style drums are 500 years older than we thought, which is amazing." The museum said the Folkton drums were previously believed to date to 2500-2000 BC, but radiocarbon dating from the Burton Agnes children showed a date of 3005-2890 BC, around the same time as initial construction of British monument Stonehenge. Wexler said the children's skeletons will also undergo DNA analysis, which will be used to work out their relationship. She said they were of varying ages, with the eldest aged 10-12, while the younger ones were between six and nine years old and between three and five years old. They were found placed in the grave with the eldest holding the two younger ones, who were holding hands, and Wexler said the drum could have served as a toy for the children, and that there could have been wood versions that did not survive over time. The museum said the drum was found above the head of the eldest child and included three "hastily added holes, perhaps marking the presence of the three bodies in the grave." A chalk ball and a polished bone pin were also found in the grave. The rarity of the drum is particularly notable, with Wexler saying that even burials were rare at the time and usually reserved for children and the museum said it was "one of the most elaborately decorated objects of this period found anywhere in Britain and Ireland." This story was first published on CNN.com "Ancient drum found in children's grave billed 'most important' piece of prehistoric art in 100 years" An Illinois woman held hostage in her home was rescued after her daughter noticed she had not sent her Wordle score and alerted local authorities. The woman, 80-year-old Denyse Holt, told CNN affiliate WBBM that a naked man entered her Lincolnwood home, dragged her around the house, disconnected phone lines, and eventually barricaded her into a bathroom, where she stayed for about 17 hours. "I didn't think I was going to live," she told the station. Lincolnwood police officers went to check on the homeowner Sunday night after receiving a call from her concerned daughter who hadn't heard from her, the police department said in a news release. The village of Lincolnwood is about 15 miles northwest of Chicago. Her daughter, who was in Seattle, told the station she noticed her mother was not reading her texts and had not sent her usual Wordle updates. "I didn't send my older daughter a Wordle (score) in the morning and that was disconcerting to her," Holt told WBBM. Responding officers saw a broken window in the home and eventually located the homeowner held in the basement, the news release said. Officers determined she was not physically hurt, it added. They found the suspect on the second floor of the home armed with several knives and, after attempting to arrest him, called for more forces to help take him into custody, the release said. The suspect was taken into custody early Monday morning and transferred to a local hospital for medical treatment. Police said the suspect likely took his clothes off earlier Sunday during what investigators believe was a mental health crisis, before breaking into the home. "The subject then awoke the victim armed with scissors and demanded the victim provide him assistance. The subject threatened the victim and collected all telephones/cell phones within the residence to disable the ability for the victim to communicate with anyone," the news release said. "The subject also placed the victim in the basement bathroom securing the door with a chair." The suspect was charged with multiple felonies, including home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault against a peace officer. Investigators believe the victim and the suspect had no previous contacts and were not connected in any way, according to the release. *** CNN's Joe Sutton and Kara Devlin contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Honda has revealed the updated 2022 Honda CB500X and it comes with a few major updates. Compared to its predecessor, the 2022 Honda CB500X comes with better suspension and braking hardware. The updated CB500X has 41mm upside-down Showa forks, which, while not adjustable, are a substantial improvement over the bike's previous telescopic forks. The new wheels, made of cast aluminium, are lighter than before. Other changes are the updated breaking system. Dual 296mm discs with twin-piston Nissin callipers replace the 310mm disc. The adventure-tourer is now also available in two new colours, Organic Pearl Green and Black. Furthermore, the CB500X is equipped with a negative LCD instrument cluster that includes speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, dual trip meters, gear position indicator and gear shift indicator. Read also: This modified Royal Enfield Classic 500 gives Cafe Racer vibe, check pics Powering the bike is the same 471cc parallel-twin engine that generates 47.6hp and 43.2Nm of torque and is mated to a 6-speed transmission. For now, the previous version of the adventure-tourer is priced at Rs 6.88 lakhs (ex-showroom). Honda is expected to release the updated CB500X in India shortly. Live TV #mute As part of Bajaj's scooter line-up, the Chetak is back, but this time it's electric. Electric Chetak's era has completely changed from when it was the Bajaj Chetak and people had to wait days for it to be available. Rahul Bajaj, the company's chairman from 1965 to 2005, introduced the Chetak scooter under his leadership. The Chetak was inspired by Vespa's Sprint 33 years ago, with which Bajaj Auto had a technical collaboration. After 33 years of production run, Chetak was phased out. Following this, Bajaj Auto began making motorcycles as a business. Bajaj Chetak changed the landscape of Indias two-wheeler industry. Heres all you need to know about the Chetak. Bajaj Chetaks name Bajaj Chetak was named after a horse that Maharana Pratap rode during the Battle of Haldighati in the 16th century. According to Bajaj, this contributed to the model's success, as the catchphrase 'Our Bajaj' always seems to be on the tongues of people. The Chetak was so popular that its showroom price nearly doubled in the market! During the License Raj period (1951-1991) in the country, manufacturers were not allowed to increase production of Chetak at their own discretion, increasing the waiting period from 5 to 10 years. Read also: Rahul Bajaj: A look at the timeline of India's top industrialist - From Harvard to Rajya Sabha Bajaj Chetak's waiting period During that time period, Bajaj Auto had around 600 dealers in India, and it was the biggest two-wheeler manufacturer in the country. The only other thing he remembers having an 8- or 10-year delivery period was the Padmini car. Bajaj Auto was described as the world's largest scooter manufacturer in an advertisement at the time. There was also a bold mention of 'no waiting' for the Chetak. Bajaj Chetaks popularity Bajaj Auto was able to enhance its image and a large number of customers could buy Chetak, affirms former Nissan India managing director and Bajaj Auto executive, Arun Malhotra. "We delivered 500 Chetaks in a day to the customers," he claims. Despite its popularity across the country, the Chetak was most popular in Delhi, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Chetak contributed nearly half of Bajaj Auto's scooter sales, which reached around 70,000 units on a monthly basis. Super and Priya were its other scooter brands. They were both associated with Maharashtra Scooters Company, which was then owned by Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Chetaks decline In India, the scooter market enjoyed a golden era from 1995 to 1998. In 1998, scooters accounted for 75 percent of the two-wheeler industry's annual sales. This period saw Bajaj Auto have a market share of around 60 percent. The scooter market slowly began to decline at that time. With the liberalization of 1991, modern designs and technologies began to emerge, especially in some Japanese motorcycles. The price increase of petrol and increasing acceptance of motorcycles in rural areas also contributed to the rise in demand for the bikes. Bajaj Auto's business strategy then changed, giving birth to its first independently developed motorcycle, the Pulsar Bajaj Chetak electric scooter As e-mobility becomes increasingly popular throughout the world and scooters drive India's new age EV market, Bajaj Auto returns to the scooter market. This time it wants to distinguish itself as Chetak and not Bajaj Chetak (no Bajaj branding on the electric scooter). Upon learning of Chetak's reincarnation, an industry veteran, "I am very happy. I congratulate Rajiv Bajaj and his team on creating one of the best electric scooters." Live TV #mute Mumbai: Bollywood actor Kangna Ranaut, who is well-known for her outspoken personality on social media, has apparently taken a veiled dig at Deepika Padukones recently released film Gehraiyaan. Kangana compared the recently released film to pornography and said it lacked depth (which indeed is the meaning of the films title). Taking to her Instagram handle on Saturday (February 13), the Queen actor wrote, "I am also a millennial but I identify and understand this kind of romance...in the name of millennial/new age/urban movies don`t sell trash pls...bad movies are bad movies no amount of skin show or pornography can save it ...it`s a basic fact koi gehraiyaan wali baat nahi hai". Along with it, she shared a video clip from the 1965 film Himalay Ki God Mein. Meanwhile, other actors such as Yami Gautam and Sanya Malhotra have showered praises for Gehraiyaan on social media. Helmed by Shakun Batra, the movie explores the complex subject of infidelity. Actors Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Dhairya Karwa are also a part of Gehraiyaan. The film, bankrolled by Karan Johars Dharma Productions, was released on February 11 on Amazon Prime Video. New Delhi: The government's 5 percent equity holding in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) would be sold in the upcoming IPO, according to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) submitted with capital markets regulator SEBI today. According to the DRHP, the government would sell 316 million equity shares to investors through the IPO, out of a total of 6.32 billion equity shares available. The LIC's DRHP has set the stage for the country's largest public offering. The LIC initial public offering (IPO) will be wholly an offer for sale (OFS) by the promoter, the Government of India. The government plans to sell 316,249,885 equity shares with a face value of Rs 10 each in a public offering that will take place before the end of the current fiscal year in March. A week ago, the LIC's embedded value was set at more than Rs 5 lakh crore. Because there will be no new issue of equity shares, the profits of the LIC share sale will go to the Government of India, and the insurance business will not get any revenues from the all-OFS IPO. The public offering could help the government meet its lowered divestment objective of Rs 78,000 crore, down from Rs 1.75 lakh crore previously. The government has raised Rs 12,000 crore from divestment receipts so far this fiscal year. LIC is currently owned entirely by the Indian government. LIC is a state-owned insurance colossus that controls a sizable chunk of the market. Live TV #mute Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's son, Arjun Tendulkar was signed by the Mumbai Indians for Rs 30 lakhs on Day 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 Mega Auctions. Arjun will once again join the Mumbai Indians side where he was in-touch with the team as a net bowler for few years and has also travelled to UAE for the 2020 IPL. Arjun's father couldn't join him during the Mumbai Indians camp in UAE (IPL 2020). Sachin Tendulkar had contracted Covid-19 at the time, but this time he can show his progress to one of the greatest person to play the sport. The 22-year-old received a bid from new franchise Gujarat Titans but Mumbai Indians made the him their final pick of the day. There would a hint of pressure on Arjun if he gets a chance to play against some of the best players in the world, but experience is something which will surely help him for the future. Currently, Arjun is uncapped in the IPL but has played 2 T20s for the Mumbai state team and is also a part of Mumbai's Ranjhy trophy team. Speaking about pacers, MI also signed England fast-bowler Jofra Archer although he is confirmed to miss this season's tournamnet and Mumbai are not allowed to pick any other replacement for him. Mumbai Indians spent Rs 8 crore to bring him in after battling with Rajasthan Royals from the other end looking to re-sign their bowler who was with them during the 2020 IPL. Sara Tendulkar posted on her story a congratulatory tweet for brother Arjun. Here's a Twitter user putting her Insta story here: In her story, she shared the MI post which stated that Arjun has been bought for Rs 30 lakh. She pasted four blue hearts as well. New Delhi: The government is working to tighten the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme as "tremendous leakages" have been noticed in the flagship rural jobs programme for the past two years, a top official said. The Centre has allocated Rs 73,000 crore for 2022-23, which is 25 per cent lower than the Rs 98,000 crore provided in the revised estimate (RE) for the current fiscal. The allocation for the next fiscal is same as was budget estimate (BE) for the current fiscal, which will end in March 2022. The official said in the last two years, the RE has been higher than the BE significantly and it has been noticed that tremendous leakages are going on and middlemen are taking money for enrolling names of beneficiaries under the scheme. "Direct Benefit Transfer has succeeded in reaching money directly to the person, but still there are human systems... . There are middlemen who are telling the people that I will put your name in the MGNREGA master roll, but you will have to withdraw cash and give me after you get the DBT transfer. It is happening in a big way," the official told PTI. "It is a recent phenomenon in the last two years. So much money has flown that there is now a temptation to grab the money deceitfully. The Ministry of Rural Development will tighten it," he added. Explaining the modus operandi, the official further said that the arrangement between the beneficiary and the middlemen is that since the beneficiary is giving some share to the middleman he would not even go for work and hence no work is taking place. "The government has been very liberal in allocating MNREGA funds in the last two years. We put in Rs 1.11 lakh crore in 2020-21. It used to be Rs 35,000 crore in 2014-15, the official said. During the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when the scheme was ramped up and given its highest-ever budget of Rs 1.11 lakh crore, higher than the budget estimate of Rs 61,500 crore. For the next financial year, the budget allocation is Rs 73,000 crore, while the revised estimates for the current fiscal pegs the expenditure at Rs 98,000 crore. Also Read: Aadhaar Card Update: Heres how to change address on Aadhaar online MGNREGA is aimed at enhancing livelihood security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Also Read: Aadhaar Card Update: Want to change or update phone number on Aadhaar? Here's how to do it Live TV #mute The Indian economy is the sixth-largest economy in the world, however, its employment rate had further declined to 6.57% in January 2022. It forms a clear picture that we need a better approach to tackle these issues. And JR Compliance came up with a preeminent solution to this issue - Corporate compliance which will allow businesses to comply with the rules and regulations. Though, Corporate compliance and a solution to unemployment, how are these related? Lets hear, how Rishikesh Mishra put it together. Rishikesh Mishra, founder, and CEO of JR Compliance has put it together by saying, Corporate compliance and economic development go hand to hand. Thats seamless to understand as global leaders like USA and China are the largest industrial players which means low unemployment rate and high economic development. And if we apply this equation in our country then we have far to go. To make his point clear, he gave an example by saying, when a company registers itself it will not only avail a certificate of incorporation but it follows with easy access to loan, filing government tenders, trustworthiness, and credibility. While these mentioned benefits are not only applicable on the existing companies but also on a new company. He further explains, if a company can easily access loans, be it new or existing - it will be able to expand and diversify a business - that further will result in employment generation. Well, the equation put together by Mr. Rishikesh Mishra is quite logical and understandable, yet, we wanted to know how can seamless corporate compliance be achieved? He further explained - To achieve this, JR Compliance has come up with a robust platform which will allow existing or new companies to comply with the corporate compliance just with a click, be it company registration or tax and auditing. The concerned people just have to submit the required information and documents - and other legal aspects will be taken care of by them. Moreover, this platform has been designed with the motive to provide high satisfactory corporate compliance services with utmost ease. This robust platform will not only emphasize on filing applications or making payments, but it will also allow the users to track their application status and to conduct follow-ups. Therefore, it will fasten the process and will possibly eliminate all the issues. A combination of high-quality services and technology is a solution to give a kick-start to your company - be it Proprietorship, Private limited company, Partnership firm, LLP, OPC, and other tax and auditing requirements like GST/ TDS filing, ITR filing, GST return filing, Annual return filing, and more - an anticipated platform will be ready for that. This solution proposed by JR Compliance is certainly going to give them an edge over their competitors through resolving the problems of their clients, be it filing of applications or tracking application status - a seamless solution for their clients requirements or queries will be resolved with a click. New Delhi: Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday said the labour ministry will reconsider building new hospitals by Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on the basis of distance and numbers of insured persons. Yadav stated this after he laid down the foundation stone of a 500 bed-hospital of ESIC in Manesar, Haryana, on Sunday, a labour ministry statement said. Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameshwar Teli, Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and other dignitaries were also present. "Ministry of Labour and Employment will reconsider the mandate of distance and number of insured persons (IPs) to establish new dispensary or hospital under ESIC, following Prime Ministers vision to serve the poor people on priority," Yadav said. Further, he announced the adoption of equal pay scale policy for doctors of central- and state-supported ESIC hospitals and dispensaries. Keeping the need of nursing staff in ESIC Hospitals, the minister announced to open a nursing college in Manesar. The announcement was welcomed by the Haryana chief minister with the commitment of providing 5-acre land for this nursing college. Yadav told that another medical college under ESIC will be established in Alwar. The minister told that ESIC hospitals will be equipped for the treatment of job or profession-borne diseases. Yadav said that 25 crore E-Shram Cards have been made within 4 months to ensure the Bima for kamgars. He told that a survey of migratory and domestic worker has been started on the instruction of Prime Minister to assess their conditions. The hospital at Manesar will be built on an 8-acre area at the cost of Rs 500 crore. Around six lakh workers from Gurugram and neighbouring districts of Mahendragarh, Nuh and Rewari will get treatment facility through this hospital. The workers and other citizens will also get treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in this hospital. This ESIC hospital will have emergency, OPD, ICU, Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Orthopaedic and Cancer treatment facilities. Blood bank will also be established in the hospital. Yadav also announced an open competition for students of Architecture to prepare the design of this Manesar ESIC hospital and declared cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs for first prize, Rs 1.5 lakhs for Second Prize and Rs 1 lakh for third prize. Sanction letters to the kins of Corona-deceased persons, E-Shram Cards, payment under EDLI (employees deposit linked insurance) Scheme were also distributed in the programme. Live TV #mute (CNN) -- National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the United States believes Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine this week, but is still holding out hope diplomacy can prevail. Sullivan told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that Russian forces are in a place where an invasion could take place before the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which end on February 20. He said, "A major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day now." "The way they have built up their forces, the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility there will be major military action very soon," Sullivan said. "And we are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed." Sullivan was speaking a day after President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of "swift and severe costs" if he were to order an invasion of Ukraine. 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. The US on Saturday moved some of its forces out of Ukraine and ordered the evacuation of most of its embassy staff from Ukraine. Sullivan on Friday had warned Americans in Ukraine to leave and that military action could begin with an aerial bombardment that could kill civilians. He reiterated those calls to Tapper, saying that a military attack would likely begin with missile and bomb attacks. "Those are never as precise as the army -- any army -- would like them to be. We don't even know how precise the Russian army would like them to be," Sullivan said. "Innocent civilians could be killed regardless of their nationality. It would then be followed by an onslaught of a ground force moving across the Ukrainian frontier. Again, where innocent civilians could get caught in the cross fire or trapped in places they could not move from. So that is why we are being so clear and direct to American citizens that while commercial transport options are still available, they should take advantage of them." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Biden's national security adviser says Russia could invade Ukraine 'any day now'" New Delhi: After Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan's appearance at the IPL 2022 auction at Bengaluru made headlines, fans have noticed that the star kid attended the auction in his dad's Dolce & Gabbana black blazer. A few fans took to Twitter to share a picture of Aryan Khan in the blazer and dug up an old picture of SRK in the same blazer. They were pleasantly surprised to know that Aryan Khan may have raided his father's wardrobe to dress up for his first public appearance after his arrest and bail in a drugs case last year. Take a look at the tweets: This year, the IPL mega auction is taking place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. A total of 590 players -- 370 Indians and 220 overseas can be bought for the Indian Premier League. IPL mega auction 2022 marks Aryan Khans first public appearance after he was held by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in jail for 25 day last year in an alleged drugs on cruise case in October. The star kid was later granted bail by the Bombay High Court. Aden: Five staff members of the United Nations Organization were kidnapped in Yemen`s turbulent southern province of Abyan, a UN official confirmed on Saturday. (February 12) Russell Geekie, the Senior Communications Advisor to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said "the UN staff members were on the way back to Aden after having completed a field mission", Xinhua news agency reported. "The United Nations is in close contact with the authorities to secure their release," he said. Meanwhile, local media outlets reported that unknown gunmen believed to be members of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch intercepted a UN vehicle in Mudiyah district, east of Abyan province. The gunmen kidnapped several UN workers and took them to an unknown location, according to the reports. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, which mostly operates in eastern and southern provinces, has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against security forces in the country in the past. The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia to expand its presence in some key areas of the war-ravaged Arab country. A Saudi-led military coalition has also been fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen since 2015. The coalition intervened in Yemen`s civil war in 2015 after the Houthis ousted the government from the capital, Sanaa. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, causing a dire humanitarian crisis. Live TV Speaking on the issue of ongoing hijab controversy, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi today said that "a girl wearing hijab" will become country's Prime Minister one day. "If a girl tells her parents that she wants to wear hijab, the parents will always back her. They'll say that they are there to protect their right," Asaduddin Owaisi said. "They will go to college wearing hijab, they will become doctor, collector SDM," Owaisi said, adding, "And remember my words, I might not be here, but a Hijab wearing woman would become the Prime Minister of this country one day". The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief said this in a video he posted his official Twitter handle. Owaisi and his party have been at the forefront of hijab row. On Friday, AIMIM had put up banners in Maharashtra in support of hijab for Muslim students. Owaisi had also lauded Karnataka girl Muskan Khan's hijab incident as an "act of fearlessness has become a source of courage for all". "Spoke to Muskan and her family on call. Prayed for her to remain steadfast in her commitment to education while also exercising her freedom of religion and choice," Owaisi posted on his Twitter handle. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (February 13) in Patiala urged the people of Punjab to give a chance to PM Modi and the BJP govt in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls. Promising a drug-free Punjab Shah said, "We will eradicate drugs from Punjab. Our goal is to make Punjab drug free." "I want you to choose a govt that will work together with the Centre for the development of Punjab," added Shah. Addressing the public in Ludhiana, Shah promised Narcotics Control Bureau branch offices in 4 cities of the state. "On forming govt in Punjab, we will establish Narcotics Control Bureau branch offices in 4 cities of the state. For drug prevention, we'll form a task force in every district of the state," said Amit Shah. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. Lalkaun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party, stating the ruling party is weakening 125 crore people in the name of nationalism. Rawat also said that Congress will stick to its manifesto and work for the development of Uttarakhand. Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, "The BJP is weakening 125 crore people in the name of nationalism. We will focus on what we have announced in our manifesto. My track record is to work for the betterment of Uttarakhand." Rawat exuded confidence that the people will vote out the BJP in Uttarakhand. "This time, they (BJP) have to run from here," senior Congress leader added. Rawat is in the electoral fray from the Lalkuwa Assembly seat in the Uttarakhand Assembly elections, which will go to polls on Monday. However, Congress had announced a change of seats of the party`s campaign committee chairman Rawat and four other leaders in its third list. The change has been done after the crisis within the party due to infighting among the leaders, as one of the working presidents of Uttarakhand Congress Ranjeet Rawat was uncomfortable with the Candidature of Harish Rawat from the Ramnagar Assembly Constituency. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Live TV New Delhi: PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday (February 13) said, "I fear BJP won't stop at Hijab. They will come for other symbols of Muslims and erase all." "For Indian Muslims it is not enough to be an Indian, they have to be BJP as well," added Mufti. Mehbooba Mufti's scathing attack on the saffron party comes after the Hijab row in Karnataka's Udupi where students were not allowed to entre the college for not following the dress code and wearing the Hijab. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the Hijab row, on Thursday (February 10) restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom. Live TV Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "Modiji! Is this our Indian culture? Is this what has been taught in Vedas, Mahabharat, Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita? I am asking BJP National President Naddaji. Is it our culture?" he asked, referring to Sarma's comments. Seeking the dismissal of Assam CM Sarma, Rao said,"... Can a Chief Minister talk like this? There are limits. Are you egoistic? Doing tamasha? You think people will remain silent?" KCR's attack comes a day after Sarma had slammed Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike launched by the Indian Army against terrorist camps in PoK, and questioning the efficacy of the anti-Covid-19 vaccines, during a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand. The Assam CM had sought to know whether the BJP had ever demanded proof of him being the "son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi". ALSO READ | 'Rahul Gandhi is modern-day Jinnah': Himanta Biswa Sarma mounts attack The remarks drew sharp criticism from the Congress party. Targetting the BJP over Sarma's comments, Rao asked, "Is it BJP's culture? Is it Hindu Dharm and Indian culture? As an Indian, I am demanding an answer. I feel ashamed. This does not bring glory to our country. Do you think we will keep quiet with folded hands?" On the "Hijab row" in Karnataka, he said if the peaceful atmosphere of the country is disturbed, no investments will come nor will employment opportunities be created. Indian silicon valley turning into 'Kashmir valley' due to Karnataka hijab row "What is happening in Karnataka? .... Bengaluru, the Indian Silicon valley is being turned into Kashmir valley with religious fanaticism... If the eco and peace fabric of the country is ruined, who will come forward to invest and create employment opportunities," he said. Live TV New Delhi: Denying rumours of a rift with Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday (February 13) said she can sacrifice her life for her brother. "I can sacrifice my life for my brother and he can give his life for me, so where is the difference, IANS quoted Vadra as saying. The Congress General Secretary was replying to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths comments on alleged differences between the Gandhi siblings. Attacking the UP CM, she cheekily said, Yogiji must be talking of BJP and the rift between him, Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah. I can sacrifice my life for my brother (Rahul Gandhi) and even he can do the same for me. There is conflict in BJP, not in Congress. Yogi Ji, Modi Ji and Amit Shah might have a conflict of interest: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra pic.twitter.com/JTAUr3rr6L ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2022 Priyanka Vadra has been at the forefront of election campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and leading partys initiatives like Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon in the crucial state. Meanwhile, Vadra is campaigning in Punjab today where she will address three rallies in support of the Congress candidates. While speaking at the "Navi Soch, Nava Punjab" public meeting in Kotkapura, the Congress leader also took a veiled swipe at former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and claimed his government was being controlled by the BJP in Delhi and hence, he had to be replaced. "That government stopped running from Punjab. That government started being run from Delhi and that too not by the Congress but by the BJP and the BJP-led government, she alleged. Punjab will vote in a single phase election on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday (February 12) got a clean chit in the illegal sand mining investigation by the Ropar district administration and the police, reported ANI. Soon after getting exonerated, Channi launched an attack and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) team including the partys Punjab co-in-charge Raghav Chadha, who carried out a love raid in Channis constituency and alleged his involvement in the illegal sand mining in his area. Calling Kejriwal a liar, Channi said, They tried levelling several allegations against me, but none were true...They complained to the Governor (against me), he ordered an inquiry. Truth prevails. The Punjab CM has also compared AAP leaders to the British, who had come to loot the state and the country. "British had come to loot India, likewise, Kejriwal and his Delhi family such as Raghav Chadha and other outsiders have come to loot Punjab. But Punjab will show them their place as it did to Mughals, British," Channi said. Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Channi said that the government is "not formed on the basis of lies. Illegal mining case After AAP state co-in-charge Raghav Chadha had submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit, demanding an inquiry into Channi`s alleged role in illegal mining at Jindapur village near Chamkaur Sahib, the Governor had asked the DGP to probe the matter. Last month Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized more than Rs 10 crore, gold worth above 21 lakh and a Rolex watch worth Rs 12 lakh from the residential premises of Channi`s nephew Bhupinder Singh Honey. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, Congress won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. Live TV New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to the people of Goa and Uttarakhand to vote for his `new` party, a day ahead of Assembly elections, promising to deliver welfare and development-related work. Speaking to ANI, Kejriwal said, "In Uttarakhand, Congress and BJP ruled for 10 years each. In Goa, Congress was in power for 27 years while BJP for 15 years. "Both Congress and BJP have only looted the people of Goa and Uttarakhand. If you vote for them again, they will continue looting you. This time a new party-AAP is there. We will deliver on welfare, development-related works. Give AAP a chance," Kejriwal added. Citing development works done in Delhi in various sectors including education, health and power, Kejriwal promised to deliver the same in both the states, if voted to power. In Uttarakhand, Kejriwal promised to establish healthcare services and schools in all villages of the hilly state. He also assured that if his party forms the government in the state, they would increase employment opportunities to halt the migration of youth from the state in search of jobs. "To the people of Uttarakhand, I want to say that AAP will bring adequate employment opportunities so that migration stops. We will generate jobs that will be sufficient for the youth living here and the ones who have migrated...We aim to bring all of them back," he said. Similarly in Goa, besides schools, hospitals and increasing employment opportunities, Kejriwal said that his party will begin mining within six months, give land rights and promote tourism. "AAP is promising the people of Goa that we will begin mining in 6 months (after coming to power, if elected)...Mining stopped for 10 years under the BJP government, so no point in voting for them. Vote for AAP, give us a chance," the AAP national convener said. Heaping praises for Chief Ministerial candidate in Goa, Amit Palekar, Kejriwal said that he is an "honest man" and does not involve in corruption. For the party`s Uttarakhand CM candidate, Col (Retd) Ajay Kothiyal, Kejriwal said that after retirement, Kothiyal trained 10,000 children and got them admitted to the Amry. Taking a dig at Congress, he said that those not in favour of the BJP should vote for AAP as all Congress leaders will join BJP after the results. After results are announced on March 10, by March 11 all from Congress will join BJP. So I appeal to the people of Goa who want to see the BJP lose, don`t vote for Congress. Their vote will go wasted, it will go to the BJP Give all your votes to AAP," he said. Kejriwal also urged the voters to bring AAP to power with a full majority. Elections to 40 assembly constituencies in Goa and 70 assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand will take place on February 14. Live TV (CNN) Canadian police on Saturday attempted to clear protesters from the Ambassador Bridge across from Detroit, intending to end a six-day blockage of North America's busiest international crossing by demonstrators decrying Covid-19 measures. Dozens of police officers approached protesters near the foot of the bridge on the Canadian side -- in the city of Windsor -- on Saturday morning. Some protesters moved away on their own, dismantling a makeshift tent area where they received food and shelter. Some pedestrians remained near an intersection on a road leading to the bridge later Saturday, including some talking to or yelling at a line of standing police officers. Others sang the Canadian national anthem or shouted, "Freedom!" No arrest was immediately seen by a CNN crew. Around 20 protest vehicles remained. Windsor police tweeted late Saturday morning that enforcement was still under way, warning that people in the demonstration area were subject to arrest. The move comes a day after a judge issued an injunction allowing police to begin clearing the bridge area and ending the blockade that has snarled supply chains and alarmed political leaders. The judge gave demonstrators until 7 p.m. Friday to end the blockade. The number of demonstrators dwindled overnight, and a few dozen vehicles remained parked at the foot of the bridge as the sun rose Saturday, a CNN crew there said. More demonstrators eventually drove away, including after police officers moved in Saturday morning. Vehicles may be seized and could be forfeited in case of a conviction, Windsor police said after Friday's court order. "One by one, we'll start towing the cars if required," Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Friday, a few hours before the judge's deadline. The Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, also declared a state of emergency on Friday, promising "severe" consequences for those who are taking part in blockades at the bridge and elsewhere in the province, including at demonstrations in the nation's capital of Ottawa. People who don't leave the blockades could face a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to one year in prison, he said. "So let me be as clear as I can, there will be consequences for these actions, and they will be severe. We've already started by going after the money funding the illegal occupation," Ford said. Demonstrations in Canada began last month, starting with truckers who convoyed from the west to Ottawa to protest new rules forcing Canadian truckers crossing the US-Canadian border to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or face quarantine in their homes for two weeks when they return. That protest drew other demonstrators around the country in resistance to other Covid-19 preventative measures, including restrictions on gatherings and mask mandates -- especially in schools. Canada has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with about 4 in every 5 Canadians fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And nearly 90% of the country's truckers are fully vaccinated and eligible to cross the border, according to the Canadian government. Yet for two weeks, demonstrators have blockaded Ottawa's downtown core, prompting a judge there to rule Monday that they must stop honking. And the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit is not the only affected border crossing. Demonstrators also have used semitrailers -- and sometimes farm equipment and other vehicles -- to block crossings between Emerson, Manitoba, and Pembina, North Dakota, as well as at the Coutts access point between Alberta and Montana. The Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Saturday that about 50 vehicles have blocked access to the Canada/US border at Emerson since Thursday. All four lanes of Highway 75 at Provincial Road 200 remain blocked but emergency vehicles and some agriculture transports have crossed the border, Manitoba RCMP said. No arrests have been made. The Ontario Provincial Police on Saturday shut down Fort Erie-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way at Gilmore Road. The closure was in response to a convoy headed toward the Peace Bridge connecting Buffalo and Canada, according to Constable Phil Gavin of the Niagara Regional Police Service. The bridge remains open. In Ottawa, Mayor Jim Watson told CNN he expects more demonstrators this weekend. "It's completely unacceptable," Watson said. "Particularly in the neighborhoods where some of the protesters are going into restaurants and refusing to wear a mask and harassing staff and really being belligerent to the residents of our city." Ottawa Police said Saturday that they will continue to deploy officers "to end this unlawful occupation and await the necessary reinforcements to do so." US officials warn similar protests are possible The Canadian protests are igniting concerns among US officials that similar demonstrations may be sparked across the border. Right-wing news media outlets have raised the prospect of like-minded rallies in the US and offered positive coverage of those in Canada. The protests in Canada already are "incredibly damaging" to many across the US Midwest, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told CNN on Friday, adding the protests have been "hurting us in Michigan since Day 1." "We are at an economic crisis because of this illegal blockade," which is becoming a homeland security issue, Whitmer said. The US Department of Homeland Security warned state and local officials in a bulletin that a convoy of truckers protesting Covid-19 vaccine mandates may soon begin in the US and potentially affect the Super Bowl in Southern California. "The convoy will potentially begin in California as early as mid-February and arrive in Washington, DC, as late as mid-March, potentially impacting the Super Bowl LVI scheduled for 13 February and the State of the Union Address scheduled for 1 March," the bulletin said. In addition, a group in the US said it is organizing two trucker convoys that will head to the US-Canada border in Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday. However, the city said Friday the group had not applied for permits to hold events. "Nor have the organizers contacted our Special Events Office to arrange for the appropriate insurance and public safety planning that is required for all events in the City to ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors," Buffalo city spokesperson Michael DeGeorge told CNN. "It is always a concern when laws that are designed to keep people and property protected are willfully ignored." Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told CNN Saturday the city expected "dozens" of trucks but officials "don't envision at this point what we're seeing in Canada." "We're ready for these trucks but our goal is to keep our roadways open and to make sure that residents and visitors are safe and healthy," he said. How Canadian officials have responded to the demonstrations Canadian officials have generally stood firm in their appeals to end the blockades at the border and the protests in Ottawa, though those calls often have fallen on deaf ears. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Friday that the demonstrations will end. "If you joined the protests because you're tired of Covid, you now need to understand that you are breaking laws," Trudeau said in a Friday news conference. "You don't want to end up losing your license, end up with a criminal record, which will impact your job, your livelihood." The Trudeau government said it will send more officers to protests across the country, adding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's national police force, continues to show decisive action. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Canadian police attempt to clear protesters blocking Ambassador Bridge to US" New Delhi: Political campaigning for the single phased Goa assembly election, which will decide the fate of several key state leaders, including some cabinet ministers, ends on Sunday as the state is set to vote for a fresh assembly on February 14. Among the key contenders for the Goa assembly polls is the incumbent Chief Minister Parmod Sawant, son of late Goa CM and BJP veteran late Manohar Parrikar, famous activist and AAP CM face Amit Palekar among many others. Here is a list of key candidates for the Goa Assembly Elections to watch out for: Pramod Sawant A long time MLA from Goas Sanquelim constituency, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pramod Sawant, is the 13th chief minister of Goa. Sawant is BJPs CM candidate for Goa Assembly Elections 2022. Sawant succeeded the CM seat in 2019 after the death of veteran leader late Manohar Parrikar The BJP leader also served as the spokesperson of the Goa unit of the saffron party. Later in 2017, he was re-elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly from the same constituency and on 22 March 2017, he was elected as the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Sawant, who enjoys massive popularity and is regarded as an unassuming MLA by his constituents, won two terms without any former electoral career. Utpal Parrikar Son of veteran BJP leader and former Defence Minister of India, Manohar Parrikar, Utpal Parrikar came into prominence post his fathers death when he stepped foot into politics. The leader recently made headlines after he quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after being denied the ticket from his late fathers Panaji constituency, which is believed to be a BJP bastion since the early 1990s, all thanks to late Manohar Parrikar. Utpal Parrikar announced that he will contest the 2022 Assembly polls as an independent candidate from Panaji. Amit Palekar Amit Palekar, Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) Chief Ministerial candidate for the Goa Assembly Polls 2022 is a new entrant in politics and is hailed as a leader devoted to development by his party. A lawyer-turned-politician, Palekar belongs to the OBC Bhandari community, which is seen as another brownie point for Arvind Kejriwals party to woo 35% of the population in Goa as the community feels long ignored under the BJP regime. Palekars political career began in October 2021 when he joined AAP and was introduced by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal as an honest worthy man. Michael Lobo Congress leader Michael Lobo is fighting elections from the Calangute assembly seat for the third time. Lobo won the Calangute seat on a BJP ticket in 2012 for the first time and retained the same seat in the year 2017. However, he switched sides last month and became a Congress member. This time, Lobo is contesting elections from the Calangute seat on a Congress ticket. Lobo initially served as the Deputy Speaker in the last Assembly but resigned later to be inducted as a minister in the government in July 2019. Live TV New Delhi: The contest for the Goa assembly is now at the finishing line as the state voters are just one day away from casting their ballot on February 14. A total of 301 candidates, including 68 independent contenders are in the fray for 40 constituencies of the Goa Vidhan Sabha. While each of the 40 constituencies of the Goa assembly has a role to play in the formation of a new government, which is shaping up to be a close race, stakes are higher than usual in some of the battlegrounds. In this article, we will attempt to make an analysis of the key constituencies that will play a crucial role in the power-share of the western state. Panaji/Panjim Till now, this constituency was termed as the bastion of the Bharatiya Janata Partys late Manohar Parrikar and was a sure shot for the saffron camp. However, post his death followed by the Utpal Parrikar episode, Goas Panjim constituency is not only an open seat but will play an integral role. BJP has fielded the incumbent MLA Antonio Monserrate while Manohar Parrikars son and an independent candidate Utpal Parrikar, who carries his fathers legacy and goodwill, may cost not only votes but the entire constituency to the saffron party. Sanquelim Sanquelim, the constituency where the incumbent CM Pramod Sawant comes from, will see a crucial battle between Sawant, who is eyeing to win the seat he has held since 2012 while challenging him is Congress Saglani, Aam Aadmi Partys Manojkumar Ghadi and MGPs Mahadev Khandekar. The seat holds great significance as all key champions including Home Minister Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi both campaigned in the constituency. Margao Margao, where the current tourism minister and BJPs Manohar Ajagaonkar will face Congress leader and former CM of Goa Digambar Kamat, will also witness a prestige battle between two veterans of Goa politics. Ajgaonkar, who was born in Margao and has been a municipal councillor, will be representing the seat for the first time against Kamat, who had been a long-term MLA from the constituency, almost since 1994. Velim Velim, the seat that has a history of championing either Congress or Independents, will also witness an interesting battle. The Bharatiya Janata Party this time is fielding a seasoned journalist and Goa chronicle founder Savio Rodrigue. Meanwhile, Filipe Nery Rodrigues, who won the last election as a Congress candidate is now contesting on an NCP ticket. On the other hand, TMC has given the ticket to Benjamin Silva, the runner-up in Velim last time and Congress has nominated Savio D'Silva for this seat. Live TV People of Goa, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will vote on Monday (February 14) to choose their next state government for the upcoming five years. While Goa and Uttarakhand will see all of their 40 and 70 seats respectively going to polls, voting will be done at 55 seats in Uttar Pradesh. The crucial day will see some high-profile candidates including - Goa chief ministers Pramod Sawant and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami - in the fray. Here is a look at the top candidates, security arrangements and more: Uttar Pradesh (Phase 2 - 58 seats) Seats, voters and candidates - As many as 586 candidates are contesting in the second phase from 55 seats spread across the districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha, Budaun, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur. Election arrangements - Over 60,000 police personnel and nearly 800 companies (around 100 security personnel each) of paramilitary forces will be on duty on the election day, officials said, adding 4,917 polling booths out of 12,538 are considered "critical". - Eight assembly constituencies of Nagina, Dhampur, Bijnor, Asmoli, Sambhal, Deoband, Rampur Maniharan and Gangoh have been placed in the 'sensitive' category. - Polling will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM. Prominent faces Dharam Singh Saini: The prominent faces in the fray in this phase include Dharam Singh Saini, a BJP state minister who had switched to the SP. Azam Khan: SP's Azam Khan has been fielded from his stronghold Rampur seat, while Saini is trying his luck from the Nakud Assembly segment. Khan is a member of Lok Sabha from Rampur. Abdullah Azam Khan: Azam Khan's son has been fielded from the Swar seat. He has been pitted against Haider Ali Khan, the heir of another political family, the Nawabs of Rampur, who is trying his luck on the ticket of Apna Dal (Sonelal), a BJP ally. - Outgoing Minister of State for Jal Shakti Baldev Singh Aulakh is the candidate from Bilaspur, Minister of State for Urban Development Mahesh Chandra Gupta from Badaun, and Minister of State for Secondary Education Gulab Devi from Chandausi. Goa (40 seats) Seats, voters and candidates The coastal state of Goa, with over 11 lakh voters, has 301 candidates contesting from 40 Assembly seats. Main parties - Traditionally Goa and Uttarakhand have seen bipolar politics, but they are witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) throwing its hat in the ring. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other smaller parties are also vying to make a mark on Goa's electoral scene. - The Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) are fighting the election in alliance, while the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has joined hands with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). - The Shiv Sena and the NCP had also announced their pre-poll alliance, while the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is contesting on its own. Election arrangements - Election officials said all arrangements have been made to conduct polling while following COVID-19 protocols. - Over 100 all-women polling booths called 'Sakhi' or pink booths have been set up in Goa to encourage the participation of women - Some booths will be manned by differently-abled persons. Main candidates - The prominent candidates in Goa include Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP), Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat (Congress), former CMs Churchill Alemao (TMC), Ravi Naik (BJP), Laxmikant Parsekar (independent), former deputy CMs Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), late CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar and AAP's CM face Amit Paleker. Uttarakhand Main parties Traditionally Goa and Uttarakhand have seen bipolar politics, but they are witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) throwing its hat in the ring. The AAP, which is contesting all 70 assembly constituencies, has offered a slew of freebies including free electricity up to 300 units to every household, Rs 1,000 per month to every woman above 18 years, jobs to every household and an unemployment allowance of Rs 5,000 per month to them until they get the job. Election arrangements - Voting will begin at 8 AM and conclude at 6 PM in Uttarakhand where there will be 11,697 polling booths. Main candidates - Important candidates whose fate is to be decided in these polls include Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, his cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Subodh Uniyal, Arvind Pandey, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya besides state BJP president Madan Kaushik. - Prominent candidates from the Congress include former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Yashpal Arya, state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the fourth assembly Pritam Singh. Srinagar: Former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said that "Article 370 revocation has in fact further complicated the Kashmir issue and the BJP-led central government will have no other alternative than to talk to Pakistan for resolution of issues including Kashmir." Addressing a press conference, she further said an impression that the Kashmir issue was over after revocation of Article 370 has proved totally wrong on ground. The fact remains that the rollback of the special status of J&K has further complicated the Kashmir issue. One of the serious repercussions seen at the international level is that India is being isolated internally, she said. She added that the situation in Kashmir is worse than ever. No one is feeling safe. Be that a common man or a journalist. Journalism is seen as a crime and people speaking truth are tortured, many journalists including Sajad Gul, Fahad Shah and others are behind the bars. Many have fled Kashmir after being named in FIRs. How can things work and truth prevail in such conditions? She urged international bodies to raise their voices for the immediate release of journalists arrested in Kashmir. The PDP chief added, "There is no alternative to dialogue with Pakistan for resolving all issues including the political issue of Kashmir. About the delimitation panels second draft report, Mufti said that the commission has appeased BJP only by advocating something that is totally unacceptable to all. The report aims to benefit one party in J&K, something that BJP likes. But PAGD will fight all the wrong policies of BJP in J&K tooth and nail. We know that lot of efforts are being made to break the PAGD, but we will remain steadfast and fight altogether. The policies of BJP wont last. Many rulers ruled J&K in the past but oppression has to end, the former J&K CM said. Talking of Hijab row, she said, Now Hijab is a new plot. I believe this is an election stunt ahead of UP polls. This wont stop here and will continue. They will identify more things attached to Muslims and make issues out of them. Mehbooba Mufti demanded unconditional release of journalists and sought for a free atmosphere for their reporting. Live TV Amritsar: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is losing from both constituencies in the February 20 assembly polls. He alleged the Congress has become a "circus" and the people of Punjab would not vote for the grand old party. Kejriwal claimed the Aam Aadmi Party conducted surveys thrice and in all of them it was ahead in both the seats. Channi, the Congress's chief ministerial candidate, is contesting the polls from his home turf Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar and Bhadaur in Barnala. The survey showed that in Chamkaur Sahib, Channi is liked by 35 per cent of people while 52 per cent chose the AAP, claimed Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convener and the chief minister of Delhi. In Bhadaur, 48 per cent of people liked the AAP candidate while Channi was preferred by only 30 per cent, he claimed. Kejriwal said Channi will remain the chief ministerial face of the Congress because he will lose from both the seats. Punjab is facing repercussions of a constant tussle for power amongst Congress members which is why people will not trust them, he claimed. "We (AAP) are making plans for the development of Punjab in the next five years with our leaders, workers and people of Punjab. The Congress has become a circus. The people of Punjab are not going to vote for the one who runs the circus," Kejriwal said. Claimed there was a tussle among several Congress leaders, AAP's chief ministerial candidate for Punjab Bhagwant Mann took a swipe at the Congress saying if the leaders of the party cannot contest elections together, what good future can they give Punjab. Congress candidate Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has accused Finance Minister Manpreet Badal of trying to defeat him, he claimed, adding ex-chief minister Amarinder Singh's wife Preneet Kaur, a Congress MP, is campaigning for her husband in Patiala seat. Similarly, Chief Minister Channi's brother is contesting against the Congress candidate from Bassi Pathana, Mann claimed. Mann alleged that Congress leaders do not care about the public. "Their only aim is to keep themselves and their family in power by any means. The Congress cannot give a stable government to Punjab. Even if they come to power, they will continue to fight amongst themselves. Voting for the Congress means compromising the future of Punjab," he claimed. He said the entire AAP team was united for the development of Punjab. Kejriwal and Mann campaigned in Amritsar in favour of party candidates Kunwar Vijay Pratap from Amritsar North, Inderbir Singh Nijhar from Amritsar South, Ajay Gupta from Amritsar Central, Jasbir Singh from Amritsar West and Jeevan Jyot Kaur from Amritsar East constituency. Addressing the meetings, Kejriwal alleged that the Congress and the Akali governments had not taken any step for the development of schools, colleges, hospitals in this border area district. He said if the AAP is voted to power, industries would be developed in the border district, including Amritsar. AAP's senior leader Manish Sisodia canvassed for party candidates KNS Kang from Dakha and Hakam Singh Thekedar from Raikot constituency in Ludhiana district. He said the people of Punjab alternately gave opportunities to the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress to form governments, but both the parties 'failed' the people time and again. Party leader Raghav Chadha also campaigned in Kapurthala, Dasuya and Tanda. Live TV New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (February 13) declared that the party will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls under the leadership of Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray. Raut also exuded confidence that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will oust BJP and form a government in Uttar Pradesh. We have just come back from Goa and will visit Uttar Pradesh along with Aaditya Thackeray soon. Akhilesh Yadav is going to form his government there. Under the leadership of Aaditya Thackeray, we will fight Lok Sabha polls across the country and preparations are on for it, ANi quoted the Shiv Sena leader as saying. Raut also addressed Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarmas controversial remarks on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. "Assam Chief Minister spent his whole life in Congress, then he did not get this interview with Rahul Gandhi. He had worked with Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. No one should give such statements against their former leader because they have also contributed to making you a leader, the Shiv Sena MP said. Sarma on Saturday had called Rahul Gandhi a modern-day Jinnah. On Friday, while attacking the former Congress supremo during a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand, the Assam CM had asked if BJP had ever demanded proof of Rahul being the "son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi". Meanwhile, Shiv Sena is jointly contesting the 40-seat Goa Assembly election with Sharad Pawar-led NCP. Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday had launched a digital manifesto of Shiv Sena for the Goa elections. The coastal state will vote on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Shiv Sena workers have threatened couples with violence if they are found celebrating Valentines Day on Monday (February 14) in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal. The party workers were seen worshipping 'lathis' (sticks) at Kalika Shakti Peeth temple in Bhopal on Sunday. "If couples are seen celebrating Valentine's Day, we will break their legs, they threatened. These workers have also made special preparations for protest against Valentine's Day. They said they will take action against any couple found together on Valentine's Day. Shiv Sena workers said that Valentine's Day is a festival of western countries. It is a symbol of western culture, so we will oppose it, they said. The workers said they will visit different places in the city including parks etc to stop couples from celebrating Valentine's Day. They have also warned pubs, restaurants, hotel operators from organizing any event on Monday. Following the warning by Shiv Sena and Hindutva organizations, the police has cautioned them from creating menace. Additional DCP Rajesh Bhadauria said that action will be taken against those who harass people on Valentine's Day. He said that cops dressed in civilian clothes will be stationed at different places like parks, malls and pubs. No one will be allowed to take law in their hands, Bhadauria said. Live TV New Delhi: Congress leader Zameer Ahmed on Sunday (February 13) sparked debate with his comment on the Hijab row. Ahmed while talking to ANI in Hubli said, "Hijab means 'Parda' in Islam...to hide the beauty of women...women get raped when they don't wear Hijab." "Girls or women when they grow up, should cover their face with Hijab or do 'Parda' to hide their beauty. You see India has the highest number of rape cases in the world. What is the reason? The reason is that women/girls don't cover their faces and hide their beauty. Hijab is for women's safety, to hide their beauty. Wearing a hijab is not compulsory but this is being practiced for years to protect women," Ahmed told ANI. #WATCH | Hijab means 'Parda' in Islam...to hide the beauty of women...women get raped when they don't wear Hijab: Congress leader Zameer Ahmed on #HijabRow in Hubli, Karnataka pic.twitter.com/8Ole8wjLQF ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2022 The Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the Hijab row, on Thursday (February 10) restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom. Live TV New Delhi: National Stock Exchanges (NSE) former CEO and MD Chitra Ramakrishna has accepted that she took guidance from a Himalayan yogi for the past 20 years, even during the time she was heading the exchange. According to a SEBI order, Ramakrishna has accepter that for the past 20 years, she sought guidance from the unknown person on many personal and professional matters. Based on the findings, the SEBI order noted that it may suffice to say that she holds the unknown person in very high regard and is influenced significantly by the unknown person. The order noted that in this regard, as per an email dated September 5, 2015, the unknown person has stated to Ramakrishna that "SOM, If I had the opportunity to be a person on Earth then Kanchan is the perfect fit. Ashirvadhams. SIRONMANI." Ramakrishna vide her email dated December 30, 2015, to the unknown person, said that "Struggle is I have always seen THEE through G, and challenged to on my own realise the difference." "Hence, the preferential treatment towards Subramanian becomes apparent from the above that Ramakrishna regards Subramanian as to be like her spiritual guru whom she has revered and relied upon for the past 20 years", the SEBI order said. Also Read: Netflix, Google fined over unfair paid subscription business "Hence, there appears to be a glaring conspiracy of a money making scheme that involves Ramakrishna and Subramanian with the unknown person, by which Ramakrishna would increase the compensation granted to Subramanian and he would then pay the unknown person from such increased compensation. This gives further credence to the allegation that there was an arbitrary and disproportionate increase in compensation granted to Subramanian by Ramakrishna", it said. Also Read: IPL 2022 mega auction: Juhi Chawla welcomes young owners Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and Jahnavi Mehta to KKR - With IANS inputs. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Delhi on Sunday (February 13) reported 804 fresh COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths due to the viral disease, while the positivity rate declined further to 1.50 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department. With this, the national capital's coronavirus case count increased to 18,51,320 and the death toll climbed to 26,072, the latest bulletin showed. A total of 53,719 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the city the previous day, it said. Delhi on Saturday reported 920 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.68 per cent and 13 deaths. Meanwhile, Mumbai on Sunday (February 13) reported 288 fresh coronavirus cases and one fatality due to the viral infection, taking the tally to 10,54,050 and the death toll to 16,683, the city civic body said. A total of 532 patients recovered on Sunday, which raised the number of recoveries in Mumbai so far to 10,31,836, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a statement. Mumbai is now left with 2,667 active cases, it said. Of the 288 new cases, 88 per cent or 253 cases were asymptomatic while 35 patients were admitted to hospitals. 13 patients are on Oxygen support, the statement said. Mumbai's case positivity rate is 0.7 per cent. (With PTI inputs) Live TV (CNN) This time last year Nalin Yadav was detained in an Indian prison, not knowing when he would be let out. "I didn't understand how or why this happened to me," said the 26-year-old stand-up comedian, who spent almost two months behind bars. "I couldn't sleep or eat. I had anxiety attacks. My mind wouldn't stop racing." His alleged crime? Organizing and opening a show for a comic he says he had met just five minutes earlier a Muslim comedian accused of telling jokes that insulted the Hindu faith. He and four others have pleaded not guilty over allegedly hurting and outraging religious sentiment during a comedy show last January. They are still awaiting trial for the charges and face three years in prison if convicted. While comedy can be polarizing all over the world, in India telling jokes about Hinduism or being associated with someone who insults the majority faith can be enough to prompt legal action. Experts say India's colonial-era laws are being used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to quash criticism and encourage self-censorship. At the same time, authorities have been accused of turning a blind eye to vitriolic comments from right-wing extremist groups who align with the BJP's Hindu-nationalist agenda. Yadav is one of a growing list of journalists, activists, and entertainers who have become caught up in the country's crackdown on freedom of expression. The problem is, the comedian who is Hindu says he didn't even mention Hinduism that night. The arrest January 1, 2021, was meant to be a career highlight for Yadav. As a relative newcomer to the scene, he was opening the show for the more experienced Muslim comedian Munawar Faruqui in Indore, a city in the BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh. Yadav said he told a few jokes about sex and Indian society, then settled back to watch Faruqui's act. But Eklavya Singh Gaur, the son of the BJP mayor of Indore, and a member of the right-wing group Hindu Protection Congregation, walked onto the stage and accused Faruqui of insulting Hindu gods. In a widely circulated video of the incident, Faruqui can be heard telling Gaur that he also jokes about Muslims and his routine should be taken in jest. Yadav attempted to mediate by calling the police. "I thought we'd be safe when the police came," he told CNN. "I wanted to protect Munawar. I never expected what would happened next." That night, Gaur and three of his friends each filed complaints with police, accusing Faruqui of telling "filthy and indecent jokes" about Hindu gods and goddesses, according to court documents seen by CNN. The complaint also said that Faruqui told a joke about BJP Home Minister Amit Shah, but no further details were given. It's unclear when Faruqui allegedly told the jokes. In his complaint, Gaur alleges Faruqui said it during his performance, while two of his friends said he told the jokes before his performance began. These jokes "hurt and outraged" Gaur's religious sentiment, the documents said. Yadav and four others, including Faruqui, were arrested early the next morning on charges including "uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings" and "deliberate and malicious intention of outraging religious feelings," as well as breaking some Covid-19 social distancing rules, court documents show. Breaking Covid rules carries a possible maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine. CNN contacted Faruqui's representatives, but they declined to comment. After multiple court hearings, Faruqui was released on bail by India's top court on February 5 after spending 35 days in jail, with the court saying police hadn't followed proper procedure when arresting him. But Yadav remained in prison until February 26 when the Madhya Pradesh High Court finally granted his release on bail after 57 days in prison. Yadav said his 17-year-old brother paid his bail fees, $1,330, from the money he had saved for his university education money that they had inherited after their mother died. "My brother couldn't go to university," said Yadav. "He sacrificed so much for me. How can I even look him in the eye?" Lawyer Anshumaan Shrivastava, who represents Yadav and Faruqui, said the comedians didn't break the law and he pointed out that the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of expression. CNN contacted the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice but did not receive a response. A free speech crackdown It's not just Yadav and Faruqui who have been on the receiving end of legal action. Several other comedians have angered the country's ruling politicians. And while in other countries that might be the end of it, in India, some people have pursued the matter with police. In November last year, Hindu comedian Vir Das' powerful monologue addressing India's rape crisis and the year-long farmers' protests against agricultural laws polarized the country. Right-wing activists called for his arrest, while supporters rallied to his defense. Ashutosh Dubey, a legal adviser to the BJP, accused Das of "defaming" India and filed a complaint with the Mumbai police over Das' "inflammatory" comments, according to a post he wrote on Twitter. Das has not been formally charged with any crime and continues to perform. He defended his monologue, writing on Twitter the video was "satire about the duality of two very separate India's (sic)." "Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret," he said. "I take pride in my country, and I carry that pride across the world." In December 2020, the Supreme Court held comedian Kunal Kamra in contempt of court for allegedly disparaging the judiciary and judges in his social media posts. In one Twitter post, he criticized the court's handling of a case involving a right-wing commentator. If found guilty, Kamra faces up to six months in prison and a fine. Kamra told CNN he has canceled about 100 shows over the past eight years because of threats by right-wing groups to the venue and audience and it's getting worse, he said. India is mostly a right-wing and "humorless society," he said. In India, freedom of speech is enshrined in its democratic constitution. But up-and-coming Muslim comedian Parvez Hassan says the country has become more intolerant since Modi's BJP came to power in 2014. "It feels like we are going backwards in society," he said. "There are now fears (among some comedians) of putting content on YouTube, of telling a certain joke in public." And the issue goes well beyond comedians. Yadav and Faruqui were charged under a colonial-era law which criminalizes hurting "religious sentiment." Experts say Modi's government is using another piece of colonial-era legislation the country's sedition law to silence activists, journalists and other critics. In 2015, the year after Modi took office, 30 people were charged with sedition, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In 2020, the most recent data available, that number had increased to 73. Indira Jaising, an Indian human rights lawyer, said laws have been weaponized in India against anyone who disagrees with the government. "When a society cannot tolerate satire, it's a society that has lost its constitutional values," she said, adding the comedians' case "goes well beyond freedom of speech" and calling it an "infringement" on their right to earn a living. In January, Rohinton Nariman, a former judge of India's Supreme Court, also hit out at how sedition laws are being used. He said young people, students and stand-up comedians were being booked for criticizing the government, while others were getting away with calling for genocide against Muslims. He was referring to comments made during a three-day event in the city of Haridwar in December when right-wing Hindus called on their followers to kill Muslims. "We find great reluctance from some of the authorities to book these people," Nariman said. The future Since his arrest last year, Yadav says his career and life has unraveled. Before the arrest, Yadav was able to make ends meet by performing. But after he was released on bail, he said no one wanted to book him as they feared violence from right-wing groups. Right-wing vigilantes harassed him on the streets, and he could only find work as a laborer, earning a daily wage of $2.60, he said. Yadav said he hoped that when he was freed from prison, people would see he had been treated unfairly. "But all my hope faded. I always saw the best in society ... but I finally saw the real world." Faruqui also took a brief hiatus from comedy after threats were made to his performance venues and audience. "Hate has won," he said on Twitter in November. "The artist has lost." He has since returned to the stage. The arrest of comedians is also affecting others in the industry. Some venues and organizers are canceling shows for fear of backlash and violence. The LVC Comedy Club in the southern state of Goa canceled Faruqui's performance in November after a right-wing group threatened to destroy the venue. A spokesperson for the club, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the comedy scene in India was becoming "more hostile." "We are not political and don't endorse everything comedians say," the spokesperson said. "We are free speech advocates and support the right to joke about anything." "(But) in a country that reports 77 rapes per day, I'm baffled that jokes are where people choose to be offended." In November, Yadav decided to leave Indore to start his comedy career afresh in India's capital Delhi. "It is ironic that comedy the one thing that kept me alive and gave me hope was the same thing that took everything from me," Yadav said. "But I don't blame comedy. I will never blame comedy. I blame the system, the government and the state of our society." This story was first published on CNN.com, "In India, comedians can face arrest for making the wrong kind of jokes." New Delhi: Actress Juhi Chawla is elated to welcome 'bunch of young owners' to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) family at the IPL 2022 mega auction. Taking to Instagram, Juhi welcomed Shah Rukh Khans kids Aryan Khan and Suhana Khan along with her daughter Jahnavi Mehta on board. The trio made up for the absence of their respective parents, SRK and Juhi - who are co-owners of KKR team. Taking to Instagram, Juhi Chawla wrote, Welcome to our KKR players , Shreyas Iyer , Pat Cummins , Nitish Rana and our bunch of young owners Aryan , Suhana and Jahnavi ..!!! Thank you Venky and allllll our KKR staff .Super grateful and Super happy. She shared a photo collage along with the caption. The upper half of the photo has Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins and Nitish Rana in it. The second half of the photo collage, shows Jahnavi, Aryan and Suhana sitting on a table. Jahnavi is dressed in a black blazer. Aryan is wearing black t-shirt with a matching blazer. Suhana Khan was dressed in a white tank top with a white blazer. She kept her hair open and had makeup on. This was also Suhana Khans first time at the IPL auction. Aryan and Jahnavi were present at the IPL auction last year as well. The photos of the same had gone viral. So happy to see both the KKR kids, Aryan and Jahnavi at the Auction table .. @iamsrk @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/Hb2G7ZLqeF Juhi Chawla (@iam_juhi) February 18, 2021 This year, the IPL mega auction is taking place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. A total of 590 players -- 370 Indians and 220 overseas can be bought for the Indian Premier League. IPL mega auction 2022 marks Aryan Khans first public appearance after he was held by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in jail for 25 day last year in an alleged drugs on cruise case in October. The star kid was later granted bail by the Bombay High Court. New Delhi: A differently-abled woman has accused a popular pub in Gurugram's Cyber Hub of denying her entry as she was wheelchair-bound, a charge refuted by the club management. With Srishty Pandey's tweet narrating her ordeal being shared widely on social media, the manager of Raasta pub B Madhav claimed the woman was not denied entry but was stopped from going to the dance floor as it was crowded and her wheelchair could have caused an accident. "I went to my @raastagurgaon with my best friend and her fam last night. This was one of my first outings in so long and I wanted to have fun. Bhaiya (my friend's elder brother) asked for a table for four. The staff at the desk ignored him twice," Pandey said in a series of tweets on Saturday. I went to my @raastagurgaon with my best friend and her fam last night. This was one of my first outings in so long and I wanted to have fun. Bhaiya (my friend's elder brother) asked for a table for four. The staff at the desk ignored him twice. 1/n Srishti (she/her) (@Srishhhh_tea) February 12, 2022 "The third time he asked, the staff replied with 'wheelchair andar nahi jaygi' (the wheelchair can't go inside). We thought it was an accessibility issue, but it wasn't. We told him that we'd manage, just book us a table. What he said next left all of shocked for a while," she added. "He told us pointing towards me that 'andar customers disturb hojaynge' (the customers will get disturbed) and denied us entry, with so much of ease. This came from the staff of a freaking fancy place. After a lot of arguing, he told them to get a table outside. The outside seating was ridiculous. It was getting cold. And I can't sit out in cold for long because my body gets spastic," she said in another tweet. Pandey even posted a video of the argument with the staff of the pub. The club, Raasta, however, claimed facts were being twisted. "We did not deny her any entry but she wanted to go on dance floor with her wheelchair. The floor had steps and was crowded. There could have been an accident and it was important for her safety also," Madhav told PTI. Actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt reacted to the Twitter thread, saying, "Am terribly saddened that this happened to you. We suffer from an absolute lack of grace as a society. Wheelchair accessibility is one thing but refusing to see a human being who is confined to one as an equal and deserving of dignity is quite another." Am terribly saddened that this happened to you. We suffer from an absolute lack of grace as a society. Wheelchair accessibility is one thing but refusing to see a human being who is confined to one as an equal and deserving of dignity is quite another. Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) February 12, 2022 The Gurugram Police too responded to Pandey's tweet and asked for her contact details. However, Inspector Pawan Malik, SHO of DLF phase 2 police station, said, "We have not received any complaint yet." New Delhi: Aadhaar Card is one of the most crucial documents for Indians, as it is used as an official identity proof. Several government and private agencies require citizens to provide their Aadhaar cards to avail of the services. Central and state government authorities also require beneficiaries of several social schemes to share their Aadhaar card for receiving the benefits. Cardholders are required to keep the details on the Aadhaar card updated to make sure they continue receiving the services. The Aadhaar-issuing body, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), allows cardholders to make changes to their Aadhaar Card. You can easily change details such as phone number and address changes, name updates, and more, using the services of UIDAI. So, if you have moved to a new place, you can easily change the address on your Aadhaar Card. Here is the list of steps you need to follow to change the address on your Aadhaar card: Steps to change address in Aadhaar card: Step 1: Visit UIDAIs official website at http://uidai.gov.in/. Step 2: Tap the 'My Aadhaar' option from the drop-down menu. Step 3: On the new page, select the 'Update Demographics Data Online' option. Step 4: Click on the 'Proceed to Update Aadhaar' button and enter relevant details. Step 5: Tap on the Send OTP button. You will receive OTP on the registered mobile number. Step 6: Verify the six-digit OTP. Step 7:Go to the demographics data area and enter the relevant information. Step 8: Click on the Proceed option. Step 9: Now, upload scanned colour copies of verification documents to change the address on Aadhaar Card. Click submit. Also Read: 5G spectrum auction expected in May 2022: Report Step 10: Now, check the preview of the Aadhaar card modification. You will be provided with the URN which can be used to check the status of the update in your address. Also Read: iPhone 13 gets a massive discount on Flipkart: Here's how to avail it Live TV #mute New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI, issues the Aadhaar card. Every Indian citizen's 12 digit number has become an integral part of their identity. With its growing importance, Aadhaar has become one of the most sought-after identity credentials. It is a reliable source that serves as proof of a citizen's address, date of birth, and other details, making it obligatory for everyone to have one. If the card is connected to a mobile phone number, users will be able to log in to some government-run web portals to access services. As a result, it's always a good idea to keep your Aadhaar number up to date. How to Change Aadhaar with Mobile Number Online Step 1: Visit the UIDAI web interface to alter your mobile number (ask.uidai.gov.in) Step 2: Enter the phone number you want to change and the captcha in the appropriate fields. Step 3: Enter the OTP that was sent to your phone number in the 'Send OTP' option. Then select 'Submit OTP & Proceed' from the drop-down menu. Step 4: Next, select 'Online Aadhaar Services' from a dropdown menu that includes a variety of options such as name, address, gender, email address, and mobile number. Select the one you want to change. However, if you want to update your cellphone number, you must first click on that option, then fill in the required information and select the option 'what do you want to update.' Step 5: A new page will appear when the mobile number has been submitted, and a captcha must be entered. An OTP will be issued to your phone number as a result of this. Verify the OTP and then click 'Save and Continue.' Step 6: Make an appointment to visit an Aadhaar centre near you to pay the Rs 25 cost and supply any other information that may be required. How to Change Aadhaar with Mobile Number Offline To complete the process offline, simply locate and visit a local Permanent Enrolment Centre, where the Aadhar Correction Form must be completed. Users must state the updated mobile number that they intend to link and update in the same form, after which the form must be submitted. The authentication will next proceed to biometric verification. After that, the verification officer will provide you with an acknowledgment slip with your Update Request Number (URN). This number can be used to check the status of an Aadhaar card that has been updated. You can also call the UIDAI toll-free hotline to check your status (1947). Simply log in to the UIDAI website and select the 'Verify' option from the 'Aadhaar Services' dropdown menu if users only need to verify the number. The 12-digit Aadhaar number, as well as the email address, mobile number, and security code, must be input once there. Click the 'Verify OTP' option after receiving the OTP, and the green tick should appear if all of the steps were followed. Live TV #mute New Delhi: The long-awaited 5G spectrum auction is expected to be held in May this year if the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) submits by March its recommendations on the rules regarding the sale process, according to a senior official of the telecom department. Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier this month said the Trai has informed that it will submit its recommendations for the 5G auction by March and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is simultaneously firming up other processes to hold the auction at the earliest. "Trai has indicated that they will send it (recommendations) by March. Thereafter, it will take us a month to make a decision around it," Telecom Secretary K Rajaraman told PTI. Earlier, the government has taken time of 60-120 days to start the bidding rounds in the auction after receiving recommendations from Trai on spectrum auction. Rajaraman said it will take the DoT two months to start the auction from the day it gets recommendations from the Trai. According to the DoT, 5G is expected to deliver download speed 10 times faster than 4G services. As per the process, DoT seeks reference from the Trai on spectrum price, method for allocating it, block size of spectrum, payments terms and conditions, among others. The Trai holds consultation with the industry and other stakeholders and then submits recommendations to the DoT. As per the current practice, the apex decision making body at the DoT, the Digital Communications Commission (formerly the Telecom Commission) takes the decision on Trai recommendations and then approaches the Cabinet for the final approval. Rajaraman said that the DoT has already selected MSTC as the auctioneer for the upcoming auction. Trai has given participants in 5G spectrum consultation to submit their additional comments by February 15 after which it will review and come up with recommendations. Also Read: Garena Free Fire banned in India? PUBG rival missing from Google Play Store, App Store Telecom operators have demanded up to 95 per cent cut in the spectrum frequency band price. Both telecom and satellite players are at loggerheads with each other on rules for the 5G spectrum auction. Also Read: WhatsApp Web users to get THIS support soon: Know more here Live TV #mute New Delhi: On Flipkart, a number of iPhone models are available at steep discounts. The iPhone 13 is one of the greatest deals. The e-commerce behemoth is offering a Rs 23,000 discount on the most recent iPhone model. This is a limited-time offer that will only be offered while supplies last. So, if you've been waiting a long time to get the iPhone 13, this is the best offer you'll ever find. iPhone 13 discount offer details The iPhone 13 128GB variant is priced at Rs 74,900 on Flipkart, while the 256GB and 512GB editions are priced at Rs 84,900 and Rs 1,04,900, respectively. Buyers might get a better price by swapping their old phone in addition to the flat discount. The e-commerce behemoth is offering up to Rs 18,500 in exchange value. It should be mentioned that the exchange value of your phone will be determined by its condition and model number. On iPhones and Samsung flagship phones, consumers can receive a better deal. Flipkart, for example, is offering an iPhone 11 for Rs 16,900. Flipkart is now offering a 5% reward on purchases made with the Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card. There is also an EMI option available, which starts at Rs 2560 per month. In terms of the initial price, the iPhone 13 128GB costs Rs 79900, while the 128GB and 512GB models cost Rs 89900 and Rs 109900, respectively. The iPhone 13 128GB storage variant is available for Rs 56400 after the flat discount and exchange offer. The iPhone 13's 128GB and 512GB storage variants are priced at Rs 66400 and Rs 86400, respectively. Flipkart is also offering discounts (including an exchange offer) on various iPhone models, such as the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE (2020), and more. Live TV #mute New Delhi: South Koreas antitrust regulator said on Sunday it has decided to impose a fine of a combined 19.5 million won ($16,300) on Google, Netflix and three other video streaming services for their unfair business activity over paid subscription. Five over-the-top (OTT) media service providers -- Google, Netflix, KT, LG Uplus and Content Wavve -- hampered paid subscribers` move to end their membership, according to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC). They provided falsified information or did not allow subscribers to cancel their membership online in a bid to make it difficult for customers to terminate the contract of using their services, according to the FTC. Along with the fine, the regulator ordered them to correct their business practice, reports Yonhap news agency. Over 34 per cent of South Koreans were paid subscribers to over-the-top (OTT) media, or video streaming services, according to a survey. Paid subscribers to OTTs stood at 34.8 per cent last year, up 20.4 percentage points from the previous year, according to a survey of 6,834 people over the age of 13 by the country`s media regulator, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). South Korea`s OTT usage rate rose to 69.5 per cent, compared with 66.3 per cent from the previous year, amid the stay-at-home trend driven by the pandemic YouTube was the most popular OTT service in South Korea, with its usage rate at 65.5 per cent, followed by Netflix at 24 per cent. Usage rates for homegrown players Wavve and Tving stood at 4.4 per cent each. Also Read: ABG Shipyard Bank Fraud: Who owns the company, timeline of case, and all you need to know The time subscribers spent on OTT services increased to 80 minutes per day last year, compared with 76 minutes the previous year and 60 minutes in 2019. Also Read: WhatsApp big update! Users will soon be able to set profile cover photos Live TV #mute New Delhi: In what could be a major update, WhatsApp has reportedly started working on a new feature that will allow users to set cover photos for their WhatsApp profiles. Currently, WhatsApp only allows users to set their profile photos, and there is no option for setting cover photos on the Meta-owned instant messaging app. However, the feature will be limited to users of the WhatsApp Business app. According to a report by WABetaInfo, Whatsapp is working on a new way for managing the WhatsApp Catalog. WhatsApp is now working on another feature for WhatsApp Business accounts: the ability to set a cover photo, available in a future update!" the site noted. Currently, the WhatsApp Business feature is under development. The media report noted that beta testers of the WhatsApp Business App will notice some changes when the feature is enabled for them. Users will get an additional camera button under the business settings. Using the new camera button, users can add cover photos to their profiles. WhatsApp is planning to introduce a camera button in your Business Settings: you can select a photo or take a new one to use as the cover photo," the site read. Any WhatsApp user visiting the profile of a WhatsApp Business user with cover photo on would be able to see the cover photo. WhatsApp is planning to launch the feature for both WhatsApp Business for iOS and WhatsApp Business for Android. As of now, the feature is in the works. Therefore, its tough to say when WhatsApp will allow WhatsApp Business app users to set their cover photos on the app to present themselves in a better way. Also Read: Garena Free Fire redeem codes for today, February 13: Heres how to get free rewards WABetaInfo noted that WhatsApp will inform the users about the launch of the feature by posting a new story in the Status section of the app. Beta testers of the WhatsApp Business app will be able to see the story first. Also Read: ABG Shipyard Bank Fraud: Who owns the company, timeline of case, and all you need to know Live TV #mute Mumbai: A fire broke out at the sets of the reality show 'Bigg Boss' in Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai, at around 1 pm today. Four fire engines were rushed to the spot to put out the fire. As per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, no injuries have been reported so far. The reason for the fire is still unclear. Meanwhile, the last episode of 'Bigg Boss' Season 15, hosted by superstar Salman Khan, aired on January 30. Actor Tejasswi Prakash lifted the 'Bigg Boss' Season 15 trophy and took home the cash prize of Rs 40 lakhs. New Delhi: Australia said on Sunday it was evacuating its embassy in Kyiv as the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border deteriorated quickly, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling on China to not remain "chillingly silent" on the crisis. The United States and Europe stepped up their warnings of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine, 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. Australia`s embassy staff in Kyiv was directed to a temporary office in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, around 70 kilometres (44 miles) from the border with Poland, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement. "We continue to advise Australians to leave Ukraine immediately by commercial means," Payne said. ALSO READ | Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin on 'decisive' action if Russia 'further' invades Ukraine Morrison said that the situation "is reaching a very dangerous stage" and added that "the autocratic unilateral actions of Russia to be threatening and bullying Ukraine is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable." Morrison, whose government has frigid ties with China, called also on Beijing to speak up for Ukraine, after China criticised a meeting of the U.S., Australian, Japanese and Indian foreign ministers in Melbourne last week. "The Chinese government is happy to criticise Australia ... yet remains chillingly silent on Russian troops amassing on the Ukrainian border," Morrison told a news conference. "The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on." Relations between Australia and China, its top trade partner, soured after Canberra banned Huawei Technologies from its 5G broadband network in 2018, toughened laws against foreign political interference, and urged an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Live TV (CNN) Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border in recent weeks, according to US estimates, raising fears from Western and Ukrainian intelligence officials that an invasion could be imminent. As frantic diplomatic efforts are made to avert war, analysts are warning that Russia's military poses an immediate threat to Ukraine. But if an invasion were to occur, it is not clear where it would begin. Russia has created pressure points on three sides of Ukraine -- in Crimea to the south, on the Russian side of the two countries' border, and in Belarus to the north. Here are the three fronts Ukraine and the West are watching, and the recent Russian movements detected in each. Eastern Ukraine Most attention has been paid to the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists have been in conflict since 2014. The foremost assumption of those watching Russian movements is that Moscow could boost the military might it already possesses in the region, therefore making eastern Ukraine the easiest position from which to launch an invasion. Satellite imagery obtained by CNN shows that a large base at Yelnya, which held Russian tanks, artillery and other armor, has been largely emptied, with the equipment apparently being moved much closer to the frontier in recent days. Large amounts of weaponry were moved to the base late in 2021 before disappearing -- including some 700 tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and ballistic missile launchers. Social media videos since show some of that equipment on trains and roads much further south in the Bryansk region, which is close to Ukraine. The armor and vehicles are identifiably from the same units that had pre-positioned at Yelnya. Stephen Wood, senior director at satellite imagery company Maxar, told CNN: "It looks to me like a considerable amount of the vehicles [tanks, self-propelled artillery and other support vehicles] have departed from the northeastern vehicle park; additional armored vehicles departed from the more central vehicle park." Meanwhile, heightened activity in the Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts, which border northeastern Ukraine, has added to concerns. "We are seeing a massive influx of vehicles and personnel in Kursk," Konrad Muzyka, an expert in tracking military movements with Rochan Consulting, warned on Twitter. Phillip Karber of the Potomac Foundation in Washington, who has also studied Russian troop movements in detail, told CNN this month: "Russia's strongest offensive formation -- the First Guards Tank Army, which is normally stationed in the Moscow area -- has moved south 400 kilometers (250 miles) and is assembling in the optimum area for a rapid armored offensive on the Khursk-Kyiv invasion route." Belarus Concerns have also grown over a vast build-up of Russian troops in Belarus, a country closely allied to Moscow that could provide another way into Ukraine. Russia and Belarus began 10 days of joint military drills on Thursday, the size and timing of which has sparked fears in the West. Moscow's deployment into Belarus is believed to be its biggest there since the Cold War, with "an expected 30,000 combat troops, Spetsnaz special operation forces, fighter jets including SU-35, Iskander dual-capable missiles and S-400 air defense systems," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on February 3. It is also the largest exercise the Belarusian armed forces have conducted at any time of year, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed the purpose of the drills, called "Allied Resolve-2022," included repelling "external aggression." Some fear the build-up points to a Russian plan to surge towards Kyiv from the north. One European diplomat told CNN earlier this month that the massing of forces is a "big, big worry," noting this would be the missing piece that Moscow would need to launch a quick attack on the Ukrainian capital. The joint drills would also provide cover for a flanking movement through Belarus and into northern Ukraine, CSIS warns. And satellite images released by Maxar appear to show that Russia's military has advanced deployments at several locations in Belarus. The deployments are likely linked to the joint exercises, but other photographs show camps being established close to the border with Ukraine, hundreds of miles from where the exercises are taking place. However, if Russia were to focus on the Belarusian border as its entry point to Ukraine, the route would be fraught with difficulties. Russian soldiers would have to negotiate the Pinsk Marshes, also known as the Pripet Marshes, one of Europe's largest wetlands, which straddles the border between Belarus and Ukraine -- a dense, waterlogged and densely forested terrain stretching across 104,000 square miles. That region impeded Nazi forces during Operation Barbarossa, Germany's doomed invasion of the Soviet Union, in 1941. According to the Institute for the Study of War, "the marshes can be difficult, in some places likely impossible, for mechanized forces to traverse when wet." Crimea The peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 would provide a natural staging ground for any new operation, but it is unclear whether Moscow would attempt to launch a move into Ukraine from Crimea. A large deployment of troops and equipment has been observed by Maxar, which assesses that more than 550 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles have arrived north of the Crimean capital, Simferopol. Then a new deployment was identified by Maxar for the first time Thursday near the town of Slavne on the northwest coast of Crimea, including armored vehicles. Those new deployments were observed on the same day that several Russian warships arrived in Sevastopol, Crimea's main port. The Russian Defense Ministry posted images Thursday of six large amphibious landing ships at the port. Ukraine's Navy responded that "Russia continues to militarize the Black Sea Region, transferring additional landing ships to put pressure on Ukraine and the world." Ukraine's naval forces "are ready for development of any scenarios and provocations, to defend the country from the sea," it added. Any move into southern Ukraine could be aided by troops in Transnistria, the Russian-supported breakaway region of Moldova, where build-up has also been reported. CSIS analysts say Russian troops could attempt a coup de main on Odessa, a Ukrainian port city the northwest of Crimea, by "sailing its amphibious ships straight into Odessa's port and moving directly into the city." It calls such a move "a high gain but also a high-risk operation." Odessa is a well-populated city and urban combat there would favor those defending it, while Russian forces would need to eliminate Ukraine's air defenses and then link up with troops arriving from the east of the country. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Russia has surrounded Ukraine on three sides. Here's where an invasion could be launched" New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Saturday (February 12, 2022) told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the West would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine and added that such a step would produce widespread suffering and isolate Moscow. In the latest effort to manage growing hostility, the two leaders spoke over the phone for an hour, a day after Washington and its allies warned that the Russian military, which has 1,00,000 troops massed near Ukraine, could invade at 'any moment'. "President Biden was clear that, if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our Allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia," the White House said in a statement. Biden also reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and 'diminish Russia's standing.' "President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios," the White House added. President Biden spoke with President Vladimir Putin today to make clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the U.S. and our allies will impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden urged President Putin to engage in de-escalation and diplomacy instead. pic.twitter.com/HqK0b65kFm The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2022 Putin, jostling for influence in post-Cold War Europe, is seeking security guarantees from Biden to block Ukraine's entry into NATO and missile deployments near Russia's borders. Moscow has also repeatedly disputed Washington's version of events, saying it has massed the troops near the Ukrainian border to maintain its own security against aggression by NATO allies. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine conflict: Why is Moscow so obsessed with Keiv and can crisis trigger a possible World War III? The call took place amid Israel, Portugal and Belgium joining the list of countries that urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. Earlier on Saturday, the US State Department ordered most of its embassy staff to leave Ukraine. The Pentagon said it was withdrawing about 150 military trainers. Meanwhile, in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, several thousand filed through the centre of the city, chanting 'Glory to Ukraine' and carrying banners that said 'Ukrainians will resist' and 'invaders must die'. Live TV SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight. This includes the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Red, white and blue are the colors adorning one of Albany's newest murals, but artist Mario De Leon is hoping you'll notice it's also about a person of color, whose stories he wants to share. On Southeast Jackson Street between First and Second avenues, you can see the larger-than-life gaze of a bald eagle against the tapestry of an American flag. Alongside it is the face of a man dressed in uniform standing across from a helmet resting on a rifle. The man is Marcelino Serna, the first Mexican-American soldier to receive the Distinguished Service Cross and one of the most decorated Texans of World War I. Born in Chihuahua City, Mexico, Serna came to the U.S. at the age of 20 as a farmhand and a railroad worker. Federal archives report he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917, fighting until returning home to El Paso in 1919 after he was shot in both legs. Serna married and became a U.S. citizen in 1924. He went on to work as a plumber and was the father to six children before dying at age 96 in 1992. De Leon says Serna represents the courage and hard work immigrants bring to American history. "He came over here looking for the American dream," De Leon said. "A lot of people just want to be a part of our culture." Based in the Portland-Gresham area, De Leon delivered tamales for his aunt and worked in a warehouse handling artificial Christmas trees before painting full-time. Art has been De Leon's passion since he was 11 years old and studied at the New York Institute of Art and Design. He paints anything: Tupac, cheesesteaks, you name it. "I literally paint with everything," De Leon said. "I paint everything that unites us as a country." Rain or shine, De Leon braves the elements every day to paint for clients ranging from schools to restaurants. Street art comes with challenges, he said, when it comes to chance encounters with critics or unpleasant passersby. De Leon takes inspiration from artists like Puerto-Rican painter Justin Bua and paints to help change stereotypes about artists and art of color. "Any of the things that I painted was either considered gang-related or political just because it was either me, a brown man painting it, or because somebody saw a brown or Black face," De Leon said. "This is not just brown and Black culture; this is American culture." Albany's Southeast Jackson Street mural was commissioned by a local business owner who, according to De Leon, wanted "something patriotic." De Leon, as a Mexican-American, had his heart set on painting Serna and to his delight, his client agreed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, white people made up 86.6% of Albany's populace in 2020. Hispanic and Latino residents represented 12.6% of the city in 2020. That's why De Leon said he wanted to bring his work to a city like Albany, where Hispanic history may not be as visible as the rest of Oregon. More than anything, De Leon says he wants his work to show what America is capable of if it works together. "People say racism is built within the fabric of the country," De Leon said. "I agree with some of that, but I also agree that our triumphs, our wins, our accomplishments are also within that fabric." Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Just this week, city leaders in Lebanon faced the prospect of sending their chief of police out on patrol after it was reported recent resignations are making it difficult to staff daily shifts. Theyre not the only department dealing with personnel shortages. From officer patrol to corrections to animal control to dispatch, vacancies within various departments at law enforcement agencies across the mid-Willamette valley arent being filled quickly. Agency leaders say its not affecting public safety yet. I think we're kind of at that point that, if it gets worse, then we would really see an impact on service, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan said. But right now, it's more just an impact on the staff, because they have to work that much harder. And so I do worry about them and their stress, and that's why we're working so hard to get hiring done. LCSO is looking to hire seven patrol deputies, four corrections officers, four dispatchers, as well as a custodian and an animal control officer, Duncan said in a Feb. 1 interview. Mid-Valley Media contacted a handful of agencies throughout the area in early February. All were managing shortages. In Benton County, Corvallis Police Department has five patrol openings, public information officer Lt. Gabe Sapp said in a Feb. 7 interview but thats probably only temporary. Thats because officials expect to be down two more by March. Likewise, Benton County Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall said his agency has five patrol deputy openings as of Feb. 3. It's a challenging job and a challenging time, and so as a result, maybe the applicant or candidate pool is a little bit shallower, Van Arsdall said. But there's still a lot of folks that want to do this and get into this profession. A growing trend Law enforcement staffing shortages arent something new. The general consensus among local police departments is that it has been a trend for at least a few years, and vacancies are the result of a variety of factors, including retirement, media portrayal of police, the pandemic and more. As employees age, retirement has played an even larger role in the growing number of vacancies, according to the agencies. The result at LCSO, Duncan said, is a complete shift in demographics. We went from a very veteran, older experienced staff to now our staff just patrol for example probably three-quarters of our staff has five years or less experience, she said. Beyond retirement, some officers are leaving to jump to other agencies or exiting the field altogether, making retention and hiring more important than ever. The scramble to plug the holes is on. In one year, since February 2021, Albany Police Department has hired nine officers, Capt. Brad Liles said. In a normal year, the department will typically hire about one to three officers, according to Liles. He described the number of officers hired in the last year as unprecedented. And yet, as of Feb. 8, there are three open officer positions and one open dispatch position at Albany PD, Liles said. An unappealing occupation Whether by retirement or for greener pastures, that public safety employees are leaving law enforcement agencies is only half the problem. The pace of hiring replacements is another challenge, with implications for those in the field. Our calls haven't really slowed down, Duncan said. We're still taking those calls, we're still trying to give the public the best service. That's really important to us to not cut any of our services, which is why hiring has probably been my biggest priority since taking over as the sheriff. Duncan, who was sworn in Jan. 3, 2022 as the countys first female sheriff after more than 20 years with LCSO, believes media-influenced public perception of police has shrunk the candidate pool. The media has put us in a bad light, Duncan said. I truly believe it's the media and the way they portray some things. It's made our profession probably a little less attractive. Corvallis Sapp also credited media scrutiny with dissuading applications and making the occupation less desirable. The department has seen a continual decline in the number of applicants in recent years. The national narrative has put us in the spotlight, he said. Some of it paints a poor picture of what we do. Members of local law enforcement say the negative portrayal of the industry, paired with the jobs dangers, leads to the dearth of applicants. Take Linn County: where since December, there have been four incidents in which officers were allegedly threatened by suspects. In one week alone in December, there were three separate incidents in the county where officers were reportedly threatened. In some of these cases, deputies fired their weapons at the suspect in response to the threats. The most recent incident was Jan. 26 in Albany. Yet another complication The pandemic is yet another factor hindering agencies ability to actively recruit candidates for open positions. Officials say state health requirements and recommendations the last two years have made it more difficult to safely and responsibly go out into the community for hiring fairs. Instead, Van Arsdall said BCSO has relied heavily on social media to get word out about open positions. At the Linn County Sheriffs Office, Duncan is taking a new approach to hiring events. On Saturday, Jan. 29, LCSO held an all-day event with the hope of accelerating the hiring process. Duncan said the hiring process can take a long time as applicants must pass background checks, psychological evaluations, written exams, agility tests and interviews. The goal was to push applicants through at least some of the tests, like the Oregon Physical Abilities Test, and interviews during the daylong event. Duncan said it was a success on multiple fronts. According to a LCSO Facebook post, the event attracted 35 applicants. There were 21 entry-level patrol applicants, six entry-level correction applicants, two lateral corrections applicants and six applicants for dispatch. The benefit that we saw that we really didn't think about until we were in the event is the applicants got a chance to kind of get to know really what the family atmosphere that we have here is, Duncan said. Sapp and Liles both said one of the bigger hurdles to hiring is the elongated timeline, from the time they apply to getting officers fully trained and into the field. The process can take up to a year, Sapp said, which when you factor in continuing retirements and officers making lateral moves to other agencies doesnt necessarily translate to a full staff out on patrol each day, even if on paper, the agency is fully staffed. You cant just hire someone and have them start the next day, Liles said. Quality over quantity The problem isnt that no one is applying to work for the agencies, however. Finding qualified applicants is the struggle, according to the departments. When I first got into it in the mid-90s, I'd go take a test someplace, and there'd be 2,500 applicants for Portland Police Bureau, Van Arsdall said. Now, obviously, the pool is a little bit shallower, but everybody's still looking for good, qualified candidates. And so, if I'm a new prospective police candidate, I can apply to a lot of different places and kind of be a little bit pickier. As a result, that has created some hiring challenges. All agency representatives stressed wanting to find qualified candidates to fill roles. While staffing shortages are an inconvenience, they dont want to hire someone just for the sake of hiring them. Duncan said shes seen a lot of applicants interested in the field because of the social work aspect of the job. However, some of these candidates arent necessarily prepared for the field work or dont anticipate the dangerous aspects of the role, she said. The agencies said theyve seen a mix of lateral applicants and those with less experience. Competing with other agencies Those who are interested in law enforcement have a variety of options in the mid-Willamette Valley. Because of this, Duncan said the local agencies are competing with each other for applicants in a way they havent always had to do. I think right now all agencies are in a pinch to where they're hurting so much for applicants that you see all these hiring bonuses going around, Duncan said. And you have to be kind of competitive with the other agencies. But I'm hoping that we're not creating a situation where a law enforcement officer or deputy is going from one agency to another because there's a better hiring bonus. With the number of job openings so high, APDs Liles said, local agencies are competing with not just their neighboring departments but with agencies throughout the state. Were competing with applicants who have put in applications in Portland, Eugene, and probably the coast too, Liles said. Then theres the competition from other industries. According to the Oregon Employment Department, the states unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% in December 2021. Benton Countys unemployment rate sits at 3.1% and Linn Countys unemployment rate is 4.6%. The unemployment rates across the state and local counties are decreasing, but job vacancies are increasing. According to OED data, job vacancies were up 88% in the fall 2021 quarter when compared to the fall 2020 quarter. That tight labor market may play a role in why departments are facing these staffing shortages. There are plenty of employment opportunities in a variety of industries, and many of those jobs allow for remote work something thats not practical and oftentimes not possible in law enforcement. We are competing with the private sector where you can work remotely, you can do some different things, Van Arsdall said. And that might be attractive to somebody who maybe was on the fence about getting into this profession. Keeping communities safe For the sheriffs offices in particular, a full working staff is critical. Although BCSO headquarters are based in Corvallis and LCSOs in Albany, the agencies are the main law enforcement services for some of the smaller, more remote cities within their respective counties. These smaller towns are the ones that may be most at risk of feeling the impacts of staffing shortages. However, Van Arsdall, who often attends city county council meetings for Benton County towns, said the community seems to be content with the agencys services. They're happy with the service they're receiving, he said. If I go to a meeting and find out they're not, then we need to start addressing some stuff. But currently, it sure seems like everybody's pretty pleased with the services they're receiving from this office. Heading in the right direction Despite the shortages, law enforcement agencies are hopeful for the near future. As of Feb. 3, Van Arsdall said he had four job offers on the table to BCSO candidates. That's about as many as I could do at a time simply from a training standpoint, he said. Im hoping to possibly have another process here shortly for that fifth spot, but I have to space it because I don't have enough training deputies. While job vacancies still exist, the ability to fill these positions albeit at a slower pace than in the past seems to signal a desire to protect and serve is still alive. A hopeful future Duncans teenage daughter is interested in following in her moms footsteps. While her daughter was in middle school, Duncan full-heartedly encouraged her child to enter the field she herself has grown to love. But the last few years have been tough, Duncan said. She has even questioned whether to support her daughters aspiration. We had the last couple of years where it seemed like law enforcement cant do anything right, she said. And it gave me pause, worrying about her in this profession. But Duncan said she still believes in this job and the cause. And her daughter, now a senior in high school, plans to go to college and study law enforcement. At the end of the day, I have to say that I still believe in this profession, she said. And we still need really good people wanting to do it for the right reasons. After I thought about it long and hard, I'll do nothing but encourage her to do this. Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_ Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. The omicron surge's likely peak last week does not change the crisis facing Colorado's front-line health providers, the head of an emergency p CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Koalas were declared officially endangered Friday in eastern Australia as they fall prey to disease, lost habitat and other threats. Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley downgraded their conservation status across the country's east coast in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, on a recommendation by the government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee. Earlier they had been listed as a vulnerable species. Many koalas in Australia suffer from chlamydia. Koala populations in New South Wales have fallen by 33%-61% since 2001. In 2020, a parliamentary inquiry warned the species might become extinct before 2050 without urgent intervention. The number of koalas in Queensland has fallen by half since 2001 due to drought, fires and deforestation. Some are killed in attacks by dogs or run over on roads. "Koalas have gone from no-listing to vulnerable to endangered within a decade. That is a shockingly fast decline," said Stuart Blanch, a conservation scientist with the World Wildlife Fund-Australia. "Today's decision is welcome, but it won't stop koalas from sliding toward extinction unless it's accompanied by stronger laws and landholder incentives to protect their forest homes," he said. The Australian Koala Foundation estimates that there are less than 100,000 koalas left in the wild, possibly as few as 43,000. Summer brushfires in 2019-20 killed at least 6,400 of the animals, as rescuers worked desperately to save them and treat their injuries. "There have been many pressures on the koala. The Black Summer fires, of course, was a tipping point. But we know the koala is vulnerable to climate change and to disease," Ley told reporters at the Blue Mountains on Friday. Ley said vaccines to prevent and treat chlamydia among koalas, the use of drones to study them and restoration of habitat are ways to the government is helping protect the vulnerable marsupial. The government contends that listing koalas as endangered will highlight and help address threats, while conservation groups argue more has to be done to prevent their extinction. The Australian Koala Foundation has called for legislation to protect them and curb land clearing and mining projects that are wrecking their habitats. It says koalas also are in danger across Victoria and South Australia. Deborah Tabart, chair of the foundation, said the designation of koalas as endangered was "nothing but a token gesture." "Behind all the photo opportunities and political rhetoric they (the federal government) continue to approve the destruction of koala habitat," she said. By Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijani Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva has brought to the international community's attention the Armenia-committed massacres in Shusha region's Malibayli and Gushchular villages on February 10-12, 1992. The commissioner stated that Armenian armed forces committed genocide in the villages of Malibayli, Ashagi Gushchular, and Yukhari Gushchular in Shusha region 30 years ago, killing approximately 50 peaceful Azerbaijanis, including children, women, and the elderly, and completely burning down the villages. Throughout history, Armenia's ethnic cleansing and genocide policy against Azerbaijanis has led to crimes that have resulted in civilian massacres. Peaceful Azerbaijani families in the villages of Malibayli and Gushchular were among those who fell victim to this heinous anti-human policy. Following the massacres in the aforementioned villages, the Armenian armed forces continued their atrocities with apparent impunity in Garadaghli, Aghdaban, and committed one of the century's greatest tragedies, the Khojaly genocide. "I believe that the members of Armenia's armed forces and military-political leadership who committed the most heinous crimes against humanity will be brought to international legal responsibility very soon," she concluded. In 2020, a counter-offensive operation was launched to prevent another military aggression against Azerbaijan and to ensure the security of the civilian population. Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia for nearly 30 years were liberated in a short time, and the violated rights of compatriots were restored. As a result of the war crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan during these military operations, more than 100 civilians, including more than 10 children were killed, more than 450 people were wounded, 12,000 civilian objects, including more than 3,410 houses, 120 multifloored apartments, 512 civilian infrastructure, including apartment buildings and numerous schools, hospitals, and kindergartens, as well as our historic, religious, and cultural monuments were destroyed or severely damaged, she added. It should be mentioned that in the 20th century, Armenians perpetrated systematic crimes and atrocities against Azerbaijanis to break the spirit of the nation and annihilate the Azerbaijani people of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Khojaly genocide is regarded as the culmination of Armenian mass murders. Some 613 Azerbaijanis, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 elders were brutally murdered on the ground of national identity in Khojaly in 1992. This heinous act was preceded by a slew of others. Armenians set fire to around 20 buildings in the Baghanis-Ayrim village of Gazakh region, killing eight Azerbaijanis. A family of five, including a 39-day-old newborn, were all burnt alive. Between June and December 1991, Armenian troops murdered 12 and wounded 15 Azerbaijanis in Khojavand region's Garadaghli and Asgaran region's Meshali villages. Armenian military detachments bombed buses on the Shusha-Jamilli, Aghdam-Khojavand, and Aghdam-Garadaghli routes in August and September of the same year, killing 17 Azerbaijanis and injuring over 90 others. In October and November 1991, Armenians burned, destroyed, and plundered over 30 settlements in the mountainous area of Karabakh, including Tugh, Imarat-Garvand, Sirkhavand, Meshali, Jamilli, Umudlu, Garadaghli, Karkijahan, and other significant villages. There are three things going on in our state government right now that make me wonder how far out of reason some of our legislators have become. First, there is a move to eliminate the 4% grocery tax. Now, on the surface anyone would like to see a 4% tax reduction. But think about this -- that tax puts nearly $500 million into the Education Trust Fund each year. The proposal to eliminate this tax does nothing to replace those funds for education in our state. Some legislators have even said we do not need this money anymore because we have plenty. I can recall legislators practically drooling to get their hands on ETF money in the past to help fund our state. Second, Sen. Del Marsh has introduced legislation that would enable parents to pull their children from a "failing" public school and send them to any private, home or other school -- along with the state appropriation of funding for those children. This is approximately $6,300 per child. Why would a state senator not be more concerned about making our schools successful, instead of taking money away from their funding? Isn't inadequate funding one of the causes of failing schools? Finally, some legislators have decided that it is a violation of our constitutional rights if we have to register with the Sheriff's Department to carry a concealed weapon. This can be debated until the cows come home, but perhaps the strongest argument against this is that virtually EVERY sheriff and law officer in the state thinks this is a bad idea. Is it possible that this pandemic has made some of the characters in our legislature more out of touch with reality? Joe Warren Dothan 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: Dinh Tue Tam has been spending about two hours every day with a group of friends scouting for rental houses after learning his school would reopen Feb. 28. Tam, a sophomore student at Hanoi University of Pharmacy, returned to neighboring Hai Phong Province to celebrate Reunification Day (April 30) and Labor Day (May 1) last year and has remained there since after Covid resurfaced last April, forcing schools across the country to switch to remote learning. At the time, Tam and his roommate still paid the monthly rent of VND1.7 million ($74.93), hoping the outbreak would quickly subside so he could return to school. But Tam grew impatient since she has still not received any notice to return to school half a year later. College students move into the dormitory of Vietnam National University in HCMC on Feb. 11, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Tung Since she was still in Hai Phong, Tam decided to return her room last November. She didn't want to prolong the payment without knowing when she would return to class. Her school would resume in-person learning later this month, Tam and five classmates have been searching for a two-bedroom apartment with rent between VND6-7 million a month. Though they have been looking for accommodation since Lunar New Year, the group have yet to find a suitable spot. "I missed securing three or four places in a row, so my friends and I plan to return to Hanoi on Feb. 20, then split up to search. We'll deposit right away if we find a suitable spot," Tam explained. If she is unable to find a place to live before the "deadline" of Feb. 28, she will stay with friends or acquaintances before continuing her search. The Ministry of Education and Training has strongly called for localities to reopen schools after Lunar New Year. Pham Quang Hung, head of the Ministry of Education and Training's International Cooperation Department, said reopening schools is inevitable since the vaccine rate is high. In Vietnam, most people aged 12 and above have received two Covid vaccine shots. All universities and colleges agreed to reopen in February. While some schools have not specified a date, many students are scrambling to find accommodation at present. Mai Huong, a senior at Hanoi Law University, has been scouting for accommodation even before the Lunar New Year holiday from Jan. 29-Feb. 6. She said since many schools have reopened, her school will eventually do to the same. She and two friends had rented a mini-apartment for more than VND5 million per month before the fourth Covid wave struck in April last year. In October last year, Huong returned the house since she couldn't afford to pay the rent on her own after a friend found other accommodation while the other graduated. The student from northern Quang Ninh Province is looking for a room for around VND3-3.5 million and wants to share the cost with another friend. "My friend will return to Hanoi in the next few days. So I will ask her friend to search, check the room in person and make a deposit as soon as possible," Huong said. When Vietnam was fighting its most challenging Covid wave, Tam, Huong and many college students returned their rented rooms to go home. Ha Trong Hieu, 35, the owner of nearly 300 rental rooms, stated that in the last few months of last year, the rate of students checking out reached up to 80 percent. Now, after most universities announced the resumption of in-person learning, he receives 50-60 inquiries a day. "Students are primarily looking for accommodation for 2-3 people with rent around VND2-3.5 million per month," Hieu said. He revealed that this is his first time seeing a surge in rental demand in February during his six years in the lodging industry. Houses for rent near the National University, HCMC's Thu Duc City. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Tung In the days following Lunar New Year, there have been hundreds of inquiries on many student accommodation groups online with students searching for suitable accommodation near their schools. Students usually find housing from one of three sources: blocks of rented accommodation near schools, houses of acquaintances, and dormitories. Recognizing student needs, many schools reserve a space on their official sites to connect students with landlords and innkeepers, attracting 1,000 comments in a matter of days. Not just in Hanoi, millions of students in Ho Chi Minh City plan to look for housing when returning to the city as many schools have announced they would reopen this month. Currently, all schools have teams that assist students in finding housing in dorms or hostels. Hoang Thi Thoa, deputy director of the Center for Admissions and Student Support at HCMC's University of Food Industry said: "After Tet, there is a high demand for student housing, and dormitories are nearly full. The school has compiled a list of good and inexpensive rooms for students to check out." What is Valentine's Day and when is it celebrated? Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th every year, and its mainly a day to express love and affection to your significant other, but also your friends and family. Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is a day on which people express their affection for another person by sending them a card with a message of love, and/or gifts such as chocolates or flowers. The oldest known Valentine's Day message dates back to 1415, when the Duke of Orleans sent a poem to his wife from the Tower of London, where he was being held prisoner. Today, Valentine's Day has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to research carried out by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, people in the US are expected to spend a total of $21.8bn in the process of celebrating the occasion in 2021. Full screen A florist works on products for sale ahead of Valentine's Day. AHMED YOSRI (REUTERS) Origins of Valentine's Day and choice of 14 February Lupercalia: Roman festival of fertility The origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to Roman times, to a pagan feast that was a slightly less romantic affair than the celebration we have today. Called Lupercalia, it was an alcohol-fuelled festival held from 13 to 15 February, in which men would sacrifice a goat and a dog before whipping women with the dead animals' hides. Noel Lenski, a historian at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has told NPR that women would encourage men to hit them, as it was believed the action would increase their fertility. Lupercalia also involved men and women being paired together for the feast - and even until the following years celebration - by pulling their names out of a hat. At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I then replaced Lupercalia, a festival he branded "un-Christian", with the Feast of St Valentine, to be celebrated on 14 February in honour of the martyred St Valentine. Who was St Valentine? The Catholic Church recognises several St Valentines, so the saint in question is officially known as St Valentine of Rome to differentiate him from the others. Exactly who he was is not absolutely clear, although there are two main candidates. He could be a Roman priest and physician executed during Emperor Claudius IIs persecution of Christians on 14 February in about 270. He has alternatively been identified as the Bishop of Terni, likewise martyred by Claudius in Rome on 14 February. These two people might also be one and the same person. Legends surrounding St Valentine After being sentenced to death, it is said St Valentine fell in love with his jailers daughter and sent her letters signed "from your Valentine". According to another legend, he secretly married couples despite the emperor prohibiting young men from marriage because he believed they made better soldiers if they were single. Connection with love also linked to Chaucer poem In these legends, the connections between St Valentine and romance are clear to see; however, it is also suggested that Valentines Day didn't definitively become associated with love until many, many years later. Indeed, the growth of notion that Valentine's Day is a celebration for lovers has been linked to English poet Geoffrey Chaucers late-14th-century poem 'Parlement of Foules', which drew on the belief that 14 February marked the start of birds mating season. In the poem, described by the British Library as a "humorous and at times philosophical exploration of the idea of love", Chaucer talks of "Seynt Valentyne's day" as a time when "every foul cometh ther to choose his mate". Gift ideas for your mom, significant other, and friends: You can never go wrong gifting flowers or chocolate to whoever it may be, no matter your relationship! However, if you are looking for a nice gift for your wife or significant other, consider a necklace or piece of jewelry. A simple gift like a pack of candy for your friends is an easy and nice gift to pass out at the office or to pack in your child's backpack to give out at school. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, a loving card is always appreciated. Vietnam is striving to sustainably develop its fishery and promote responsible practices, according to a draft national plan on protecting and exploiting aquatic resources from 2021 2030, with a vision towards 2050. (Photo: VNA) Under the plan, the country will not only effectively exploit but also protect and recover aquatic resources and preserve biodiversity by 2030, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Over the next decade, Vietnam will promote the sustainable development of the sector and responsible practices to meet international standards. The industry will be restructured with more suitable production models, improving product quality, and good practices for environment protection and adaption to climate change. By 2050, Vietnam eyes to become a nation a the sustainable and modern fishery sector that approaches those of regional and global peers. It also targets to effectively protect and expand the biodiversity and improve livelihood and living standard of coastal residents, contributing to ensuring social welfare and safeguarding the national independence and sovereignty. Twenty-eight Vietnamese coastal localities are doubling efforts to observe the 2017 Law on Fisheries and remove the European Commission (EC)s yellow card warning on fishery products from Vietnam. Over the last decade, Vietnams fishery output reached 8.4 million tonnes and the industry provided jobs for about 4.8 million people, including fishermen and services and logistics workers./. On Feb. 13, 35 Chinese and foreign journalists visited the Yard 11 of Changdian community in Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. In recent years, Yard 11 of Changdian underwent an urban renewal, and the old community has been transformed into a greener and more livable status. In the newly built community space, journalists participated in intangible cultural heritage activities in celebration of the Winter Olympics, like writing Chinese calligraphy, woodblock printing, and guessing the lantern riddles. Many children and elderly from the community also participated with us, displaying the liveliness of Yard 11 of Changdian after its reconstruction. Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows entrance of Changdian Hutong, at Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows before and after comparisons of the public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community after the reconstruction project, in Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows guessing the lantern riddles in Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows elderly people making Yuanxiao (Glutinous Rice Balls), a traditional Chinese food eaten during the Lantern Festival, in the community public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows a person writing Chinese calligraphy in the community public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows a child participating in an intangible cultural heritage activity in the community public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District. (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows people learning the dance of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics theme song, Together for a Shared Future, in the community public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows people learning the dance of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics theme song, Together for a Shared Future, in the community public space of Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows the Community Service Center of Yard 11 of Changdian community, in Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows Yard 11 of Changdian community, in Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2022 shows snow falling on a lantern in Yard 11 of Changdian community, Dashilan Sub-district of Beijing's Xicheng District (Zhang Junye/Guangming Picture) Editor: JYZ By Trend The Shusha Declaration is very important for the future of the two peoples because the Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are reaching a completely new level thanks to this declaration, the Turkish Presidential Administration told TurkicWorld and Trend reports. "The Shusha Declaration is such a declaration that covering all spheres of previous and current Azerbaijan-Turkey relations, brings them to the stable future," the Presidential Administration said. The Presidential Administration also stressed that according to the declaration, Azerbaijan and Turkey will continue to make the efforts to strengthen stability and security in the Caucasus region, restore all economic and transport ties, as well as normalize the relations between the regional countries and ensure long-term peace. The Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, was approved by the parliaments of both countries. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the law on Approval of the Shusha Declaration "On allied relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkey" on Feb. 12. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a corresponding decision on entering of the Shusha Declaration into force during a meeting with a delegation from the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States on Feb. 11. The Egyptian Public Prosecution has released journalists Amer Abdel-Moneim, Hany Gerisha and Essam Abdeen, Head of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate Diaa Rashwan announced late on Saturday. Sudan will raise the capacity of its power grid link with Egypt from 70 MW to 300 MW and later to 1,000 MW after static compensators were delivered this week, the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum announced in a statement Thursday. Egyptian film critic Ahmed Shawky was chosen last week to head the jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) competition at the 75th Cannes International Film Festival. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have visited Aghdam district, Azertag reported on February 13. The head of state and First Lady attended the opening of AzerEnergy Open Joint Stock Companys 110/35/10 kV Aghdam-1 and Aghdam-2 electrical substations and the Digital Management Center of the Karabakh Regional Electric Network. President of AzerEnergy Open Joint Stock Company Baba Rzayev informed the head of state and the First Lady of the work done. The head of state inaugurated the Aghdam-1 power substation at the Karabakh Regional Digital Management Center. A green area was laid out and a fruit garden was created, a special irrigation system was installed at 2,5 hectares of territory. The head of state was informed that new 110/35/10 kV Aghdam-2 substation was also constructed at the direction of Shelli village near Asgaran, Aghdam district. President Ilham Aliyev launched the Aghdam-2 substation via SCADA dispatch control system. Next, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended a groundbreaking ceremony for two enterprises in the Aghdam Industrial Park. Acting Chairman of the Agency for Development of Economic Zones Elshad Nuriyev informed the head of state and the First Lady of the work to be done. The Aghdam Industrial Park occupies an area of 190 hectares. Five business entities have already been registered as residents of the Industrial Park. Smartpoint LLC, a resident of the Aghdam Industrial Park, will organize the production of light poles and other devices powered by alternative and renewable energy sources (mainly solar energy) as part of a project to be implemented here. The investment cost of the project is AZN 9.1 million. The enterprise will produce 21,000 light poles and other devices with a capacity of 40 megawatts per year. The enterprise will create 80 permanent jobs. Another resident, Dadash-N LLC, will manufacture a variety of synthetic carpets as part of a project to be implemented in the Industrial Park. The investment cost of the project is AZN 9.5 million. The enterprise will manufacture 700,00 square meters of carpets a year. The enterprise will create 60 permanent jobs. The head of state laid the foundation for the two enterprises. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Park Forest Hotel Aghdam to be constructed in the city of Aghdam. Chairman of the Board of PMD Projects LLC Nariman Topchibashev informed the President and the First Lady of the project. The Park Forest Hotel Aghdam to be constructed in 2,16 hectares of territory will feature 110 rooms. The head of the state laid the foundation stone for the hotel. Furthermore,President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a 209-apartment new residential complex in Aghdam. Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region Emin Huseynov and Chairman of the Board of PMD Projects LLC Nariman Topchibashev informed the head of state and his wife of the complex to be built. Six residential buildings will be built on a total area of 1.55 hectares. The construction of the complex is expected to be completed in December 2023. The head of the state laid the foundation stone for the residential complex. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the the progress of restoration work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at Aghdam Juma Mosque. Coordinator of projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the liberated territories Sabig Abdullayev informed the President and the First Lady of the work done. The Aghdam Juma Mosque was built in 1868-1870 by architect Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi. This mosque is the only building in the city that has been less damaged by Armenians during the occupation of Aghdam. The restoration of the Juma Mosque has been started by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. An agreement was signed with the Austrian Brugger & KO Restauratoren GmbH company to implement the project. After viewing the work done here, the President made a speech. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the 210-bed Aghdam District Central Hospital. Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov informed the head of state and the First Lady of the work to be done. The hospital will occupy an area of more than 6 hectares. The head of the state laid the foundation stone for the hospital. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed conditions created at special representative office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region. Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region Emin Huseynov informed the President and the First Lady of the conditions created at the office. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva also visited the tombs and house Imaret complex of the Karabakh khans in Aghdam. Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region (except Shusha district) Emin Huseynov informed the head of state and his wife of the works to be done at the complex. This historical and architectural monument of the 18th century is one of the first estates of the khan dynasty and consists of two buildings. As opposed to other khan's palaces located on the Azerbaijani territory, it was a luxurious house. Therefore, it was also called Panah Ali khan's palace. Like other historical, cultural, and religious monuments in the occupied territories, Panah Ali khan's palace was desecrated and vandalized by the Armenians. It was used as a stable. The Imaret cemetery located near the khan's palace, where many representatives of the dynasty of the Karabakh khans were buried, was also vandalized by the Armenians. This months e-Finance share offer will ease the resumption of Egypts initial public offers programme, financial experts tell Al-Ahram Weekly. Subscription to the state-owned e-Finance Companys initial public offering (IPO) comprising 1.6 per cent of shares started on 10 October, amid indications that the fintech platform and payments infrastructure company had garnered unprecedented success on the first day of the offering. The subscription runs through 17 October. Meanwhile, the companys private placement, representing 14.5 per cent of its total shares and targeting financial institutions in several markets, including Egypt, ran from 6 to 11 October. The results have yet to be disclosed. The company said it was offering to sell 257.8 million shares, or 16.1 per cent of the total, to the public, including 177.8 million new shares and 80 million shares owned by current shareholders, at a price range of between LE12.5 and LE13.8. Ninety per cent of the offering is slated for the private placement, while the remaining 10 per cent is set aside for the local stock market. The companys shareholders include three state-owned banks, the National Investment Bank, with 63.64 per cent of the shares, and the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr, each with 9.09 per cent. The Egyptian Banks Company, a payments operator led by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Egyptian Company for Investment Projects, each own another 9.09 per cent of the shares, according to Reuters. Trading in the companys shares is supposed to start on 20 October. The e-Finance IPO is meant to boost the financial market, increase trading on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, and attract investors, according to analysts. The proceeds of the offering will be employed in financing expansion plans, part of the companys growth strategy. According to Ibrahim Sarhan, chairman and managing director of e-Finance, the proceeds will be used to seize opportunities in the field of digital transactions, with the help of the latest technologies in services and innovative solutions to maximise the benefit for all parties involved, including government bodies, the business community, companies, and customers. The company will capitalise on the modernisation of its organisational structure, integrated strategic vision, and expanded operational capabilities. e-Finance is a strategic partner of the government, particularly the Finance Ministry, when it comes to electronic payments for national projects. In cooperation with other companies, it has been engaged in a public pilot project for e-invoices. The project targets greater control over the informal economic sector and integrating it into the formal economy to achieve a fairer tax system and better regulation of the national economy. The e-invoice system is part of the Ministry of Finances e-billing system. Raising the efficiency of the tax system, combating tax evasion, and collecting state dues for the good of the national economy are some of the targets of the project. e-Finance has also been engaged in several government projects to accelerate digital transformation and boost governance. Abanob Magdi, vice president of research for the banking and financial institutions sector at Beltone, an investment bank, said that e-Finance was the only company in Egypt that systemises e-payments for government projects. The size of its operations amounts to more than LE2 trillion, while competitor Fawrys operations are estimated at LE80 billion. Magdi said that the payments sector in Egypt was witnessing significant growth, explaining that the e-Finance IPO had seen a large turnout and the entry of new investors into the market. He said that the price offered per share is very appropriate, even less than its fair value. Mina Rafik, head of research at Al-Marwa, agreed, adding that the offered price was 39-fold the price-earnings ratio. Rafik said the offering would appeal to foreign institutions due to the large portion slated for institutional investors through the private placement as compared to the meagre share targeting retail investors. The Stock Exchange listing committee agreed on 4 October to list e-Finance as a communications, media, and information-technology company. It stipulated that the company complete the offering process within a month of registration with the supervisory authority. If not, its registration will be considered void unless the committee decides to extend the period. Rafik said that now was not the best time to be offering shares, adding that trading had regressed by LE800-LE900 million on a daily basis. Trading had earlier recorded about LE2 billion per day, he said. He commended the decision to resume the IPOs programme, especially since the value of the market capital, estimated at LE700 billion, represents 10 per cent of GDP. He added that the market needs larger IPOs to increase market value and consequently raise Egypts standing in global indicators, such as that of the US bank Morgan Stanley. He said the e-Finance IPOs would reflect positively on the Egyptian Exchange and give a boost to the flexible resumption of the IPOs programme. Magdi concurred, saying that an IPO for Misr Life Insurance in the second half of the current fiscal year had recently been announced and that IPOs for Banque du Caire and shares in the Bank of Alexandria were in the pipeline. *A version of this article appears in print in the 14 October, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The government is raising the price of the wheat it buys from farmers by 13 per cent to encourage them to cultivate more land. In a move meant to encourage farmers to increase the amount of land planted with wheat, the government has announced it will raise the price of the wheat it buys from farmers by 13 per cent during the coming season in 2022. The new prices were decided by the ministries of supply, agriculture, and finance ahead of the cultivation season. In a joint statement, the three ministries said on Thursday that the government would buy an ardab of wheat for between LE800 and LE820 instead of the LE705 to LE725 it used to pay in previous seasons. One ardab is around 150 kg. The decision is based on the international rise in wheat prices to their highest in a decade. The price of wheat has increased worldwide because of bad weather, hikes in fertiliser prices, and increases in import costs. Egypt is the worlds largest importer of wheat, paying large sums to import the countrys needs. International tenders this year recorded their highest prices in five years. Ali Moselhi, the minister of supply and internal trade, said the price the government will pay farmers for wheat would be decided according to international prices in the three months before the harvest season. He said that farmers would be able to sell their crop for a price 20 per cent higher than last year. Egypt grows some nine million tons of wheat at present, or 55 per cent of local consumption. The government buys around half this from farmers to produce subsidised bread for ration-card holders, Moselhi explained, adding that there are 71 million card holders in Egypt, each entitled to five loaves of bread a day. The decision to raise prices would incentivise farmers to grow more wheat, said Hussein Abu Saddam, head of the Farmers Syndicate. He said the price set by the government was equal to international prices and should act as an incentive. Farmers could make LE11,000 in profit from each feddan of wheat sold, Abu Saddam said. If the international price of wheat increases, the government may have to raise what it pays farmers further, he added. Egypts farmers are not obliged to sell their crop to the government unless they are likely to make profits, he added. Farmers are free to sell their wheat to the government, the private sector, which uses it to make pasta, or to bakeries that produce pastries and sweets. There are some 3.5 million feddans of land cultivated with wheat in Egypt, with each feddan producing between 18 and 24 ardabs. Tarek Hassanein, head of the Chamber of the Grain Industry in the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said that the countrys farmers sell 100,000 tons of wheat to the private sector and 3.5 million tons to the government. He expects that new seeds distributed in Minya and Beni Sweif and grown in the coming season will increase the quality and quantity of the harvested wheat. The governments decision to announce an increase in what it will pay for wheat ahead of the harvest season is the result of the international hike in prices, said Amr Al-Hosni, head of the Wheat Division at the Chamber of the Grain Industry. He said the government should have announced that it will buy wheat from farmers for between LE5,500 and LE6,000 per ardab to match current international prices and expects the government to buy about four million tons of wheat from farmers during the next season, up from 3.5 million tons this year. *A version of this article appears in print in the 18 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A local Israeli committee on Wednesday approved plans for the construction of more than 3,500 settler housing units in east Jerusalem, nearly half in a particularly controversial area, according to Peace Now, an anti-settlement monitoring group. Peace Now said the construction of the homes would largely cut off the city from the southern part of the occupied West Bank, further complicating any efforts to create a functioning Palestinian state. The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to refrain from settlement construction. The projects were approved by a municipal committee and will be considered by a district committee on Jan. 17. It would likely be years before any construction takes place, but Peace Now says once the approval process is underway, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop. One plan would build 1,465 housing units between Givat Hamatos and Har Homa, two especially controversial settlements, further cutting off east Jerusalem from the Palestinian city of Bethlehem and the southern West Bank. Another 2,092 homes would be built elsewhere in east Jerusalem. Israel captured east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and views the entire city as its capital. It considers the West Bank to be the biblical and historical heartland of the Jewish people. Israel's current government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, has ruled out any major initiatives to resolve the decades-old conflict but has taken limited steps to improve living conditions in the occupied territories. The Jerusalem municipality says it is committed to building in all parts of the city for the benefit of Jewish and Arab residents. But discriminatory policies make it nearly impossible for Palestinians to legally build new homes or expand their neighborhoods, while Israel encourages the expansion of settlements intended for Jewish residents. Authorities are advancing ``far-reaching plans that post facts on the ground that undermine the possibility of peace,'' Peace Now said in a statement. A similar plan to build some 9,000 housing units on the site of an abandoned airport in east Jerusalem was placed on hold late last year. The Palestinians view settlements in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank as a major obstacle to peace. Most of the international community _ which overwhelmingly supports a two-state solution to the conflict _ considers the settlements to be a violation of international law. The last serious peace negotiations broke down more than a decade ago. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli police on Wednesday evicted Palestinian residents from a disputed property in a flashpoint Jerusalem neighbourhood and demolished the building, days after a tense standoff. The predawn demolition took place in Sheikh Jarrah, an East Jerusalem neighbourhood where attempts by Jewish settlers to evict longtime Palestinian residents have sparked protests that last year helped lead to an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants. The latest demolition is a separate case, with the city removing the family to make way for what it says will be a large special-needs school for Palestinian children in the area. But it also has set off local protests and drawn international criticism. Early this week, residents of the building held a tense standoff with police who came to evict them. They climbed on the roof of the home and threatened to set gas tanks on fire. Eventually, police backed off, after demolishing a nearby plant nursery owned by the family. Police moved in under the cover of darkness early Wednesday, removing the family and demolishing the home. Police said 18 people were arrested for public disorder. The Salhiya family say they purchased the property before 1967, when Israel captured east Jerusalem, while the state has argued against the family's claims in court. The municipality says the land was always zoned for public use and seized the property in 2017. It says the Salhiya family are squatters, and the buildings were constructed illegally in the 1990s. It says it will compensate the rightful owners and build the school to serve the local Palestinian community. "These illegal buildings had been preventing the construction of a school which can benefit the children of the entire Sheikh Jarrah community,'' the city and police said in a joint statement. The case has been in court for several years, and a Jerusalem judge last year ruled in favour of the city and authorized the eviction. The family has appealed and is awaiting a ruling, but the judge did not freeze the eviction order. Palestinians in East Jerusalem say it is almost impossible to get building authorization from the city, forcing them to build homes without permits. Hagit Ofran, a researcher for the anti-settlement group Peace Now, acknowledged the family had been unable to prove ownership. But she said it was clear they have lived there for years. She said another site in the neighbourhood given to an ultra-Orthodox Jewish boarding school could have been used for the special-needs school. She also said the house could have been left intact since the new school is to be built on a nearby plot of land. "This expropriation could have been done without evicting them,'' she said. "It's in Sheikh Jarrah, it's in this very sensitive time, all the world is looking and the government didn't find the sense to stop it.'' Laura Wharton, a dovish member of the city council, accused the city of decades of "criminal neglect'' of its Palestinian residents, who make up about one-third of the population. "I protest, object and regret the conduct of the whole thing and expect the municipality and the government to begin treating every resident with equality and respect,'' she said. Dozens of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem are at risk of eviction by Jewish settler organizations, and thousands face the threat of demolition because of discriminatory policies that make it extremely difficult for Palestinians to build new homes or expand existing ones. Other threatened evictions in Sheikh Jarrah and other neighbourhoods, which are tied up in decades-old legal battles between Palestinian residents and Jewish settlers, set off protests and clashes last year that eventually helped ignite the 11-day Gaza war. Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank, in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized by most of the international community. Israel considers the entire city to be its capital, and the municipality says it is working to improve services for all residents. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state, and the city's fate is one of the most divisive issues in the century-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia has finally released Egyptian orange shipments that had been retained in Russian ports reportedly for 10 days due to changes in Russian import standards, about which the Egyptian authorities were not informed. The ban, imposed by Russias Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) on some Egyptian companies exporting citrus products to Russia, was lifted, the Minister of Agriculture El-Sayed El-Quseir said on Friday, a day after he had discussed the issue with Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgy Borisenko. Related Egypt in talks with Russia for release of impounded orange shipments The shipments had been retained for pesticide detection, Ahmed El-Attar, head of the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine at the agriculture ministry told Masrawy newspaper. The shipment reportedly amounted to tens of thousands of tons. Egypt is the worlds leading orange exporter at an annual volume of about two million tonnes, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea said in a meeting with Borisenko last week, affirming that the government is keen that Egyptian exports comply with Russian import standards. Egyptian exports to the Russian market totalled $489 million in 2021, up by 17.5 percent in 2020, making Russia one of Egypts top export markets, Gamea said. In December, Rospotrebnadzor decided to suspend imports of a number of fruits from certain producers in countries including Egypt, Turkey and Iran, over alleged food safety violations. In his meeting with Borisenko on Thursday, El-Quseir stressed that the Egyptian orange shipments were safe and complied with all international technical standards, including those set by Russia, a statement by the ministry said. The minister requested establishing quick communication points and technical committees between the two countries to solve urgent technical problems and prevent their recurrence. He asked the Russian authorities to inform the Egyptian side about new legislation regarding the export of Egyptian crops to Russia. Search Keywords: Short link: With the risk of war looming larger, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held a high-stakes telephone call Saturday as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days. Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions. The closely watched call between Biden and Putin began shortly after 11 a.m. and lasted just over an hour, according to the White House. Biden conducted the call from Camp David. There were no immediate details about the discussion. In a sign that American officials were getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine. Russia has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, but denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. The timing of any possible Russian military action remained 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. 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 Russia's buildup of firepower near Ukraine has reached the point where it could invade on short notice. A Kremlin statement about the Putin-Macron call referred to ``provocative speculations about an allegedly planned Russian `invasion' of Ukraine.'' Russia has consistently denied that it plans military action against its neighbor. Putin also complained in the call that the United States and NATO have not responded satisfactorily to Russian demands that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance and that NATO pull back forces from Eastern Europe. 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. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he told his Russian counterpart Saturday that ``further Russian aggression would be met with a resolute, massive and united trans-Atlantic response.'' Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to project calm as he observed military exercises Saturday near Crimea, the peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. ``We are not afraid, we're without panic, all is under control,'' he said. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, also held telephone discussions on Saturday. U.K. troops that have been training the Ukrainian army also planned to leave the country. Germany, the Netherlands and Italy called on their citizens to leave as soon as possible. A State Department travel advisory on Saturday said most American staff at the Kyiv embassy have been ordered to leave and other U.S. citizens should depart the country as well. Further U.S.-Russia tensions arose on Saturday when the Defense Ministry summoned the U.S. embassy's military attache after it said the navy detected an American submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific. The submarine declined orders to leave, but departed after the navy used unspecified ``appropriate means,'' the ministry said. Adding to the sense of crisis, the Pentagon ordered an additional 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland to reassure allies. Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Americans in Ukraine 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 asked their citizens to leave Ukraine, as did non-NATO ally New Zealand. Sullivan said Russian military action could start with missile and air attacks, followed by a ground offensive. ``Russia has all the forces it needs to conduct a major military action,'' Sullivan said, adding that ``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 Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. ``The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At any cost. Provocations, misinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving their own problems.'' Zakharova said her country had ``optimized'' staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side. 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. Sullivan's stark warning accelerated the projected time frame for a potential invasion, which many analysts had 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 can't pinpoint the day at this point, and we can't pinpoint the hour, but that is a very, very distinct possibility,'' Sullivan said. Biden has bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe as reassurance to allies on NATO's eastern flank. The 3,000 additional soldiers ordered to Poland come on top of 1,700 who are on their way there. The U.S. Army also is shifting 1,000 soldiers from Germany to Romania, which like Poland shares a border with Ukraine. Russia is demanding that the West keep 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. 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 the Crimean Peninsula 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. Search Keywords: Short link: Attorneys for a Black delivery driver are calling for a federal hate crimes probe of the attempted shooting of the driver in Mississippi, saying it's another example of Black Americans facing danger simply for going about their daily activities. The FedEx driver, 24-year-old D'Monterrio Gibson, was not wounded in the Jan. 24 incident. One of his attorneys, Carlos Moore, said Thursday that he believes police are not taking the investigation seriously. Two white men are facing charges, but Moore said the state needs to upgrade those charges to attempted murder. Moore said Gibson had done nothing wrong before two white men tried to stop him, with one of the men holding a gun. ``He was simply Black while working,'' Moore said during a news conference. A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the department received a request to look into the case and will review the request to determine any next steps. Gibson said he was wearing a FedEx uniform and was driving an umarked van that FedEx had rented when he dropped off a package at a house in south Mississippi. He said as he was leaving, he noticed a white pickup truck pulling away from another house on the same large lot. He said the pickup driver tried to cut him off as he left the driveway. Gibson swerved around him and then encountered a second man who had a gun pointed at the van and was motioning for him to stop. Gibson said the man fired as he drove away, damaging the van and packages inside. He said the white pickup chased him to the interstate highway near Brookhaven before ending the pursuit. Two white men from Brookhaven, 58-year-old Gregory Charles Case and his son 35-year-old Brandon Case, were arrested and released on Feb. 1. Police told local news outlets that the elder Case was the suspected pickup driver, while Brandon Case was the man in the street. Gregory Charles Case is charged with conspiracy. Brandon Case is charged with aggravated assault. The attorneys who represent the men, Terrell Stubbs for the father and Dan Kitchens for the so, did not immediately respond to two phone messages that the AP left for each of them Thursday. A person in Stubbs' office said he was in court, and a person in Kitchens' office said he was out of the office. Gibson said Thursday that he is seeking mental health treatment and is on unpaid leave from his job. ``I have real bad anxiety since the incident,'' Gibson said. Jim Masilak, manager of media relations for FedEx, said in response to questions from AP Thursday: ``FedEx takes situations of this nature very seriously, and we are shocked by this criminal act against our team member. The safety of our team members is our top priority, and we remain focused on his wellbeing. We will continue to support Mr. Gibson as we cooperate with investigating authorities.'' Nobody was injured but the chase and gunfire have sparked social media complaints of racism in Brookhaven, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jackson. The local NAACP chairman has called on city's Black police chief to resign, but the chief says he has no intention to do so. ``I'm not going anywhere until God makes that decision,'' Collins told the Daily Leader. ``That's between me and God. Until God calls me I'm not worried about what anybody says.'' Moore compares the incident to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was running empty-handed through a Georgia subdivision in 2020 when three white strangers chased him down and blasted him with a shotgun. The white men, including a father and son, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Defense lawyers said they suspected Arbery had committed crimes in their neighborhood, but prosecutors said there was no evidence of that. The three still face a federal hate crime trial. About 68% of Brookhaven's 12,000 residents are Black. The city is in Lincoln County, where District Attorney Dee Bates said information will be presented to a grand jury for a decision on charges once police complete their investigation of the Gibson incident. Witnesses, including Gibson, will be able to testify. James A. Bryant II of Los Angeles, another of the attorneys representing Gibson, said Thursday that Gibson experiences pain knowing that people tried to harm him because he is Black. ``That has to be the most frightening experience one could face as a young Black man,`` Bryant said. ``And then not only that they continued to chase him until they got to the freeway. So what would have happened if they were able to cut him off?'' Search Keywords: Short link: Ethiopias State Minister for Foreign Affairs Redwan Hussein called on Egypt and Sudan on Saturday not to stick to their stance on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) file as Ethiopians will not wait indefinitely and they expect the green light to put their resources into use. The Ethiopian minister pointed out in a statement that Ethiopia "has provided more opportunities for Egypt and Sudan to benefit from the dam, despite their failure to appreciate it," stressing that Ethiopia will use its resources, without causing any significant harm to the downstream countries. The Ethiopian ministers remarks came in contrary to South Sudanese President Salva Kiirs previous statements that Ethiopia should have started the GERD talks in October but has delayed it due to the war in the Tigray region. Egypt and Sudan have always blamed the failure of the talks on the Ethiopian intransigence that was also the reason for the latest round of talks between the three countries over the GERD in Kinshasa to reach a deadlock, leading to the collapse of the talks. Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdel-Aty previously said that throughout the decade-long negotiations, Egypt had proposed 15 scenarios, each of which guaranteed that GERD would continue to generate at least 80 per cent of its electricity output even during the worst droughts, and Ethiopia rejected them all. Egyptian Parliament Speaker Hanafy Gebaly made it clear in July that Egypt has never stood against its brothers right to development; however, it rejects any infringement of its Nile water rights. For the Ethiopian minister, according to the Saturday statement, Egypts only outstanding issue is that it demands from Ethiopia to release water from the GERD whenever drought occurs, meaning that even if it does not rain in Ethiopia, it must release water from the dam. Egypts Irrigation Ministry Spokesman Mohamed Ghanem previously said that Egypt was never against the filling of GERDs 74 bcm reservoir but wanted the process to be flexible while Addis Ababa continued to insist on a fixed timetable, regardless of whether there was plenty of water or drought. The Ethiopian minister added that Egypt should "encourage" his country to finish building GERD as soon as possible, as both countries should cooperate in exploiting their resources to face the drought season "whether it occurs tomorrow or even after several years" given that the dam is a life line and a water bank for Egypt as well. Meanwhile, on Monday, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reiterated Egypts will to reach a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the GERD during a meeting with his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh in Cairo. 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. Egypt and Sudan have been negotiating with Ethiopia for 10 years now to reach a legally binding agreement that regulates the rules of filling and operating the dam, a proposal that has been repeatedly turned down by Ethiopia. Egypt fears the unilateral filling and operation of the dam would have an impact on its water supply and Sudan is concerned about regulating flows to its own dams and their safety. Search Keywords: Short link: Moscow "doesn't give a shit" about the risk of Western sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine, Russia's outspoken ambassador to Sweden told a Swedish newspaper. "Excuse my language, but we don't give a shit about all their sanctions", Viktor Tatarintsev told the Aftonbladet newspaper in an interview posted on its website late Saturday. "We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture," said the veteran diplomat, who speaks fluent Swedish and has been posted to the Scandinavian country four times. "We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes", he said. "New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound", he added. Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality. "The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be," he said. The diplomat's comments come as Western nations fear Moscow is preparing an invasion of Ukraine, having nearly surrounded its western neighbour with more than 100,000 troops. Washington has warned that an all-out invasion could begin "any day". Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war. "That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war." Search Keywords: Short link: The general assembly of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) held its first meeting on Sunday under its new president Judge Boulos Fahmy Eskandar. The SCC members also expressed their appreciation of the political leadership for such a choice, asserting that they would exert their utmost efforts to elevate Egypts name to new heights under the new republic. They also wished a quick recovery for the last head of the SCC, former judge Said Maree, whose illness prevented him from continuing his mission after a long history of dedication to the constitutional judiciary. Eskandar, the first Copt to preside over the countrys highest judicial body, was sworn in on Wednesday before President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to start his four-year-tenure. The SCC president served as the judicial bodys vice president in 2010 and then as president of the Cairo Appeal Court until he was reappointed as the vice president of the SCC in 2014. Egypts president has the authority to choose the head of the SCC from the five longest-serving deputy chairs for a one-time term of four years, which ends if the age of retirement, 70, is reached. The SCC is the countrys autonomous and independent judicial authority in charge of ensuring that the domestic laws and regulations are in line with the constitution. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed the Ukraine crisis in a telephone call that lasted one hour and 40 minutes on Saturday, Interfax news agency cited the Kremlin as saying, Trend reports citing Reuters. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov gave no further details. Putin received Macron in the Kremlin earlier this week in the first summit Putin has held with a Western leader since the Kremlin began massing troops near Ukraine last year. Egypt's exports to the Brazilian market achieved a significant increase of 155.4 percent during 2021, reaching $542 million compared to $212 million in 2020, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea announced on Sunday. These figures were part of the latest report received by the minister from the Egyptian commercial office in Sao Paulo, highlighting the leap in Egyptian exports to the Brazilian market during the past year, according to a ministry statement. Gamea added that the trade exchange volume between the two countries also witnessed a remarkable surge, reaching $2.5 billion compared to $1.9 billion in 2020, an increase of 30 percent. The commercial office in Sao Paulo provided $104 million worth of exports in four areas, namely: polyethylene, polypropylene, aluminum alloys and carbon black. Phosphate fertilisers, superphosphates, urea and polyvinyl are the most prominent products exported to the Brazilian market. The minister pointed out that the most prominent Egyptian exports that achieved growth to the Brazilian market during the past year included phosphate fertilisers with a 218.6 percent year-on-year (Y-O-Y) increase, superphosphate with a 1,350 percent Y-O-Y increase, and urea with a 65 percent Y-O-Y increase, in addition to polyvinyl with 140 percent Y-O-Y increase. For his part, Minister of Trade Plenipotentiary and Head of Commercial Representation office Yehia El-Wathiq Billah explained that the ratio of Egyptian exports to imports reached 25 percent, which is double that of the previous year, which amounted to 12 percent, as the increase last year exceeded only the value of Egyptian exports to Brazil during 2019 and 2018. The volume of Egyptian imports from Brazil amounted to about $2 billion last year, an increase of 14.5 percent compared to 2020, the head of commercial representation added. Egyptian corn imports increased 20 percent from $55.2 million to $66 million, iron plate imports increased 118 percent from $168 million to $368 million, and sugar imports increased 25 percent from $253 million to $317 million, he said. Gamea attributed the hike in Egyptian-Brazilian export rates to the European UnionMERCOSUR free trade agreement, which Egypt entered in 2017 and contributed to Egypt being ranked 32nd in the list of countries exporting to Brazil. The Southern Common Market (known as MERCOSUR in its Spanish acronym and MERCOSUL in its Portuguese one) was established upon a treaty signed by presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay signed in Asuncion, Paraguay, paving the way for the most ambitious economic integration process in the region. A pioneer free trade agreement (FTA) between MERCOSUR and Egypt has been in force since September 2017. The minister said that the customs reductions for a large number of goods exchanged between the two parties also contributed to the start of a new phase of distinguished trade relations between Egypt and the MERCOSUR countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government on Sunday to continue to launch more Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of state-owned companies to increase the ownership base at the Egyptian Stock of Exchange (EGX) and lure direct investments. During a meeting on Sunday with economic cluster ministers, El-Sisi called for diversifying the programmes of offerings to cover different economic sectors, said a statement by Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady. Financial Minister Mohamed Maait briefed the president on the plan of offerings through December, highlighting the companies whose shares are expected to be listed on the Egyptian bourse. Egypt launched its IPO programme in March 2019, offering the first state-owned company, Eastern Company's Tobacco Monopoly, to be listed on the EGX under the IPO programme. The offering included a 4.5 percent of shares of the company on the EGX, with a total value of EGP 1.7 billion pounds ($99 million). The programme came to a halt in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was resumed in October 2021, when the Egyptian state-owned payments firm e-finance for Digital and Financial Investments made its debut on the stock market. In late December 2021, the Egyptian cabinet said the country was planning to list shares of the three power plants it has built in partnership with Germany's Siemens on the stock exchange, in addition to other public companies. The country plan comprises listing a number of the country's Armed Forces affiliated companies on the EGX during 2022, a move that was first proposed by El-Sisi in 2019. Manufacturing electric cars The president, during Sunday's meeting, was also briefed on the latest developments of the government plan regarding the automobile industry, Rady said. El-Sisi instructed to continue working on deepening the localization of manufacturing electric vehicles to keep pace with the global trend in this regard. Egypt is set to launch The Automotive Industry Strategy in Egypt to consolidate the localisation of the automotive industry and auto feeding industries, with the aim of attracting more investments to the vital sector. The county currently is in talks with several national and international companies to manufacture battery-powered cars. It seeks to localise these environment-friendly cars, reduce dependence on fuels, and keep pace with global progress in the automobile industry. In July, Egypt inaugurated the first integrated fuel station in Cairos Abbasiya district which will serve vehicles running on natural gas, gasoline, and electric charging, with plans to set up a network of 3,000 electrical-charging stations in the near future. Search Keywords: Short link: The 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) expects the unification of the army in Libya as soon as possible, Major General Faraj Al-Sawaa, member of the commission said on Sunday. In remarks to Sky News Arabia, Al-Sawaa said that "many hopes are pinned on the unification of the army in the presence of a new consensus government by parliament headed by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha; there is a great hope for unification of the army. Formed in 2020, the JMC was one of three tracks in the UN-backed settlement process meant to ensure the withdrawal of all foreign fighters from Libya. Thousands of mercenaries and foreign fighters were brought to the oil-rich country by different foreign powers. Libyans hope that the JMC could help prevent the return of military conflict between Libyan factions, as the outgoing interim government headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah continues to insist on remaining in power despite the parliament's appointment of Fathi Bashagha to form a new government. Regarding the possible resumption of military conflict, Al-Sawaa revealed at the last meeting of commission on Wednesday that the existing ceasefire and the outcome of Berlin Conference calling for the withdrawal of foreign fighters was reaffirmed, while the issue of opening the road between Abugrein and Jafra was also discussed. He expressed his optimism that the security situation will improve when the new government is formed. Al-Sawaa indicated that the commission is concerned about the alleged purchase of militias by the outgoing head of government Dbeibah. "He [Dbeibah] started inciting them, and the commission doesnt have full control on the militias," Al-Sawaa claimed. With regard to the expulsion of foreign fighters, JMC member said that they had had offered goodwill and taken the initiative, but so far nothing has been done. The parliament of Libya on Thursday appointed former interior minister Fathi Bashagh as prime minister, a challenge to interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah's administration. The House of Representatives unanimously approved Fathi Bashagha to head the government," the parliament's spokesman Abdullah Bliheg said on Thursday. Speaking as a member of the JMC, Major General Mukhtar Al-Naqasa confirmed that the politicians are responsible for what is happening on the political arena, while the commission's works are limited to the military and security arenas. The expulsion of foreign fighters, he told Sky News Arabia, needs a political decision to start the implementation, noting that the commissions and technical teams responsible for doing so are ready to implement their plans, but that they are awaiting a political decision by a president who has yet to be elected. With regard to security situation, Al-Naqasa assured Libyans that the ceasefire is still in place and that things are going on the right path. "We seek to cement the ceasefire so that after this process, political solutions may come. However, no political solution can be reached if there is a war and cannons bombard the cities," he said. We are now working to bring all parties closer together, he added. Bashagha confirmed on Friday that the new government will be for everyone and will work on spreading peace and love. Bashagha added that the new government will hold the expected elections and establish national reconciliation, stressing that "there is no hatred, retaliation, revenge and injustice in the new Libya." Libya failed to hold the long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections on the previously agreed upon date of 24 December, 2021 due to disagreements over the legal basis for the vote given procedural delays. After his arrival in Tripoli, Bashagha vowed to establish relations with all the countries of the world on the basis of mutual respect, joint action and permanent coordination. He also expressed his aspiration for positive cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), confirming that he will cooperate with the House of Representatives and the state, since a government cannot succeed without cooperation with legislative authority. In recent years, Libya has been split between rival governments: one, in the eastern city of Tobruk, led by General Khalifa Haftar and a House of Representatives and the other, in the capital Tripoli in the west, led by UN-supported Government of National Accord. Both sides have been supported by different militias and foreign powers. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt launched on Sunday the report titled Financing Sustainable Development in Egypt," the first of its kind to deal with development finance and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030 at the national level. Egypts Minister of Planning Hala El-Said launched the report during the fourth Arab Sustainable Development Week (ASD) organised by the League of Arab States and hosted in Cairo from 13 to 15 February under the theme together for sustainable recovery. The 13-chapter report is characterised by comprehensiveness, presenting an objective and in-depth analysis of various development finance issues that affect the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals, El-Said noted in a speech during the fourth ASD week. The report provides an analytical review of various development and economic sectors and their impact on the development situation in Egypt, she noted. The report was developed under the umbrella of the Arab League, El-Said noted, which chose Egypt to be the first country to prepare the report. A number of Arab countries will also prepare similar reports later to pave the way for the preparation of a league of development financing in the Arab region, El-Said added. Elena Panova, UN resident coordinator in Egypt, hailed the launch of the report, saying she is proud that the UN Egypt provided extensive inputs to the report. UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Mahmoud Mohieldin, the lead author of the report, said Egyptian entities as well as international institutions, including the UN and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, cooperated on the report. This is considered an actual translation of the 17th goal of the SDGs, Mohieldin said in a speech during the fourth ASD week, referring to the goal that calls for global partnership for sustainable development. He noted that the report, which adopts the same approaches of the UNs Financing for Sustainable Development Report on the global level, is consistent with the international frameworks for sustainable development finance and the SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015. The report introduces proposals that the Arab countries can benefit from, Mohieldin added. Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit praised the report, saying it is a product of joint efforts and cooperation among sincere and competent people. The report will help decision makers understand the situation of the sustainable development at the national level and introduce approaches and recommendations in this regard, Aboul Gheit said in a speech during the fourth ASD Week. Egypt has embarked on a Sustainable Development Strategy 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. Raising Arab sustainable development funding Aboul-Gheit called on international partners and financial institutions to increase the funding allocated to the Arab region to expedite the pace of implementing the sustainable development agenda. I reiterate my call for international partners and financial institutions to increase the [financial] allocations directed to the Arab region so that it can fulfill its obligations before 2030, Aboul Gheit said. The Arab League chief, during his speech, highlighted the environmental pillar of the sustainable development, noting that economic and social development cannot be achieved at the expense of nature. Aboul Gheit called for benefiting from the Arab regions hosting of the UN climate change conferences, COP27 and COP28, in 2022 and 2023 to defend Arab interests, affirming that the Arab region is among the areas most harmed by climate change. Egypt is scheduled to host COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh city in November this year, while the UAE is scheduled to host COP28 in 2023. The fourth ASD Week, inaugurated today under the auspices of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, is held in partnership with the United Nations, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Egyptian Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. ASD Week, which was launched in 2017 under the Arab League, seeks to discuss means of supporting the SDGs 2030 in the Arab region with the participation of key figures and high-level officials. Executive Secretary of UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Rola Dashti and Ayat Soliman, the regional director for the World Bank Group's Sustainable Development Department for the Middle East and North Africa region attended the fourth ASD Week opening. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Speaker of Parliament Hanafy El-Gebaly and King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Eissa met on Sunday, affirming in their discussion that relations between the two countries are deep and strong at all fronts, according to a statement. "Speaker El-Gebaly said Egypt highly appreciates the role of King Hamad Bin Eissa in preserving the security and stability of the Arab Gulf, and that Egypt is committed to supporting the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain in standing up to all dangers which might threaten its stability, and that it strongly rejects any kind of interference in its internal affairs," said the statement. El-Gebaly also said that Egypt and Bahrain call for maintaining stability and security in the Arab Gulf and safeguarding it against any foreign threats. "Egypt's national security depends on security and stability in the Arab Gulf region," said El-Gebaly. For his part, King Hamad Bin Eissa of Bahrain expressed his high appreciation for speaker El-Gebaly's visit to Bahrain as it reflects the strength and depth of Egyptian-Bahraini relations. "Bahrain has always been keen to reinforce its historical relations with Egypt at all levels," said King Hamad Bin Eissa. Search Keywords: Short link: An Iraqi court sentenced to death on Sunday a police officer and an informant over a deadly operation in December that left 20 people from the same family dead. The two men can appeal the verdict, handed down by the criminal court in the central province of Babylon, a judiciary source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. Security forces in December opened fire on a house in the village of Al-Rashayed in Babylon, killing 20 people including women and children, under the pretext of pursuing two suspected terrorists. But it was later revealed that a family dispute had motivated an informant to give "false intelligence" to police on the presence of "two terrorists" in the house, according to a judiciary statement issued in January. "The Babylon criminal court has issued a death sentence by hanging for two of the defendants," the Supreme Judicial Council said, quoted by state news agency INA. "The other defendants will be tried later," it added. In addition to the informant, an intelligence officer from the interior ministry, who led the operation, was also condemned to death, the judicial source told AFP. Eighteen others, including both civilians and security forces, who participated in the operation await sentencing, the source added. Iraq has the fourth highest rate of executions in the world, according to Amnesty International, which has recorded that more than 50 people were executed in the country in 2020, including many who were accused of belonging to the Islamic State group. Both terrorism and homicide charges carry the death penalty in Iraq. Search Keywords: Short link: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts declared their unity on confronting security threats in the Asia-Pacific Saturday, even as Washington was intensely occupied by the possibility of war in Eastern Europe. Blinken, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa met in Honolulu for a day of talks focused on North Korea's nuclear threat as well as the China challenge. Washington organized the meeting as the third stop of a pan-Pacific round of diplomacy meant to reassert the on-off US "pivot" to Asia in politics and security. Blinken first attended a meeting of the Quad in Melbourne, the alliance of Australia, Japan, India, and the United States aimed at blunting Beijing's expansive military policy in the Asia-Pacific. The top US envoy then traveled to Fiji for a virtual meeting of representatives of 17 Pacific Island nations who are also experiencing China's economic, political and military ambitions. US officials said the trip was to assure countries across the region that Washington is still deeply attentive to their issues. During the weeklong trip, the White House released its strategy for what it has rebranded the "Indo Pacific region," an 18-page document that stresses the centrality of the region in US policy. "That strategy reflects the fundamental truth that more than any other part of the world, what happens in this region is going to shape the lives of Americans and people around the world," Blinken said in Honolulu Saturday to close out the week. Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine At every stop, however, the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine had nearly all of Washington's attention, and drew concerns from its counterparts. Blinken spent much of his travel time liaising with allies and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on the crisis. And at each press conference, meant to showcase the US' dedication to Asia-Pacific affairs, attention instead fixed on Blinken's statement that Russia could attack Ukraine within days. Rise of the Quad Yet Blinken's message was well-received. In Melbourne, four Quad countries sought to deepen their alliance, expanding it from the original Malabar naval exercises and Covid vaccine distribution to other areas including climate change, cyber security, infrastructure and disaster relief. They also underscored in repeated statements that they were ready to work with ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, right in the center of the Chinese advance. In Fiji, Blinken said the US was ready to spend more money to support the Pacific Islands, and announced the restoration of a US Embassy in the Solomon Islands, where China is now embroiled in politics and local security. The US closed its embassy in the Solomons in 1993, and reopening it would serve as a statement that America will pay more attention to the often overlooked region. The Pacific islands stop, said Jonathan Pryke of Australia's Lowy Institute, is "a reflection that the US just doesn't have a significant presence in the Pacific." "The US is clearly anxious about China's growing presence in the region," he said, calling Blinken's visit "pretty significant." The possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine also filtered into the tripartite talks in Honolulu. The war would cause economic disruptions that could reach Asia. Japan has already been asked to allow some of its LNG supplies to be diverted to Europe in the case that Russian natural gas to Europe is cut off. But Japan and North Korea want Washington to put more effort into bringing North Korea's Kim Jong Un to the table, after his seven recent test launches of ballistic missiles. Blinken said Kim was in "a phase of provocation." "I want to underscore we have no hostile intent for the DPRK. We remain open to dialogue without preconditions," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukraine on Sunday vowed to keep its airspace open and international travellers safe despite Western warnings that Russian troops conducting massive drills near its borders could invade at any point. The looming threat of the skies over Ukraine closing came with a growing number of Western countries winding down their diplomatic operations in Kyiv and urging their citizens to leave immediately. It follows a frantic week of urgent but seemingly futile diplomatic efforts to resolve one of the most explosive standoffs between the West and Russia since the Cold War. US President Joe Biden was due to brief Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky later on Sunday about his hour-long phone conversation with Russia's Vladimir Putin. The White House reported there had been no breakthrough during Saturday's talks with the Kremlin chief. French President Emmanuel Macron said he had agreed "to continue dialogue" with Putin in his own telephone conversation that same day. Western leaders are pushing back against Putin's demands that the US-led NATO alliance withdraw from eastern Europe and never expand into Ukraine. But Putin is dismissing calls by Biden and others to pull back Russian forces from Ukraine's frontiers. Washington has warned that the Russian deployments -- estimated at 130,000 soldiers backed by various missiles and tanks -- was sufficient to launch a major attack "any day". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on the eve of a crunch trip to Kyiv Monday and Moscow Tuesday that Western allies would "immediately" sanction Russia if it invades. "In the event of a military aggression against Ukraine that threatens its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that will lead to tough sanctions that we have carefully prepared," Scholz said. Memories of MH17 The Dutch carrier KLM on Saturday became the first major airline to indefinitely suspend flights to the former Soviet republic because of the rising risks. Ukraine's budget airline SkyUp said on Sunday that its flight from Portugal to Kyiv was forced to land in Moldova because the plane's Irish leasing company had revoked permission for it to cross into Ukraine. SkyUP added that European leasing companies were demanding that Ukrainian airlines return their planes to EU airspace within 48 hours. Ukraine's infrastructure ministry responded by holding an emergency meeting aimed at maintaining foreign travel and keeping the country from becoming more isolated in the heat of the crisis. "The airspace over Ukraine remains open and the state is working on preempting risks for airlines," the ministry said after the meeting. Industry analysts believe other international airlines may soon also ban flights into Ukraine because of the growing cost to insurers. The travel industry is still haunted by the memory of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 being shot down while flying near eastern Ukraine's conflict zone in July 2014. All 298 passengers aboard the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight died. Ukraine's infrastructure ministry acknowledged that "some carriers are facing difficulties linked to fluctuations on the insurance market". "For its part, the state is prepared to support airlines and provide them with additional financial guarantees in order to support the market," it said. Foreigners fleeing The worries about air travel come with a growing number of Western governments winding down their missions and advising citizens to get out. The US State Department on Saturday ordered all non-emergency embassy staff out of Ukraine. Russia cited fears of "possible provocations from the Kyiv regime" as it also began pulling out some embassy staff. "I am leaving because of the situation, because I value my life," Moroccan native Aimrane Bouziane said before boarding his flight home. "I think the soundest choice to make is to leave Ukraine now," the 23-year-old entrepreneur said. The diplomatic drawdown has touched the staff of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) monitoring mission in Ukraine. The OSCE has served as the world's eyes and ears for the eight-year conflict across Ukraine's Russian-backed separatist east that has claimed more than 14,000 lives. But images on social media showed convoys of its white SUVs leaving various parts of the conflict zone as staff moved to comply with their respective governments' travel advisories. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday that the mission's partial withdrawal caused "serious concern" in Moscow because the move further ramped up tensions. The Ukrainian government has been trying to preempt the flood of foreigners leaving the country by calling for calm and criticising US warnings of possibly imminent war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that "all this information is only provoking panic and not helping us". Search Keywords: Short link: Fuad Hussein spoke at a news conference after meeting his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, stressing that heightened tension between Iran and the U.S. - Baghdad's two powerful allies - directly affects his country's stability. While Iraq remains a pillar of Washington's security policy in the region, Iranian-backed militias wield extensive power in the country. ``Any opening in Tehran-Washington relations will positively impact Iraq's internal situation from political, economic and security perspectives,'' Hussein said. ``We think it's time for direct talks between Tehran and Washington so that the two countries reach a common understanding not only on the nuclear issue but also on sanctions imposed on Iran,'' he said. Tehran's 2015 atomic deal with world powers granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Three years ago, America under then-President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord. In response, Iran has stepped up its nuclear program and is now spinning a stock of uranium enriched to 60% purity _ a short technical step from weapons-grade levels. Tehran has struck a hard line in negotiations since conservative President Ebrahim Raisi came into office. Consternation is building among European nations at the negotiating table in the Austrian capital. The parties to the landmark deal will resume their efforts on Monday, the European Union said. Iran has refused to speak directly to American officials in the rounds of talks since the U.S. abandoned the accord. Hussein also touched on the hasty evacuation and sudden death of Iran's top diplomat in war-torn Yemen, Hassan Irloo, whom Washington has identified as a member of Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He said the U.S. cooperated with Saudi Arabia and Iran to transfer Irloo on an Iraqi plane from Yemen to Tehran, where Iranian authorities said he died of COVID-19. There was no immediate comment from Washington on its reported assistance. Yemen's Houthi rebels had sought permission for his transfer from Saudi Arabia. Speaking alongside Hussein, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian repeated calls for the U.S. to lift sanctions before Iran walks back its nuclear advances. ``We say it out loud that if you want your concerns over Iran's peaceful nuclear issue to be removed, then all of the nuclear deal-related sanctions must be removed,'' he said, addressing the West. Amirabdollahian also noted that Baghdad-brokered talks between Iran and its long-time Sunni rival Saudi Arabia have continued. ``We will attend the upcoming round of talks (with Saudi Arabia) in Baghdad,'' he said, thanking Hussein and Iraq's prime minister for their ``support.'' He said that three Iranian diplomats had been granted visas to be stationed in the Saudi city of Jiddah at the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a body of Muslim nations. Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. Baghdad has played a visible role in trying to cool tensions between the rivals. ``We are aware of the involvement of the Russian government in providing material support to the deployment of the Wagner group in Mali,'' the French foreign ministry said in an emailed statement. It called on Russia ``to revert to a responsible and constructive behavior'' in West Africa. Mali has struggled to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012. Extremist rebels were forced from power in the country's northern cities with the help of a French-led military operation, but they regrouped in the desert and began launching attacks on the Malian army and its allies. In June, Col. Assimi Goita was sworn in as president of a transitional Malian government after carrying out his second coup in nine months. Mali faces increasing isolation from the international community over the junta's power grab. Elections are due to be held in February, but there are fears they will be delayed. ``We deeply regret the choice of the Malian transitional authorities to use already scarce public funds to pay foreign mercenaries instead of supporting the Malian Armed Forces,'' the French statement said. The Wagner Group has been accused by western governments and United Nations experts of human rights abuses in the Central African Republic and involvement in the conflict in Libya. France and Germany have both objected to the presence of its mercenaries in Mali. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the company has a ``legitimate'' right to be in the West African nation because it was invited by the transitional government, and he has insisted that the Russian government is not involved. French troops have been present in Mali since 2013, when they intervened to force the Islamic extremists from power in the country's north. That operation was later extended to other countries in an effort to stabilize the broader Sahel region that includes Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauretania. In July, President Emmanuel Macron announced a drawdown of French troops in the Sahel force by early 2022 amid growing political instability in Mali and despite continued devastating attacks by Islamic militants in the region. Hundreds have died this year alone of massacres targeting villages on the border of Niger and Mali. France has said that Malian forces are ready to take over the heavy lifting in northern Mali but Macron promised his African partners after a meeting in July that his country will continue to help fight groups linked to Al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Along with France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania and other European Union countries joined in the condemnation of the mercenaries' deployment to Mali. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani held talks with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Ulyanov in the Austrian capital on Saturday, Trend reports citing IRNA. The negotiations were held in continuation of eighth round of talks on removal of the sanctions. The eighth round of talks between representatives of Iran, European Union and 4+1 countries began as of January 26, 2022. The eighth round of talks began on December 27, 2021. This round of negotiations is considered as the longest of all previous ones. These days, the participants [in the talks] are busy with completing the draft of the agreement and making decisions about certain important disputed issues. Vienna talks, which started November 29, 2021 to work on a text and make efforts to settle disagreements, resumed work on February 8 after a short break for consultation. As a whole, meetings held between the sides delegations after a short pause have been considered as constructive. In the past days, representatives of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran have been present in the talks for more definite and technical consultations. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2022 - 13:04 | All, Japan The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers remained apart on Saturday over Tokyo's selection of a former gold and silver mine as a UNESCO World Heritage candidate despite Seoul's objection due to what it says was the mine's use of wartime forced labor by Koreans. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, during the 40-minute talks in Hawaii with his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui Yong, repeated his view that Seoul's objection to the listing of the mine on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan is unacceptable, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Related coverage: Japan, South Korea exchange protests over World Heritage nomination Japan recommends Sado mine for world heritage despite S. Korean protest Japan to seek listing of Sado mine site as world heritage The two ministers were in Hawaii for a three-way meeting also involving U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken the same day to discuss North Korea's missile and nuclear threat in the wake of its repeated testing of ballistic missiles this year. Hayashi added that Japan is ready to have candid and thorough discussions with South Korea over its bid to register the mine, one of the world's largest producers of gold in the 17th century, on the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage list, the Japanese ministry said. According to the South Korean government, Chung repeated his country's objection, saying "correct recognition of history" is the foundation of a "future-oriented" bilateral relationship. Japan-South Korean ties have already sunk to their lowest point in decades following South Korean Supreme Court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate groups of South Koreans for forced labor during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Japan maintains the issue of compensation was settled by a 1965 bilateral agreement that sought to settle issues related to property and claims stemming from its colonial rule. Tokyo's recommendation of the Sado Mine was approved by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet on Feb. 1, and the government submitted a letter of recommendation to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization the same day. Hayashi told Chung that relations remain strained because of the moves to demand compensation for wartime laborers and "comfort women" in Japan's military brothels during World War II, and asked Seoul to respond to the moves appropriately, the Japanese ministry said. Meanwhile, the two ministers vowed to facilitate communication to regain a "healthy" relationship and agreed on the importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation including Washington to deal with North Korea, according to the ministry. Hayashi and Chung last met in person in December when they briefly chatted at an informal dinner party at a Group of Seven foreign ministerial meeting in Liverpool, England to which Seoul was invited as a guest. They held phone talks on Feb. 3. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2022 - 21:39 | All, Japan Heavy snow could fall in Tokyo and surrounding areas through early Monday, disrupting transportation during the morning rush hour, the weather agency and the transport ministry said Sunday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a low atmospheric pressure system and a cold air mass together could bring heavy snowfall from Sunday evening to Monday morning mainly in the Kanto-Koshin region including Tokyo. In the 24 hours through Monday noon, snowfall could reach 30 centimeters in Yamanashi Prefecture, 20 cm in Nagano Prefecture and the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture, and 8 cm in the central area of Tokyo. All Nippon Airways canceled two flights that were scheduled to depart from Tokyo's Haneda airport on Sunday. For Monday, ANA and Japan Airlines decided to cancel 10 and 20 domestic flights, respectively, to and from Haneda airport. JR East halted five limited express train runs connecting Tokyo with the nearby prefectures of Yamanashi in eastern Japan and Nagano in central Japan on Sunday evening, while highway operator Metropolitan Expressway may close some sections on Monday. Heavy snowfall hit Tokyo and nearby prefectures last month, grounding flights and delaying trains. More than 50 people were taken to hospitals in the capital, which is not used to regular snowfall, after slipping and falling due to ice and snow on the streets. KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2022 - 17:49 | All, Japan The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and South Korea on Saturday held the door open to dialogue with North Korea, insisting they have "no hostile intent" toward the country as they affirmed their solidarity to address Pyongyang's missile threat. The trilateral talks in Honolulu came after Pyongyang conducted a series of missile tests since the start of the year and suggested it may restart nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after the talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui Yong that the three countries "remain open to dialogue without preconditions," expressing hope that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will respond to the dialogue offer. "We discussed ways that we can deepen trilateral cooperation to deter the DPRK, limit the reach of its most dangerous weapons (and) defend against its provocations or use of force," Blinken also said at a joint press conference in Hawaii. DPRK is the acronym of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. The three said in a joint statement issued after the meeting that they have "no hostile intent" toward Pyongyang and committed to "close trilateral cooperation to achieve complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula." Related coverage: Japan, Australia agree to propel revision of security declaration Japan, U.S. share concern over Russia military buildup near Ukraine Quad foreign ministers vow support for sovereignty protection The ministers also aired "strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to alter the status quo and increase tensions," and highlighted the "importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," in a veiled counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the East and South China seas. As tensions are intensifying over Russia's military build-up near the Ukrainian border, the three countries shared "unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," and pledged to work together to "deter further Russian escalation." The three nations last held in-person talks between their foreign ministers in New York in September on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly sessions. It is Hayashi's first such meeting since he took office in November. North Korea on Jan. 30 launched what its state-run media said was a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam. It was the nuclear-armed nation's first such missile test since November 2017 and the seventh round of test firings since the start of 2022. Calling on Washington to drop its "hostile policy," North Korea in mid-January hinted at restarting nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests that it had suspended to build trust with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The United States and its allies have condemned North Korea's repeated missile firings, while China, Pyongyang's main economic and security ally, has urged them not to overreact to the launches. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration places importance on trilateral cooperation to deal with the reclusive country, but the relationship between Tokyo and Seoul remains soured over wartime history and other disputes. The rift between the two Asian neighbors deepened recently when Tokyo decided to recommend a former gold and silver mine on Sado Island in the Sea of Japan as a candidate for the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage list, despite Seoul's objection due to what it says was the mine's use of wartime forced labor by Koreans. Chung said at the news conference that the outstanding bilateral problems do "not have any impact whatsoever on our relations for the issue of the DPRK." Hayashi said that Japan raised the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s during the talks, seeking further cooperation in realizing their return home. Blinken and Hayashi joined the trilateral meeting after attending "Quad" foreign ministerial talks in Melbourne, Australia on Friday. The grouping of major Indo-Pacific democracies also includes Australia and India. KYODO NEWS - Feb 14, 2022 - 00:20 | Sports, Olympics, All Japan Olympic team captain Miho Takagi on Sunday claimed her second speed skating silver medal of the Beijing Winter Games, finishing just behind new champion Erin Jackson of the United States in the women's 500 meters. The 29-year-old Jackson rounded the track at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval in 37.04 seconds, 0.08 ahead of Takagi. The Russian Olympic Committee's Angelina Golikova took bronze in 37.21. The 27-year-old Takagi, winner of 1,500 silver on Monday, was on top of the leaderboard for much of the night until she was eventually overtaken by Jackson in the second to last pairing. "In this Olympics, with my hard schedule, with one thing piled on top of another, to skate my career-best 500 meters, I was really happy," Takagi said. "I'm frankly astonished right now that I was able to get a medal." There was less to celebrate for Japan's defending Olympic champion, Nao Kodaira, who fell short in her bid to win a second straight 500 crown, finishing 17th in 38.09. The time was well outside her four-year-old Olympic record of 36.94 from Pyeongchang, where she upstaged two-time defending champion Lee Sang Hwa in front of the South Korean's home fans. Racing in the third to last pairing at the National Speed Skating Oval, the 35-year-old Kodaira got off to a slow start and was never in contention. The other Japanese skater in the field, Arisa Go, crossed in 37.98 for 15th place. Skating against former European champion Vanessa Herzog of Austria in the fourth pairing, Takagi set out strongly on her way to a new personal-best of 37.12 and provisional first place. With each subsequent pairing failing to match her time, she looked a chance to top the podium until Jackson scorched the "Ice Ribbon" track while racing Poland's Kaja Ziomek, who finished ninth. Kodaira and Takagi on Thursday will contest the women's 1,000, the race in which they took silver and bronze, respectively, four years ago. Takagi will also aim to repeat as a gold medalist with Japan's women's pursuit team. "When the 1,500 was done, I had the team pursuit on my mind, and the amazing thing is that I was seriously considering whether to skate the 500 or not," she said. "But now at the end, I'm glad I gave it a shot." JERUSALEM, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli foreign ministry issued a travel warning for Ukraine on Saturday, urging Israeli citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. The ministry asked Israelis in Ukraine to register with the consular division in order to assess the situation and prepare for evacuation. Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the Israeli military to prepare to assist in such an operation, according to Israeli media reports. Israel has already begun evacuating the family members of diplomats and Israeli staff at its embassy in Kiev. "The embassy ... continues to operate with its full team of diplomatic staff remaining in the country," read the statement from the foreign ministry. BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday discussed the Ukraine crisis with U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron respectively over the phone as tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Ukraine. During these conversations, Putin reiterated the absence of a substantive response from the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to Russian initiatives in addressing its security concerns, while agreeing to continue dialogue and contacts with the other two leaders. The deteriorating situation surrounding the Russia-Ukraine borders has stoked worries of a military conflict, prompting some countries to evacuate their nationals from Ukraine. DISAGREEMENTS UNRESOLVED As the whole world is on tenterhooks speculating about how the Ukraine situation may evolve, the phone calls on Saturday between Putin, Biden and Macron offered another glimpse into the differences and disagreements among some major stakeholder of the crisis. According to the White House, during his call with Putin, which lasted for about one hour, Biden made it clear that "while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy," it is "equally prepared for other scenarios." At the same time, quoting Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Sputnik reported that Russia has not received a substantive response from the United States on security guarantees. In another phone call between Putin and Macron, the two leader discussed the speculations about Russia's alleged planned "invasion" of Ukraine, speculations sparked by massive supplies of modern weaponry to Ukraine, thus creating conditions for possible aggressive actions by the Ukrainian military in Donbass, according to a Kremlin statement. "Putin stressed the reluctance of the leading Western powers to prompt the Kiev authorities to implement the Minsk agreements, which was demonstrated again by the futility of the Feb. 10 round of consultations in Berlin between political advisors to the Normandy format leaders," said the statement. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that if the West fails to resolve Moscow's fundamental security concerns, it will be impossible to reduce tensions and build Europe's security architecture. While it seems that the phone calls haven't contributed much to thawing the tensions, they do provide some comfort, more or less, as the leaders agreed to maintain contacts and dialogue. FOREIGNERS RUSHING OUT As the tensions show no sign of easing, some countries have been increasingly concerned about the lingering confrontations and started contemplating evacuations of their nationals from Ukraine. On Saturday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning for Ukraine, urging Israeli citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz had ordered the Israeli military to prepare to assist in such an operation, according to Israeli media reports. Albania has made the same decision. Also on Saturday, the country's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs called on Albanian nationals in Ukraine to leave the country "as soon as possible," advising Albanians not to travel to Ukraine due to a "credible danger of the escalation of the situation." Iraq also urged its citizens in Ukraine to leave. "For the safety of the Iraqi community in Ukraine, and as a result of the exceptional circumstances there, the ministry urges the community to leave Ukrainian territory and not to travel to it," the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday. On the same day, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said on its website that in light of the current situation and for their own safety, Moroccan citizens in Ukraine are asked to leave via available commercial flights. The United States was among the first countries to order evacuations. The U.S. State Department on Thursday urged Americans currently in Ukraine to leave the country "now." On Friday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that U.S. nationals should evacuate within 48 hours, citing unspecified intelligence purporting a Russian invasion of Ukraine at any moment, which Moscow has refuted before, saying "this hysteria is being boosted artificially." GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A new field hospital financed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) treating coronavirus patients was inaugurated on Saturday in the southern Gaza Strip, according to health officials. Yousef Abu al-Reesh, the undersecretary of the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza, told reporters that the hospital was named after Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi of the UAE. He added that the field hospital, built on eight dunums (0.8 hectares) at the European Hospital in Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, includes 216 beds, 56 of which are designated for critical and severe cases. The opening of the hospital came as officials warned that there are obstacles facing the health ministry in Gaza to combat the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. "Opening the hospital shows part of the ongoing UAE support," Abu al-Reesh said, adding that the UAE had previously donated an oxygen station, ambulances, vaccines, and medicines to Gaza. According to Jawad al-Tibi, director of the supervision committee to build the hospital, the Emirati field hospital comprises three Oxygen generation stations, electric generators, and medical equipment. On Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 13 fatalities and 1,871 new COVID-19 cases in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, adding that 5,979 recoveries were recorded. Military force is seen in the city of Tripoli, Libya on Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah on Saturday stressed the importance of holding elections as soon as possible to end the country's current crisis. "The solution to the current crisis, as well as peace and reconciliation in the country, can be achieved by holding elections soon," Dbeibah said in a speech during the National Reconciliation Forum in the town of Riqdalin, some 120 km west of the capital Tripoli. "There is a political class that took over Libya in the past years and seeks to extend (the mandate) and bring back war and conflict," Dbeibah said, noting that he had started consultations with local parties to come up with a plan to hold elections and a referendum on the constitution. Dbeibah also accused the House of Representatives (parliament) of falsely issuing resolutions and "being responsible for the conflict and bloodshed." The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha, the former Interior Minister, as the country's new prime minister, replacing Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. Shortly after the vote, Bashagha said that he is "confident that Dbeibah's government will hand over power and adhere to the democratic path." However, Dbeibah confirmed that his government will remain in office until elections are held, and he will only hand over office to an elected government. The Libyan parliament withdrew confidence from Dbeibah's government in September and kept it as a caretaker government. General elections in Libya had been scheduled for Dec. 24, 2021, but were postponed indefinitely over technical and legal issues, according to the High National Elections Commission. Military force is seen in the city of Tripoli, Libya on Feb. 12, 2022. The House of Representatives (parliament) on Thursday unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha, the former interior minister, as Libya's new prime minister, replacing Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. However, Dbeibah confirmed that his government will remain in office until elections are held, and he will hand over office only to an elected government. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Photo taken on Feb. 12, 2022 shows a view of Tripoli, Libya. The House of Representatives (parliament) on Thursday unanimously voted for Fathi Bashagha, the former interior minister, as Libya's new prime minister, replacing Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah. However, Dbeibah confirmed that his government will remain in office until elections are held, and he will hand over office only to an elected government. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Sunday called for uniting international and regional efforts to resolve the political crisis in the country. Al-Burhan made the remarks during his meeting with a delegation of the African Union (AU) led by Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye, and the bloc's Special Representative to Sudan Mohamed Belaiche, the Sovereign Council said in a statement. Al-Burhan said the government's vision of resolving the crisis included launching a comprehensive dialogue involving all political and social forces in the country except for the banned National Congress Party, and forming a government of independent national competencies to lead the remaining time of the transitional period. He also called for making constitutional amendments in line with the country's political transformations, and holding free and fair elections after the transition, according to the statement. The AU delegation, for its part, said its visit to Sudan at this stage was meant to meet with all actors and listen to their voices to come up with a comprehensive vision that helps resolve the crisis in Sudan. Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after Al-Burhan, also general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the government. Since then, opposition groups have been staging regular mass protests in the capital Khartoum and other cities to demand civilian rule. TIRANA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Albania's Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA) has called on Albanian nationals in Ukraine to leave the country "as soon as possible" amid escalating tensions near the Ukrainian border. "Albanian nationals are advised to keep informed through communication channels of the MEFA," the ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday, adding that it is "following closely the developments near the Ukrainian border." No details have been provided on the number of Albanians in Ukraine. The ministry also advised Albanians not to travel to Ukraine due to a "credible danger of the escalation of the situation." On Friday, North Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also called on its nationals to leave Ukraine. "All nationals of North Macedonia planning to visit Ukraine in the forthcoming period are advised to avoid traveling to the country and, if circumstances allow, all nationals of North Macedonia currently located in Ukraine are advised to leave the country as soon as possible," read a press release from the ministry. By Trend Indian president Ram Nath Kovind will review the Navys fleet, which is done by every President once in his term, later this month in Visakhapatnam. For the review, more than 60 vessels of the Navy and Coast Guard, all of which have been made in the country, will participate. The Navy said on Friday that this will be the 12th Presidential Fleet Review the last one was conducted in 2016 under President Pranab Mukherjee. According to the Navy, the fleet review is a long-standing tradition followed by navies all across the world and it is an assembly of ships at a pre-designated place for the purpose of displaying loyalty and allegiance to the sovereign and the state. A fleet review is usually conducted once during the tenure of the President, the Navy said. So far, 11 Presidential Fleet Reviews have been conducted since Independence, of which two have been International Fleet Reviews, in 2001 and 2016. In terms of significance, the Navys Presidential review is second only to the Republic Day Parade, the Navy said in a statement. By reviewing the ships, the head of the state, reaffirms his faith in the fleet and its ability to defend the nations maritime interest and such an exercise is done without any belligerent intentions. A fleet review is usually conducted once during the tenure of the President, the Navy said, adding that 11 Presidential Fleet Reviews have been conducted since Independence, of which two have been International Fleet Reviews, in 2001 and 2016. In terms of significance, the Navys Presidential review is second only to the Republic Day Parade, the Navy said. The Navy said that the review will take place on February 21, and to commemorate the 75th year of independence, the theme of PFR 22 is Indian Navy 75 years in Service of the Nation. More than 60 ships, including from the Coast Guard, the Shipping Corporation of India, and the National Institute of Ocean Technology, submarines and over 50 aircraft will participate in the review. The ceremony will include review at the anchorage, a steampast in a mobile column, a flypast, and parade of sails. All the participating units, which include Indian Naval warships, submarines, auxiliary vessels as also assets of other maritime organisations, will be anchored in a formation of four precise columns, and the President will review all participating ships by steaming past them, embarked on a naval vessel designated the Presidential Yacht. Each ship would render a salute to the Supreme Commander as the Yacht sails past. Indian Naval aircraft would simultaneously fly overhead the formation rendering their salute, the Navy said. Polling took place on Thursday and the votes were counted on Friday. (Photo Credit: File) Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Friday won a by-election to ward no 141 of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in suburban Mankhurd, said officials. Polling took place on Thursday and the votes were counted on Friday. Sena candidate Vithhal Lokare defeated his nearest rival, Dinesh (Bablu) Panchal of the BJP, by a margin of 1,385 votes, they said. Lokare secured 4,427 votes, while the BJP candidate got 3,042. A total of 18 candidates were in the fray. The bypoll was necessitated after Lokare, who was the sitting Congress corporator, resigned and joined the Shiv Sena in August 2019. Lokare later contested the October assembly poll from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar constituency on Sena ticket but lost to Samajwadi legislator Abu Azmi by a margin of 25,000 votes. With todays result, the tally of the ruling Shiv Sena increased to 95, which includes six former Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators who joined the party in 2018. The BJP stands second with 83 corporators including an independent and an Akhil Bhartiya Sena corporator, followed by the Congress (29), NCP (8), Samajwadi Party (6), MIM (2) and MNS (1). London: A British employment tribunal on Friday ruled in favour of a 51-year-old Indian-origin journalist who took legal action against the BBC over unequal pay. Samira Ahmed, whose mother hails from India, had claimed that she was being unfairly underpaid by the media organisation for similar work on a news-related television show and was owed 700,000 pounds (USD 9,14,952) in back pay. The presenter of the BBC's audience feedback show called 'Newswatch' said her low pay -- compared to the salary of her fellow presenter Jeremy Vine for a similar show called 'Points of View' was unjustified. Ahmed was paid 440 pounds (USD 575) an episode in comparison with Vine's 3,000 pounds (USD 3,921) per episode. The BBC had countered that the two presenters performed very different roles, an assertion the employment tribunal said had not been satisfactorily established by the corporation. "Her work on 'Newswatch' was like Jeremy Vine's work on 'Points of View' under Section 65(1) of the Equality Act 2010," concluded the judgment by a three-member employment tribunal led by Judge Harjit Grewal. The "unanimous judgment" in what has been described as a landmark case on equal pay notes that the corporation had not shown that the difference in pay was because of a "material factor, which did not involve subjecting the claimant (Ahmed) to sex discrimination". "The terms relating to pay in the claimant's contracts for presenting 'Newswatch' from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2018 should be modified so as not to be less favourable than the terms relating to pay in Jeremy Vine's contracts," it added. Ahmed, who had found the backing of a number of high-profile media personalities including fellow Indian-origin BBC news presenter Naga Munchetty, welcomed a resolution to the affair. "No woman wants to have to take action against their own employer. I love working for the BBC," she said. The BBC responded by describing her as an "excellent journalist and presenter" and regretted that the issue had to be taken to an employment tribunal. "We have always believed that the pay of Samira and Jeremy Vine was not determined by their gender. Presenters - female as well as male - had always been paid more on 'Points of View' than 'Newswatch'," a BBC statement said. "We'll need to consider this judgment carefully. We know tribunals are never a pleasant experience for anyone involved. We want to work together with Samira to move on in a positive way," it noted. Ahmed is the latest female journalist at the BBC to voice concern over pay equality within the news organisation after former China editor Carrie Gracie resigned for equal pay in January 2018. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) on Friday reported a 5.9 per cent decline in total retail sales at 5,57,706 units last year as compared with 2018. The sales of Jaguar brand were at 1,61,601 units during the month, down 10.6 per cent, while Land Rover sales witnessed a dip of 3.8 per cent during the year as compared with 2018, Tata Motors said in a regulatory filing. In December, JLR reported 1.3 per cent increase in total retail sales at 52,814 units as compared to the year-ago period in 2018. The sales of Jaguar brand were at 13,372 units during the month, down 17.3 per cent from December 2018. Land Rover sales stood at 39,442 units, up 9.6 per cent from the same month last year, it added. 2019 was a year of two halves for Jaguar Land Rover. Over the last six months, we saw a marked improvement in China, where intensive work with our retailers, combined with significant process and product improvements are starting to gain traction, JLR Chief Commercial Officer Felix Brautigam said. Elsewhere, adverse market conditions continued to affect the industry but encouragingly in North America the company closed last year successfully with a new record year, he added. In December, companys retail sales were boosted by China (up 26.3 per cent year-on-year), a sixth successive month of double-digit growth, Brautigam said. Jaguar F-Pace SVR Soon To Hit Indian Market Soon after the global debut of Jaguar F-Pace SVR at the new 2018 New York Auto Show, select dealers in India have started accepting bookings for the new model. Yes, you read it right. The F-Pace SVR, which has been engineered by JLR's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, will hit the Indian market soon. However, Jaguar Land Rover India is yet to officially announce the launch date for the F-Pace SVR. According to a report of NDTVs carandbike, the deliveries for Jaguar F-Pace SVR has been slated for 2020. Visually, Jaguar F-Pace gets cosmetic updates along with improvements to the chassis and aerodynamics. Inside, the new model includes SVR body kit, Lozenge quilted leather upholstery with SVR embossing, SVR steering wheel, and aluminium paddle shifters. The SUV rides 21-inch forged alloy wheels that are 25 mm wider at the rear for better handling. Under the hood, Jaguar F-Pace SVR comes equipped with the 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 engine that churns out 542 bhp between 6000-6500 rpm and a meaty 680 Nm of peak torque available between 2500-5500 rpm. The engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a SportShift Selector. Videos verified by The Associated Press show the final seconds of the jet and what likely brought it down (Photo Credit: Composite Image ) London: In the pitch black, pre-dawn sky on the outskirts of the Iranian capital Tehran, a tiny fast-moving light can be seen racing up through the trees, as someone films from the ground. Then there is a flash of light as it seems to collide with something in the air. It is the ill-fated Ukrainian International airliner which had taken off Wednesday just hours after Iran had fired missiles at US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the slaying of its top military man, General Qassem Soleimani. Western leaders have said the plane seemed to have been unintentionally brought down by a surface-to-air missile near Tehran. Iran denies that a missile was to blame. Videos verified by The Associated Press show the final seconds of the jet and what likely brought it down, killing all 176 people on board. One video seems to show the impact. Buildings can seen from ground level below the darkened sky as the tiny light arches upward, then the flash. The scene is silent, except for a dog barking nearby. Then 10 seconds later, there is a frightening boom, like loud thunder. A second video appears to show the plane on fire and crashing. A white blaze plummets downward across the black sky, sometimes letting off sparks. Then it disappears behind trees, and a huge fireball lights up the sky as it hits the earth. Someone off-camera says in Farsi, "The plane has caught fire. Shahriar. Ferdosieh. In the name of God the compassionate, the merciful. God please help us. Call the fire department!" The names are two suburbs of Tehran near the airport. Another clip, filmed from inside a travelling car at distance, shows a pinpoint fiery light moving at speed. This footage then shows the plane exploding far on the horizon, illuminating the darkened sky. As part of the verification process, the AP compared buildings in view with map locations and in the precise context of where the jet went off the radar. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. PTi: Meghan Markle, wife of Britain's Prince Harry, has signed a voiceover deal with Disney. The former actor, who quit the profession when she got engaged to Harry in 2017, inked a deal to work with the studio in return for a donation to an elephant charity, according to The Times. The charity is Elephants Without Borders, a conservationist group that focuses on protecting elephants from poachers. Meghan recorded her voiceover in November, before she and Harry left the UK for a six-week break in Canada with their son Archie. The news comes after she and Harry announced on Wednesday their intention to step back as senior royals. The couple indicated in their statement that they want to be free to work on their own terms while continuing to support the work of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry's grandmother. Recently Prince Harry and his wife Meghan declared they will "work to become financially independent" - a move that has not been clearly spelled out and could be fraught with obstacles. The couple indicated in their statement Wednesday that they want to be free to work on their own terms while continuing to support the work of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry's grandmother. And that could be a problem, some royal watchers say. "I don't think it is going to work, to be honest," said David McClure, a television producer and writer who examined the wealth of the royal family in his book "Royal Legacy". "How can you be half in, half out - Half the week perform public duties and the other half earn your own income with TV, lectures, books - It is fraught with dangers," he said. But they may still continue to rely heavily on private funding provided by Harry's father, Prince Charles, who controls a vast and lucrative estate. Charles is not allowed to sell any of its real estate or other assets - but he is entitled to the annual income it generates, which in the last year was roughly USD 28.2 million. New Delhi: Robert Clive, the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency, died in 1774 at an age of 49. After 233 years in 2006, Adwaita, his pet tortoise had bid adieu to this world in Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. It was reported that Adwaitas shell had cracked some months before its demise and a wound had developed. Some media repots had cited liver failure as the reason behind its death. Adwaita, which means one and only in Bengali, was a giant Aldabra tortoise, and had been Clives pet in the 18th century. Reports suggest that Adwaita was given to Clive by British seafarers who captured it from Seychelles. To quote the then forest minister of the West Bengal government, Historical records show he was a pet of British general Robert Clive of the East India Company and had spent several years in his sprawling estate before he was brought to the zoo about 130 years ago. The older evidences however pointed that it already had lived for some 250 years, reported BBC. Adwaita was kept in Kolkatas Alipore Zoo and was a prime source of attraction for the visitors. Galapagos tortoise "Cerro" eats a specially created birthday cake in Perth, Australia (Photo Credit: IANS) Tortoises are one of the longest living species. It belongs to reptile species of the family Testudinidae and can survive on land as well as in water. Tortoises have a shell which protects it from predators and other threats. Lord Clive, who was son of a Shropshire squire, became a soldier and adventurer who went notching higher positions in the East India Company. Clive major achievement includes the historic win in the key Battle of Plassey against the Nawab of Bengal in 1757. For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Fuel Rates Today: Petrol and diesel prices saw a downward trend on Monday, January 13. The rates came down by up to 10 paise across major cities of the country. According to the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates are Rs 75.80 per litre in Delhi, Rs 81.39 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 78.39 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 78.76 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai remained at Rs 69.06, Rs 72.42, Rs 71.43, and Rs 72.98 per litre, respectively. In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.87 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 69.34 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 75.08 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 67.89 a litre. India is 84 per cent dependant on imports to meet its oil needs and any spike in global prices has a direct bearing on its economy. Not just imports but even domestic crude oilwhich forms the raw material for making petrol, diesel and other petroleum productsis priced according to international benchmarks. Middle East accounts for more than two-thirds of the countrys oil imports, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the top suppliers. Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day? The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on. Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City? The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In one of the massive milestones for the Indian Navy, the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas conducted a successful landing on the decks of INS Vikramaditya on Saturday morning. It was the first time that an indigenous fighter aircraft landed on an aircraft carrier. Sources in the Indian Navy, the developmental LCA (N) MK1 achieved an important milestone today with the successful arrested landing on board the Indian Navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya. With this feat, the indigenously developed niche technologies specific to deck based fighter operations have been proven, which will now pave the way to develop and manufacture the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter for the Indian Navy, the sources said. The Naval Light Combat Aircraft made its first successful landing on the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-developed fighter aircraft is expected to attempt its maiden take off from the carrier soon. https://t.co/6n4ntkQXul pic.twitter.com/M1YMfMd6pk ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Trail and success Giving out the details, the DRDO tweeted, after completing extensive trials on the Shore Based Test Facility, DRDO, ADA developed LCA Navy did an arrested landing on INS Vikramaditya successfully today 11 Jan 2020 at 10:02 hours. Commodore Jaideep Maolankar did the maiden landing. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also lauded the men and women tirelessly working for the project. Extremely happy to learn of the maiden landing of DRDO developed LCA Navy on INS Vikramaditya. This successful landing is a great event in the history of Indian Fighter aircraft development programme. Congratulations to Team @DRDO_India & @indiannavy for this achievement. (sic), tweeted Singh. INS Vikramaditya in Arabian Sea region The INS Vikramaditya that was used for the arrested landing has been deployed in the Arabian sea region. The deployment comes at a time when China and Pakistan are holding a nine-day mega naval exercise in the region, a move seen as New Delhi sending a clear signal to its two neighbours. Top officials of the Naval headquarters were on board the aircraft carrier when it was deployed in the strategic mission earlier this week, military sources told PTI. Pakistan and China on Monday launched a major drill in the North Arabian Sea with an aim to increase inter-operability and strategic cooperation between their two navies. The exercise 'Sea Guardians' is taking place in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. Key platforms of both China and Pakistan, including submarines, destroyers and frigates, are part of the exercise. Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, with MiG29K fighters on board, has been sent with a strategic objective, the sources said without elaborating. A Navy spokesperson said Deputy Chief of Naval Staff M S Pawar reviewed INS Vikramaditya's operations in the Arabian Sea. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Durex, a condom brand of Reckitt Benckiser (RB), is known for its sense of humour in their adverts. Many of these adverts feature puns and digs at recent events used to promote their brand. So when a Durex 'ad' making a cheeky remark at the expense of Delhi police, started circulating online, many took at it to be genuine. The image features an 'ad' with the caption "Better Protection Than Delhi Police", along with the Durex logo in the bottom-right corner and the hashtag '#ShameOnDelhiPolice'. The poster went viral on social media and was shared by many known people. Delhi Police has faced a lot of criticism for their role during the recent incident of violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on January 5. It has been alleged that police did not act as masked mob entered the campus and targeted students and teachers. However, as the image went viral on social media, Durex refuted these claims. Durex, through its official Twitter handle, stated that the company was not affiliated with the advertisement. "RB had not issued any posts or insertion in the social media linking Durex with recent agitation. Individuals have used images of Durex brands on their own volition," the tweet said. RB had not issued any posts or insertion in the social media linking Durex with recent agitation. Individuals have used images of Durex brands on their own volition. Durex India (@DurexIndia) January 10, 2020 So it seems that while the image may well be a brilliant work of 'creativity', it is not an official advert by Durex. For all the Latest Fact Check News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Trend Morocco on Saturday urged its citizens to leave Ukraine amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Trend reports citing Xinhua. In light of the current situation and for their own safety, Moroccan citizens in Ukraine are asked to leave through the available commercial flights, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said on its website. Moroccans wishing to head for Ukraine are asked to delay their trip for the moment, it added. New Delhi: Tight security arrangement has been made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2-day visit to Kolkata as several outfits have threatened to protest against him over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). According to reports, protesters have planned a roadblock near the airport, 'Go Back PM' demonstrations across the city, and a dharna at Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, reports are coming that his arrival to the airport has been advanced by an hour over security concerns. This would enable him to a helicopter ride to the city without any fuss. PM Modi was earlier scheduled to arrive at 5 pm at the Kolkata airport and go straight to the Old Currency Building in central Kolkata for an official programme. But as per the changed schedule, he will now arrive by an Indian Air Force flight at 4 pm, and then he would be flown in a helicopter to the city's Race Course, reported IANS. Last-Minute Changes Expected The report also said that there could be last-minute changes in Modis schedule in view of intensifying protests in the city and the rest of Bengal on the issue new the Citizenship Act and the recent violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the strongest critics of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). She has been holding protests off late across the state and assured the people that she will not allow anyone to snatch their rights. PM Modi Will Attend These Functions On Saturday, PM Modi will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata. These are the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House, and the Victoria Memorial Hall. The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while curating the old galleries. PM Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday. He will be handing over a cheque of Rs 501 crore towards the final installment to meet the deficit of pension fund of retired and existing employees of the Kolkata Port Trust, the statement said. PM Modi will also be felicitating two oldest pensioners of the Kolkata Port Trust -- Nagina Bhagat, 105, and Naresh Chandra Chakraborty, 100. He will also launch the Port anthem during the event. Besides, PM Modi will unveil a plaque of 150 years of commemorative installation at the site of the original Port jetties. PM Modi will also inaugurate the upgraded ship repair facility of the Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. PM Modi will inaugurate the full rake handling facility while dedicating the upgraded railway infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. A mechanisation of berth number 3 at the Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme will also be launched by PM Modi. In another event, PM Modi will inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 tribal girl students of Sunderbans. With PTI Inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Queen Elizabeth II has summoned senior royals to her Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Monday for an emergency family meeting to discuss the future roles of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and solve the crisis triggered by the couple's bombshell announcement that they were stepping back from Britain's royal frontline. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, his brother William, the Duke of Cambridge, and their father Charles, the Prince of Wales, have all been invited to the meeting, while Meghan is expected join the discussion over the phone from Canada, the BBC quoted palace officials as saying. Monday's meeting - dubbed as the 'Sandringham summit' - will be the first time the 93-year-old monarch has come face-to-face with Harry since the Sussex crisis exploded. The couple made their bombshell announcement on Wednesday that they intend to "step back" from being frontline royals, split their time between the UK and North America, and work towards becoming "financially independent". It is hoped that the talks will produce a "next step" on the way to defining the couple's new relationship with the Royal Family - in line with the Queen's wish to find a solution within days, the report said, adding that there are still "formidable obstacles" to overcome in the talks. The meeting will be an opportunity for the family to discuss proposals, drawn up after a series of consultations between palace officials and representatives of the UK and Canadian governments over how Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, can achieve their aim of carving out new "progressive" roles as hybrid royals. The couple have said they plan to continue helping charitable causes through their new Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year. Last month, they made an application to trademark the brand across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services. However, that process may face some legal wrangles as it emerged that an application has been lodged in the European Union (EU) to trademark a range of goods including beer and jewellery under the same brand. In their statement released earlier this week, they also said they would be adopting a "revised media approach", engaging with "grassroots media organisations" and using their Instagram account, which has more than 10 million followers, to "personally share moments in their lives directly with members of the public". The royal family, led by the Queen, was said to be "hurt" and "blindsided" by their shock announcement, which they said was finalised after "many months of reflection and internal discussions". It came soon after the coupe returned to the UK from a six-week holiday on Vancouver Island in Canada, the country likely to be their second home given Meghan's former actress connections with the city of Toronto. Meghan, who is American, lived and worked in Toronto where she starred in the popular US drama Suits. Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday faced protests by Left students for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly "diluting the fight against CAA". The Left students were protesting against her meeting Modi at the Raj Bhavan here and sharing the stage with the prime minister at a function later in the evening on the first day of his two-day visit to the state. They lanched a dharna at the Dorina Crossing at Esplanade and said it would continue as long as the prime minister is in the state. Members of SFI, AISA, IC of Presidency University students unions chanting 'Azadi' and 'Shame Shame' broke three barricades put up near the stage of the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad's (TMCP) sit-in at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, not far from the Raj Bhavan, and demanded explanation from Banerjee as she rushed from a programme attended by Modi to the venue. They wanted to know why Mamata Banerjee met the PM, who, they said, is behind the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens and "diluted the fight" against it. "We were heading towards the Raj Bhavan. But we were prevented from doing so by the police near TMCP's dharna site on nearby Rani Rashmoni Avenue. When the CM arrived, we demanded an explanation from her," Subho Biswas, a student of Presidency University, claimed. Also Read: Sonia Gandhi Calls Citizenship Act 'Discriminatory', CWC Passes Resolution To Withdraw CAA, Stop NPR An SFI leader Tapas Das said the protests would go on as long as Modi was in the city on Sunday. "We demanded an explanation from Mamata Banerjee about her meeting the prime minister at the Raj Bhavan and sharing the stage at an official programme ... There is a secret understanding between Mamata Banerjee and PM Modi. She has been exposed. "We will sit on dharna at the Esplanade crossing till the prime minister leaves the city tomorrow," he said. Banerjee, who was seen arguing with Left students, sought to clarify her stand and said it was her "constitutional obligation to meet the PM". Also Read: Citizenship Amendment Act Comes Into Effect Officially As Government Issues Gazette Notification "I am the only leader who met Narendra Modi and told him that the CAA, NRC and NPR cannot be implemented. We have been protesting from day one against CAA. The issue before both of us (TMCP and Left students' unions) is the same, so please don't deviate from it. "I request you all to protest in a democratic way ... We should fight the anti-CAA battle together. We are fighting on the same issue," she told the Left students unions. She also asked the TMCP students, who were separated by a barricade put up by police, to remain calm and not retaliate. Banerjee was seen sitting on the dais surrounded by security guards and TMCP students raised counter slogans chanting 'Bande Mataram' and 'Down with BJP and its cohorts'. A senior Kolkata Police Police officer said Banerjee is still present at the sit-in venue and officers and extra policemen are present there. "We are alert," he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday he was aoutrageda by another missile attack on an Iraqi airbase where US forces have been stationed. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday he was outraged by another missile attack on an Iraqi airbase where US forces have been stationed, as neighbouring Iran signalled a wish to de-escalate regional tensions. Outraged by reports of another rocket attack on an Iraqi airbase, Pompeo tweeted. "These continued violations of Iraqs sovereignty by groups not loyal to the Iraqi government must end. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sundays rocket attacks. The US has previously blamed such attacks on Iran-backed groups in Iraq. A volley of rockets hit an airbase in Iraq hosting US troops on Sunday injuring four Iraqi soldiers. The missile attack targeted the Al-Balad airbase in north of Baghdad that also hosts American soldiers. The Iraqi military confirmed the reports saying eight Katyusha-type rockets landed on Al-Balad airbase, wounding two Iraqi officers and two airmen. Outraged by reports of another rocket attack on an Iraqi airbase. I pray for speedy recovery of the injured and call on the Government of #Iraq to hold those responsible for this attack on the Iraqi people accountable. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 12, 2020 A majority of US airmen stationed at the Al-Balad airbase north of Baghdad had already left, the military sources said, following tensions between the US and Iran over the last two weeks. Military bases hosting US troops have been subject to volleys of rocket and mortar attacks in recent months that have mostly wounded Iraqi forces, but also killed one American contractor last month. That death set off a series of dramatic developments, with the US carrying out strikes against a pro-Iran paramilitary group in Iraq as well as a convoy carrying top Iranian and Iraqi commanders outside Baghdad airport. Iran Agrees De-Escalation 'Only Solution' On Sunday, Iran signalled on Sunday it favours a de-escalation after 10 days of heightened tensions with the United States during which both sides fired missiles and Tehran accidentally shot down a passenger aircraft. In a meeting between Irans President Hassan Rouhani and the visiting emir of Qatar, both sides agreed de-escalation is the only solution to the regional crisis, the emirates ruler said. Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the region but also enjoys strong ties with Iran, with which it shares the worlds largest gas field. "This visit comes at a critical time in the region, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said on what was believed to be his first official visit to the Islamic republic. "We agreed... that the only solution to these crises is de-escalation from everyone and dialogue." For his part, Rouhani said: Given the importance of security of the region... weve decided to have more consultations and cooperation for the security of the entire region. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to implement the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. The Yogi Adityanath government has reportedly submitted a list of refugees to the Centre under CAA, the Times of India report said on Monday. the list includes Hindu refugees living in 19 districts of Uttar Pradesh, the TOI report said. The list has been sent to the Union Home Ministry. The list also includes personal account of such refuges and the ordeals faced by them during their troubled journey from neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The TOI report said that around 40,000 individuals have been identified as non-Muslim, illegal refugees. Majority of these illegal immigrants are staying in Agra, Mathura, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Meerut and Lucknow among others. The Law Of Citizenship The Narendra Modi government had passed the contentious legislation in Parliament on December 11. Two days later, President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent and making it a law on December 13. The Citizenship Act grants Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan in half the time of other groups if they can argue they suffered religious discrimination in their country of origin. Fire of Protests in UP Uttar Pradesh has been the worst-affected state during the CAA violence. From Kanpur to Firozabad, violent clashes were reported in several cities of the state. Though there have been various claims and counter-claims, UP officials maintain that 19 people were killed in the state during violent clashes. Dead men named in FIR News Nation had earlier reported about the FIR file by the police over the December 20 violence in Kanpur. The shocking details may just set the path for new row. News Nation had learnt that the UP Police had booked 13 men in the FIR. These people were injured in during the protests. Shockingly, three of them died due to bullet injuries in the aftermath of the violent clashes. However, the police remain adamant saying the it is following the due procedure. After the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned violent in UPs Firozabad on December 20, the Firozabad police booked around 2,500 people. As a precautionary measure, they have now issued notice to Banne Khan, who died around six years ago, under section 107/16 of the IPC. Apart from this, two men aged 90 and 93 have also been asked to appear before the Magistrate and fill a bond of Rs 10 lakh. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The reports called for all appointments in JNU faculty to be probed (Photo Credit: ANI) New Delhi: A fact-finding committee of the Congress on the JNU violence on Sunday alleged that Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was the "mastermind" behind it and sought his immediate dismissal and criminal investigation against him. Calling the January 5 violence by masked men "state-sponsored", panel member Sushmita Dev said it recommended that Kumar be dismissed immediately and all appointments in faculty should be probed and an independent inquiry should take place. The Congress had appointed the four-member fact-finding committee to carry out a detailed inquiry into the violence at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). "A criminal investigation must be initiated against the VC, the company that provides security service and members of the faculty who conspired with the attackers to unleash the violence at Sabarmati hostel, Periyar hostel and other places. The security company's contract must be immediately terminated," the Mahila Congress chief said. Calling Kumar the "mastermind" behind the incident, Dev said since his appointment in 2016, he meticulously "infiltrated" the university with people in the faculty who did not merit their positions and promoted only those who would be compliant to him and had their inclination to right-wing ideology. He operates through these members of faculty to orchestrate chaos on campus. The crisis on the campus is a culmination of his mis-governance and autocracy. He deliberately imposed his decision on the university students and teachers without due process and then refused to engage with the duly elected student and teacher representatives which led to the deadlock, she added. "It is clear that the attack on JNU campus was state-sponsored. There is absolutely no doubt about it. The important question is what did the administration and Delhi police do to stop the attack," Dev said. The other recommendations of the committee included an independent judicial inquiry into the events of January 5 that led to violence on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University. "Fix accountability of the Commissioner of Delhi Police and other police officials because of police failure to act on the emergency calls by the students and faculty members and in light of the overwhelming prima facie evidence that they facilitated the criminal elements on campus," the committee said. She also demanded a complete rollback of the JNU hostel fee hike. "Immediate rollback of the fee hike as implemented by the university authorities and recognition of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) as an elected body so that proper consultation can take place between the administration and the students on the fee and other issues," she added. She said there is every reason to believe that the mob that attacked the students and teachers on campus were from the right-wing factions. "There is sufficient evidence to show that the people who were attacked on 5th January at Sabarmati hostel and at the Sabarmati-T junction just outside the hostel were people who did not belong to the right-wing politics on campus. The attackers in fact did not touch the students and faculty who were right-wingers at the Sabarmati hostel area," she added. "The mob that entered the hostel even targeted people of a certain religion and spared those who were well known ABVP activists," she said. "I have no doubt that the violence is pre-planned, pre-mediated, criminal conspiracy," she told reporters. "The quality of the investigation is questionable where till now a case for attempt to murder has not been filed despite serious head injuries suffered by students and faculty. As per the students, the forensic team came about 40 hours later to the hostel that was attacked," she said. The other members of the fact-finding committee are Hibi Eden, MP and former NSUI president; Syed Naseer Hussain, MP and former president of JNU NSUI; and Amrita Dhawan, a former NSUI president and ex-DUSU president. On January 5 night, masked people armed with rods and sticks stormed the JNU campus and assaulted students and faculty members, and vandalised property, leaving several people injured. Leftist outfits and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) blamed each other for the violence. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday launched the audio and video of its official song Lage Raho Kejriwal as part of its campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly election. The song, composed by music director Vishal Dadlani, was launched by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The theme song showcases the sentiments of the people of Delhi about Arvind Kejriwal and also the key achievements of the AAP government in Delhi, Sisodia said. He said this song is not only the voice of the people of Delhi, but it is also going to become the theme song of the city over the next five years. In the last five years we have worked relentlessly for the people of Delhi. Today, wherever we go in Delhi and meet people, they tell us how happy they are with the clean governance of the AAP led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia said. The song has been composed by music director Vishal Dadlani and it will be played at all party rallies and meetings, Sisodia said. During the last election, Dadlani had composed another song 'Paanch saal Kejriwal' for the party's campaign. "We have prepared 20 teams for 'flash mob' performances on this song, and hundreds more will be created in the coming days. The teams will perform on the song in all the streets, markets and gatherings," he said. The Delhi Assembly polls will be held on February 8 and the counting of votes will take place on February 11. New Delhi: Jain Coral Cove, a 55-metre high illegal apartment complex in Maradu - overlooking Kerala's stunning backwaters - was demolished using controlled implosion on Sunday morning. The demolition drive was carried out in a very careful manner and area in a 200-metre radius was kept out of the bound for people during the drive. The demolition comes a day after the Kerala government demolished two of the complexes. This is one of the largest demolition drives in India involving residential complexes. Before starting the demolition drive, the prohibitory order was declared by the Ernakulam District Collector. Section 144 of CrPC was imposed on the land, water and in the air in the evacuation zone of all the illegal waterfront apartment complexes in Kochi. #WATCH Maradu flats demolition: Jain Coral Cove complex demolished through a controlled implosion.2 out of the 4 illegal apartment towers were demolished yesterday, today is the final round of the operation. #Kochi #Kerala pic.twitter.com/mebmdIm1Oa ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2020 Earlier, residents in the evacuation zone were directed to switch off the electricity and all appliances before leaving their homes. They were also advised to close all windows and doors to protect their houses from dust. All traffic airborne, waterborne, land-based was prohibited in the evacuation zone, police. > Maradu Flat Owners Plea Was Rejected By Supreme Court Earlier in December, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by some owners of Maradu flats in Kochi seeking direction to the Attorney General to grant permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against concerned authorities for allegedly misleading the court in the matter. The top court had on September 30 refused to entertain a plea of flat owners seeking a stay on its order to demolish four apartment complexes in Maradu which were built in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms. On September 27, the top court had directed demolition of these flats within 138 days, a timeline was given by the Kerala government, and had asked the state to pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks. For all the Latest India News, South News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump told the people of Iran Saturday that he stands by them and is monitoring protests that broke out after Tehran admitted it shot down an airliner, killing 176 people. "To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my Administration will continue to stand with you," Trump tweeted. "We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your courage," he added He tweeted the same message in Farsi as well. Iran on Saturday admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8 killing 176 onboard. The confession will trigger more trouble for Tehran. Regretting the crash, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered condolences to the families of the victims. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 (sic), Rouhani said on Twitter. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said in another tweet. Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif termed the development as sad day. Using a heartbreak emoji, Zarif tweeted, A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Denial And Admission Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The footage of the incident shows the SUV being hit by a car before being flung in the air. (Photo Credit: Screengrab) New Delhi: A speeding white colour SUV flung in the air after being hit by a car and fell on two vehicles parked on the other side of the road in Sector 37 before flipping to the drivers side. 25-year-old Rajinder Singh, the driver of the SUV, escaped with minor injuries. Singh is a resident of Phase 7 in Mohali. The incident got captured in a CCTV camera installed in the area. The footage of the incident is now being widely shared on the internet. The footage of the incident shows the SUV being hit by a car before being flung in the air. Police rushed to the spot after being informed about the incident by a passer-by. Rajinder Singh suffered a major seizure (fits) when he was driving and lost his balance. No one was injured in the road crash. The occupants of the vehicles struck a written compromise with the SUV driver. The medical examination of Rajinder Singh ruled out drunken driving. His family members were called. He is under treatment, an officer was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, police has filed a daily dairy report (DDR) at the Sector 39 station. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Trend A convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions breached police defences and drove into central Paris on Saturday, snarling traffic around the Arc de Triomphe and on the Champs Elysees, as police fired tear gas at demonstrators, Trend reports citing Reuters. Protesters in cars, campervans, tractors and other vehicles had converged on Paris from Lille, Perpignan, Nice and other cities late on Friday, despite warnings from Paris authorities that they would be barred from entering the capital. Inspired by horn-blaring "Freedom Convoy" demonstrations in Canada, dozens of vehicles slipped through the police cordon, impeding traffic around the 19th century arch and the top of the boutique-lined Champs Elysees, a magnet for tourists. Inside the city's limits, motorists in the "Freedom Convoy" waved tricolour flags and honked in defiance of the police ban. On the Champs Elysees, clouds of tear gas swirled through the terraces of bars and restaurants. Riot police also threw tear gas grenades to keep order at an authorised street protest where demonstrators, including some "Yellow Vests" railed against President Emmanuel Macron's coronavirus vaccine pass rules and the cost of living. On the Champs Elysees, police used tear gas into the evening as sporadic scuffles continued and one person who collapsed on the sidewalk was brought to hospital for checks, police said. France requires people to show proof of vaccination to enter public places such as cafes, restaurants and museums, with a negative test no longer being sufficient for unvaccinated people. New Delhi: The Citizenship Amendment Act has finally came to into effect on Friday, the official notification from the Home Ministry said. In a gazette notification, the Union home ministry stated that the act under which non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be given Indian citizenship, will come into force from January 10. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of the section 1 of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (47 of 2019), the Central government hereby appoints the 10th day of January, 2020, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force, the notification said. The CAA was passed by parliament on December 11. Also Read: Delhi Court Grants Bail To All Accused In Seemapuri Violence Case According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. There have been widespread protests against the act in different parts of the country. Those who are opposed to the legislation are saying that it is for the first time that India will grant citizenship on the basis of religion which violates the basic tenets of the countrys constitution. Also Read: It's Official! Amid CAA-NRC Protests, Modi Govt Rolls Out First Phase Of Census India However, the government and ruling BJP has been defending the act saying that the minority groups from the three countries have no other option but to come India when they face religious persecution there. The home ministry, however, is yet to frame the rules for the act. Delhi Court Grants Bail To 12 Persons In Seemapuri Violence Case A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to 12 people arrested in connection with the violence in Seemapuri area in northeast Delhi during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests and directed them to get their doubts regarding the amended law cleared by the police. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra granted relief to the accused persons on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 each and one surety of like amount. He also asked them to not disturb public peace. Applicants shall not do any act which may disturb public peace. Applicants shall put their appearance on January 19 between 2 to 4 pm at Seemapuri Police Station, where the IO/SHO shall make endeavour to remove the doubts of the applicants in respect of CAA, the court said. The court observed that everyone had the right to hold peaceful protest in a democracy but damaging public property was not acceptable. Right to protest is recognised as a fundamental right in a democracy but this right of peaceful protest and open criticism of government policies does not extend to disturbing the public order, i.e., public peace, safety and tranquillity, the court said. The Constitution of India also prohibits a person from making any statement that incites people to commit an offence, the court said. Those who were granted bail included Amjad Khan, Abdul Kalam, Rajaullah Khan, Nisar, Amiruddin, Suaib, Ahtmaad Ahmed, Waqar, Anis, Hazi Mehraj, Mohd Shoib and Mohd Amir. Advocates Zakir Raja, Shahab Ahmad and Satya Prakash Gautam, appearing for some of the accused, told the judge that 10 out of 12 accused were in judicial custody since December 21 last year and some of them were not even present at the site of the protest. The advocates of Shoib and Amir, who were sent to judicial custody on January 5, claimed that the duo was arrested despite protesting peacefully. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. This was his first meeting with PM Modi after taking office in December last year. After meeting with PM Modi, CM Hamant Soren said, "I met PM Modi for the first time after the formation of government. In the coming days, I will once again meet him and put forward state's problems." CM Soren added that PM Modi assured him of the protection of the rights of tribal community in Jharkhand. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren: I met PM Modi for the first time after the formation of govt. In the coming days, I will once again meet him and put forward state's problems. Prime Minister has assured that the rights of tribals will be protected. pic.twitter.com/Ub0M3ZHYkV ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Hemant Soren. However, the PM had expressed his inability to attend the ceremony due to his busy schedule. Moreover, PM Modi had congratulated Hemant Soren on being sworn in as Jharkhand CM. He had assured Soren of all possible support from the centre. Earlier, the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance stormed to power in Jharkhand on December 23, ousting the BJP in yet another state in the Hindi heartland after the saffron partys stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Also Read: Jharkhand Will Not Implement CAA If Even One Person Is Uprooted: JMM Working President Hemant Soren The three-party alliance bagged 47 seats in the 81-member state Assembly. The JMM won 30 seats, Congress 16 and the RJD 1. Four other MLAs - three from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and one from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) also extended their support to the three-party coalition. The BJP clinched 25 seats, AJSU got two, while the CPI-ML(Liberation) and the NCP got one each and two seats went to others. JMM working president Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of Jharkhand. The 44-year-old JMM leader became Jharkhands CM for the second time. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain's ambassador in Tehran on Saturday, according to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, after he was reportedly arrested during protests against the regime. The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said in a statement after the detention of Rob Macaire. The minister warned Iran that it was "at a cross-roads moment", and had to choose between "its march towards pariah status" or "take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards." US Seeks Apology The United States called on Iran to apologise for detaining the British ambassador to Tehran, reportedly during protests against the regime. "This violates the Vienna Convention, which the regime has a notorious history of violating. We call on the regime to formally apologize to the UK for violating his rights and to respect the rights of all diplomats," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus tweeted. Why is Iran Protesting? Iran on Saturday admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8 killing 176 onboard. The confession will trigger more trouble for Tehran. Regretting the crash, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered condolences to the families of the victims. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 (sic), Rouhani said on Twitter. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said in another tweet. Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif termed the development as sad day. Using a heartbreak emoji, Zarif tweeted, A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Denial And Admission Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday arrived in the city on a two day-visit amidst protests against Citizenship Amendment Act outside the airport. Modi was greeted by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and other senior BJP leaders. Modi, who will be in Kolkata on Saturday and Sunday, is scheduled to attend the function marking the 150th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust on January 12 and other programmes. From the airport, he is likely to take a helicopter to Royal Calcutta Turf Club(RCTC) and from there go to the Raj Bhawan. Hundreds of protesters staged demonstrations at the crossing outside airport gate number one despite strict security. Demonstrations were also held in various other parts of the state against Modi's visit to the city during the day. Modi was earlier scheduled to arrive at 5 pm at the Kolkata airport and go straight to the Old Currency Building in central Kolkata for an official programme. But as per the changed schedule, he arrived by an Indian Air Force flight at 4 pm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is one of the strongest critics of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). She has been holding protests of late across the state and assured the people that she will not allow anyone to snatch their rights. 22:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi on late Saturday evening reached the Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, to spend the night there and he is likely to meditate at the temple of Swami Vivekananda on Sunday, the birth anniversary of the monk. 19:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi unveils the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light & sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. CM Mamata Banerjee also present. pic.twitter.com/OiaDQADje9 ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 19:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi arrives at Millennium Park, he will shortly unveil the Dynamic Architectural Illumination with synchronised light & sound system of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge), as a part of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust. CM Mamata Banerjee also present. pic.twitter.com/TwyMxA4w0e ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 19:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In A museum called 'Biplobi Bharat' should be established, in which Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rash Bihari Bose, Khudiram Bose, Deshbandhu, Bagha Jatin, Binoy, Badal, Dinesh, every such great freedom fighter should be given a place. 18:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In 1903, Rabindranath Tagore in a writing had written: India's history is not what we study for exams. It has been incorrectly written.' He had written that its important to understand how the people faced a storm, and not the storm: PM Modi 18:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In We're celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. In 2022, when India will be celebrating its 75th independence anniversary, we will also celebrate the 250th birth anniversary of social reformer and educationist Raja Ram Mohan Roy: PM Modi. 18:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The demand for declassification of the files on Netaji was on for several years. Our Govt declassified them. In the new year and decade, the country feels that other revolutionaries from Bengal should get the deserved respect and regard: PM Modi 18:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Kolkata has been one of the best cultural centers in India. According to your feelings, efforts are now being made to bring the rich identity of Kolkata to the world in a new color form. Renovation of 4 iconic buildings here has been completed: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Renovation work to modernize the 4 iconic galleries of Kolkata like the Belvedere House, Old Currency Building, Victoria Memorial and others has been completed. The idea of converting Belvedere House into Museum of the World has been dealt with sincerely: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It has also been decided that 5 iconic museums of India will be made of International standards. This movement is being started from Indian Museum, Kolkata, one of the oldest museums in the world: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Central Govt is renovating & refurbishing the heritage monuments in the country. We're starting from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi. These monuments will have new galleries, divisions and needed infrastructure for theatre and music: PM Modi 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Tourism and tradition have a direct connection with our identity and heritage. The Central Govt wants to present India's cultural richness to the world in a new way to make sure India emerges as a centre of heritage tourism: PM Modi. 18:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Today is a key day for India's culture and heritage, not just for West Bengal but for entire India. We're starting a national mission today from Kolkata to re-invent, replan, re-innovate and protect the culture, traditions and heritage of India: PM Modi. 17:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Lets get this straight. Todays meeting is government-to-government. And Trinamool don't need certificates from anyone. We started this movement & now it is a peoples movement. How many processions have you walked in? How many protests have you led? Stop giving advice sitting on a sofa: TMC MP Derek O' Brien 17:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "I told him that we are against CAA, NPR and NRC. We want that CAA and NRC should be withdrawn." 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In #WATCH: PM Narendra Modi meets West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The Prime Minister is in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. pic.twitter.com/6r6ghcLlSu ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2020 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In PM Narendra Modi meets CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The PM is in Kolkata to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. 16:48 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Kolkata. He is on a two-day visit to Kolkata, to take part in 150th anniversary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in West Bengal for his two-day visit, on Sunday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary at the Belur Math in Howrah, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission. He is the first prime minister to stay overnight at the Math in neighbouring. He woke up early on Sunday and visited the temple of Swami Vivekananda to pay respect to the spiritual leader, Mission officials said. Swami Vivekanandas birth anniversary is also observed as the National Youth Day. The prime minister then visited the main temple building and paid tribute to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, they said. "My best wishes to you all on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary... I'm grateful to the Math's president and the seers for letting me stay with them last night. Belur Math is no less than a pilgrimage, but for me it is always like a homecoming," PM Modi said. PM Modi also took part in the morning prayer meeting around 9.30 am at the Math premises, officials said. The prime minister was received by senior monks of the order after he reached Belur Math on Saturday evening, taking the river route from Kolkata. This is prime ministers second visit to the Math after becoming prime minister. The last time I came here, I had taken the blessings of Swami Atmasthanandaji. Today he is not physically present with us. But his work, his path, will always guide us in the form of Ramakrishna Mission, PM Modi said while addressing youth. On May 10, 2015, a "deeply emotional" Modi had spent a few morning hours at the Math, praying and meditation. Later in the day, PM Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust. The prime minister and the chief minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Dilip Ghosh said those involved in arson and damaging public property will be shot alike the same way in Uttar Pradesha. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: BJP state president Dilip Ghosh courted controversy on Sunday by threatening to shoot and kill those involved in damaging public property like the same way in Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a public meeting in West Bengals Nadia district, Ghosh came down heavily on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not opening fire and ordering lathicharge on those destroying railway property and public transport during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the state in December last year. Is it the fathers property of those who are setting public property on fire? How can they destroy government property built on tax payers money! Ghosh said. He said, The governments of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka did the right thing by opening fire on these anti-national elements (during anti-CAA protests). The BJP leader said those involved in arson and damaging public property will be shot like the same way in Uttar Pradesh. They will come here, enjoy all the facilities and destroy countrys property. Is it their zamindari! he asked. Ghosh also called for identifying those sabotaging the interests of Hindu Bengalis. He claimed that there are two crore Muslim infiltrators in the country. One crore alone is in West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee is trying to protect them, he alleged. What PM Modi said on CAA in Kolkata On Sunday, strongly defending the new citizenship law, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the dispute that has arisen over it has made the world aware of persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. He, however, deplored that a section of the youth is being misguided over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which is aimed at giving and not taking away anybodys citizenship rights. CAA is not about taking away citizenship, it is about giving citizenship. Today, on National Youth Day, I would like to tell this to the youngsters of India, West Bengal, North East that this is not an overnight law for giving citizenship. We must all know that any person of any religion from any country of the world who believes in India and its Constitution can apply for Indian citizenship through due process. Theres no problem in that, he told a gathering at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission. PM Modi said that some people with political interests are deliberately spreading rumours about the new citizenship law. Lauding the youth for speaking against religious persecution of minorities, the prime minister said the energy of the countrys young will form the basis of change in the 21st century. (PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Taking a swipe at the Mamata Banerjee Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged it was not implementing central schemes as they do not help syndicates or involve cut money. Addressing the 150th anniversary programme of Kolkata Port Trust, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped, Modi said people in West Bengal would not have to miss out on the benefits for long, an apparent reference to the Assembly polls next year. When there is no syndicate or cut money involved, why would someone implement central government schemes? I dont know whether they (state government) would give approval for central schemes such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, but if they do, people of Bengal will be able to enjoy their benefits, he said. The prime minister said that he was pained to see that the poor in the state were not getting benefits of the Centres welfare schemes. Eight crore farmers across the country are getting benefited (due to the central schemes). But there will always be pain in my heart (about the schemes not being implemented in Bengal). I will always pray to god for the welfare of farmers and poor patients. May God give them (Bengal government) good sense.... However, I have a feeling that the people of West Bengal will not remain deprived of central schemes for long, he said. During the 2019 general elections, Modi had consistently attacked Banerjee, accusing her of running a syndicate raj in the state. The BJP tally rose from two to 18 in West Bengal which has 42 Lok Sabha seats, while the ruling Trinamool Congress won 22 seats, down from 34 in 2014. Also Read: Bengal BJP Delegation Meets PM Modi, Apprises Him Of Party's Pro-CAA Campaign In State The prime minister on Sunday also rechristened Kolkata Port Trust after Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The chief minister, who was scheduled to attend the port trust programme, was conspicuous by her absence. None of the Trinamool Congress ministers were also present at the event. Banerjee, one of the most bitter critics of the prime minister, met him at Raj Bhavan on Saturday, after deciding not to receive him at the airport, and was seated with him later at an event at Millennium Park. Modi had arrived here amid protests by students and other groups against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population register exercise. I told him that we are against CAA, NRC and NPR. I told him there should be no discrimination among masses and no citizens are left out and tortured, the chief minister had told reporters after meeting Modi at Raj Bhavan. Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Faces Protests By Students For Meeting PM Narendra Modi At Raj Bhawan Moments later, she was present at an anti-CAA protest nearby. Banerjee, who called her meeting with Modi a courtesy visit, said the prime minister had asked her to come to New Delhi to discuss the vexatious issues. Banerjee, however, skipped the inauguration of renovated heritage Currency Building, founded in 1833, by the prime minister. On Sunday, Modi said his government at the Centre was making every possible effort to develop Bengal especially its poor, underprivileged and exploited sections. He also inaugurated and laid foundation of infrastructure projects for the expansion and modernisation of the Kolkata Port. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: The best thing the US can do for the world is to continue its maximum pressure campaign on Irans regime to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a top US official said on Sunday. The best thing we can do for the Iranian people and for the world is to continue our maximum pressure campaign to ensure that the Iranian regime never obtains a nuclear weapon, stops their terrorist activities in the region and cuts back on their ballistic missile program, National Security Advisor Robert OBrien said. The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran following missile strikes by it on bases housing US troops in Iraq. Iran said the attacks were in revenge for the killing of the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Qasem Soleimani, in a US drone strike last week, which was ordered by President Donald Trump. OBrien said it has never been the policy of the US to change the regime in Iran, but the people of Iran are going to hopefully have the ability at some point to elect their own government. Its never been our policy to change the regime in Iran, but the people of Iran are going to hopefully have the ability at some point to elect their own government and to be governed by the leaders they choose. I mean we hope that around the world. But thats not our policy. And were going to support human rights, he said during an interview to a private American channel. Also Read: Inspired By Your Courage, Says Donald Trump On Iran Protests OBrien said the US will work with its allies against Iran and soon the European powers would also join. Were going to keep doing that. Were going to work with our allies. I think were going to see some additional assistance on that front coming out of Europe that has not been forthcoming in the past. But I think youre going to see the Europeans getting onboard in the coming weeks as well, he said. Stating that the past one week has been a very bad for the Iranian regime, OBrien said : They shot down Ukrainian International Airline 752. And the presidents condolences and sympathy goes out to the passengers, their families, and their friends and loved ones. The Iranians then denied shooting the aircraft down, then give a different story about the aircraft coming close to sensitive military installations, changed it again and said it was because of the United States, he said. Also Read: Shooting Down Ukrainian Plane 'Unforgivable Mistake,' Says Iran's Hassan Rouhani Irans Revolutionary Guard on Saturday acknowledged that it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard, after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was responsible. This was a regime thats reeling from maximum pressure. Theyre reeling from their incompetence in this situation. And the people of Iran are just fed up with it, he added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Vistara will start inducting these wide-body planes in the fleet from next month. (Photo Credit: PTI) Mumbai: Tata-SIA joint venture airline Vistara has started phasing out nine Boeing 737 planes, which it had leased after the grounding of Jet Airways, from this month amid induction of the latest batch of A320 neos in the fleet. The airline is returning two of these nine leased B737 from January and the rest seven will be exited the fleet between 2022-23 as they are on long term lease, a Vistara spokesperson told PTI. The government has temporarily reallocated as many as many as 488 Jet Airways slots to Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, GoAir and AirAsia India to fill the capacity gap in the wake of the airline ceasing operations mid-April last year. A slot is a specific date and time at which an airline can arrive or depart at an airport. Two of our Boeing 737-800NG aircraft are exiting fleet this month as their lease tenure ends. The remaining seven have longer lease duration and most of them will exit fleet between 2022 and 2023, a Vistara spokesperson said in response to a PTI query. The spokesperson also said that by the time Vistara phases out all these leased Boeing planes, it would induct more than 50 narrow-body and wide-body aircraft in its fleet from Airbus and Boeing additionally. After the government put a rider that temporary allocation of ex-Jet Airways slots was subject to aircraft induction, Vistara leased nine Boeing 737-800 planes to reportedly secure as many as 110 additional slots of the 488 slots. Vistara, which is 51 per cent owned by the Tata Group and rest by Singapore Airlines, had placed orders for 50 aircraft, comprising both A320 Neos and A321 Neos for domestic as well as short and medium-haul international operations with deliveries between 2019-2023. The airline has already taken deliveries of some of the A320 Neos from this order, starting last November. Besides, the carrier has also bought six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul international operations. Vistara will start inducting these wide-body planes in the fleet from next month. The Delhi-based airline, which completed five years of operations on January 9, currently operates over 200 daily flights to 34 domestic and international destinations. New Delhi: Iran on Saturday admitted that it shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane on January 8 killing 176 onboard. The confession will trigger more trouble for Tehran. Regretting the crash, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered condolences to the families of the victims. Armed Forces internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people. Investigations continue to identify & prosecute this great tragedy & unforgivable mistake. #PS752 (sic), Rouhani said on Twitter. The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets this disastrous mistake. My thoughts and prayers go to all the mourning families. I offer my sincerest condolences, he said in another tweet. Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif termed the development as sad day. Using a heartbreak emoji, Zarif tweeted, A sad day. Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces: Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of all victims, and to other affected nations. Denial And Admission Iran had denied for several days that a missile caused the crash. But then the US and Canada, citing intelligence, said they believed Iran shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile, a conclusion supported by videos of the incident. The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, at least 57 Canadians and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The Canadian government had earlier lower the nation's death toll from 63. Mideast On Boil The region is embroiled with pitched tensions after the shocking assassination of General Qasem Soleimani. Pentagon and the White House had officially confirmed that President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Irans high-profile General in an airstrike in Baghdad on January 3. In a statement, the White House said that, At the direction of the President, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Department of Defense added that, "General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Today President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited the Khazret Sultan Mosque to take part in the ceremony dedicated to the memory of the victims of January events, the Facebook account of Presidents press secretary Berik Uali reads, Trend reports citing Kazinform. Following the prayers the President addressed people. Jagadesh Kumar's comments come a day after Delhi Police said nine students were behind the violence (Photo Credit: ANI) New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday blamed outsiders for the violence that took place inside the campus. A masked mob assaulted and injured many students and teachers on January 5 evening. Jagadesh Kumar's comments come a day after Delhi Police said nine students, including JNU students union president Aishe Ghosh, were behind the violence. "This is a problem that many illegal students are staying in hostels. They could be outsiders. They may be participating in any possible violence because they have nothing to do with the university," Jagadesh Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "The terror created by some of the activist students went to such an extent that many of our students had to leave the hostels. From the past several days, we have enhanced security in the campus to make sure that innocent students are not hurt," he said while interacting with students. Earlier, after meeting HRD ministry officials, Jagadesh Kumar had said all decisions taken earlier at the Ministry about the hostel fee are being implemented "in totality" and regular classes at the varsity will start from January 13. The Delhi Police on Friday claimed that nine students were identified as suspects in the violence in the varsity campus but did not name any group yet for the brutal attack by masked goons on students and teachers that left 36 injured. It means question still remained on the identity of the masked people photographed at Sabarmati hostel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) on Sunday and terrorising the campus for three hours with sticks, rods and sledgehammers. The police also claimed that the January 5 violence was a fallout of the online registration process and that tension was brewing in the university since January 1. The officer said Ghosh and eight others were involved in an attack at the Periyar hostel on January 5. Those identified are Dolan Samanta, Priya Ranjan, Sucheta Talukdar, Aishe Ghosh, Bhaskar Vijay Mech, Chunchun Kumar (an alumni) and Pankaj Mishra. The other two suspects named by police are Vikas Patel and Yogendra Bharadwaj. Police sources said the two are from the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The US had also alleged that the duties imposed by India appears to be inconsistent with two norms of GATT. (Photo Credit: File Photo) New Delhi: The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) dispute settlement body has set up a panel to examine the US complaint against India which had increased customs duties on 28 American goods last year. The US in July had dragged India to the WTO by filing a complaint against New Delhi's move to increase customs duties, alleging the decision as inconsistent with the global trade norms. According to a communication of the Geneva-based WTO, the dispute settlement body has established a panel "to examine the matter referred by the US". The US had alleged that the additional duties imposed by India "appears to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to the US directly or indirectly" under the GATT 1994. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a WTO pact, signed by all member countries of the multi-lateral body, aims to promote trade by reducing or eliminating trade barriers like customs duties. The US had also alleged that the duties imposed by India appears to be inconsistent with two norms of GATT. It had stated that India does not impose these duties on products originating in the territory of any other WTO member nation. As per the WTO's dispute settlement process, the request for consultations is the first step in a dispute. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations fail to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. The US has rolled back export incentives from India under its GSP programme and New Delhi has imposed higher customs duties on 28 American products including almond, pulses, walnut, chickpeas, boric acid and binders for foundry moulds. The other products on which duties were hiked include certain kind of nuts, iron and steel products, apples, pears, flat rolled products of stainless steel, other alloy steel, tube and pipe fittings, and screws, bolts and rivets. The duties were hiked as retaliation to the US move to impose the highest customs duties on certain steel and aluminium goods. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at USD 47.9 billion, while imports were at USD 26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Afghan caretaker government announced on Saturday that Abdul Salam Rahimi, the former government's state minister for peace, had returned to Afghanistan. According to media reports, Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and numerous other top officials welcomed Rahimi to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. Following the Taliban's takeover, many Afghan security forces and public officials left the country. According to the statement, efforts were ongoing to ensure that all Afghans who had left the country return. Earlier on August 16 2021, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani escaped the war-torn nation onboard a helicopter packed with cash, but had to leave some cash because it could not get into the chopper. The Taliban controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, but after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the terrorist group's brutal dictatorship came to an end when US-led forces removed them from power in 2001. 'Peaceful nukes, defence capabilities' are irreplaceable: Iran US president Biden and Putin talk over the phone about the Ukraine crisis Five UN officials are kidnapped In Yemen? Ahmedabad: In a joint operation by the NCB and the Indian Navy in Gujarat, more than 760 kg of the drug has been seized in the Arabian Sea. Where the international price of this drug has gone up to around 2000 crore rupees. However, according to the information, the recovered drugs include hashish, heroin and methamphetamine etc. According to sources, this consignment of drugs was coming through Pakistan. In fact, on Saturday, an NCB official said that this was the first such operation in which inputs of drug trafficking were received at sea, after which a joint operation was launched in association with the Navy's intelligence unit. However, the operation was carried out by NCB led by deputy director general (DDG) Sanjay Kumar Singh with the help of the Indian navy. At present, according to sources, the agency had intelligence inputs that two large boats carrying a large number of drugs, which were heading from the Arabian Sea to Gujarat or Mumbai, did not give the exact location, citing security reasons, from where the NCB and Navy personnel intercepted the vessels carrying drugs. At the same time, the NCB and the Indian Navy had prepared a very precautionary strategy for this joint operation in the Arabian Sea. However, 529 kg of high-quality hashish, 234 kg of best quality methamphetamine and heroin were recovered. The price of this drug is said to be 2000 crore rupees in the international market. Due to this, the Navy tweeted that the Navy and NCB carried out an operation in the Arabian Sea with excellent coordination. He also pointed out that the Navy is fully committed to tackling the drug menace. At the moment, according to the news, this is the first operation of its kind in the deep sea. Women who have been diagnosed with coronavirus have a deadly problem, investigation has begun Huge crowd gathers to visit Banke Bihari temple, one died! Owaisi's big statement amid hijab controversy In today's time, many shocking cases keep coming to the fore and now after knowing the case that has come to light, your senses will be blown away. It is a case of crime that has remained part of the discussions among many people these days. This criminal case is from Brazil. After knowing that the Mauro Sampietri here adopted such cruelty to get the first wife out of the way to get married for the second time, people lost their senses. So far, anyone who heard of this horrific crime has trembled. It is being told that in order to get rid of the wife, he cooked her like a barbecue in a tandoor and ate her so that there was no evidence against him. According to the information received in this case, the accused named Mauro had fallen in love with another woman and was ready to go through any limit to get her. Due to this, he brutally killed his wife who was a hindrance on the way to form a second marriage, then he also digested her by eating her. After that, he got married for the second time. After being sentenced by the court in this case, the police told the media the whole case. In fact, the accused first murdered wife then broke her body into pieces and cooked the body parts in a furnace and tasted the wife's meat. He did all this only so that the police could not find any evidence against him and he could live happily with his new wife. Kerala: Two youths arrested for possessing drugs Delhi: Servant strangled old mistress to death, was angry over being accused of theft Rajasthan: Youth commits suicide, family members accused... According to a military source, the Yemeni Houthis forced the government army out of Harad, a major city in the northern province of Hajjah, killing more than 60 troops and injuring 140 more. "During today's battle, the rebels regained the al-Mihsam military base and a range of high mountains from the army," a source told the Xinhua news agency on Saturday. "The rebel snipers murdered around 60 troops who invaded the southern and western neighbourhoods and injured 140 others," he claimed. According to the source, Saudi-led coalition troops supporting the Yemeni government army unleashed three airstrikes against the Houthi advance, adding that "the army is now out of this vital city" on the Saudi border. The defeat is a major loss for the Yemeni government army, which had retaken the majority of the city in a furious struggle that started last week. Yemen has been engulfed in civil conflict since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi militia took control of northern districts and deposed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's Saudi-backed government. Candidate registration for South Korean presidential elections begins Happy but prudent, Italians remove face masks outside in new pandemic reopening phase Within months, the Australian cruise industry will resume: Reports According to officials, Arunachal Pradesh is counting on its micro, mini, and small hydropower plants to earn carbon credits. The initiative, according to Arunachal government officials, will contribute to India's attempts to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. According to a top government official, "out of the entire hydropower facilities in the state, 98 micro, mini, and tiny hydropower plants with a combined installed capacity of 50.295 MW have been examined for carbon credits registration and assets management for the year 2014-2020." These are run-of-river hydroelectric plants, which qualify for carbon credits. Micro-hydro projects have a capacity of up to 200 KW, mini-projects have a capacity of up to 2 MW, and small projects have a capacity of up to 25 MW. The state Hydro Power Development Department will claim Carbon Credits from the Universal Carbon Registry, which are awarded to renewable energy suppliers. Chowna Mein, the Deputy Chief Minister and Department Head, was important in obtaining the Carbon Assets Management (Carbon Credits Trading) for hydropower projects. The Dept has power worth 74.88 million units, which is equal to 54,410 Carbon Credits annually and may earn almost Rs 1.15 crore at the current rate, thanks to its 135 state-owned facilities. The state has completed the first stage of the three-part procedure of registration, credit realisation, and trading. Prashant Lokhande, commissioner of hydropower and planning, said the government expects to receive credits in three to four months, with a maximum of six months. After then, he explained, trading can be done at any moment. Arunachal Pradesh has been catering to its villages spread across the mighty Himalayas with small, micro, and mini-hydropower projects on smaller springs and rivers, even as it aims to sell power from mega hydropower plants on bigger rivers. It was once ordained as the nation's powerhouse for its vast potential of 50,000 MW plus hydropower. Arunachal Pradesh govt recently revealed the phased implementation of 50 micro and mini-hydropower projects as part of the Golden Jubilee Border Village Illumination initiative. 17 micro and mini-hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 1,255 KW are proposed in the first phase. Hope Firms in UAE would take lead of business-savvy environment in state: CM Hrithik Roshan is once again seen with Saba VIDEO: Why anti-national slogans at SP's rally? On Saturday, a UN official confirmed that five UN staff members had been kidnapped in Yemen's dangerous Abyan province. "The UN staff members were on their way back to Aden after having finished a field assignment," said Russell Geekie, Senior Communications Advisor to the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen. He stated, "The UN is in regular communication with the authorities to ensure their release." Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen thought to be members of Yemen's al-Qaida branch intercepted a UN vehicle in Mudiyah district, east of Abyan province, according to local media. According to accounts, the gunmen kidnapped numerous UN employees and brought them to an unknown place. No one has claimed responsibility for the abduction thus far. The al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network, which is located in Yemen and predominantly operates in the country's eastern and southern regions, has been responsible for a number of high-profile assaults against security personnel. Years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia have enabled the AQAP to grow its position in crucial parts of the war-torn Arab country. Worldwide Covid caseload surpasses 410 million Houthi forces seize a strategic Yemeni city Switzerland could become the first country to ban animal testing Soon after the release of one of the female activists, other Afghan women protestesters come out on streets of Kabul to demand their release. According to the media sources, Parwana Ibrahimkhil who went missing last month, has been found and claims to have been taken hostage by Taliban militants. However, Tamana Paryani, Zahra Mohammadi, and Mursal Ayar, the three surviving campaigners, are still missing. "We conducted a demonstration in response to all of the problems produced by the Taliban organisation for the people of Afghanistan," one protester stated on Saturday.According to Taranom Saeedi, Ibrahimkhil's relative, the Taliban imprisoned them without using any female soldiers, which is against Islam. The Taliban have said that they are conducting an inquiry to know more about the missing activists "We should seek our own sources and then provide you information based on that," said Bilal Karimi, the Taliban government's deputy spokesperson told to media. Two foreign journalists working for the UNHCR who had been detained by Islamic Emirate soldiers in Kabul were also freed on Saturday. Women who have been diagnosed with coronavirus have a deadly problem, investigation has begun Happy but prudent, Italians remove face masks outside in new pandemic reopening phase UN Chief calls for all parties in Libya to maintain stability Realme has already launched its new smartphone Realme C35 in the market. This phone is an upgraded version of the Realme C25. The phone has been first launched by a company in Thailand. It is being said that its entry into India is also going to happen soon. This latest phone from Realme is available in two variants - 4GB+ 64GB and 6GB+128GB. In Thailand, it is priced at THB 5,799 (approximately Rs 13,300). The phone is available in Glowing Green and Glowing Black colour options. In which many features like 50MP camera and 5000mAh battery are also being given. The phone is also being given a 6.6-inch full HD+ display with a screen-to-body ratio of 90.7 per cent. This phone of the company is available with up to 6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. Talking about the processor, the phone also features an octa-core Unisoc T616 chipset with arm Mali-G57 GPU. For photography, three cameras with LED flashes are being given in the rear of the phone. It also has a macro camera and a black and white camera with a 50-megapixel primary camera. At the same time, an 8-megapixel front camera is also being offered in this phone for selfies. This phone, which supports micro SD cards of up to 1TB, is being given a 5000mAh battery. This battery is supporting 18-watt fast charging. The phone works on real UI R Edition based on Android 11. For connectivity, the phone is also getting options like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 4G LTE and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The thickness of the phone is 8.1mm and the weight is 189 grams. The sensors found in the phone include a light sensor, acceleration sensor, magnetic induction sensor, proximity sensor and gyroscope. Getting huge discounts on this model of Oppo Reno 7 Get VI's best offer plan Wildlife Protection (A) Bill, 2021 not based on widespread consultation: Jairam Ramesh By Trend Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan on Saturday said that Maitri initiatives announced by Canberra for India are equivalent to Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships and cultural exchange programs between the two countries, Trend reports citing Khaleej Times. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Tehan said that this fantastic initiative will increase and improve ties further between Australia and India. ... the first two are scholarships Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships are 45 for graduate students and undergraduate students. So you get all your education paid for, stipend to help with your living costs. The minister said there is also an investment in fellowships, 11 fellowships for high-level doctoral students will also get a stipend is equivalent to Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships. Theres a cultural exchange programme to improve cultural exchange between Australia and India. So these are fantastic initiatives to help continue to improve the wonderful relationship. Tehan said the scholarships will enable Indian students to go to Australia and not have to worry about the cost. All theyll have to worry about is their study. So this is designed to get those high performing students to go to Australia and improve their education to levels of excellence, which then may now be able to come back to India and excel in India, and also help build the relationship between Australia and India, he said. About further initiatives and announcements in the next 30 days, he said, Were always looking at ways, how we can enhance the relationship. So this USD 15 million for the students to come to Australia is just one part of what were doing in these the cultural exchange that were also funding. But there will be many, many more announcements, including I hope in the next 30 days. An announcement on a free trade agreement. between Australia and India. If you are also thinking about getting a new phone, then there are two mobiles like Oppo, Redmi, have been launched this month. Along with this, there are also many gaming phones that will knock in the Indian market. We have prepared the list of phones to be launched in February 2022 for your convenience. Let's take a look at the upcoming smartphones in February 2022. Oppo Reno7:- Oppo launched the Reno 7 series phone in China last year, but now it is all set to make an entry in India. The Reno7 series has been launched in India on February 4 and includes two phones, the Reno7 and Reno7 Pro 5G. - Different specs of The Reno 7 have been given for India as compared to the Chinese model. It's being called the Reno7 SE rebranded. It is being told that it is going to be available with a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. - It is estimated to have a 48MP+2MP+2MP triple rear camera system and 16MP selfie snapper. It is going to be laced with the MediaTek Dimensity 900 chipset, which has been paired with 8GB ram and 128GB storage. It has also been given a 4500mAh battery pack with 33W fast charging support. Redmi Note 11 and Note 11S- Xiaomi India is going to unveil its Redmi 9 series on February 9. The series is also expected to include 2 phones Note 11 and Note 11S. So far, no specs of the phone have been leaked, but rumours say that these variants are going to be similar to the global model. While it is being said that, both are estimated to have a 6.43-inch 90Hz AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. - The Note 11 is also going to get a quad-camera system with a 50MP+8MP+2MP+2MP setup, while the Note 11S is estimated to have a 108MP main lens and similar auxiliary sensors. The Note 11S will be equipped with the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset, whereas, the Note 11 is going to be laced with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. The series is going to have a 5000mAh battery and it is also going to support 33W fast charging technology. It is also estimated to have LPDDR4x RAM RAM and UFS2.2 storage. The phone is expected to come with Android 11 based on MIUI 13. - The starting price of the Note 11 in India is Rs 13,999 or Rs 14,499, while the value of the Note 11S is expected to be Rs 16,999 or Rs 17,499. Buy Apple iPhone 12 mini at Rs 26K, just by applying these offers Picture of the cheapest iPhone surfaced, know what is the specialty Apple's new phone to be launched in the coming month The Libyan government has denied allegations that several ministers have resigned, stating that everything is how it should be. In a statement, government spokesperson Mohammad Hamuda said, "The Government of National Unity faces a series of misleading and bogus news, including certain phoney papers on social media alleging the resignations of some ministers." "All of the ministers are present in their respective offices and are working as usual," the spokesperson said. Reports concerning the resignations of certain government ministers, including Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush, have been circulating on social media for the past two days. On February 10, the House of Representatives (parliament) unanimously elected Fathi Bashagha, the former interior minister, to replace Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah as Libya's next prime minister. Bashagha stated after the vote that he is "certain" that Dbeibah's administration would relinquish power and pursue the democratic road. Dbeibah, on the other hand, stated that his government will stay in power until elections are held, and that he will only hand up power to an elected government. In September of last year, the Libyan Parliament revoked Dbeibah's government's confidence and designated it as a caretaker government. Candidate registration for South Korean presidential elections begins Women who have been diagnosed with coronavirus have a deadly problem, investigation has begun Happy but prudent, Italians remove face masks outside in new pandemic reopening phase Due to rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey's foreign ministry has advised its people to avoid travelling to eastern Ukraine. "Our citizens are advised not to travel to Ukraine's eastern border regions unless it is necessary," the ministry stated. The media reported. Citizens should also take all necessary precautions for their safety and inform the Turkish embassy in Kiev before making any important travel plans, according to the ministry. President Joe Biden of the United States repeated his demand for US residents in Ukraine to evacuate the country immediately on Friday, citing heightened military threats. Turkey has lately come forward to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia in order to maintain peace in the region. Worldwide Covid caseload surpasses 410 million Houthi forces seize a strategic Yemeni city Switzerland could become the first country to ban animal testing Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday hit out at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his controversial remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. In fact, Jayant Chaudhary said that the Assam CM used abusive language and said that BJP leaders should wash their mouths with datun or twigs from time to time. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary today hit out at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his controversial remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "The Assam CM used abusive language and said that BJP leaders should wash their mouths with datun or twigs from time to time. Sarma had earlier attacked Rahul Gandhi in 2016 and 2019 respectively for seeking proof of India's surgical strikes and airstrikes in Pakistan. On the previous day, Sarma asked, Whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ever asked him for proof of being the "son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi". ' In fact, Sarma, while addressing a gathering in Uttarakhand, said, "Look at the mentality of these people. General Bipin Rawat was the pride of the country. India had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan under his leadership. Rahul Gandhi asked for proof of the strike. Have we ever asked you for proof of whether you are Rajiv Gandhi's son or not? What right do you have to ask for evidence from my army?" The Assam Chief Minister, meanwhile, asserted that once a surgical strike was spoken of by the Army, there is no dispute over its validity. ' The remarks were reacted by opposition leaders including Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who demanded Sarma's resignation. While addressing a public program, Rao said, "PM Modi ji, is this a sacrament or our Hindu ritual, which asks an MP about the identity of his father. This has been done by one of your BJP chief ministers." My head is bowed. I am ashamed to hear this and tears come to my eyes. This is not a good thing for the country." With this, he said, "How can the Chief Minister of Assam talk like this? There is a limit to patience. 'BJP is tuli on communal polarisation': Mehbooba Mufti 'Terrorists come out in hijab', said Anil Vij on hijab controversy New twist in Tripura politics, IPFT undergoing major changes Nepal civil war (1996-2006) is a page of history that most Nepalis remember as the dark years of Nepal. Maoist rebels had started an armed agitation on February 13, 1996, to overthrow the long-running monarchy in Nepal and establish a peoples system, and it lasted for 10 years until they signed a peace agreement with the government formed after the 2006 Peoples Movement. The 10-year-long conflict resulted in the loss of lives and property, deaths of over 17,000 people and over 3,000 enforced disappearance cases. Here are a few of the most violent incidents that occurred during time of Nepal civil war. 1. The opening attack: February 13, 1996 Different Maoist groups carried out seven simultaneous attacks in six districts. This marked the start of the infamous Nepali civil war and one of the many violent attacks that followed during the Nepal civil war period. 2. Simultaneous attacks in 42 districts: November 23, 2001 The Maoists walked out of the table talks with the government for peace. Later, they carried out simultaneous attacks on police and army posts in 42 districts. 3. Bhalubang attack: October 13, 2003 Maoists cadres stormed a police training centre in Bhalubang, Dang. The clash resulted in the loss of around 40 lives from both sides. Witnesses later revealed that the rebelling troop had cut telephone cables, blocked roads and blown up bridges along the highway. 4. Dhanusha attack: April 4, 2004 Maoists cadres attacked a police post at Jadukhola in Dhanusha district, killing at least nine policemen during the late evening. As many as 35 police personnel were reported missing while nine were reported dead, and seven others wounded. The rebel side also lost eight or nine people. Peoples Liberation Army. Photo Courtesy: Prakash Mathema 5. Strike in Kathmandu: April 5, 2004 They also organised demonstrations in Kathmandu where some 150 demonstrators were baton-charged by police. In different clashes of the two sides around the city, at least 140 were injured. Rebels attempted to cross barricades in front of the Narayanhiti Palace and were fired with tear gas and baton charge. 6. Rukum attack: April 13, 2005 Around 60 Maoists died during clashes at Dalphing in Rukum district. This was later dubbed as the heaviest clash between the two sides after King Gyanendra announced a coup and imposed the emergency rule in the country. 7. Siraha-Sindhuli attack: May 15, 2005 At least 50 Maoists and two soldiers died during a clash at Jarayatar in the Sindhuli District. Police had followed the rebels back to their base after the Maoist cadres attacked an army base in Siraha killing four. 8. Kalikot attack: August 9, 2005 Maoist rebels killed 40 security personnel in an attack in Kalikot, mid-western Nepal. Later, the Nepal Army released a statement condemning the rebel group for inhumanely lining up and shooting the security personnel. 9. Bandarmudhe ambush: June 6. 2005 More than 38 civilians were killed and over 70 injured in an ambush by Maoists cadres. The civilians were travelling on a bus. When the bus was crossing a small wooden bridge over a stream, a bomb placed by the Maoist group detonated at Bandarmudhe of Chitwan. This resulted in the collapse of the bridge and the bus fell into the stream. 10. Kathmandu clash: April 29, 2006 Maoists rebels stage another round of protests. In Kathmandu, they clashed with police, resulting in arrests of hundreds, and injuring dozens. Outside Kathmandu, Maoists attacked security bases in Rupandehi and Kapilavastu districts, killing four rebels and two civilians. This would be one of the Maoists last attempts in the Nepal civil warbefore they signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord with the government on November 21, 2006. From the archive. Home Just In Justice is a far cry from reality for sexual violence survivors of the Nepal civil war Ms T (name changed) had only turned 16 when Nepal Army arrested her. She had spent two years in the Maoist Peoples Liberation Army and was returning home when the government-side army took her to the Ghorahi barracks and committed sexual violence. They held me captive for three months, she says. I feel numb when I think about what I faced at the army camp. She says that the army tortured her by taking her clothes off and hitting her with the barrel of their gun. They even hit her in her genitals. They tied me and undressed me. I went through a lot. I used to plead and ask for mercy, but they never listened as they continued to abuse me, says T. She stayed in the army barracks for three months and further six months in police custody before being released. It has been over 18 years since this incident took place, but for her, it still feels like yesterday. The abuse she faced at the hands of the army still gives her nightmares. My uterus still hurts from the sexual violence I face there, she says. My body also doesnt function well. I dont have external bruises, but, mentally, I dont think I will ever recover. Ms T says that she has not even been able to share what happened to her with her husband. She does not think she can ever tell him or her kids. Knowing how everyone would treat her, she has kept this to herself for years. Its okay Ive learnt to live with it, says Ms T, who has also been taking depression medicines. Since the end of the Nepal civil war (the Maoist insurgency) in 2006, hundreds of women like her have come forward to share stories of sexual violence torture by the warring parties, but none of them has received justice. Things are so bad that the state does not even consider these women war survivors. Shocking stories According to data, around 17,000 lost their lives, 2,000 went missing and 16,000 were injured in the war between 1996 and 2006. But, these statistics have nothing about the sexual violence women faced during the war. Sushila Chaudhary, the general secretary of the National Conflict Victim Woman Network, says while the government has addressed some demands of the conflict victims who died, when it comes to women who were abused, the government has not even tried to even take stock of what happened. Even when they do file complaints at the transitional justice bodies, they get no response whatsoever. Ms T (name changed) from Tulsipur was raped by the Army. It was 1999 when a few people claiming to be Maoists broke into the house of Simran (name changed). Her husband was away for work in India and she lived with her six-month-old daughter and four-year-old son. As soon as the Maoists entered, they threatened to kill her if she did not do what they told her to. A few hours later, the group of Maoist fighters raped Simran one by one. When the first one raped me, I became unconscious. There were five of them and I dont recall how many times it happened. When I woke up, I was covered in blood, says Simran. It has been 23 years, yet a certain fear engulfs her whenever she hears the word Maoists. She gets angry because that incident changed her life. Due to that incident, my relationship with my husband is not good. When he comes back from India, all we do is a quarrel. I have hurt my uterus too, she says. The sexual violence incident left both mental and physical marks as she has been diagnosed with depression and has been taking medicines since the incident. The same year in Tulsipur of Dang, another incident shattered the life of another woman. A group of security personnel forced entry into the house of Rita (name changed) and raped her. She was sleeping when a few people force-entered, threatened to kill her and raped her. Its been 23 years, but the wounds seem fresh. Whenever I see the police or army personnel, I get scared because of what they did to me, says Rita. Like the women above, Rita did not share this story with many people as she fears social banishment. To cope, she is also taking anti-depressants. But, a few months ago, she mustered the courage to file a written complaint at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But, her case has not moved forward. All I want the state to do is give me justice and acknowledge me as a war survivor. Is that too much to ask for, she says. Search for state recognition Women of all ages were abused during the war, say human rights experts. From the above examples, it is clear that the government does not care about sexual violence survivors. The government has to assume how many women were abused during the war based on complaints it gets at the National Human Rights Commission, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons. Even though people who died, got injured or were missing were categorised as war victims, and their families were offered some sort of relief by the government, when it comes to women who were abused, this has not been the case. Chaudhary from the conflict victim network says action should have been taken against culprits who raped these women. But, 15 years on, nothing has happened. The government hasnt even tried to ask these women if they are doing okay. Justice is very far away, says Chaudhary. She says that this also shows how lightly the government takes incidents like sexual violence. Since they are not categorised as war victims or survivors, they havent been eligible for any sort of relief. It shows how insensitive the government is when they cant do anything to help these women who have been hiding their pain for all these years, she says. Ms T who was abused in the army barracks says she was treated like an animal there. There is so much pain inside people like me who were on the receiving end of some inhumane treatment. Its only fair that we are compensated, she says. She says it was disgusting that the government was not treating them as war survivors despite them coming out and sharing what happened to them during the war. This has assured her and others like her that they might never get justice. Fear of opening up Representational image Sarita (name changed) from Rukum was gang-raped when she was 16. The villagers found her body at a jungle where she had been raped by five Maoist cadres. She is 37 now and has a family. But, none of them know what she has gone through. Her parents know, but she has not been able to share it with her husband or anyone else. She is afraid that if she shares, her husband will leave her. Fearing societal backlash, she has not even reported this case to the authority. Because she was raped when she was young, she is facing problems in her reproductive system. This causes physical pain, but she says she will never share this with her husband because she knows what might happen. In this case, the chances of the survivor getting relief from the government in nonexistent. Both the army and Maoists have raped or abused women during the war. But, with women not wanting to speak out, the actual number of women who were abused will be unknown to all. Things would be different if these survivors were assured justice, but with that not happening, it is unlikely anyone will come forward, say women rights activists. These women have families and children. They fear that if they open up about what happened two decades ago, everyone in the society will know and her children and family will have to face the wrath. Its a no-win situtation for these women, says Chaudhary. Sexual violence in the name of war Women of all ages were subject to sexual violence during the war. Most of these incidents took place when the army and police went patrolling in the villages where they felt there were Maoist fighters. In 2005, a six-year-old girl was raped by Nepal Army personnel in Rukum. The child, now 24, says how the incident still haunts her mentally. She even got ill following the incident as she still suffers pain in her abdomen and lower back. There are so many incidents like these where patrols have forcefully entered and abused women here in Rukum, says Prakash Chaudhary, the chairman of conflict victim network in Dang. He says that the army took women accusing them of being Maoists and tortured them. The army raped a lot of women accusing them of being Maoists. The number of women they abused is crazy, he says. There was even a case when a woman who went looking for her husband who died in the war was raped by the army. The woman even gave birth to a child out of that rape. But, shes facing issues and is looking at how she can give the child a citizenship certificate, he says. Prakash Chaudhary says that even though some of these sexual violence complaints were reported, the government has done nothing because both the state and the Maoists are not willing to accept that these sexual abuses and rapes were war crimes. Data issues Simran from Tulsipur filed a complaint at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2017. But, her case is yet to be heard. Its odd why they are not willing to accept that we are war survivors. This is wrong at many levels, says Simran. Following the peace process, two commissions were formed to deal with these cases. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was responsible for finding out the truth about incidents of gross violation of human rights in the course of armed conflict while the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons was formed to seek the truth on the cases of enforced disappearance, to recommend reparation to victims and prosecution to the accused ones. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has over 64,000 complaints from war survivors. The commissions spokesperson Man Dhakal says there are over 300 cases related to sexual violence, but he adds that this is not the exact data because he knows that a lot of women have no come forward. These women who faced sexual violence have said they were physically abused instead. When we looked into it, we find that almost all physical violence cases are actually sexual violence cases, says Dhakal, adding physical violence cases have crossed 20,000. According to the Womens Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), there are over 300 sexual violence cases in Rukum alone. And, these are only those cases where the women have come forward. WOREC also says that many of the women abused during the war have not come forward. Maina Karki, an activist, says women have not come forward because the state bodies are not sensitive. These women need to be looked at differently. Its been 15 years since the peace process, yet these women are not at peace. If people were more sensitive and willing to listen without judgement, more women would definitely come forward, but right now, they dont because most of them are scared and dont trust anyone, says Karki. Lack of proper treatment Even the government agrees that women who faced sexual violence have not received any relief from the government. The state offered a million rupees to families of people who died or went missing in the war while it has been handing out relief allowance to those injured in the war. Survivors of 17 other incidents have also received some form or relief allowance from the state, but women who were raped have not received a penny. Nor have they received counselling or anything thing else. According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Rs 17.26 billion was handed out as relief or allowance to 1.3 million war survivors in the fiscal year 2017/18. But, not a penny went to women who were abused. Dhakal says that they had recommended the relief for these sexual violence survivors after doing their due research, but nothing has been offered to them yet. We studied over 500 cases and asked the ministry to hand them relief allowance. But, our recommendation hasnt been taken by the ministry yet, says Dhakal. Cojimar principal Joseph Hernandez at The Esplanade. The proprietor of a proposed Hemingway-inspired restaurant slated for the second level of The Esplanade is pulling the plug on the project. In a statement e-mailed Friday to a reporter for the Daily News about his plans to scrap the 151-seat Cojimar Palm Beach, Joseph Hernandez alluded to his concern that his requests to the town for outdoor seating have gone nowhere. It is with great sadness that we have decided to terminate the Cojimar project in Palm Beach, Hernandezs statement reads. Our position has always been that we will not be successful without outside seating. We dont see how we can navigate this opposition and must therefore terminate the project. We want to thank our lawyers, architects and landlord and all those who supported us through the process. We will look to launch Cojimar in London and New York next. The statement follows a Town Council development review meeting on Wednesday when the council which has the final word on outdoor restaurant seating was set to take up Cojimars outdoor seating request. But Hernandez put on the brakes on that. Last week, he was granted a deferral, a procedural punt he has characterized as costly when such delays for his project have been issued by other town boards. Cojimar project stalled: Partners to again request two areas of alfresco seating at new Palm Beach eatery Cojimar 'Outdoor seating is critical to our success': Future of planned Hemingway-themed restaurant in Palm Beach could hinge on courtyard seating On Friday, Hernandez would not elaborate about the deferral, texting he was unavailable to discuss Cojimar matters because he was in Mexico City. Nor would he respond to e-mailed questions about claims from people alleging he owes them money in connection with Cojimar. All vendors who are owed anything will get paid as we wind the project down, Hernandez e-mailed, noting that was his final word on the matter. Cojimar chef-partner Luis Pous. Cojimar chef-partner Luis Pous said Friday he was unaware of Hernandezs decision to abort Cojimar Palm Beach. Reached by phone while he said he was overseeing one of his other restaurant projects in Bogota, Colombia, Pous added he was not surprised. Story continues We have had trouble getting approvals for outdoor seating, he said, which Joe has needed for this project. Cojimar, named after a Cuban fishing village Hemingway frequented, had been slated for a second-level Esplanade space where eateries have fizzled in recent years. Plans called for the restaurant to serve a seafood-focused menu influenced by Mediterranean and Cuban cuisines. Renowned New York restaurateur Charles Masson initially was involved as a consultant, but he and Hernandez amicably parted ways, both men have said. Hernandez, a biotech entrepreneur and first-time restaurateur, has maintained Cojimars viability hinged on outdoor seating. In addition to proposing four two-seat tables on The Esplanades second level, he wanted to situate 20 of Cojimars 151 seats around seven tables along the shopping centers ground-floor courtyard. Since December, the issue of Cojimars al fresco dining plans has been deferred twice by the Architectural Commission. Valentine's dining in Palm Beach: Island chefs pouring hearts into memorable menus for lovers Looking for a romantic Valentine's dinner? Palm Beach restaurant has a special menu Palm Beach dining: Four Seasons' Seaway now serving dinner two nights a week Marc S. Reiner, a West Palm Beach attorney representing a former Cojimar general manager hired this past summer to help get the restaurant off the ground, said Hernandez is using the outdoor-seating issue as a smoke screen. He owes people money, Reiner said. Work has been done. He has not paid. Joseph Hernandez and Chris Werley Reiner said his client, Christopher Werley, who in 2020 was instrumental in orchestrating the debut of Le Bar a Vin on South County Road, is owed for, among other things, three and a half months of consulting and management work for Cojimar, including overseeing hiring and managing contractors and subcontractors work on the project. He said he has more than enough materially sufficient facts to support a lawsuit, but ideally a reasonable settlement will be made. Owners of drywall, kitchen supply and commercial kitchen-hood-cleaning companies told the Daily News they also are owed money by Cojimar. Others who have provided services for Cojimar, including an architect and a law firm, declined to comment. Officials at The Esplanade, who have previously voiced excitement and support for the project last summer and fall, declined to comment Friday. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Cojimar Palm Beach restaurant at The Esplanade no longer happening We are so obsessed with Russian forces massed against Ukraine, with terrorism in the Middle East, with North Koreas nukes and missiles, that we risk placing Chinas threats against Taiwan somewhere down the list of all the crises around the world. Every day we hear reports of China exploiting cyberspace, stealing secrets and spying on people, of Chinese expansionism around its borders, in the South China Sea, down and across Central Asia. Chinese companies are accused of stealing secrets, and Chinese interests wring money and loyalty on all continents. Then, at home, the ruling Communist Party imposes drastic restraints over the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, forcing the Uyghur populace into concentration camps, beating and sometimes killing them. The island province of Taiwan, though, is another story. We have so often heard Chinese claims, Chinese vows, Chinese intimidation that we are tempted to shrug off the rhetoric and doubt whether China has any real intention to load soldiers onto ships and send them 100 miles across the Taiwan or Formosa Straits, land them under fire and take over the island. A detailed report issued in December by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission suggests, however, we should start taking these threats more seriously. Today, says the report, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) either has or is close to achieving an initial capability to invade Taiwan. That is the result, the report goes on, of years of campaign planning and advancements in which China has demonstrated significant improvement in its shipbuilding capacity to bolster amphibious and civilian sealift. In other words, China either has or is getting the kind of armada needed to carry men and arms, including tanks and artillery pieces, across the straits in the face of attack from air and naval forces. No longer, the report implies, will the Chinese necessarily hold off if President Joe Biden sends in aircraft battle groups as President Bill Clinton did in late 1995 and again in March 1996 after the Chinese had fired missiles in an act of intimidation before Taiwans presidential election that year. The PLA will go on developing capabilities to enhance Chinese leaders confidence that it can successfully execute an invasion campaign, warns the U.S.-China Commission report. For sure, it says, Chinese leaders remain deeply concerned about the uncertain success of an attempted invasion as well as its risks and consequences, but the implication is that sooner or later theyll take their chances. Having been in Taiwan as the Straits Crisis of 1996 was unfolding, I recall the sense of elation on the faces of people when the Chinese pulled back after Premier Li Peng had declared, If someone makes a show of force in the Taiwan Strait, that will not only be a futile act, but it also will make the situation all the more complicated. These days the Chinese are coming closer to making good on the big talk as Chinese warplanes traverse Taiwans air defense identification zone. That is not the same as flying into Taiwan air space but a portent of worse to come. China, of course, has reason to hesitate as it has ever since the Nationalist Chinese under Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan as Mao Zedongs Red Army was driving them off the mainland in 1949. Failed attempts by the PLA to invade Taiwan or to counter U.S. intervention, the U.S.-China Commission acknowledged, could undermine the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party over which Xi Jinping holds undisputed control. The PLA still suffers from significant weaknesses in joint operations and personnel quality, says the commission, contributing to uncertainty among Chinas top leaders. Taiwans own forces, under President Tsai Ing-wen, would be no match for a full-scale invasion, but shes increased the defense budget while Taiwan factories manufacture their own arms and ammunition in addition to all the weaponry Taiwan imports from the U.S. Shielded by U.S. air and naval power, Taiwan could hold off long enough to inflict severe casualties in a showdown in which the Japanese might well join in Taiwans defense despite Article 9 of Japans post-war constitution banning Japanese forces from waging war on foreign lands. Nor would Korea, bound in alliance with the U.S., necessarily remain neutral while worrying about whatever the North Koreans might do to support their Chinese benefactors. An invasion of Taiwan wont happen right away, but Chinas dream of overwhelming the runaway province is coming closer to reality. The report of the U.S.-China Commission is a warning as we contemplate the horrors of a war in which millions could die. Donald Kirk is the author of 10 books on Korea, Okinawa, the Philippines and the Vietnam War. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. King George Countys redistricting plan hasnt been organized into months of meetings involving civic and political groups as Stafford Countys has, nor did it change as a result of citizen input as Fredericksburgs did. But the countys proposal does involve shifting 422 addresses into different voting districts and relocating the Dahlgren voting precinct from Potomac Elementary School to the Dahlgren campus of the University of Mary Washington. The King George Board of Supervisors will go over the proposed changesand seek comments from residentsduring a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of the Revercomb Administration Center. Every 10 years after the U.S. Census counts the countrys population, localities have to redraw the boundaries of their voting districts to make sure theyre equitable. King Georges population increased 14 percent from 2010 to 2020 for a total of 26,867 people. That means each of its four voting districts ideally should contain 6,717 people, according to a recent presentation from Kyle Conboy, the countys geographic information systems supervisor. He was one of seven county officials who served on a redistricting committee that proposed boundary changes. As a result of growth in the past 10 years, the James Madison District was larger than its three neighboring districts and contained 7,380 residents. The district runs from the Stafford County border, along the Rappahannock Rivers boundary with Caroline County and to U.S. 301 in Port Royal. Census figures showed it had 777 more residents than the rural Shiloh District, 864 more people than the Dahlgren District and 1,156 more residents than James Monroe District, which includes Fairview Beach and areas on both sides of the winding State Route 218. The redistricting committee proposed moving 345 addresses and several census blocks between presidential districtsfrom James Madison to James Monroein the Passapantzy area to even out the population. A census block in the Sealston area above Oakland Parkbut not including that neighborhoodalso would shift 68 addresses from James Madison to the Dahlgren District under the plan, Conboy said. Another nine addresses would move from James Monroe to Shiloh District. Only one subdivision, Sedgewick Crossing, would move to a different voting districtfrom James Madison to James Monroeas part of the proposal. With the recommended realignment, theres a deviation of less than 1 percent among the populations of all four voting districts, Conboy said. The proposal was one of two options the committee prepared in November and presented to the Board of Supervisors in January. The first option was favored due to it being more compact and less of an impact to citizens, Conboy said, and the supervisors agreed. They presented the plan during an informational session last month which was not heavily attended, said Supervisor Chairman Jeff Stonehill. He knows it will be a different story come election day. At the next election, theyll be folks saying, Hey where do we need to vote? said Stonehill, who represents Dahlgren District where the voting precinct is slated to move to the UMW campus. The registrar will send out cards announcing the change, Stonehill said. Like many other aspects of life during the pandemic, the redistricting process was delayed as a result of the coronavirus. In Virginia, it normally would have been done by the end of last year, but COVID-19 made it more difficult for census takers to gather data, which was then submitted to localities more than six months later than normal. Other challenges included counting incarcerated people in their census blocks for the first time in Virginia, Conboy said. That resulted in King George adding another 144 people to its districts. Effect July 1, precincts must lie within a single Congressional Senate and House District, which will have another impact on King George. Currently, James Madison and Shiloh Districts are split between the 4th and 28th Senate Districts, Conboy said. He said another challenge was redrawing lines based on census blocks which follow features such as roads, waterways, power lines and medians. There are 458 census blocks in King George County and they are oddly shaped, he said. Census blocks in the Fox Run subdivision illustrate his pointand the extreme variation of size. One block is 1,732 acres and contains 1,110 people. Another consists of the subdivisions traffic circle, has 3 acres and no people. Yet another is a winding sliver of 20 acres with no people. King George residents can comment on the redistricting proposals during Tuesdays public hearing. Those who want to call in or participate virtually can get more details at the countys website, kinggeorgecountyva.gov. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's two-day official visit to the UAE will begin on February 14, Trend reports citing Turkish media. The visit is carried out after the normalization of bilateral relations and decisions on mutual investment. The normalization of relations between the two countries began after Erdogan received UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan on August 18, 2021. On the second day of his visit to the Emirates, the Turkish head of state will travel to Dubai, where he will visit the World Expo 2020. Erdogan will take part in the opening of the "National Day of Turkey" within the framework of the international exhibition, which is a symbol of industrialization and an open platform for demonstrating technical and technological achievements. President Erdogan is also expected to visit the UAE and Azerbaijan pavilions. Four female activists in Afghanistan who went missing several weeks ago have been released by the countrys de facto Taliban authorities, the United Nations said on February 13. The four women -- Tamana Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhel, Zahra Mohammadi, and Mursal Ayar -- went missing after attending an anti-Taliban rally in Kabul. The Taliban repeatedly denied detaining them. After a long period of uncertainty about their whereabouts and safety, the four disappeared Afghan women activists, as well as their relatives who also went missing, have all been released by the de facto authorities, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) posted on Twitter. It was not immediately clear where the women had been or what they had undergone. Ibrahimkhel and Paryani have been missing since January 19. Mohammadi and Ayar went missing in early February. Shortly before her disappearance, Paryani posted a video on social media in which she warned that Taliban militia were at her door. Since taking power in Afghanistan in August, the Taliban has cracked down on dissent and have dispersed rallies calling for womens rights to be observed and have detained critics and journalists. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on U.S. President Joe Biden to reverse his decision to split $7 billion of frozen Afghan funds between victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and humanitarian aid. Karzai, speaking at a packed news conference in Kabul, said the frozen funds should be used to ensure the stability of the Afghan currency and the country's financial system. Afghanistan has approximately $9 billion in assets, including $7 billion in the United States. The remaining funds are mostly held in Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. The funds were frozen after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August. Under an executive order signed by Biden on February 11, half of the $7 billion will be placed in a humanitarian aid trust fund for distribution through groups providing relief to Afghans. The other half will stay in the United States and be used to fund ongoing litigation by U.S. victims of terrorism, including for claims against the Taliban by the families of victims of the September 11 attacks. The Afghan people are as much victims as those families who lost their loved ones, Karzai said. "Withholding money or seizing money from the people of Afghanistan...is unjust and unfair and an atrocity against the Afghan people." Karzai called on the American people to acknowledge the suffering of the Afghan people. He said the Afghan people were paying the price even though Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, spent time in Afghanistan but later returned to Pakistan, where he was eventually killed in a U.S. raid in 2011. No Afghans were among the terrorists involved in the September 11 attacks. On February 12, Afghanistans Central Bank called for the reversal of the decision and the release of the funds, saying that they are not the property of governments, parties, or groups. With reporting by AP and dpa A mob in a remote area of Pakistan stoned a man to death for allegedly desecrating the Koran, police said on February 13. The incident took place in a village in the Khanewal district of Punjab Province. A custodian at the local mosque reportedly told villagers he saw the man burning a Koran in the mosque on the evening of February 12. A police team arrived at the scene, but the mob snatched the man away and attacked officers who tried to retrieve him. The mob -- which reportedly numbered several hundred people -- then stoned the man to death. Police were able to retrieve the body and have opened an investigation. A police spokesman said dozens of men who live near the mosque have been detained. We have zero tolerance for anyone taking the law into their own hands, Prime Minister Imran Khan posted on Twitter after the incident. Mob lynching will be dealt with with the full severity of the law. Tahir Ashrafi, Khan's special representative on religious harmony, said at a televised press conference that the victim's family said "he was mentally ill and his mental health wasn't right for the past 10 or 15 years." Mob attacks against people accused of blasphemy occur regularly in Pakistan. Rights groups say such accusations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities or settle personal scores. In December, a mob in the city of Sialkot lynched a Sri Lankan man and burned his body in an incident that Khan said had shamed the country. Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Veterans honoring veterans. Thats the goal Chaplain Kenneth Thibodeau has had the past 57-plus years he has been sharing sympathy letters with families of recently deceased veterans throughout the country. But last month he ran into a roadblock with the Pikes Peak National Cemetery. Veterans honoring veterans. Thats the goal Chaplain Kenneth Thibodeau has had the past 57-plus years he has been sharing sympathy letters with families of recently deceased veterans throughout the country. But last month he ran into a roadblock with the Pikes Peak National Cemetery, which, The Gazette learned, wont pass along letters to family members during a service. "I cant put it into words the sadness I have over all this," Thibodeau, 75, said last week from his Colorado Springs home. "It is totally inappropriate and wrong." Thibodeau a Vietnam era Air Force veteran and chaplain for American Legion Post 5 in Colorado Springs has sent out countless sympathy letters to military and non-military cemeteries, and hand delivered others to funeral homes wherever he was living at the time. "I cleared the letters with the American Legion and with the VA in Washington D.C. and Ive never had a negative response on any of the letters or cards Ive sent out all these years," Thibodeau said. "Im very articulate about what I write and send. I know it is appropriate and appreciative." There are three different letters Thibodeau sends out: One for Christians, non-Christians and Jewish veterans. The Christian letter starts out saying, "Your loved one has embarked on the ultimate journey, Heaven Bound, to the Savior, Our Most Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ! "We wish to take the opportunity to express our most heartfelt condolences at the passing of your loved one, a friend and veteran, who so PROUDLY SERVED our country when called upon to do so, with HONOR and great distinction." He goes on to talk about eternal life, and that death is not a tragedy but a transformation. "Ive never had an issue with a cemetery until now," Thibodeau said. "Ive only gotten tons of complements from the military and the families. A lot of people even call me up and say thank you for writing." The Gazette spoke with Skyler Holmes, director of the Pikes Peak National Cemetery, who chose not to comment, instead saying via text, "I believe you have received an official response from the National Cemetery Administration and I cant comment outside of that response." Les' A. Melnyk, chief of public affairs and outreach for VAs National Cemetery Administration, responded via email. "Dr. Thibodeau (or anyone from his or another support group) was told he can deliver a letter of condolence to family members during the service at the cemetery," Melnyk wrote. "However, we cannot allow a cemetery employee to deliver letters or other items on their behalf." Thibodeau said this is new information and appears to be a shift in policy. "I called more than a dozen VA cemeteries at random not a one had heard anything about this," Thibodeau said. Two other topics were mentioned in Melnyks email. He said that to protect privacy, his organization doesnt provide mailing address, which is something Thibodeau confirmed he had asked for. Melnyk also said Holmes was correct when he told Thibodeau the cemetery cant forward mail because it "is an unauthorized use of government funds." When asked if cemeteries have forwarded letters in the past, Thibodeau answered this way: "I dont know if they have an issue or not. But if the letter arrives late, I believe they have been forwarded if they have a forwarding address." Tribodeau said he reached out to multiple people in Washington D.C., including the secretary of Veteran Affairs, for clarification and a way forward. He hasnt heard back in more than three weeks. "It is not right to bar us from getting these letters and messages to the families," he said. Eleven people, including nine expats, have been sentenced to jail term in Saudi Arabia on charges of laundering SR10 billion ($2.67 billion), reported state news agency SPA. An official source at the economic crimes investigations wing at the Public Prosecution revealed the involvement of a gang of 11 members (two citizens and nine residents) in perpetrating money laundering crimes, violations to the concealment law through using several commercial entities and their branches in receiving and transferring money from unknown sources from their bank accounts, it stated. The Public Prosecution investigation filed a suit against the perpetrators and an initial verdict was issued by the specialized court with imprisonment terms of a total of 52 years and fines of SR62.5 million, stated the source. The money was confiscated along with the assets worth SR1.67 million from the accused. The expat members of the gang will be deported after serving their jail terms while the Saudi gang members will be banned from travel for periods similar to their sentences. The source said that the public prosecution embarked on procedures of objecting the terms issued upon an order to stiffen sentences against the criminals, in realization of the public interest to protect the local economy and deter all those who plan to tamper with the financial security in banking transactions, the SPA report added. Colorado Springs businessman Peter Lupia is challenging Steve Schleiker, the El Paso County assessor, in the Republican primary for clerk and recorder, promising to restore faith in local elections by returning to a hand count of ballots, among other major reforms. Lupia, a member of the county's Republican Central and Executive Committee, does not have "real faith in our election system as it stands" and wants to make changes to the office, such as eliminating the Dominion machines that tabulate votes, improving maintenance of voter rolls and advocating for the end of mail-in voting, among other steps. He was also motivated to challenge Schleiker, whom he cast as a career politician. Schleiker is term-limited as assessor. "I think we have a process forming here of people getting comfortable just being in an elected position," he said. The clerk and recorder's duties include overseeing offices that handle motor vehicle registrations, marriage licenses as well as elections. Lupia said he would bring leadership to the office as a entrepreneur who started businesses focused on real estate valuations and security technology. He also works as a consultant for major companies and helps them identify weaknesses, develop a plan to address those issues and implement changes, he said. To address what he sees as election security problems, Lupia said he would like to return to hand-counting ballots at the precinct level and eliminate the use of tabulation machines. He would also advocate the state for the elimination of mail-in voting and a return to requiring voters to appear in person with a photo ID to ensure security. He said he questions relying on signature verification to prevent voter fraud because false signatures could be attached and used instead. "I appreciate the convenience of mail-in balloting. Thats not the most secure way to do things," he said. He would also like to limit state involvement in county-run elections and auditing of election results. Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman, a Republican, countered Lupia's claims, saying hand-counting ballots is less accurate, far more time consuming and more expensive. Humans are just not built for the repetitive task of counting ballots, he said. "Its prone to error and shenanigans," said Broerman, who also is term-limited and running for county treasurer this year. If the county chose to hand count the nearly 400,000 ballots cast in El Paso County during the 2020 election, it would have taken four to five weeks, Broerman said. "I think our voters want results in a timely manner," he said. To prevent fraud, signatures on ballot envelopes are compared to signatures on a voter's driver licenses and if the computer rejects a signature because it doesn't match, it is reviewed by bipartisan election judges, said Angie Leath, El Paso County elections director. The signatures are kept at the state level and there is no way to attach a false signature, she said. The mail-in voting process that Lupia questions has also been extremely popular in the state with roughly 98% of voters mailing in their ballots in the November election, said Annie Orloff, with the Secretary of State's Office. Lupia also questioned how voter rolls are updated, saying the Electronic Registration Information Center, a membership organization among secretary of state offices that works to keep voter rolls updated across state lines, has lists that are far different from the lists the county maintains. Former Secretary of State Wayne Williams said the center helps find people who have voted in multiple states, and he used it to refer people for prosecution for improperly voting. Lupia's concern about the center was just one of the examples of statements Lupia made that show he has a misunderstanding of elections, Williams said. "He just doesnt understand the process," he said. Thirty states are involved in the center that helps to keep voter rolls more pristine by alerting the county to changes, such as voters who have moved out of state, Broerman said. When it comes to state involvement, Lupia said clerks should have more freedom to fully audit their election results. El Paso County has gone over and above what's required to ensure election integrity, Broerman said, including posting a digital image of every ballot. Broerman, who is also a member of the county Republican executive committee, said he has offered to give Lupia a tour of the office to understand the process and he has never visited, limiting his knowledge. "He apparently has listened to conspiracy theorists," Broerman said. The clerk noted in the November election El Paso County's voter turnout was near the bottom of the large major counties in the state amid local concerns about election security. "Has that discourse reduced the voice of the citizens of El Paso County statewide? If that is the case, that is a sad day," he said. He said his office has fielded thousands of calls and emails about election security concerns, and many of those people feel assured votes are secured in the county after talking with the staff. But not everyone. "A small handful of people we will never reach, but we aim to continue to try," he said. Whomever wins the Republican primary, Lupia or Schleiker, will face Democratic candidate Lisa Wilkes for the seat in November. Colorado Springs police responded to a pair of shootings that reportedly took place in roughly the same area about 90 minutes apart early Satu Former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams was elected to the Colorado Springs City Council At-Large in 2019. Polis plan which he acknowledged Thursday is more about prevention and only a good first step is fine and well as far as it goes. But if he really wants to protect Coloradans and curb crime right now, he should backtrack on bad policies that hobble law enforcement. The Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), the regions leading centre of excellence for the development and training of future diplomats, has launched its admissions campaign. Renowned for its diplomatic capacity development, research and thought leadership initiatives, the Academy has launched the 2022/2023 Post-Graduate Diploma Programme admissions process for Emiratis who wish to embark on careers in diplomacy that will allow them to represent the UAE on the world stage. Aspirants have to apply prior to the deadline on March 13, 2022. AGDA, which kicked off its campaign to recruit potential diplomats under the theme Diplomats of the Future, expects to receive an all-time-high number of applications this year, following last years record-breaking recruitment campaign, as more young Emiratis are now choosing to pursue careers in diplomacy and foreign affairs. Abdulnasser Alshaali, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC), said: Over the years, we have seen a growing number of Emiratis showing interest in pursuing diplomatic careers. This is a clear indication of the UAEs pivotal role globally and its effectiveness in achieving its foreign policy objectives. He added: It is important for us at the ministry to expand the Emirati diplomatic corps by providing those with a keen interest in foreign affairs with unsurpassed knowledge and skills that will enable them to further consolidate and enhance our nations international standing. I thus urge aspiring diplomats to join AGDA, as it not only prepares them to serve and represent their nation, but also provides them with the opportunity to explore some of our worlds most pressing challenges in a stimulating learning environment, he concluded. Nickolay Mladenov, the newly appointed Acting Director General of AGDA, said: The UAE today is a country that has taken the lead on a series of global issues combating climate change and environmental disasters, to providing relief and humanitarian aid to those in need. It is hosting Expo 2020, and will host the Cop28, both during its two-year membership of the UN Security Council. Such achievements require elite diplomats with immaculate knowledge and top-notch skills who can represent their nation with honour, strength and integrity particularly during testing times and moments of unprecedented global turbulence. He added: That is why our Academy provides vital policy direction, with insights on contemporary regional and global issues that impact the UAE and the region. AGDA firmly supports the objectives of the UAEs foreign policy, by equipping future diplomats with fundamental knowledge and skills, to effectively serve their nation on the international arena. Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, the newly appointed Deputy Director General of AGDA, said: With more than 245 graduates of AGDAs Post-Graduate Diploma Programme since its inception in 2014, the Academy is proud to support the UAEs vision in preparing skilful diplomats, who can further enhance the nations position on the international stage especially as we prepare for the next 50 years. The Academy has become the driving force of worldwide strategic initiatives that elevate the UAEs diplomatic presence and strengthen its international standing. Dr Al Dhaheri, who is an AGDA alumni, pointed out that the UAEs foreign policy is based on pursuing peace and security, and building bridges of tolerance, coexistence, and cooperation despite the countrys position in a rather turbulent and challenging region. This is exactly why we need well-rounded diplomats who have the finest skills, in addition to a thorough understanding of the importance of strengthening and shaping relations with nations around the world. The UAE is built on a transparent policy of tolerance and cooperation and this is what our students and diplomats must represent. The Academy offers courses in in diplomacy and international relations that prepare aspiring professionals for a career in foreign policy and diplomacy. AGDA provides a range of theoretical and skill-building courses, as well as third language training in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Russian and Spanish. The admissions campaign is open to all Emiratis who are 35 years old or younger, hold a Bachelors degree, or equivalent, or who will receive their diploma by June 2022 with a GPA of 3.0 or above. Candidates must also have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, or take the IELTS exam before starting their studies. Male applicants must provide a letter that indicates they have completed their national service. -- TradeArabia News Service Senate President Leroy Garcia of Pueblo addresses the Senate in an address on Feb. 16, 2021, on the resumption of legislative business at the Capitol in Denver. Downtown Colorado Springs' growing list of apartment projects in early 2022 includes: Greystar Real Estate Partners of Charleston, S.C., one of the nation's largest multifamily developers, plans three projects totaling more than 800 units. Two are under construction northeast of Pikes Peak and Wahsatch avenues and southeast of Weber and Cimarron streets. A third project has been proposed northwest of Wahsatch and Rio Grande Street. A Denver real estate company is the latest to propose a multistory apartment project in downtown Colorado Springs. Formativ, which describes itself on LinkedIn as a real estate and economic development firm founded in 2016, has proposed a seven-story, 214-unit project southwest of Weber and Cimarron streets, according to plans that company representatives have submitted to city government officials. Read more here. Weidner Apartment Homes of suburban Seattle plans upward of 1,200 units near the Weidner Field downtown stadium that it helped fund southwest of Cimarron and Sahwatch streets. A first-phase is under construction. The 217-unit Pikes Peak Plaza apartments, proposed by Denver developer Taylor Turano in partnership with longtime Springs developer Jeff Dunn and son Ryan Dunn of Denver, is nearing completion southwest of Prospect Street and Pikes Peak Avenue. Denver real estate firm Narrate Cos. has proposed a seven-story building with 131 apartments northwest of Nevada Avenue and Cimarron Street. A 51-unit apartment project that would be part of a mixed-use development and provide living and work space for local artists is planned southwest of Costilla and Weber streets. Artspace, a Minneapolis nonprofit, has proposed the project in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority of Colorado Springs. Read more here. The Springs-based O'Neil Group has proposed a 25-story, 316-unit apartment tower has been proposed on the southwest portion of a block bounded by Vermijo and Cascade avenues and Costilla and Sahwatch streets. Read more here. The 177-unit Mae on Cascade opened in 2020 northeast of Cascade Avenue and Rio Grande Street, while the 171-unit 333 ECO opened in 2018 southwest of Colorado and Wahsatch avenues; they were developed by Springs' real estate companies Norwood Development Group and Griffis/Blessing. Norwood also is building a 154-unit project at Vermijo and Wahsatch avenues and plans hundreds of units in southwest downtown, near the Olympic & Paralympic Museum and America the Beautiful Park. Local developer Darsey Nicklasson and Springs businesswoman Kathy Loo opened the 33-unit Blue Dot Place on South Nevada Avenue in 2016; Nicklasson, with other partners, developed the 27-unit Casa Mundi Apartments on South Tejon Street that opened in 2020. Source: Gazette research Gods Storehouse, a local nonprofit food pantry, is once again asking people to help end hunger, one bowl at a time. By doing so, the participants will receive a colorful handmade bowl and some free food themselves. The fundraiser Empty Bowls used to serve soup and crackers at a community meal, and then guests got to pick out a handmade bowl to take home. But things changed a little last year with the pandemic. The event will be held over two days, Friday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., said Karen Harris, executive director of Gods Storehouse. Guests will buy tickets for a specific time. They will come pick out their handcrafted bowl, participate in the chance auction and can select from a variety of restaurant vouchers. Depending upon the restaurant, the ticket holder will receive some type of free item. We have worked with the restaurants to see what works for them. Some have offered a free bowl of soup if people bring in the voucher, explained Harris. We dont want to put undue pressure on restaurants that are still struggling. Some restaurants have offered an item on their menu up to a certain price, and others have indicated a free item with the purchase of an entree. We are still working on securing restaurants to participate. Past success Even with the changes, the fundraiser has been successful; last years event raised $8,000. We sold 257 tickets and had 230 at the event in 2021, Harris said. The bowls have been hand made by Harris herself; artist Jonathan Scollo, who teaches pottery at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History; and the art classes of Frances Viden at George Washington High School. Harris has 59 bowls she made herself to donate to the event, which includes six bowls one of Scollos students made and she glazed. There are also 150 bowls left from last year. Viden hopes to donate 100 this year. Scollo has made 150 bowls this year to donate. I just keep piling them up, he said. He said he helps because he knows people need food. They are working, but they need help making ends meet. Its getting harder and harder, he said. And people have helped me in the past. Still the need Harris said there are still people in the area in need of food. Our numbers are not back up to pre-COVID numbers, but we served 1,444 families in January and averaged 103 families per day for the 14 days we were open, she said. In 2021 Gods Storehouse distributed more than 21,000 boxes, served 2,922 households and distributed more than 640,000 pounds of food, averaging 91 families a day. Harris said she was grateful for the help of Scollo and Viden in making the bowls, as well as all the volunteers and board members who help put the event together. I really hope next year we can get back to our community soup dinner, she said. It is a great deal of work but lots of fun. I think people really enjoy coming to see all the bowls and having a bowl of soup with friends. I so greatly appreciate how this community supports the work of Gods Storehouse. Tickets are $20 per person or $25 the week of the event. They can be purchased at Gods Storehouse at 750 Memorial Drive, Karens Hallmark in the Danville Mall and on Eventbrite. For more information, go to www.godsstorehouse.org, the Gods Storehouse Facebook page or call 434-793-3663. Elzey is a freelance writer for the Register & Bee. She can be reached at susanelzey@yahoo.com or 434-791-7991. The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District crossed yet another somber milestone last week by eclipsing 400 COVID-19 deaths. The 13 new fatalities were added during a week that bucked state and national trends for cases. Following a steady decline, average daily infections nudged upward last week in Danville and Pittsylvania County. This comes after 25 virus deaths were recorded the week prior. Fatalities are often viewed as a lagging indicator in the pandemic. And even though the new deaths reached a statewide database last week, they likely occurred weeks ago. Thats because the Virginia Department of Health uses a strict process to verify a fatality was linked to COVID-19. That includes examining the death certificate and sometimes reaching out to a health care facility or family members for more information. In all, 401 residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County have died from the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The first local fatality was reported March 25, 2020. Overall, infections are dropping dramatically as the omicron wave eases its grip across the nation. However, cases increased last week in Danville and Pittsylvania County. The local health district is averaging about 133 new infections per day, up from 101 a week ago. Although the figures are much lower than peak average of 237 daily cases on Jan. 14, the rates remain highly elevated. For example, the region has yet to drop below the peak 77 daily cases of the delta wave over the summer where another variant took hold. Until we see community transmission levels reach the low level and remain there for a period of time, there is still much work to be done, Linda Scarborough, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Health, told the Register & Bee last week. Vaccination clinics and testing events will continue to be scheduled within the communities in order to continue tracking the data with the goal of reaching lower transmission levels throughout the state. The local transmission of COVID-19 is at the highest possible level as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simply put, the virus is still rapidly spreading and causing infections. However, experts at the University of Virginias Biocomplexity Institute previously said omicron an altered version of the coronavirus doesnt present as severe of an impact on average compared to other strains. UVa also notes that vaccinations hold the key to that. Evidence suggests a three dose vaccine regime is more protective against hospitalization and death than the initial two dose series, researchers wrote in an abbreviated report Friday, referencing booster doses. It may also offer longer lasting, more durable immunity. The local health district is teaming up with Dollar General stores to offer vaccination clinics this month including: From 9 to 11 am. Friday at 416 Highway View Road in Hurt; From 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at 12300 Martinsville Highway in Cascade; and From 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 28 at 1500 Westover Drive in Danville. The clinics will provide all doses free to the public. A parent or guardian must accompany those under 18 years old. The health department also will offer free COVID-19 testing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at Gretna Drug Company, located at 108 Vaden Drive in Gretna. Our health districts are fortunate to be able to partner with integral agencies and organizations at the forefront of vital public health initiatives, Dr. Scott Spillmann, director of the local health district, said in a statement. The testing is part of the Increasing Community Access to Testing partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a news release stated. To schedule an appointment, visit www.doineedacovid19test.com/Gretna_VA_16395.html. Results from these PCR tests polymerase chain reaction, often hailed as the gold standard are usually available in a few days. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Arguably the most innate desire we possess as humans is to be known and thereby loved. We spend a good bit of our lives looking for love, and once we find love, often we discover it changes or leaves us. But what does steadfast love look like, and how do we find it and maintain it? According to Doris Priddy, 94, and Hassel Priddy, 96, of Peach Orchard Road in Mayodan, the answer is very simple: Love God the most. And with their 75th wedding anniversary just a few months away (they will celebrate on Nov. 6), they have more than enough love to offer. Sitting across from them at their cozy kitchen table recently, I found Doris with her Bible open. Without prompting, she began to read from Ephesians 5. As I listened to the familiar words, I observed a lovely couple, noting their physical frailty. Yet, more striking, was the strength and joy they said they share in Gods love. Their love is simple, beautiful and rare at the same time. As Doris read, a subtle smile formed at the edges of her husbands mouth: Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. Just as Doris had been prepared, Hassel was equally ready for my question: What did those verses mean to them? With a wink and a smile, he quickly said, It means I am the boss. Doris smiled knowingly at Hassell, and he quickly rephrased his statement: Well I may be the boss, but I dont always get to use it. And it was with this sort of loving banter that they told the extraordinary story of their love, life and joy. There isnt much in life that the Priddys have not experienced together. Doris, whose maiden name is Richardson, was the youngest of 10 children and grew up on the familys successful vegetable farm and peach orchard, where Hassell and Doris still live today. She was born across the street in the family farm house on Sept. 12, 1927, and was the youngest child. Hassel Moyer Priddy was born on March 1, 1925, and was the second youngest in a family of seven children. His family lived only a mile away from the Richardson farm. While Hassel attended school in Madison, Doris was educated in Mayodan. In fact, Doris and Hassel did not meet until their older siblings started dating and later were married in 1942. My older brother married Hassells older sister. And on our first meeting, I kind of liked the looks of him. I thought he was quite a handsome fella, Doris said. Hassel said Doris caught his eye. While they began to see one another casually, Hassell had just turned 18 and was graduating from high school with plans to enlist in the U.S. Army. I had to miss my graduation because I was scheduled for a medical examination on May 5, 1943, he said. Doris, only 15 at the time, had three more years of school to complete. And upon his departure for the service, Hassell remembers coyly telling Doris to stay home and stay put because I am going away. To his surprise Doris laughed and said, Good, I wont have to see you all the time like I do now. On June 29th, 1943, Hassell was sworn in as a corporal. After spending a few months training in Texas and the Northeast, Hassell was assigned to a post in England, where he found himself at a desk rather than on the frontline during World War II. With his typing skills, he prepared correspondence between various units in the field. Even now, Doris can put her hands on precious letters Hassell sent to her from England, tucked safely in her cedar chest. By December 1945, Hassell was home, and he didnt waste any time pursuing Doris. I couldnt seem to stop thinking about her, and I found her so very easy to talk to, he said. A year later, they were engaged. When asked about the proposal, Hassel said, Oh, it was actually the other way around, hinting that Doris had done the proposing and that her parents had told him: just take her! Doris smiled at him, laughed and said, He tells everyone I asked him to marry me. He knows better. And, yes, my parents were thrilled he asked. In the months leading up to their fall wedding, Hassell helped Doris father haul produce back and forth to Floyd, Va., as well as retrieve watermelons from the Richardsons farm in the sandhills. In May 1947, Doris was crowned May Queen at Mayodan High School and graduated. Just after commencement, she began work in the accounting division of the cotton department at Washington Mills, keeping records of shipments that came in and out of the mill. Her goal was to save money that summer and fall, mainly for clothes to fill her wedding trousseau. By fall, Hassel began work operating machines at Madisons hosiery mill, Gem-Dandy. During this time he was able to secure a loan from a bank in Madison with help from Doris father. And he used the funds to buy two acres of land across the road from Doris childhood home. I bought each acre for $200 and that was when $200 was $200, he said. To this day, I jokingly tell Doris that was what she was worth. On Nov. 6, 1947, Doris and Hassell married alongside their good friends Margaret Mitchell and Gordon Tucker at the old Mayodan Pentecostal Holiness Church. Margaret and I wore simple white wedding suitsone with black accessories, and the other with brown accessories, Doris said. Unfortunately, we did not take any wedding photos at the time. Reflecting on the last 75 years together, Hassell said: It has been hard with a lot of hard work. While Doris continued her work at Washington Mills where she regularly took her homemade biscuits to coworkers, Hassell continued at Gem-Dandy, eventually retiring as plant manager. During the earliest days of their marriage, the couple worked from late winter to late fall, in the evenings and on weekends, tending the Richardson orchard, which at its peak boasted 750 trees. And when Darrell, their only child, was born on Feb. 11, 1950, their lives grew abundantly fuller, they said. As soon as Darrell could walk, he was out in the orchard with his parents and grandparents. And when Darrells three daughters, Stephanie, Tiffanie and Dana, came along, all took turns driving the tractor and hauling peaches to the customers who lined up along Peach Orchard Road. Doris found her skills best suited for the kitchen as the years went by, and she had no complaints. Indeed, there is consensus among Hassell, Darrell, the granddaughters and five great-grandchildren that Mamoos fried chicken, turnip greens, cornbread and homemade pound cake are their very favorites. The peach orchard has now downsized to fewer than 150 trees, and Mamoo is cooking a little less due to recent health challenges for the couple. But both say the greatest change in their lives is the way their love has grown at an exponential rate in recent years. According to granddaughter Tiffanie, They dont complain about anything that has come their way. In fact, Ive never heard them complain. I often wonder if they do so when we are not around, but my feeling is they dont. Youll never hear them say why me or why this? And Hassel and Doris look ahead to the future with great hope because they know where they are going, they said. We just want to enjoy the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and be here until the Lord calls us home. The Lord has been so good to us, Doris said. We have a good country home, and as long as I can cook and clean a lot and both love a lot, we want to be here. Theres so much to be thankful for: to still be in our home, to be able to care for each other and to continue loving each other. Their son is impressed by their exceptional cooperation. Mamoo and Papa are just special, he said. You dont see that today. Whatever my mom needed, my dad helped her with, and whatever my dad needed, she found a way to help him. They have always put the Lord first, and thats evident in all the ways that they love each other and our family. Advice they would give a couple just starting out?: Love the Lord the best, and then you will love your spouse with your best. Indias state of Andhra Pradesh is showcasing opportunities in sectors including automobile, food processing, textiles, healthcare, information technology and capital goods at Expo 2020 Dubai. The state is showing its development and immense business opportunities to the global investors. The states stand at the India pavilion was inaugurated yesterday by Mekapati Goutham Reddy, Minister of Commerce and Information Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh along with 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 the UAE. Zulfi Ravdjee, Advisor to Government of Andhra Pradesh & Special Representative to Government for Middle East & Far East Countries and JVN Subramanyam, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) & CEO Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB) along with senior government officials from the state were also present at the inaugural ceremony. Reddy said: Under the able leadership of our Honble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, India has achieved remarkable progress across economic and social development metrics and continues to develop as a powerhouse in the world economy. The state of Andhra Pradesh has strong governance, strategic locational advantages, robust infrastructure, thriving industrial & business ecosystem, skilled manpower and immense potential for growth across key sectors. I am confident that the state floor at India Pavilion will project Andhra Pradesh in a new perspective, open new opportunities for business and establish new relationships with industry and governments. Andhra Pradesh is blessed with abundant natural resources, mineral wealth, and presents a low-risk and easy environment for businesses to grow. We are poised to exchange strengths and are looking forward to long term business relationships with global investors, he added. Subramanyam, said: It is a great privilege for Andhra Pradesh to participate in Expo 2020 Dubai. Andhra Pradesh is one of the nine industrialised states in India, which is also helping the country to realise its $5 trillion economy mission. The states floor at India Pavilion depicts our key pillars of governance and development in the state, which will support us to partner with global investors. The state will be making a strong pitch to the global investors during the week by showcasing its business capabilities along with its tradition and culture through a series of events. Along with showcasing the business attractiveness, the state will also exhibit its rich cultural heritage to the global audience through India Pavilion. The Andhra Pradesh week will conclude on February 17, 2022.-- TradeArabia News Service Kody Kinsley, North Carolina's new secretary of health and human services, knows firsthand what it's like to be uninsured in this state and have limited access to health care. When he was a boy growing up in Wilmington, his father was a construction worker, whose first job in the port city was building sets for a movie studio. His mother cleaned houses. "I mean they've worked incredibly hard every day of their lives," Kinsley said in a recent interview with North Carolina Health News. "But regardless of how hard they worked, when it came to keeping food on the table and keeping a roof over our heads, having enough money for health insurance was just not an option. So I grew up without health insurance and coverage, and did not have health insurance until I started working after college or while I was in college from my employer." There was no vehicle in North Carolina at the time for his parents to receive Medicaid or for Kinsley to be on the Children's Health Insurance Plan, which was established in 1998. CHIP is a program for families with incomes above the eligibility threshold for Medicaid but lower than what is needed to afford premiums for private market insurance. Kinsley said he was only able to see a dentist when New Hanover County held special events at which an oral health exam was offered with a free lunch. That experience, Kinsley said, of growing up in a family "that had to cobble together a patchwork of services and supports to try to get by," gives him an empathic understanding of what some 1 million people in this state are going through in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. When he was sick or hurt as a child, his mother would labor over the decision to take him to a doctor, Kinsley recalled. It never was an easy call for his parents, but sometimes a physicians assessment was necessary. "They developed a relationship with a pediatrician in Wilmington who would see us on a sliding scale, and when antibiotics were needed because I had a strep throat or something, he'd go to his samples closet from the drug companies and that was because he knew we didn't have money to pay for the pharmacy, either," he said. A mission of public service Those experiences also led to his determination that public service would be part of his mission, an underlying theme that has brought him to where he is now leading 18,000 employees in a diverse agency with the charge to improve the health, well-being and safety of all North Carolinians. "Living that life, and you know at the same time being afforded a number of opportunities first-generation college student, Pell grants, all these other things that have helped me get to where I am I think it engenders in me a sense of two things," Kinsley said. "One, first and foremost, a sense of what calls me to public service, a responsibility to pay it forward and to do unto others what has been benefited to me. Second, it's just the clear confidence that we can do so much better, and investment in our children, especially right now, especially as we come alongside the pandemic is a transformative opportunity for us to improve North Carolina overall." Kinsley, 36, was sworn in as secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, on Jan. 1 by Lucy Inman, a North Carolina Court of Appeals judge, in a small outdoor ceremony. His partner Angelo Mathay was there with their dog Kopuk, a half golden retriever, half lab found on the streets of Izmir, Turkey, that they adopted from Neuse Golden Retriever Rescue. Kinsley fist-bumped the judge after reciting the oath and then signed his first official document as secretary on a small table placed outside DHHS headquarters, the Adams Building on Raleighs Dorothea Dix campus. At the time, the omicron variant of COVID-19 was taking the state by storm, causing record case numbers and hospitalizations and more deaths. By then, many had grown weary of the pandemic, especially health care workers. Kinsley got right to work. In mid-January, hospitals in the Charlotte area were struggling to keep up with the demand for COVID-19 care, so he reached out for federal assistance and within two weeks he had arranged for a 16-person team, 11 of whom were clinicians, to help support the staff at Atrium Health Pineville. "We anticipated that Mecklenburg County was going to be where our particular crunch point was going to be just because of the particular population," Kinsley said. This is my home Kinsley came to DHHS in 2018 with a broad understanding of how government works. He has served as assistant secretary of management for the U.S. Treasury Department and held positions in the White House and the federal Department of Health and Human Services. He received a master's degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley. Though he does not have a medical degree as did Mandy Cohen, the secretary who brought him to North Carolina, he led operations for a behavioral health care service provider early in his career in the western part of the state, where he received his undergraduate degree in health sciences at Brevard College. Kinsleys family, he said, played a large role in why, in his words, he "said yes to the dress," when considering the enormous undertaking of being secretary of health and human services. "Honestly, I thought really hard about that," Kinsley said. "Where I landed was, you know, I grew up in North Carolina. This is my home state. My parents live in Wilmington. My grandmother is in an adult care home. My brother is in Cedar Grove, north of Hillsborough. The choices of a leadership of this organization have direct and real daily impact on the health and well-being of people that I love. So I'm in this job, and in the middle of this pandemic, why wouldn't I. I have to be here and I feel it's a sense of duty to do this." Kinsley, according to those who work with him, is a gregarious, energetic person who usually bellows a loud "good morning" to his team when he arrives at the office each day. Brings Kopuk to work Jonathan Kappler, his chief of staff, says people sometimes peek out of their doors in the office suite to see if Kopuk is tagging along with Kinsley. Kinsley and his partner Mathay, an employment lawyer he met in Washington nearly a decade ago, have a ritual of taking Kopuk to the dog park one morning each week. Kinsley tries not to schedule any meetings in earnest before 10 a.m. on those days, in part, to model behavior he wants for his team. It's important, he says, that they take care of their own mental health and have quality time with their loved ones, especially in the long-running pandemic. Hes a dog person. Kopuk usually comes to the office once or twice a week, typically settling in near Kinsley's desk, but occasionally wandering out into the hallway to greet others on the team. "We all bring our whole self to the job," Kappler said. Kinsley is a list-maker, laying out tasks in several columns on a small piece of paper. He is process-oriented and thrives on a structure that allows him to bring the most diverse voices around the table to discuss policies and projects, then figure out how best to implement them. "The most finite thing is his time," Kappler said, describing himself as a chief of staff who helps make sure Kinsley can accomplish what he needs to by structuring meetings and communication channels that flow smoothly. Kinsley brings great passion to his work, Kappler said, as well as compassion, often asking those on his team about their families and events, big and small, in their lives. "He's extremely engaging," Kappler said. "He's got a lot of energy, which sometimes can be a challenge for me. He moves quickly, but also wants us to move methodically." He listens Dave Richard, the DHHS secretary in charge of Medicaid administration, spoke recently about some of the roles Kinsley has taken on at DHHS and marveled about his ability to juggle so much. Kinsley oversaw four state-run psychiatric hospitals and 10 other state-run facilities that treat adults and children with neuro-medical disease, substance use disorders and developmental disabilities, a role somewhat akin to leading a hospital system. He led the state's response to the opioid epidemic and worked to provide more and better services for people with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities. Then the pandemic hit, and Kinsley was tapped to help stand up COVID-19 testing across the state and get vaccines out across North Carolina. "He really is just a very smart guy," Richard said. "Kody has run organizations. He understands how to take a project, make sure that you focus on the things that can actually get it done, and actually execute it. His best skill set is making sure you know how to execute on complex projects to get those done, and he does it extraordinarily well. Plus, he's got this engaging personality to where people want to support him and want to work for him." Sen. Jim Burgin, a Republican from Angier, chair of the Senate Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, is one of the lawmakers with whom Kinsley has had many conversations. "I call Sen. Burgin every day at 6:30 in the morning, Kinsley once said, describing Burgin as a friend. It is really good to get his feedback. And he makes me laugh." Kinsley calls him several times a week now, he said, and greatly respects his input. "He listens," Burgin said. "I always say an effective leader listens with their ears, and I think he'll do that, and he's not afraid to be asked the tough questions. I've challenged him on a lot of things." Vaccine distribution challenges One of those challenges was fixing the bumpy rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in North Carolina. "In the beginning of COVID, when we were all trying to get the vaccines and everything, we were third from the bottom, you know we just couldn't get it out," Burgin said. Then Cohen put Kinsley in charge of the vaccine distribution plan. He and Burgin had many discussions about how to take a different approach that broadened the number of places where North Carolinians could get a shot in the early months. "Within two weeks, it was completely different," Burgin said. "Hospitals got involved. We got the stuff distributed properly because the health departments weren't going to be able to do it by themselves. So we engaged all the hospitals and started saying, 'What do you need and how do you get it?' Burgin noted that North Carolina quickly went from one of the worst states for vaccine distribution to the top tiers. "Mandy realized that Kody has the administrative abilities," Burgin added. "She put him in charge. I'm sure he worked 24 hours a day to do it because we talked all the time. That's a great example of somebody given a huge task, not just sitting on it, got everybody engaged, talked to all of us, and somebody like that I want to help. I love helping him because he's trying to move things along all the time, and I don't think he's going to be satisfied with the status quo." A forward thinker Kinsley said DHHS started behind the curve when the first lab-confirmed case was reported in North Carolina in March 2020. There have been long-standing health care access disparities for people of color and those were highlighted even more by the pandemic. Some of the messaging didn't reflect the reality for many North Carolinians, especially those without health insurance or a doctor they routinely visited. "I think about the most important doctor that we need in North Carolina: is your doctor," Kinsley said. "Unfortunately what we have found, in starting this pandemic, is that we have over a million people without a primary care physician that don't have coverage. And I think we have been behind the curve in responding to this pandemic." "Think about our message," Kinsley added. "Talk to your doctor to get guidance. 'Well, I don't have a doctor.' Or we said go and get a vaccine. It's free. 'No, my entire interaction with the health system, it's never been free.'" Eduardo Cisneros, the White House COVID-19 Intergovernmental Affairs director, has spoken with Kinsley often during the past year of the pandemic. As they've talked about how to get vaccines and stem the current shortage of tests, Cisneros said Kinsley has not been shy about highlighting problems and offering his take on what could be done better. "He's extremely helpful, diplomatic," Cisneros said. "My take on him is he's kind of a forward thinker, always looking ahead." For example, Kinsley has been talking with the task force about how to get more rapid tests into North Carolina and also build supplies for the future in case there is yet another surge. He's thoughtful in his problem solving, Cisneros said. Looking beyond the pandemic While battling coronavirus, DHHS built engagement strategies and connections with communities of people that the department had never touched before, Kinsley said. He plans to continue with such an inclusive strategy. Kinsley surrounds himself with physicians, epidemiologists, strategists and others who can help him develop a vision for North Carolinas public health. He wants to tear down silos and build collaborative relationships. "We have stood up retail infrastructure that serves people on the ground in ways that we have never done before," he said. "In the midst of COVID, we stood up data infrastructure that tells us information about who we're serving and how well we're doing with insights that we've never had, and we've done it in a way that's built public trust and confidence and transparency like we've never had before. So in my mind, how do we go forward with that and what do our priorities look like?" Recovery from the pandemic will force a new focus on behavioral health, and Kinsley thinks there is an opportunity to build a dashboard that compiles information from emergency departments on suicidality and other indicators of substance use disorders and other psychiatric service needs. "We always hear people talking about never being able to find a bed, but based off our annual survey data, in the given year, beds are empty 34% of the time for psychiatric services across the state for licensed beds," Kinsley said. "I know it blows your mind that nobody can find a bed. We don't have a data system that tracks at any given moment where beds are and why they're needed. We need that." The same kinds of information can help the department better prepare for aging and workforce issues. Picking up where his predecessor left off, Kinsley is focused on persuading lawmakers to expand the states Medicaid program to sweep in at least a half million low-income workers who are currently uninsured. This is to me, it is a no-brainer, Kinsley said. It is the right moment. Maintaining balance As busy as Kinsley is leading an agency that found itself in the spotlight during the pandemic, he carves out some down time. Kinsley and his partner are avid hikers, and on the weekends, they try to find a new place to explore. Theyve enjoyed many Triangle Land Conservancy trails. On a recent weekend, they spent a snowy day with Kopuk hiking on a Wake County trail from Reedy Creek to Loblolly Trail. Mathay and Kinsley, the first openly gay cabinet secretary in North Carolina history, have been together for nearly a decade. They had their first date on Oct. 2, 2012, the second day of the federal government shutdown that year and one of few days they both had free time together. They went to the Smithsonian National Zoo, close to where Kinsley lived, and almost a decade later they are in North Carolina together. "We like to be outside with the dog in the woods," Kinsley said. Kinsley also enjoys settling in with a good book. He keeps a running list of what he wants to read, and it might include fiction, non-fiction, leadership books and more. "I've found that to be a particularly important part of, quite frankly, just forcing myself off of the computer and off of the phone, and off of the TV to get reduced screen time," Kinsley said. Not long ago, he finished "Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History," an Erik Larson book published in 2000 about the Great Galveston Storm that killed thousands of people in 1900. "What I found interesting about it was, it was at the turn of the century when there was all this energy around science to the point where folks thought that they could control the weather," Kinsley said, contrasting that with the questioning of and politicizing science during the pandemic. "There was almost this hubris to science, and the juxtaposition to now, where, unfortunately, ...there's almost a displeasure toward science and discourse, which is so unfortunate." Not one to shy away from a tough challenge, though, Kinsley plans to listen to the many voices and let science, data and input from a diversity of sources guide his vision for the health of the state. North Carolina Health News editor Rose Hoban contributed to this report. This article first appeared on North Carolina Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. North Carolina Health News is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Visit NCHN at northcarolinahealthnews.org. Just be fair It appears our legislators are unclear on how to draw constitutionally acceptable voting districts. Heres a suggestion: How about just drawing districts fairly, to give every vote equal weight instead of drawing them to create safe districts for selected politicians? If this is too difficult, there are others who have managed to do it, including a group of retired N.C. justices, and even a group of middle schoolers. Another option: a nonpartisan redistricting commission. Not only would this remove the burden from the legislature, but it could save the taxpayers a lot of money spent on court challenges. It would remove the confusion that results when lines are changed and then changed again, both for voters and candidates. This idea has been presented to the legislature numerous times over the years, but, surprise, surprise, the ruling party doesnt seem to be in favor of it. This needs to change and those who have public positions should remember they are supposed to be serving all of the people, not just select groups and their party. Democracy is having a hard time of it recently. This would help restore faith in it. Peggy Ferebee Summerfield Honest picture Why is it so difficult for some of us to confront the realities of American history? Why shouldnt our students be presented an honest picture of our past? Is it so harmful to learn the truth? Two telling reports both found on page A4 of the News & Records Feb. 9 edition illustrate this conundrum. The first concerned the bomb threats to 17 Black colleges and universities. The president and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said the threats underscore the need to teach new generations the history of violence targeting people of color so the lessons of the past can be applied to the present. The second report announced the resignation of Todd Chasteen from the N.C. Board of Education. He opposes the new standards that allow teachers to discuss racism and discrimination, and regards them as unproductive, regressive and unhelpful to the students of this wonderful state. He works for Franklin Grahams Samaritans Purse in Boone. So, dear parents, what do you want your children to learn and why? And what do we need to learn about ourselves? Roman Lavore Julian More Black history Guilford County Black History from A to Z (Feb. 6) was a good beginning. But theres a lot more to be said about local Black history, particularly in the areas of art, activism and early military history. Since this is early February, hopefully another round of listings will follow. Here are some worthy inclusions. A is for the African American Atelier, founded by Vandorn Hinnant, a Greensboro native, visual artist, poet and educator. His most recent work, A Monument to Dignity and Respect, was installed on the Ole Asheboro section of the Downtown Greenway in 2020. B is for the Beloved Community Center, which was officially organized in 1991 as a community-based grassroots empowerment organization based on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s legacy. B is for Lewis A. Brandon III, an early student activist and organizer, currently serving as director of the Grassroots History Project at the Beloved Community Center. C is for Thomas Carney, a Black soldier from Maryland who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, March 15, 1781, presenting a conspicuous part as a soldier, according to a contemporary. C is for the Continental Army, which included approximately 755 Black soldiers. Thirteen percent of those soldiers served in Marylands forces. The First and Second Marylanders fought valiantly at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. More information about the Black soldiers in this battle can be found on the Facebook page of Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Joanna Winston Foley Berkeley, Calif. Clarity and charm After reading the lovely tributes that Allen Johnson and John Alexander wrote about our colleague Rosemary Roberts, I would like to add my voice to the chorus. I was only one of several in the News & Record editorial department in 1989 who may still treasure the fragments of the Berlin wall that Rosemary brought back to share with us. Rosemary, with her clarity and charm, seemed to know the way into her coworkers hearts. More than that, she personified that sense of excellence in journalism that so many of us relish from that period. What a privilege it was to work beside her and call her friend! Kathy Coe Colfax The writer is a descendant Maj. Joseph Winston, whose statue stands in Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Todays Highlight in History: On Feb. 13, 1935, a jury in Flemington, New Jersey, found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnap-slaying of Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann was later executed.) On Feb. 13: In 1633, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition, accused of defending Copernican theory that the Earth revolved around the sun instead of the other way around. (Galileo was found vehemently suspect of heresy and ended up being sentenced to a form of house arrest.) In 1933, the Warsaw Convention, governing airlines liability for international carriage of persons, luggage and goods, went into effect. In 1939, Justice Louis D. Brandeis retired from the U.S. Supreme Court. (He was succeeded by William O. Douglas.) In 1965, during the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized Operation Rolling Thunder, an extended bombing campaign against the North Vietnamese. In 1980, the 13th Winter Olympics opened in Lake Placid, New York. In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, allied warplanes destroyed an underground shelter in Baghdad that had been identified as a military command center; Iraqi officials said 500 civilians were killed. In 1996, the rock musical Rent, by Jonathan Larson, opened off-Broadway less than three weeks after Larsons death. In 2000, Charles Schulzs final Peanuts strip ran in Sunday newspapers, the day after the cartoonist died in his sleep at his California home at age 77. In 2002, John Walker Lindh pleaded not guilty in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, to conspiring to kill Americans and supporting the Taliban and terrorist organizations. (Lindh later pleaded guilty to lesser offenses and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released in September 2019 after serving 17 years of that sentence.) In 2011, Egypts military leaders dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and promised elections in moves cautiously welcomed by protesters whod helped topple President Hosni Mubarak. In 2012, President Barack Obama unveiled a record $3.8 trillion election-year budget plan, calling for stimulus-style spending on roads and schools and tax hikes on the wealthy to help pay the costs. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a measure making her state the seventh to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2013, beginning a long farewell to his flock, a weary Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his final public Mass as pontiff, presiding over Ash Wednesday services inside St. Peters Basilica at the Vatican. In 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia, the influential conservative and most provocative member of the U.S. Supreme Court, was found dead at a private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas; he was 79. In 2017, President Donald Trumps embattled national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned following reports he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, died after two women smeared a nerve agent on his face an airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Murder charges against the women were eventually dropped, and they returned home to Vietnam and Indonesia; four North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day after the killing were named as co-conspirators.) In 2021, former President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate at his second impeachment trial, the first to involve a former president, in which he was accused of inciting the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6; seven Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in voting to convict, but it was far from the two-thirds threshold required. Although he voted not guilty, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell delivered a scalding denunciation of Trump in a speech from the Senate floor, calling the former president morally responsible for the attack on the Capitol. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Police report that a 17-year-old Decatur girl was shot and wounded at 5:16 p.m. Saturday. Sgt. Daniel Wise with the Decatur Police Department, speaking Sunday, said the victim was taken to hospital with a wound he described as non life-threatening. Wise said the girl was riding in a car when the shooting happened at the intersection of North Charles Street and East Pershing Road. Wise said it appears the shot came from another vehicle driven by a man, but he added that the victim had told police she didnt know for sure. Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to contact them. Call (217) 424-2734 or Crime Stoppers at (217) 423-8477. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High around 90F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 72F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating a Wise County fire that apparently resulted in the death of a 65-year-old man. According to a press release from the Virginia State Police, the fire in the 3900 block of McReynolds Road occurred Tuesday, Feb. 8, at a residence in the 3900 block of McReynolds Road. Firefighters discovered the body of 65-year-old Bruce E. Maines Jr., inside the residence after the fire was extinguished. Maines' remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy. The release said investigators do not believe foul play was involved at this point and the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature. The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation. ATKINS, Va. --- Even Mike Evans doesnt quite understand his own fascination with birds. Evans just loves birds and other things in nature, but particularly birds. Hes traveled the world to catch fleeting glimpses of seldom-seen-before species. He once drove all the way to Maine to see an Atlantic puffin bird. The hobby makes him happy, the 65-year-old retiree said, while scanning the shelves in his Atkins, Virginia workshop, counting dozens of bird houses hes constructed for his feathered friends in just the past few months. These are no run-of-the-mill birdhouses. Through his garage business, Lonesome Dove Woodcraft, Evans builds and sells species-specific houses designed for different types of birds. Hes probably made about 250 of the specialty birdhouses since he began four years ago, selling them at local craft fairs and through Etsy, an e-commerce company. His backyard on Crowe Hollow Road is a sanctuary, of sorts, as he watched a Carolina Chickadee and a Tufted Titmouse dart back and forth to feeders. I dont know, said Evans, it just seems like my love of birds started when I was a kid. Living in a remote area of Smyth County, Evans and his family didnt have indoor plumbing until he was 8 years old. The last chore of the night was a trot to the outhouse. On one of my trips, a whippoorwill landed on the roof of the outhouse and started singing, Evans recalled. I was absolutely enthralled. I didnt know if it was a beast or a bird until my dad cleared up the mystery. I think thats what flipped the switch on a life-long fascination with all of nature. Back then, my dad was a naturalist and didnt know it, Evans said. He had an intuitive love of nature and science, and he instilled in me that same love for all of nature. Birding Life List Evans went on to earn a degree in wildlife management and forest technology from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Alleghany County, Virginia. While a student, he enrolled in an ornithology class that, according to him, changed my life. He began compiling a birding life list, a cumulative record of the species of birds an individual birder successfully identifies. During that time, he recorded about 150 types of birds. Decades later, the list has grown to a nearly 1,000 birds he has positively identified in the wild. Evans saw many species of birds during his travels when he was a federal law enforcement officer with the United States Forest Service. He was often required to travel to hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters in the world. In 1980, he spent 43 days as a helicopter manager flying in and out of the blast zone after Mount St. Helens erupted. His own recreational birding trips have led him to places like Morocco, Spain, Italy, Azores, Canada, Trinidad, Costa Rica, and Mexico. When I travel, its to bird, he said with a grin. Evans said his prized birding life list book will go to his 13-year-old grandson one day when the time is right. Handcrafted bird houses After retiring in 2013, Evans decided to use his leisure hours making birdhouses for select varieties of birds. I wanted to build cavity nest boxes that were about the birds and not about the yard art, he explained. Conferring with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the builder learned the best ways to fashion the houses for small birds that nest in cavities. There are about 1,000 nesting species of birds in North America, he said. As few as 85 of them will nest in cavities like hollow trees and other holes. The introductions of invasive species like the European starling have left many native North American species needing a little extra assistance with cavity nests. Furnishing nesting boxes for birds---particularly the smaller varieties--- provides a safe place for birds to build their nests and protects them from the elements and predators. In recent years, the use of pressure treated fence posts and the harvesting of dead standing trees for fuel wood have eliminated natural nesting areas for these birds. Four models Evans builds four different models of bird houses that accommodate about 24 of the most common cavity-nesting species, including the Eastern blue bird, tree swallows, all seven of the North American species of chickadees, all five North American species of titmice, nuthatches, and two species of wrens. The sizes and dimension of the entrance holes are critical for building species specific birdhouses. Evans explained the Eastern blue bird can squeeze into an entrance hole that is exactly one and one-half inches in diameter. But, if the hole is any larger, a European starling, a very aggressive bird, will outcompete the Eastern blue bird for the cavity hole. To provide adequate ventilation for the baby birds, he adds drainage on the bottom of the houses with air holes on the sides. Using a beveled wood chisel, the builder creates a toe-hold ladder which provides a way for the chicks to climb to the entrance hole when it comes time to fledge. This is necessary because the flat surface in the box is unnatural in nature. Some of these birds will return to their nesting boxes for shelter on cold winter nights. Evans advises to remove the old debris from the boxes in January and add a few leaves or saw dust as insulation for their return during the winter months. Inside each house is an information sheet that outlines the bird species and where and how to install the boxes. The boxes are built for what the birds want and need, Evans said. Plus, they are built like a tank with 24 screws in each one of them. It pleases me to know that the boxes will be up long after Im gone. His handcrafted birdhouses sell for $37 each through Etsy, postal mail order, or local delivery. Check out Lonesome Dove Woodcraft at www.etsy.com by searching LDWoodcraftstore or write to Mike Evans at mountainmeadows.snow@gmail.com for more information. (Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at citydesk@bristolnews.com.) The Hickory City Council is set to consider one annexation and two rezoning requests for new housing projects in the city at its meeting on Tuesday. The firm D&J Properties North Carolina is asking the council to annex and rezone a little more than 13 acres of land off Sulphur Springs Road and roughly bounded by 47th Avenue Place NE and 48th Avenue Lane NE. The company has requested the land be rezoned from low-density residential to planned development to facilitate plans for 42 townhomes on the land. These units would likely be priced between $300,000 and $325,000, according to documents in the councils agenda packet. The Hickory Regional Planning Commission is recommending the council allow the rezoning. Some neighboring residents spoke at the planning commission meeting to express concerns about the effect of a new development on their property values and on drainage in the area, according to the agenda packet. In a separate item, the council will consider rezoning about 55 acres off Spencer Road from low to medium residential, which would allow for the construction of around 200 single family homes at the property. The council voted to annex the property last month. The planning commission has also recommended approval for this rezoning. The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall at 76 N. Center St. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Seara, a food brand that is committed to high quality products, is launching Seara Shawaya, a first-of-a-kind innovation in the frozen foods category at Gulfood 2022 in Dubai from February 13 to 17. The brand with presence in over 150 countries is part of JBS, the global leader in protein-based food. Seara Shawaya Chicken for Roasting is the latest innovation from Seara that seeks to fill the gap where no added value products are offered. Developed with the Middle East woman in mind, the product offers variety and novelty while addressing key consumer needs around convenience, taste and quality. On-site, Searas chef will present the freezer to oven halal product for tasting, giving visitors and potential customers the opportunity to taste the delicious flavours while noticing the ease of preparation. Following the companys commitment to innovation and quality, we are proud to present our new range Seara Shawaya, the novel solution in the frozen poultry category. Roasted chicken has long been a favourite among the population in this region, and we are glad to be offering this new category that promises to meet the consumers need for convenience, taste and speed of preparation, tailored to local tastes and flavour preferences. Tested during researches among consumers in the region, the product guarantees to simplify the daily lives of women today, who juggle multiple roles with a greater demand of their time than ever before, said the company representative. Frozen Halal Whole Chicken is the biggest category in Retail and Food Services. Served also in Rotisseries Restaurants or at Supermarkets, roasted chicken is a consumer favorite and Searas Shawaya Chicken will be the First Frozen Marinated Whole Chicken from Seara ready to be cooked straight from the freezer to oven or air fryer. For those who want to spice and flavour themselves their poultry, Seara also presents the First Frozen Tender Whole Chicken, which is the ideal solution as it comes already pre-marinated with brine so that chicken is tender and juicy, guaranteeing the juiciest chicken breast as preferred in the region. With the motto we marinate you enjoy Seara Shawaya puts the GCC Consumers at the forefront of their innovation, said the company. Available in four options, being three delicious flavours of Hot Curry, Kabsa and Italian and one plain alternative Frozen Whole Chicken Tender, Seara Shawaya Range is set to hit shelves in the 2nd quarter of 2022. The Seara Shawaya range brings more choices and variety to the already well-established portfolio of Seara products in the Mena region. In addition to this launch, the brand will showcase a new portfolio of over 120 products produced at two local plants in the UAE and KSA, taking into account the importance of Middle Eastern culture and cuisine. The new range introduces a complete halal portfolio of Seara breaded chicken, chicken burgers and beef burgers, minced meats, sausages, meat balls, frozen vegetables, frozen seafood and frozen fruits, among others. All the new products will be exhibited at the trade show, strengthening the strategy of Seara of offering the region innovative, high-quality products.-- TradeArabia News Service Vladimir Putin has kept the world guessing. Whether or not Russia will invade Ukraine may be unknown to everyone other than him (and perhaps even he has not yet made up his mind). If an invasion goes ahead, it could have major geopolitical consequences. The fate of Ukraine is at stake. A Cold War-like spheres of influence competition could intensify in Eastern Europe. Tension between Moscow and Washington, already high, would heighten further, perhaps to a level not witnessed since the most perilous moments of the Cold War. Putin must view the potential benefits of taking action as being relatively high given his willingness to risk igniting, through his issuing of diplomatic demands and initiation of what appears to be preparation for an invasion, what could become the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War II. If he takes action, will he succeed? It is a difficult question to answer given that we do not know exactly what Putins objectives are, how he would define success, and what costs he is willing to incur. It may be possible to achieve limited aims such as gaining more control over the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine or creating a land bridge to Crimea at a relatively low cost. An invasion of the capital to overthrow the government and replace it with one that is more oriented towards Moscow would of course come at a much higher price. Putins aims do not seem to be limited to territorial objectives. Instead, he seems motivated by a desire to increase Russias regional sphere of influence and reassert Russia as a major geopolitical power. Such broader goals will be more difficult to achieve. Predictions should always be taken with a grain of salt. But theories of international relations and the historical record can help inform answering the question of whether or not Putin will succeed should he choose to act. Realism is a perspective according to which power is the common currency and final arbiter of international politics. The strong do what they have the power to do and the weak suffer what they must, as the Greek historian of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides, put it. International politics is an unending struggle for power according to modern realist thinker Hans Morgenthau. States, according to realists, privilege maintaining or enhancing power or state security over all other objectives. How can states pursue any of their goals, after all, if they do not have the power to do so, or, in extreme cases, if they cease to exist? Though realists agree that power and security are fundamental to international relations, there is some disagreement over how the pursuit of power affects state security. Does acting aggressively increase security by enhancing power and deterring others from attacking? Or does acting aggressively provoke a counter-reaction that ultimately undermines the goal of enhancing ones security? States become more secure by seeking power and establishing hegemony, according to realist John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago. In the 19th century, for example, the United States became more secure as a result of its pursuit of power and the securing of regional dominance. Russia could similarly become more secure through an invasion of Ukraine and fortification of a buffer zone of protection from NATO. But seeking power can backfire if it results in the formation of a counter-coalition. France under Napoleon, Wilhelmine Germany, and the Axis powers in World War II made enormous gains by relentlessly seeking power. But all were ultimately defeated in their bids for dominance. If Russia invades Ukraine, there may be initial territorial gains, but they likely would come at the expense of what Putin hopes to achieve in the long term in relation to NATO, the EU, and more broadly the West. NATO is fortifying its defenses in response to Russias mobilization at the border. The Biden administration recently announced that 2,000 troops would be moved into Germany and 1,000 shifted to Romania. A Russian invasion of Ukraine would seemingly demonstrate the relevance and importance of NATO to its European members. Organizational strength and unity would be fortified. Non-NATO members, such as Sweden and Norway, feeling more vulnerable, could turn to NATO for protection, resulting in further expansion. Ultimately, NATO would likely be strengthened, rather than weakened, as the result of an invasion, contrary to Putins desires. And an invasion could further unify the European Union. There are often divisions within the EU on foreign policy issues, illustrated notably, for example, by disagreement over the 2003 Iraq War (with Britain and others on one side, and France, Germany, and others on another). An invasion of Ukraine could pull the EU together against Russian aggression. Broadly, an invasion, as a violation of the international norm of respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, would damage Russias global image, decreasing Putins ability to achieve geopolitical objectives by making it less likely that others would willingly follow Russias agenda. So even if an invasion would succeed in a limited sense, it very well could be detrimental to Russias long term interests. Lets hope that Putin realizes that and acts with restraint. The stakes are high and the clock is ticking. David R. Dreyer is a political science professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Write to him at David.Dreyer@lr.edu The Mail on Sunday today reveals that plans are under way for an altered Coronation service. I'm taking this chance to republish an article which originally appeared in the (alas defunct) 'Standpoint' magazine two years ago. It must have been around 1960 when I first saw the power of monarchy over the English mind, as it once was. It was a summer weekday afternoon, bright and windy, on Portsmouth Hard, that ever-scruffy patch of pavement, bus-stops and tidal cobbles where Pompey meets the sea. Suddenly, as if a giant hand had gathered them, people - mainly women - began hurrying towards a spot near the great gate of the Naval Dockyard. Within less than a minute a craning, twittering crowd had gathered. I, aged eight, could see nothing but I asked one of the multitude what was going on. The Duchess of Gloucester is here!, she replied, as if nothing further needed to be said. I thought, but did not say, Who? I think it was the Duchess of Gloucester. It certainly wasnt any of the major royal figures of the time. I remember being unimpressed, even then, and puzzled that such a person could exert such magic. Nowadays it would have to be Bob Geldof or George Clooney to have the same effect. All the deference that once laid itself at the feet of royalty, all the Hard Core Fawn, as you might call it, now flows towards show business aristocrats. The Queen herself has an individual stardom which is purely her own. She has sailed through storms and near-shipwreck until at last she has become the nations favourite grandmother, too nice and too old to be touched by politics any more, secure on the throne as long as she lives. But she has achieved this on her own account. She does not have it by some sort of mystic right. She cannot hand it on to anyone else. But in that England of 1960 which I recall, still recognisably the same place as this but also very different, the old magic of the Lords Anointed, of touching for the Kings Evil, of hungering for the very presence of Majesty, even at several removes, still just persisted among the bulbous motor cars, the World War Two warships and the beery breath of waterside pubs. It wasnt what it had been, but it was still there. It was genuine and potent. When my beloved Aunt Ena died more than 20 years ago I found, in her tiny, frugal house, among many sweet and touching mementoes of her long, courageous, kind and well-spent life some ancient picture albums in which portraits of royal figures, carefully snipped from some magazine, were displayed among the family photographs. To her, the Royal Family was genuinely connected to her own family, and I suspect this was once more common than metropolitan snobs can possibly imagine. The past was another country. They did things differently there. About 100 yards from the flash mob that surrounded the Duchess of Wherever on Portsmouth Hard was another contrasting and - in a way - matching piece of street theatre, so impossible that I have begun over time to doubt my own memory. Yet I am sure it was so. I saw it often in those days and was fascinated by it. On the clanging steel ramp that led down still leads down to the Gosport ferry, you could watch the Portsmouth mudlarks, grinning, frightening tough boys of my age dressed only in swimming trunks and perhaps only in mud, grubbing for copper pennies and hapennies tossed to them by passers-by in the maritime slime of low tide. I did not disapprove, I was not shocked. I watched quite without embarrassment or shame. This was life as it was then arranged. I dont suppose the mudlarks or their parents had much of an opinion of the Duchess of Gloucester or the Queen. But having grown up in the rougher parts of that seamy, old-fashioned naval town, I suspect that at bottom they were monarchists of the poor but loyal sort that used to be common. Something mysterious and ancient still had us in its grip. We were in some strange way all one in an order we had inherited from another time. It never crossed my mind then that I could have been one of the mudlarks if things had been slightly different. It does now. I suspect it never crossed their minds that they might have been like me, middle-class, comfortable and suburban. But it would now. And on the coins they dived for, many as brown as chocolate and polished smooth by a century of wear, was the name and superscription of the monarch, in Latin. Our pockets clinked with history. Most usually in those days the superscription was that of old George the Fifth - GEORGIVS V DEI GRA : BRITT: OMN: REX FID:DEF:IND:IMP. I was diligent at my Latin and knew what it meant. Nowadays a much-abbreviated version of this persists on our debased and tinny coinage, metaphor for a debased and tinny monarchy, and indeed for a debased and tinny country. It says ELIZABETH II D.G. REG F.D, which looks more like a postcode than an attempt to claim the mandate of heaven over all of Britain and over a mighty empire, and to be the defender of faith. And in such small things I see portents. Already, (I am guessing here, but can I be wrong?) somewhere in Whitehall, a dreary committee is assembling every few months to plan the details of the next Coronation. It is all very tactful. There is perhaps a historian, a clergyman or clergywoman, possibly representatives of the other faiths, an envoy from Clarence House. Possibly someone attends from one of the Commonwealth nations who still have the British monarch as their Head of State. The awful undesired event which will inevitably bring such a ceremony about is referred to with a polite cough and some circumlocution. And here is their greatest problem. How on earth can our fast-disintegrating nation, many times reinvented in the past 60 years, possibly hold a Coronation remotely like the triumphant, ancient and imperial ceremony of 1953? Will Scotland and Northern Ireland by then even be part of the Kingdom, or will the new monarch be required to travel to Edinburgh to be crowned separately as King of Scots? After all, the Stone of Scone, Scotlands mysterious and ancient Coronation seat, was returned to Edinburgh in 1996 after 700 years in England (apart from a brief kidnap by Scottish nationalists in 1951). The Scots are supposed to send it back for the next Coronation, but will they? This is a quarrel, not big enough to cause major trouble in 1953, but waiting to explode soon. Scotland increasingly believes it has its own monarchy. Official documents, police cap badges and official vehicles there are decorated with the Crown of Scotland, not the different English Crown of St Edward. Pillar boxes north of the Border rarely carry the Royal Monogram of Elizabeth II, because she is the first Elizabeth to be Queen of Scotland. Will a Scotland in which there are now so many supporters of independence be prepared to accept a London Coronation, in which the Stone of Scone is slotted back into the subject space beneath the Coronation Chair from which it was liberated in 1996? I would not be too sure. You may still watch a recording of the original ceremony. It is impossibly distant from now, not least because of the number of old people in it, not like the old of today but white-haired and slender, who were born long enough ago to have seen Queen Victoria and fought in the Great War. The London glimpsed in the background is still an English city, black from coal smoke, closer to the ground than any other capital and sombrely Protestant in appearance. The voices of the clergymen who preside are sepulchral, stately and quite devoid of the matey empathy we now expect from such people. The upper classes, still very much in existence, still have the damn-your-eyes swagger of victory about them and have yet to efface themselves into their modern impotence and irrelevance. The aristocratic young women who attend the Queen have a dewy, wholesome beauty of a sort that makes my ancient heart leap, but is quite alien from the age of Love Island , Strictly Come Dancing and cocaine. And that is just the atmosphere. Study the text. Much of it is in fact the Church of Englands 16th century service of the Lords Supper. I happen to be very familiar with this, and so, I suspect, is the Heir to the Throne. It is beautiful and those hearing it for the first time will in many cases be seized by its clarity, force and loveliness. But I cannot see the hierarchy of the modern Church wishing to use something before the world which they avoid wherever they can in their own churches, and which shows up their own services as the ugly banalities they are. They will. I suspect, claim that the 1662 version is too difficult, when the real problem with it is that it is too Christian. And that, and most especially the specifically Protestant character of the ceremony, no longer acceptable in the multicultural, post-Protestant UK, is the gateway through which revisers and meddlers will be able to get their bulldozers. Can the next monarch promise, as Elizabeth did in 1953 to to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Hardly. The Defender of Faiths as Charles has hinted he seeks to be, cannot be so specific. As for the Coronation rite itself, I am very fond of this passage concerning the Sword of State : Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant Queen ELIZABETH, that she may not bear the Sword in vain; but may use it as the minister of God for the terror and punishment of evildoers, and for the protection and encouragement of those that do well, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Terror and punishment of evildoers? I cannot hear these words in the bureaucratic accents of Mr Justin Welby, try as I may. I hope I am wrong. I hope that the great ceremony, the oldest in the world, survives unbroken for another generation. It is, I recently learned to my surprise and sadness, the last Coronation Ceremony in Europe. Nowhere else do the almost prehistoric rituals of anointing with holy oil, with the Archbishop wielding the ampulla and spoon, while four Knights of the Garter hold a rich pall of silk, or cloth of gold over the new monarch. Then. The Archbishop shall anoint the Queen in the form of a cross. This he does in a way that would be recognisable to King Solomon in all his Glory, to Edward III, to Charlemagne and to Louis XIV. The instructions run, to pour the holy oil On the palms of both the hands, saying, Be thy Hands anointed with holy Oil. On the breast, saying, Be thy Breast anointed with holy Oil. On the crown of the head, saying, Be thy Head anointed with holy Oil: as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed: And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so be thou anointed, blessed, and consecrated Queen over the Peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern This is not a legal formality. This is the unequivocal summoning of the power of God Almighty into the affairs of men, and dedication of a soul to service and to separation from the rest of us. It cannot be rationalised. No tinkering with the words can avoid the great clanging collision here between materialist reductionism and a universe in which Angels, cherubin and seraphin really are assumed to be hovering close overhead. Can our atheistical age bear its reaffirmation in this most Godless of all centuries? Other more nervous monarchies make do with oaths, brief enthronements or inaugurations. It would be an incalculable loss if it were now to cease, as it is the only ritual I know which truly explains the mysterious, complex foundations of how power and law can be wielded over free men. I have long thought that our Monarchy represented above all our sovereignty over ourselves. I hope that other faiths can be accommodated without giving up the essence of the thing. I hope that the multi-racial peoples of a post-Imperial nation can find a common loyalty in the Coronation precisely because it is so old, and speaks so directly to the heart, that it transcends all such things and forges a new but also an ancient nation. I hope so, but I do not think so. I think the spirit is gone. I dont think the English people understand their freedom any more. They like the Queen, because of who she is, not because she is their monarch. They grudgingly accept Charles, but see him as an unavoidable interval before the arrival of the new generation. And that generation, having embraced the techniques of modern popularity, will be vulnerable to the loss of that popularity. They cannot see the point in hereditary office. They confuse democracy with freedom and are seduced by arguments about the cost of monarchy, trivial beside almost all other state spending. These sentiments are even stronger in Australia, where the end of the current reign is bound to revive a republican movement which is not dead, but only sleeps. And if Australia, perhaps the most British nation outside Britain itself, abolishes its monarchy, how long before that is reflected back on to the Old Country? I fear a bare, unpicturesque, hard-edged new era of naked government. CONCORD As a boy, Jonathan Marshall often pedaled his bike on the levee near Galveston Bay. He rode up and down the crushed oyster shell paths, hunting the best fishing spots. Marshall grew up in a time when, during summer months, a kid wolfed down breakfast and took off, returning only when the last meal of the day was served. He rarely, if ever, got lost on those excursions. Despite his rank as the youngest of five Marshall kids, hed often ride shotgun in the familys yellow Datsun wagon, navigating the best routes around the small town of La Marque, Texas. I always had this kind of spatial awareness an ability to get from point A to point B, Marshall recalls. The best way to describe it is that I have an understanding of the relationship between people and land. The boy would later benefit from that innate understanding. He grew up to have a 34-year career, largely dealing with Cabarrus Countys land and the people who inhabit it. Marshall, a deputy county manager, is retiring at the end of this month. Jonathan will be deeply missed, says Cabarrus County Manager Mike Downs, who spent decades working alongside Marshall in various roles. His years of service have been nothing short of excellent. His vast historical and current knowledge of the county and the region will be impossible to replace. Marshall served in a variety of planning and zoning positions since joining the county in 1988. He started as a land-use planner before working his way up, first as a senior planner, then planning director, commerce director and planning services director. The deputy county manager title came in December 2011. Marshalls arrival was a perfect melding of skill and need. In Cabarrus, land use plans dont collect dust. The imminent growth explosion needed someone who could calmly tread the sometimes contentious line between developers and property owners. Between commerce and conservation. He helped build this county into what it is, and his fingerprints will be all over what we become, says Rodney Harris, Cabarrus Countys other deputy county manager. On Friday, Feb. 18, a drop-in reception will be held for Marshall in the rotunda of the Government Center in downtown Concord. The event is from 3-5 p.m., with a formal presentation scheduled for 3:30 p.m. County Commissioners also will honor his career at the Feb. 21 meeting. Listening, laughing Ask a colleague to describe Marshall, and youll likely hear similar refrains. Two of the most common: hes a skilled listener with a keen sense of humor. Cabarrus Active Living and Parks Director Londa Strong, herself a three-plus-decade employee, says she tells her staff to listen up any time Marshall speaks. He sometimes remains silent in meetings, but when he speaks, its very important or very funny, Strong says. Those traits served Marshall well in relationships with employees and the public. I always try to listen more than I talk, Marshall says. When meeting with a property owner, theyll tell you whats important to them. And you need to listen to that. If you do, then you can figure out how best to help them. Kyle Bilafer, the countys area manager of operations, worked closely with Marshall for several years. Working with him has been an honor, a joy and an educational experience every day, Bilafer says. His calmness and approach to issues has been eye-opening for me and helped me grow in how I handle the same situations. Navigating his path A government career wasnt always the goal. In 1975, the Marshall family piled in their yellow Datsun and headed east. Destination: Winston-Salem. After graduation, he majored in zoology at UNC-Chapel Hill (and still bleeds Carolina Blue). During the summers of those college years, he got a sampling of public service with the Winston-Salem Health Departments environmental health division inspecting septic tanks and wells. That was rewarding, but even then I wasnt considering a career path in government, he says. Those thoughts changed when he started doing post-grad work in geology at UNC-Charlotte. His professors worked with a variety of local groups, from real estate firms to political candidates and expanding businesses. In assisting with those projects, Marshall began examining land and how it could best be used. He never finished the masters degree (a regret to this day, he says). He did, however, soon find the place hed call his professional home for 34 years. Foundational experiences During the early years, the planning department tackled a countywide comprehensive land-use plan. Being hired as a long-range planner, Marshall led the efforts, which helped identify how Cabarrus could grow and determine how to best make that growth happen. The plans always start with a conversation, Marshall says. The staff holds community meetings and builds maps before submitting written recommendations based on the collected input. Another intensive early project was the Western Area plan, which encompassed land around Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills. At the time, the area didnt even have direct interstate access. During development of the Western Area plan, a member of the planning board also taught transportation planning at UNC-Charlotte. He looked at county staff projections and posed some questions. He wanted us to go backward and ask what kind of roads we would need. How many new schools, Marshall says. He basically said if the plan happens as presented, what kind of services and facilities would be needed? That was interesting. It wasnt just theoretical anymore. Now, all of a sudden, we were taking this projected land use plan and being very specific and deliberate. As my career went on, taking that view really helped. The Western Area plan helped sustain the boom that came. And that, Marshall says, is the beauty of being a planner in Cabarrus County. You work on projects and then you see them occur. Youre not waiting around for things to happen. Along the way, there were momentary flirtations with the private sector. It never got very far. The government work provided a satisfaction he knew he couldnt get elsewhere. Developers and landowners sometimes dont see eye to eye, Marshall says. As a government representative, youre kind of the in-between. But the beneficial side is that you get to talk to the landowners and get to know how important their land is to them, how important place is to them. Everywhere I go in this county, I know certain family names and I remember things that have happened. Its hard to forget how important place is to someone. Fostering success As he rose through the ranks, Marshall found another passion: managing people. He learned important lessons after his department morphed to include development. Suddenly, Marshall wasnt the subject expert in all the areas he had to manage. You have to find the right people to do the work, and trust them to do it, he says. Their way may be different, and in a lot of cases that may be a good thing. I just have to trust that there are people doing work who are smarter and better at different things than I am. My role is to help them succeed. He practices that philosophy daily, says Communications and Outreach Director Kasia Thompson, who has worked for Marshall for several years. He appreciates our professional insight, and leads with support, she says. He challenges us to reflect on situations and come to our own conclusions. Marshall hired Kelly Sifford more than two decades ago, and hes been her direct supervisor ever since. Hes shown us all what handling the pressures of dealing with citizens should look like, says Sifford, who now serves as the Planning and Zoning director. He looks for every available resource to do what needs to be done. Marshall says he takes great pride in the success of colleagues. We have a long line of people who progressed in their career and by doing so, they benefited our community, he says. Thats incredibly rewarding. Culture of collaboration Another pride-inducing component is the countys involvement in school construction. Counties are required by state law to pay for school land and buildings. As you might imagine, that has the potential to put a school board at odds with a county board of commissioners. Back in the mid-90s, the school system sought to buy a piece of land for the future Weddington Hills Elementary School. School officials selected a plot of land, but county officials felt a better spot might be available. The groups came together, found a promising alternative and built the school. From that point forward, the county played a larger role in the selection process. The relationship flourished. His expansive knowledge of Cabarrus County is incredibly impressive, says Brian Cone, Cabarrus County Schools director of architecture, planning and construction. I can honestly say that I will be forever grateful for the knowledge, experience and guidance he gave me. Residents shouldnt take for granted the collaborative nature of Cabarrus County, Marshall says. And its not limited to the county and school systems. Relationships among cities and townships are strong, and thats just not true in a lot of places, he says. Post-county aspirations Asked about plans, Marshalls first answer of course involves places. He wants to travel, experience parts of the United States that are new to him. Certainly, with two brothers and two sisters spread across the country, there are a lot of options for visits, he says. He plans to spend more time with Debbie, his wife of 33 years, and his grown sons, Josh and David, and his daughter-in-law, Ali, who live in the Raleigh-Durham area. He also wants to run more. And backpack like he did during the years his sons participated in Scouts. Hell also spend more time with hobbies like cooking and mixology, the latter of which he documents online. The blog A Drink With My Brother (subtitled The Adventures of Two Not-So-Savvy Cocktailians) is a collaboration between Marshall and his brother, David. It works like this: one brother recommends a drink, then they both make it, try it and report on it. The roles alternate each time. Adrinkwithmy.wordpress.com now has an accompanying Instagram: @adrinkwithmy. And hed still like to do some part-time work in his areas of expertise, he says. I think I still have some things that I can contribute to different groups. Marshall will also keep close tabs on the projects he knows so well. He cant wait to experience the new Cabarrus Courthouse in downtown Concord. The EMS Headquarters off Concord Parkway. Redevelopment at the Jackson Training School property along Old Charlotte Road. Transformations are happening all around Cabarrus, he says. Of course its exciting to me. Theyre all examples of the relationships between people and land. Often in recent years weve heard politicians and commentators emphasize the need for American voters to decide the type of country they want the United States to be. It would be all too easy to dismiss such talk as mere hyperbole intended to motivate voters or drive ratings in the media landscape. While this might be easy to dismiss, there is a great deal of truth in the notion that the country is at a crossroads. There are several areas, in fact, where the country is slipping deeper and deeper into an abyss where long-term harm will be difficult to avoid. First and foremost, perhaps, is the atrocious situation at the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The Biden administrations border policy is in reality no policy at all, evidenced by the tens of thousands of immigrants who have crossed into this country over the last year. The federal governments transport of these immigrants into various areas of the country has been well documented. While the Biden administration has enabled this to occur willy nilly, our tax dollars have funded this foolishness. There is, and should be, a legal path to becoming a U.S. citizen. If this were just about people crossing the border, then the problem would be much less vexing. But our open border to the south is more complicated. Not long after Joe Biden became president and began ignoring our southern border, a friend who works as an EMT in a rural area in North Carolina told me how drug overdoses started to increase almost immediately. A quick glance at statistics showing fentanyl seizures and overdoses supports this claim. A January press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol indicated that fentanyl seizures increased 1,066 percent in 2021. That no doubt represents a fraction of the drug making its way into the country. Predictably, drug overdose deaths have increased steadily in recent years, and fentanyl alone killed more than 100,000 people in 2021. Much of it, we can logically assume, came into this country through our wide open southern border. It is one thing to destroy the physical but entirely another to destroy the psychological imprint of the country. That is what is happening with the continued racial divide being put forth by the radicals who manage to dominate the political and media landscape of the U.S. We are constantly barraged with the notion that many of us are racist by our very existence, that we are beyond redemption for the sins of those who existed decadesor hundreds of yearsbefore us. This, of course, is dismissive of the strides made in this country over the last 100 years, dismissive particularly of the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. and others who sought and achieved racial justice during the twentieth century. The proof is contained within two key points, neither of which is exclusive to this column. One is this: if this country is inherently racist, then why are thousands of immigrants, Hispanic and otherwise, so determined to enter the U.S.? The second point is this: how did a country that is allegedly racist at its core elect a Black person to the highest office in the land? Both points defy the notion that the country is populated by irredeemable racists. Both points help reveal how a certain element in this country regularly defies simple common sense and insists on using false information to propagandize the population. Perhaps no single issue defies logic and common sense, however, more than the idea that Americans are being denied the right to vote. A simple look at the data shows otherwise. According to Pew Research Center, turnout for the 2020 presidential election was 7 percentage points higher than the Trump-Clinton showdown in 2016. Pew indicates that the nearly two-thirds of eligible voters who turned out in 2020 was the greatest since 1980, and possibly even longer. Nonetheless, voter suppression is the battle cry for those who want to hand control of elections over to the federal government, leaving states with no recourse other than to bend to the will of federal bureaucrats. Polls, meanwhile, show that most Americans favor the voter-ID measures many states are enacting, something targeted by the propogandists. Without offering a scintilla of evidence, the same people advocating radical changes in the voting process would have us believe that minorities are being denied the right to vote. Jason Riley, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, addressed the issue in a recent column. In 2020, Asian and Hispanic voting levels made history again, wrote Riley, while black turnout was the third-highest on record for a presidential election. When minority voters are sufficiently motivated, they seem to have no trouble casting a ballot. No consideration of this countrys overall social and political health can ignore the rising murder rate over the last two calendar years. According to statistics provided by the National Center for Health Statistics, and published on CNN.com, murder in the U.S. increased at the highest rate in modern history over 2020 and 2021. A report on abcnews.com indicated that 12 major cities set annual homicide records last year. The list of cities runs from Austin, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, to Rochester, New York. Airwaves are filled daily with reports of violent crime across the country. Many observers, including radicals who have helped drive the increase, point to the pandemic as the primary cause. While many experts agree, that alone dismisses the political climate during the last two years. When radicals harp about defunding police departmentsand a general disrespect of law enforcement infects any discussion of police reformthen a rise in crime can be expected. Factor in the far-left radicals who man district attorney offices around the country and, again, none of this should come as a surprise. When radical DAs refuse to prosecute certain low-level crime, thenprestowe have more crime. That is not a complicated calculation. Where do we go from here? Well, midterm elections are less than nine months ahead, and voters can render their decision on the type of country they want. Open borders, voter suppression propaganda, exaggerated racial accusations, and increased crime are issues that have been placed in the forefront of the American experience. Are those the issues that will define us? Larry Cothren has worked as a writer and editor for more than three decades. He teaches at Hickory Ridge High School and can be reached at lgcothren@aol.com. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) Chances are that if youre reading this column, you believe in Christ. That means when you die, you will appear before the judgment seat of Christ where the Bible says we will be held accountable for what we did with our lives. A reader recently asked me what happens at the judgment seat? What she couldnt understand was if our sins really have been thrown into the sea of forgetfulness, how can we be held accountable for them? In other words, can we go to hell from the judgment seat? If we are truly saved, we dont have to worry about hell. We are going to heaven when we die. The Apostle Paul said, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) So if theres nothing to worry about, then whats going to happen at the judgment seat? What will be the standard by which were judged? After all, if we have confessed our sins to God and they are forgotten, then what will happen to us for the bad things we have done? The truth is we are going to be held accountable for what we did - and did not do - for the Lord in our Christian life. Weve heard it over and over throughout our lives: The day will come when we will face our maker and give an account of our lives. In fact, the Bible says it this way: For God will bring every good work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14) Since I became a Christian, Ive always said that if there was only one book left on earth, I hope it would be the Bible. Gods precepts and principles set the standard by which we should strive to live. Apparently, it will also serve as the standard by which Jesus will judge us. At least, thats what it says in Romans 2:16, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. If that isnt enough, listen to what James once said: So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12) Both of these verses tell us that God will judge us by how well, and how poorly, weve lived up to his Word. Finally, and most interestingly, is the question of what will happen to us at the judgment seat? After all, if were saved and living in a right relationship with the Lord, we cant go to hell for our sins, can we? No, but its important for us to realize that the account of our lives at the judgment seat of Christ is not likely to be a comfortable process. Yes, the good things weve done for the Lord will be mentioned. But its all those bad things weve done that is likely to make it difficult to face. It was the Apostle Paul who pretty much spelled out what will happen at the judgment seat of Christ. When writing to the church at Corinth, he told them, Each ones work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each ones work, of what sort it is. If anyones work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 13:3-5) In these verses, Paul used the analogy of a building that is on fire. His point is that the builder will be saved. But like people escaping from a burning building, all their possessions will be lost. So were going to get some rewards and were going to lose some rewards. I guess the point of it all is when the judgment is over, well still have rewards left over to lay at the feet of Jesus. And we will truly be grateful for his salvation. PANA With a layer of ice left behind by last night's rainfall and temperatures reaching well below freezing, Scout Gehrig Bunselmeyer started a fire with nothing more than a few sticks, some kindling and a fire starter, all in just a couple of minutes. Bunselmeyer, who joined Troop 202 in Decatur about four years ago, said he loves every part of it, from hanging out with his fellow scouts and learning new skills like building shelters or basic first aid. "This is important for people to know how to do because you never know when you're gonna need it," Bunselmeyer said. "That's the part of being a scout, you got to be prepared for the situation that you don't want to happen, but might still happen." Saturday was the Arrowhead District's annual Klondike Derby at Rhodes-France Scout Reservation, where scouts from across Central Illinois test their skills in the cold and snow and complete tasks like building a fire and rescuing an injured person. Derby Chairman Phillip Outzen said 120 scouts registered for the event that included tomahawk throwing, fire building, making a lashing, jousting and compass training, as well emergency scenarios like a chasm crossing, first aid and an ice rescue. Before arriving, Outzen said each troop was required to build a sled from scratch or from existing parts. They would use it to carry supplies and move between tasks while carrying one person in the front. At the end of the event, they also get to race against each other with their sleds. Each task aims to teach scouts to work and communicate together as a team. They are then scored on how well they finish each task, Outzen said. "This is reinforcing the lessons they're learning in their troop meetings and the different things they've learned over the years," Outzen said. "That's everything we're doing here, working their leadership, teamwork and communication skills." Volunteers from Eastern Illinois University Panther Battalion's ROTC program were in attendance to help scouts at each station and guide them through scenarios. Some scouts were tasked with performing first aid in a scenario where a troop leader accidentally "impaled" themselves with a hatchet in the leg, while others had to navigate through a field with only a compass. "We do that quite often in ROTC so bestowing upon them the compass and hopefully impersonating them with good character and leadership skills," said senior accounting and finance major Michael Barnes. "Coming to events like these really put those skills to test in real life, and you can't not train because the weather is bad, you got to embrace the suck." Troop 202 leader Ryan Atwater said the event also emphasizes the importance of being prepared and making sure you're dressed for the elements, because there is no excuse for showing up in sneakers when there's still ice and snow on the ground. Atwater said his scouts actually spent the night in a barn at his farm to get ready for the day, and some even cooked breakfast for each other that morning. "We use the EDGE method and that stands for explain, demonstrate, guide and enable," Atwater said. "They're learning everything as they go along, and even though you're teaching somebody, you're also learning things you didn't understand at first." As for Bunselmeyer and his fellow troop members, he said he hopes they take home the gold, but he is really there to have fun with his friends. "The people I've met here, I'm not going to ever meet again in my life," Bunselmeyer said. "These are people who I've grown up with right and we do everything together, and that's what I love, because these people are my friends that I would call my brothers." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PEORIA Over 84 years, Peoria Camera Shop survived changes in location and changes in how people took and preserved photographs. But it appears it might not survive the death of "The Camera Guy." Located at the Metro Centre shopping plaza, Peoria Camera Shop plans to close for good Feb. 25. Its photo-processing laboratory probably will shutter next week, although the store is to continue to sell cameras, lenses and other equipment through February, the Journal Star reports. The unexpected passing of Bill Dobbins, who purchased the store in 2007, led to the closure, according to his son, Nate Dobbins. The elder Dobbins, a Morton resident, was 61 when he died two days before Christmas. "I feel like I'm bragging by saying this, but I feel like it's a huge loss for the community," Nate Dobbins said about the store's impending closure. "It's a huge loss for my family. But ... this is the next step for my family in our grieving process." Eric Brinker, the Metro Centre president, told the Journal Star he is working with the Dobbins family to try to find a potential buyer. "Bill built such a strong business, with over 30 years of history, and we want to do whatever we can to preserve his legacy and see it continue to thrive for years to come," Brinker stated in an email. Darla Dobbins, Bill Dobbins' widow, is the store's co-owner. Nate Dobbins and his three sisters also survive Bill Dobbins, as do 13 grandchildren. Bill Dobbins operated the Peoria Camera Shop printing lab for 17 years before he took over the entire operation. Before that, he was a professional photographer. "He was kind of known as 'The Camera Guy,' at least around Morton," Nate Dobbins said. "You'd always see him carrying his camera around." Peoria Camera Shop carried photographic devices from the day it opened, in 1937 along Monroe Street in Downtown Peoria. In 1950, the downtown store moved to 539 Main St. and remained there for 46 years. In 1990, Peoria Camera Shop opened its Metro Centre location. The business had several owners, including founders Joe Kilton and Huber Sammis, before Bill Dobbins purchased it. From then, Nate Dobbins was the store manager. He started working there when he was a teenager. Operating its film processor was among his initial duties. But in 2018, the younger Dobbins left his father's employ and became a stay-at-home father of three, including twin girls who now are 3. Dobbins' wife, Leah, is a physician. In 2020, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Nate Dobbins' departure changed the calculus regarding the Peoria Camera Shop future. "The initial line of succession five years ago was me," Dobbins said from his new home. "But when I decided to move on, (my parents) started preparing for retirement. The business was for sale, but not like publicly for sale. "If they found somebody to buy it, great. If they didn't, this was going to be the result, closing the doors." Bill Dobbins' death hastened the process. "I had an eight-hour drive from here to Morton," Nate Dobbins said about the aftermath, "and the whole time I'm thinking, 'Holy crap, what am I going to do with Peoria Camera Shop?' I didn't foresee it happening for another five years." A newspaper advertisement heralded the opening of Peoria Camera Shop in 1950 at its new location, 539 Main St. As time passed, the store evolved particularly as film photography declined, digital photography ascended and cellphone technology improved. Business fell somewhat. Dobbins said things rebounded in the past decade, buoyed by customers who wanted prints of cellphone photos. Christmas-card photo prints were particularly popular. Such items could be ordered online, a key element during the coronavirus pandemic. Longevity and product comprehensiveness helped earn Peoria Camera Shop a broad customer base geographically, according to Dobbins. Shoppers came from Bloomington, Champaign, Quincy and Springfield, among other places. Customers also were loyal, as the store-closure announcement this week highlighted. "It was not an easy decision to do this. I'm getting bombarded with emails from people that are sad," Dobbins said. "We understand Peoria Camera Shop is a cornerstone business for Peoria." It also was a cornerstone business for the Dobbins family. Dobbins said the family history there is what he'll miss the most as well as his father's presence. "Those of us who worked for him and my mom were the legs and the arms and fingers and toes, but Dad is the one that literally poured his heart and soul into that place," Dobbins said. "He loved every minute of it." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The fire damage from the Jan. 31 Winston Weaver Co. Inc. plant inferno was contained fortunately to the 8.46-acre campus at 4440 N. Cherry St. However, the intense heat and widespread smoke from the fire have proven to be more than a minor inconvenience for several businesses within the one-mile evacuation radius. Winston-Salem Fire Department officials ordered a voluntary evacuation of about 6,500 individuals around the site because of the presence of an estimated 500 tons of combustible ammonium nitrate at the plant and nearly another 100 tons in an adjacent rail car. The fact of the matter is that at the beginning of this incident, there was enough ammonium nitrate on hand for this to be one of the worst explosions in U.S. history, fire chief William Trey Mayo said Feb. 2. As firefighters and officials waited for the fire to be extinguished, businesses and employees inside the evacuation zone were not allowed on their properties from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31 until three to four days later, depending on their work schedules. For some, it took several more days to assess damages, contract for clean-up assistance and resume operations. All of which contributed to missed or shuffled production time, lost or delayed revenue, and the start of business interruption claims for those businesses with that kind of insurance coverage. Winston Packaging Even before the fire, the 60 workers at the Winston Packaging plant at 8095 North Point Blvd. already were dealing with high customer demand for its customized retail display and marketing products. Those customers include tobacco manufacturers, personal care product manufacturers and retail and grocery store chains. Supply chain shortages and shipment delays compounded the production challenges. Which is why the timing of the evacuation couldnt have been more disruptive to the plant, said James Gordon, its president and chief executive. The normal production schedule is two 10-hour shifts on Mondays through Thursdays and a 12-hour shift on Fridays through Sundays. The eight second-shift employees working Jan. 31 were about halfway through their production work when Winston-Salem fire and police personnel warned them about the severity of the next-door fire. Gordon said he told the plant manager to close the plant about 9:30 p.m. Jan. 31 because it was a fertilizer plant, the fire department has withdrawn from fighting the fire to set up the evacuation radius, and it was clear that the fire was going to get much worse. Gordon said that we basically lost 3 days of production, which put us even more of a scrambling mode that we were before the fire. We were already really busy with our normal production, especially in one of our finishing areas where we could least afford the down time. Were working extra hours to make up for the production, and we do have business interruption insurance that we will file a claim, he said. One silver lining, according to Gordon, was last weeks arrival of new finishing equipment. But it wont be up and running until mid-March, so I dont see getting anywhere close to being caught up until late March or early April, Gordon said. Gordon said the companys customers, many of whom are out-of-state, have been understanding about the production delays. The local and national media attention to the fire has helped to point out our challenges, Gordon said. But, some customers werent aware of the fires implications on our production until I sent them photos of what was going on across the street and told them to check out how nasty this has been. We feel very fortunate because it could have been much worse if there had been an explosion, Gordon said. The only real issue has been inconvenience. AML Wrestling The sooty smoke seeping into AML Wrestlings production studio at 4421 N. Cherry St. about 0.4 miles away from the plant fire was extensive enough that all activities were halted for 10 days until Thursday night to allow for cleanup. AML, owned by local businessman Tracy Myers, functions as an independent promotion in the Carolinas, and a training center for new and beginning talent that range from wrestlers, managers and valets to referees, announcers and production crews. Our financial impact was huge, Myers said. We had to cancel training classes for the week for the three trainers and 50 students. The promotion, founded in 2012, is known primarily for its WrestleCade fan-fest and wresting shows over Thanksgiving weekend at Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem. WrestleCade typically features a mix of wrestling legends selling autographs and merchandise, mid-and high-level wrestlers from top promotions such as All Elite Wrestling, Impact and now-on-hiatus Ring of Honor looking for extra pay or to keep active in the ring, and young talent trying to establish their brand. Without a cable TV deal, AMLs main exposure comes from its streaming network, studio shows taped weekly for distribution, live events mostly in high school gyms and community venues, and social media videos and mentions. That facility also serves as a TV production studio, and all taping had to be halted, Myers said. In addition, all of our television recording/audio equipment is stored at the facility. Our tapings go to The Highspots Network and PivotShare. They will respond by not paying us because we couldnt provide the content. Myers said the promotion doesnt have business interruption insurance. Myers said that when he was informed of the plant fire, I honestly had no idea the plant was still open. We were having a training class when the fire broke out, but didnt evacuate at first because we had no idea it was happening. Being an independent promotion, Myers said AML didnt have other facilities available to us on such short notice. If they were, we didnt have time to get our equipment moved so it wouldnt have mattered. After cleaning the studio the best we could, we realize that we had to hire a professional company because we cant get rid of all of the soot on the inside, Myers said. We had to get an HVAC company out to replace all of the filters. We are thankful that no one was injured, but saddened by the lost income. Triad Seafood Myra Cornell, who works at Triad Seafood at 4459 Indiana Ave., was still at the business when the fire started. The business is across the street on the other side of a small business park. We had just closed the doors, she said. It was a small fire that turned into a raging fire. I had to walk down the street to meet my ride. Employees were not able to get back into the business until Feb. 2, when they were able to salvage some of the fish by moving it into a cooler. They iced down the fish, but werent able to get back onto the site until Feb. 5 because of the evacuation. By then, she said, all the fish were spoiled. Cornell reckons they threw away some 1,000 pounds of fish: red snapper, rock bass, croaker, flounder and fillets of trout, whiting, catfish and other delectables. They also lost all the fruits and vegetables they sell in the store cabbage, tomatoes, corn and cucumbers, among others. Employee James Taylor said he lost the pay he would have received that week. The store reopened on Feb. 9, but Cornell said they didnt have any fish in yet, so they made $13 from the days sales. The business got resupplied with fish Feb. 10. Cornell said owner Archie Tuttle would be dealing with the insurance and compensation questions. Tuttle was not available for comment. Fortunately, Cornell said, the seafood place didnt have to cancel any orders that people made in advance, as they sometimes do. But some folks were still looking for fish: On Feb. 3, there were 65 missed calls on the telephone, and another 30 on Feb. 5. Camel City CrossFit Reggie Lau, owner of the Camel City CrossFit franchise at 104 Progress Lane, became aware of the plant fire about 7 p.m. Jan. 31 when a member pointed it out upon arriving for a class. Lau said city police and fire officials arrived minutes later to strongly recommend that they cancel classes. Little did Lau know at that time it would almost a week before he could reopen his doors at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7. Because his franchise is based on monthly membership fees, Lau said he doesnt expect to be affected in terms of revenue. He said he appreciates the way other CrossFit franchises in the area, as well as other fitness centers, allowed his members to use their facilities for free during the shutdown. Although Lau expressed confidence in the loyalty of his client base, he said theres always a concern that a change in workout habits and scenery could prompt a membership move. Lau said he was discouraged to learn about the level of supplies Winston Weaver was storing at the plant. We definitely dodged a bullet because if the ammonium nitrate goes up, our gym is gone with it, Lau said. I didnt know about those levels and I dont believe my landlord did as well. If I had known, I wouldnt have rented this space. Depending on whether they decide to rebuild or not will decide whether we stay here or not. FedEx, WestRock The WestRock Co. plant at 8080 North Point Blvd. is across the street from the fertilizer plant campus. The company followed the recommendations of city fire and police officials in evacuating the plant shortly after it was informed of the potential for an explosion. We are incredibly grateful that all of our employees, as well as local residents, were safely evacuated following the fire at the nearby fertilizer plant, said Courtney James, the companys corporate communications director. The temporary closure of the Winston-Salem facility caused disruptions to our production lines, and our local team quickly mobilized to implement contingency plans, including shifting production to nearby WestRock facilities. The North Point production facility became operational again on Feb. 4 upon the shrinking of the risk radius around the plant. The FedEx Ship Center at 100 Progress Court was shut down from Feb. 1 through Feb. 3 before reopening at 8 a.m. Feb. 4. The flexibility of our networks enabled us to operate with contingency plans in place and lessen the impact on service, spokesperson Kendall Downing said. We have resumed normal operations, and we appreciate our customers patience and understanding as we worked to provide the best service possible while keeping our team members safe. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Indian state of Kerala offers high investment opportunities in travel and hospitality even as the sector is set to bounce back from the covid-induced crisis, a senior minister has said. The government is unveiling several ambitious projects to tap the state's potential as an extended tourist haven, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said. Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Riyas said the state is keen to partner with UAE-based investors and Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) in scripting a new story of growth and development in key sectors, especially tourism. Major initiatives promising attractive investment opportunities are Exploring the Unexplored destinations, opening up the untapped Malabar region, Caravan Tourism, safe and regulated adventure tourism, experiential tourism, workcations and active holidays, the minister said. While the recently launched Caravan Tourism is sure to provide a riveting experience to visitors, houseboats will continue to be one of the top holiday experiences in Kerala. Caravanning will help Kerala tourism to expand beyond established destinations, he said. Riyas, who is leading a delegation from Kerala to Expo 2020 Dubai to showcase the states strengths, said the new projects have opened up investment possibilities in MICE facilities, resorts and hotels, caravans and caravan parks, farmstays, adventure holidays and travel and tour operations. The delegation includes Dr Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) and V R Krishna Teja, Director, Tourism. Kerala has an investor-friendly institutional mechanism to provide quick approvals and mandatory clearances for investment proposals, the minister said. When the pandemic fades away, Ayurveda/health and wellness holidays will become important, for which the state is well-positioned to attract clients from the Middle East for wellness and rejuvenation holidays. A must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts, Kerala is well positioned to attract young travellers with soft adventure activities in the hills and forests of Western Ghats. Keralas forests cover nearly 30% of the total land area and there are 15 wildlife sanctuaries, 2 tiger reserves, 5 national parks and 60 plus eco-tourism destinations. Keralas tourism development is centred around the idea of Responsible Tourism with community participation. Sustainable growth is the right approach to development, he said. Emphasising on the strong government-to-government relations with UAE and people-to-people social and cultural ties, Riyas said he is confident that tourism will be a key driver in this relationship with more and more Keralites travelling to UAE, and vice-versa, in the future. The reception accorded to the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has further strengthened the ties, he said. TradeArabia News Service SAM is running these answers a day earlier than the actual Valentines Day to help out any stragglers who may need a reminder to get a card or gift for their sweetheart. Q: Who was the St. Valentine, anyhow, and why was a saint so interested in romance? G.L. Answer: According to tradition, St. Valentine (or Valentinus) was a Roman priest who, sometime around A.D. 270, was jailed and sentenced to be executed for secretly performing Christian wedding ceremonies in violation of an edict from Emperor Claudius II. According to one legend, while waiting in jail for his sentence to be carried out, he restored the sight of his jailers blind daughter. He wrote a farewell note to her signed From Your Valentine the night before his execution. In the 5th century, the Catholic Church gave Valentine his own day as a way of replacing an ancient Roman fertility festival known as Lupercalia, according to Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by Charles Panati. Determined to put an end to this 800-year-old practice, the early church fathers sought a lovers saint, according to Panati. They found a likely candidate in Valentine. As for why the date of Valentines Day is always Feb. 14, there are competing theories. Some traditions say that St. Valentine was either born or died on Feb. 14; others say that Lupercalia was celebrated on the Ides of February, or Feb. 15, and this was a convenient time to displace one tradition with another. Another story, recounted at History.com, has it that during the Middle Ages, a common belief in France and England was that Feb. 14 was the start of mating season for birds. At any rate, in A.D. 496, it is said that Pope Gelasius outlawed the Lupercalia festival and replaced it with one in honor of St. Valentine. Q: When did people first start sending Valentines Day cards? D.D.D. Answer: Valentines greetings date back at least as far as the Middle Ages, according to a history of the holiday published by History.com, with the oldest known Valentines letter still in existence being a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife in 1415, in which he refers to her as my very gentle Valentine. The Valentine card industry in America got its start in the middle of the 19th century. The first major maker of Valentine cards in the United States was Esther Howland of Worcester, Mass. In 1847, a Valentine card imported from England inspired her to try making her own cards. Her brother carried samples to sell when he traveled for the familys stationery business. They hoped the samples might result in $200 worth of orders; instead they led to $5,000 worth of orders. Howland hired help to produce the cards, turning the top floor of the family home into an assembly line of sorts, as the Boston Globe put it in a profile of Howland. Howlands New England Valentine Co. made her wealthy. Hallmark started in the early 1910s selling picture postcards and expanded to greeting cards in 1915. Hallmark says about 145 million Valentines Day cards are exchanged each year industry-wide. That number does not include packaged cards for childrens classroom exchanges. Email: AskSAM@wsjournal.com Write: Ask SAM, 418 N. Marshall St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. Along with this weeks roll call votes, the Senate also passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445), which had passed the House in a roll call vote earlier in the week. House votes SEXUAL HARASSMENT ARBITRATION: The House has passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445), sponsored by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Maine, to bar arbitration agreements that prevent a party to the agreement from filing a sexual assault or sexual harassment lawsuit against another party to the agreement. Bustos said employment agreements that force employees to go to arbitration to settle such cases were unjust legal traps used against workers. An opponent, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said the bill was more likely to benefit trial lawyers than workers, due to encouraging costly litigation while blocking arbitration. The vote, on Feb. 7, was 335 yeas to 97 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Budd R-NC (13th), Manning D-NC (6th) NAYS: Foxx R-NC (5th) HOMELAND SECURITY PURCHASING PRACTICES: The House has passed the Promoting Rigorous and Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions (PRICE) Act (S. 583), sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters, D-Mich. The bill would require the Homeland Security Department to annually publish online a report on agency measures to improve its procurement systems. The vote, on Feb. 7, was 426 yeas to 5 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Budd R-NC (13th), Manning D-NC (6th) POSTAL SERVICE CHANGES: The House has passed the Postal Service Reform Act (H.R. 3076), sponsored by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y. The bill would establish a health benefits programs for Postal Service workers and retirees while ending a requirement that retirement health benefits be prepaid, and establish new budget and service reporting requirements for the Postal Service. Maloney called the changes an effort to fix some of the serious problems that have been looming over the post office for years and threatening its financial stability. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 342 yeas to 92 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Budd R-NC (13th), Manning D-NC (6th) CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The House has passed the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 6617), sponsored by Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-Conn., to extend funding for the federal government though March 11. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 272 yeas to 162 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Budd R-NC (13th) YEAS: Foxx R-NC (5th), Manning D-NC (6th) GENDER AND VISAS: The House has passed the Global Respect Act (H.R. 3485), sponsored by Rep. David L. Cicilline, D-R.I., to have the State Department enact visa-blocking sanctions against foreigners accused of sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity discrimination. Cicilline said: This bill protects LGBTQI people from murder, torture, and other forms of violence. An opponent, Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., said: The bills broad language has the potential to sweep in nonviolent conduct and impose visa restrictions on individuals engaged in that conduct. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 227 yeas to 206 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Budd R-NC (13th) YEAS: Manning D-NC (6th) Senate votes D.C. SUPERIOR COURT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Donald Tunnage to serve as a judge on the Washington, D.C., Superior Court for a 15-year term. Tunnage has been a civil rights trial attorney at the Justice Department since 2009. The vote, on Feb. 7, was 54 yeas to 39 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC YEAS: Tillis R-NC D.C. APPEALS COURT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Loren AliKhan to serve as a judge on the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals for a 15-year term. AliKhan has been the Districts solicitor general since 2018, was previously its deputy solicitor general, and before that was a Justice Department lawyer. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 55 yeas to 41 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC YEAS: Tillis R-NC AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Amy Gutmann to serve as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Gutmann had been president of the University of Pennsylvania since 2004. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 54 yeas to 42 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC ASIA FINANCING: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Chantale Yokmin Wong to serve as the U.S. director on the Asian Development Bank. Wong was a senior official at the Millennium Challenge Corporation during the Obama administration, and was on the board of the Asian Development Bank during the Clinton administration. The vote, on Feb. 8, was 66 yeas to 31 nays. YEAS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Scott Nathan to be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Nathan, a longtime executive at the Baupost Group investment firm, was an official in multiple roles during the Obama administration. A supporter, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said Nathan would help the agency to be competitive with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, to promote renewable energy development, and to support COVID-19 recovery, and, at the same time, to recognize and grapple with the complexity of these challenges. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 72 yeas to 24 nays. YEAS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC EXPORT-IMPORT BANK: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Reta Jo Lewis to serve as president of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Lewis, currently a senior official at the German Marshall Fund, was a State Department diplomat during the Obama administration, and before that a Chamber of Commerce executive and private practice lawyer. A supporter, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, called Lewis the leader we need in the fight to help U.S. manufacturers compete globally. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 56 yeas to 40 nays. NAYS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Leonard Stark to serve as a judge on the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Stark, a U.S. district court judge in Delaware since 2010, was previously an assistant U.S attorney and private practice lawyer in the state. A supporter, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said of Stark: His expertise in adjudicating patents combined with his experience hearing appeals will be an asset to the Federal Circuit and to our industrious, inventive nation. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 61 yeas to 35 nays. YEAS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC Targeted News Service TREASURY LAWYER: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Neil MacBride to be the Treasury Departments general counsel. MacBride was a Justice Department lawyer and U.S. attorney in Virginia during the Obama administration, and earlier was chief counsel to Senator Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The vote, on Feb. 9, was 61 yeas to 33 nays. YEAS: Burr R-NC, Tillis R-NC MARITIME COMMISSIONER: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Max Vekich to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission for a term ending in mid-2026. Vekich, a former Washington state legislator, has since 2004 been an official at Puget Sound port groups. A supporter, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Vekich had spent his life working in the maritime industry and knows the challenges we face in maritime, intermodal transportation, congestion, and continuing to move forward on how we advance our ports. The vote, on Feb. 10, was 51 yeas to 43 nays. NOT VOTING: Burr R-NC NAYS: Tillis R-NC Targeted News Service The Holocaust isnt about race. Its not about race; its about mans inhumanity to man. Whoopi Goldberg Whoopi Goldberg is an accomplished entertainer; she is one of 16 individuals to win Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards (EGOT). But it was her role on ABCs daytime talk show The View that recently created a firestorm. Some publicly took issue with Goldbergs comments suggesting that the Holocaust was not about race. Goldberg subsequently apologized for her remarks and ABC levied her with a two-week suspension. With the titillating statute of limitations having already expired, most have already moved on to the next brightly shining object to seize our attention. But Goldbergs comments in my view raised larger questions about the differing lenses we use to examine certain events. Goldberg stated, The Holocaust isnt about race. That statement doesnt hold for the perpetrators of the Holocaust. For the criminal enterprise known as Nazis, it was definitely about race. Moreover, in their eyes, it was about an inferior race that warranted annihilation. Alfred Rosenberg, a non-Jewish, pseudo-Nazi intellectual and virulent antisemite of the 1940s, argued that Aryans in general and Germans in particular should dominate the world. He put forth Germans as the most gifted people, who therefore should assume their natural place as lords of the world. Rosenberg warned that any racial mixing would dilute German blood physically, intellectually and sociologically. Rosenberg opined that race-mixing would prohibit Germany from assuming its natural place in the world order. The Jewish threat had to be eliminated if Germans were to reach their preordained status. For Rosenberg, race was less about skin color than moral degeneracy. When also factoring the deranged musings of Adolph Hitlers Mein Kampf, the historical evidence is quite clear that the Nazis saw Jews as a race. But Goldberg offered her observation through the color-coded lens of American culture a system that places a premium on being white. Heres where it becomes complicated. Given Americas color identification technique, can one classify Jews as a race? It raises the larger question: what is a Jew? Are Jews a race? An ethnicity? A religion? A nation? A people? A culture? I suspect many would offer some portion of all of the above. It seems more appropriate to classify Jews, through the American lens, as an ethnicity more so than a race. Race is usually associated with biology and linked to characteristics such as skin color and hair texture. Jews around the world come in myriad shapes, sizes, skin colors and hair textures. Ethnicity is linked with cultural expression and identification. In Americas color-coded grab bag, Jews are usually considered white until they are not, hence the Charlottesvilles Unite the Right rally that killed Heather Heyer and injured more than 30. Moreover, according to FBI files, since 2017, there has been an unmistakable rise in hate crimes against Jews. However, American culture still offers privileges to Ashkenazi Jews (white skin) that are not available to Sephardic Jews (who typically possess a darker hue). But Goldberg also stated the Holocaust reflected mans inhumanity to man. Was she incorrect? Wasnt the Holocaust one of the most tragic displays of systematic inhumanity? Did not that tragic episode prompt those such as Rabbi Joshua Abraham Heschel and many others to participate in alliance with their African American brothers and sisters in opposition to the inhumanity of Jim Crow segregation during the civil rights movement of the 1960s? I recently spoke with Rabbi Heschels daughter, Dartmouth College professor Susannah Heschel, who offered that Goldbergs use of the phrase mans inhumanity to man was not only one offered by her father, but also by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and several other Jewish intellectuals to describe Nazi depravity. Sadly, the nuanced prophetic tradition offered by Wiesel, Rabbi Heschel and others is no longer the coin of the realm in our contemporary binary vortex. Goldbergs comments are also shrouded in a very real historic context that when benign statements are ignored, they could possibly morph into a much larger evil. Like other human atrocities, remnants of the Holocaust produced a trauma that remains in the present day. Unfortunately, the binary terrain that seeks to adjudicate Goldbergs words does not possess the bandwidth to factor such matters. Theres no time for a teachable moment; weve already moved on to the next impulsive titillation. The Rev. Byron Williams (byron@publicmorality.org), a writer and the host of The Public Morality on WSNC 90.5, lives in Winston-Salem. Once to every man and nation Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side. James Russell Lowell (1845) History is messy when youre in the middle of it. Nothing is as clear-cut as it appears in the historians analysis. Consider events that surrounded Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from the Birmingham Jail, one of Kings most incisive and influential writings. On Good Friday, April 12, 1963, an open letter appeared in the Birmingham News, signed by eight prominent white clergy: a Catholic bishop, two Episcopal bishops, two Methodist bishops, a rabbi, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the pastor of the First Baptist Church. The statement, titled A Call for Unity, claimed hopefully that recent public events have given indication that we all have opportunity for a new constructive and realistic approach to racial problems. Then it added, Now we are confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro clergy, directed and led in part by outsiders. ... We are convinced that these demonstrations are unwise and untimely. However technically peaceful these actions may be, the clergy insisted, (they) have not contributed to the resolution of our local problems. The statement encouraged our own Negro community to withdraw support from these demonstrations. Earlier that day King and several dozen persons had been arrested in a civil rights demonstration. He read the statement in a jail cell and felt it required a response. It was a painful letter to write. King had to confront moderate white clergy who supported integration, albeit cautiously in some cases, but disagreed with his aggressive methods: sit-ins, economic boycotts, marches, mass meetings. In his letter King told the clergy that he was greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership. I have almost reached the conclusion that the Negros greatest stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice. Kings words stung. The eight clergy were not bad people. They were on the side of the angels. At least, they thought they were. One of the signatories, Rabbi Milton Grafman, had spoken out publicly against the citys decision to shut down all public facilities rather than allow them to be integrated. Catholic bishop Joseph Durick later became involved in the strike of Black sanitation workers in Memphis and officiated at a memorial service for King after his assassination. One of the bishops was instrumental in merging Black and white Methodists in South Carolina into a single denominational structure. Some of the signatories paid a price for the positions they took during the racial crisis. The pastor of First Presbyterian declared that the church would remain open to all persons regardless of race. It cost him his job. The Rev. Earl Stallings pushed First Baptist Church to honor its open-door policy. A deacon slammed him against a wall and threatened worse if he continued to advocate integrating the congregation. A year later Stallings was gone and a year after that the First Baptist Church split over integration. It was a complicated time, as all times are. Choices that seem obvious 60 years later did not seem obvious to many of those who had to choose. It is tempting and pointless to wonder if things would have been different if the eight clergy had counseled their community differently, if instead of encouraging people to withdraw their support of the demonstrations they had locked arms with Martin Luther King Jr. and led a march on city hall. One thing we know: Their counsel of wait, go slow, be patient, did not prevent Bull Connor from turning fire hoses and police dogs on children two weeks later. Nor did it keep a monstrous terrorist from planting a bomb in the 16th Street Baptist Church five months later, taking the lives of four young girls. Only the conscience of America, awakened by horrific images from Birminghams streets, could stem the rising tide of lawlessness and brutality. Most of the clergy whose statement sparked Kings Letter from the Birmingham Jail believed he treated them unfairly. They carried the weight of Birmingham the rest of their lives. Fifteen years later, Rabbi Grafman said, Now this letter is studied in English courses and sociology courses, and I get at least one letter a semester asking me if Im still a bigot. Richard Groves (rgroves@wsjournal.com) is a writer who lives in Winston-Salem. In a country already saturated with political exaggeration, outright lies and gaffes galore, its difficult for one misstatement to stand out. But a Republican Party official succeeded in making that happen earlier this month. No, this isnt about the Gazpacho police. It was in the resolution written by Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, intended to censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for taking part in the U.S. House investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection which the RNC defined as persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. McDaniel repeated the same language in an interview with The Washington Post. Outrage ensued. Critics, both Republicans and Democrats, were quick to remind McDaniel that no one should consider the violence performed by the Jan. 6 insurrectionists to be legitimate political discourse. RNC officials quickly backpedaled, saying that phrase had been added hastily and not properly vetted though as we write on Friday, before the document has received a final vote, its still there. And McDaniel said that she didnt mean the violent people, but others who had been caught up in the investigation even though they hadnt even attended the rally. There are two major problems with that. One is that no one is persecuting those people. Theyre being asked to testify before a legitimate investigative body. The other is that some people do see such violence as legitimate political discourse. The RNC censure statement encourages that interpretation. This group seems to include Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who are defining the alleged violent protesters currently in federal custody as political prisoners worthy of our sympathy. In Arizona, Republican Senate candidate Jim Lamon has released a campaign ad depicting himself in an armed showdown with Democratic leaders, including incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly. This is in especially poor taste, given that Kellys wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, still suffers the effects of being shot 10 years ago. Late last month, Michigan state Senate candidate Mike Detmer told a crowd of supporters to bring guns to polling places. (I)f we cant change the tide, we need to be prepared to lock and load, he said at a meet and greet last month. So you ask, What can we do? Show up armed. And then theres our own states Rep. Madison Cawthorn, who in August promised bloodshed if he didnt approve of the outcome of the next presidential election. Some may say this is simple and harmless hyperbole that appeals to conservatives gun-culture leanings not meant to be taken too seriously. But this is all occurring while election officials and school board members across the country are fielding death threats for simply doing their jobs. You and your family will be killed very slowly, read a text message received by Tricia Raffensperger after her husband, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, refused to find enough votes to overturn the election in Trumps favor. Many, like Greene and Cawthorn, are leaning heavily into metaphors about revolution to overthrow tyrants. Theyre feeding the notion that, if citizens are unhappy with their representatives, they can just pick up their guns and chase elected officials out of office, with the blessing of the Founding Fathers. Its not only absurd its dangerous. This threat of violence festers in the air of a nation that is already on edge because of a pandemic, as well as economic and social challenges. It creates more anxiety and uncertainty in the general population which may be why theyre doing it. A party that plays up threats of violence for political advantage deserves to be rejected at the ballot box. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, while sentencing a Jan. 6 insurrectionist to a six-month prison term last week, stated, 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. We hope that statement will reverberate across the country. If the Republican Party doesnt want to be the party of political violence, it needs to take definitive steps to correct its course, beginning now. "The Fortune Men" by Nadifa Mohamed, Alfred A. Knopf, 320 pages, $27. Mahmood Mattan has been rescued. Given new life, he emerges from the pages of "The Fortune Men" as a full-blooded literary victim-hero with all the complexity that such a status tends to require. It's a miraculous feat by Somali-British writer Nadifa Mohamed, coming 70 years after Mahmood, falsely accused of murdering a woman in her store in Cardiff, was hanged in a dank Welsh prison. Mahmood died in 1952. Family and friends sought for decades to clear his name. Finally, in 1998, a panel of British judges quashed Mahmood's conviction. With the basic facts of the case and its outcome widely known, what is left for a novelist? How will she maintain suspense? Mohamed overcomes such doubts with the feast of her prose. She brings magic to her project, achieving in fiction what no historical account could match. Mahmood grew up Muslim amid famine, drought, clan warfare and colonial occupation in Somalia. His pious mother thought nothing of medicating her boy with words of the Qur'an washed off a chalkboard and stirred into a potion for drinking. As a teen, he began a wandering life as a laborer in Africa before circling the globe as a sailor on merchant ships. Though he spoke five languages, he could scarcely read or write. He never feared taking chances or facing the unknown: "I am a gambling soul. Even as a small boy if someone say to me, 'Oh, I know you won't do that or you can't do this,' I look them in the eye and just do it. I take everything life give me and throw it in fate's face." Mahmood's ill-fated story picks up in Tiger Bay, a port town where he hopes to reunite with his estranged wife and their three young sons. It's a bustling place, blasted, polluted, bruised by World War II, the kind of town where "you can have chop suey for lunch and Yemeni saltah for dinner." The town is multiracial but also plenty racist, with Blacks from the West Indies and Africa working as laborers and living in slums. More prosperous but also emigres are the Volacki sisters, whose Jewish father moved there from Russia 50 years earlier and became a successful merchant. By the 1950s, Violet Volacki is running the family store. One night, answering the door after closing hours, she is killed, purportedly by a Black man. Without much in the way of evidence or witnesses, Mahmood soon becomes the chief murder suspect. "The Fortune Men" revels in the sensual details of its life-and-death tale, from the starry Somali desert of Mahmood's youth to the smell of cooked food threading the air of Tiger Bay. A celebration of Eid, the parade and feast to end Ramadan, is enjoyed by all: "Aproned matrons, flat-capped gamblers, ruined rummies, yapping dogs, fresh-faced bar girls and leather-jacketed teenage delinquents watch from the pavement and wave out of windows. A few tatty Union Jacks, left over from VE-Day celebrations, flap about. The giddy children delight in what they call Muslim Christmas." The unbridled delight of such scenes gives rise to the existential dread that curdles Mahmood's reflective soul when it dawns on him that his innocence will not protect him from the hangman's noose. The trial is a joke. Mahmood's own lawyer may as well have been working for the prosecution, and a guilty verdict and death sentence are quickly announced. Believable, flawed, labile, proud, defiant, fatalistic and vengeful, Mahmood captures our full sympathy, and his final days are filled with insight and pathos. In a reversal of the western perspective, Mohamed shows us Britain through the eyes of this outsider, the Black African, the Muslim. It's an eye-opening angle of vision and an unforgettable one. Claude Peck is a former Star Tribune editor and a member of the National Book Critics Circle. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Naomi Judd died Saturday at age 76. Here are some of the entertainers, leaders, athletes and other notable people we've lost so far this year. During the fourth Lincoln Littles Giving Day on Wednesday, the Lincoln community donated $670,123 for the early childhood education organization, according to a Lincoln Community Foundation news release. The initiative was started as way to aid with tuition cost for lower-income families wanting to use the child care services Lincoln Littles offers. The city of Lincoln contributed $100,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds, and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued a challenge asking the community to match the city's grant. Lincoln Community Foundation President Alec Gorynski thanked residents for their generosity. Year after year, Lincoln Littles Giving Day harnesses the awesome power of philanthropy," Gorynski said. "This community sees the critical need for all children in Lincoln to receive the quality early childhood education and care that they deserve." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In an increasingly competitive environment, an Omaha senator wants to give Nebraskas governor a new incentive to lure and retain businesses a pot of money to use at his or her discretion. State Sen. Brett Lindstrom introduced Legislative Bill 729, which would create a fund within the Department of Economic Development that could be used for economic or infrastructure development that would help land a high-impact business project or facility or to keep a business already located in the state. A high-impact business is one that is expected to create a net benefit to the state, through jobs and investments, compared with the cost of the incentive. Assuming a project meets the necessary requirements, including thresholds for jobs and salaries, the governor would have the discretion to award the funding. This is just another little extra thing that the governor can put on the table and say lets do the deal, Lindstrom told the Legislatures Revenue Committee last week. Asked whether he would support the bill, a spokesperson for Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the governor had no comment on the proposal. Ricketts is in his final year in office due to term limits. LB 729 would create the fund it wouldnt allocate any money into it. State dollars put into the fund would be at the discretion of the Legislature. Lindstrom also didnt put a cap on the amount of money the governor could award for individual projects. Lindstrom, a two-term lawmaker who is also a Republican candidate for governor, said he was inspired by a similar program created in Oklahoma in 2011. Since then the program has awarded about $14 million to seven companies, according to Lindstrom. That resulted in the creation of 3,500 jobs and $3.4 billion in investments by those companies. Most of those incentives went toward construction. For example, it awarded $3 million to General Electric for construction of a new facility in Oklahoma City. It also awarded $1.5 million to Macys for employee training. While one of the investments led to the creation of jobs earning a salary bellow the average annual pay in the state, a 2018 report by a commission created to evaluate the program concluded it had a net positive return on investment for Oklahoma. A 2018 study that looked at a similar program in Arkansas was less conclusive. The study, published in Review of Regional Studies, found no evidence that the Arkansas program increased employment or business establishment in counties with a project that received subsidies. Business incentive programs are not new in Nebraska. For more than a decade the state had the Nebraska Advantage Act, which provided tax credits and exemptions to companies that reached employment and investment thresholds. Lawmakers eventually questioned the effectiveness of the program. In 2018, a committee of lawmakers called for ending the program a year earlier than its original expiration date in 2020. That was replaced by the ImagiNE Act, which provides various tax credits based on the number of jobs created, the wages for those jobs, the type of business, the amount of investment and the location of the business. The ImagiNE Act faced a tumultuous journey and at one point was used as a bargaining chip by rural senators seeking property tax relief. It was ultimately folded into a compromise bill passed in 2021. Jennifer Creager with the Greater Omaha Chamber told the Revenue Committee this past week that there were discussions about creating a discretionary fund similar to Lindstroms proposal around the time the ImagiNE Act was drafted. However, given that governors have not historically requested the fund and concerns over transparency, it was taken off the table early in the process of crafting the act. Creager, who also testified on behalf of the Lincoln and state chambers and Nebraska Bankers Association, spoke in support of Lindstroms bill, adding that it could allow the state to be more nimble when responding to economic development opportunities. Lindstrom said that is the goal. To me there is one extra step that other states have that we dont and thats a governors closing fund, he said, referencing a shortened version of the funds name. Its ultimately something to make us competitive. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Uganda has launched a new tourism destination brand Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, drawing upon Ugandas global reputation as one of the most endowed destinations and promising tourists an adventure of a lifetime. The brand identity was unveiled recently by the country's president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala, Ugandas capital city. The brand was developed by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Ugandas tourism marketing and regulatory agency. The Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Lilly Ajarova said: Uganda is no doubt beautiful. Beautiful beyond measure. Yes, everyone knew that Uganda is and has always been the Pearl of Africa, - but there was a lack of clarity and consistency on, if Uganda is the Pearl of Africa- what pearls does it have to offer for each of the various travel segments and preferences. To win the marketplace; to achieve our Number One objective of Sustainably Promoting Uganda as a Competitive Tourism Destination for Inclusive Development it was therefore important that all stakeholders are aligned on what makes us the Pearl of Africa and how do we unpack that to the various travel markets/segments around the world. If you think about it, when you invite someone to visit you, you are simply asking them to check on you, maybe for a few days. But an invitation to explore is really about inviting someone to indulge themselves. To spoil themselves; to delve into; to deep-dive; to discover and rediscover- the depth, range and variety of attractions in the pearl, Ajarova explained. Speaking at the launch, President Museveni urged beckoned the world to Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa saying that, the uniqueness of her attractions guaranteed a better experience and higher return on investment. He particularly extolled Ugandas unique terrain, that made the country a roof of Africa where Lake Victoria sits, giving birth to the Mighty River Nile that flows through various Ugandan lakes on its way to Alexandria in Egypt. He also highlighted Ugandas abundant vegetation, temperate climate, variety of wildlife, strategic location on the Equator, cultural diversity, community tourism, peace and security, among others. He also said, Ugandas unique place in anthropogeny as the birthplace of humankind should be studied, documented and sold as a tourist attraction. The rebranding is an essential component of UTBs Strategic Plan (FY 2020/21 2024/25) that seeks to Sustainably Promote Uganda as a Competitive Tourism Destination for Inclusive Development with a strategic goal to sustainably increase the volume and value of tourism in Uganda. Under this plan, UTB is pursuing 5 major objectives, namely: To increase tourist arrivals To increase investment and job creation in the tourism sector Increase the competitiveness of the tourism destination To Improve Collection and Access to Tourism Information To improve internal efficiency and effectiveness Recover from the impact of the pandemic that saw us lose up to USD1 billion in revenue in 2020, reach the pre-pandemic levels of $1.45 billion and grow that further to USD 1.862 billion Recover the contribution of tourism to total employment at 667,600 people (6.3% of total employment) Increase inbound tourism revenues per visitor from USD1,036 to USD1,500 Recover the average number of International Tourist arrivals from the U.S, Europe, Middle East, China and Japan at 225,300 tourists Increase the proportion of leisure to total tourists from 20.1% to 30% Increase the number of direct flight routes to Europe and Asia from 6 to 30 TradeArabia News Service When a heart attack killed Oscar Martin Carter in 1928, newspapers marked the millionaire's passing with pronouncements of his wonder. Finance wizard. Banker. City builder. Gold miner. Inventor. Dakota Cattle King. Texas Money King. Its been nearly a century since the savvy Nebraska businessman who dreamed up a Lone Star State utopia died. Nearly a century since he disappeared from the pages of Nebraskas newspapers so completely that he now scarcely earns a mention in the states history books. But the novel suburb he envisioned, selling 10,000 lots on the installment plan $5 down and $4.40 a month lives on. Houston Heights: Population 20,000, with a footprint just shy of 3 square miles. Its a neighborhood the size of Valentine but with 10 times the people now tucked right near the heart of Houston, Americas fourth-largest city. These days, The Heights is on a run. Money Magazine called it a Top 10 Big City Neighborhood. The New York Times recommended its Mexican food in its 36 Hours in Houston travel primer. National Geographic touted its opera house and antiques shops, art galleries and eateries. Its just a very unique neighborhood to Houston that has a tremendous amount of character, said Jordan Jones, one of a stampede of young professionals lured to the area. Locals and visitors alike know the Gothic mansions straight out of a Charlotte Bronte novel that dot The Heights fanciest blocks. But few know the story of the man who founded Houston Heights, a Nebraskan who lost two fingers, his company and his beloved son in pursuit of his dream. * * * In the years after the Civil War and Reconstruction, in the wide-open spaces of the Republic of Texas, men of means came calling. Capitalists of commerce, the newspapers called them. Nebraskan Oscar Martin Carter took his place in that narrative when he headed south with Daniel Denton Cooley, a cashier at the bank in Ashland, where Carter served as president. Born outside Boston, Carter had headed west in an ox-drawn wagon in 1864. He stopped in Colorado and staked a gold mine near Gunnison, he segued to the Dakotas and raised cattle. Eventually, he hitched his team in Plattsmouth and got hitched there, too, later settling in Ashland with his bride Cinderella yes, that was her real name and their children. He would serve as Saunders County treasurer, run hardware stores and open banks. He would build his reputation from a turreted castle at 35th and Farnam streets in Omaha. By 1890, Carter left his castle with a half-million dollar pot from investors in his South Omaha and Texas Land Company, and was ready to build streets and alleys, utilities, schools, businesses and parks on 1,765 elevated acres 4 miles from downtown Houston. He found enough investors to build up the streets in a community where he hadnt built a single home, said Mark Williamson, a director of the Houston Heights Association and longtime resident. It must have been such a major undertaking. The land itself was a draw, 23 feet higher in elevation than the growing Houston proper, a city prone to floods and mosquitoes and outbreaks of yellow fever. Carter installed his son Arthur as the head of the electric and water plants. He made Cooley his general manager and built him a six-bedroom cypress mansion with marble tubs and inlaid wood floors. More grand Victorians followed and so did a fancy hotel to lure prospective residents. But Carter wanted to attract the middle and working classes, too. He ran ads in the Houston Chronicle with pencil drawings of his likeness in a bow tie and pin-striped suit, gesturing off the page as he made his pitch. The One Hundred Per Cent Man is the man whose mind is not clogged with home worries. Let us take you and your wife over (to) the Heights and show you these pretty homesites. You will want to live in such a delightful community and be surprised the way is so easy. And it was. Affordable bungalow and cottage kits from Sears and Roebuck arrived on the railroad. An electric street car took workers south to Houston to work and home again. Opinions differ, but it was probably the first street car suburb in Texas, Williamson said. And possibly the first west of the Mississippi. Bigger houses lined the wide, tree-lined Heights Boulevard, trailed by smaller homes as you moved away from the center. A commercial hub sprang up along 19th Street and Ashland Avenue. Ashland was joined by Waverly and Cortlandt, perhaps a misspelled nod to the Gage County village of Cortland. It is a fine place, fine boulevards and streets, cut in the solid timber, and the street cars running, gushed the editor of the Wahoo New Era after touring Carters community. What wasnt to love? Houston Heights was a modern wonder. Soon it would be a self-sustaining small town with its water and electric plants, iron works and oil mill, mattress factory and motor car company, saw mill and brick works, library and opera house. Nebraskans kept up with Carter from afar. When the Omaha and South Texas Land Company went bust in 1893, causing a run on a Carter-owned bank in Grafton, the Beatrice Daily Times called Houston Heights his pet scheme. When Carter was ambushed by armed men in the office of his furniture factory in 1900, leaving him with a broken arm, scalp wounds and two missing fingers, the Ashland Gazette called it an exciting experience with robbers. And when the Plattsmouth Journal reported on the accident that killed Carters son at the Houston Heights water works five years later, the paper conveyed the sadness. His sudden death yesterday was a great shock to his father and he was almost prostrated with grief. But Carter went on. So did Houston Heights. * * * The Heights has had its lows. It was annexed in 1918 by the city of Houston. It thrived through the 1930s, but faltered at the end of World War II. The street car disappeared. Cars and freeways lured workers away. Blight settled in. And then came a serial killer, Dean Corll, whose mother had owned a candy store in the Heights. The 33-year-old kidnapped and murdered more than two dozen boys with the help of two accomplices in the early 1970s. The New York Times described the crime spree and the Heights of that era. It is one of this new citys older neighborhoods and though there are still shopping centers and big churches left, the side streets are run down, given over to the white laboring class. There are pickup trucks up on blocks in the driveways, and tires on frayed ropes in the weedy backyards. After the killings, business owners bonded together to form the Houston Heights Association, Williamson said. Residents joined the fledgling association and before long took it over. They started saving houses and businesses, Queen Anne mansions and stylish Craftsman bungalows and cottages. Old tanks from the water works were transformed into restaurants and shops. They sought approval for three historic districts and landed more than 100 individual properties on the National Register of Historic Places. They started a renaissance that led a new generation of residents to the Heights. Residents like Jones love the quick commute downtown. They love the crazy number of one-of-a-kind restaurants and great stretch of local bars, the 35-year-old native Texan says. They are drawn by the old storefronts and vintage shops, the farmers markets and home tours and public art and music in the park. A refurbished running trail along the bayou. The old library still stands, down the block from where Oscar Martin Carter lived his last years. But his house? Long gone, Williamson said. Replaced by an apartment complex. The Texas Money King died a wealthy man in Houston on Jan. 6, 1928 his estate estimated at $5 million; $75 million in todays dollars. His death was sudden, the Omaha Bee reported. It cut short a career which has won him the title of financial wizard and which made him one of the best known of cattle operators, bankers and realtors in the West and Southwest. * * * Jordan Jones visited Nebraska as a boy on a hunting trip with his dad. Honestly, I was young enough to where I dont remember it. But he has flown into Eppley Airfield a dozen times in the past year on work-related trips. Hes ventured to Dundee and the Old Market for dinner. He had no idea the Houston Heights neighborhood he loves was started by a Nebraska man with a grand vision for a 20th century town. All he knew about Carter? His likeness on the sign for the Carter & Cooley Company Deli on Houstons 19th Street. Last year, Jones sold his second house in the Heights and is renting as he prepares for a job-related move to the Midwest. Destination: Omaha. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Pete Ricketts defines Nebraska as a pro-life state. While the governor and his supportive cohorts in the anti-abortion movement are working to limit womens right to choose is their choice, suggesting Nebraska is pro-life cannot stand without objection. Why? The governor and his administration slow-walked Medicaid expansion for over three years, causing unnecessary suffering and death. A pro-life decision? The governor and his administration have worked to deprive governmental support for undocumented pregnant womens necessary neo-natal care during their pregnancy. Pro-life behavior? The governor and his administration have fought masking mandates by health officials and sued to stop vaccination mandates at nursing homes, retirement homes and veterans homes, even though those residents are among the most vulnerable citizens in our state. Pro-life action? The governor and his administration hired an incompetent organization to work with foster care, not meeting state standards in Nebraska to save taxpayer dollars. Not one dollar was saved. Is this the action of a pro-life government or state? The governor himself contributed over $100,000 to fund a petition drive to override the Legislative action ceasing the death penalty in Nebraska, and Nebraskas citizens voted to retain the states right to kill people. Pro-life? So no, Mr. Governor, Nebraska is not pro-life. You and your supportive colleagues in the Legislature and others in the state are indeed anti-abortion, but I contend that caring more about zygotes and fetuses than for those already living, breathing souls makes neither you nor the state of Nebraska pro-life. Robert L. Meyers, Omaha Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MOUNT PLEASANT A Pleasant Prairie man has been accused of stealing items from multiple cars on Wednesday night. Roger Raymond Crump, 40, was charged with 10 felony counts of bail jumping, five misdemeanor counts of bail jumping, three misdemeanor counts of theft and misdemeanor counts of attempt entry into a locked vehicle and disorderly conduct. According to a criminal complaint: On Wednesday, an officer was sent to the 3200 block of Wood Road for a Ring Doorbell alert. He was advised a man was pulling on car doors in the area of Wood Road and Yorkshire Court. Upon arrival, the officer was able to view the Ring camera footage and the man pull on the doors of four vehicles. He then checked the cars and they appeared to be locked and looked as though the man did not make entry. He then saw a black vehicle in the 3500 block of Wood Road with the rear passenger door open and the dome light on. The officer patrolled the area and saw a man matching the one shown in the video walking down a driveway in the 3900 block of Pine Hill Boulevard. He approached the man and asked what he was doing, and he said he was looking for a ride. He then was asked if he lived at the residence and he responded no. He was then arrested and searched and two knives and cash were found in his pocket. Dispatch then advised the homeowner of the Pine Hill Boulevard residence saw the man drop a black bag by the front door. There was $22.17 worth of coins, two more knives, a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, a pair of i-gogs, a thing of cologne, an iPod with earbuds and other random belongings. The man was then identified as Crump and he said he took all the change that was found in the bag from a car. The owner of the black car with the door open said between $40-$50 was stolen from the center console. Homeowners in the 3400 block of Wood Road said that the Ray-Ban sunglasses, a case worth $100, a pocket knife, a $10 wine opener and $10 worth of small bills and change were stolen from their truck along with a Kwik Trip card and a $30 Kohls card from their car. Crump was given a $3,000 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BURLINGTON Its like its not there. That is how some cities describe living with a dam that has been designed in the same way that Burlingtons dam would function if city officials decide to preserve Echo Lake. In expanding and fortifying the dam at Echo Lake, the city would accept a structure that can become submerged during flood conditions, as a compromise that meets state safety standards. Experts say having a dam overrun by floodwater does not necessarily mean more danger to the public, because the structure would still do its main job of, in this case, holding back Echo Lake. Community leaders in cities where the same design already exists say they have grown accustomed to the idea that their dam plays a limited role in controlling floodwater and, in some instances, no role. Don Wiemer, former village administrator for the Waukesha County community of Oconomowoc Lake, said his villages dam on the Oconomowoc River gets submerged during floods every five years or so. The dam maintains a popular recreational lake, and improvements were implemented in 2005 under an arrangement with state regulators that called for the submerged dam scenario. Wiemer said the rebuilt dam still controls the lake well enough. When flooding spills over the dam, he said, officials impose a no-wake order for boats. Then, they just ride it out until the floodwaters recede. We cant do anything about it just watch, he said. Once your dam is submerged, what good is it? Its just a buried hunk of concrete. In Rock County, the Indianford Dam on the Rock River similarly creates a lake where state regulators last year sought dam upgrades to maintain elevated summer water levels for boaters and others on Lake Koshkonong. To control the cost of the project, state and local officials settled on a design that allows for the dam to become submerged during floods. Lakeside residents pay property taxes to a special lake management district to care for Lake Koshkonong. Alan Sweeney, chairman of the lake district, said that while the dam design allows flooding that can cause property damage, it still meets state standards for controlling water levels on the lake. The next best thing would be removal of the dam, Sweeney said. I guess it depends on your priorities. Burlington city leaders are wrestling with priorities as they consider whether to accept a submerged dam design at Echo Lake or instead choose to remove the dam and drain the former mill pond. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which enforces dam safety standards statewide, has determined that the city-owned dam at Echo Lake must either be rebuilt or removed. Dredging also is needed to remove decades of pollution and other sediment from the lake bottom. The issue has divided Burlington residents, some of whom see the manmade lake as a valued community resource worth saving, and others who see it as a polluted nuisance that should go. If the lake were drained, the White River would resume flowing naturally through a 70-acre site adjacent to Veterans Park and the Veterans Terrace event center. Quote "Once your dam is submerged, what good is it? It's just a buried hunk of concrete." Don Wiemer, former Oconomowoc Lake village administrator The Burlington Park Board is recommending draining the lake and restoring the river. The Burlington City Council is scheduled Wednesday to make at least a tentative decision for the purposes of applying for a state grant to help pay for the project. City engineers have calculated that saving Echo Lake would cost more than $5 million to improve the dam and then dredge the lake. Removing the dam and draining the lake would cost less, with estimates ranging from $1.1 million to $2 million. If the city borrows money and then raises taxes, officials have calculated that saving the lake would cost the average homeowner $68 a year in higher taxes for 20 years, or a total of $1,368. Draining the lake would cost the same homeowner $20 a year, or a total of $409. State DNR officials initially told the city that the dam at Echo Lake must meet safety standards for a 500-year flood event. But when complying with that mandate became physically impossible without a huge investment in reshaping the area, the DNR agreed to consider an alternative plan calling for a submerged dam scenario. The state still must approve whatever project Burlington officials choose to pursue at Echo Lake. Todd Ambs, assistant deputy secretary of the DNR, said the main safety objective is ensuring that the dam does not collapse and unleash a deluge of lake water on Burlington. In stormwater floods, a submerged dam is considered safe, Ambs said, when water has reached the same elevation on both sides of the dam, meaning there is no pressure from either side threatening to knock the structure over. If its designed correctly, thats what the dam is supposed to do, he said. When you see it in operation, it makes sense. DNR officials identified several other places in Wisconsin where the state has allowed such dam structures. In Monroe County, a dam owned by the City of Sparta has created a 30-acre lake also a former mill pond on the La Crosse River. A repair job estimated at $1.5 million was reduced to $680,000 when officials agreed to accept a submerged dam. A state grant paid about half of the cost, and the repairs were completed last year. We cut back to bare bones what the DNR required us to repair, Sparta public works director Mark Van Wormer said. In Manitowoc County, a dam owned by the state in the Town of Rockland creates a marsh on Mud Creek. The state in 2019 increased the height of the dam. Town Chairman Randall Brandes said the dam design allows flooding on Mud Creek during heavy spring storms. Local officials tried digging a drainage ditch, but the ditch does not help much, Brandes said. It all backs up, and it gets pretty high, he said. It runs away eventually. The City of Waukesha agreed to a submerged dam design in the 1990s when officials rebuilt a city-owned dam on the Fox River that creates Saratoga Lake. Katie Jelacic, a senior project engineer for the city, said the dam is safe and does a good job of controlling the lake. During floods, however, the dam has become submerged and allowed flooding downstream at least three times that local officials can recall. Jelacic referred to Hurricane Katrina, which caused flooding in New Orleans severe enough to overtake dams and levees in 2005. As long as Waukeshas dam can withstand flooding without collapsing, she said, the submerged dam works by design. In a flood, its going to happen. Think of New Orleans, she said. If the dam is submerged, its like its not there. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RAYMOND Six candidates vying for two open seats in the Raymond School District school board election on a crowded ballot. Incumbent Janell Wise seeks to continue in her role on the School Board while Jillian Berman, Art Binhack, Alison Ebert, Gwen Keller and Tonya Martin try to unseat her or claim the other open seat. The primary election is Tuesday, Feb. 15, with early voting already underway. Whichever two candidates get the fewest votes in the primary will not have their name appear in the final election ballot April 5, while the remaining four will have their names appear on the final ballot and can be elected to the two open seats. Each candidate was asked a set of questions, with one answer appearing in todays Journal Times and the other appearing in a longer version of this story at JournalTimes.com. Recently, three books were removed from the Raymond School District library. How do you view students intellectual freedoms and the decision to remove the books? BERMAN: Children should have unfettered access to age-appropriate literary material of differing viewpoints. Parents should also have the right to bring up concerns. Parental involvement utilizing permission slips, updating policies and maintaining transparency could be the compromise to banning books. Its not the school boards role to determine what is or isnt appropriate for ones child. What is right for one child may not be right for another. Books chosen for the library are vetted and reviewed by professionals with childrens development in mind. With that understanding, its each familys responsibility, not the school boards, to determine what is appropriate for their individual child. BINHACK : Raymond is an Elementary School, K through 8th grade. The School Library in the Young Adult Section had purchased and housed these three books, using public money. Young adults ages range from 11-years-old to 15 or so. I believe books which contain profanity, including the F-word over 50 times, also the S-word and the A-word multiple times. Profanity is inappropriate for these ages. Books with violence were also found in the library and also are inappropriate. Parents can purchase these books inexpensively. All American Boys is $4.19 on-line. Rather than forcing taxpayers to buy profanity, for children. EBERT: I believe that it is a parents choice to censor what they would like for their children to read. I feel that if parents do not want their children to be able to check out books from the young adult selection they should do that. I do not feel it is the school boards obligation to determine what my child is able to read or not read. KELLER: Raymond Elementary serves children K-8 with open library access. Some books explore/discuss drug use, alcohol, sexual assault and profanity, eg. All American Boys has F-word 50 times. Our school requires parental permission to view movies above a PG rating. The school board is currently reviewing young adult book guidelines to ensure theyre age-appropriate for our students but, international movie and societal ratings already exist to prevent exposing evolving minds to age-inappropriate profanity, violence, sexual content and mature subjects, without direct parental supervision. Why would we want Raymond to ignore standards, especially where parents cant directly supervise their childrens choices? MARTIN: I believe that parents should have the ability to impact their childrens access to books and love that Raymond school already has parameters in place to support those parents decisions. What may be right for my family and I may not be right for another family and I respect that. I am pleased that the school allows this freedom and feel that they have my childs best interest in mind. WISE: I dont believe that students intellectual freedoms were negatively impacted by removing these books. I was only a part of a decision to remove 1 of the 3 books as a School Board member. I read the book, researched the age appropriateness of the book for our school, discussed with educators, reviewed how it aligned to our existing policies and procedures to determine my stance on All American Boys. Kids have so much access to information and books these days that if parents deem appropriate, they canwith a click of a button or visit to a libraryhave access to these materials. Why are you running for school board? BINHACK: I am concerned about the curriculum and materials in our school today. It was surprising to see significant profanity, violence and politics available to young students. And it seems to be a National trend in our Publicly Funded Schools. I am also concerned about the lack of transparency about the current School Referendum. The Referendum Survey, mailed in November 2021, contained descriptions about proposed projects and tax consequences. But did not include the tax impact if the Referendum is rejected, which is estimated to reduce property taxes by $240 per $100,000 of Fair Market Value. EBERT: I think the addition of an educator would provide practical, actionable perspectives and tools to ensure our choices positively affect our children, families, school staff, and truly our communitys future. If elected, I promise to ensure our childrens learning is number one priority. As a mother myself, I know that we share a common hope: that ALL of our children are represented and cared for, and that ALL of their learning needs are supported. I promise to seek out and listen to ALL viewpoints of you, the Raymond community, as Id be representing every family in this very special place. BERMAN: Ive always valued education and this is a way for me to contribute in my community. I will serve and uphold the moral and ethical values expressed in Raymond Schools Mission Statement. I will be a fiscally responsible, open minded, education focused warrior for our children and our community. I want to ensure every student has a safe place to learn and flourish where they feel welcomed and can meet their full potential. My commitment is in keeping Raymond School the gem of the village and an award-winning school both the Raymond community and most importantly our kids can be proud of. KELLER: Im proud of my community and passionate about our school! With more than 20 years experience in Human Resources, I see what characteristics make someone successful in their career and life: honesty, integrity, quality and pride in their work, following rules and interacting with others. I also know what brings discipline, from law enforcement or at work, making someone less employable. Encouraging profanity, sexual harassment, disruptive behavior and acting outside of accepted rules will not likely help kids be successful in work, society or life: why encourage or normalize it? MARTIN: My top 5 reasons for running for Raymond School Board: 1. To invest in and serve the children of the future generation. 2. To ensure that all children, parents, staff, and community members have a VOICE and someone to listen to their concerns and interests. 3. To positively contribute to Raymond School and community. 4. To utilize and share my time and talents. 5. To work with others to find solutions and achieve great things for our children, school, and community. WISE: I am running for School Board because I strive to give more than I take and because I think we have a special community with engaged and passionate educators, parents and citizens. I think that we can be a stand-out community that leads by example and doesnt go down the path of so many districts around us. Lets be the community that can come together and have difficult conversations and move forward together. Lets model this for our kids. It will be hard work, but hard work is what this community is built on, what I am committed to, and where true growth happens. Why should voters pick you over the other candidates? BINHACK: I am deeply concerned about our public education system Nationwide. My candidacy is an effort to get profanity, politics and lack of transparency out of our public education. I am concerned about how our Public Money is spent. It is very easy to spend someone elses money. The only other candidate that holds similar concerns is Gwen Keller. All the other candidates do not seem to respect tax payers, by condoning omitted facts on the tax impact if the Referendum does not pass. EBERT: I am running for school board to protect our childrens future. To make sure ALL voices are heard. To listen and make informed decisions based on information and what is best for children. I have spent my career fighting for children with disabilities and I hope to continue that fight to ensure that ALL children receive the best education possible. I want to continue to be proud of my community and the school my children attend. BERMAN: I pride myself in my professionalism and character. I want to serve representing my community and our children with respect, fairness and an open mind. I will serve with the school and residents best interests in mind. Im the best person for this role because I will ethically and responsibly serve without subjecting or forcing personal views on others. I have a lot of experience serving on committees and I have what it takes to work on a team with a level-headed approach. If you are looking for someone fair and consistent, willing to listen, work hard and hold themselves to the highest standards, Im your candidate! KELLER: My family has spent three generations in Raymond. I personally have spent the majority of my life here, actively involved in the community and have a good sense for the direction of what the community wants and expects in their community expectations, standards, safety, a successful future for the area and of well-being for those who live and in future will guide our community here in Raymond. I am fiscally and socially conservative with small town values. I want the Raymond of the future to hold the values of today while utilizing successful values and standards from the past and present to guide our kids and future generations who hopefully will treasure Raymonds people and community as much as I do. MARTIN: This is a hard question because I see a lot of passion and school board qualities in all the candidates. I am running for this position for the children and have no other agenda besides that. I would be honored to serve on the Raymond School Board and would do it to the best of my ability. Please vote with your heart and with the best interest of the children in mind. WISE: I have a track record of rallying diverse perspectives around a common goal to achieve great things. I have extensive experience with annual budgets and project management which I have learned to be a handy trait, especially with a significant referendum staring us down I dont take myself too seriously; I am always willing to learn and rarely, if ever, think I am the smartest person in the room. I am committed to take all concerns seriously, do my research and not lead with my emotions. I operate with transparency and will encourage that of the school and board.(tncms-inline)947de916-721a-437f-9580-361b7d1ea941[0](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)1bf44760-fb59-4a71-a7c7-bf89751babaa[1](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)3d5efe63-c3d7-48dd-bc45-a33df627b144[2](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)e5a51b18-871e-4c39-8ad5-f7acdf8c9011[3](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)10a92b34-8ab8-4284-90bc-14f49d4e313c[4](/tncms-inline) Jillian Berman AGE: 36 ADDRESS: 3905 County Line Road, Caledonia PAST OFFICE HELD: None OCCUPATION: Registered nurse of more than 10 years before becoming a stay at home mom with my two young children HIGHEST EDUCATION RECEIVED: : Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with minors earned in Art and English from Alverno College (Milwaukee, WI) (graduated with honors) COMMUNITY SERVICE: None Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BURLINGTON After a tumultuous couple of years, the Burlington Area School District has two school board seats up for election and six candidates from which voters can choose. Incumbents Kevin Bird and Barry Schmaling are seeking re-election, while Mario Denoto, Tabitha Herbst, Aaron Melby and Ryan Mueller Sr. are all first-time candidates seeking their seats. The primary election is Tuesday, Feb. 15, with early voting already underway. Voters will select their top two candidates, and the four candidates who receive the most votes will move on to the general election in April. Each of the BASD school board candidates was asked a set of questions, with one answer appearing in todays Journal Times and the other appearing in a longer version of this story at JournalTimes.com. Issues of racism and equity have been prevalent for BASD in recent years. What do you believe is the best way forward for the district? BIRD: The best way to move forward is continue to communicate with all parties involved and continue to publish and make available our board meetings. I believe at the core of education is reading, writing and arithmetic, but certain history and social studies, public speaking are important for rounding off the education. It is my belief, in education, all perspectives need to be equally presented to facilitate conversation. We are in a changing world and we have to keep are eyes and ears open, but not to allow mainstream media fog our minds. DENOTO: Its very simple, teach all students of any race, gender or religion the basics of education; reading, writing and arithmetic. All students should be treated equally. People outside of our district should not dictate or influence our curriculum. Teachers need to teach and should be expected to address and rectify any racial inequities in their classrooms. Discipline fairly and teach respect for others. The School Board should never lose this focus. HERBST: A lot of negative attention about racism and equity has been brought to BASD the last couple of years from far left and right activist and agitators, which took our focus of whats important which is the education of our children. The school district just had their first Community District meeting on February 2nd at Karcher Middle School. Administration, teachers, students, parents and community members were invited to come together to address these issues and I feel this is the best way forward for Burlington. My biggest concern for the district is teacher and aid retention. They are overstretched, so I want to make sure they are supported, and they have the resources they need to do their jobs. The most important factor in our childrens education is consistency and I want to ensure we have that for them. MELBY: I believe any act or report of bullying or harassment must be investigated immediately according to policy. Discipline should be administered on an individual basis in cooperation with the students parent(s) based on the findings of the investigation. Each report should be shared with administration and board members to aid in accountability. When looking at equity, again, each student has individual needs. Student struggles arent always simply due to race, disability, economic status or gender. We cant simply ensure that no student fails, but rather its essential to give every student the tools to succeed. MUELLER: Prevalent defined according to Dictionary.com is: widespread, in general use or acceptance. Given this definition, it is insulting to district administration, teachers, parents, students, and the community at large to suggest that issues of racism and equity have been prevalent in BASD. All in our community are steadfast in their denunciation of racism, and adamantly support equal opportunity for each student. Programs such as Karcher Kupboard that help students in need are indicative of the quality of character of our towns residents, not a couple of serious, yet isolated incidents. My focus is on positively impacting students, not newspaper narratives. SCHMALING: Issues of racism and equity have been present in schools around the nation for too long. While BASD has had their issues sensationalized by traditional and social media for profit and personal gains, the issues are not unique to BASD. I reject the notion that the entire city is racist; however, I also do not minimize or marginalize the despicable behaviors some of our citizens have dealt with at the hands of some residents. This space and format does not allow justice to the topic of educating all students regardless of race, nationality, ability, or home life. Why are you running for school board? BIRD: I am running because I believe we have a great district and more can be done to make it better. Secondly, I have a family history of education, my mother was teacher, my grandpa and uncle served on a school board in Paddock Lake for 50+ years combined, it was rewarding for them personally and were able to make a difference, and I have a different perspective than others being on the board with a construction finance background. I am firm believer that our district is finding ways to making every child college and career ready. We have a diverse education system with Construction career academy, the Hero program, the partnership with Gateway and other universities, we have, shop classes, we have very good agriculture program as well as excellent extra-curricular activities. I feel as a citizen I have played a role and helping these other areas become successful. DENOTO: My son, who is African American, was given a survey to fill out about micro aggression (racial discrimination) along with other students. That survey and additional outside influence led to some students teasing him on racial grounds after years at BASD with no issues. I subsequently attended a school board meeting and witnessed first the chaos between the outside influencers and the confusion it causes which inspired me to be part of the solution. HERBST: I am running for the Burlington Area School Board because I know that we can do better for our children and for our city. As a parent of a child in the school district and active member within the community, I want to ensure that our schools are a main draw for Burlington. I believe our students, families and teachers are the best voices for the needs and wants when it comes to education in Burlington. We must listen and incorporate the input of teachers, families and community members when designing district policies. This means holding district leadership accountable for the policies that are made. Building lasting solutions should be our focus and utilizing our own local experts should be the plan. We must support our teachers so that they can do their best work with our children every single day. MELBY: I am a father of four, ages 13-19, and I hope to re-instill confidence in our public schools, not only for my family, but for every family who calls Burlington home. As a BHS graduate myself, I have experienced firsthand the excellence that BASD can offer. In recent years though, Ive seen some troubling trends and I cant stand by and do nothing. I want to give back to this great community and help get our focus back on educating our students. MUELLER: I am running to ensure our community is unified in its mission of giving our students a best in class education. I have made a career out of bringing groups with differing and often times competing interests together in order to bridge gaps and create solutions that are in the best interests of the organization I am a part of. I will use the skills I have attained to do the same for Burlington Area School District. Our children deserve a great education, I will work with parents, administration, and teachers to ensure our children get the best education. SCHMALING: As the spouse of a special education teacher in the district (18 years) and a proud parent of two children who are in or have attended BASD, I have seen firsthand the passion our educators and administration have for helping students succeed. My service on the board is how I give back to our great community and support education for ALL our students. I believe in the power of public education to provide the number one avenue for success in an adult life. I wish to continue supporting our path to educational excellence and local control of our schools. Why should voters pick you over the other candidates? BIRD: Because I am the best candidate. DENOTO: I have more than 33 years experience as a successful local businessman and involved in numerous community activities and committees. I have the knowledge, skill and wisdom to get the results needed for our children, their parents and BASD. Too many students are leaving our school unprepared, their ACT scores are way too low. We can change this now with involved parents and a School Board representing their goals. HERBST: Voters should pick me because I am not a politician, I am not an activist, I am just a mom that wants the best education for their child. I will not cave to outside pressures, and I will make decisions on what I believe is the best for Burlington. I will listen to all community members with an open mind. I will be an involved school board members that attends not just board meetings but other community events and school programs. MELBY: I will bring my voice to the board. I will always be respectful and polite, but I will not be afraid to speak up and ask questions or challenge something I feel isnt right. I will advocate for curriculum transparency, parents rights, and support for special needs programs. I will also advocate for a renewed focus on reading, writing, math and basic life skills. I will reject social agendas that threaten the quality of education. I will always respond to an email and I will never say, You elected me, now leave me alone and let me do my job. MUELLER: I will work tirelessly with parents, administrators, and teachers to ensure that our students get an education that will put them ahead of their peers globally. As mentioned before, I have had a successful career in bridging divides between various groups to create outcomes that are in the best interests of the organization I serve. I will bring this same mentality to the school board, working to unify all stakeholders in our district behind the core mission of ensuring our children receive a best in class education, making our district a district of choice. SCHMALING: I have been involved with the work of the board for over 10 years; 7 as a member, 1 as a citizen representative, and several attending meetings before that. My hard work is not completed. There is a movement afoot to disrupt the public education system and sow chaos in communities. These efforts fuel the flames of fear with half-truths and deceptions. Burlington Schools should be driven by Burlington not by outside agendas from social media and political parties. Burlington deserves integrity, experience, and honesty in their representation. We may not always agree, but I wont mislead to win.(tncms-inline)073ed82e-18a3-41ba-a583-10bf9a65c4d2[0](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)965463bf-f9d8-4e1b-81cf-92d2352f155f[1](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)0cbc0f72-6983-4c71-a5e3-d3d25380fd1a[2](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)9c7fdaf6-e89b-4de1-8f52-357300d3d028[3](/tncms-inline)(tncms-inline)8b0c7b07-8f5b-42fc-9594-2bff58cf3583[4](/tncms-inline) Kevin Bird AGE: 53 MUNICIPALITY: Burlington PAST OFFICE HELD: I believe this would be my 4th term. I served two terms, then did not run, then was appointed when Jim Bosman resigned. OCCUPATION: 26 years Chief Financial Officer at The Wanasek Corp HIGHEST EDUCATION RECEIVED: Bachelor of Science Business with emphasis on accounting and finance, UW Parkside COMMUNITY SERVICE: BASD School Board Member, Past President of Burlington Rotary and Burlington Wrestling Club, Past Vice President of Burlington Chamber, and Burlington Chocolatefest, Former City of Burlington Planning Commission member, Founding member Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE As executive director for Racine Habitat for Humanity, Grant Buenger knows a thing or two about building affordable housing in economically distressed neighborhoods. When people began asking him about the citys plan to spend $1.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to build five new single-family houses on vacant lots, he conceded the math was probably right. The five houses are expected to cost about $300,000 to construct but could sell for less than $200,000 resulting in a $500,000 loss. Despite that, he thinks the city will get a good return on its investment in the long run. In a short time, the investment in our local economy provided by this project will surpass that short-term deficit required to make it happen, Buenger said in a written statement. He noted that in 2019, every dollar invested in Racine Habitat injected $1.36 into the local economy. Similarly, he said, the proposed affordable housing project will generate jobs, pay wages, generate state and local tax revenue, and future homeowners will pay property taxes on their new homes. Affordable housing Buenger said the city is absolutely in need of affordable housing. In the neighborhoods where affordable housing is most needed, owner occupancy is as low as 30% less than half the national average of 66%, he said. Also at issue is the cost of housing, particularly for those who rent, Buenger continued. Of those who rent, more than 50% are cost burdened; that is, they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. When a family is cost burdened, they dont have the means to cover other necessary expenses, he said. Buenger said homeownership is one solution to the problem. Habitat Racine Habitat for Humanity has been putting people in need of affordable house together with affordable housing for more than 30 years working in the same racially diverse neighborhoods the city is looking to invest in. Buenger said Racine Habitat has been able to double owner occupancy on blocks of Mead Street, 10th Street and Blake Avenue. Combined, Habitat Homes has added over $6 million back to the property base, he said. Habitat homeowners pay an affordable mortgage, giving them more financial margin for necessary expenses while building equity in their home, he said. Buenger added: And studies have shown that homeowners gain an average of $9,500 in net wealth a year compared to renters with similar demographics. At Habitat, we believe that everyone deserves a decent place to live, he said. We know that every dollar invested in affordable housing is worth it. The impact it provides for the family and the community are transformative. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market. 2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image. 3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers. 4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while. Vote View Results Killeen, TX (76540) Today A few isolated thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low around 70F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. The MEBAA Show, the Middle Easts leading business aviation platform, is set to return to Dubai, taking place from December 6 to 8, 2022 at DWC Airport. The event will showcase the latest trends, insights, innovation and commercial opportunities shaping the future of business aviation and private flying in the Middle East and across the globe. A number of international companies have already signed up and confirmed their attendance for the MEBAA Show 2022 including Gulfstream, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer Executive Aircraft, Empire Aviation Group, Honeywell International, CAE and VistaJet International. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), commented: Business aviation has shown tremendous resilience and growth in recent years and it is an exciting time for the sector. The MEBAA Show will demonstrate the latest advancement in business aircraft, technologies and predictions for the industry, which looks set for further growth in coming years. We look forward to welcoming local, regional and international companies for the event once again in Dubai, a leading hub for business and private aviation. The business aviation industry had a significant representation in the recent Dubai Airshow, with 30% of the events business and private aviation exhibitors highlighting huge interest from buyers looking to take to the skies in executive jets for increased privacy and less exposure. Providing a platform for the entire business aviation community the MEBAA Show will convene again to build partnerships and take advantage of the enormous growth predicted for the sector. Business jet activity in the Middle East witnessed some of the strongest growth in demand in 2021, notably in the United Arab Emirates, which grew 73% compared to 2019. On an international level, Honeywells 30th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook forecasts up to 7,400 new business jet deliveries worth $238 billion from 2022 to 2031, up 1% in deliveries from the same 10-year forecast a year ago. In 2021, surveyed business jet operators reported a rapid increase in used jet purchase plans, 12% above last years report, equivalent to 800 additional used business aircraft, said the statement. By attending The MEBAA Show, organisations will have the chance to meet industry experts, including leaders from the Fixed Base Operator (FBO), and Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) sectors, business aircraft manufacturers, completion centres, and more. The show will also tackle key industry issues, including the application of the latest technologies and solutions, developing sustainable aviation fuel, electric aviation, among other major topics. -TradeArabia News Service WRNR-FMs longtime program director and on-air host Bob Waugh is leaving the station after almost 18 years. Waugh joined WRNR in March 2004. Next month would have been his 18th anniversary. Advertisement Bob Waugh works a radio shift at WRNR on Friday. He is leaving Annapolis station on Feb. 22 after 18 years. (Paul W. Gillespie/Capital Gazette) After a storied 43-year career in radio, Waugh was ready to slow down. In November his friend and colleague Rob Timm was diagnosed with cancer. That was a wake-up call for Waugh. I had been planning on leaving at the end of the year, but after Robs diagnosis I wanted to hang on a little bit longer to be an advocate for him. I have known him for over 30 years, Waugh said. Advertisement Timm and Waugh have been working together for more than 30 years, both having come from the once-legendary WHFS-FM. Timm returned to work on Groundhog Day, or 2-2-22. As a lover of numerology, Waugh decided his last day at WRNR would be Feb. 22, or 2-22-22. Waugh plans to take his daughter to Paris before she goes to college in August. He also wants to know what it feels like to not have to be anywhere at any particular time. Radio DJ's Rob Timm and Bob Waugh, who have worked together for almost thirty years, talk while Waugh prepares for his afternoon shift at the WRNR studios in Annapolis. (Joshua McKerrow, staff / Capital Gazette) I will take four to six months off then I will come back to the business in some capacity. I got some more gas in the tank, Waugh said. I am excited to see what the opportunities will be in a few months. Waugh will miss choosing music to play on the airwaves and interacting with artists. He interviewed Elvis Costello and Brandi Carlile last year, two of his recent favorites. Waugh is grateful for the relationships and connections he has built over the years. Bob Waugh is departing from WRNR after almost 18 years. Bob Waugh and Brandi Carlile after an interview. (Courtesy Photo) When Waugh returns from his hiatus, he wants to leave managerial duties behind and focus on being an on-air host. Waugh doesnt plan to move from Annapolis; he calls it a joy and privilege to work in the city. He remembers starting at the station when it was above a fudge shop on Main Street. The Morning Sun Daily Get your morning news in your e-mail inbox. Get all the top news and sports from the baltimoresun.com. > It was great to be in downtown Annapolis, especially when you have a parking pass, he laughed. I enjoyed becoming a part of the fabric of the community over these years. Advertisement Local radio isnt going anywhere, according to Waugh. He thinks it will always be needed even though people have been saying for years that radio is dying. When television was invented, they predicted the demise of the radio and then it was the internet and streaming. There is more competition for peoples attention, but local radio provides something that cant be found anywhere else, Waugh said. Streaming services cant have a disc jockey talk to you about whats going on in the community. Localism is the key to radios resiliency. After saying he will no longer be the program director for WRNR, he felt a little melancholy. Working there for 18 years made the station feel like it was his baby. I love this radio station. It is so unique and our fan base is passionate and loyal. Whoever succeeds me will enjoy the work they will do there, Waugh said. Waugh is keeping all his options open, whether it is podcasting, satellite radio or a local station. He said he has dabbled in podcasting and plans to explore that some more. The last thing Waugh would like to say to his fans is: Thanks for listening for all these years and I will see you at the next stop. Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov has taken another step in seeking the death penalty for a man accused of killing two people at a Sonic Drive-In in Bellevue. Polikov has filed a notice of aggravators in the death penalty case against Roberto Silva Jr. The move provides notice to Silva, 24, of the state's grounds for seeking the death penalty, Polikov said. On Nov. 21, 2020, Silva allegedly threw an incendiary device, ignited materials in a rental truck and opened fire in the Bellevue Sonic Drive-In near 15th Street and Cornhusker Road. The shots killed employees Nathan Pastrana, 22, and Ryan Helbert, 28, and injured Zoey Lujan, 18, and Kenneth Gerner, 25. Silva had driven a U-Haul truck there, which he later set on fire. Silva was arrested at the scene, found by officers lying face down on the ground. Following his arrest, Silva was charged with nine felonies, including two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. Polikov dismissed the charges and refiled them on Jan. 24. He also added additional charges for attempted first-degree murder of the three employees who were able to flee the store, as well as use of a firearm to commit a felony. The "aggravating circumstances" outline the statutory reasons for seeking the death penalty. According to the Sarpy County Attorney's Office, they are: The slayings were committed in an effort to conceal the commission of a crime, or to conceal the identity of the perpetrator of such crime. The slayings were especially heinous, atrocious, cruel or manifested exceptional depravity by ordinary standards of morality and intelligence. At the time the slayings were committed, the offender also committed another murder. The offender knowingly created a great risk of death to at least several people. The slayings were committed knowingly to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of the laws. If Silva is convicted, it will be up to a jury or three-judge panel to determine whether any of those aggravators are present. If so, a three-judge panel will decide if the death penalty is warranted. The case will be the first time Polikov has sought the death penalty. He said last month that the decision was not taken lightly. "My thoughts and support are with the victims and their families as they continue to deal with this unimaginable tragedy," Polikov said. A local store for horses and their riders will close soon, an Onalaska bakery will be replaced by a La Crosse bakery business, and Spring Grove, Minn., now has a brewpub. A Thanks for the Memories sale will begin Tuesday at the Horse & Hound store, which owner Sandra Cleary plans to close in late May at 301 Sky Harbour Drive on French Island. Cleary told me Friday that its time to close the store, which she opened in 1991. It sells a large variety of merchandise for horses and their riders, such as tack, apparel, boots, hats, gifts and jewelry. Cleary said she was a competitive equestrian when she started the business because very little horse equipment had been available in the La Crosse area. Ive been doing this for over 30 years and Im trying to simplify and downsize and the timing is right to close the store, Cleary said. Retail has changed with the Internet, she said. My manager, Sue Walters, is looking at retiring, too. Its getting harder and harder to find people for staffing. The supply chain problem has been an issue recently. And were (the Cleary family) busy with all of the other projects we work on such as the familys Landmark by the Rivers development in downtown La Crosse. I want to thank all of the customers that weve had over all of these years, Cleary said. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call the store at 608-783-7504 or visit www.horse-and-hound.com or the stores Facebook page. Meanwhile, March 27 will be the last day for the Frenchtastic Bakery, which Claire Prudent opened in June 2019 at 1125 Main St., in Onalaska. The bakery has been known for its sourdough breads and pastries. Prudent announced in a Facebook post last week that she and her husband are moving to upper Michigan, partly because it reminds her of her native France. She also said the workload at her bakery has become too great, and that Opus Bakehouse in La Crosse will move into her bakerys space. For more information about Frenchtastic, visit www.frenchtasticbakery.com or its Facebook page. Trevor Brown told me Friday that he will be moving his Opus Bakehouse operation to the current Frenchtastic location from the shared commercial kitchen in the Coulee Region Business Center at 1100 Kane St. Brown bakes specialty breads and pastries with organically-grown ingredients and has mainly been selling them at the Cameron Park Farmers Market. He said he hopes to begin selling his Opus products at his new Onalaska location by the first week of May. He isnt sure whether he will continue selling at the farmers market, and said he would have to hire someone if he does that. For more information about Opus Bakehouse, which Brown started in 2017, visit its Facebook page. Fat Pats Barbecue restaurant in Spring Grove, Minn., has been renamed Fat Pats Barbecue and Brewery after also becoming a brewpub that began selling its own beers on tap in early February. Patrick Longmire Jr. and his father, Pat, became known in the area for the Texas-style barbecue that they made and sold from their Fat Pats BBQ food truck from 2017 to 2019. They sold the food truck in early 2020. In October 2020, Fat Pats Barbecue made its debut as a barbecue restaurant thats been operating from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays in Jos Coffee House, which opened in 2019 in a new addition to Reds IGA supermarket at 500 E. Main St. in Spring Grove. Pat and Debbie Longmire own each of the businesses, while son Patrick manages the barbecue restaurant and Patricks wife Jayme manages the coffeehouse. Patrick also makes the brewpubs beers. We started selling around Feb. 4 with three beers available. A Pale Ale, Farm House Ale and Brown Ale, he told me last week. Fat Pats has added three more beers brewed by Patrick West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA and Stout. The beers are available by the glass and in growlers. A lot of what I will be brewing will be styles that I am more familiar with, Patrick said. As I get more comfortable, I will venture out trying to add more styles into the mix. The beer that he brews is available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Besides serving barbecue in the restaurant from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Patrick said, We may add a limited (barbecue) menu for Saturdays, too. For more information, call 507-498-5484 or visit www.fatpatsbbq.com or the Fat Pats Facebook and Instagram pages. Amanda Roe has opened Prisms & Skye in Suite 2 in the north end of the Westby State Bank building at 100 N. Main St., along Hwy. 14/61 in downtown Westby. Its in the space formerly occupied by the Blush Roots Boutique, which moved last fall to 104 W. State St. Roe said she opened her new business in November. I ran it online about four years from her La Farge home, she said. I always wanted a storefront and it was time to open one. She decided to open her retail store in Westby because of higher traffic counts. I sell lots of graphic T-shirts that she screenprints, Roe said. And with a storefront, Ive expanded into natural products, crystals and accessories. Ill be adding more as I go along. The natural products Roe sells include such things as lotions, soaps and skin care items, and her accessories include such things as jewelry. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. For more information, call 608-634-4549 or visit the stores Facebook page. Friday was the last day for the Pappis Taqueria y Mas restaurant in West Salem and its food truck, according to posts last week on its Facebook page. The business began in March 2017 as a food truck, and opened its restaurant in December 2019 in part of the Lloyds Speedstop building at 83 Buol Road, at the Interstate 90 exit in West Salem. It served such Mexican fare as tacos, quesadillas and burritos. After talking as a family about our restaurant and our food truck, we have decided with heavy hearts that we will be closing down our restaurant and food truck after this week, Pappis said in a Facebook post Tuesday. For more information, see its Facebook page. Jan. 22 was the last day for Extreme Selfies at 320 Main St. in downtown La Crosse and the business is for sale, according to posts that week on its Facebook page. The business where people could take extreme selfie photos of themselves in apparently extreme environments opened in February 2021. Steve Cahalan can be reached at stevecahalan.reporter@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 La Crosse Countys District Attorney is skeptical of a proposed state constitutional amendment to make it easier for judges to impose cash bond on criminal suspects. Tim Gruenke described the proposed amendment as piecemeal and said it fails to address the inherent weaknesses of the cash bond system. The amendment is being proposed by Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, and Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield. The amendment was first introduced in 2017 but gained new momentum after Darrell Brooks was charged with driving a vehicle through a parade Nov. 21 in downtown Waukesha and killing six people. Brooks was free on a $1,000 cash bond from Milwaukee County despite a history of violent criminal behavior. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Friday. Gruenke questioned changing the constitution in response to a single case. The constitution should be more solid than, heres one case that happened, so we should modify this, Gruenke said. The state constitution appears to restrict cash bail for any purpose other than assuring a defendants appearance in court. While it makes reference to protecting the community and preventing intimidation of witnesses, it also states Monetary conditions of release may be imposed at or after the initial appearance only upon a finding that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the conditions are necessary to assure appearance in court. Judges can also set conditions of release, such as no-contact or no-alcohol provisions. Prosecutors, however, regularly ask judges to consider the seriousness of the offense and the defendants potential danger to the community. Gruenke said the constitutional language is confusing and that statutory language doesnt add much clarity. Its not written the best, he said. Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell agrees that the language can appear contradictory. He said protection of the public is something I can argue but added that a defendants likelihood appearing in court is the primary factor you should take into consideration. Cash-based vs. risk-based Gruenke said pretrial detention is sometimes necessary to protect the public but believes the cash bail system doesnt achieve that goal. He favors scrapping cash bond for a risk-based system. He said a defendants potential danger to the public, not his or her ability to post a cash bond, should determine who stays in jail while awaiting trial. He said the proposed amendment doesnt address the issue of violent offenders who can afford bail. There has been a lot of momentum to go from cash-based to risk-based, Gruenke said. There is no correlation between money and how likely defendants are to show up in court. Gruenke said simple steps such as consistent pretrial monitoring and phone and email reminders have a significant impact on getting defendants to appear. Other critics of cash bond contend it raises issues with the federal constitution that prohibits excessive bail (Eighth Amendment) and mandates equal protection of the law (14th Amendment). All of the science here says cash bail isnt good, University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School associate professor John Gross told the Wisconsin State Journal. It could be potentially unconstitutional in some ways, it discriminates against the poor. And at the end of the day, nobodys safer for its use. Several states, including California, Illinois, New York and New Jersey, have adopted measures to either eliminate cash bail or sharply restrict its use. Gruenke said prosecutors, in effect, already use a risk-based approach in high-profile cases like murders, where bail is set at a level that prosecutors and judges know the defendant cant pay. Brooks, for example, is being held on $5 million cash bail. La Crosse County is one of nine counties in the state that uses risk-based assessment for bail purposes, a practice Gruenke strongly advocates. Defendants are assigned numerical scores based on their past criminal history and number of times theyve failed to show for previous court appearances. Gruenke said scores are used to decide whether a defendant is given a signature bond or cash bond and the amount of the cash bond. Gruenke said risk assessment streamlines the process and gives a more accurate picture of a defendants suitability for pretrial release. He said it also attempts to address racial disparities in bond hearings. It puts people in the category of low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk, so we have an idea based on not just our personal view but a more objective tool, Gruenke said. If theyre a high-risk a risk not to appear in court or a risk to commit more crimes we would be asking for a cash bond. If theyre a low-risk person, typically theyre going to get a signature bond. Gruenke said Milwaukee County also uses risk assessment but said Brooks most recent violent offense intentionally striking a woman with a vehicle hadnt been added to the countys data base. They were flying blind, Gruenke said. He said records in La Crosse County are kept up to date by the countys Justice Support Services. We get it every morning well before intake court, Gruenke said. Jail impact La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf said theres a possibility that the amendment could impact the countys jail population. He said inmate numbers have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020. We have availability for more inmates, but COVID has caused us to use more precautions on separating inmates for a period of time for their well-being, Wolf said. This could cause some issues on space at some point in the future. The countys jail population Feb. 11 stood at 80 inmates. Wolf said hes open to ideas that improve the system and that La Crosse County has been a leader in implementing best practices for many areas of our criminal justice system. Pretrial release is always on the radar to make improvements, Wolf said. There are certain crimes, certain individuals and certain cases where cash bail is a necessity to ensure that those charged appear for court. We always need to be aware of the safety of the public and victims. Neither Gruenke nor Newell said the Waukesha tragedy has changed their approach to bail hearings, but Newell said he uses the case as a teaching tool for his staff. Newell said he isnt ready to offer an opinion on the amendment until lawmakers approve a final draft. He said any changes to pretrial detention should be driven primarily by public safety. My goal for any kind of bond reform is the protection of the community, Newell said. Constitutional amendments must pass consecutive sessions of the legislature and be approved by the voters in a statewide referendum before they can take effect. The earliest the amendment could go before voters is April 2023. La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. All good things start with a dream. On Oct. 11, 1989, more than 100 people walked three miles through the city of La Crosse with the dream of a world in which everyone had a decent place to live; a dream which was out of reach for far too many families in the La Crosse area. Following the march, community organizers came together with a renewed commitment to take action to address the affordable housing needs in our community. Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area was born. Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in 1992, with 2022 marking the 30th anniversary of putting this dream into action. Since its incorporation, Habitat has provided safe, affordable homes for 55 families in La Crosse, Vernon and Trempealeau counties in Wisconsin as well as Houston County, Minn. The organization has also helped almost 1,000 community members through neighborhood revitalization projects and helped hundreds of homeowners make needed repairs to their homes. Additionally, the Habitat ReStore has diverted nearly eight million pounds from the landfill since opening in 2006. For 30 years, Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area has brought people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat believes that decent, affordable housing should be a matter of conscience and action; they realize that there are people in our community who are living in inadequate conditions and that joining together they can provide a hand up not a handout. In 2022, the need for safe, affordable housing in our community remains tantamount. It is still an eye-opening experience to see what homes and conditions are like for many of the working poor. After 30 years, Habitat remains committed to the belief that many stereotypes will be dispelled as people of different economic, ethnic or religious backgrounds work together, because we all share a common humanity, with similar frailties, strengths and aspirations. From its grassroots beginnings in 1989 through today, volunteers are at the heart of the work that Habitat does. None of what they do would be possible without the help of tens of thousands of volunteers who have touched the organization throughout the years; this cadre of dedicated individuals who show up day after day pledging to make a difference in the lives of others. 2022 will be a year of reflection and celebration, but to start off this monumental anniversary, Habitat extends its sincerest thank you to their staff, volunteers, board members, donors, supporters, and shoppers who have stepped up throughout the years. Without them, Habitat would not be here today. Please stay tuned for all the fun and exciting things Habitat has planned to celebrate 30 Years & Building. For more information, to become a volunteer, or to make a donation, please visit our website at www.habitatlacrosse.org or call 608-785-2373. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Karen Carnabuccis mother-in-law died during the height of the pandemic, when houses of worship, schools and most public life shut down or went online. The Lancaster therapist couldnt gather with friends or cry with extended family members to process her overwhelming grief. Cary Miller tells a different story. The Lancaster education consultants father died in January. Miller was able to travel to New Jersey for the burial, where she hugged and held hands with loved ones who mourned with her. Still, devastating sadness remained. Both women say they found healing online through River Crossing Playback Theatre. The volunteer organization, which started in 2007, combines improvisation, music and audience participation to honor and show empathy for individual stories. Founder and director Chris Fitz, of Marietta, says participants are welcomed into an atmosphere of compassion and understanding. Most people can relate because theyve experienced similar feelings or incidents, Fitz says. The theater troupe, which counts on donations to operate, serves south-central Pennsylvania and has eight members, down from about 10 before the pandemic. For Carnabucci, help came from an online memorial that featured troupe members recreating events in her mother-in-laws life. Friends and family from around the globe were invited to participate. The solace from that event was an exceptional way to create community, recalls Carnabucci, who was a features editor for the former Intelligencer Journal, now LNP |LancasterOnline. Miller said the same of her own experience. It was deeply healing on an emotional level. She participated in an online open rehearsal in which audience members shared a difficult or painful memory. Miller talked about her feelings from her fathers death and other life changes, then watched as actors processed and interpreted those feelings through short improvisational vignettes. Im a very creative and expressive person, Miller says. I needed a space to be spontaneous and creative with a sort of therapeutic element. Before the pandemic, River Crossing used auditoriums, rooms and church basements in Lancaster and York to bring people together. These days, actors, musicians and participants meet on Zoom, although Fitz hopes that may change this summer. OPEN REHEARSAL River Crossing Playback Theatres next open rehearsal is 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. To register or for more information, visit lanc.news/Playback. Humanizing stories Playback Theatre has roots in psychodrama, a form of psychotherapy that encourages clients to role play and act out issues or problems. The playback movement began in 1975 in New York before it spread across the world, says Clarissa Worcester, who coordinates Playback North America. The group brings together troupes in the United States and Canada for information, training and advice. In some ways, Playback Theatre has weathered the pandemic much better than other theater forms, says Worcester, who is an assistant director of the Chicago Playback Theatre Troupe. One major power is simultaneously validating and uplifting an individual while collecting stories. Worcester notes that Playback is not a substitute for therapy, but it can be therapeutic. Lesley Huff holds the same view. Theres tremendous power in relationships and connections with other people. It doesnt always have to be with a trained therapist, says Huff, a licensed psychologist with Samaritan Counseling Center in Lancaster. Huff teaches an online eight-week seminar called Change Through Compassion, which promotes resilience and self-compassion. The psychologist says she has studied Playback Theatre. When we talk about things at an intellectual level, we stay separate enough that we dont have to experience it, Huff says, explaining that people often remain numb to their feelings. Participating in playback, though, may result in a guttural, emotional, nonintellectual moment, she says. To feel seen and validated has a tremendous amount of healing. Local productions Locally, the two-hour River Crossing gathering, called an open rehearsal, begins as the leader checks in with the audience, asking participants about their day and their feelings. An individual receives an invitation to share a memory, problem or good news through a one- to five-minute retelling. Volunteer actors immediately process and create a spontaneous performance to bring that story to life before the audience and the author. The leader asks if the retelling seems true to his or her emotions. If not, the actors try again. Joanne Walcerz, of Elizabethtown, began volunteering for River Crossing about 10 years ago. Its important to listen to a person, hear their story and bring your own life experience to it, says Walcerz, a massage therapist. Its very poignant. Though Walcerz has theater training from college, troupe volunteers need no acting experience. Online and in-person training outlines the basic tenets. We need to listen to one another in these challenging times, she says. For instance, actors tell their own stories during private rehearsals. I consider the people in my playback troupe my family. They know everything about me. Colleen Schields, a troupe actor and registered nurse in York, said the concept intrigued her. Schields, who has no prior acting experience, describes River Crossing as an opportunity to tell stories with more than just our voices. The process helped Schields become more expressive, she says. River Crossing will host open rehearsals over Zoom on the third Friday of every month through May. Then, Fitz says, troupe members hope to offer in-person gatherings. People can register for the online meeting at the organizations website, rivercrossingplayback.org. Fitz asks participants for a donation. Winston Churchill is among the most written about historical figures of the 20th century, but that didnt stop bestselling nonfiction author Erik Larson from discovering new and compelling angles to tell Churchills story. The author of eight nonfiction books and a fictional audiobook will make an appearance at Lancaster Country Day Schools Gardner Theater in Lancaster on Feb. 19 during a sold-out event, An Evening with Erik Larson: The Splendid and the Vile, which includes a conversation with Scott LaMar, host of WITFs Smart Talk. Larson began his writing career as a reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times in Levittown, Pennsylvania. He combines an investigative journalists intuitive knack for following interesting threads and uncovering facts through dogged research with a novelists sense of tried-and-true narrative storytelling techniques. These strengths are on display in his 2020 nonfiction work The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz. The book provides a nearly day-to-day account of Churchills first year as Prime Minister. It was New York City, the city where Larson currently lives, that inspired Larson to tackle the subject of Churchills London during the Germans' blitz attack which lasted from the fall of 1940 to the spring of 1941. It was inspired by the fact that we experienced 9/11 and were still screwed up in a lot of ways because of 9/11, says Larson. And here was Britain during the German air campaign and, at the peak, it was 57 consecutive nights of bombing. If you will, 57 consecutive 9/11s and how did anyone get through that? The book, which was published three weeks before the COVID-19 outbreak forced nationwide lockdowns, became something of a pandemic comfort read. (Readers) came to the book as a way to figure out how to get through COVID. It was definitely a thing with that book, says Larson. I heard that all the time, people coming to me and saying, This really helped me get through it. It gave them some reassurance that Britain went through a traumatic event and endured and came out the other side, thanks to brilliant leadership. During a recent phone interview, Larson took some time to answer some questions about researching and writing the Splendid and the Vile, his approach to crafting thrilling nonfiction narratives, Churchills relationship with alcohol and other subjects. So much has been written about Churchill. Did you learn anything new? One brand new thing was Mary Churchills diary. She, as far as Im concerned, made the book. I was so lucky to get access to that diary. Prior to my seeing it, there had only been one other researcher who had been given that opportunity. Im not sure who that person was or what the context was, but Im sure they didnt use it the way I used it. I wanted Mary Churchill to be a free-standing, flesh and blood character....She was 17 when the action starts in the book. She was a smart young woman, really articulate, a great observer of big events, but also a girl that liked to have fun. And she tells us about having fun. How often do you find a diary that you use and quote for a book where someone talks about snogging in the hayloft, you know? I died and went to heaven. The Mass Observation Project (a UK social research project utilizing volunteer diarists) also seemed like an invaluable resource. Scholars have used it before, but again they used it in different ways. For me, it was particularly valuable because it provided intimate details about ordinary peoples lives during the blitz. I teased out yet another character with Olivia Cockett. I loved her story. Her experience of the blitz was very much a metaphor for how Britain, how London in particular, how they coped. Diaries have seemed to be invaluable historical records for your work. Have you ever kept a diary? Im a fairly compulsive journaler in terms of ideas for books and passages for books. I dont spend so much time talking about routine events in my life, but Ive kept journals for years. I hope to God nobody ever publishes any of them. Id be kind of ashamed because theyre nowhere near as articulate as Mary Churchills. How do you feel about Churchills relationship with alcohol? Well, Churchill had a very interesting relationship with alcohol. People who didnt know a lot about him would dismiss him as being sort of a lush or being alcoholic, but my take, after doing some research, is that he was very judicious about his intake of alcohol. My pet theory is that he was sort of sedating himself. Maybe it helped him get through the day as the bombs were flying and so forth. He would start the day with a whiskey and water, but just a little teeny bit of whiskey almost just a flavoring. And nobody, apparently, has a record of seeing him drunk. Do alarms go off in your head telling you to follow a certain thread in your research? At this point its instinct. I kind of think of it as my super power. I get this little instinctive, maybe call it a bell, or a signal that says, Yeah this could be really worthwhile, Im going to look at this. Often Im rewarded, but sometimes Im not. I do feel strongly that no matter what you do, nothing is lost. Its all there somewhere in your mind. Theres this big stew of facts and thoughts and you cant predict when suddenly two of these obscure details are going to connect in your brain in some incredible surprise. So its all good. Just keep shoveling that stuff into your brain and something good will happen. How many books do you think it takes for you to read to write one? Complete books and fragments? Hundreds. In "The Splendid and the Vile," lets say I learned something about construction of one of the government buildings that got destroyed, and then you sort of have to read about London and the architecture of Westminster and so forth. Its a constant Tarzan-like process from rope to rope to rope and from book to book to book. Hundreds of books. Did you grow up with certain favorite novels that you wanted to use as models to tell nonfiction stories? Well, first of all, Im glad you made a distinction, because everything is absolutely nonfiction. I apply the techniques and tactics of fiction. Ive been influenced by a number of writers, but one in particular is John Irving. He uses very obvious techniques that work. For example, his use of cliffhangers. He is an ace at cliffhangers. I learned a lot from reading his novels about how to move something along. Youve mentioned in other interviews, a nonfiction book that readers from Pennsylvania might enjoy David McCulloughs The Johnstown Flood. I had read The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough and I really loved that book. I loved the way he structured it. I loved the narrative. I literally diagrammed all the chapters. I outlined the entire book, diagrammed the chapters and made note of where the cliffhangers were. So it was really kind of a formative thing. I noticed Devil in the White City is back on the bestseller list. Congratulations on that. Whats happening with the Hulu series? That book has been under option since it came out. The problem people have had is its a complicated narrative. Its basically two stories that run side by side and actually never touch except in one very small place. So its been hard for producers to come up with a way to tell the story as a feature film. Youre stuck with either a period "Silence of the Lambs" or you do the Worlds Fair thing alone. So, because its so hard to do it as a feature film, cooler, wiser heads prevailed and they decided it could be better done as a Hulu limited series. The idea being that youd have more time to explore both narratives. I dont think that DiCaprio, who holds the option, intends anymore to be a character in the series, but hes still attached, so is Martin Scorsese. But lately, this has been all this news burbling up that Keanu Reeves is in so-called talks to be in the Hulu series. And hes having kind of a moment right now, so thats been a very positive thing for the book. I first met Muoi Van Nguyen on Jan. 9, 1979, when he, his wife and four sons arrived at the Lancaster Airport as refugees from Vietnam. I was a member of a group of folks from four area churches who had agreed to sponsor the family and I was also an employee of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, which had been assigned the Nguyen family. In the 43 years that I have known Muoi, I have learned much and have shared much with him. So, when I heard that he died from a pancreatic tumor on Dec. 16, 2021, I decided to write a tribute to tell others what the wisdom and caring from this friend has meant to me and my family. Muoi had been a teacher in Vietnam but the war there ended that. He was drafted and served as an officer in the South Vietnamese army and was sent to Virginia for training (so he knew about laundromats and pizza). When he flunked out of the Communist reeducation camp, he supported his family by making Venetian blinds until, as punishment, he was not able to purchase the materials he needed for his business. No longer able to support his family and with his sons not being able to go to school, Muoi and his family escaped at night as boat people and were in a Thailand refugee camp for a year until they were approved for entrance to the United States. He had several jobs here as a laborer: in a Leola mobile home factory, for Hamilton Tech in Lancaster and Tysons in New Holland, where he lived. With his English-speaking abilities, he also worked for Catholic Social Services as a case worker for newly arrived refugees. When I asked Muoi what his goal for his future was, he said he wanted his sons to be able to get an education, and then and then hed be ready to die! This was a surprising answer from a man in his early 40s. As each son graduated from college, we laughed about this goal and I told him that his life would begin after his boys were educated. The years have brought four daughters-in-law and six grandchildren into his family. Everyone in Muois family became U.S. citizens and two of his sons became Eagle Scouts while living in New Holland. One lives in California, another in Michigan and the other two in Texas, where Muoi and his wife, Tuyet, relocated after both retired. On a visit back to Vietnam, Muoi was happy to hear that the home he had owned and had walked away from was being used as a school. This is my tribute to a good friend who, as a brave man, began a new life and a land where he could be free. The author lives in Lancaster. If you know an interesting story, please write it in 600 words or less and send it to Mary Ellen Wright, LNP editorial department, P.O. Box 1328, Lancaster, PA, 17608-1328, email it to features@lnpnews. com. Please include your phone number and the name of the town you live in. Conductor Jason Love leads the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in a performance of "Carnival Of The Animals" at the Chrysalis in Symphony Woods. (Barbara Haddock Taylor / Baltimore Sun) Howard County is known for is its vibrant arts scene offering an abundance of choices, including theater, music and dance companies. Free outdoor concerts also are presented at downtown Columbias Lakefront on Lake Kittamaqundi, Centennial Park and Columbias village centers. Other performances are staged throughout the year at other local venues. Advertisement Large venues Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts at Wilde Lake High School is a 747-seat theater that hosts high school and community events as well as traveling acts. All tickets are purchased through the organization presenting the performance. 410-313-8293, rousetheatre.org Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods Chrysalis Amphitheater hosts concerts and theatrical productions for up to 8,000 people through the stand-alone nonprofit Inner Arbor Trust, which also hosts cultural and community events April through December. Three series provide mostly free performances on the amphitheater stage: family and childrens programming using regional theater troupes, a series of cross-genre performances from orchestral to jazz, and cabaret performances that provide intimate shows with noted jazz, rock and Christian performers. merriweathermusic.com Advertisement Merriweather Post Pavilion, an open-air amphitheater in Columbias Symphony Woods, has become a major stopping-off point on the pop music circuit, offering everything from rap to folk. 410-715-5550, merriweathermusic.com Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College houses, among other facilities, Smith Theatre, the John G. Monteabaro Recital Hall and a state-of-the-art black box theater. 443-518-1500, howardcc.edu Concert series Candlelight Concerts is a subscription season at Howard Community College that regularly attracts top talent to its chamber music series and includes a childrens concert series. The society also holds free events throughout the community, from lectures to special performances in special needs and senior citizen facilities and schools. 410-997-2324, candlelightconcerts.org Chalice Concert Series presents the Mid-Atlantic regions finest chamber musicians in the Owen Brown Interfaith Centers acoustically dynamic sanctuary addition. 410-381-0097, uucolumbia.net One World Coffeehouse takes place monthly at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, offering an eclectic blend of folk, blues, world music, jazz and rock. 410-381-0097, uucolumbia.net Sundays at Three Chamber Music Series brings professional chamber music to Christ Episcopal Church in Columbia. sundaysatthree.org Theater Chesapeake Shakespeare Company In-the-Ruins produces two family-friendly plays each June and July inside the remains of the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, where it has performed since 2003. The professional company hires actors from the Maryland/D.C. region and also offers a summer camp. 410-244-8570, chesapeakeshakespeare.com Advertisement Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts employs actors, directors, writers, musicians and technicians to immerse young people in the art of performing through a variety of programs. 410-381-0700, cctarts.org Howard County Summer Theatre features family-oriented musicals using youth casts and all-ages companies. howardcountysummertheatre.org Rep Stage Company, based at Howard Community College, is the countys first Actors Equity troupe, featuring the areas premier acting talent in challenging plays. 443-518-1490, repstage.org Tobys Dinner Theatre specializes in Broadway-style musical fare, presented with a live band, professional costuming and inventive staging in the Columbia location. 410-730-8311, tobysdinnertheatre.com Musical groups Columbia Bands is a nonprofit for nonprofessional musicians who perform in three groups a concert band, a jazz band and a flute cocktail at free community concerts and other events. columbiabands.org Advertisement The Columbia Orchestra was founded in 1977. The ensemble, led by music director Jason Love, offers orchestral, jazz and chamber concerts with instrumental works ranging from classic to contemporary composers. 410-465-8777, columbiaorchestra.org Columbia Pro Cantare is a volunteer choir that presents programs ranging from operatic works to spirituals. 410-799-9321, procantare.org Howard County Concert Orchestra is a professional chamber orchestra that performs classical to contemporary arrangements with six to 45 professional musicians. 888-921-7230, hococo.org Peabody Childrens Chorus trains girls and boys ages 6 to 18 with unchanged voices in music from a variety of genres and time periods in five ensembles on two campuses, one of which is in Howard County. peabody.jhu.edu/pcc Art centers and museums African Art Museum of Maryland, founded in 1980, is in a new location at Columbias Long Reach Village Center. It offers a rare collection of African artifacts and folk art. Staffed entirely by volunteers, including the museums founder and director Doris Ligon, the museum offers programs during Womens History Month. 410-740-7411, africanartmuseum.org Advertisement Columbia Art Center in the village of Long Reach has provided resources for ceramic artists, photographers, calligraphers, woodworkers and others since 1987. It also hosts a literary series with local poets and authors and a monthly salon featuring local artists, actors, musicians and others, a rotating gallery of exhibitions and a summer art camp for children. 410-730-0075, columbiaassociation.org/facilities/columbia-art-center/ Howard County Center for the Arts, located in a former elementary school in Ellicott City, houses two galleries in addition to a black-box theater. It is also the seat of the Howard County Arts Council. 410-313-2787, hocoarts.org Howard County Center of African American Culture at Howard Community College houses African American memorabilia, artifacts and an art gallery at its Columbia location, and a research library with approximately 10,000 publications and records. 410-715-1921, hccaac.org Local artists also exhibit at the Artists Gallery on Ellicott Citys Main Street, the Rouse Company Foundation Gallery at Howard Community College, the Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House in Wilde Lake, The Meeting House Gallery in Oakland Mills and informal exhibition spaces at the Bain 50 Plus Center, at shops in historic Ellicott City and elsewhere. Visual artists and crafts people share a historic complex at Savage Mill. Literary arts Howard County Poetry and Literature Society often abbreviated HoCoPoLitSo has been bringing imaginative literary events, workshops and distinguished writers to student and adult audiences since 1974. Saul Bellow, Lucille Clifton, Tyehimba Jess and Mary Oliver have given public readings under the auspices of the community-based not-for-profit. 443-518-4568, hocopolitso.org Advertisement Cinema CJC Jewish Film Series offers movies with Jewish themes in English, Hebrew and foreign languages with subtitles. Viewings include refreshments as well as an optional discussion. 410-730-6044, columbiajewish.org Columbia Film Society brings the latest in distinguished foreign films to the Horowitz Center at Howard Community College in an annual subscription series. columbiafilmsociety.org AMC Columbia Mall 14 offers the latest Hollywood releases. 410-423-0510 Dance Local dance troupes present regular showcases, and a variety of commercial dance studios provide training for a new generation: Arabesque Dance Studio Advertisement 410-381-0017, livetodance.com Arthur Murray Dance Centers 410-772-7880, dancecolumbia.com Backstage Dance Studio 410-312-0900, thebackstagedancestudio.com Ballet with Cindee Velle Advertisement 410-465-7674, cindeevelleballet.com b.Funk Dance Company 410-313-8199, bfunk.com Central Maryland Youth Ballet 443-472-7772, centralmarylandyouthballet.com The Dance Dimension Advertisement 301-490-0252, thedancedimension.com Kinetics Dance Theatre 410-480-1686, kineticsdance.org Misako Ballet Studio Advertisement Howard County Times: Top stories Weekdays Daily highlights from Howard County's number one source for local news. > 410-884-9690, misakodance.com Patuxent Youth Ballet 410-992-4084, marylandballet.com Studio Dans 301-498-3267, studiodans.com Thats Dancing Ballroom & Dancesport Center Advertisement 301-776-0085, thatsdancingballroom.com A few Lancaster County school districts found a new way around continuing staffing shortages across most occupations and it involves hiring students. Penn Manor School District recently joined at least two other school districts Donegal and Warwick in hiring student custodians to assist their full-time janitorial staff after school. More than a dozen students clocked in for their first day cleaning up Penn Manor High School at 3 p.m. Jan. 24. The board approved these new hires at its Monday board meeting. Its definitely a big help, said district business manager Chris Johnston. The 14 students are assigned to a full-time custodian in groups of three or four for a three hour shift, Johnston said. They come every day that theyre not involved in another after-school activity. They clean classrooms, hallways, bathrooms and stairwells everything a full-time custodian does during their usual 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. The only thing they cant do, Johnston added, is operate equipment like the high schools floor-scrubbing machine. All their hard work is already making a difference, Johnston said. We are very pleased, he said. Weve had comments from our teaching staff that have noticed a difference in their classrooms being clean. Johnston said the students are enthusiastic and ready and raring to go, at the beginning of each shift. Ive gotten feedback already where theyve got a better appreciation for whats been done in the schools that they werent aware of, said Chip Mathias, director of buildings and grounds. For more than half the students, Jan. 24 was their first day working, Mathias said. The youngest employee is 14 years old, which is the minimum age an individual must be to work in Pennsylvania. And, they earn $12.99 the same starting rate as their adult colleagues. Thats not at an added cost to the district either. Normally the high school staffs nine full-time custodians. Currently, Johnston said, there are only four. Students are paid with the money already budgeted for a full staff. The board is in the process of approving a few more student hires, but the district is still searching for full-time employees. The district may also have a few positions available in the summer. If we are fully staffed, we would probably cut back on the number of students in future years, Johnston said. But, again, were just like everyone else. Were having trouble finding applicants for these positions and these students are enthusiastic and willing to do the work. Its not the first time students have worked for the school, but it is Penn Manors first experience staffing students during the school year. Similarly, Warwick, a district that has had a summer student building services team for decades, is now accepting applications to hire students during the school year for the first time. Our team has been looking for new ways to navigate staff shortages and are always seeking to provide new opportunities to students, Noelle Brossman, director of Human Resources for Warwick, said in an email to the LNP | LancasterOnline. This seemed like the perfect way to do both. Brossman said students may work up to three hours each night, up to five days per week as needed. Students are paid the substitute building services rate of $11 per hour. Donegal School District Superintendent Michael Lausch said six students were hired for their student custodial worker program and more are in the on-boarding process. The program began a month ago. Lancaster County Democratic and Republican party leaders met Saturday to consider which, if any, candidates they would back in the upcoming primaries for local and statewide elections later this year. Results were mixed. Democrats The Lancaster County Democratic Committee did not endorse any candidate in the U.S. Senate primary, one of the most-watched Senate races in the country. After three votes by the 160-plus Democratic committee members, no candidate got the supermajority of votes needed to capture the countys endorsement. The Lancaster Democrats met virtually Saturday for the first part of its endorsement convention, considering only the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate and which of their members would will represent them on the state Democratic partys committee. Western Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb received the most votes of any candidate, getting 81 votes by the final vote. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman received the second most, 58 votes on the final ballot. The four Democratic Senate candidates who received nominations from committeemembers Lamb, Fetterman, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Kevin Baumlin spoke to the committee prior to the vote. Each of the candidates is hoping to replace Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican and Pennsylvanias junior senator since 2011. Toomey is not running for re-election, and Democrats hope to use the opportunity to increase their control over the Senate. The candidates tried to differentiate themselves from the others. Lamb boasted his success at winning Republican congressional districts as a Democrat and his moderate voting record in the House of Representatives. Fetterman mentioned that he grew up in York County to highlight his understanding of the needs of south-central Pennsylvanians, as well as his work to support 2018 congressional candidate Jess King. Baumlin, a medical doctor and former chair of emergency medicine at University of Pennsylvania Hospital, pitched himself to county Democrats as an underdog candidate, describing himself as "the guy who really cares. Kenyatta, a Democrat representing North Philadelphia, noted his union endorsements from the SEIU and local AFSCME chapters, as well as the socioeconomic challenges his family faced while he was growing up. Baumlin received only three votes in the first ballot, so he was removed from further consideration. Kenyatta got 14 votes on the second ballot before being removed. On the final ballot, 13 Lancaster committeemembers chose not to endorse any candidate. The state Democrats also failed to endorse a Senate candidate at its convention last month, passing the decision onto county Democratic committees to decide whether theyll support a specific candidate. The county Democrats will consider who they will endorse for U.S. House and several key state House races at a second endorsement convention. That event wont be scheduled until the states district maps are finalized by the courts. Republicans The Republican Committee of Lancaster County held its area committee straw polls Saturday to consider four key House races and determine which candidates are most popular before heading into its endorsement convention. Following the result of Saturdays straw poll, held at Centerville Middle School in East Hempfield Township, its possible the Lancaster GOP may choose not to endorse for a spot representing the Elizabethtown and Donegal areas, as long-time Rep. Dave Hickernell prepares to retire at the end of 2022. Tom Jones, the Donegal area party chair and former township supervisor, led the straw poll in the closed-door meetings, scoring 17 votes across two area committees. He was followed closely by Lu Ann Fahndrich, a Donegal committeewoman and long-time House staffer, who received 14 votes. Logan Hoover, a local college student, received three votes, while two other candidates who asked for the endorsement got zero votes. The results between Fahndrich and Jones show there is no obvious favorite candidate in this race, meaning its possible the party will allow an open primary race to decide who will run for Hickernells seat hoping to become the new 98th House District representative. There were, however, a few clear front-runners in other House districts. 37th House District In the 37th House District, Rep. Mindy Fee, R-Manheim, will maintain the Lancaster GOPs endorsement over her primary challenger, Rebecca Glass. I am humbled and pleased with the results of the straw poll, and Im grateful for the thoughtful consideration of the committee, Fee said in a statement. I look forward to earning their endorsement and working to support our entire Republican team in (2022). Glass, however, could repeat what shes done in the past and run as an unendorsed candidate. The former Manheim Central school board member was part of a grassroots effort to elect unendorsed Republican candidates in 2021 to the local school board. 96th House District April Weaver, a candidate looking to run in the new 96th House District, carried 28 votes across three area committees. Mikie Patterson, a local DJ and emcee, received six votes from the Manheim Township committee, but zero from other two committees. This moves Weaver, a therapist for adolescents, ahead as the favorite to run in the new district that will cover the northern half of Lancaster city and stretch north into Manheim Township and East Petersburg. Longtime Democratic Rep. Mike Sturla, whose district currently includes Lancaster city, is seeking reelection in the new 96th. He is facing a primary challenge from Manheim Township resident 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 it leans Democratic. Weaver declined to comment when reached by phone Saturday. 41st House District Rep. Brett Miller, R-East Hempfield, received all 37 votes in Saturdays straw poll, bucking yet another primary challenge by Landisville truck driver Brad Witmer. Witmer has unsuccessfully challenged Miller in the past, and received only 15% of the vote in 2020. Straw poll winners traditionally get the official endorsement, and those decisions carry significant weight, as the party-endorsed candidate usually goes on to win the primary election and, in most of the county outside Lancaster city, is elected in November. The county GOP endorsement convention will be scheduled once the courts finalize the legislative districts. When: Mount Joy Borough Council meeting, Feb. 7. What happened: Borough Council moved to send a letter to the governor and state legislators to voice displeasure over the passage of the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act. Council objections: The law, passed on June 30, last year, purports to set standards for the installation of 5G network equipment while preserving local authority over rights of way. Councils letter, however, states the law usurps local decisions and control over zoning and will potentially damage the quality of life of municipalities like Mount Joy. Telecom providers are given the absolute right to install their facilities within public street rights of way regardless of the effect on the community. In other words, Pennsylvanians can look forward to having antennas placed on their lawns, backyards and randomly throughout the community. Main Street Mount Joy question: Council member Eric Roering questioned the value received in return for the boroughs $50,000 investment in this nonprofit downtown retail business development organization. Dominic Castaldi, the groups council liaison, Dale Murray, its president, and Dave Schell, its executive director, responded by asserting the organization is committed to supporting the business communitys development, though they offered nothing specific. Mayor Tim Bradley and council President Bill Hall both felt the relationship between the borough and MSMJ, along with any benefits of the boroughs investment, should be reexamined. Potential borough office sites: Josh Deering, building ad hoc committee chair, reported on potential sites for an expanded/improved borough municipal facility including the current address of 21 E. Main St, the former Wells Fargo Bank site at 1 W. Main St. and Grandview Park. He requested further direction from council. Public works vacancy: Council accepted the resignation of Dave Salley, assistant public works director/stormwater officer, after 25 years of borough service. He will join Lancaster Clean Water Partners as technical director. Next month, the Coalition for Sustainable Housing will host a summit inspired by the Lancaster County comprehensive plan Places 2040. The coalition is an initiative of Tenfold and the Coalition for Smart Growth, with sponsorship from Millersville University. Tenfold is an equitable housing advocacy organization that was the product of the merger between Tabor Community Services and the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership. The summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31, at The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St. in Lancaster. More information may be found at places2040summit.com. The genesis of this summit was the adoption of Places 2040 in 2018. Our plans, like everyone elses, were disrupted by the pandemic. In the meantime, the Lancaster County Planning Department proceeded to hold excellent regional meetings that addressed the first four big ideas outlined in the plan, allowing us to drive interest around the final big idea, Thinking Beyond Boundaries. (Those four big ideas are: Creating Great Places; Connecting People, Place and Opportunity; Taking Care of What We Have; and Growing Responsibly.) The world has changed since the creation of Places 2040. As a result of COVID-19 precautions, physical boundaries exist where they hadnt before, and more important are the unseen boundaries. As weve pivoted from granular implementation issues to a theme of Beyond Boundaries, weve found an incredible thirst for getting back to meeting in person, but also for discussing how to work together without boundaries. We felt the best way to support the work of the comprehensive plan was to address the issues that too often prevent fruitful collaboration. We asked ourselves: How do we begin to address the challenges of affordable housing, land conservation and responsible development, climate change, poverty and more, if we cant first ensure that we can get back to that familiar spirit of collaboration for which Lancaster County is justifiably famous? Our county is home to 60 individual municipalities, each with its own government structure, rules and regulations. But so many of the issues we face as a county cant be compartmentalized along such strict borders. Consider the following examples: The area near the intersection at Bridgeport, just east of Lancaster city, acts as a gateway to the eastern part of the county and sits at the border of four different municipalities. But the problems of traffic and stormwater dont stop at a border. What happens there cant be dismissed as the other guys problem. The county's waterways are another feature that doesnt respect our 200-year-old township boundaries. Recently, the Susquehanna River was incorporated into one of Pennsylvanias largest National Heritage areas, meaning all of the municipalities that border the river will have to work together to find the best ways to maximize recreation, tourism and the natural beauty of the area. We also should make the most out of the Conestoga River, the Little Conestoga and many of the countys popular creeks and streams. Those waterways can, and should, be a boon for the county, but their management needs to be collaborative. In this case, literally and from a planning perspective, we all live downstream. But physical boundaries are just one of the barriers we face. Our summit seeks to reignite cooperation across political lines as well. Former state Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong (a lifelong Republican) and former Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray (a lifelong Democrat) will be presenting at the summit about how they worked together to do what was best for their constituents. Were excited to hear their insights on how we can get back to that community approach, even if were a little dismayed we had to go back 12 years to find such cross-aisle cooperation. The final type of boundary is perhaps the most harmful, and those are the mostly false narratives that keep us stuck in our own bubbles. We too often imagine that our identities as city-dwellers or rural homesteaders, farmers or environmentalists, business leaders or anti-poverty advocates overshadow what it means to be Lancaster County residents. At a time when were encouraged to highlight what divides us, were asking participants to remember all that we have in common. You may be surprised to learn a lot of interesting things about the county that upend your narrative and force you to reconsider how we relate to one another. In the process of organizing the summit, we found ourselves constantly challenging our own assumptions. For example, did you know that the greatest growth area in Lancaster County since 2010 has been Pequea Township? And while many believe that poverty is a city issue, you may be surprised to learn that nearly two-thirds of poverty in Lancaster County is outside city limits. These issues will be among those explored at the summit. We also will highlight extraordinary work already underway, including that of the southern Lancaster County townships, which are leading the collaborative charge to preserve the natural splendor of the southern end, while still making it hospitable for business and responsible development. Lancaster County is at a crossroads. Our vital signs are promising. Were growing at a healthy rate, at a time when many Pennsylvania counties are seeing their populations and tax bases shrink (our session on immigration to the area will dig into the ways that we have refugees and immigrants to thank for meeting our workforce, business and tourism needs). We are at the top of so many exciting lists, including best places to retire, best nightlife, trails and food destinations. But with that growth comes an even greater need for collaboration to make sure we protect what we have and grow responsibly. To make sure that we take care of the people who live here, as well as provide space for those who want to make their home here. That cant happen if we allow lines on a map or other barriers to dictate how we conceive of our common goals. We look forward to coming together with you at the Places 2040 Summit to have conversations about how we preserve not just the natural, historical and cultural resources we enjoy, but to be in community as we discuss the important topics of Lancaster County, doing our part to return the county to the better angels of our nature. Shelby Nauman is the chief impact officer at Tenfold and co-chair of the Coalition for Sustainable Housing. Kate Zimmerman is the co-chair of the Coalition for Sustainable Housing. Joshua Druce is the president of the Coalition for Smart Growth. A movie about an all-woman news group in India has been nominated for an Academy Award, or Oscar. One of the founders of the group said she is proud and happy the film is being considered for Hollywoods top awards for movie-making. The 93-minute film is a documentary, meaning it aims to tell facts about real people and events. It is called Writing with Fire and it follows the news reporting group called Khabar Lahariya. The name is Hindi. It means news waves in English. The documentary was directed by Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. Khabar Lahariya started 20 years ago. It covers stories about women and local news in the area of Uttar Pradesh. It is a place in India where people are separated by class, or caste. In India, the caste system divides people based on their work and their backgrounds. The system has been in place for a long time. The film follows women as they report on stories about the lives of people in the lower caste. Meera Devi is one of the reporters. She said, I am so happy. But I cant express it well. She talked to the Reuters news agency while working on a story about elections in Uttar Pradesh. Meera Devi is one of the main people in the documentary. The film shows her walking through fields, riding a motorcycle on damaged roads and recording videos on her smart phone. Kavita Devi helped start Khabar Lahariya 20 years ago. In a message to Reuters, she wrote: We are proud that 20 years of our rural reporting and hard work is being appreciated and loved by a global audience. The organization teaches women how to use phones to make interviews. The news services works out of a building that once was a farmhouse. The news of the Oscar nomination made people in Indias film industry center Bollywood pay attention. On Twitter, actor Parineeti Chopra cheered the reporters. Congratulations my fellow Indians, she wrote. You have made us all a little emotional today. The Academy Award winners will be announced on March 27. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters. Do you have news organizations that tell stories about women where you live? Tell us about it in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. _________________________________________ Words in This Story proud adj. being very happy and pleased with yourself for something you have done motorcycle n. a two-wheeled vehicle powered by a motor appreciate v. to be recognized as important and valuable global adj. involving the whole world The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how American schools operate. Over the past two years, students and teachers in many places have depended on virtual learning to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Many schools are open again. But attacks by cyber-criminals are making it hard for schools to return to normal. Cyber-criminals use computer networks and software called ransomware to take control of computer systems that schools use to keep student information. The criminals say they will return control to the schools if they receive a payment. For teachers at a middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the first sign of a widespread problem came during an early morning video meeting. Nobody could open attendance records, and everyone was locked out of class lists and test results. Albuquerque administrators later confirmed an outage that blocked them from the districts student database. That database includes important information other than just student names and test results. It also includes emergency contact information and the names of adults who are permitted to pick up each child. The database was under attack by cyber-criminals. I didnt realize how important it was until I couldnt use it, teacher Sarah Hager said of the database. She teaches art at a middle school in Albuquerque. Schools in New Mexico, Maryland, Florida, Wisconsin, New Jersey and other states have reported problems with cyber-attacks. Doug Levin is director of K12 Security Information Exchange, a company that helps schools defend themselves against cyber-attacks. He said there have been over 1,200 attacks on schools since 2016. Over 200 of the attacks used ransomware to take control of school systems. Other forms of attack include people interrupting video lessons with students. In Baltimore, Maryland, a cyber-attack in late 2020 closed schools and made it difficult for students to continue learning from home. Recent news stories have reported that it cost nearly $10 million to improve the school systems information database and add security to defend against future attacks. Earlier this year in New York City, criminals attacked the computer system of an education company that makes software for schools. As a result, teachers could not use the software to record student test results. On January 12, cyber-criminals attacked schools in Albuquerque. Computer experts needed five days to reset the schools database. Scott Elder leads the Albuquerque schools. He said the unexpected move to computer-based learning two years ago created openings for the criminals to enter the school networks. He did not say whether Albuquerque paid money to the criminals to return control of the databases. Sarah Hager, the Albuquerque art teacher, said the attack caused numerous problems. The schools system for tracking COVID-19 infections, for example, was part of the database. Hager said it is possible some students came to school sick. The school was not able to find them and send them home. Last year, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, warned schools about ransomware gangs. One is called PSYA. Another is known as Conti. Conti asked for $40 million from a large school system near Miami, Florida. The FBI said the groups are mostly Russian-speaking and based in Eastern Europe. Emsisoft is a company that studies cyber-attacks and sells protection software. Brett Callow, an expert with the company, said more smaller school systems started getting attacked in 2021. He said school systems in large cities have the money to spend to protect their databases. In smaller cities, that is not always the case. Truth or Consequences is a small city in New Mexico. About 1,300 students attend the citys schools. Its computer system was attacked in late December. Channell Segura leads the schools in Truth or Consequences. She called the attack a disgusting way to get money, because it hurts children. The crimes are creating debates on how to stop the attacks. Some people say teachers should use paper to keep track of student information instead of databases. But many teachers say that would make their work take much longer. The crimes are also causing school systems and states to spend more money than usual. In New Mexico, state leaders are working to add $45 million to the budget to create a cybersecurity program by 2027. U.S. President Joe Biden signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act in October. The act asked a federal agency to help schools protect themselves. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. Do schools in your country have this problem? What are they doing to prevent cyberattacks? Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story virtual adj. existing on computers or the internet cyber adj. relating to computers or the internet track v. to follow or watch something gang n. a group of criminals disgusting adj. something that is unpleasant or does not taste good Fox News top-rated pundit Tucker Carlson yet again aimed his facile racism at Baltimore, recently, calling our city one of the worst places in the Western Hemisphere and a little bit of Haiti in the mid-Atlantic. As The Baltimore Suns editorial pointed out, it was an especially egregious outburst, even by the very low standards of Fox News and Mr. Carlson, who has lobbed casual, racist insults at Baltimore before. And yet, it will likely fade from our collective memory relatively quickly, blending in with the wave of right-wing hate that has become so commonplace in recent years. Advertisement But make no mistake: Racist narratives about Baltimore and other majority-Black cities weaponized so viciously by right wing media and politicians in recent years have done and will continue to do real damage to the people of Baltimore, people of color generally, immigrants and refugees, and other historically marginalized groups. We ignore the power of these narratives at our peril. Needless to say, Mr. Carlson and the right-wing media did not originate the negative narratives that dominate the regional and national discourse about Baltimore. The Wire was such a lasting cultural force that it is still being used as shorthand for the reality of Baltimore. But the right, including Mr. Carlson and former President Donald Trump who targeted Baltimore via Twitter several times have recognized that they can leverage this false narrative to create fear and push candidates attached to the right-wing agenda. Advertisement On a national level, we saw how the Republican Party mischaracterized the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd to create and weaponize a racist, fearmongering narrative about dangerous, out-of-control cities during the run-up to the 2020 election. On the local level, the false narratives may be even more harmful. People working relentlessly to build up Baltimore face the daily onslaught of doubters, naysayers, cynics and skeptics who insist that their work is meaningless or nonexistent. The real trauma that many Baltimoreans face from poverty and violence is compounded with the trauma of being told again and again that they live in a hopeless slum, to quote Mr. Carlson. This only serves to sustain the structures, policies and practices that we so desperately need to dismantle and re-imagine in more healthy, equitable and restorative ways. Mr. Carlsons segment went on to present a series of distortions, exaggerations and outright lies for example, referring to Baltimore City States Attorney Marilyn Mosby as a George Soros puppet, even though Mr. Soros, founder and chair of the Open Society Foundations, has never supported Ms. Mosbys campaigns. These he mixed in with hard truths about the homicide epidemic. No one who cares about Baltimore City would deny that we face real challenges, including poverty, homicides and a long history of chronic public and private underinvestment. But we also know that is not the complete picture. There are countless residents, neighborhood leaders, community-based organizations and public servants working tirelessly to help Baltimore thrive. Grassroots and community-based movements like Baltimore Ceasefire, Healing City Baltimore and Safe Streets bring people together to increase peace, healing and joy in our city. Our arts and tech sectors are thriving. And before the COVID pandemic, graduation rates and test scores for Baltimore City schools were rising. Its notable that all of the local news stories that Mr. Carlson referenced were from Sinclair-owned Fox45, which has an established reputation as a right-wing media company disguising its work as unbiased local reporting. Fox45s unrelenting, distorted reporting on city schools led to the proliferation of so much significant misinformation that the district set up a page on its website to set the record straight after misleading media coverage (as they did after Mr. Carlsons segment). These false narratives have specific policy implications. Distorted reporting about Baltimore City Public Schools no we dont spend the fourth-most per student in the U.S. has made it incredibly difficult to secure equitable education funding for Baltimores children. The relentless, unnuanced reporting about violence, typically presented without context about poverty and other roots causes, leads our governor and other leaders to push for ever more police funding, even though such funding doesnt reduce crime and is not what Baltimore residents want. Tarana Burke, who launched the #MeToo movement, recently said Narrative work is movement work. While residents, communities, and advocates continue to build a better Baltimore, we must also work to dismantle false narratives and promote a more accurate picture of our resilient, beautiful city. Danielle Torain is the Director of Open Society Institute-Baltimore. Her email address is danielle.torain@opensocietyfoundations.org. The Islamic State (IS) group enslaved Roza Barakat when she was a young Yazidi girl. IS has been defeated, but she still feels like a prisoner. She was 11 years old when she was captured and enslaved. Thousands of Yazidi women and girls were taken when the militants overran northern Iraq in their cruel 2014 campaign. Barakat was taken from her family in the town of Sinjar, the home of the ancient, religious Yazidi minority, to Syria. She was sold and sexually attacked. She gave birth to a child, a boy she has since lost. Now, at 18, she speaks little of her native Kurdish language, Kurmanji. Change your religion or be a slave Eventually, her IS captors gave her a choice: Become a Muslim and marry an IS fighter or be sold again. She changed her religion, she says, to avoid being sold. She married a Lebanese man chosen for her. He supplied food and equipment for IS fighters. "He was better than most," she said. At 13, she gave birth to a son, Hoodh. They lived for a while in Raqqa. As IS began losing control, Barakat fled with her husband. He later died in the fighting. Barakat is one of many Yazidi women who came of age under the cruel rule of IS. Troubled and lost, many struggle to move on from the past. Iraq's Yazidi community has forced women returning to Sinjar to give up their children as a condition to return. Many of the children have ended up in an orphanage in northeastern Syria. Faruk Tuzu is co-chair of Yazidi House, a group of Yazidi organizations in northeastern Syria. Speaking of the young women, he said, After so much shock and abuse, they don't believe in anything anymore, they don't belong anywhere." Fear being separated from children Today, over 2,800 Yazidi women and children are still missing, said Tuzu. Some are building new lives outside the community, believing that if they return, they would be killed. Others fear being separated from their children, fathered by IS members. "This is our mistake, that we didn't allow the children to stay with their mothers," said Tuzu. Barakat spoke to the AP from a safe house run by Tuzu's group. "I don't know how I'll face my community," she told The Associated Press, speaking in Arabic. By early 2019, as IS rule was failing, U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces surrounded Baghouz. Safe passage was offered to women and children. At this point, Barakat could have stepped forward and identified herself as a Yazidi and sought safety. But instead, she held her baby, Hoodh, in her arms and walked out of the town with other IS wives. Barakat went to a nearby village rather than going into a camp. With the help of IS sympathizers, she ended up in Idlib, in northwestern Syria, in a home for IS widows. She told the AP that Hoodh died after an airstrike in Idlib. She found work at a clothing market and dreamed of a new life in Turkey. Kurdish internal security forces caught her last month. She had been waiting to be taken by smugglers across the Syria-Turkey border. She was held and questioned for days. "I did everything to hide that I was Yazidi," she said. One investigator held up an old photo found on her mobile phone a young Yazidi woman in an IS slave market and asked her to explain. "The words just came out: 'That is my sister,'" Barakat said. Once she told the truth, Barakat was taken to a safe house in Syria's Hasakah province, where the Yazidi community welcomed her. "I was in shock to hear their kind words, and to be welcomed the way I was," she said. She is not ready to go back to Sinjar. Her entire family was either killed or is lost. What is there to go back to, she wonders. "I need time, for myself." Im Jill Robbins. Samya Kullab reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story orphanage n. a place where children whose parents have died can live and be cared for allow - v. to let, permit smuggler n. a person who moves (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly What do you think of the story of the Yazidi women? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. The American space agency NASA says it will keep supporting the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030. After that, it plans to retire the ISS and use privately developed stations. NASA recently released a report on its plans for transitioning from the ISS to one or more space stations that would be developed by private companies. The ISS has been operating for more than 20 years. The first piece of the floating space laboratory was launched into space in 1998. The ISS has been widely praised as a scientific success. But NASA and its international partners have recognized that it cannot continue to operate forever. Late last year, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden announced it was committed to extending ISS operations through 2030. In a statement, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the plan would include continued cooperation with international partners from Europe, Japan, Canada and Russia. Last month, NASA released a report to the United States Congress on its plans to keep the ISS operating over the next eight years. The report said NASA officials look forward to the final years of the ISS being its most productive. This will be a time in which NASA will aim to support deep space exploration and continue to return medical and environmental benefits to humanity the report reads. NASA notes in the report that the ISS is currently the busiest it has ever been, with the addition of private space companies now transporting astronauts and supplies. In the future, NASA says its goal is to completely move to privately developed space laboratories for all its space lab needs. This way, NASA will be paying the space station operators only for the goods and services the agency needs. NASA has already chosen three private American companies to develop future space stations. One of them will be led by Blue Origin. The company announced plans last October for its Orbital Reef station. The developers say Orbital Reef will support 10 people in an area of about 830 cubic meters. That is nearly the size of the ISS. The station will be designed to serve science researchers, space agencies, nations without space programs and technology and manufacturing companies. Another developer will be space services company Nanoracks. It has said it is teaming up with Voyager Space and Lockheed Martin to develop the first-ever free flying commercial space station. The companies say they expect the space laboratory, named Starlab, to be operational by 2027. The third company, Northrop Grumman, said it will develop a free-flying space station for NASA. In an announcement in December, the defense contractor said the station is expected to support activities including science, tourism and industrial experimentation. In its report to Congress, NASA also describes its plans for retiring the ISS. When it is ready to end service, the space agency said it would first take steps to begin slowly lowering the operational altitude of the ISS. Then, it would attempt to carry out a controlled de-orbit of the floating lab with the help of additional space vehicles. The plan is to target the space station toward the South Pacific Ocean at a place called Point Nemo. This is a stretch of open water between New Zealand and the southernmost part of South America. The U.S. National Ocean Service identifies Point Nemo as the point in the ocean that is farthest from land. The area has repeatedly been used by space agencies seeking to safely de-orbit old spacecraft so they do not cause problems in space or on the ground. Most parts of the ISS are expected to burn up as they pass through Earths atmosphere. But some pieces might reach Earth. That is why NASA says it would send the ISS to Point Nemo on its final trip. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA and Reuters. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - NASA Details Plans to Retire ISS After 2030 and Use Private Stations Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________ Words in This Story transition n. a change from one system or method to another committed adj. loyal and willing to give your time and energy to something you believe in benefit n. a good or helpful result tourism n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure altitude n. the height of something above sea level A report on hundreds of research studies says plastic pollution at sea is reaching worrying levels. The report warned that pollution will continue to grow even if immediate action is taken to stop such waste from reaching the worlds oceans. The report, by Germanys Alfred Wegener Institute, examined almost 2,600 research studies on plastic pollution. We find it in the deepest ocean trenches, at the sea surface and in Arctic sea ice, said biologist Melanie Bergmann. She is one of the reports writers. Some areas, such as the Mediterranean, East China and Yellow Seas, already contain dangerous levels of plastic. Other bodies of water risk becoming increasingly polluted in the future, the report found. The writers reported that almost every kind of ocean animal has been affected by plastic pollution. That pollution is harming important environmental systems such as coral reefs and mangroves. As plastic breaks down into smaller pieces, it is eaten by many different sea creatures, from whales to turtles to extremely small plankton. Bergmann said getting that plastic out of the water again is nearly impossible. She added that policymakers should center their efforts on preventing any more pollution from entering the oceans. Some of the studies showed that even if this were to happen today, the amount of microplastic in the seas would keep increasing for years to come, she said. Matthew MacLeod is a professor of environmental science at Stockholm University. He was not involved in the report. He said it appeared to be a good examination of existing studies on the effects of plastic pollution. The part that can be argued about is whether there is enough evidence to warrant aggressive action that will certainly disrupt current practices for plastic production, use and disposal, he said. MacLeod was involved in a separate study that also found that immediate measures are required because of the possible worldwide effects. Heike Vesper is with the World Wildlife Fund, the environmental group that ordered the Wegener Institute study. She said people can help reduce plastic pollution by changing their behavior. But she added that governments must help in dealing with the problem. What we need is a good policy framework, Vesper said. Its a global problem and it needs global solutions. The United Nations Environment Assembly is expected to meet and discuss the plastic pollution problem later this month. Im Jonathan Evans. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English based on a report from the Associated Press. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story trench n. a long, narrow hole in the ocean floor disrupt v. to cause something to be unable to continue in the normal way; to interrupt the normal progress or activity of something practice n. the usual way of doing something disposal n. the act of throwing something away framework n. the basic structure of something : a set of ideas or facts that provide support for something CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (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. Officials in his upstate village of Canajoharie see it very differently. To them, the pig is a farm animal Flatt is harboring in the village illegally. The case could soon be headed to a criminal trial. 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." Story continues after photo gallery 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 center 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 misdemeanor 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 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. 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." *** Maryland Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Doug Gansler is teaming up with Candace B. Hollingsworth, a former mayor of Hyattsville, as his running mate in the 2022 campaign. Hollingsworth was the youngest-ever mayor and the first Black mayor of the town in Prince Georges County, winning election in 2015 before resigning in 2020 to focus on Our Black Party, an advocacy organization she cofounded. Advertisement As they announced their political partnership Tuesday, Gansler and Hollingsworth posted a video in which she acknowledges having had personal financial struggles. Hollingsworth said in the video her financial setbacks make her sympathetic to Marylanders facing the same challenges. Hollingsworth, 40, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and her career in nonprofit grants management brought her to the Washington, D.C., region, where she settled in Hyattsville in 2009. Advertisement Hollingsworth said in an interview that shes excited to work with Gansler, who she said has a beautiful mix of care and compassion alongside real ability and leadership to do the things he cares about. Gansler said he picked Hollingsworth as his lieutenant governor candidate because hes been impressed with her work in Hyattsville. What she has done to revitalize Hyattsville is a success story that we will strive to replicate all across Maryland, Gansler said in a statement. Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. > Gansler, 59, worked as a federal prosecutor in Washington before winning election as states attorney in Montgomery County. He then was elected Maryland attorney general in 2006 and served two four-year terms. A bid for governor in 2014 was unsuccessful and hes been in private practice since then. Online court records show Hollingsworth has been the subject of seven cases involving tax liens or contract disputes in Maryland between 2009 and 2016. Hollingsworth said she and her family had to make tough financial decisions without a safety net. When things happened to me, when Im behind on my mortgage, theres no one to call, she said in the interview. Hollingsworth said she and her husband, Nyere, have worked on payment plans and satisfied much of that to date. The rocky personal financial history shouldnt deter voters from supporting the campaign, Hollingsworth said, as they represent common struggles for families. She said her personal financial struggles didnt affect her fiscal leadership in Hyattsville. Advertisement Another ticket was announced Thursday in the crowded governors race, ahead of an extended March 22 deadline for political hopefuls to file their candidacy paperwork for the June primary. Democrat Jerome Segal named Justin Dispenza, a Town Council member in Galena on the Eastern Shore, as his running mate. The race has attracted 10 Democrats and four Republicans so far. Rachel Becker is a reporter with a background in scientific research. After studying the links between the brain and the immune system, Rachel left the lab bench with her master's degree to become a journalist via the MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing. This story was originally published by CalMatters. A woman who crashed into a Red Robin in Monona early Sunday admitted to authorities that she was drunk, Monona police said. Donisha Hutton, 27, crashed her SUV into the chain restaurant at 6522 Monona Drive just after 3 a.m., Chief Brian Chaney Austin said in a statement. Hutton had non-life-threatening injuries from the crash and the restaurant was empty, Austin said. Officers found Hutton's vehicle on the restaurant's northwest side and later determined that she had left the roadway and hit the building. Hutton was cited for a first OWI offense and failure to keep control of a vehicle, Austin said. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Staffing a school each day in Wisconsin has become like a desperate attempt to plug a leaking dam. On a recent Tuesday in the Drummond Area School District in far northern Wisconsin, a reading interventionist was tapped to sub in a classroom, leaving other students without the extra reading and writing help; a teaching aide had to supervise an entire classroom; and the band and music teacher had to supervise at least four study hall periods. Cobbling together teaching staff amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a daily task in his 300-student district, Superintendent Dennis Kaczor said. Drummond has just two substitute teachers they can count on to cover as needed any day of the week. So far, the district has been able to avoid shifting to online-only learning despite staffing constraints, which is good because, he said, many of the students dont have stable internet access. We are struggling to find subs, were struggling to find bus drivers, were struggling to find cooks and librarians and library aides on a fill-in or temporary basis, Kaczor said. As staff go out, were trying to fill holes, so to speak a crack in the dam. Put your finger here, put your finger here, next thing you know youre stretched out pretty thin. I dont have any more fingers or toes. School districts across the state are being pushed to the brink of a crisis due to extreme staffing difficulties brought on by the surging COVID-19 pandemic. District administrators and staff say the recent problems are compounding staffing challenges that began about a decade ago after the passage of Act 10, the Republican law that cut benefits and stripped collective bargaining rights from teachers unions. The number of emergency licenses issued to staff members across the state nearly tripled from 1,126 in the 2012-13 school year to 3,016 in the 2019-20 school year, and then increased another 30% to 3,942 last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. An emergency license allows a teacher or staff member to work outside of the subject or grade level they were initially licensed to teach in an effort to fill a vacancy. ACT 10s legacy Three teachers left Drummond at the end of the 2020-21 school year and the district was only able to fill one of those open positions ahead of the current school year a refrain that has echoed across the state as the number of teachers entering the workforce shrinks and the number of teachers who retire, leave the profession, or leave the state to teach elsewhere grows. The White Lake School District, located about 70 miles northwest of Green Bay, has been searching for a math teacher for grades 7-12 for the past year and a half. The district, with roughly 155 students in grades K-12, was able to find a teacher who came out of retirement to cover half of the classes and another staff member who is on emergency licensure to cover the other half. We had no math teacher to start the year. We had no applicants, Superintendent Nathan Hanson said. Fortunately, we were able to get these two people that were willing to split the job and come in but its a one-year fix. ... Theyre not able to build programming for the future. Theyre filling in the gap and doing what they can. There are also vacancies in art and music, and others that are filled with instructors who have received emergency teaching certification. Hanson, who worked in the Tomahawk School District as a building and district administrator in 2010, said the education workforce in Wisconsin has been on the decline for years and that COVID has accelerated it. He said Act 10, the 2011 law signed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, and academic standards implemented across the state around the same time became a perfect storm that left teachers feeling disenfranchised. I know colleagues that left the state, Hanson said. Ive seen a certain level of demoralization that happened, especially with our veteran teachers. He began to see a significant decrease in applicants for teaching roles in 2012, he said. For elementary school jobs, his district was accustomed to seeing 50-60 applicants for one position in Tomahawk, but that year the number of applicants dropped to 10 and has been on a steady decline since. In Milwaukee, the Great Resignation started in 2011, said Amy Mizialko, president of the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. When I was hired (as a teacher) in summer of 1992, there were no vacancies of any kind, in any job class ever, she said, and her district has gone from incredibly well staffed, with a wait list, to a drastically different scenario with more than 100 teaching vacancies and dozens of support staff vacancies. Republicans have continued to defend Act 10 as a necessary measure to curb the influence of teachers unions on local school board decision-making. Requiring public employees to contribute to their pension and health insurance premiums has saved state and local taxpayers billions of dollars. Revenue limits Mellen School District Superintendent Rhonda Elmhorst-Friemoth said the flat revenue limit for public school funding set by legislators in the recent biennial budget also poses a barrier to attracting and retaining teachers. The state funding formula and what they did in the most recent budget really limits how were able to compensate teachers, she said. If rural districts arent getting adequate funding from the state, it really becomes a financial barrier for us to compensate teachers appropriately. Legislative Republicans had defended the flat revenue limit in the budget by noting K-12 schools are receiving billions of dollars in federal COVID relief aid, known as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER funds. However, that aid is one-time funding meant to combat the effects of the pandemic on public education, not for reoccurring expenses such as salary increases for teachers or other staff. In the 2018-19 school year, Elmhorst-Friemoths 275-student, one-building district saw 18% turnover, in 2019-20 it saw 26% turnover, 27% during the 2020-21 school year, and for the 2021-22 school year the district is tracking at 31%. The areas with the highest turnover are special education, English, music and band, business education, and counselors, and that rate of turnover has made it difficult for students to form relationships with teachers. She pointed to the districts inability to raise salaries as a main reason why teachers have sought jobs elsewhere. Tim Raymond, superintendent of the Cambria-Friesland School District, located about 40 miles north of Madison with a declining enrollment currently at 355 students, said his district had to go to a $5 million referendum to exceed the revenue limit, which the community passed. Had that referendum failed, CF Schools budget would have been reduced by $1.4 million this year, $1.6 million in 2022-23, and $2 million in 2023-24, he said in an email. As a district with a $6 million annual budget you can see the impact referendum dollars makes for our school. Closer to home Natasha Sullivan, an AP English teacher at Madisons La Follette High School, said properly funded schools is a necessity for teachers and staff as they navigate the changing pandemic landscape. Were drowning, she said. Were hemorrhaging teachers because this is an extremely difficult job and being underpaid through all of this is just crushing. In the past week, the first week back to in-person learning after the holiday break, staff at La Follette struggled to cover classes. On a daily basis, school administrators send around a list of absences and ask teachers and staff to give up their prep time to cover those absences. It keeps building and building and building for staff, she said. I think this is the breaking point. She said education can go one of two ways in Wisconsin, following the pandemic: Legislators and administrators can decide to value teachers through funding, or the bar will need to be set lower for educators seeking to enter the workforce. Thirty-six out of the districts 52 schools experienced an absence rate of at least six staff members each day due to illness or child care needs in the first week of in-person learning following winter break, said Angie Hicks, the districts chief of secondary schools and middle schools. The system is already stretched, she said. Over the last five in-person school years, the district had an average of 650 substitute teachers to cover absences. This year that number has dropped to 391, with 84 of those substitute teachers also covering absences in other districts. The Madison School Board recently voted to raise the rate of pay for substitute teachers and passed a COVID-related sick leave policy for teachers and staff in an effort to help bolster the workforce. Elsewhere A number of districts across Wisconsin had to close school buildings or delay students return to in-person learning after winter break due to staffing constraints, including the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, La Crosse, Bloomer, and Beloit districts, among others. Milwaukee Public Schools paused their return to in-person learning for two weeks after more than 1,000 staff members tested positive for COVID-19 over the New Years weekend. The COVID-19 pandemic was a key factor in one-third to one-half of teacher departures, National Education Association President Becky Pringle said in a statement Wednesday. As the pandemic persists, teachers are working more hours than ever. They are exhausted and demoralized, adjusting to changing models of teaching, often without appropriate training. Nationally, the ratio of hires to job openings in the education sector has reached new lows as the 2021-22 school year started, and currently stands at 0.57 hires for every open position, according to the NEA. We, in this country, have a looming crisis around having enough public education workers and staffing to start the 2022-23 school year, Mizialko said. Its an emergency. Were sounding the alarm. Weve been sounding the alarm. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. KEWASKUM State Rep. Timothy Ramthun, a conspiracy theorist who was disciplined by Republican leadership over false election claims, launched his candidacy Saturday for Wisconsin governor, saying he could do more in that role to undo President Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election. You got to do what you got to do to make a difference, Ramthun said during a rally in the village of Kewaskum, about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Ramthun has won praise from former President Donald Trump for his attempts to reverse Bidens win in the battleground state. Ramthun said he would call for a full audit of the election, which he called an assault on the Constitution and national security. Bidens win by just under 21,000 votes has survived recounts, multiple lawsuits, an audit by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and a review by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. An Associated Press review of battleground states found far too few confirmed cases of fraud to tip the election for Trump, whose own attorney general has disputed the fraud claims. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, also a purveyor of false claims that Trump won the 2020 election, endorsed Ramthun, telling the crowd that filled a high school auditorium he would be the greatest governor Wisconsin has ever seen. We need to elect politicians that have the peoples back, Lindell said. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a former Trump adviser, told the crowd in an audio message that he wholeheartedly supports Ramthuns bid for governor. We need these types of courageous leaders, Flynn said. Ramthun has called on the Legislature to rescind Wisconsins 10 electoral votes that were awarded to Biden, a move that Republican leaders and nonpartisan attorneys for the Legislature have said is illegal. He tried to do that most recently on Jan. 25, but fellow Republicans rebuffed him. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was lieutenant governor under Scott Walker, and former U.S. Senate candidate and Marine Kevin Nicholson were already in the Republican field. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will advance to take on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The race is a top priority for both parties given swing state Wisconsins importance in the 2024 presidential race. HUMBIRD The visitor arrived unannounced, ordered a Corona with lime and set up her tripod and Leica camera that only shoots in black and white. There are no tap handles at the Big Street Bar & Grill. Beer here comes in a can or bottle retrieved from a glass cooler that also holds locally produced eggs and butter. Theres a pool table in the back, a handful of video poker machines along the wall and a sign advertising a gun raffle to benefit the local rod and gun club and the fire district. A mannequin, named Brandy and wearing a blaze orange cap, stands guard near the front bay window. She doesnt talk a lot but shes tough, quipped bartender Mike Scheffer. The upper walls of the bar are lined with impressive shoulder mounts of bucks, but Alessandra Sanguinetti, a member of Magnum Photos, a New York-based co-op of international photographers, has pointed her camera at the front entrance, where the head of a buffalo is mounted above the door. Sanguinetti, who lives just north of San Francisco, would appear to be out of place in this Clark County hamlet nestled below a bluff and surrounded by frack sand mines about 20 miles north of Black River Falls. Only Sanguinetti, 54, who was born in Manhattan but largely grew up in Argentina, has found comfort here among the ATV trails, Christmas tree farms and frustrated Green Bay Packers fans. Inspired by photos Since 2014, Sanguinetti has visited Wisconsin a half dozen times thanks to her curiosity and inspiration from a collection of images from the late 1800s and early 1900s taken by Charles Van Schaick, a Black River Falls photographer. His work would have likely been only known to the locals and researchers. But Michael Lesy, a UW-Madison student, was introduced in 1968 to Van Schaicks work by Paul Vanderbilt, then the curator of pictorial collections at the Wisconsin Historical Society. In 1973, Lesy turned some of Van Schaicks images into Wisconsin Death Trip, a book that went viral before we all knew about the internet. The book was among those that took up space on Sanguinettis family coffee table in Buenos Aires and is what led the 9-year-old Alessandra to ask for an Instamatic camera and pursue a photography career. Shes now working on her own Wisconsin-themed book, Some Say Ice, scheduled for publication this fall. Only unlike Lesys work, it wont include images of dead children, farmers and homemakers. Last weekend she took a photo of a minister at the Wrightsville Chapel near Merrillan. By placing ads on Craigslist, she found a 19-year-old man from Eau Claire to climb a tree in his pajamas and a U.S. Marine to pose in his log cabin in Wild Rose. Sanguinetti has taken photos of an Eagle Scout in Hixton, abandoned farm houses in Sheboygan County, a physical education class in Black River Falls and ice formations on Wazee Lake, a former iron mine and now the states deepest inland lake. Im not trying to say this is Wisconsin because Im the last person who should be doing that. Everybody has a different Wisconsin, Sanguinetti said. My body of work has more to do with my projections and imagination and how it informed my childhood. Death Trip Wisconsin Death Trip combines photos and news accounts from Jackson County. It inspired a 1999 film, a Stephen King novella and even a bluegrass opera, which debuted at Georgetown University in 2008. The review of the opera in The Washington Post was headlined: Disturbed in Dairyland. The book includes basic portraits of living people taken in Van Schaicks Black River Falls studio. He also would bring in local business people for portraits. One includes a baker holding loaves of bread. Another shows a butcher in a white apron and armed with a large knife. But some of his images include people with their backs turned to the camera. Theres a group shot at what appears to be a logging camp, and another is outside of a white horse with a long, flowing mane. But what makes Lesys book stand out is that it shows the dead. Many are children laid out in tiny coffins, the lids wide open. It was like I got hit on the back of the head with a 2-by-4, Lesy, told the Wisconsin State Journal in 2014. I wasnt looking for trouble. But the stories were dark, crazy and surreal. Paul (Vanderbilt) was the first one I know of, or certainly one of the first, who understood how powerful archived collections of images can be. Theyre radioactive. On Wednesday of last week we went to the fourth floor of the Wisconsin Historical Society to get a glimpse of some of Van Schaicks original glass plate negatives. Prints of his work made by the historical society were also spread out on a table by Tim Ream, a visual archivist. Lesys hardcover book was also there. This is the sort of strange thing that we hide our eyes from usually, Ream said. The photographs are really great. (Van Schaick) was technically really good. He had a great eye for the composition. Paying attention I discovered Sanguinetti and her project in December when Rebecca Mead wrote a profile of the photographer for The New Yorker. Only when I reached out to Sanguinetti a few weeks ago in hopes of a phone interview, she mentioned that she would soon be back in Wisconsin to do more work. Yes, luck is sometimes involved in these weekly columns. Tired of staying in chain hotels in Black River Falls, we met Sanguinetti at the Humbird Hotel Bar & Grill, where she had rented one of the seven second-floor rooms that appeared to share two bathrooms. Her room came with a four-post bed and massive flat screen television. Freight trains rumbled by a few blocks away, while a pair of ice anglers tried their luck on nearby Emerson Lake. For Sanquinetti, this community, founded in 1869 and now known for its namesake cheese company, allows immersion into our Wisconsin culture without distraction. But replicating Lesys book is not part of her agenda. Its nice to be paid attention to. Thats what all of this is about for me, Sanguinetti said of her subjects. Everybody pays attention to different things, and I came here through this weird way, but I am paying attention. Some of the Wisconsin images she has taken over the years are in an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in London. But she still has work to do before embarking on another project in Argentina to shoot small, rural communities, including one in which her father owns a farm. Sanguinetti was desperately trying to get a picture last week of a white tail deer and was in search of someone who hunted crows. She wanted to visit the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo and Cave of the Mounds near Blue Mounds. A wildlife zoo in Hayward was on her list, but she knew nothing of the building-sized muskie at the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame or Louie Sprays controversial world-record muskie. The work Im doing kind of feels like Im writing a song or short story. Im not doing investigative work. Im not looking for any answers, Sanguinetti said. I never had the intention of judging or making a statement about Wisconsin. Just exploring it. Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. While Sumayyah Mya Bilal had long enjoyed baking for family and friends, she hadnt considered making a career of it until she served a slice of her favorite cheesecake to her now-fiance, Chris Burgess. He came along and said, Were going to sell this, Bilal said. And he would help. A few years later, their bakery, Codetta Bake Shop was featured on Good Morning America; recent customers include Odafe Oweh, outside linebacker for the Ravens. Advertisement Running a business together is almost like raising a kid, said Burgess, who has two children of his own from a previous relationship. Weve each seen it grow and change. Its a built-in commitment. Chris Burgess brings over a bowl of sprinkles while his fiancee, Mya Sumayyah, stacks a new layer of cake inside the Light Street Presbyterian Church on Wednesday on Feb. 9. Sumayyah and Burgess are co-owners of Codetta Bake Shop, a pop-up bakery in Federal Hill. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun) Some of Baltimores most dynamic entrepreneurs and small-business owners in recent years are owned and operated by young couples, as devoted to their work as they are to one another. Some are professionally trained, others arent. Their assets go beyond their bank accounts. Advertisement Businesses run by couples are born out of passion and love, says Manuel Sanchez, who owns Fells Point bakery Sacre Sucre with his husband, Dane Thibodeaux. There is an extra layer of care making sure both the relationship and the business do well. As a regional director for the Maryland Small Business Development Center, Jennifer Smith Funn says shes seen a growth in entrepreneurship during the pandemic as people particularly women and parents seek more flexible career paths that allow them to balance work and child care. Being an entrepreneur can be a very lonely place, says Funn, and going into business with family or intimate partners can make the going easier. When youre down, you have someone to encourage you. When theres a crisis, you have someone you can talk to. When working together, she encourages clients to respect their partners expertise and to divide labor accordingly. Running a business as a couple is about knowing when to take a back seat and knowing when its your turn to drive, says Brendon Hudson, 28, who opened Allora, a Roman-style bistro, with his boyfriend, David Monteagudo, 25, last year. When they first met, while attending the Culinary Institute of America, Hudson says, he was attracted to Monteagudos ability to stand up to him. Im a bit of a bulldozer at times, he concedes. Theyve learned how to make joint decisions, whether choosing abstract art for the walls of their Mount Vernon restaurant or adding tripe pasta to the menu. Hudson, whose family owns Casa di Pasta, an Italian food wholesaler in Little Italy, says hes learned from Monteagudo how to separate work from their personal lives. One thing thats helped: Monteagudo instituted a no-work-talk-after-work-hours policy. As soon as I leave [the restaurant], Monteagudo said, dont text me anymore about work. Though theyre business partners, Hudson said, You still need to be a couple at some point. Advertisement Dane Thibodeaux, left, and his husband, Manuel Sanchez, opened Sacre Sucre in Fells Point four years ago. Businesses run by couples are born out of passion and love, Sanchez says. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Four years after opening their Fells Point bakery together, separating work from life remains a challenge for owners Thibodeaux and Sanchez, who are self-taught pastry chefs. There is no outside of work, says Thibodeaux, 40. Still, both are proud of the company that they say has blossomed during the coronavirus pandemic as neighborhood customers have rediscovered the joys of regular pastry intake. Their days begin just after 4 a.m. in the kitchen of their shop at Fleet and South Washington streets. During a recent visit, Thibodeaux sprayed egg wash onto some croissants headed into the oven, while Sanchez, 35, artfully layered bright pink apple slices onto some tarts. They operated in serene silence. After all, theres not much to talk about when you see each other all day, Sanchez said. The couple hope that eventually they will be able to delegate more of the baking to employees allowing them both to expand their business and to take a break. Thats the main goal, to get to the place where the business can run without us being here all the time, Thibodeaux said. For some of Baltimores modern mom and pop shops, the business has outlived the relationship. One of Baltimores largest restaurant groups is run by exes: chef Cindy Wolf and Tony Foreman, who seem like amicable co-parents to their six-eatery empire. The two continue to co-host a weekly radio show on WYPR-FM about food and wine. We have a great bond and a great trust and enjoy it, Foreman said. We each know that the other makes our work better. At Codetta Bake Shop, Bilal is the creative, she says, while Burgess is the organizer. They began their business as a side hustle, marketing slices of cheesecake to Burgess co-workers at the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked as a mail carrier at the time. Advertisement We basically used his job as a test market, said Bilal, who was then baking cheesecakes in the kitchen of her efficiency apartment. They tried out flavors that customers requested and came up with a logo and the name Codetta, a reference to a coda in music. Chris Burgess creates a crust while his fiancee, Sumayyah Mya Bilal, frosts a cake inside the Light Street Presbyterian Church. The couple are co-owners of Codetta Bake Shop. (Ulysses Munoz/The Baltimore Sun) Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Looking for ways to promote the brand on a limited budget, Burgess contacted local food bloggers and Instagram influencers who posted about their cheesecakes in exchange for samples. But most importantly, they say, they created a delicious product that customers talked about, shared with others, and wanted to buy again and again. Its really the dedication of the owners to each other that spills over to the customer, Bilal said. Their dedication had its first major test during Thanksgiving 2020, when they were working out of a shared commercial kitchen that had two ovens fail. They spent 38 hours straight together, baking cheesecakes. Bilal figures if they can get through that without killing each other, marriage should be a piece of cake. Last year, they received a $50,000 grant from Baltimores Downtown Partnership to open their own storefront. While Bilal and Burgess look for their own space, theyre working out of a church kitchen on Light Street where customers can pick up online orders. The week before Valentines Day, Bilal piped blue frosting onto a birthday cake while Burgess pulsed cookies in a food processor for cheesecake crust. In the corner sat stacks of 48 black boxes, all needing to be filled with goodies by the weekend. Advertisement Nearby, Burgess daughter alternated between doing homework at her laptop and placing stickers on plastic containers for cheesecake slices. Sometimes it gets really boring, said Sofia, age 9. The more we help, the faster it goes. But the situation is not without perks. For her recent birthday, Bilal made Sofia a decadent Oreo chocolate cake. Thats one of the best things about having a daddy that owns a bakery, she said. Investing when stocks seem to go lower and lower isn't always fun, and it's not possible to buy at the exact perfect time with any degree of accuracy. But that doesn't mean you should keep your cash on the sidelines until things calm down. In this Motley Fool Live video clip, recorded on Jan. 27, Fool.com contributor Travis Hoium shares one of the most important lessons all long-term investors should keep in mind, especially when the market gets turbulent. 10 stocks we like better than Walmart When our award-winning analyst team has an investing tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Walmart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Stock Advisor returns as of 6/15/21 Travis Hoium: What I've learned over the last, particularly 20 years of paying attention to the markets on a more day-to-day basis is that it doesn't matter when you buy a great company, you're going to forget about what that entry price was or whether it was the top of the market or the bottom of the market. If you bought Apple before the crash in 2008, you probably wouldn't be too worried about it if you bought it at the bottom. You might not even remember that. If you are buying and holding great companies long term, all these entry-point things that we're talking about are rounding errors. It's painful to take that 50%, 80%, 90% drop. But if you really believe in the company long term and they are executing, and that's why we keep talking about these things, is the company profitable? Is it growing? Is it executing on what they say they're going to do? Is there a moat being built? That's really what's going to drive long-term value. If you got the next Tesla or Netflix or Amazon, and you're worried about buying a little bit too high, it doesn't matter. I literally wrote an article, I got to find it, right after Tesla went public, saying this is why I'm buying Tesla stock. Then we have these trading rules where we can't buy stocks for a couple of days. Over that couple of days, the stock went up 30% or 40%. So, I didn't buy it because I thought it'll just come back to me. It never did. We're in this for the long haul. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Matthew Frankel, CFP has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Travis Hoium owns Apple and has the following options: long March 2023 $250 puts on Tesla. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RUPERT Married only eight months, Jose Merced and Karina Rodriguez slept peacefully in their bed on Aug. 2, 2008, when a man entered their home on the outskirts of Rupert and began bludgeoning the couple. Merced, 24, was beaten with a blunt force object, although it is unknown what it was, said Lendon Moss, one of the Minidoka County Sheriffs Office detectives who works the case now with Detective Dustin Bourn. Karina, who was then 23, escaped and ran to a neighbors house kicking and screaming for help, Eric Snarr, former detective in the case said in an early interview. Merced later died at a Boise hospital. More than 13 years later, there has been no justice for Merced and Karina Rodriguez. The suspect was described at the time as a light-skinned heavy-set man. Bourn said there was no forced entry at the Rodriguezs residence at 100 W. 270 N. that night. Their nearest neighbor was about 100 yards away, Bourn said. The neighbors didnt hear anything, and there were multiple homes there. No one saw any unknown vehicles in the area either, he said. Can you help? Anyone who has any information about the death of Jose Merced Rodriguez or the beating of his wife Karina Rodriguez should contact Detectives Bourn or Moss at 208-434-2320. A night of terror If she hadnt gotten out of the house the way she did she would have been a victim of homicide as well, Snarr said. Ten months after her husbands murder, Karina told the Times-News her frustration continued each day she had to endure not knowing who murdered her husband and the reason for the violent crime. Sometimes I lose hope, she said. The frustrating thing is I dont know why. Did they want money? Was it a coincidence or was it something personal? A reporter could not find Karina to interview her for this story. We want to know who did this and why they did it, said Brigido Rodriguez, 20-year-old brother of Merced told the Times-News in November 2008. We dont understand why this happened. Attempts by the Times-News to locate Brigido or other family members of Merced for this article were unsuccessful. In 2008, Brigido said his brother was nice to everyone and was not involved with gangs or drugs. The investigation showed Merced had only a single traffic ticket in his history. He didnt deserve to die this way, Brigido said. The investigation continues Today, all hope for resolution of the case rests on the shoulders of Bourn and Moss, who inherited the case from prior investigators who left the department. When cases are passed to new detectives, the previous investigator thoroughly goes over each one with the new detective. For a detective, Bourn said, an unsolved homicide never goes away and is never forgotten. If someone is victimized, a case never really goes cold, Bourn said. Sometimes circumstances or leads in newer cases will present new leads for the old case, he said. The investigation of the Rodriquez home showed signs of a brutal attack with blood all over the bedroom, hallway and bathroom. Merced had tried to get out of the bedroom, Bourn said, but never made it. Magic Valley Missing and Murdered This story is the fourth in a multi-part series on unsolved cases of missing and murdered people in south-central Idaho. Each story will run in Sunday's Times-News and online at Magicvalley.com. For a prior story, one of the initial detectives said one of the most difficult part of the case was establishing a motive for the crime because Merced was a hard worker and devoted to his family. Karina was a homemaker, who was quiet in nature and hung out mostly with her family. Merced worked on a farm. He left early in the morning and returned home late. At the time of his death Merced worked for Blincoe Farms. In 2009, Richard Blincoe said Merced had worked for them since he was a little boy and was like a member of their family. Merced and Karina were good kids, he said. Blincoe died in 2019. Seeking the publics help Extramarital affairs or involvement in drugs were ruled out due to the couples character, a former detective said. They had their ups and down, but nothing came up during the investigation to indicate they had anything more than newlywed spats, he said. They were a model couple, and they were squeaky clean, he said. Karina even took a polygraph test, which she passed with flying colors. She was cleared of any involvement in her husbands death. Unfortunately, Bourn said, in order to protect the case, detectives can never reveal all of the details of a crime scene to the public. Detectives also try to watch what is said in public about the case to protect victims and their families. If they keep some of the details private, Bourn said, when someone comes forward with information on the case police can validate their credibility. Moss said although the evidence collected in the case in 2008 has all been processed, new technological advances in forensics and DNA still leave hope for justice. Cassia detectives searching for suspect in 1999 shooting death BURLEY The Cassia County Sheriffs Office is searching for Samuel Reza Rogel, 46, in connection with a man who was shot in the chest and kil But, Bourn said, without a suspect or a motive they cant say the perpetrator poses no risk to the public. We ask the public to keep in mind that we never forget (about a case) and dont ever hesitate to call us, he said. Something that a person noticed that day like seeing someone walking down the road, a vehicle parked in a strange spot or even overhearing a conversation, can all be clues. The information may seem insignificant, but could help solve the case, he said. If you hear anything at all call us, I dont care if it is 2 in the morning. And that goes for any cold case, Moss said. The slightest detail may be the key. The community is the polices bridge to information, Moss said. Magic Valley's Missing and Murdered: What happened to Glenn Cawley? Navy veteran Glenn Cawley was ambushed and murdered execution-style in his home west of town in March 2015. Nearly seven years later, the horrific murder has gone unsolved. Magic Valley's Missing and Murdered: What happened to Kevin Bowman? On May 7, 2011, a hunter hiking in a remote area east of Wells, Nevada, stumbled upon a 1997 red Mercury Tracer. Windows down, packrats inside, it was obvious the vehicle had been there for a while. More than 13 years later, there has been no justice for Merced and Karina Rodriguez. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Q: Regarding last weeks column. I had a younger girl come into the bar I work at a couple of months ago that I checked her ID. She came back a couple of days later and had forgotten it. She asked if her roommate could text it to her, if that would work. I told her no, it had to be in hand. I know insurance can be but what about this? I always understood that it had to be on the person. A lot of things have changed but I dont think I have ever heard about this one changing. -Kelli A: I know people out there think if they are old enough to buy alcohol, then why they should have to have identity to prove it. Well, the simple answer is because its the law in Idaho. Yes that was a tough one to figure out for me. Idaho code 23-943A reads: IDENTIFICATION. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to refuse to present identification indicating age, when requested by a peace officer of the state of Idaho when: (a) he or she shall possess, purchase, attempt to purchase or consume alcoholic liquor or (b) he or she shall possess, purchase, attempt to purchase or consume beer or he or she is on a premises licensed to sell liquor by the drink at retail, or licensed to sell beer for consumption on the premises. As you can read the identification must be present with the person and not on their phone. Give it time however and that might become a legal thing like it with insurance. Idaho 23-615(1) describes the identification that is allowed for proof of legal age. These include: A validly issued state, district, territorial, possession, provincial, national or other equivalent government drivers license, identification card or military identification card bearing a photograph and date of birth, or a valid passport. I should add that this is also the rule in public as well with possessing alcohol, which includes consumption. Officer down Please put these officers, killed in the line of duty, and their families in your prayers. They fought the good fight, now may they rest in peace. God bless these heroes. Deputy Sheriff Lorin Marie Readmond, Loving County Sheriff, Texas Police Officer Donald Sahota, Vancouver Police, Washington Police Officer John Painter, Bridgewater College Police, Virginia Correctional Officer III Helen Mae Smith, North Carolina Department of Public Safety Sergeant Chris Jenkins, Loudon County Sheriff, Tennessee Captain Collin Birnie, Flint Police, Michigan Have a question for Policeman Dan? Email your question(s) to askpolicemandan@gmail.com or look for Ask Policemandan on Facebook and click the like button. Dan Bristol is a retired police officer and former chief of police. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Burley teacher is charged with felony rape and domestic battery in the presence of a child. Court records show the incidents were not related to anything that occurred at school. BOISE Ed Labenski prepared to buy what he called a dream home with his wife, Cynthia, in 2018. His daughter was 3 years old. It was one of the biggest decisions of Labenskis life. After their offer on the Warm Springs Mesa home in Southeast Boise was accepted, Labenski was thrilled. Then he started reading through the entire property record, which he didnt previously have access to, and came across a troubling line in the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions document: No part of the real property, or any building site or structure, shall at any time be sold, conveyed, rented or leased, in whole or in part, to any person or persons not of the white or caucasian race. Labenski was appalled and confused. He rushed downstairs in the home he was renting and told his wife. They questioned whether they still wanted to buy the home. They found out on their own that the clause was unenforceable. They still bought the house. But Labenski was committed to coming up with answers so others dont go through something similar. That language in that property record was clear and made an impact on us, Labenski said by phone. It was something you really cant unread. About a year and a half ago, Labenski told Sen. Melissa Wintrow, a Boise Democrat, of his experience. She spent time researching and working with lawyers, real estate agents and experts in related fields to brainstorm a solution. Wintrow introduced Senate Bill 1240 to allow homeowners or tenants to update a housing covenant at no cost to make clear that its offending language has no legal effect. The bill passed a Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on Wednesday and headed to the full Senate. The bill has 21 cosponsors from both parties. At the same time, the Boise Regional Realtors are offering grants to homeowners associations in Ada, Elmore and Gem counties to remove discriminatory language from their documents. Restricting someone from buying a house based on race has been illegal for decades. In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Shelley v. Kraemer that racially restrictive real estate covenants cannot be enforced. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 outlawed housing discrimination based on race or color. Still, housing covenants across the country went unchanged, remaining as a remnant of past racism and without anything clarifying that those clauses are void. Almost everybody I talk to, when I tell them these restrictive covenants are still on record, their eyes get as wide as dinner plates, Wintrow said by phone, and theyre like, Oh my heavens, that is bad. Racially restrictive language is common Marcos Preciado, a Mexican American, has lived in Boise for 27 years and tried buying land on the Boise Bench in 2015. He planned to build a house once he bought the land. As he read through the covenants, conditions and restrictions, commonly shortened to CC&Rs, Preciado found the restriction that said only white people could live there. It was a humongous surprise. Preciado was horrified. He contacted the Intermountain Fair Housing Council and tried to learn more. Even though it was no longer in effect, the language was incredibly hurtful, Preciado said. He thought he might still be discriminated against in that neighborhood. He questioned if he could go through with the purchase even though he was an American citizen. It was personal, like someone sent it to me directly, Preciado said by phone. Even though they never knew I was going to buy property there, it was kind of like somebody was doing it intentionally. Preciado chose to move forward with buying the land, but it was a hard decision. Seven years later, it still hurts. He wishes the language was removed entirely because it made him feel unwelcome. My hope is one day we can live and share the land that this country has offered to us, Preciado said. Hopefully we can live as peaceful human beings and understand each other. When Wintrow introduced the bill, Sen. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, said during the committee meeting that he also has a racially restrictive provision in the deed on his house. In 2019, Mark Hewes was a first-time homebuyer. He already closed on the house in Southeast Boise near Ivywild Park. As a detail-oriented person, he wanted to read through all the documents. The CC&Rs mostly included details about how close things can be to the property line and other seemingly minor rules. Then he read the line saying only white people could buy or live in the house. Hewes was shocked. He began researching. He wishes someone had given him a heads up and a note in the document explaining that the clause is outdated and unenforceable. It should be a happy time, Hewes said by phone, and then you are slapped in the face with that. Removing the language could require a costly process in court and erase the history of racist practices. So the bill allows for people to fill out a form, submit it to their county clerk and add a modification to the covenant. The racially restrictive language would remain, but the added modification would clarify that it legally cant be enforced. Washington and Wyoming have recently passed similar laws. Advocates of Idahos bill say the legislation is a positive step toward recognizing the discriminatory language and clarifying what is and isnt allowed. Wintrow said leaving the language in these documents would be like leaving signs on water fountains promoting segregation. We know its not enforceable, but we let it stay there anyway, Wintrow told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Dont let it linger about. Correct it. People like Labenski, Preciado and Hewes may be frightened to buy a house with that language, especially if theres no clarification included. They may not want to be associated with that history and may question if the house is a good fit. Wintrow touted the simplicity of the bill, since adding clarifying language would need only a short form submitted to a county clerk. It wont cost homeowners a thing: The bill waives the $10 recording fee. She estimated it would cost the state roughly $500, depending on how many people choose to add the modification. Idaho housing research underway College of Idaho law professor McKay Cunningham has begun researching properties in Idaho with these kinds of racial covenants. So far, hes looked only at Ada County. In two months, Cunningham and his research team have already found 50 subdivisions where racially restrictive language exists. In Boise, theyve found the language in documents related to the Warm Springs Park subdivision, the Aldape Heights subdivision, and a subdivision near Vista Avenue. Even though theyre outlawed today, they have entrenched racial disparities, Cunningham said. They have helped make racial disparities systemic to this day. During the Great Depression, to spur homeownership and stabilize the economy, the federal government offered incentives for people to buy homes. But those incentives werent available in and near neighborhoods with people of color. This practice of redlining, Cunningham said, was overtly racist. Cunningham said racial covenants worked hand in hand with the governments redlining approach. These two constructs in particular are underappreciated in the impact and the repercussions that they continue to have today, Cunningham said. Once Cunningham compiles a comprehensive list of properties with racial covenants in Idaho, he wants to create an interactive map that shows how different neighborhoods compare in terms of median income, access to fresh produce, environmental waste and internet connectivity. Homeowners associations can change language While Wintrows bill allows for homeowners to update their documents individually, the Boise Regional Realtors is offering money to homeowners associations wanting to delete language throughout entire neighborhoods. Since re-doing official documents can be costly, the Boise Regional Realtors is offering grants of up to $1,000 to homeowners associations as an act of social responsibility and patriotic duty. The grant is based on what it has cost for similar efforts in the past. Its still really bad to see that in those housing documents, said Cameron Kinzer, Boise Regional Realtors director of government affairs, by phone. We want to do whatever we can to amend those and get them corrected going forward. Though the legislation is designed to allow corrective action to be voluntary and simple, Wintrow considers it a pretty big deal. It may not be our responsibility for what has happened in the past, (but) it is our responsibility to address it in the future and to ensure it never happens again, Wintrow said. We know when we understand our history, we have a better chance of not repeating it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As an old axiom notes, Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. From coast to coast, millions of these long-lived jewels have graced our landscape, but one mighty specimen in particular has recently become a hardy symbol of a fast-growing environmental movement. The significance of this oak rooted on a small piece of land at the corner of Dearing and Finley Streets near downtown Athens, Georgia is that no one owned it. It was an autonomous being, known locally as The Tree That Owns Itself. The tree was already a couple of centuries old back in 1832 when William Jackson, a property owner and prominent resident, expressed his great affection for the tree he had long enjoyed, and proclaimed his great desire to see it protected. So, Jackson formally deeded unto the said oak tree entire possession of itself (and the plot around it). Alas, age and decades of storms took their toll, and even though appreciative locals had tenderly nurtured it, the 100-foot-tall, self-possessed oak finally toppled in 1942. End of story? No! It was common in Athens for people to collect and cultivate the trees acorns, growing its offspring in their yards. So, in a citywide effort, a hardy, five-foot-tall direct descendant was soon located, donated, transplanted in the original plot and granted the same status of self-possession. And there it stands today, now more than 50 feet tall and officially embraced by the city as Son of the Tree That Owns Itself. This is more than just a heartwarming story, for that oaks autonomy and ancestry have become emblematic of a newly energized, transformative legal concept: Rights of Nature. Its a simple idea: Rather than continuing to rely on the corporate-controlled, business-as-usual model of environmental regulation, why not grant self-protective rights of law to our invaluable natural systems? In a 1972 article, University of Southern California law professor Christopher Stone first pushed this straightforward and profound idea into public discussion by seriously proposing that we give legal rights to forests, oceans, rivers, and other so-called natural objects in the environment indeed, to the natural environment as a whole. His point was that these living beings, no less than humans, have intrinsic value and the inherent right to exist, regenerate, flourish and defend themselves from exploitation and death. Current legal theory, though, generally recognizes nature as nothing but property, and those who harm or even kill it can be prosecuted only if it can be proved that the damage injures humans. In short, harming nature is not itself illegal. Thus, under the present regulatory regime, natures well-being is irrelevant, and environmental cases are reduced to nitpicking over micro details, such as how many parts per billion of a chemical contaminant in a river is safe for humans. Establishing rights for nature would empower the river itself to sue for its loss of life, along with harm to the fish, plants and other organisms that depend on the rivers health. But, you might ask, how can trees, lakes, etc., argue in court? The same way we do, explained Stone: Lawyers could sue on their behalf, and groups, from Greenpeace to local coalitions, could serve as legal guardians. No less a judicial eminence than Justice William O. Douglas endorsed Stones proposal in a dissenting opinion in a landmark 1972 Supreme Court case. In Sierra Club v. Morton, Douglas asserted: Contemporary public concern for protecting natures ecological equilibrium should lead to the conferral of standing upon environmental objects to sue for their own preservation. The foundational truth upholding this legal approach is that we humans and our environment are one organism. After all, we cant live without nature; indeed, we are nature, and nature is us. Such an obvious truth, however, is not only inconvenient, but abhorrent to profiteering environmental exploiters. They immediately ridiculed Stone and the Rights of Nature idea, but the concept caught on anyway, so that now, 50 years later, corporate interests are hyperventilating and on the attack. Last July, Koch brothers political operative David McDonald warned property owners to rally against this movement. Streams dont have rights, he barked. Rights ... belong to people, not to artifacts within the environment or natural wonders. Seriously? A tree is just an artifact? Dont natural wonders from rainforests to coral reefs have more intrinsic value to Earth, our own health and our posterity than some corporations short-term profits? And what a hoot it is for this representative of corporate supremacy to declare that rights only belong to people. He is, after all a functionary for the avaricious money powers that have spent years perverting law, logic and reality to promote the absurd fiction that (SET ITAL) corporations (END ITAL) (artificial constructs with no life, no organic systems, no pulse or brain, no sentient existence whatsoever) are people with the legal rights of personhood. Populist author, public speaker and radio commentator Jim Hightower writes The Hightower Lowdown, a monthly newsletter chronicling the ongoing fights by Americas ordinary people against rule by plutocratic elites. Sign up at HightowerLowdown.org. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 LOS ANGELES To make sure her 3-year-old daughter survived the night on her ventilator, Amber Suarez stayed awake for four hours, then woke up her husband to watch Mia for another four hours as the girl dozed. It had already been months since the family lost a nurse who assisted them during the day, which meant Suarez had been caring for her disabled daughter since the morning, juggling the needs of Mia and her twin sister, Savannah. She feeds her through a gastrostomy tube, administers breathing treatments, and suctions out fluid from the tube that helps her breathe. Mia is also supposed to have a nurse at her side by night, but Suarez said the night nurse hadn't shown up that Friday. The next night, another nurse missed her scheduled shift, forcing her and her husband to stay up again, Suarez said. "I'm just so desperate for a break. Just a breather so I can do simple things like cook breakfast, go to the bathroom, shower," said Suarez, a mother of three in Palmdale, Calif. "I can't leave her alone. She likes to pull out her trach" the breathing tube surgically inserted into her windpipe. "I'm just trying to keep my daughter alive." Families have long struggled to get nursing care at home for medically fragile children. Even after doctors have deemed home care necessary to keep their kids healthy and safe, many have been unable to secure enough nurses to fill their allocated hours. Parents and advocates say that, despite efforts to tackle the problem before the pandemic, it has persisted with the arrival of COVID-19. Home health agencies say it has been harder to hang on to nurses when other businesses are recruiting them to handle new demands tied to the coronavirus, including administering tests and vaccines. "COVID didn't create a problem that wasn't there," said Jennifer McLelland, a member of the advocacy group Little Lobbyists. "COVID just made everything worse." A decade ago, McLelland had so much trouble lining up home nursing for her then-infant son that it took three months before he could be released from the hospital and go home to Fresno County. The family ended up moving from a rural town to the Fresno suburbs to have a better shot at finding nurses for her son, who has a rare genetic condition and has a feeding tube and a tracheostomy. At night, they need to keep reconnecting his ventilator when the 10-year-old rolls over and disconnects the machine in his sleep. If no nurse is there, "we really just don't get any sleep," McLelland said. And "when parents are exhausted, when they're not getting nights of sleep, the risk of getting things wrong is death." Years before the pandemic, the California Department of Health Care Services found in one study that 29% of home nursing hours authorized through a Medi-Cal program for children were not being filled. Another analysis, funded by the home health agency Maxim Healthcare Services, found that the majority of California home health agencies surveyed could only provide a quarter or less of the nursing hours approved for their Medi-Cal patients. Four years ago, attorneys with Disability Rights California and other groups took the state to court, arguing that systemic failures to arrange for home nurses put children at serious risk of injury, hospitalization and institutionalization. The lawsuit centered on children and teens who are authorized to get home nursing through Medi-Cal. Attorneys ultimately secured a settlement requiring case managers to assist families with getting nurses. Before the pandemic arrived, the state also used money from a cigarette tax to increase its rates for home nursing for children under Medi-Cal, amid complaints from agencies that the rates had been too low to recruit and retain nurses. Home care for kids, which relies heavily on public funding, "has traditionally lagged behind the other opportunities that nurses have," said Michael Davidov, president of American United Home Care. Davidov said the Medi-Cal rate increase had helped four years ago, but now "COVID has turbocharged the disparity." The gaps in nursing care have made it impossible for many parents to work regular hours and strained families already frazzled by the enduring pandemic. Suarez grows frustrated whenever a nurse fails to show up, but fears that if she lets one go, it will be impossible to find another one. Nearly all men see their hairline recede or a bald spot emerge at some point in their life. For those looking to slow the march of time, a new study helps sort out which hair-loss medications work best. The analysis, of 23 previous studies, ranks the available hair-loss medications, from most effective to least. Experts said the list is helpful. The medicationsdutasteride, finasteride and minoxidilhave long been used, but there has been little information on how they stack up against each other in effectiveness. "We don't have trials comparing these medications head-to-head," said Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist who was not involved in the research. That has left doctors without a solid answer to the inevitable question, which option works best? The new research will help fill that gap, according to Rossi, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, both in New York City. The top-ranking treatment was dutasteride (Avodart) capsules, at a dose of 0.5 milligrams a day. On average, it produced the biggest increase in total hair count after six months of use. That means men who use it can expect more hair to crop up where there was none, though that includes smaller, "peach fuzz" hairs. Next came finasteride (Propecia) pills, taken at a 5-mg dose each day, followed by the same dose of oral minoxidil (Rogaine). Not surprisingly, dose and administration mattered, the analysis found. A lower dose of finasteride (1 mg a day) ranked fourth, followed by two topical formulations of minoxidil, with the higher dose (5%) performing better than the lower (2%). At the bottom was low-dose oral minoxidil, taken as 0.25 mg per day. Effectiveness, however, is only part of the story, Rossi pointed out. "Dutasteride may outperform the others, but it may also have more side effects," he said. "And we have to counsel patients on that." Dutasteride can cause loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and breast tenderness, as well as a form of low blood pressure called orthostatic hypotension. In rare cases, men can have serious reactions to the drug that require medical attention, including skin peeling, face swelling and difficulty breathing. Finasteride can also dampen libido or cause breast tenderness, but only in a minority of patients, said Dr. Amy McMichael, a professor of dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Whenever a healthy person has hair loss, the goal is to boost hair density while maintaining that good health, said McMichael, who was not involved in the study. "In general, topical minoxidil, oral finasteride and oral minoxidil are well tolerated by most patients and cause no side effects," she said. But any oral drug can cause issues like diarrhea or rash, McMichael noted, and even topical minoxidil has downsides: It can be burdensome to apply daily, and sometimes irritates the scalp, causing scaling or flaking. In the end, both doctors said, men need to discuss the pros and cons of each option with their dermatologist. The findings were published online Feb. 2 in JAMA Dermatology. They are based on 23 clinical trials, most of which compared medication against a placebo (an inactive substance). All three drugs were originally developed for purposes other than hair loss. Oral minoxidil was first used as a blood pressure drug; the topical formulation was created after doctors realized men taking the medication showed increased hair growth, according to Dr. Kathie Huang, who wrote an editorial published with the study. Meanwhile, both dutasteride and finasteride were first used to treat urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. The drugs block an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosteronethe main hormonal contributor to male-pattern baldness, according to Huang, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Finasteride is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat men's hair loss; dutasteride is not, but doctors are allowed to prescribe it "off-label" for that purpose. In the real world, most patients with hair loss end up needing a combination of treatments. "Most often, the backbone of treatment is the combination of finasteride and topical minoxidil 5%," McMichael said. "But patients often get the best results with even more added to this backbone." That might include low-level laser light or platelet-rich plasma injected into the scalp. That plasma (the liquid portion of blood) is taken from the patient's own blood sample. Rossi agreed that finding the best treatment can be a process. "It's important to be realistic," he said. "Often, you won't hit a home run with a single option." He also recommended that men seeking help for hair loss see a dermatologist for a "full workup." That is, in part, to find out whether there is an underlying condition causing the hair loss, like a thyroid disorder or nutritional issue. Explore further Ranking the efficacy of hair loss drugs More information: The American Academy of Dermatology has more on Journal information: JAMA Dermatology The American Academy of Dermatology has more on male-pattern hair loss. Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Veterans advocates have been working the last several months to gain support to create a veterans treatment court in Carroll County. A veterans treatment court is a diversion program specifically designed to keep veterans with minor and nonviolent offenses out of jail. The goal is to identify the underlying problem, treat it, then help the veteran re-enter society in a healthy and successful way. Advertisement According to Josh Marks, a veterans advocate involved with the Carroll County Veteran Independence Project, there are four such courts in the State of Maryland, in Anne Arundel and Prince Georges counties, in Baltimore City and in the lower Eastern Shore. The first court in Maryland was established in 2015 in Prince Georges County. Nationally there are more than 400 of these courts. United Way of Central Maryland supports veterans treatment courts in Baltimore City and in Anne Arundel County, supported by a grant from the Maryland Judiciarys Office of Problem-Solving Courts as well as donations. Advertisement Marks said many veterans suffer from substance abuse issues, sometimes due to attempts to self-medicate their mental health issues stemming from untreated post-traumatic stress disorder, symptoms of traumatic brain injury or other ailments that were developed or made worse during military service. The focus of a veterans treatment court is to assist veterans who enter the criminal justice system with benefits they are already entitled to in an expedited manner. This court model requires regular court appearances as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions, and frequent and random testing for drug and alcohol use. In November four veterans were recognized by the District Court in Baltimore City for successful completion of Veterans Treatment Court during a ceremony presided over by District Court Administrative Judge Halee F. Weinstein. Weinstein, a U.S. Army veteran, founded the Baltimore City Veterans Treatment Court in 2015 as a comprehensive, court-supervised and voluntary treatment-based program for veterans charged with misdemeanor and concurrent jurisdiction felonies in District Court. About 97 veterans have completed the program to date. Jason Sidock, executive director of the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project, said such a program would give the opportunity for veterans to access the resources they need to improve, as well working with people who understand them. We send soldiers off to fight, they defend our country and then we bring them back home and expect them to go back into society, he said. While veterans treatment court personnel arent required to be veterans themselves, staff often are veterans. Its similar to drug treatment court the judges and prosecutors are a little more compassionate because theyve been in similar situations, Sidock said. Advertisement There are about 12,000 veterans in Carroll County, Sidock said, making it an ideal place for such a court. Its another method to allow our veterans that get in trouble to face the music but also get connected with the resources they need, he said. The veterans treatment court would not cost county taxpayers anything, Sidock said. The whole cost would be borne by the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs and the United Way. This new judiciary venue is being supported by David Ellin, a candidate for states attorney in Carroll County. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Its important to serve the nearly 12,000 veterans in Carroll County we have a moral obligation to do so, Ellin said. This is a small way to repay those veterans who enter the criminal justice system. Advertisement He noted in circuit or district court, the Veterans Administration would not intervene, and the veteran would have to rely on the county or state to provide them with treatment, which often is not as good. Veterans treatment court also provides each veteran going through the system with a community mentor to help guide them during the court process. Whether its one person or 10 people a month, I think its well worth it, Ellin said. The first steps to creating a veterans treatment court in Carroll County, after garnering community support, is to establish a nonprofit organization. At that point, the states attorney would file an application with the VA. Once the application goes in, it would take between three and six months to get the program up and running. Id be surprised if any judge would be against this, Ellin said. Were serving the people who served us. Several petitions supporting a Veterans Treatment Court in Carroll County have been circulating. Those who wish to sign may do so at https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-a-veterans-treatment-court-in-carroll-county-maryland. They care for us, comfort us and advocate for us: Nurses are the heart of western Montana health care. In the midst of a global pandemic, theyve worked long, grueling hours, putting their and their families lives at risk in order to care for others. Theyve been both the heart and the backbone of the response to COVID-19. In Montana, there are more than 18,000 nurses deserving extra thanks and gratitude this year. Nursing requires a special person who will selflessly care for total strangers, often without recognition. That is about to change. Now is your chance to recognize a nurse who has made a difference in your life. In honor of National Nurses Week, the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic, along with presenting sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield Montana and event sponsors Providence Health and Services Montana, Bitterroot Health and Village Health & Rehabilitation, are presenting "Nurses: The Heart of Health Care" to honor 10 area nurses. Nurses go above and beyond every day. No doubt you know of an outstanding nurse who has made a difference in your life or the life of a loved one. Tell us about the nurse who has touched your life. "Nurses: The Heart of Health Care" will accept nominations for western Montana nurses through March 14. Once the nominations are in, a panel of independent judges will narrow them down to nine winners. A 10th winner will be chosen by readers in an online vote. The 10 winning nurses will be featured in a special section and custom video devoted to western Montana nurses during National Nurses Week the first week of May. The special section will appear in the Missoulian and in the Ravalli Republic, and the video will appear on missoulian.com, ravallirepublic.com, Facebook and YouTube. Dont miss this opportunity. We want to hear the stories of outstanding nurses in all areas: hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, veterans facilities, hospices and specialty units. These nurses treat patients young and old. It is time they receive the recognition they deserve. Help the Missoulian and our many sponsors do just that by nominating a nurse today at go.missoulian.com/Nurses2022. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Supply chain disruptions and material price hikes have not stopped the University of Montanas plans for nearly $100 million in student-centered infrastructure upgrades. Several projects have already been completed, others have recently broken ground, while some still remain on the horizon. Over the next couple of years theres going to be significant infrastructure growth and improvement on campus that we believe is really going to usher in an exciting new era of growth here at the University of Montana, said UM spokesman Dave Kuntz. The construction on campus is part of the universitys ongoing efforts to recruit and retain students by upgrading facilities that they most frequently use. When complete, the projects will create two entrances to campus one on the Ryman Walk between the Lommasson Center and Knowles Residence Hall, and another with an extension of Memorial Row. Prior to the start of the fall 2021 semester, crews completed renovations to Pantzer Residence Hall, Urey Lecture Hall and Eck Hall. Many of the construction projects are not funded through student tuition or state tax dollars. They were funded privately or through the universitys 2019 debt refinance and bond issuance. Heres a look at whats under construction and on the horizon on campus: Dining hall Construction on the new dining hall is in its first phase with the demolition of the north wing of Craig Residence Hall, which began over winter break. After that wing of Craig Hall is removed, a large portion of the Lommasson Center will be demolished. The current Food Zoo will be fully functional throughout construction. Construction on the new dining hall building is expected to begin in late spring, and students should be able to eat meals in the new facility in early 2024. We feel here at the university, its time to have a dining facility that one, really meets the quality of the food and two, can kind of act as a third home for students, Kuntz said. Its not where they live and sleep, its not the classrooms where they learn, it can be a gathering area throughout the day. The dining hall project is paid for entirely by the university through funds generated in the 2019 debt refinance and bond issuance. Many student services are located in the Lommasson Center and will be moved to offices in Aber Hall, which was formerly a residence hall and recently underwent a remodel. Aber Hall The first six floors of Aber Hall have been remodeled to house many student services, which will be moving out of the Lommasson Center in the coming weeks. About 100 employees are expected to make the transition from their offices in the Lommasson Center to Aber Hall. Aber Hall stopped being a student residence hall in 2020 and for a while served as a quarantine and isolation space for students who were COVID-positive or had been exposed to the virus. Project costs to remodel Aber Hall doubled due to price increases for materials both locally and nationally over the summer. The price hikes for the project were approved unanimously by the Montana Board of Regents at a meeting in July. The board initially approved the project in November 2020 for $1.3 million, which later increased to $1.6 million by May 2021. Now, the project is expected to cost $3.2 million due to cost of materials, supply chain issues and labor shortages. Aber is expected to be a student-services specific building moving forward in the future. No plans have been developed for the top five floors that were gutted during the renovation. Because of its proximity to the UC, what were trying to do is get all the student services in one pocket of campus, Kuntz said. Combined heat and power plant The university broke ground in November on a new combined heat and power facility that is expected to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20%. Since the groundbreaking, crews have established the steel frame for the facility and the turbines are anticipated to arrive this spring. The project is expected to be complete before the end of 2022. What makes this project super unique compared to others is this is a project thats going to produce revenue because it will be able to increase our efficiency in burning gas. Not only are we going to lower the carbon footprint on campus, but also be able to save a large pocket of money, Kuntz said. The project could save the university nearly $2 million a year. It is being paid for through the debt refinance and bond issuance. No student tuition or state tax dollars are being used on the project. Knowles Residence Hall Renovations to Knowles Residence Hall will begin as soon as spring semester concludes. The project will reconfigure the first floor to accommodate a new lounge and study area, a community kitchen, classroom, offices and an apartment for the area coordinator. Restrooms throughout the building will also be remodeled to be accessible to all students. While the residence rooms will largely remain the same, they will receive new finishes, fixtures and furniture. The balcony spaces off of each floor of Knowles will be enclosed to increase the square footage inside the building. The buildings plumbing, electrical and information technology systems will also be updated. Students will not be able to live in the residence hall during the 2022-2023 academic year due to the renovation, but it is expected to begin housing students in fall 2023. The renovations are being paid for by the debt refinance and bond issuance. No student tuition or state tax dollars are being used on the project. Music building Up until this past summer, the music building had not undergone any major renovations since its construction in 1953. The first round of renovations to the building began in May 2021 and are now complete, resulting in two ensemble rooms. So far, the project has been funded privately through $3 million in donations from three UM alumni and other longtime supporters of the program. Other upgrades are still in the works, however more funding is needed. The future renovations aim to update classrooms with integrated audio-video systems. Lighting equipment will be installed for live or recorded performances. Classroom furnishings and fixtures will be updated. Sound isolation is also expected to be installed in between each floor of the building and 20 student practice rooms will be soundproofed. Forestry Architects have been hired to design the new College of Forestry building that will be built near the current forestry building, which will continue to serve the program and will not be demolished. The project is the furthest off from breaking ground on campus at this time. It likely wont break ground until the construction for the new dining hall is complete. The university is paying for the project through a $25 million appropriation from the state Legislature and UM is seeking donations to raise the remaining $20 million to support construction. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Phyllis Ross is part of an unprecedented moment in human history when people are living longer than ever before. Ross is a mostly healthy 94 year old, besides one glaring ailment: she has a failing memory. With old age comes the need for more care, but Montana is short hundreds of in-home and respite caregivers while simultaneously leading the West in the silver wave. And Montanans are more inclined to age at home with every passing year. Montana AARP surveys showed that about 85% of residents would prefer to age at home while nationally about 77% of those over 50 years old preferred to age at home, according to Mike Batista with Montana AARP. This cultural shift only intensified when COVID sent long-term care facilities into lockdown and the elderly in congregate living bore the early tragedies of the pandemic. When Ross moved from her Reno, Nevada, home to Billings, she was living in a retirement community with memory care. But when COVID hit she couldnt remember why her daughter, Kristi Drake, stopped visiting her. Once Ross caregiver was exposed to the virus, Drake made the decision to move her mother out of the facility. Drake and Ross pooled their resources to buy a new home with a detached cottage where they both could live, but it needed renovations and Ross needed more care than Drake could provide. It was so much pressure. I was in a big depression for about a year and a halfit was constant guilt because I wasnt spending enough time with her. I couldnt do my job 100%. I felt like I wasnt doing anything at 100%, Drake said. Finding a caregiver Over the course of about 18 months, Drake tried caregiving agencies, she contacted the director of the CNA school and a professor at the MSUB College of Nursing. She asked friends, posted ads and asked doctors and nurses for advice when she went in for appointments. And still, not a single caregiver bubbled to the surface. The agency workers were inconsistent, canceling often and rarely the same person would come to care for Ross, which was difficult with her dementia. I just needed somebody and it was nothing, nothing, nothing for months and months and months, Drake said. Finally, Drake found a caregiver on Care.com who was a perfect match for her mother. She has all the qualities needed for memory care and she quickly developed a rapport with Ross. Shes there all the time I have a picture of her up on my moms wallbut I was almost abusing my time with this caregiver, Drake said. So she started the search again to find a second person to work part time. When a promising applicant came along, Drake found out during the interview process that they were not vaccinated for COVID-19. How can you apply for a job as a caregiver for an elderly person, the most vulnerable population, in the middle of a pandemic (and not be vaccinated)? Drake asked. It then occurred to Drake that she didnt know the vaccination status of the person who had been caring for her mother for months. When Drake got home, she found out she had wrongfully assumed her mothers caregiver was vaccinated. But there are no other options. With no replacement, Drake has kept her on as her mother's caregiver. But Drake often struggles to come to terms with the situation. I dont have a choice. I guess the only way I can even begin to reconcile itI could just say that my mom has lived a really good life and shes in the happiest place she can be in. Ive done everything I can to try to keep her safe and if something happens to her, Drake said, trailing off. I dont know what else to do. Juggling career, family When Drake began caring for her mother she was faced with two options: quit her job and jeopardize her retirement, or find a caregiver. Drake is the executive director of Billings TrailNet, a non-profit that works to bring walking and biking trails to the city. Her goal is to provide a place for families to spend time together and create opportunities to connect with others. Its clear that Drake loves her job, and shes only about nine years into her career. When Drake was in her 20s and 30s she was primarily a mother, caring for her two daughters. Once she raised her children, Drake enrolled at MSUB to earn a masters degree in public relations. She graduated in 2012 and began working for United Way in substance abuse and prevention. After I raised my kids, I had this blip in time where I could do my own thing, and that was maybe six or seven years, Drake said, whose mother moved to Billings about two years ago. And then I got my mom (to care for). Nationally, about 43 million Americans are providing care for a family member, and more often than not, the caregiving role falls to women, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. "Women are the ones having to make the choice of leaving the workforce, said Susan Kohler, CEO of Missoula Aging Services. And when a loved one takes on the caregiving role, there is no financial compensation, meaning about $470 billion worth of unpaid caregiving is taking place in the U.S., Kohler said. But hiring a caregiver can be financially limiting with agency rates starting around $25 an hour and climbing to $40 or more. If you have the resources, great. But many dont, Kohler said. Its horrifying to feel that you cant provide support. They dont have money to pay and they have to work. The Medicaid reimbursement rate, which is limited to very low-income individuals, doesnt speak to the work that has to get done, Kohler said, adding that the state needs affordable caregivers and a way to offer a professional wage to workers. The tendrils of the health care workforce shortage continue to stretch down through health services and have left Kohler to manage a waitlist of about 50 to 60 people in need of in-home or respite care in Missoula County. St. Johns United has stopped marketing its At Home program, which offers in-home support for elderly in the community as well as the residents of its retirement community, because there arent enough caregivers, according to manager Sarah Schroefel. St. Johns even offers certified nursing assistant training upon hire, but still no one is applying. Some positions have been advertised for 120 days. Were not able to meet the demand. We would be serving more people if we could, Schroefel said. Some Yellowstone County residents are utilizing in-home care services because there is no available bed space in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, said Sue Bailey, program director at Adult Resource Alliance of Yellowstone County. And in rural communities, formal caregiving is even more difficult to come by. Eastern Montana Traditionally, churches that provide wrap-around services, a strong cultural sense of community and generational connectedness have been the modes of caregiving in rural places, according to Kohler. But families have to do their own caregiving in Eastern Montana, said Heather Handran, program director of Area I Agency on Aging. There simply arent people in the 17 counties that fall under Area I to provide caregiving services. Im aware theres a need, but we just cant provide it. Theres nobody here to do it, Handran said. A lack of services often forces elderly to go without assistance longer than they should, leading them to dangerous situations that could land them in a skilled nursing facility, said Bailey. (Caregiving) is a really hard job. Youre their lifeline to the community and the community doesnt recognize the value Bailey said. We dont have the same reverence for the elderly as we do for young people. Bailey and her counterparts call for more recognition for those in the field and a wage that reflects professionalism. The huge demand for aging services in rural Montana is only expected to grow, said Batista with Montana AARP. We have a long history in Montana of doing things the way weve always done it, Batista said. These are issues that require a shift in philosophy. Institutional care isnt the best option for some peopleThe state needs to develop a vision for the future. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Much of the Burke County Board of Commissioners recent budget retreat centered around facilities and future needs. The Burke County Board of Commissioners met Feb. 3-4 for its budget retreat in Morganton. The county budget retreat is a time for commissioners to talk about what the board and staff may need to tackle in the coming year. Animal Services One of those facilities is a new animal services building. In August, the commissioners agreed to buy 2.5 acres on Kirksey Drive from Burke County Public Schools as part of its plans for a new animal shelter. The county already owned 17.03 acres at the location, which includes land the 911 center sits on. Michael Barnard, president and architect with Shelter Planners of America, used Zoom to participate in the meeting with commissioners. Burke County commissioners contracted with Shelter Planners of America nearly three years ago for a facility needs assessment. Barnard congratulated the county on its improved live release rate. He said some minor adjustments were made on the needs assessment based on the data and the projected human population of the county. The number of animals taken in at the current shelter has seen a decline since 2014, when it took in 4,149 dogs, cats and other animals. In 2019, that number had fallen to 2,055, according to Barnards presentation. He proposed maximum housing at 96, with capacity for 38 dogs and 58 cats. A new center would have 31 parking spaces for the public and 26 parking spaces for staff. It would have several dog exercise yards and a livestock yard. The proposal also calls for having an adoption lobby as well as an intake lobby, a get-acquainted area, interview spaces, medical exam, surgery and euthanasia rooms, cat rooms, outdoor dog runs, a puppy room, meeting rooms, office space and laundry area. Barnard estimated the low-end cost in 2022 of the proposed shelter at $4,825,863 and the high-end cost at $5,946,153. The estimated costs include construction, site work, soft costs and contingency costs. But he also included costs that allows for escalation and volatile market by adding 10%, with the low-end at $5,308,449 and the high-end at $6,540,768. Because of the market volatility, Barnard said it might be better to plan for the worst and hope for the best. The actual costs of a new shelter wont be known until actual bids for the project are opened, he said. He said the proposed plan is conceptual. Commissioner Jeff Brittain said they should keep in mind the wide opinions in the county about what it spends on animal services. He used a metaphor to describe the difference in what the current animal services building is to the proposed new shelter, saying he thinks they are currently working with a Pinto and the proposed shelter would take them to Air Force One. And I think weve got to get somewhere in the middle, Brittain said. Brittain said he would like to see a cost of maybe around $3 million for a new building. Commissioners will likely hash out what the shelter will look like and what it will include and how much theyre willing to spend on it before they vote on a final design. Barnard estimates it would take six months for the design process, two months for the bidding contracting and permitting process and construction estimated at 14 months. Human Resource Center The Burke County Human Resource Center on East Parker Road in Morganton houses the health department, social services and the Burke County Public Schools administrative staff. For years, county officials have known the building is crowded and has had issues. During the budget retreat, commissioners heard from Korey Fisher-Wellman, director of Burke County Department of Social Services, and Danny Scalise, director of the Burke County Health Department, about some of the problems. Scalise told commissioners the building makes it difficult to work in a 21st century environment when they are using a mid-20th century-type building. He said most of the people served from that building are the most vulnerable in the county. Commissioner Chairman Scott Mulwee said he recently got a tour of the building and it was a little shocking to get the behind-the-scenes tour. Walking the hallways in the building is similar to walking through a maze. The building has had heating/cooling and plumbing problems, cracks in walls and some leaking. But space also is a major concern. Commissioner Vice-Chairman Johnnie Carswell said hes concerned about having adequate rooms and privacy for families who may have some intimate issues with which they are dealing. He asked Scalise and Fisher-Wellman about 21st century needs and what they see on the horizon. Scalise said rooms in the health department section are not conducive to a familial atmosphere or to make people comfortable when they come in. He describe a scenario of a young pregnant woman whose first language is not English who may need an interpreter and her spouse in the room, along with the doctor and equipment needed. The rooms are small, he said. Fisher-Wellman said one of the things that goes along with children and foster care is the need for parental visits and the department needs to have visitation spaces that is conducive for families and where workers can supervise visits. We need to have space that we can observe a parents ability to parent safely and for the room where the kids are safe just in terms of the space and we dont have those things, Fisher-Wellman said. I think we make do, we use what we have, I think. I mean, thats just one example of space that we just dont have. Mulwee asked Fisher-Wellman whether his employees feel safe in the building. He told Mulwee he would say no. Social services has 188 staff members, he said. Again, were dealing with people in the worst times of their life, Fisher-Wellman said. Youre kind of always at risk of someone coming in whos not happy or, all sorts of things can go wrong. In addition, there wasnt a bathroom on the lower floor until a year ago when general services took care of that problem, Fisher-Wellman said. Scalise made the point that his department, which employs around 50 people, doesnt need as much office space as social services but it does need specialized clinical space, which can be expensive. After hearing from the directors, Mulwee asked Josh Bennett, vice president of Moseley Architects, what his recommendation for the building would be. Bennett said his recommendation would be to replace the building. He said there is ample room on the property to construct a new building and be able to demolish the current building. The ideal situation would be to keep everyone in the current building until they were ready to move into a new building, Bennett said. Fisher-Wellman told The News Herald that when the current building was constructed is not clear but it appears it was opened around 1973 or 1974. Brittain asked if they could look at the feasibility of renovating the current building for another use. As for funding a new building for social services and the health department, Margaret Pierce, county finance director, said there are American Rescue Plan funds that can be used for capital expenses. She said there would be around $3 million that could be used for the health department. If its a building that also would house socials services, Pierce said, according to ARP final rules, there are ARP loss revenue replacement funds up to $10 million that could be used for the social services portion of the building. Pierce said Burke County received $17 million of ARP funds, $2 million of which is already earmarked for other projects. The county has contracted with Moseley Architects to do a study on county facilities that will include projected renovations or new construction. Pierce said the county hopes to have a final report from Moseley Architects for its 2022-23 budget preparation. Regional Treatment Facility Burke County commissioners are expected to decide Tuesday on an architectural service contract for renovations of the former Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility on Government Drive in Morganton. The former jail will be turned into a long-term regional substance abuse treatment facility. Burke County Manager Bryan Steen told commissioners hes had meetings with other county managers from counties with potential users and meetings with interested service providers. Steen said he also is trying to coordinate with Western Piedmont Community College for career training, as well as Industrial Commons to offer other types of training for those seeking treatment. The facility will have an educational aspect to train those seeking treatment for a new trade. The county also has received money from the state budget for renovations of the building, he said. Burke County received $3.25 million in the $25.9 billion two-year state budget for the renovation. Steen said the county is not interested in running the facility. He said it there is still a lot of work to be done to develop a model but the county will lease the facility to an outside entity that will run the treatment center. The county was part of a lawsuit settlement with opioid distributors Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen and opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharma. From the settlement, it is anticipated Burke will receive $13 million, which will be used for opioid addiction treatment. The first payments to North Carolina from the settlement are expected in April. Allocation of deer and elk hunting licenses to nonresidents has been contentious among Montana resident hunters for decades and the number issued remains confusing to most. Many resident hunters sense nonresident hunting participation is increasing, while others remark nonresident deer and elk licenses have long been capped at 17,000. So, are nonresident deer and elk licenses capped or increasing? How many are issued? The Legislature established a cap of 17,000 nonresident big game combination licenses in 1975. To clarify, each big game combination includes an elk and deer license. The number issued through the general nonresident drawing remains capped at 17,000. However, subsequent legislation created the general deer (quota: 4,600), landowner-sponsored deer (quota: 2,000), coming home to hunt (quota: 500 elk and 500 deer), nonresident native (quota: unlimited), nonresident youth (quota: none), nonresident college student (quota: none), and 454-Agreement (quota: none) combination licenses. Each are issued in addition to the 17,000 big game combination licenses issued through the nonresident drawing. During the 2021 legislative session, HB 637 allowed all nonresident hunters that had previously booked with an outfitter and not drawn a big game combination license to purchase one for the 2021 hunting season. This resulted in an additional 1,429 elk and 1,486 deer licenses being issued to nonresident hunters for the 2021 hunting season. Also, in addition to the original cap of 17,000 big game combination licenses, nonresidents may be issued B-licenses for antlerless elk and deer. So, how many elk and deer licenses are issued to nonresident hunters? According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 59,395 were issued for the 2021 hunting season. Those included 22,818 elk and 36,577 deer licenses. Thus, nonresident deer and elk licenses are not capped at 17,000 and the number issued is increasing through time. Resident hunters, concerned about nonresident hunting pressure, need to understand that nonresident hunting license allocation is determined by the Legislature. Hunter participation during the legislative process is important. Legislative proposals, hearings, and votes can be followed at https://www.leg.mt.gov. If you need assistance navigating the Montana Legislature website or providing comment on bills, please contact the Butte Skyline Sportsmen's Association at skylinesportsmen@gmail.com or through Facebook at Skyline Sportsmans Association Butte, MT. Nonresident hunting license allocation for 2021 was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Brief descriptions of combination licenses can be reviewed within the Nonresident Licenses drop-down tab at https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/hunting-licenses. Les Castren is president of Butte Skyline Sportsmen's Association. Marty Petritz is a board member of the organization. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 3 Angry 23 Erden Eruc stands on the Westbound Rower at Apra Harbor on Saturday. Eruc was making a pit stop on Guam after being thrown off course on his journey to Hong Kong. He began his ocean rowing journey across the Pacific on June 22, 2021 from Crescent City California as part of the Great Pacific Challenge. Superintendent Michael Martirano will remain the leader of Howard Countys public schools through at least the 2025-2026 school year. Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael Martirano (Ulysses Munoz / Baltimore Sun/The Baltimore Sun) The Howard County Public School System Board of Education voted Thursday to renew Martiranos contract at a salary of $290,743. This is the superintendents first contract renewal. Martirano was named superintendent in July 2018 after serving as interim superintendent starting in May 2017. Advertisement His negotiated salary is a continuation of his current contract that stipulates an annual 0.5% salary increase. His current salary is $289,296. Martiranos contract renewal comes at a time when superintendent searches are underway in eight Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Talbot and Wicomico. The Harford County school board also is deciding whether to renew its superintendents contract, which expires at the end of June. Advertisement Maryland state law provides a process and timeline for the renewal of a superintendents appointment, which requires the superintendent to inform the board if he or she will seek a contract renewal, according to the Annotated Code of Maryland. The school board is required to decide whether to renew before the end of February. There is much work that needs to be done and with an eye to the future, we must lead our school system past the pandemic and address all the requisite and innovative initiatives designed to meet the needs of our beautiful and diverse student body, Martirano said in a news release. I look forward to working together with our communities, our families and all our stakeholders and with our board of education to continue to support all of our students and our most vulnerable students by creating more and more safe harbors. In his current term, Martirano highlighted priorities through the Strategic Call to Action, a plan to ensure the academic success and social-emotional well-being of students, according to the school system website. In partnership with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Martirano increased capital funding by 25% over the prior four-year average, provided nearly $60 million annually to advance construction of High School #13, as well as a replacement for Talbott Springs Elementary School and a renovation of Hammond High School, according to a press release. Further, Ball pointed out that he and Martirano eliminated a $40 million deficit in the education health fund and provided bonuses of $1,800 per person to school system educators. The board of education took the right step by deciding to continue Dr. Martiranos leadership and I look forward to working with him and his team on behalf of our students for years to come, Ball said in a news release. Marshalls 201 purse seiner, at right tied to a tuna transshipment carrier vessel, is one of several thousand ships globally that are registered in the Marshall Islands, which operates the world's third largest ship registry. U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., listens to a reporters question as she departs after meeting with fellow members of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on July 1, 2021. New York City Fire Department union members, municipal workers and others demonstrate during a protest against the city's Covid-19 vaccine mandates on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, Oct. 28, 2021. Mirror Trading Internationals liquidators have hit back at claims that victims would lose money if the scheme were declared unlawful. According to the liquidators, this argument is being furthered by some of the schemes investors and their legal representatives. In a circular issued by Investrust on behalf of the liquidators to Mirror Trading International (MTI) creditors on 11 February 2022, they stated that the scheme was unlawful and claims to the contrary were unsubstantiated. The available evidence is overwhelming and uncontroverted: MTI was a massive fraudulent scam, and this will remain the position, Investrust said. The liquidators maintained that having the scheme declared unlawful by a court was in the best interest of those who were net-losers of MTI. Losers should not be fooled into the idea that it is simply a scheme that collapsed due to bad trading. It never was, the liquidators stated. It was a scheme run by top-tier investors and promoters to milk Bitcoin from later investors and the lower tiers daily. The liquidators application for the liquidation of MTI is set to be heard in the High Court on 2 March 2022. The liquidators addressed what they called a misconception that if MTI were declared an unlawful scheme, it would change the rights of the liquidators to claw back ill-gotten gains from winners, and the rights of net-losers to prove a claim for the lost capital portion of their investments. This perception is not correct, the liquidators said. They said that one of the advocates representing a group of creditors, Hendrik van Staden, has told his clients that having the scheme declared unlawful would result in all investors losing their claims against MTI. It is interesting to note that Van Staden was one of the advocates who prepared the original liquidation application against MTI. Van Staden also warned that the assets of MTI would be forfeited to the State, they said. This statement is completely wrong and disingenuous. The legal position in these circumstances is trite, the liquidators said. It is irresponsible and shockingly inaccurate statements like this, that cause investors to unfairly question the motives and integrity of the liquidators. Investrust explained that once a liquidation application was in place, the liquidation process trumped the asset forfeiture process. The liquidators also said if the court was not ready to declare MTI a pyramid scheme, it would simply mean they would have the additional burden to produce all the evidence of the schemes unlawfulness in each case they institute to recover ill-gotten gains. In other words, it does not automatically follow that, if the High Court were not prepared to declare the scheme unlawful at this stage, MTI is then considered to be a lawful scheme, they explained. It will simply have the effect that the liquidators will have to prove the unlawfulness each time that they rely on that fact in a recovery process. The liquidators said that the application to declare the scheme was unlawful sought to prevent this situation, which would result in substantially higher legal costs, considering the voluminous nature of the available evidence proving the unlawfulness of the scheme. Bitcoin still with winners The liquidators also quashed claims that the scheme was still solvent. The liquidators said that claims against the scheme were accumulating daily and were very close to a point where the value of claims lodged would exceed the value of the available funds. According to MTIs records, the number of Bitcoin which was supposed to be in MTI in December 2020, when it imploded, was approximately 22,000. The liquidators have only been able to recover 1,282 Bitcoin to date. This was not due to the making of [Johann] Steynberg and his cohorts, but simply due to the fortuitousness of [Belize-based brokerage] FX Choice blocking the wallet in which these coins were held, the liquidators said. All other Bitcoin were either stolen, or paid to investors who withdrew Bitcoin at an earlier stage. The liquidators said that a sizable dividend would be paid to creditors based on their current projections. However, a fine of R50 million, which the Financial Sector Conduct Authority is claiming, and a potential tax claim from the SA Revenue Service might still have to be factored in. One of the major issues associated with rotational power cuts is their effects on traffic flow in South Africas cities. When Eskom turns off the power to an area, the traffic lights can no longer function, resulting in jams at these intersections. While South Africas traffic and metro police should be taking the initiative to ease congestion by directing traffic themselves, they often dont. However, a trend has been observed during power cuts, where South Africas street traders and beggars take the directing of traffic into their own hands. While they may not be as efficient as Outsurances dedicated pointsmen and -women, these temporary traffic directors often help to ease congestion significantly during power cuts. South Africans have taken to social media in the past to commend and condemn their actions. Johannesburg where street beggars unilaterally decide to direct traffic and keep it moving when traffic lights go out due to load-shedding whilst metro cops, not wearing masks, drive past while playing on their mobile phones, one Twitter user said. More often than not, they butcher it as well and cause more a traffic nightmare, another responded. Several organisations in the country have expressed their concerns over the phenomenon, with some deeming the actions illegal and others alluding to the danger associated with unqualified people directing traffic. The Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a statement on the topic in March 2021. We do appreciate their efforts in trying to ease traffic congestion, but such acts are extremely dangerous and could lead to accidents and multiple civil liabilities, it wrote. The statement also explained that, under the Road Traffic Act, it was illegal for unqualified individuals to direct traffic or even stand in the road to trade or beg. According to the DA, it is law enforcements responsibility to direct traffic in these situations. The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) need to take joint responsibility for reducing traffic congestion, especially during load shedding, they wrote. We propose an effective and simple solution: follow the load-shedding schedule and plan for the deployment of traffic pointsmen to affected busy intersections before the load-shedding starts. The Automobile Association (AA) agrees with the DA. The AA had previously said that traffic law departments that do not make every effort to mitigate the impact of rolling blackouts on traffic congestion are failing motorists in the towns and cities they serve. Its time traffic law enforcers step up, do their jobs, and provide services to the motoring public to ease this pressure, it said. The Sunday Times had previously highlighted a homeless mans efforts to direct traffic at a busy intersection in Durban during a bout of load-shedding. However, eThekwini metro police spokesperson Parboo Sewpersad told the publication that his actions were illegal. People must report this to the metro police. He is doing something illegal. You cant go into an intersection, only a traffic officer is allowed to take control of an intersection, Sewpersad said. Sewpersad explained that the metro polices main focus was on the most strategic intersections within the city. We are not dealing with all the intersections. Weve got public protests, weve got our mandate in terms of traffic enforcement to do, and we are dealing with a whole lot of issues, he said. Now read: Eskom pollution exemptions challenged Municipalities could become a significant stumbling block for businesses that want to build private generating capacity to supply their own power. Lifting the threshold for private power generation to 100MW has drawn praise from business leaders, energy experts, and economists. However, there are still some hurdles to overcome before these builds are approved. While the businesses no longer require a generating licence to embark on these projects, they must still be registered with the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). Among Nersas requirements for registration is that they must acquire permission from the power distributor who runs the network that the business plans to use to transport electricity from one site to another. These distributors could be municipalities, Eskom, or a combination of the two, depending on where the electricity needs to be transported. But Power Law director Sue Rohrs told City Press and Rapport that most municipalities did not have separate tariffs for distribution. The tariffs would also have to be approved by Nersa, which would require thorough cost studies to be conducted. They would also likely be afraid of losing revenue from these customers, making them even more hesitant to allow distribution across their network. Scatec general manager Jan Fourie said that its not all doom and gloom for municipalities. There is now an opportunity for municipalities to buy cheaper power from independent power producers and thereby increase their profit margin, or pass the benefit on to their end consumers, thereby setting themselves apart from other municipalities, Fourie said. He further argued councils could use this to attract investment. In addition, businesses could arguably counter municipalitys resistance by building micro-grid solutions on-premises rather than large-scale facilities that supply to all of their locations. But the feasibility of complete off-grid solutions in limited spaces could create more problems. For example, solar plants with 100MW capacity would require approximately 2km, based on an estimated 0.02km per MW. Entire municipalities going off-grid Several metropolitan municipalities are proactively looking into sourcing electricity from private producers and moving away from Eskoms grid to protect their customers from load-shedding. These include the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. Johannesburg has already signed agreements with the privately-operated coal-fired power station Kelvin to supply up to 180MW of capacity. It has also issued a request for information for the construction of a 150MW solar plant, 50MWof rooftop solar panels and the refurbishment of an idle gas-fired plant that could generate 20MW. The eThekwini municipality, which governs Durban, has also requested information to supply 400MW of power from private producers. Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis recently said his metro would publish documents detailing its procurement of private power. These will include tenders for the purchase of electricity and timelines for connecting the private power supply to the grid. The city is already capable of shielding its residents and businesses from a stage of load-shedding thanks to supply from the 180MW Steenbras pumped storage scheme. Even though President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africas state of disaster will end, that doesnt mean the end of public health interventions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Health minister Joe Phaahla said in an interview with the Sunday Times that even after the national state of disaster is lifted, South Africans must continue wearing masks, sanitising, social distancing, and limiting the size of gatherings. Regulations to limit the size of public gatherings would have to be in place until the end of the year, the minister stated. The ability to adjust these measures will be moved into the National Health Act, and the Minister of Health will be given jurisdiction over the relevant regulations. Phaahla said that social distancing would have to continue so long as the virus is circulating, especially indoors. While President Ramaphosa is concerned about the psychological burden of the ongoing state of disaster, Phaahla said that South Africa wouldnt throw the baby out with the bathwater like UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson did. He said that after the United Kingdom lifted its Covid-19 regulations, it saw an increase in infections. Even if you have 1% of seriously ill people when you have 200,000 infections a day, its a big number and can overwhelm health facilities and become a challenge So we are trying to find the correct combination and legal framework without the Disaster Management Act, the minister told the Times. Phaahla explained that the National Health Act itself would need to be amended before it could be used as the anchor legislation for managing pandemics like Covid-19. From there, it would take a minimum of three months to implement new regulations after being gazetted. Phaahlas statements are in-line with recommendations from health experts, including Wits vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi, Ezintsha director at Wits health sciences Prof Francois Venter, and Groote Schuur hospital infectious diseases head Dr Marc Mendelson. While the experts disagree on the extent of the restrictions that should remain in place, they have said that government should lift the state of disaster while some public health measures stay in place. They specifically highlighted mask-wearing in densely-packed public transport, along with a single-minded focus on the vaccine rollout. Among the changes they proposed were: End all restrictions on outdoor activities, including forced mask-wearing End restrictions on indoor activities, but keep mask-wearing mandatory for scenarios like densely packed public transport End routine sanitising and fogging End routine temperature scanning and daily screening Stop all school restrictions, including rotational learning Stop testing asymptomatic patients in hospitals Stop routine testing mild and asymptomatic cases Stop PCR and antigen testing at borders End quarantine and contact tracing Shorten the isolation period of infected people to five days End curfews Stop preventing people from visiting loved ones in hospitals The experts called on government to abandon its goal of vaccinating 70% of all adults and focus its time and money on the most vulnerable groups. They suggested targeting people over 50 and providing booster shots to high-risk groups. Government should also consider mandatory vaccinations in specific scenarios including for healthcare workers, educators, and indoor gatherings of large groups. Tourism kneecapped by lockdown South Africas tourism sector has pleaded with the government to relax Covid-19 regulations and allow them to fully reopen for business and create jobs. Current regulations require travellers to obtain a negative PCR test result before coming to South Africa. This creates a significant problem for tourists who want to visit remote places in South Africas neighbouring countries where tests arent available. Another issue is the lack of certainty for tourists. Its of no use to tourists if Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed if there is no guarantee they wont simply be re-imposed and leave them stranded. Partisan maps hurt Severna Park voters Every 10 years the United States has a national census. The most recent census was conducted in 2020. No matter how good or bad the quality of the results, we as a nation have to accept the census results and move forward. The General Assembly has just passed the legislative redistricting maps for Maryland. As a result, our Severna Park area has been divided into three districts to be represented by two state senators and five delegates, if the districts stand. Essentially, this means our representation in the state legislature has been fractured. Our local, nonpartisan community will have to work hard to get our voice heard in the state capital. The Democratic majority in the legislature has divided Severna Park among five House seats to protect incumbents and create districts more advantageous to getting Democrats elected. This is partisan gerrymandering and dilutes the votes of our area. Advertisement Severna Park is now divided among District 31, District 33B and District 33C. The dividing lines are Benfield Road, Truck House Road and Ritchie Highway. This means that the needs and interests of Severna Park will be divided between five legislators who also represent all of Pasadena, all of Broadneck and Crownsville, down into Davidsonville south of Central Avenue. Candidates filing for this years elections have until Feb. 22 to file with the Board of Elections, and with a pending court case brought by Gov. Larry Hogan on the adoption of the legislatures maps, to know which district they will be running in. Every member on the General Assemblys committee for drawing these maps is an elected official, committed to preserving his or her position of power, which contradicts the intent of maps drawn by Gov. Hogans bipartisan committee. The League of Women Voters was represented on Gov. Hogans committee and fully supports the maps drawn by that committee. Now the second part of the process has come to fruition, the definition of congressional districts for national races. Maryland has two United States senators and eight representatives to Congress. The 2020 census did not change this allocation. Within the state of Maryland, the population has changed, both in numbers and where people live. This requires redistricting to balance the state legislative districts population. Again, the process of redistricting is complicated and fraught with political maneuvering. Severna Park is now divided into two congressional districts, Districts 2 and 4, neither of which is a predominant representation for us. Advertisement Why were the lines drawn this way? Only the drafters of the districts know for sure. Like any political process there were compromises. Balancing changing population and community boundaries is hard. Such a clear dissection of Severna Park looks like an attempt to weaken the political power of our community and protect the incumbents in the surrounding areas. Please look at the map and make your own judgments. You can find them on the Maryland General Assemblys website. Amy Leahy, Severna Park Leahy is vice president for public affairs for the Greater Severna Park Council No need for public financing of county campaigns I am appalled to read that our county executive is proposing a measure for public financing of county election campaigns, and that members of the County Council will be giving the measure serious consideration. It is bad enough that he has concluded that we need to address what is an undocumented and largely nonexistent problem. What is worse is that his solution is to use the police powers of the government to force citizens to materially support candidates with whom they disagree not only those whom they do not want elected, but those whom they may find abhorrent and even threatening. The thought of my tax dollars going to underwrite the electoral ambitions of a white supremacist, or some other candidate embracing the objectionable philosophies of candidates in the mold of Michael Peroutka, is sickening. It is a prospect that all citizens of the county should find deeply disturbing. It is an outcome that should make County Executive Steuart Pittman deeply ashamed Thomas Woodward, Arnold Stop the deer hunt at Quiet Waters Park As a resident of Hillsmere, I was disturbed to learn that a deer cull has begun adjacent to us in Quiet Waters Park. I, and many other residents, ask that the cull be canceled. We were not allowed input by the community; most of us only learned of the hunt by a sign that was posted on the back gate to the park two or three days before the first day of the hunt. Instead, we are requesting humane, nonlethal and more effective deer management. Killing deer doesnt solve conflicts with them. Their high reproductive rate will quickly compensate for any deer removed. This creates an endless cycle of killing when the deer population bounces back. And as a taxpayer, I dont want to fund this never-ending, deer killing program when there is a more effective, humane alternative available: sterilization by darting the deer with contraceptive. Advertisement Please, Anne Arundel County, stop the hunt and sterilize the deer of Quiet Waters Park. Its a proven method that allows humans and deer to humanely coexist. Carolyn Kilborn, Annapolis Let voters choose GOP candidate for county executive Being married to the Maryland GOP leader, Dirk Haire, certainly has its perks. His wife, Jessica Haire, is certainly reaping the benefits of his position within the state GOP. The Haires have been very clear that she is the Maryland Grand Old Party establishment candidate who should face off with Democrat Steuart Pittman in the county executive race in November. I suppose the same ole-same ole may be appealing to some voters when considering how best to cast their ballot in the upcoming Republican primary election and have generic Maryland GOP contributions allocated accordingly. However, for the majority of registered Republicans in Anne Arundel County, I submit that a fair and transparent primary process is more appealing with the use of state GOP contributions being used to support all Republican candidates in the mission to oust Mr. Pittman. Moreover, Mr. Haire, you are duty bound to the ethical and transparent use of Maryland GOP funds with the goal of sending Mr. Pittman packing rather than installing your wife as heir apparent. Mr. Haire, take your thumb off the scale, do the right thing, and let the voters (not you) decide who will have the right to defeat Mr. Pittman in November. Govern yourself accordingly. David Kelsey, Annapolis Lierman is no friend of transparency Del. Brooke Lierman loves to present herself as a champion of government transparency. But in the name of open government, no Maryland state lawmaker has in recent years done more to harm it. In her commentary (We must know where tax dollars are and what they do), she promises Marylanders: As comptroller, I will double down on the data collection resources at our disposal, make them transparent and available to the public. Advertisement To be sure, for anyone running for state comptroller, its smart politics to claim that she will be a champion of transparency in how tax dollars are managed. Who could be against that? And this would also be music to my ears if her track record suggested her claim was credible. Alas, while serving in the General Assembly, Lierman has talked a very good game on government transparency while filling her legislation with fine print that ends up doing more overall harm than good to the cause of open government. Confronted with top government officials and special interests who hate transparency for themselves, she has caved in and made them even less accountable to the public. With Lierman, the key is always to pay attention to the implementation details, not the soaring rhetoric. J.H. Snider, Severna Park Winegrad column a service to the public I wanted to send my thanks and praise for continuing to inform the public about our local environmental issues through Gerald Winegrads column every Sunday. My favorite part of his articles is that he not only details our environmental threats, but also provides solutions to reverse/prevent them. Based on his advice, my family looks to see what we can do to bring about change in our community and have been successful in reducing stormwater runoff through tree planting projects as well as increasing wildlife and pollinators by replacing harmful invasive species with beneficial native plants. We look forward to his contribution to your paper every week and feel our subscription is money well spent because of great writers like him! Advertisement Daniel J. Gile, Severna Park There has already been a long list of celebrities who have launched their non-fungible tokens. Now, the list is ever increasing. Another very prominent and famous celebrity who has joined the list is Melania Trump, the wife of former United States President Donald Trump. She has been one of the most celebrities to launch her non-fungible token collection, and this event took place on the 13th birthday of a bitcoin. She said that it would be a present for the whole bitcoin system, and therefore, he chose to launch this new token when bitcoin was born. The report on the auto profit app says that these non-fungible tokens pricing starts from a quarter of a million $. It is the data given by the head of the state collection, and it is not only a token launched by a single Melania Trump. Another partner in the launch of this new non-Punjabi token is Marc-AntonieCoulon.The non-functional tokens will come along with the signature of both these for my partners, and therefore, it is believed that this will be one of the most popular tokens in the whole world. According to the founder of Panther Quant from India, the non-fungible tokens launched by Melania Trump is going to be a token running on the Solana Blockchain. Besides, Melania Trump is looking forward to making benefits out of this token and wants to do charity work. According to the recent press conference, the benefits she will get from the earnings out of these non-fungible tokens would also contribute to some of the excellent work she has already been doing. The portion of the proceeds that she will get from these non-fungible tokens will go to the foster kids. There is another essential thing that needs to be brought under consideration now. Earlier, she launched her NFT on the occasion of bitcoins birthday. However, later on, she expressed a lot of support towards the ever-increasing popularity of bitcoin. She said that bitcoins market cap could increase 1 trillion United States dollars in the coming year, and it touched the mark on the 13th birthday. Also, she said that she is an active supporter of cryptocurrencies which further led to the popularity of the NFT launched by her. The tweet about supporting bitcoin by Melania Trump came right after when bitcoin became the highest hash rate of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin touched its all-time highest hash rates a few days earlier when people thought it to be one of the most popular cryptocurrencies worldwide. The computational power employed to process cryptocurrency transactions is worth the highest on the recent weekend. Therefore, it is believed that everything is nothing else but the process of making its non-fungible token very popular. She launched her NFT token on December 16, 2021. It was then, right after launching her phone watercolour painting which rode her eyes, and she has joined the list of celebrities who had their digital art. However, according to a top-rated cryptocurrency expert, the attempt of launching an NFT in the market is nothing else but grabbing the market leverage. She saw that cryptocurrencies are prevalent, and therefore, she wanted to make a profit out of it, and it has no relation with the most popular crypto, bitcoin. The expert said that she used the opportunity of a bitcoin birthday to launch her on non-fungible tokens in the market because she knew that it would work well. However, the bitcoin community does not positively respond to her new venture. She thought it would be a perfect opportunity because bitcoin enthusiasts would turn towards something new, but it did not happen. The things did not turn out as she expected. Therefore, the non-fungible token community did not respond well to the non-functional tokens launched by Melania Trump. The strict followers of Donald Trump made by the new NFC by her white, but the whole NFT community is not in favour of the same. A non-fungible token is only part of the cryptocurrency, but they work slightly different from crypto coins. According to the experts, the crypto space has a lot of influence on non-fungible tokens. Launching an NFT may be beneficial for Melania Trump, but, soon the influence will work, and people will not buy more of this new NFT. Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions EU countries to continue to pay in euros or dollars for Russian gas Resistance Movement participants return to France Square Russian and Turkish defense ministers discuss current situation in Ukraine Ukrainian intelligence accuses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan of helping Russia evade Western sanctions NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification Toivo Klaar informs about meeting of Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Georgia PM hands over first part of questionnaire answers for accession to EU Resistance Movement participants march in central Yerevan Half of Japanese oppose change of peaceful constitution Resistance movement rally on France Square in Yerevan Blinken and Armenia FM sign memorandum on strategic cooperation in nuclear energy Another earthquake registered on Armenian-Georgian border FLYONE ARMENIA launches regular direct flights between Yerevan and Tbilisi Georgia abolishes requirement to wear masks in closed spaces One dollar drops below AMD 450, euro also falls in Armenia Georgia PM receives Justice Minister of Armenia Armenia MFA says there is no discussion, agreement on re-demarcating border with Turkey Cavusoglu claims there is agreement to clarify Armenia-Turkey border Azerbaijan president receives Brice Roquefeuil Armenia ex-defense minister: These authorities are able to use force inside the country Police: 244 people apprehended in Yerevan as of 2pm Incident involving disobedience march participants occurs at Armenian State Pedagogical University Yerevan Police apprehend opposition MP Police: 199 people apprehended in Yerevan as of noon Armenia defense ministry refutes Azerbaijan MOD statement Resistance Movement coordinator says they will assemble at France Square in downtown Yerevan at 6pm Armenia parliament opposition faction leader: More than 200 people apprehended The Azeri Times: Azerbaijan closes airspace for Russia military aircraft to disrupt transportation to Armenia Bill Gates warns of more fertile' COVID-19 variant Police: 3 dozen intersections in Yerevan were closed off by citizens since morning Armenia PM congratulates several Arab countries leaders on Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr 3 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Journalist falls ill during scuffle at civil disobedience action in Yerevan Armenia ex-ruling party official: I assess these actions of disobedience very positively Armenia FM to head for US, will meet with Blinken Armenia Police: 189 people apprehended so far in Yerevan UN announces blocking of millions of tons of grain in Ukraine ports Small plane crashes in Canada, 4 dead 125 people taken to Yerevan police stations Erdogan says will hold talks with Putin this week Quake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone One person falls ill during oppositions peaceful disobedience action in downtown Yerevan Resistance Movement coordinator says 14 streets currently blocked by citizens in Yerevan Peaceful civil disobedience actions kick off in Yerevan early morning Hungary says 10 European countries opened bank accounts in Russia to pay for natural gas in rubles Finland to build fences along Russia border Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: For 10 years international community said Artsakh should self-determine Putin signs decree on measures to ensure Russia information security 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan is at Yerevans France Square Opposition continues to keep France Square in downtown Yerevan closed Europe asks Russia natural gas giant to increase supplies Clashes break out between police and anarchists in Paris The Jerusalem Post: Time for Israel to not fear Turkey and to recognize Armenian Genocide Armenia opposition lawmaker: People are constantly approaching ex-president Kocharyan (VIDEO) Putin bans foreign investors from organizing regular transfers on public-private, city-private partnership basis Ex-defense minister: Prior to 44-day war it was possible to negotiate in such way that Armenia will not be at war Police dispatching additional forces to Yerevans France Square Opposition to set up tents at France Square in downtown Yerevan (PHOTOS) Armenia opposition MP: How did US, France, Russia talk about Karabakh status after war? Resistance Movement coordinator: Armenian people told whole world that they are masters of their destiny, future Huge opposition rally kicks off in downtown Yerevan Armenia former ruling party official says ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will attend today's opposition rally Russia to impose $101M fine on Google Resistance Movement marches reach French Square in Yerevan Turkey police beat, detain dozens in May Day demonstrations Armenia international airports passenger traffic doubles in first quarter of 2022 Nancy Pelosi visits Kyiv, meets with Zelenskyy Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan defense ministry disseminating disinformation Armenia ex-President Kocharyan joins opposition march to Yerevan US Embassy in Armenia: Large crowds are unpredictable Germany supports EU plans to give up Russian oil Russia MOD announces airstrike on Odessa military airport Italy cancels Covid certificates Resistance Movement marches reaching Yerevan Artsakh President receives Armenian Relief Society delegation 4 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Blinken, Kuleba discuss return of American diplomats to Ukraine Armenia PM: Thanks to joint efforts and work we were able to overcome these crisis situations Person commits suicide by hanging self in Armenias Artik US, UK hold talks to reduce risk of war with China over Taiwan Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroes historic dress to Met Gala Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square Symptoms and prevention of avian influenza: is it dangerous for humans? Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power Russian national team excluded from League of Nations New James Bond might be Jacob Elordi from Euphoria Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions UEFA suspends Russian clubs from participation in European competitions EU countries to continue to pay in euros or dollars for Russian gas Resistance Movement participants return to France Square Russian and Turkish defense ministers discuss current situation in Ukraine Ukrainian intelligence accuses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan of helping Russia evade Western sanctions NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification Toivo Klaar informs about meeting of Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Edinson Cavani wants to return to South America Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Georgia PM hands over first part of questionnaire answers for accession to EU Resistance Movement participants march in central Yerevan Half of Japanese oppose change of peaceful constitution Resistance movement rally on France Square in Yerevan Mkhitaryan among contenders for Roma's best player in April Blinken and Armenia FM sign memorandum on strategic cooperation in nuclear energy Avril Lavigne tests positive for Covid-19 Another earthquake registered on Armenian-Georgian border FLYONE ARMENIA launches regular direct flights between Yerevan and Tbilisi Georgia abolishes requirement to wear masks in closed spaces One dollar drops below AMD 450, euro also falls in Armenia Georgia PM receives Justice Minister of Armenia Armenia MFA says there is no discussion, agreement on re-demarcating border with Turkey Why Justin Lin exits Fast and Furious 10 as director? Cavusoglu claims there is agreement to clarify Armenia-Turkey border Azerbaijan president receives Brice Roquefeuil How does climate change affect human health? Spain national team midfielder to join Barcelona Armenia ex-defense minister: These authorities are able to use force inside the country Police: 244 people apprehended in Yerevan as of 2pm Incident involving disobedience march participants occurs at Armenian State Pedagogical University Netflix cancels shooting of Meghan Markle's animated series The Pearl ATP No change in top 10 Yerevan Police apprehend opposition MP One in five people in England gets skin cancer All Kardashians invited to Met Gala for the first time Police: 199 people apprehended in Yerevan as of noon Armenia defense ministry refutes Azerbaijan MOD statement Simone Inzaghi Let's believe in victory until the end Resistance Movement coordinator says they will assemble at France Square in downtown Yerevan at 6pm Armenia parliament opposition faction leader: More than 200 people apprehended The Azeri Times: Azerbaijan closes airspace for Russia military aircraft to disrupt transportation to Armenia Bill Gates warns of more fertile' COVID-19 variant Police: 3 dozen intersections in Yerevan were closed off by citizens since morning Scientists identify mechanism of immune response formation leading to severe COVID-19 Armenia PM congratulates several Arab countries leaders on Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr 3 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Journalist falls ill during scuffle at civil disobedience action in Yerevan Armenia ex-ruling party official: I assess these actions of disobedience very positively Pete Davidson tattoos names of Kim Kardashian's children Armenia FM to head for US, will meet with Blinken Armenia Police: 189 people apprehended so far in Yerevan UN announces blocking of millions of tons of grain in Ukraine ports Xavi congratulates Real Madrid for winning the title Small plane crashes in Canada, 4 dead 125 people taken to Yerevan police stations Erdogan says will hold talks with Putin this week Over 48,000 people in Armenia already get booster shot against Covid Liverpool to sell Salah in summer Eurovision 2022: Armenias Rosa Linn holds first rehearsal in Italy (PHOTOS) Quake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone One person falls ill during oppositions peaceful disobedience action in downtown Yerevan Resistance Movement coordinator says 14 streets currently blocked by citizens in Yerevan Peaceful civil disobedience actions kick off in Yerevan early morning La Liga: Barca defeat Mallorca Serie A: Roma play goalless draw at home with Bologna Hungary says 10 European countries opened bank accounts in Russia to pay for natural gas in rubles Finland to build fences along Russia border Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: For 10 years international community said Artsakh should self-determine Putin signs decree on measures to ensure Russia information security 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan is at Yerevans France Square Opposition continues to keep France Square in downtown Yerevan closed Europe asks Russia natural gas giant to increase supplies Clashes break out between police and anarchists in Paris The Jerusalem Post: Time for Israel to not fear Turkey and to recognize Armenian Genocide Armenia opposition lawmaker: People are constantly approaching ex-president Kocharyan (VIDEO) Putin bans foreign investors from organizing regular transfers on public-private, city-private partnership basis Ex-defense minister: Prior to 44-day war it was possible to negotiate in such way that Armenia will not be at war 'Delta variant may be spreading in Hong Kong' 'Delta variant may be spreading in Hong Kong' Health authorities on Sunday warned that the Delta variant of Covid-19 appears to be spreading in Hong Kong, on top of recently reported Omicron cases. The Centre for Health Protection said a 23-year-old woman has tested preliminary positive for the virus, involving the L452R mutant strain found in Delta. The woman works at the Little Boss pet shop in Causeway Bay and had hotpot with friends in Yau Ma Tei. She had also stayed at a hotel in Wan Chai before developing symptoms like sore throat and coughing. The centres Chuang Shuk-kwan said officials are still trying to trace the source of her infection. There may be Delta strain circulating. So it is not only restricted to the Omicron cases we detected recently. So of course were very worried whether there are other sources of infections that have not been detected. As for the source of [her] infection, were still investigating, she said. In all, authorities reported 11 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, eight of which are imported. One of the confirmed cases involve a woman arriving from Pakistan who tested positive for the virus, just days after completing her quarantine at the Silka Seaview Hotel in Yau Ma Tei. Authorities said their investigation suggests that there may be cross-infection at the hotel, after the woman and five other guests staying in four different rooms across two separate floors recently came down with Covid-19. After inspecting the hotel, HKU microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said he believes the virus may have spread through the corridors when the doors of the guest rooms were opened. Yuen noted that the hotel and their staff had complied with all safety regulations, adding that any risks could be minimised by further improving air changes at the facility and making sure rooms are equipped with air purifiers. He also said guests who are staying close to the affected rooms would have to be quarantined for an extra 14 days as a precaution. After the release of the film, Ananya penned a heartfelt post describing her love for 'Gehrayaiaan' "The many moods of Tia...she was such a treat to play -- her innocence, patience, insecurity, maturity, vulnerability, loyalty, love, heartbreak -- will stay with me forever," she had posted on her Instagram account. Re-sharing Ananya's post, Ishaan took to his Instagram Story and added a "bravo" sticker to the post.He also posted a cute cat sticker with the post of Ananya, which clapped in appreciation. The rumours of Ananya and Ishaan Khatter dating have been making rounds on the internet for a while now. The actors have never publicly accepted their relationship. They two have even shared screen space in the film 'Khaali Peeli'. (ANI) According to Variety, she will portray an unusual schoolteacher in Hausner's second English-language film, which begins shooting in the U.K. and Austria in July. Wasikowska was most recently seen in Mia Hansen-Love's Cannes-premiering film 'Bergman Island'. In 'Club Zero', Wasikowska's teacher takes a job at an elite school and forms a strong bond with five students, a relationship that eventually takes a dangerous turn. Producers for it are Bruno Wagner, Philippe Bober, Mike Goodridge, Johannes Schubert, Martin Gschlacht and Hausner. Discussing the film at the Doha Film Institute's Qumra event last year, Hausner described the film as "a lot about eating," relating to eating disorders and "eating behaviours." This will be Hausner's sixth feature. Her last film, 'Little Joe', was in competition in Cannes in 2019 and won the best actress award for Emily Beecham. As per Variety, the Austrian director, who made her debut with 'Lovely Rita', is a regular at Cannes, where all of her previous films have shown, except for 'Lourdes', which was in competition in Venice in 2009. (ANI) Actor Charlie Cox of 'Daredevil' fame has opened up about the phone call he received from Marvel studio boss Kevin Feige about joining 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Cox recalled that he did not anticipate hearing the voice of studio boss Feige when he picked up the phone in June 2020. "You never know. It was wild," he said of the surprising moment. "It was a pretty surreal, I'm not going to lie. Bear in mind that it's been a few years. I was pretty convinced it was over," the British actor explained, referring the 2018 cancellation of his Netflix series 'Daredevil'. Cox revealed, "Kevin said, 'We've got some ideas, but I wanted to make sure that you, in principle, are interested.' And I was like, 'I'm very interested.' And then I didn't hear from anyone for two months. And I got to the point where I wondered if I dreamt it." Lucky for him, it wasn't a dream. He was secretly brought in to the 'No Way Home' set, wearing a giant cloak, to film a scene with Tom Holland and Marisa Tomei. "I felt pretty comfortable being able to fit into that scene. I played the character almost every day for four years," Cox said of his role as attorney-turned-vigilante Matt Murdock. He added, "I feel like his essence is deep within me now. I didn't worry too much about it, but I was still pretty nervous on the day, which I haven't been for a while." The actor also opened up about the challenge after filming the movie of keeping the secret, admitting, "I hate lying." "But I really don't want to ruin it for anyone. My feeling is, if someone asks you, and you say, 'I don't know ... We'll have to wait and see.' That gives it away! It's obvious! No one is going to say that if you're not in it. I am relieved it's over," he said. Prior to the movie's release, Cox had denied his involvement after rumours circulated online that his character was featured in the 'No Way Home' trailer. In his chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Cox shared that he saw the return of Murdock as a victory, which might open more doors for both himself and the character. "It's a big moment, not just for me, but for the character. I felt a real sense of responsibility. If that scene works, if it's cool, if it seems in place, then the sky's the limit where this could go. And it would be great for Matt. I feel attached to him, even though that sounds a bit strange," he confessed. (ANI) TMZ reported that the 25-year old was pulled over on Sunset Boulevard around 3:15 a.m. as he drove a car with an expired registration. Police reportedly discovered Blueface was also driving with a suspended license, and a search of his vehicle turned up a loaded handgun in the centre console. The rapper, whose real name is Johnathan Porter, was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm, the outlet reported. His passengers were not charged. This arrest comes five months after Blueface and members of his entourage were accused of beating up a San Fernando Valley nightclub bouncer after he was denied entrance to the venue, as per TMZ. Previously in 2019, the 'Thotiana' recording artist was picked up by the LAPD for possession of a loaded, unregistered handgun. Later that year, the rapper filmed himself driving through Skid Row throwing piles of hundred dollar bills at homeless people, who desperately scurried to pick up the cash. As per Page Six, some people on social media praised his generosity while others said the stunt was humiliating to the district's needy population. (ANI) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A recent study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has discovered that lifting weights for as little as three seconds a day can have a positive impact on muscle strength. The study titled, 'Effect of daily 3-s maximum voluntary isometric, concentric or eccentric contraction on elbow flexor strength' was published in the 'Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports'. A collaboration with researchers from Niigata University of Health and Welfare (NUHW) in Japan had 39 healthy university students perform one muscle contraction at maximum effort for three seconds per day, for five days a week over four weeks. The participants performed either an isometric, concentric or eccentric bicep curl (see definitions below) at maximum effort, while researchers measured the muscles' maximum voluntary contraction strength before and after the four-week period. Another 13 students performed no exercise over the same period and were also measured before and after the four weeks. Muscle strength increased more than 10 per cent for the group who performed the eccentric bicep curl after the four weeks, but less increase in muscle strength was found for the other two exercise groups. The no-exercise group saw no increase. Lead researcher Professor Ken Nosaka from ECU's School of Medical and Health Sciences said the results showed people didn't need to spend vast amounts of time exercising to improve their muscle strength. "The study results suggest that a very small amount of exercise stimulus - even 60 seconds in four weeks - can increase muscle strength," he said. "Many people think you have to spend a lot of time exercising, but it's not the case. Short, good quality exercise can still be good for your body and every muscle contraction counts." These three classifications relate to what the muscle is doing when being activated. An isometric contraction is when the muscle is stationary under load, concentric is when the muscle is shortening and eccentric when the muscle is lengthening. For a bicep curl, a dumbbell is held with an arm by one's side, before lifting the weight upwards towards the chest and then lowering it back down via the elbow. Lifting the weight sees the bicep in concentric contraction, lowering the weight sees it in eccentric contraction while holding the weight parallel to the ground is isometric. The study showed that all three lifting methods had some benefit to muscle strength, however, eccentric contraction easily produced the best results. Researchers measured each group's concentric, isometric and eccentric strength. The concentric lifting group improved slightly (6.3 per cent) in isometric strength but saw no improvement elsewhere, while the isometric group only saw an increase in eccentric strength (7.2 per cent).However, the eccentric group saw significant improvements in strength across all three measurements: concentric increased 12.8 per cent, isometric 10.2 per cent and eccentric 12.2 per cent. The eccentric group's overall muscle strength improved 11.5 per cent after 60 seconds of effort in total. "Although the mechanisms underpinning eccentric contraction's potent effects are not clear yet, the fact only a three-second maximal eccentric contraction a day improves muscle strength in a relatively short period is important for health and fitness," Professor Nosaka said. Professor Nosaka said the findings were exciting for promoting physical fitness and health, such as prevention of sarcopenia - a decrease in muscle mass and strength with ageing. "We haven't investigated other muscles yet, but if we find the three-second rule also applies to other muscles then you might be able to do a whole-body exercise in less than 30 seconds," he said. "Also, performing only one maximal contraction per day means you don't get sore afterwards," he concluded. Professor Nosaka and NUHW's Dr Masatoshi Nakamura designed the study and the data were collected by Dr Nakamura and his PhD and Masters students. (ANI) Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Saturday flagged off the Kathua leg of Jammu and Kashmir's first free telemedicine service in ambulance, 'Doctor on wheels'. The minister said that this is the first-ever free telemedicine service launched near international border in the Kathua district. Sharing a video of the ambulance service, the minister tweeted, "Jammu and Kashmir's first-ever Free Telemedicine service launched near International Border in district Kathua. "Doctor on Wheels" has earlier successfully spent 3 months in 185 villages of district Doda where 3,600 patients were attended." The ambulance is equipped with latest lab technology and can connect patients with senior doctors in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Surat and Ahmedabad. The facility will provide relief to people living in the far-flung areas of Kathua, where healthcare services are poor. 'Doctor on wheels' was launched by NHPC Limited in association with Sahara Health and Development Society. It is the first healthcare service that will be delivered via digital mode in Kathua district. Speaking to media persons, the MoS said that this launched by taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Digital Health Mission. "The service was first launched in Doda. It has now been expanded to Kathua," he said. "Within a span of about one hour, super-specialist consultation will be given," he added. Shanker Matam, from Sahara organization, said that the aim of this health service is to reduce the time in which service is provided to patients. "With this, there will be an early diagnosis of the disease. It will also reduce the costs," he added. He further said that delivery of drugs, diagnosis of disease, contact with the specialist doctor and primary consultation can be done within 30 minutes with this facility. (ANI) Chief Guest, Air Vice Marshal PS Karkare, Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration, Headquarter Western Air Command reviewed the parade. Wing Commander Trilok Sharma, Commandant GRTC received the Chief Guest and presented brief on various training aspects. As per an official statement by the Defence Ministry, the chief guest congratulated the Garuds on their successful passing out from the Garud Regimental Training Centre. While addressing the young Garuds, he emphasized on the importance of training and honing of Special Forces skills to keep pace with the changing security scenario. He presented Maroon Beret, Garud Proficiency Badge and Special Forces Tabs to the successful Garud trainees and gave away trophies to the meritorious passing out trainees. The best all-rounder trophy was presented to LAC Suryawanshi Shivcharan Arjun. During the passing out ceremony, the 'Garuds' demonstrated various skills such as combat firing, hostage rescue, firing drill, assault explosives, obstacle crossing drill, wall climbing, slithering, rappelling and military martial arts. The Maroon Beret Ceremonial Parade is a moment of pride and achievement for the Garuds, marking the culmination of their training and transformation of 'Young Special Forces Operators' joining the elite force. (ANI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said that Sri Ramanujacharya's teachings of 'equality for all, welfare of all' must become the guiding light in the endeavour to build a 'New India'. Vice President's Secretariat in a statement informed that Naidu visited the 'Statue of Equality' in Hyderabad, a 216-feet tall statue of the 11th century Bhakti saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who promoted the idea of equality before God and engendered many social reforms in his time. The Vice President suggested that 'we must strive to build a more egalitarian and equitable post-pandemic economic order in line with the teachings of Bhagavad Ramanuja.' Calling upon the youth to take inspiration from Sri Ramanujacharya's life, the Vice President said they must become key partners in building a society free of discrimination. 'Let us rededicate ourselves to follow the path shown by Sri Ramanujacharya and strive to alleviate the suffering of humanity by following the great Sage's dictum - 'Serve All Beings as Service to God'', he added. Praising Sri Ramanujacharya for his untiring efforts to end the disparities of caste, class and gender, Naidu said that even though the saint had lived over a thousand years ago, his vision for peace and harmony remains eternally relevant. He observed that his philosophy of Vishistadwaita argued that there is "no room for discriminating against people on the basis of caste and community." The Vice President noted that Sri Ramanujacharya, through his message of Bhakti and love unified Indian society and nation. "With his great wisdom, sagacity and foresight, he synthesised seemingly opposite thoughts of Jnana and Bhakti, Dvaita and Advaita. As a social reformer and a spiritual leader, he left an indelible mark on society", Naidu observed. Highlighting schemes of the government such as the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, rural sanitation and other initiatives, Naidu said that all these programs are inspired by the philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas' which resonates with Sri Ramanujacharya's teachings. Referring to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Naidu said that the need of the hour is to change the mindset of people and ensure that no girl is discriminated against. Noting the 'encouraging trend' of improved Sex Ratio at Birth by 19 points at National level from 2014-2021, the Vice President urged people to 'join the campaign for gender equality and turn it into a mass movement'. On the occasion, the Vice President appreciated the efforts of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram in conceptualising the statue and all those involved in the project. Chinna Jeeyar Swami, Dr J Rameswar Rao, Main Trustee, GV Bhaskar Rao, President, SRSB (Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi), C. Lakshman Rao, President, JIYA (Jeeyar Integrated Vedic Academy), K.V. Chowdary, President, Divya Saketham and others were present on the occasion. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to visit the state ahead of polls. "BJP president JP Nadda will soon visit the state and release the party manifesto for the State Assembly election. PM Modi will also visit the state however the schedule is not confirmed yet," N Biren Singh said. The Chief Minister on Saturday launched of BJP Creative Campaign at Imphal hotel. The event was attended by state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, state in-charge Sambit Patra, and state minister Th Biswajit Singh and Vungzagin Valte. The elections in Manipur will be held on February 27 and March 3. Votes will be counted on March 10. (ANI) She was an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in Nagpur Bench, whose extended tenure was set to expire on February 12, as the Supreme Court collegium did not recommend the extension of her term. She became a district judge in 2007 and was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on February 13, 2019, for a term of two years. In January 2021, Justice Ganediwala delivered two judgments relating to child sex abuse, which attracted widespread criticism for taking the proposition that direct 'skin to skin contact' was necessary for constituting the offence of sexual assault under the POCSO Act. Following the controversy, the Supreme Court collegium revoked the recommendation made by it on January 20 to make her a permanent judge of the Bombay High Court. (ANI) "My suggestion is that religion should not be taken to schools," Athawale told ANI. "Everybody is demanding special status. Andhra Pradesh is demanding special status, Bihar is also demanding special status, Everybody is demanding special status which is also a problem for the government of India," on being asked about Andhra Pradesh demanding special status. 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 wearing hijab (a headscarf worn by Muslim women). During the protests, some students were allegedly denied entry to college wearing hijab earlier this month. The hijab row has now also spilled over to Rajasthan in a private college where some girls wearing hijab were stopped from entering the college. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear urgent pleas relating to the hijab row in Karnataka and said it is "watching" what's happening in the state and in hearing before the High Court. (ANI) A 25 years old girl was allegedly gang-raped by four youths on the pretext of getting work in Rajasthan's Churu city, informed Mamta Saraswat, DSP Churu on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, Saraswat said, "The victim was called by four youths to Churu on the pretext of getting work and raped the 25 years old girl. Then, all the four accused tied her hands and feet and later pushed her from the roof in a state of intoxication. However, the girl's life was saved as the rope got stuck on a pole." After getting the information, the police immediately reached the spot and saved the girl. "The accused's medical checkup was done at a government hospital and a case of gang rape has been registered against the youths on behalf of the victim's statements," the DSP added. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) With the goal of expediting the progress of Mission Basundhara, the Assam Chief Minister on Saturday evening held a review meeting with all the concerned officials who have been tasked with the implementation of the 'Mission' at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati. He urged all implementing authorities to consider it as a pious and noble mission. Sarma further said that over 3.2 lakh out of 8.10 lakh online applications so far received on the 'Basundhara' portal have been disposed of by the state agencies. "After Mission Basundhara-1, the state government will launch Mission Basundhara-2," Sarma said. The Assam Chief Minister also launched an 'Integrity Helpline of the Mission' for lodging grievances, which will enable quick streamlining of various land-related issues of the people. Mission Basundhara was launched in Assam on October 2 last year. The Chief Minister said that it is a decisive step towards streamlining land revenue services and facilitating easy access for the people for their land-related works. (ANI) "Today, in Uttar Pradesh, I will address election public meetings in three Assembly constituencies, Ramnagar, Haidergarh and Unchahar," he said in a tweet. Earlier, addressing a public gathering in Sikandaraabaad in Bulandshahr Assembly constituency, the Defence Minister had urged the people of UP to keep distance from those doing politics of caste, creed and religion. He alleged that Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress are indulging in "politics of appeasement". Meanwhile, the voting for the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections on 55 assembly seats covering nine districts of the state will be held on Monday. Two crore voters will decide the fate of 586 candidates in the second phase of Assembly elections. Districts going to polls in second phase are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha, Sambhal, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Budaun and Shahjahanpur. (ANI) This is Howard, as far as this train goes. So sayeth the CTA prophet at the top of Theo Ubiques new production of Working, the intensely pleasurable musical celebration of Studs Terkels everyday toiling folk, from housewives to venture capitalists to industrial cleaners. In this telling, Working is very much a Chicago story. Advertisement The show, directed by Christopher Chase Carter, is staged on the Evanston side of Howard Street inside Theo Ubiques new, hard-won theater. We see the then-Sears Tower, smell the Portillos dogs, imagine ironworkers ascending the Loops high-rises and contractors scrubbing office floors. Even the shared-space design, from Nicholas James Schwartz, represents the hard-edged and sprawling Howard station, just a cold walk away, a few blocks to the east of the theater. Working is an unusual hybrid of a musical, its history steeped in this city. Its origins are in the mid-1970s, when a slew of songwriters from Craig Carnelia to Micki Grant to James Taylor joined Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso in a project to adapt Terkels bestselling work of non-fiction, Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do, which arguably became the most famous work of proletarian oral history of all time. The resultant musical had its first production at the Goodman in 1977 before moving to Broadway (Patti LuPone and Joe Mantegna both were in the original cast). Advertisement The nature of work has changed a lot since the 70s of course, and Working has been much revised, most extensively in 2011 for a new Chicago production from the director Gordon Greenberg at whats now the Broadway Playhouse. (Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote a new song, based on his real-life experience working at McDonalds.) This is the version Theo Ubique is using, and Carter wisely makes Chicago one of the shows leading characters. Chicago is full of Working fans and Im among them. For those of us who appreciate Terkels book and the gritty way it was theatricalized, this relatively simple new staging adds the attraction of Theo Ubique-style intimacy and a band led by Jeremy Ramey that feels very much part of what is being expressed. Carter has put tables for his audience all around the space with different staging areas for his working actors, none of whom are phony or flashy and all of whom are in concert with the resilient determination of the material. Kiersten Frumkin does a lovely job with Just a Housewife, the most famous song in the show, and I especially liked Stephen Blu Allens treatment of Mirandas A Very Good Day, which is a piece about a fast-food worker who views the chance to go out on a delivery as a great grab for the freedoms of biking through a city. But everyone here is richly grounded: Cynthia F. Carter, Jared David Michael Grant, Michael Kingston and Loretta Rezos all know how to articulate the dreams of blue-collar workers, especially the ones involving their children. If you remember the book, of course, youll recall one of Terkels most moving themes: How so many of us go to work for our kids, if only so they dont have to do a similar job. In some ways, the class-conscious Working is out of step with todays jukebox and lefty-elitist musicals forged by the privileged and the over-educated. It does not entirely speak the language of identity-fused politics, either. In this show, work is what defines identity, whether we intend it so or not. I think this piece, though, holds a unique and rather lovely niche in the canon of American musicals. It lives most happily in this kind of Chicago production: honest, emotional, raw, close-up and sincere. Working, you might say, is home for the holidays. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com Review: Working (3 stars) Advertisement When: Through Jan. 26 Where: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston Running time: 2 hours Tickets: $42-$57 (optional dinner is additional $29) at 773-347-1109 or www.theo-u.com In a bid to encourage voters to take part in the Punjab Assembly elections, an Amritsar based painter created a massive canvas of principal contenders with the theme of "India's flag". The painting consists of the collage of the pictures of Chief Ministerial faces of different political parties, including Aam Aadmi Party's Bhagwant Singh Mann, Congress' Charanjit Singh Channi, and Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal along with the respective party's senior leaders. Speaking to ANI, Jagjot Singh Rubal, Amritsar based painter, said, "As polling is going to take place in Punjab on February 20, so I wanted to encourage the youth here to cast their valuable votes. Youths always say that one vote does not matter." "But I want to make them aware that one vote can decide victory and defeat. This (picture) is my appeal to young voters to cast their votes and choose the right candidates. All the best to all voters," the painter said. Describing his painting, Rubal stated that he has used the theme of the "Indian flag" in the canvas and painted the background with tri-colours. Punjab will go to the polls in a single phase on February 20, and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Reacting to the recent Supreme Court's order on reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC), Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that the issue can be resolved with Social, Educational and Economic Survey conducted by State Backward Classes Commission. "The recent judgment by Supreme Court on the reservation to OBCs in local body elections has created a blockade to the reservation to OBCs. It is possible to resolve this issue with Social, Educational and Economic Survey conducted by State Backward Classes Commission," he said. "Supreme Court has said that the States have to formulate OBC reservation policy in local body elections after completing the three-pronged test. I strongly believe that Supreme Court will accept the extensive door-to-door Social, Educational and Economic Survey which conducted in our State - first in the country", said Congress leader Siddaramaiah. He added that, though Political representation was not part of the working mandate of Kantharaj who led the Backward Classes Commission, the details of political representation of people of all the castes were collected. Supreme Court may consider the survey if the State Government highlights this point. "State BJP government should immediately accept and implement Social, Educational and Economic Survey of Backward Classes Commission without wasting any time. The government should present the same report to Supreme Court and argue the case to prevent injustice to OBCs", he further said. "I, during my tenure as Chief Minister (CM), had conducted an exhaustive door-to-door Social, Educational and Economic Survey through Backward Classes Commission. This has accurate data of political representation of people of all castes and there is no need for a separate survey like other State", stated Siddaramaiah. "Supreme Court, in 2010, had ordered to formulate qualifications to provide political reservation. I, during my tenure as CM, had formed a committee under the Chairmanship of Law Minister Shri T B Jayachandra to examine the judgment. The government should restructure the same committee to resolve the crisis", he further added. "Supreme Court has always asked for exhaustive and reliable data in cases related to reservation. Our door-to-door Social, Educational and Economic Survey is the answer for the same" said the Congress leader. "Karnataka need not panic by the Supreme Court Order like other States as we already have Social, Educational and Economic Survey conducted by Backward Classes Commission. State government should immediately implement this without politicizing" he said. "Instead of finding Supreme Court order as the reason to postpone Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections, the government should immediately start working towards rectifying the impending political injustice to OBCs", said to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka. "The Chief Minister of Karnataka, M Basavaraj Bommai should immediately convene a meeting with Leaders of Opposition and legal experts to take the opinion about the Supreme Court Order and ensure justice to OBCs", further added. The Opposition Leader further said that Karnataka was the first state in the Country to give political reservation to OBCs in Zilla and Taluk Panchayats. Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi brought the 73rd and 74th amendments to extend this reservation to the entire country. The opposition leader further added that Backward classes were denied rightful political representation due to a lack of reservation in politics. It will be against Social Justice if they again lose their reservation due to the Supreme Court order. (ANI) One Bangladeshi cattle smuggler was killed in a firing incident that took place at the Kukurmara area in Assam's South Salmara Mankachar district along the India-Bangladesh border on Sunday morning, informed Border Security Force (BSF) official. The BSF official said that the incident occurred while smugglers had tried to transport cows from the Indian side to Bangladesh by pulling the cows over the tall barbed-wire fence. The BSF personnel deployed along the international border tried to stop the illegal activities. But the smuggler group tried to overpower the BSF personnel. "One smuggler from Bangladesh side was killed in BSF firing on the spot and the security personnel recovered three cows, sharp weapons from the spot. The incident took place at Kukurmara BOP at around 4 am on Sunday, said JC Nayak, DIG of BSF of Dhubri sector. "Around 20-25 smugglers from Indian side came to the area with cattle heads and their intention was to transport the cattle heads to the Bangladesh side by crossing the fencing of the international border. Similar numbers of smugglers also came from the Bangladesh side," the BSF official said. He further informed, "They use bamboo made lever or crane to transport the cows to Bangladesh and they pull the cows over the tall barbed fence. Today also the Indian smugglers had tried to use this method. Our boys had challenged them, but they didn't stop their activities and they also tried to overpower our boys." He also said that the first BSF's two jawans had fired upon them by using PAG gun, but they didn't stop their activities. "Some people from Bangladesh side had tried to cut barbed wire and cut 3-4 barbed wire in Bangladesh side. There was no option for us to fire upon them to control the situation and our jawan fired one round bullet by using an INSAS rifle and it hit a Bangladesh smuggler," Nayak said. "We had searched the area and found that the smuggler was killed. We recovered three cows, a cantilever, daos, bamboo sticks. We have informed the local police of Mankachar police station about the incident," the BSF official said. The Border Security Force (BSF) Guwahati Frontier had seized a huge quantity of contraband drugs, over 8,000 cattle heads worth over Rs 11 crore and apprehended 117 Bangladeshi nationals in last year. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday alleged that Congress questioned the abilities of late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, since the day he became Army Chief. "Congress spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat. From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such an attitude won't be tolerated anymore," Sarma tweeted. "Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country. India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" he said in another tweet. General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and twelve other defence force personnel died in the helicopter crash in November last year. This came as Sarma's drew heavy criticism from Opposition parties for remark on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Launching a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi for demanding proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019, 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. "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?" he said. 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. (ANI) Taking potshots at previous governments in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that those who are inauspicious for development of the state will automatically vanish once the bell made in Jalesar starts ringing inside the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He also said PM Narendra Modi led government at the Centre successfully put the COVID-19 jinn in a bottle. The Chief Minister was addressing a public rally in Jalesar. "A 2,100 quintal bell will be installed in the Ram mandir. It is a belief that whenever the bells made in Jalesar ring inside temples, whatever is inauspicious vanishes," said the Chief Minister. Highlighting the role of Etah in India's freedom movement, Adityanath said it was ironic that the district which played such a huge role in the country's Independence struggle could not get proper healthcare facilities and medical colleges for more than 70 years. "But now I can proudly say that a medical college named after freedom fighter Avantibai Lodhi has come up in the district," added the Chief Minister. He highlighted that the district played a big role in freedom movement of the country. Adityanath said that before 2017, power-sponsored mafias and criminals used to dominate the district. "Be it Congress, SP or BSP, they had no sympathy for the poor, farmers, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs). They did not do anything for them, did not waive farmers' debts, did not build toilets, houses for the poor and healthcare facilities were not provided either. Their sympathy was only with mafias and criminals. Have you not seen the government's bulldozer run over such mafias and criminals after 2017 and their wealth being seized?" added Adityanath. Highlighting the success of the state in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that through great management, the state has put the 'Jinn' of COVID-19 inside a bottle in such a way that thousands are gathered at the spot for the rally and the virus is nowhere to be found". "In the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, free tests, treatments, vaccines were given. Double dose of ration was given to the poor as well," he added. He also said that water will be provided to farmers for free during the next five years and work in that direction has started. "We will provide sweet water instead of saline water. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, pure drinking water will be given to all to keep people healthy," he added. Highlighting the government's efforts in Etah district, Adityanath said that debt of 64,000 farmers was waived off in the district while 2.87 lakh farmers had received benefits of the PM-KISAN scheme. "In Etah, 11,500 physically challenged people, 23,700 widows and over 40,000 senior citizens are getting pensions of Rs 12,000 yearly, and 43.5 lakh houses have been given to poor in the state and over 22000 poor in the district have been given houses," he added. Polling was conducted in Uttar Pradesh on February 10 for the first phase of the Assembly elections. The next phase polling will take place on February 14, followed by February 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7, for the other five phases. The counting of votes will be done on March 10. (ANI) According to a few researchers from the University of Waterloo, exercise is extremely beneficial for our eyes. They discovered that a significant increase in tear secretion and tear film stability after participating in aerobic exercise can be another remedy for relieving dry, itchy eyes. Their study, 'Differential effect of maximal incremental treadmill exercise on tear secretion and tear film stability in athletes and non-athletes' was published in the journal, 'Experimental Eye Research'. The study was co-authored by Otchere, the University of Cape Coast's Samuel Abokyi, Sekyere Nyamaah, and Michael Ntodie, and Ghana's Our Lady of Grace Hospital's Yaw Osei Akoto. Every time we blink, our eyes are covered in tear film--an essential protective coating necessary for maintaining healthy ocular function. Healthy tear film comprises three layers-oil, water, and mucin-that work together to hydrate the ocular surface and protect against infection-causing irritants like dust or dirt. When any part of the tear film becomes unstable, the ocular surface can develop dry spots, causing eye symptoms like itchiness or stinging and burning sensations. "With so much of our activity tied to screen usage, dry eye symptoms are becoming increasingly common," said Heinz Otchere, a PhD candidate in vision science at Waterloo. "Instead of having to use eye drops or other alternative treatments, our study aimed to determine if remaining physically active can be an effective preventative measure against dryness." Fifty-two participants were divided into two groups--athlete and non-athlete--to participate in an exercise session. Participants in the athlete group exercised at least five times per week, while non-athlete participants exercised no more than once per week. Researchers, which included experts from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, performed visual examinations before and five minutes after each exercise session, where tear secretion and tear break-up time were assessed. While participants in the athlete group showed the largest increase, Otchere says all participants experienced a meaningful boost in tear quantity and tear film stability after the exercise session. "It can be challenging for people to regularly exercise when the demand is there to work increasingly longer hours in front of screens," Otchere said. "However, our findings show physical activity can be really important for not just our overall well-being, but for our ocular health too." (ANI) Massive deforestation and increase in rubber plantations in Tripura have emerged as the major causes of change in the habitat of non-human primates as well as cases of monkey-human conflict in certain parts of Tripura, according to a study. The research titled, "Public opinion regarding Human-Monkey conflict and conservation of non-human primate in Sepahijala District of Tripura" found that 75 per cent of the respondents involved in the study and living in villages located in the vicinity of reserve forest with dense rubber plantation opined that rapid rise in deforestation in the reserve forest was resulting in shrinkage of habitats of primates who are now forced to stray out. As many as 26.66 per cent of respondents from the areas that have fewer rubber plantations have expressed the same opinion. The majority (56.66 percent) of respondents have said that the expansion of rubber plantations in their villages acts as a route for the monkeys. "They can easily move from one part of the village to another using the canopy provided by the rubber plantation", said researcher Prasenjit Patari. The study was compiled by Patari and Sabyasachi Dasgupta. He said that for the study they have selected six villages under the Sepahijala district. "The villages have been categorized in two parts--villages near reserve forest with less rubber plantation and villages with large rubber plantations. This helped us in ascertaining the impact of rubber plantation on the movement of primates", he added. According to Patari, 65 per cent of the households nearby maximum rubber plantation and reserve forest areas and 53.33 per cent of those in minimum rubber plantation and wildlife sanctuary areas reported that Rhesus macaque, Capped langur and Phayre's leaf Monkey frequently raided their homestead. Nearly 90 per cent of respondents reported that Rhesus macaque, Capped langur and Phayre's leaf Monkey were creating problems for them. "Rhesus macaque, Capped langur and Phayre's leaf Monkey are the main species of monkey that are found in this region, for that matter, across Tripura", said Patari. Citing another study conducted in Sri Lanka, Patari said, "It is also a fact that the population of primates is rising at an unscientific pace. This growth in the population caused lack of fodder inside the Jungle prompting them to raid households in adjacent human settlements". On mitigating measures, Patari said, "Majority of the respondents proposed a primate park in the area. The primates have an aesthetic value as they resemble humans. This will create employment opportunities for the rural masses as well". Moreover, some of the respondents also urged the state government to initiate the plantation of fruit trees near the roads to divert the attention of the monkeys. "The most common problem was household disturbances (breaking roof tiles, damaging furniture, stealing food, tearing off clothes, the damaging pile of straw), while only 11.66 per cent respondents stated that monkeys don't enter the room", the study adds. The villages where the study was conducted are Ashabari, Baghaichar, Dakhin Mohespur, Jangalia, Kanaibari, and Modhya Brajapur of Sepahijala district of Tripura. The study spanned four months from January 2021 to April 2021. (ANI) A day ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls, Congress leader Harish Rawat on Sunday said that nobody in the party has any objections on his name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Rawat said that the Congress is contesting the Assembly polls in Uttarakhand under his leadership. On the issue of him not being announced as the Chief Ministerial candidate unlike Punjab, Rawat said that "the move a strategic matter". Speaking to ANI, Rawat said, "I do politics of struggle, not power. The party has told me that the election campaign will be led by me. We are fighting to win the elections. Nobody in the party has any objections to my name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. No party member has expressed any objection to my name." Stating that not announcing a CM face was part of the Congress strategy, Rawat said that "more than 40 per cent of the people want to see me as the CM candidate this time". Asked about the contradiction between his statements on presenting the Dalit CM in the state and and yet running for the post, Rawat said that he indeed wants to see a a Dalit CM in the state. "However, there is no deadline for the wish to be fulfilled," said rawat. "We need to get rid of some mentality after the 75 years of India's Independence. Following a change in Punjab, a Dalit CM face has been announced. I have prayed for the same for Uttarakhand. When you make such wishes, you do not give a deadline. But there is no time foundation for the prayer to become a reality. I have sought an opportunity from 'Ganga Maiya' that in the coming time, I can present a Dalit as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand," the Congress leader said. The former chief minister also hit out at Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and called announcement to implement Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand after he is elected to power, a "jumla". "It is not within his Constitutional right to implement UCC in the state," said Rawat. Rawat is in the electoral fray from the Lalkuwa Assembly seat in the Uttarakhand Assembly elections, which will go to the polls on Monday. However, the Congress had announced change of seats of the party's campaign committee chairman Rawat and four other leaders in its third list. The change has been done after the crisis within the party due to infighting among the leaders, as one of the working presidents of Uttarakhand Congress Ranjeet Rawat was uncomfortable with the Candidature of Harish Rawat from the Ramnagar Assembly Constituency. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Research involving more than 3,50,000 participants from over 50 countries and 6 continents has found that links between musical preferences and personality are universal. The findings suggested that music could play a greater role in overcoming social division, as well as offering currently untapped therapeutic benefits. The study was published in the 'Journal of Personality and Social Psychology'. Ed Sheeran's song 'Shivers' is as likely to appeal to extroverts living in the UK as those living in Argentina or India. Those with neurotic traits in the US are as likely to be into Nirvana's 'Smells like Teen Spirit' as people with a similar personality living in Denmark or South Africa. Agreeable people the world over will tend to like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On', or Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's 'Shallow'; while national borders cannot stop open people from replaying David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' or 'Nina Simone'. But it does not matter where a conscientious person lives, they are unlikely to enjoy 'Rage Against the Machine'. These are the kind of assumptions supported by new research led by Dr David Greenberg, an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and a Postdoctoral Scholar at Bar-Ilan University. Across the world, without significant variation, the researchers found the same positive correlations between extraversion and contemporary music; between conscientiousness and unpretentious music; between agreeableness and mellow and unpretentious music; and between openness and mellow, contemporary, intense and sophisticated music. They also identified a clear negative correlation between conscientiousness and intense music. Greenberg, who wore many hats as a musician, neuroscientist, and psychologist, said, "We were surprised at just how much these patterns between music and personality replicated across the globe. People may be divided by geography, language and culture, but if an introvert in one part of the world likes the same music as introverts elsewhere, that suggests that music could be a very powerful bridge. Music helps people to understand one another and find common ground." His study explained why personality traits were linked to musical styles. The researchers accurately predicted that extraversion, which is defined by excitement-seeking, sociability, and positive emotions, would be positively associated with contemporary music that has upbeat, positive, and danceable features. Similarly, they were not surprised to find that conscientiousness, which is associated with order and obedience, clashed with intense musical styles, which is characterized by aggressiveness and rebellious themes. But one finding was proving to be more puzzling. Greenberg said, "We thought that neuroticism would have likely gone one of two ways, either preferring sad music to express their loneliness or preferring upbeat music to shift their mood. Actually, on average, they seem to prefer more intense musical styles, which perhaps reflects inner angst and frustration." "That was surprising but people use music in different ways - some might use it for catharsis, others to change their mood. So there may be subgroups who score high on neuroticism who listen to mellow music for one reason and another subgroup that is more frustrated and perhaps prefer intense music to let off steam. We'll be looking into that in more detail." The researchers also found that the correlation between extraversion and contemporary music was particularly strong around the equator, above all in Central and South America. This could suggest that climatic factors influenced musical preferences and that people in warmer climates tend to have personality traits that make them more likely to prefer rhythmic, danceable music.Greenberg, who continued to perform as a professional saxophonist, had a very diverse playlist which was typical of people who scored high on openness. He said, "I've always loved jazz and now I'm also really into the music of different world religions, which makes perfect sense based on my personality traits." Greenberg and his colleagues used two different musical preference assessment methods to assess an unprecedented number of participants living in more than 50 countries. The first required people to self-report the extent to which they liked listening to 23 genres of music as well as completing the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) and providing demographic information. The second used a more advanced approach and asked participants to listen to short audio clips from 16 genres and subgenres of Western music on the musicaluniverse.io website and then give their preferential reactions to each (people can still visit the site to receive their scores). The researchers focused on Western music primarily because it is the most listened to globally and results based on Western music offer the strongest potential to be applied in real-world and therapeutic settings globally. The researchers used the MUSIC model, a widely accepted framework for conceptualizing musical preferences, which identifies five key musical styles: 'Mellow' (featuring romantic, slow, and quiet attributes as heard in soft rock, R&B, and adult contemporary genres), 'Unpretentious' (uncomplicated, relaxing, and unaggressive attributes as heard in country genres), 'Sophisticated' (inspiring, complex, and dynamic features as heard in classical, operatic, avant-garde, and traditional jazz genres), 'Intense' (distorted, loud, and aggressive attributes as heard in classic rock, punk, heavy metal, and power pop genres), and 'Contemporary' (rhythmic, upbeat, and electronic attributes as heard in the rap, electronica, Latin, and Euro-pop genres). For thousands of years, humans have broadcast sounds to other groups to establish whether they have similar values, whether they could share resources or whether they are about to fight. Today, people are using music as a way to signal their personality and so, the study argued, there is potential to use music to address social division. Greenberg, who lived in Jerusalem, already employed music as a bridge to work with Israelis and Palestinians. In fact, he recently gave a TEDx talk expanding on the ways that music can bond people and cultures. Greenberg also believed that the findings could improve music streaming services and support wellbeing apps but this was not as easy as it sounded. Greenberg said, "If people who score high for neuroticism, for example, are being fed more intense music and they're already feeling stressed and frustrated, is that helping with their anxiety or is it just reinforcing and perpetuating? These are the questions we now need to answer." The study did not seek to pigeonhole music lovers. Greenberg said, "Musical preferences do shift and change, they are not set in stone. And we are not suggesting that someone is just extroverted or just open, we all have combinations of personality traits and combinations of musical preferences of varying strengths. Our findings are based on averages and we have to start somewhere to begin to see and understand connections." Greenberg thought that future research could combine streaming data with EEG hyper scanning technologies to establish a more nuanced understanding of the biological and cultural factors that contribute to our musical preferences and responses. He also said that future research should rigorously test the links between music and personality in real-world settings to see how music can be a bridge between people from different cultures around the globe. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday lashed out at the Congress party for prioritising 'Gandhi parivaar' above those who sacrificed their lives for the nation. The Chief Minister highlighted that people should be loyal towards the country and not just a particular family. "The Congress has developed an ecosystem and the people part of this ecosystem may tolerate things against India, but they will not tolerate anything against the Gandhis. Today, no one listens to them. People should be loyal to the country and not just a particular family," Sarma told ANI today. His remarks came a day after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda to sack Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his comments on the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning his parentage. Addressing a public event, Rao had said, "PM Modi ji, is this the 'sanskaar' (etiquettes) or our Hindu ritual to question an MP about the identity of his father. This was done by your BJP Chief Minister. My head hangs in shame and my eyes are in tears after I heard this. This is not a good thing for the country." "How can the Chief Minister of Assam talk like this? There is a limit to holding on to patience," he added. Rao's remarks came after Assam Chief Minister on Friday launched a blistering attack on former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for demanding proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019, asking whether the BJP had ever demanded proof from him for being the "son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi" and had added that the Wayanad MP had no right to demand proof from the Army. In a similar development earlier today, Sarma alleged that Congress questioned the abilities of late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, since the day he became Army Chief. "The Congress spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat. From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such an attitude won't be tolerated anymore," Sarma tweeted. "Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country. India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" he said in another tweet. General Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 12 other defence force personnel, had died in a helicopter crash in December last year. (ANI) Parishioners worshipping at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Harlem are greeted by a framed portrait of Martin Luther King a Baptist minister named after a rebellious 16th century German priest excommunicated from the Catholic Church. The Rev. Bryan Massingale, who sometimes preaches at St. Charles, pursues his ministry in ways that echo both Martin Luthers. Advertisement The Rev. Bryan Massingale gives a sermon on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. Massingale has received recognition for his work on racial justice, he supports the ordination of women, making celibacy optional for Catholic clergy, and as a gay man, he vocally disagrees with the church's doctrine on same-sex relations. (Jessie Wardarski/AP) Like King, Massingale decries the scourge of racial inequality in the United States. As a professor at Fordham University, he teaches African American religious approaches to ethics. Like the German Martin Luther, Massingale is often at odds with official Catholic teaching he supports the ordination of women and making celibacy optional for Catholic clergy. And, as a gay man, he vocally disagrees with the churchs doctrine on same-sex relations, instead advocating for full inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics within the church. Advertisement The Vatican holds that gays and lesbians should be treated with dignity and respect, but that gay sex is intrinsically disordered and sinful. In his homily on a recent Sunday, Massingale who became public about being gay in 2019 -- envisioned a world where the dignity of every person is respected and protected, where everyone is loved. But the message of equality and tolerance is one that is resisted even within our own faith household, he added. Preach! a worshiper shouted in response. Massingale was born in 1957 in Milwaukee. His mother was a school secretary and his father a factory worker whose family migrated from Mississippi to escape racial segregation. But even in Wisconsin, racism was common. Massingale said his father couldnt work as a carpenter because of a color bar preventing African Americans from joining the carpenters union. The Massingales also experienced racism when they moved to Milwaukees outskirts and ventured to a predominately white parish. This would not be a very comfortable parish for you to be a part of, he recalled the parish priest saying. Thereafter, the family commuted to a predominantly Black Catholic church. Massingale recalled another incident, as a newly ordained priest, after celebrating his first Mass at a predominantly white church. Advertisement The first parishioner to greet me at the door said to me: Father, you being here is the worst mistake the archbishop could have made. People will never accept you. Massingale says he considered leaving the Catholic Church, but decided he was needed. Im not going to let the churchs racism rob me of my relationship with God, he said. I see it as my mission to make the church what it says it is: more universal and the institution that I believe Jesus wants it to be. For Massingale, racism within the U.S. Catholic Church is a reason for the exodus of some Black Catholics; he says the church is not doing enough to tackle racism within its ranks and in broader society. Nearly half of Black U.S. adults who were raised Catholic no longer identify as such, with many becoming Protestants, according to a 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center. About 6% of Black U.S. adults identify as Catholic and close to 80% believe opposing racism is essential to their faith, the survey found. The U.S. Catholic Church has had a checkered history with race. Some of its institutions, such as Georgetown University, were involved in the slave trade, and it has struggled to recruit African American priests. Advertisement Conversely, Catholic schools were among the first to desegregate and some government officials who opposed racial integration were excommunicated. In 2018, U.S. bishops issued a pastoral letter decrying the persistence of the evil of racism, but Massingale was disappointed. The phrase white nationalism is not stated in that document; it doesnt talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, he said. The problem with the churchs teachings on racism is that they are written in a way that is calculated not to disturb white people. At Fordham, a Jesuit university, Massingale teaches a class on homosexuality and Christian ethics, using biblical texts to challenge church teaching on same-sex relations. He said he came to terms with his own sexuality at 22, upon reflecting on the book of Isaiah. I realized that no matter what the church said, God loved me and accepted me as a Black gay man, he said. His ordination in 1983 came in the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that disproportionately affected gay men and Black Americans. Among his first funerals as a priest was that of a gay man whose family wanted no mention of his sexuality or the disease. Advertisement They should have been able to turn to their church in their time of grief, Massingale said. Yet they couldnt because that stigma existed in great measure because of how many ministers were speaking about homosexuality and AIDS as being a punishment for sin. Pope Francis has called for compassionate pastoral care for LGBTQ Catholics. However, he has described homosexuality among the clergy as worrisome, and Vatican law remains clear: same-sex unions cannot be blessed within the church. Some dioceses have fired openly LGBTQ employees. Massingale has a different vision of the church: one where Catholics enjoy the same privileges regardless of sexual orientation. I think that one can express ones sexuality in a way that is responsible, committed, life giving and an experience of joy, he said. Massingale has received recognition for his advocacy from like-minded organizations such as FutureChurch, which says priests should be allowed to marry and women should have more leadership roles within the church. He is one of the most prophetic, compelling, inspiring, transforming leaders in the Catholic Church, said Deborah Rose-Milavec, the organizations co-director. When he speaks, you know very deep truth is being spoken. Advertisement Along with his many admirers, Massingale has some vehement critics, such as the conservative Catholic news outlet Church Militant, which depicts his LGBTQ advocacy as sinful. At Fordham, Massingale is well-respected by colleagues, and was honored by the university with a prestigious endowed chair. To the extent he has any critics among the Fordham faculty, they tend to keep their misgivings out of the public sphere. He says he receives many messages of hope and support, but becoming public about his sexuality has come at a cost. I have lost some priest friends who find it difficult to be too closely associated with me because if theyre friends with me, what will people say about them? he said. Massingale remains optimistic about gradual change in the Catholic Church because of Pope Francis and recent signals from bishops in Europe who expressed a desire for changes, including blessing same-sex unions. My dream wedding would be either two men or two women standing before the church; marrying each other as an act of faith and I can be there as the official witness to say: Yes, this is of God, he said after a recent class at Fordham. If they were Black, that would be wonderful. Longding district Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikram Harimohan Meena told ANI, "Suspected National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-KYA) insurgents had abducted three laborers from the Pumao area in Longding district along Indo-Myanmar border on January 31 night. Later, the insurgents had released one of them." "The rescued persons are visibly in good health and have proceeded for a medical checkup", added the SP. As per the SP, those rescued have been identified as Hiren Konch and Ramashis Mahato who were engaged in road construction work in the Pumao area. The insurgents had abducted and taken them to Nyasa village in Nagaland, added Meena. (ANI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said that she can sacrifice her life for her brother, ruling out an alleged disagreement between them. "I can sacrifice my life for my brother (Rahul Gandhi) and even he can do the same for me. There is conflict in BJP, not in Congress," she said. The Congress national secretary was responding to a question on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath remarks that there might be a rift between Priyanka and Rahul. "The dispute exists only in Yogi ji's thoughts. It looks he is stating this in light of a rift between him, Modi ji, and Amit Shah ji," she said. Priyanka Gandhi added that there is a conflict in BJP, not in Congress and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have a conflict. Earlier, Adityanath had during a public rally at Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand said: "The Congress is completely submerged, wherever there is little existence, both 'brother and sister' are enough to push it down. So it should be left to its fate." The Congress leader addressing a public meeting in Kotakpura, Punjab ahead of assembly polls in the state said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Delhi was running the Punjab government headed by the former state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Priyanka Gandhi sought to explain the change of leadership in Punjab, which had led to Singh quitting the Congress. "We have had the Congress government in Punjab for last five years. But this government had stopped operating from Punjab, and instead was being operated from Delhi, not by the Congress but by the BJP," said Vadra. She also said that Aam Aadmi Party has emerged from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as AAP leaders have been publicly saying that they owe allegiance to Bharatiya Janata Party. "Aam Aadmi Party has emerged from RSS... AAP leaders themselves say that they are more ideologically more close to BJP than BJP leaders themselves," said Priyanka Gandhi. Further slamming AAP over its claims of development in Delhi, Congress leader said, "There's nothing in the name of educational and healthcare institutions in Delhi. It's important to know the truth about political parties and their leaders." Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also emphasised that CM Channi of the Congress party is "a common man among you" Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Bihar Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha on Sunday lauded the developmental works carried out by the state government towards the Mithila region in tackling flood situations. The Mithilanchal region includes Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and Sitamarhi in which crores of people live in thousands of villages. Almost every year, this section of the population faces floods following adverse weather conditions. Jha, while speaking to ANI today at the Madhubani area in the region, said, "Bihar government is carrying out many activities in this regard. We are building a barrage in Jayanagar bordering Nepal and repairing the Kamla Balan bridge here. The Minister spoke on the Kamala Multipurpose Project which would involve the construction of a storage dam on the Kamala River. Water Resources Minister Sanjay Jha said that due to the problem of floods every year, the dam was weakened over a period of time. "Many a time, in the Jayanagar area, the water followed out of control from the top of the dam and somewhere the piping broke and seepage happened. After that, water used to enter villages and a large number of people would get affected by it," he said. On the other hand, Sanjay Jha slammed the Opposition for blaming the state government for their callous attitude in tackling floods. "Constant questioning by the opposition does not bother us. Opposition is going weaker day by day. The Chief Minister also came here earlier and inspected the progress of the developmental works here. Today, I have come to see myself. We are working to reduce the impact of floods in the near future. Water Resources Department does good work. People are seeing all our work," he said. (ANI) Hitting out the Samajwadi Party ahead of the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that those who do appeasement politics and try to form the government by "dividing the society" cannot be Samajwadis, adding that the real Samajwadis are those who solve the problem of hunger and fear of the poor. Addressing a public meeting here, Singh said, "No one becomes Samajwadi just because of their name. The real Samajwadi is the one who resolves the problem of hunger and fear of the poor and takes all sections of the society together. Those who do appeasement politics cannot be Samajwadis and try to form govt by dividing the society." Taking a swipe at the party further, the Defence Minister said that those who claim to be the 'Samajwadis' these days are not even "remotely" lined to 'Samajwad'. "This was the bastion of Samajwadis once. When the Congress party ruled entire India, the people of this place stood with stalwart Samajwadis like Ram Manohar Lohia. But since ever the 'fake' Samajwadis have entered the state, the people no more stand with them. Those who claim to be Samajwadis aren't even remotely linked to Samajwad (socialism)," he said. Calling SP 'Khote Sikke', Singh said that it would not work in Uttar Pradesh anymore. "If you see today's Samajwadi Party, they do not stand on the definition of Samajwad today. They have become 'Khote Sikke', which do not work in the market. So Samajwadi Party will not work in Uttar Pradesh anymore," he said. The second phase of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will take place tomorrow that will seal the fate of 586 candidates on 55 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during an election campaign in Punjab's Dera Bassi on Sunday said Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was being attacked continuously by the opposition parties as they are aware that he was initiating a new "sort of politics" in the state. Speaking to the reporters here, Gandhi said, "Charanjit Singh Channi is being attacked because everyone including the BJP party who is at the Centre knows that Charanjit Singh Channi is starting a new sort of politics from here. This is completely a political attack on him." Charanjit Singh Channi has been accused by the Opposition for his alleged involvement in the sand mining cases. The Congress leader further claimed that the people of Punjab want Congress to return to power in the state. Gandhi said, "People want to bring back Congress government in Punjab. I am very confident that the party will return to power in this election." When asked about Amit Shah's claim that a BJP government was best for security in Punjab, Gandhi said, "I completely disagree with him." Charanjit Singh Channi is the Congress's chief ministerial candidate for the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who conducted 'Nukkad Sabhas' with party's Chief Ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann in Amritsar on Sunday sought votes for his party, telling the voters that by pressing the 'Jhadhu' (broom) button on the electronic voting machine (EVM) they can change the state's future. While addressing a gathering in Amritsar East, Kejriwal said, "Voting is on 20th, if you press the 'Jhadu' button then Punjab will get freedom from two people, this is the most important seat. Everyone has to work hard. This time Congress and Akali Dal have to be swept clean. By pressing the Jhadu, you can change the future of Punjab.'' Kejriwal sought votes in support of his candidates in four assembly constituencies of Amritsar. He campaigned with candidate Kuwanr Vijay Pratap in Amritsar North, Dr Ajay Gupta in Amritsar Central, Jeevanjot Kaur in Amritsar East, and Inderbir Nizzar in Amritsar South. Mann was also present during this entire campaign. During this event, the AAP Convenor greeted the public and appealed to them to vote in support of the party candidates. Kejriwal said, ''On February 20, Punjab will go to the polls. Everyone has to go and cast their vote. Every vote of yours should be cast for the AAP's Jhaadu Button. The election is now only four days away. During these four days, full emphasis must be placed on Sardar Bhagwant Mann becoming Punjab's Chief Minister.'' In Amritsar East, Navjot Singh Sidhu is contesting from Congress Party and Vikram Singh Majithia from Akali Dal. Showing someone's lost violet in his hand during the campaign, Bhagwant Mann said, ''this is the difference between the other parties and us. They cut people's wallets and we return their lost wallets to them.'' Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI) Uttarakhand is all set for the assembly elections to be held on Monday with the authorities taking special care of security measures by installing CCTV in booths and deploying companies of Central Paramilitary Force (CPMF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). District magistrate Vijay Shankar Pandey said all election teams had been dispatched to their respective constituencies and adequate arrangements had also been made for security. "We got 23 companies of CPMF and 5 companies of PAC, which have been deployed in different assembly constituencies", said Pandey. "CCTVs have also been installed at many polling stations to ensure that the assembly elections can be monitored accurately," the district magistrate said. Arrangements were also done for a webcast, he said "under which live pictures of the polling centre will be beamed directly to their control room and. We can see from right here what is going on at the booth." District magistrate Vijay Shankar Pandey told ANI that a total of 11 assembly seats and 1,729 booths in the Haridwar district were divided into 33 zonal and 161 super sectors. The District Magistrate said, "Today from 8:00 am till 12:30 pm, we have dispatched polling parties of 7 constituencies." He said that in the second meeting, they have kept assemblies like Haridwar, Haridwar Rural, Jwalapur. "This is done to avoid crowding because of COVID-19 pandemic. "When the team from Election Commission came here, they had given special guidelines regarding COVID-19. This time we have sent a complete COVID kit along with the polling team. It has been ensured that every room is sanitized before the election. Thermal scanners have been arranged at the gate and it will be seen that no one has a fever. Apart from this, hand gloves are also being distributed so that all the voters wear them and press the buttons." "Apart from this, arrangements have been made for the disposal of gloves and medical waste." He informed that all the biomedical waste would be collected and sent to the Roorkee plant and efforts are being made so that common people do not face any problem as the election is being held during the pandemic. "The entire system will be monitored by the Election Commission which will scrutinize vote percentage at every one-two hours", said the DM. Speaking about the security measures in the districts, SSP Yogendra Singh Rawat said, "We have divided Haridwar into four super zones, 161 super sectors. In which officers have been deployed in sensitive and very sensitive areas." "We have deployed CPMF and PAC, about 23 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CPMS), 5 companies of PACs in the district. There are around 24 hundred home guards and around 2000 policemen deployed", the SSP added. Elections for 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand is scheduled for tomorrow. (ANI) Addressing a rally here ahead og Assembly polls, after visiting the Valmiki Temple, Shah said, "I offered prayers at Valmiki temple and prayed that religious conversion may not take place here under NDA-led government." Slamming Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Shah questioned why did the Delhi Chief Minister have no Sikh representation in his twice-formed government. "Kejriwal ji you should reply to the people of Punjab of why did you not make a single Sikh minister even after your government was formed twice with an absolute majority in Delhi," he said. "Whenever the BJP government is formed at the Center, the Sikh community has definitely been given representation in it," he added. Shah had offered prayers at Durgiana Temple too. Prior to this, he addressed public rallies at Ludhiana and Patiala. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal also campaigned in the state today. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of 12 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and urged for bilateral talks to stop such "repeated instances of arrests and harassment". Stating that such incidents are happening with "alarming regularity", causing "deep distress" to the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin wrote: "This is the third such incident in two weeks and 41 fishermen and six fishing boats are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy." "It is extremely vital to find a lasting solution to this vexatious and long-pending issue through the collaborative efforts of the Union and State Governments," he added. Sharing his opinion, Stalin said that as a preliminary step, consultations may be initiated to convene bilateral talks. "As the Covid situation has eased, I request you to press for the resumption of deliberations through the Joint Working Group Meeting (JWG) immediately. Further, talks between the fishermen of the two countries may be facilitated to ease the tension in the area. I also urge you to take immediate steps to expedite the release of 41 fishermen from Tamil Nadu," the letter further read. Earlier today, the Sri Lankan Navy had apprehended 12 Rameswaram-based fishermen and two fishing boats after they had gone fishing across the border in the Palk Bay. N Devadas, President of Rameswaram Fishermen's Association, told ANI, "The Fishermen went fishing in 549 boats from Rameswaram yesterday. While fishing between Kachchadivu and Dhanushkodi at night, the patrolling Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 12 fishermen and two of their boats." All the fishermen have been taken to Talaimannar Naval Base, Sri Lanka with their boats. (ANI) Shah had addressed a rally here before visiting the Golden Temple. At the rally, slamming the Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Shah questioned why did the Delhi Chief Minister have no Sikh representation in his twice-formed government. "Kejriwal ji you should reply to the people of Punjab of why did you not make a single Sikh minister even after your government was formed twice with an absolute majority in Delhi," he said. "Whenever the BJP government is formed at the Center, the Sikh community has definitely been given representation in it," he added. Earlier, Shah had offered prayers at Valmiki temple and Durgiana Temple too. Prior to this, he addressed public rallies at Ludhiana and Patiala. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal also campaigned in the state today. Punjab will go to the Assembly polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. In the 2017 Assembly polls in the state, the Congress had won an absolute majority by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government which had been in power for 10 years. (ANI) Police moved in to clear and arrest the remaining protesters near the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing on Sunday, trying to end a demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions that has hurt the economy of both nations even as they held back from a crackdown on a larger protest in the capital, Ottawa. Local and national police formed a joint command center in Ottawa, where protests have paralyzed downtown, infuriated residents who are fed up with police inaction and turned up pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Advertisement Police arrest a person as they walk the line to remove all truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after protesters blocked 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, Ontario, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. (Nathan Denette/AP) The protests have reverberated across the country and beyond, with similar convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that truck convoys may be in the works in the United States. Windsor police said several arrests were made and multiple vehicles were towed just after dawn near the Ambassador Bridge that links their city and numerous Canadian automotive plants with Detroit. Advertisement It was not immediately clear when the bridge might be opened but Windsors mayor said he hoped it would be Sunday. Enforcement will continue in the demonstration area and there will be zero tolerance for illegal activity. The public should avoid the area, Windsor police said. Only a few protesters had remained after police on Saturday persuaded demonstrators to move their pickup trucks and others cars that they used to block a crossing that sees 25% of all trade between the two countries. In Ottawa, the ranks of protesters swelled to what police said were 4,000 demonstrators on Saturday. The city has seen similar expansions on past weekends, and loud music played as people milled about downtown where anti-vaccine demonstrators have been encamped since late January. The whole city is furious at being abandoned by the people who are supposed to protect us. They have completely abandoned the rule of law. @OttawaPolice have lost credibility. #OttawaPoliceFailed, tweeted Artur Wilczynski, a senior government national security official at Canadas Communications Security Establishment. A former minister in Trudeaus Cabinet also blasted her former federal colleagues as well as the province and city for not putting an end to the protests. Amazingly, this isnt just Ottawa. Its the nations capital, Catherine McKenna tweeted. But no one not the city, the province or the federal government can seem to get their act together to end this illegal occupation. Its appalling. ... Just get your act together. Now. Trudeau has so far rejected calls to use the military, but had said that all options are on the table to end the protests that have slowed industries on both sides of the border. Trudeau has called the protesters a fringe of Canadian society. Both federal and provincial politicians have said they cant order police what to do. Advertisement Ottawa police said in a statement late Saturday that a joint command center had been established with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They said that would beef up enforcement capabilities that had been limited by safety concerns arising from aggressive, illegal behavior by many demonstrators limited police enforcement capabilities. Police earlier issued a statement calling the protest an unlawful occupation and saying they were waiting for reinforcements before implementing a plan to end the demonstrations. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency last week for the capital, where hundreds of trucks remained in front of the Parliament Buildings and demonstrators have set up portable toilets outside the prime ministers office where Trudeaus motorcade usually parks. Even after protesters vehicles were removed early Saturday, hundreds more arrived to bolster the crowd and settled into a faceoff with police about two blocks away, waving flags and yelling. On Friday, a judge ordered an end to the blockade of mostly pickup trucks and cars, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency allowing for fines of 100,000 Canadian dollars and up to one year in jail for anyone illegally blocking roads, bridges, walkways and other critical infrastructure. With the bridge closed, auto plants on both sides have been forced to shut down or reduce production. The standoff came at a time when the industry is already struggling to maintain production in the face of pandemic-induced shortages of computer chips and other supply-chain disruptions. Advertisement We are protesting the government taking away our rights, said Windsor resident Eunice Lucas-Logan. We want the restrictions removed. We have to wait to find out. The 67-year-old has been out supporting the protest for the past four days. She said she appreciated that police have been patient. In Ottawa, 31-year-old Stephanie Ravensbergen said she turned out to support her aunt and uncle who have parked their semi in the streets since the beginning of the protest. She opposes vaccine and mask requirements, and said its important for schoolchildren to be able see their friends faces and emotions. We want the right to choose, Ravensbergen said. We want the right to be able to do what everybody else can do. On the other side of the country, protesters disrupted operations at another border crossing between Surrey, British Columbia, and Blaine, Washington, but officials said it was not blocked. A border crossings in Alberta remained shut down as well. While the protesters are decrying vaccine mandates for truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions, many of Canadas public health measures, such as mask rules and vaccine passports for getting into restaurants and theaters, are already falling away as the omicron surge levels off. Advertisement Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter there 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. Associated Press writer Ted Shaffrey in Ottawa, Ontario, contributed to this report. Taking on the Congress party head-on for the third consecutive day in a spate of attacks for "questioning" the "patriotism" of Armed Forces of the country, especially late General Bipin Rawat, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the grand old party "spared no effort" to "abuse and accuse" the former Chief of Defence Staff. Sarma also lashed out at Congress saying that the "disrespect" of the brave soldiers will not be tolerated anymore. This is the third day of an unsparing attack on the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for "demanding proof" of the Surgical strike that the Indian Army conducted in September 2016 and the Airstrike that the Indian Airforce conducted in February 2019. "Congress spared no effort to abuse and accuse General Bipin Rawat. From the day he became Army Chief, they questioned his abilities. But they get irked when I question them for disrespecting our brave soldiers. This is new India. Such attitude won't be tolerated anymore," Sarma tweeted sharing the picture of the media outlets stating the various instances when Congress "questioned the abilities" of General Rawat. The Assam Chief Minister further hit out at Rahul Gandhi and said "India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa." "India is not just a union of states. 'Bharat' is our Maa, not just a motherland. Questioning the jawans is an insult to our Maa!" tweeted Sarma. Sarma drew various political relations for his comments on Gandhi in an election rally in Uttarakhand recently. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao demanded resignation from the Assam Chief Minister for his remark. Besides, CPI leader D Raja also condemned his remark and asked for the Prime Minister's intervention into the matter. Following the political reactions to his remark, Sarma tweeted, "Is it wrong to stand by our great Armed forces? Let's not question their patriotism. Don't seek proof of what they did for the country." Sarma on Friday launched a blistering attack on Gandhi for demanding proof of India's surgical strike in Pakistan in 2016 and airstrike in 2019 and 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. (ANI) Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, which will go to Assembly polls in the second phase of elections on February 14, has more than 800 small scale industries and four large scale industries. However, the small-scale industrialists here in Bareilly majorly demand "no inspector raj" and they should be allowed to work freely. On the other hand, although locals demand more large-scale industries experts say there is a lack of availability of plots for the same. Added to that, locals in a conversation with ANI, said that for the past 28 years, no large-scale industries have been set up in Bareilly. Moreover, large-scale industries involved in producing synthetic and chemical materials stopped their production here in the Bareilly unit in 1995. Here, the Turpentine unit was also shut down in 2004, and the Vimco unit was shut down in 2015. Suresh Sundrani, National Vice President, Indian Industries Association told ANI, "Small scale industries were doing good but since the onset of the pandemic, things have affected us just like others. Food-related industries incurred more losses. The problem of large scale industry is the availability of plots which is not there in Bareilly." "'Audhyogik kshetra mega food park' at Baheri assembly seat built-in vast 700 acres was fully developed by the state government last year. It has properly made buildings, roads, and every facility but UPSIDA (Uttar Pradesh State Industries Development Authority) has not declared its offer yet for the companies," he said. Added to this, developed in a PPP model Bareilly's Textile park has still not functioned till date due to multiple of which the major one is an investment of the industry, he added. Ashutosh Sharma, BJP state co-convener, MSME cell told, "Industries in Bareilly is hampered due to Coronavirus pandemic. Efforts are being made to bring big industries in Rubber factory area." Sharma said, "through big industries, talents do get acknowledged at local levels. If a small-scale industry faces any type of complications, they require help from Delhi or other such places. If big industries do come, small scale industry also benefits from it." 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. The second phase of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections will take place tomorrow that will seal the fate of 586 candidates on 55 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Amid the hijab protests, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the BJP wants to erase all 'symbols' of Muslims like Hijab. Mehbooba Mufti said, "I fear BJP won't stop at Hijab. They will come for other symbols of Muslims and erase all. For Indian Muslims, it is not enough to be an Indian, they have to be BJP as well." According to her, BJP won't stop at Hijab and will come for other symbols of Muslims and erase it all. Further attacking the BJP, Mufti said, "Jammu and Kashmir is a political matter but they (BJP) want to make it a community matter."According to her, the situation has only become more complicated after the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The PDP chief said that the draft recommendations of the Delimitation Commission are an attempt to divide the people of Jammu and Kashmir into sectarian and social grounds. "The rights and guarantees given by the Indian Constitution are being mutilated and the Delimitation Report that has come recently is part of that. They have tried to divide the people of Jammu and Kashmir on a sectarian level (and) on a social level, so that the people fight with each other. But the PDP's struggle would be against it," said Mufti. She claimed that the people from other states are exploiting Kashmir's resources. "People from Punjab, Haryana are coming here and exploiting our resources. They come and take away tenders. Our Kashmir people are disempowered", said Mufti. Speaking about the merger of Rajouri and Poonch with Anantnag parliamentary constituency, Mufti said, "In this delimitation, they have ruined everybody other than the BJP. If you don't like Rajouri and Poonch and you want to create an exclusive constituency, wait and you can give a separate seat to Rajouri and Poonch." Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that everyone is free to wear to eat as they wish and practise their religious beliefs. "There are some radical elements who are attacking a religion in an attempt to win polls by dividing people on communal lines," Abdullah said. (ANI) As Uttarakhand goes to the polls on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami are trying to break past electoral trends: the hill state has given mandates alternately to the Congress and the BJP. On the other hand, Congress is banking on its veteran and former CM Harish Rawat, anti-incumbency, COVID-19 pandemic management, and a slew of promises to make a comeback in the hilly state. A new entrant in state politics, the Aam Aadmi Party led by retired Colonel Ajay Kothiyal is trying to set up a new base in the state. Other than the BJP and Congress, and AAP, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are also testing their electoral strengths in the state. After Uttarakhand was formed after being carved out of Uttar Pradesh, the hill state has given mandates alternately to the Congress and the BJP, while there has also been the instability of governments due to frequent change of Chief Ministers. With the formation of the government in 2017, the BJP had chosen Trivendra Singh Rawat, MLA from the Doiwala seat, as its Chief Minister, but he was replaced by Tirath Singh Rawat in March 2021. Tirath Singh Rawat, a Lok Sabha MP, before the completion of six months from the date of taking the oath of the office, was replaced by Pushkar Singh Dhami, a sitting MLA as the CM of the state. The political reasons, however, for these changes were not fully disclosed. Among many reasons, the passage of Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board law, pushed by Trivendra Singh Rawat, was said to be one of the reasons for his resignation. The Devasthanam law aimed at bringing the Char Dham of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and 49 other temples under the purview of a proposed shrine board. There were protests against the law. The law aimed at bringing the Char Dham of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and 49 other temples under the purview of a proposed shrine board. The Pushkar Singh Dhami government later withdrew the law. Tirath Singh Rawat, who was not an MLA, resigned from the post of CM, almost after four months of taking the oath. BJP quoted legal-technical issues as the reason for his resignation as the party failed to get him elected from one of the constituencies in the state for continuing him as the CM. Congress, on the other hand, allegedly witnessed factionalism as the state approached polls. In December last year, Harish Rawat, chairman of Uttarakhand Congress campaign committee, launched a veiled attack on the Congress leadership over "lack of cooperation" from the state unit and party leaders. Rawat through a series of tweets stated that the "nominees of those whose directions one has to swim (in the electoral battle) are tying my hands and feet". "Isn't it strange, one has to swim in the sea in the form of the forthcoming electoral battle. Instead of cooperation, the organizational structure at most places is turning its face away or is playing a negative role," Rawat said in his tweet. "There are many crocodiles of the ruling dispensation on whose directions one has to swim. Their nominees are tying my hands and feet," he added. However, soon after his tweets, Rawat was called to Delhi to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to put the matter to rest. However, during ticket distribution, another crisis was reported within the party which led to a change in the assembly seat of Rawat. He has been given the ticket from the Lalkuwa constituency. The change was made after one of the working presidents of Uttarakhand Congress Ranjeet Rawat was uncomfortable with the candidature of Harish Rawat from the Ramnagar Assembly constituency. Both Congress and BJP have not declared Chief Ministerial candidates and said such an announcement will be made after the results. However, just a day ahead of the polls, Rawat on Sunday said that nobody in the party has any objections to his name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. "I do politics of struggle, not power. The party has told me that the election campaign will be led by me. We are fighting to win the elections. Nobody in the party has any objections to my name as the Chief Ministerial candidate. No party member has expressed any objection to my name," he said speaking to ANI. The voting for the 5th assembly will begin at 7 am and end at 5 pm. Electioneering came to an end on Saturday, 48 hours before the electorate begin casting their votes. There are 632 candidates in the electoral fray for 70 Assembly seats. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that it should be "expelled" from the country or else the country will be "ruined" and called for a united Opposition. Addressing a press conference here, Rao said, "Thirty-three people have fled to London, by doing scams from various banks across the country. Many of them are friends of Modi. Most of them are from Gujarat. That is why we are saying that BJP should be expelled from the country. The country will be ruined if they are not evicted." Hitting out at the BJP further, the Chief Minister said that it rules in the states even if it does not win the elections. "The BJP is the shameless party that will rule even if it does not win the elections. Although they did not win in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Manipur they are still ruling. Attempts to rule in Maharashtra were overturned," he alleged. KCR further called for the unification of all the political forces to "oust" the BJP from power. "The whole country is silent on the hijab issue, What will happen if this type of hatred in Karnataka is spread across the nation? Hate politics should be avoided. All the political forces in the country should unite and oust the BJP," KCR added. (ANI) "According to the latest data, one person was killed in the explosion, two others were seriously injured, and another 40 were slightly injured," TASS News Agency reported citing the statement. The victims were hospitalized to receive medical care, according to the news agency. (ANI) According to The News International, the incident took place in Bhara Kahu area of Islamabad. Quoting SSP (Operations) Islamabad Faisal Kamran, the media outlet reported that the incident took place due to an old enmity between two rival groups. On Saturday morning, the people of a group were working on their machinery at a private housing society when two armed men, onboard a car, arrived there and opened fire, injuring three people, according to The News International. "During the shootout, a police officer was killed while another official sustained bullet injures. One of the two armed men was also injured in the retaliatory fire," the SSP said. (ANI) He appreciated the role of the Indian diaspora in shaping India's positive image. Taking to Twitter, "So appropriate to conclude my Melbourne visit meeting the Indian community. Their role in shaping India's positive image is commendable. Key partners in this new phase of our ties." Earlier on Friday, Jaishankar 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. "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. In his bilateral talks with Australia, he said, both the countries will continue to work towards rule-based international order, freedom of navigation in international waters, promoting connectivity, growth, and security for all while respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states. Australia hosted India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Melbourne and the top diplomats sought to bolster cooperation in areas including economy, security, coronavirus pandemic and free and open Indo-Pacific. (ANI) The event occurred in Jungle Dera village when hundreds of locals gathered after Maghrib prayers following reports that a man had torn and set fire some pages of the Quran. The villagers hung the suspect with a tree and then hit him with bricks till he died. No one was willing to listen to him when he claimed innocence, reported Dawn. According to an eyewitness, a police team arrived in the village long before the stoning and caught the culprit, but the crowd seized him from the hands of the SHO's custody. IGP Rao Sardar Ali Khan was asked to provide a report by the Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar. The killing comes at a time when in a similar event in Sialkot last December, a Sri Lankan engineer was killed by manufacturing workers for blasphemy, reported the newspaper. Notably, Pakistan reported a total of 1,415 cases of blasphemy in the country since 1947, a think tank, Centre for Research and Security Studies, said. According to the think tank report, a total of 18 women and 71 men were extra-judicially killed over blasphemy from 1947 to 2021. However, as per the think tank, the actual number of cases is believed to be higher as not all cases are reported. "The actual number is believed to be higher because not all blasphemy cases get reported in the press," the report said, adding more than 70 per cent of the accused were reported from Punjab. (ANI) A 45-wagon train carrying 921 tonnes of emergency goods has departed from Turkey as relief assistance from 16 humanitarian groups for Afghanistan. It is expected to reach Afghanistan through Iran and Turkmenistan. This is the second train that will be reaching the strife-torn country as the first train carrying around 750 tonnes of emergency goods reached Herat province on February 8. The humanitarian aid has been provided in coordination with the Turkey Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), reported Khaama Press. Earlier, taking to Twitter the Ministry said, "The humanitarian aid train, carrying 747.7 tons of emergency goods by 12 NGOs for the people of Afghanistan, under the coordination of AFAD, arrived in Herat Province." Ismail Catakli, Turkey's Deputy Interior Minister, stated that Turkey has been assisting individuals in need not just in Afghanistan but also in Yemen and Myanmar, reported the newspaper. Relief help from many nations and organisations is being provided to the Afghan people, who are currently suffering from the worst humanitarian crisis and are in desperate need of support. Moreover, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations World Food Program to distribute food grains to Afghanistan, according to the Indian Embassy in Rome. "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) Even if a Russian invasion of Ukraine doesnt happen in the next few days, the crisis is reaching a critical inflection point with European stability and the future of East-West relations hanging in the balance. A convergence of events over the coming week could determine whether the stalemate is resolved peacefully or Europe is at war. At stake are Europes post-Cold War security architecture and long-agreed limits on the deployment of conventional military and nuclear forces there. Advertisement Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) This next 10 days or so will be critical, said Ian Kelly, a retired career diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Georgia who now teaches international relations at Northwestern University. The Biden administration on Friday said an invasion could happen at any moment, with a possible target date of Wednesday, according to intelligence picked up by the United States, and Washington was evacuating almost all of its embassy staff in Kyiv, Ukraines capital. Advertisement A phone call between President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday did nothing to ease tensions. Biden and Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke on Sunday. Even before the latest U.S. warnings and diplomatic moves, analysts saw this as a critical week for the future of Ukraine. Russia and the United States are approaching a peak of the conflict of their interests regarding a future shape of the European order, Timofei Bordachev, said head of the Center for European Research at Moscows Higher School of Economics. The parties may take action against each other that will go much farther than what was considered admissible quite recently, he said in a recent analysis. In the week ahead, Washington and NATO are expecting Moscows formal response after they rejected its main security demands, and major Russian military drills in Belarus, conducted as part of a deployment near Ukraine, are to end. The fate of the Russian troops now in Belarus will be key to judging the Kremlins intentions. At the same time, the Winter Olympics in China, often cited as a potential deterrent to immediate Russian action, will conclude Feb. 20. Although U.S. officials have said they believe an invasion could take place before then, the date is still considered important. And an important international security conference is taking place in Munich next weekend, with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and top European officials planning to attend. Putin has warned the West that he will not back down on his demand to keep Ukraine out of NATO. While Ukraine has long aspired to join, the alliance is not about to offer an invitation. Still, he contends that if Ukraine becomes a member and tries to use force to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, it would draw Russia and NATO into a conflict. Advertisement His foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has asked Western nations to explain how they interpret the principle of the indivisibility of security enshrined in international agreements they signed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it would not accept a collective response from the European Union and NATO, insisting on an individual response from each country. Seeking to counter NATOs argument that every nation is free to choose alliances, Moscow has charged that NATO violated the principle and jeopardized Russias security by expanding eastward. Russias bold demands and equally blunt U.S. rejection of them have pushed the international agenda toward the confrontation more than ever since the height of the Cold War, Bordachev said. He argued that closer relations with China have strengthened Moscows hand. Whatever goals Russia could pursue now, it can plan its future in conditions of a full rupture of ties with the West, Bordachev said. Russian officials have emphasized that negotiating a settlement over Ukraine depends squarely on the United States and that Western allies just march to Washingtons orders. In the past, Russia had sought to build close contacts with France and Germany in the hope that friendly ties with Europes biggest economies would help offset the U.S. pressure. But those ties were strained by the poisoning in 2020 of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who spent five months in Germany convalescing from what he described as a nerve agent attack he blamed on the Kremlin. Russia has denied its involvement. Advertisement More recently, Russian officials have criticized the position of France and Germany in the deadlocked peace talks on eastern Ukraine, holding them responsible for the failure to persuade Ukrainian authorities to grant broad self-rule to the Russia-backed separatist region, as required by a 2015 agreement. In a break with diplomatic rules, the Russian Foreign Ministry last fall published confidential letters that Lavrov exchanged with his French and German counterparts in a bid to prove their failure to help make progress in talks. Speaking after the latest fruitless round of those talks, Kremlin representative Dmitry Kozak bemoaned the failure by French and German envoys to persuade Ukraine to commit to a dialogue with the separatists, as the agreement stipulated. Despite the tensions with both Paris and Berlin, Putin spent more than five hours talking to French President Emmanuel Macron last Monday and will host German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. Putin said he was grateful to Macron for trying to help negotiate a way to ease the tensions and said they would talk again. Moscow also just reopened a window for diplomatic contacts with Britain, hosting the foreign and defense secretaries for the first round of talks since ties were ruptured by the 2018 poisoning in Britain of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Lavrovs meeting with Liz Truss was frosty, but British Defense Secretary Ben Wallaces talks with Russias defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, appeared more businesslike, with the parties emphasizing the need to maintain regular contact to reduce the threat of military incidents. Notably, a Turkish court, late last month, ordered to arrest Kabas for making offensive remarks about Erdogan on live television. During the program, the journalist said "cattle in the palace" when talking about Erdogan's policies on live TV. The prosecutor also asked Kabas to be charged with insulting Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Transportation Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, for a combined jail term of 11 years, reported ARY News. Under Turkish law, insulting the president is a criminal offence. Kabas' remarks received attention on social networks and caused severe backlash from Turkish officials. In response, on Friday, the Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) and 37 press freedom organizations and journalists called on Turkey to release Kabas. "The unfounded imprisonment of the noted journalist was met with widespread condemnation from local and international press freedom organizations as well as rights organizations and press freedom defenders," the joint statement said. "Yet, the Turkish government and judiciary appear relentless and Sedef remains behind bars," it added. Press secretary of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Omer Celik called the remark immoral and stupid. Since Erdogan gained power in 2014 after serving 11 years as Prime Minister, tens of people have been accused and convicted of insulting the president, according to the news channel. According to the official data, between 2014 and the end of 2020, 160,169 such investigations were launched, 35,507 cases were filed and there were 12,881 convictions. (ANI) The US alliances with Seoul and Japan span decades, and our enduring friendship and shared values guide us in our efforts to achieve a prosperous and secure future. The Secretary and Foreign Ministers emphasized their three countries share a common view of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, and shared respect for the rules-based international order and pledged to further expand their cooperative relationships. The Foreign Ministers welcomed the United States' newly released Indo-Pacific Strategy. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and reaffirmed their alliance in ensuring a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The Secretary and Foreign Minister condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (North Korea) recent ballistic missile launches, which were in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and reaffirmed openness to diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea. Secretary Blinken also shared concerns about Russia's efforts to destabilize Ukraine and emphasized the importance of responding swiftly, effectively, and in a united way to further Russian aggression, State Department in its official statement. They highlighted shared commitment to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, including through the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) Global Vaccine Partnership. Both sides also affirmed bilateral cooperation in this decisive decade for action to combat the climate crisis and in today's most pressing global challenges. The Secretary emphasized close cooperation with South Korea and other allies and partners towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defence of South Korea. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed the need to deepen trilateral cooperation with Japan to address shared challenges. On Burma, the Secretary stressed the importance of working with international partners to address human rights abuses and press the regime to cease the violence, release all those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore Burma's path to democracy. (ANI) Nepal reopened schools on Sunday amid a weakening third wave of COVID infection, after a month of virtual classes fueled by the Omicron variant. The local district administration last week had permitted educational institutions and businesses such as hotels, restaurants and movie theatres to reopen from Sunday adhering to health and safety protocol. Rupak Pokharel, a secondary level student prepares for his school on the early morning of Sunday inside his room in a rented flat in capital Kathmandu, after a month of virtual teaching-learning practice. "I am very happy that schools are going to resume from today and I am really excited about it. Also was longed to meet my classmates and sometimes while taking the virtual classes would create a feeling of detachment with the teachers but with the resumption of physical classes, I wouldn't need to go through it. I can easily interact with them further facilitating the teaching-learning process. I have received both the shots of anti-COVID vaccine which has built the confidence on me," Pokhrel told ANI before heading for his in-person class which resumed after a month. As per the decision of the COVID-19 Health Crisis Management Coordination Center (CCMCC), universities, schools, tuition centres, training and other educational activities, dance bar, dohori restaurants, lounge, pub, cinema hall, health club, gymnasium, swimming pool, Futsal, will be allowed opening till 10:00 pm. The CCMCC has however made the safety protocol mandatory. Similarly, the CCMCC had recommended the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology for the arrangement of regular school classes for students above 12 years and on alternate days for those under 12 years. "After a gap of about one month, we again have resumed the physical classes from today after conducting virtual classes in the past weeks. During the virtual classes, all of the students weren't able to attend it, many of them underwent various kinds of problems. Following the decision and announcement from the authorities we have resumed our in-person classes," Shreedhar Nepal school in-charge of Royal Public High School, a local school in Kathmandu told ANI. "As we resume the in-person classes we have strictly followed the health protocols such as our students in secondary levels half of them have already received the second or complete dosage of anti-COVID vaccine which has given a bit assurance. Despite the assurance we have made the masks compulsory for the students, a pair of students take a seat on every bench and they also possess personal sanitiser and we have been tracking their body temperature using the Thermo guns," School In-charge, Nepal added. Schools and educational institutions of Nepal were closed last year in wake of rising infection due to coronavirus. First, to report COVID-19 cases in entire South Asia in early 2020, Nepal till date has reported 972632 cases with 93468 recoveries and 11882 deaths since the outbreak of infection from Wuhan of China in late 2019. (ANI) An impeachment motion has been tabled at the Parliament Secretariat on Sunday against beleaguered Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana by lawmakers from the ruling alliance. The latest development comes on the 105th day of continued protest by fellow justices of CJ Ranaagainst him. As many as 98 lawmakers from the ruling alliance have signed the impeachment motion, an official confirmed. "Lawmakers from ruling Nepali Congress, Maoist Center and JanataSamajbadi Party registered the impeachment motion against Chief Justice," ShreedharNeupane, Media Advisor of House Speaker confirmed ANI over the phone. Sitting Law Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu and other ruling party lawmakers reached the Parliament Secretariat with the impeachment motion at 11:10 am (local time), the secretariat confirmed. Ahead of the lodging of the impeachment motion, the delegation had met with House Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota. The motion has been lodged by Nepali Congress Chief Whip Pushpa Bhusal, CPN (Maoist Center) Chief Whip DevGurung. Protest has continued against CJ Ranaby fellow lawyers and justices from Supreme Court calling to "bar CJ Rana from entering office" organizing a sit-in-protest on the gate of Supreme Court. Nepal Bar has been in agitation demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice, accusing it of seeking a political share in the cabinet, and encouraging corruption in the judiciary. Advocates and Justices at Supreme Court had started agitation against CJ Rana from end of Octoberlast year alleging head of the Nepal's Apex Court of misappropriation. CJ Rana has been blamed of making attempts to take political and personal incentives while delivering verdicts. The agitating advocates and justices also have accused Chief Justice Rana of "bench shopping" meaning hearings were held for purpose of making a favorable decision for one of the parties. There are also allegations that the court has failed to do any work of reform. Overall, there are allegations of anomalies, irregularities and corruption in the judiciary. Amongst the allegations of misappropriation labelled at CJ Rana is the decision to reduce the imprisonment of the then DIG of Armed Police Force, RanjanKoirala. Lawyers and advocates have claimed that CJ Rana "deliberately" ignored review on the case. Koirala was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 20, 2014, by the Kathmandu District Court and then pronounced by Patan High Court after review petition was filed. However, joint bench of Chief Justice Rana and Justice TejBahadur KC had reduced the sentence to eight and a half years though it was case of murder and attempt to erase the evidence. Koirala in 2012 had murdered his wife and then disposed the body in a jungle in outskirts of Kathmandu and misled the police with false information. After the verdict made by CJ Rana's bench the Office of the Attorney General had filed a review petition on July 23, 2020, the same day as the verdict. On the fourth day, i.e. July 26, a joint bench of Justices Bam Kumar Shrestha, Prakash Kumar Dhungana and Kumar Regmi granted permission to review the verdict. No hearing has been scheduled over the case, though 15 months have passed since the review was officially allowed. The lawyers and advocates who have come down against the Chief Justice for the first time in Nepali legal history claim that latest round of agitation would ward off ill-practices that remains in the judicial system. But CJ Rana in his interview with a local media last year had defended himself claiming all the allegations to be false and has continued to allot benches and cases on daily basis. Earlier, CJ Rana had landed into criticism for attending meeting of Constitutional Council held after issuance of an ordinance by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Ordinance issued back on the time had reduced requirement of opposition leader and house speaker in the meeting reducing the majority required to make the appointments. A separate writ petition was lodged then issued ordinance and appointments that were made in accordance to it. The writ petition was there in the Constitutional Bench and the writ against the appointment is in the Division Bench. Questions had rose high at the time about presence of Chief Justice in the Constitutional bench as the case was against the head of judicial body and it was mandatory for him to be present in the proceedings. Soon after the debate, CJ Rana, in his writ petition, announced to stay away from Constitutional Bench. In the meantime, further complicating dilemma, Judge Hari Phuyal, had given the verdict that hearing in a writ petition related to mandatory presence of Chief Justice had to be settled prior to making any other decisions with or without the presence of Chief Justice Rana. Chief Justice Rana, however, has not been able to resolve this issue. The agitating advocates and justices also has accused Chief Justice Rana of "bench shopping" meaning hearings were held for purpose of making a favorable decision for one of the parties. There are also allegations that the court has failed to do any work of reform. Overall, there are allegations of anomalies, irregularities and corruption in the judiciary. Chief Justice for the last time landed in controversy after his brother-in-law Gajendra Bahadur Hamal was appointed as a non-parliamentary minister to confirm the allegation that he was seeking a share. Chief Justice Rana has maintained that he will not resign and that he is ready to face impeachment by parliament which is the constitutional process to remove the chief justice. (ANI) Five people of Bhand community and a police official were killed on Saturday in an armed attack by Zardari tribals due to a land dispute in a small town in Shaheed Benazirabad district in Pakistan's Sindh province. The district police arrested 16 armed persons of Zardari tribe along with their weapons following the incident. District SSP Saud Magsi said that the culprits will be arrested and brought to justice, reported The News International. Local sources said that armed Zardari tribe and heavy contingent of police in 20 vehicles reached the disputed site where Bhand and Mallah community tried to harvest the crop. However, when the locals offered resistance, they opened fire killing five members of the Bhand community and injuring ten others. According to the local sources, the disputed land is very fertile and is allegedly encroached by Zardari tribals at the behest of the main leader of Sindh's ruling party. Defending the Zardari tribe, Mohsin Zardari, said to be the relative of Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Zardari, told that members of the Bhand community were killed in an exchange of fire between them and the police and that the Zardari tribe had nothing to do with the killings. Protests were continuing at the main National Highway near Qazi Ahmed and Qazi Abad in the district against the alleged illegal encroachment of some 800 acres of land of different communities by the ruling party leaders since Tuesday, which continued till Saturday night, reported the newspaper. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Chung Eui-yong and emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Blinken, Yoshimasa and Eui-yong met on Saturday (local time) in Honolulu, Hawaii, to reaffirm the critical importance of strong US-Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) trilateral cooperation as we seek to address the most pressing 21st-century challenges, said the joint statement released by the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Japan, and South Korea. The statement said that Blinken and Foreign Ministers emphasized their three countries share a common view of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, and shared respect for the rules-based international order and pledged to further expand their cooperative relationships. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers welcomed the United States' newly released Indo-Pacific Strategy. As the tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalates, Blinken and Foreign Ministers discussed the Russian military build-up along Ukraine's borders and shared unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "US Secretary of State and Foreign Ministers reiterated their governments' longstanding support for international law, highlighting in particular the importance of compliance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," read the statement. The statement further said that Blinken and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed support for the unity and centrality of ASEAN, which is currently chaired by Cambodia, as well as ASEAN's efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. They also condemned the Myanmar regime's violence committed against the people of Myanmar and committed to intensify efforts toward the immediate cessation of all violence, the release of those who are arbitrarily detained, and a swift return to the path of inclusive democracy, the statement added. (ANI) Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai said the USD 7 billion frozen assets belong to no government, but to the people of Afghanistan. This comes after US President Biden on Friday signed an executive order to free 7 billion US dollars out of more than 9 billion frozen Afghan assets, splitting the money between humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and a fund for 9/11 victims. While addressing a press conference in Kabul Karzai called on the US government to return all of the funds to Afghanistan's central bank." He further said the people side with the Islamic Emirate in calling for the return of all the frozen funds. If funds are returned, he said, they should not be spent on daily expenses but be preserved, and more funds should be added, Tolo reported. "Osama bin Laden was not brought to Afghanistan by Afghans, Karzai said. He was brought in by foreigners from Pakistan and then he returned to Pakistan. Osama bin Laden was killed on Pakistan soil, but now the Afghan people are paying the price for Pakistan's actions," Tolo News quoted Karzai as saying. Earlier in the day, Afghanistan's central bank also criticized the US decision to split USD 7 billion of the frozen Afghan assets and said it is an "injustice" to the people of Afghanistan. "Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) considers the latest decision of USA on blocking FX (foreign exchange) reserves and allocating them to irrelevant purposes, injustice to the people of Afghanistan," DAB, Central Bank of Afghanistan, said in a statement. "DAB will never accept if the FX reserves of Afghanistan is paid under the name of compensation or humanitarian assistance to others and wants the reversal of the decision and release of all FX reserves of Afghanistan," the statement added. Afghanistan's banking system remains crippled after the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in mid-August last year. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) Kiev [Ukraine], February 13 (ANI/Sputnik): Two people were killed in a shooting in a cafe in the Donetsk region in early hours of Sunday, and two people were hospitalized, while the perpetrators were detained, the regional department of the national police said. "Donetsk police detained two men for shooting in a cafe. The incident took place in [the city of] Hranitne. As a result of the shooting, two people were killed and two others were hospitalized... Police have launched an investigation," the police said in a statement. The shooting was prompted by a conflict between guests, according to the police. Criminal proceedings have been initiated. (ANI/Sputnik) "Ahmad Jawad announced joining the PML-N after calling on the party president and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif at his Model Town residence here on Saturday," PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal said in a tweet. Iqbal said Prime Minister Imran Khan 'Niazi' deceived Jawad like thousands of other people who were 'trapped' by his New Pakistan slogan', Dawn newspaper reported. The Pakistani newspaper further reported that the PTI last month had expelled Jawad from the party for his tirade against the premier and other party leaders. Earlier, the PTI had served a show-cause notice on Jawad, asking him to explain his position, said the Pakistani newspaper. Dubbing the PTI's ideology of change a "deception", Jawad had said it wasted two decades of the nation, the Pakistani newspaper reported. (ANI) Nur Sultan [Kazakhstan], February 13 (ANI/Sputnik): Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part Sunday in a commemorative ceremony to honor the memory of those killed in the unrest that rocked Kazakhstan in early January, the presidential office said. After a prayer, Tokayev said the Kazakh people faced harsh ordeals this year. "The integrity of the state, the security of citizens, and the future of the country were under threat. We managed to repel the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, this turmoil claimed lives of many citizens. This is a real tragedy. On my instructions, the relevant authorities thoroughly investigate each case. For me, human rights protection is very important. The sad developments shocked the whole country," Tokayev said, as quoted by the office. The leader added that a social foundation "Kazakhstan halkyna" (to the Kazakh people) that has been set up upon his instruction, will also provide support to those affected. "We will not allow anybody to destroy the unity and harmony of our people. This is a common duty not only of the state, but of all citizens. This tragedy must never happen again!" Tokayev said. Mass protests in Kazakhstan erupted in early January, with residents of the western cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau protesting a twofold increase in liquefied gas prices. The protests spilled over to other cities, and turned into violent unrest with looting, attacks on state facilities, and clashes with police. In response, authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency until January 19 and launched an anti-terrorist operation. (ANI/Sputnik) A firefighter looks at the scene of a house fire that injured at least seven firefighters, in the 200 block of West 112th Place in the Roseland neighborhood on Feb. 12, 2022, in Chicago. None of the firefighters' injuries were considered life-threatening, according to fire department spokesperson Larry Langford. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Tomorra Watts is grateful she walked over to her brothers house for a cigarette Saturday afternoon in their Roseland neighborhood. After chatting with him, she stepped outside and spotted a fire truck speeding down their street and realized there was smoke coming out of her home. Advertisement Watts, 50, went back inside and told her brother that her house was on fire. I dont know what happened, she told reporters. All I know is I hope the fire people that got hurt is safe. And Im glad that I was not there. Advertisement Watts lost almost everything in the fire, which began about 3:15 p.m. at a single-family, 1-1/2 story frame house in the 200 block of West 112th Place. It also left several firefighters with non-life threatening injuries and included a flashover that erupted while crews were battling the flames, causing a Mayday emergency call. I dont have nothing, Watts sobbed as her brother gave her a hug. You got family, thats all you need, said her brother, Bernard Watts. When firefighters got there, Watts had already left before it went bad, but firefighters burst inside to battle the fire, said Chicago Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford. She broke down in tears while speaking to reporters. Look at my house! she said, leaning into her neighbor and sisters arms looking across the street at her home. You guys dont know how hard Ive worked, said Watts, who has lived there for about 6 years. When I moved in there I had nothing but a TV and a bag of clothes. Advertisement But Watts, who is usually always home, said she was grateful she had decided to leave her house when she did. All the windows in her house in the residential, tree-lined street blew out in a rapid expansion of fire, meaning that a flashover was likely, said Langford. Firefighters take away a ladder after extinguishing a house fire that injured at least seven firefighters, in the 200 block of West 112th Place in the Roseland neighborhood on Feb. 12, 2022, in Chicago. None of the firefighters' injuries were considered life-threatening, according to fire department spokesperson Larry Langford. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) A flashover occurs when theres something in the air that gets to a temperature where it actually combusts, Langford said. With a flashover, usually theres smoke that suddenly turns to flames and that is similar to what we think of as a backdraft, Langford said. Its an influx of air. Its a lot air coming and through and fire just erupts rapidly. The situation also included a shock wave of some kind that caused the rapid expansion of fire. It was not an explosion, however, Langford said. It was extremely dangerous for firefighters, causing a Mayday call, which elevates their response and means a firefighter is in danger or isnt accounted for. Advertisement As of 5 p.m. six firefighters and a possible seventh were injured, four of whom were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center and the rest to Little Company of Mary in Evergreen Park. None of the injuries were life-threatening, Langford said. CFD has had a MAYDAY response at 112th and Princeton. There have been transports. Will update here as soon as possible. 7 Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) February 12, 2022 Angie Williams, 56, who lives across the street from Watts was in her room sewing when she heard a loud bang outside. Her daughter, 26-year-old Jessica Williams, was trying to take a nap but kept hearing emergency trucks pulling up across the street. Jessica ran to the upstairs window to see what was happening. The roof was filled with flames and smoke, Jessica Williams said. Around 5:30 p.m., the fire trucks had left and fire inspectors walked through the home, the light on their helmets on as they photographed the damage. There was no indication yet what caused the fire, which was extinguished and the alarms called off by 4:45 p.m., but the Office of Fire Investigation is looking into it. Advertisement With a Mayday, you dont know what youre dealing with until you get your hands on the firefighters, Langford said. Pakistan's Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Saturday emphasised the need of reviving Pakistan's economy in order to avoid having to "beg" for loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other nations. "We want to get out of the circle of repeatedly going to the IMF and other countries to beg for loans," the minister said while inaugurating the Kamyab Jawan Markaz at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, reported The Express Tribune. "Pakistan -- a country of more than 200 million people -- needs some drastic steps to improve its economy," he added. In his address, he said that only three million people in the country paid their taxes. One million out of those three million pay withholding tax which means only two million people pay their taxes reported the newspaper. The minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan in his visit to China had asked its leadership to help in populating the country's special economic zones by bringing in Chinese companies. Notably, Imran Khan's China visit -- first in the last two years -- points to Islamabad's financial dependence on Beijing, especially as the West continues to ignore Pakistan. The Imran Khan government is also considering requesting China to approve another loan to the tune of USD 3 billion in China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, known as SAFE deposits. His 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. 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. (ANI) On February 13, 1913, the 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibetan independence in the declaration of the "Proclamation of Independence" and since then Tibetans mark February 13 as an important day in Tibet's history to educate people on the significance of Tibet's history. To commemorate the occassion the Students for Free Tibet (SFT, India) held a symbolic celebration here in Dharamshala on Sunday. SFT activists held a talk on this issue and exhibit photographs of previous events of this day. They also held a group dance to celebrate the occasion. Activists also displayed the treaty which was signed during the Shimla convention in 1913- 1914 concerning the status of Tibet negotiated by then representatives of the Republic of China, Tibet and the United Kingdom. Tibetan activists say that Tibet was occupied by China in March 1959. Activists raised their voices to send a clear message to China by saying that "Tibetans shall be happy in the land of Tibet and Chinese shall be happy in the land of China". (ANI) The attack was triggered by family issues and conflict inside the house and no gunman has entered the house to carry out the attack, Khama Press quoted security officials of the Afghan capital Kabul as saying. Khalid Zadran, spokesperson of the Kabul police headquarter, said that among the people killed were his younger son and his security guard while those injured included Muhammad Khan's wife and his other security guard. Zadran said the security officials will investigate the matter to further elaborate on the incident, acc Chief Executive of the former national unity government in Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah condoned the incident and said that the attack was carried out in the personal privacy of a respected family in the country. (ANI) The cases of honour killing are on a surge in Pakistan as five people were killed for honour in Balochistan province on Saturday, reported local media. Three women and two men were killed in the name of honour in Jaffarabad, Mastung and Hub areas during the past one day, reported Dawn citing police. In the Goth Faqir Mohammad area of the Jaffarabad district, a man gunned down his young wife a nephew on Friday evening. While on the outskirts of Mastung town, a man and his wife were slaughtered. And in the Hub area, a woman, Mah Jan, was allegedly gunned down by her second husband on Saturday. It is the recent rise in the cases of honour killings in Pakistan. Despite the assurances by the authorities, such violence are on the rise in many regions of the country. With such cases, Pakistan is witnessing an alarming rise in the number of honour killings as it claimed 176 lives last year, mostly including women, according to the Sindh Suhai Sath, a non-governmental organisation. Last week, Dr Ayesha Hassan Dharejo and Advocate Farzana Khoso, the chairperson and co-chairperson, respectively, of the organisation, said that 93 people were killed in such incidents in Kandhkot-Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki districts alone. According to the statistics compiled by the organisation, 27 people (23 women and four men) were killed in Kandhkot-Kashmore district, 26 people (14 women and 12 men) in Jacobabad district, 23 people (18 women and five men) in Shikarpur district and 17 people (14 women and three men) were killed in Ghotki district in 2021, according to Dawn. They pointed out that charge sheets were filed in 649 honour killing cases but only 19 of the accused were convicted. Those nominated in 136 cases were acquitted while 494 cases were pending a trial. They noted with concern that the conviction rate appeared to be around two per cent, and attributed the position to weak prosecution, slackness on the part of police and anomalies in the law and justice system. (ANI) Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced the next phase of his party's Rights Movement stressing that the party's "historic sit-in" outside the Sindh Assembly had changed the dimension of politics in Karachi and provided the Karachiites with hope for the restoration of the city's glory. Rehman while addressing a workers' convention at the party's secretariat announced a schedule for the second phase of the Karachi Rights Movement, reported Dawn. Emphasising the details of the next phase of the campaign, Rehman directed the party workers to drum up support for caravans to be staged as part of the movement. "The caravans will be taken out at the region-level, designated by the party as a district of the city on a daily basis. The series of caravans will be initiated on March 4," Dawn quoted Rehman as saying. The JI leader directed the party workers to hold rallies and corner meetings in each and every neighbourhood of the megalopolis in order to create awareness among the masses, according to the Pakistani publication. "Temporary camps will be set up along the routes of the caravans and all the trade unions and platforms that supported the JI during the 29-day successful sit-in will be mobilised," said the leader. The JI leader also blamed Pakistan's mainstream political parties PTI, PPP, MQM-P for the devastation of the city. JI had become a ray of hope for the people of Karachi, said Rehman, adding that it is the right time for the party workers to come forward and approach all potential voters and fellow city men. (ANI) As the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets in Paris to investigate terror-financing and money laundering and deliberate progress of Pakistan - the Baloch, Pashtun, Afghan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong communities living in exile in France will protest outside its headquarters in Paris on February 19. "This is to remind FATF of its commitments and stop Pakistan's role in terror financing and money laundering in the country and in neighbouring Afghanistan and its nexus with China that lobbies for Islamabad to be not held accountable," said a statement issued by Pakistani exiled journalist Taha Siddiqui. The Paris-based watchdog placed Pakistan in the 'Grey-List' in 2018 on its performance to address international concerns on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CGT). Although Pakistan adopts the tactic of showcasing strict action against terror financing, terror organisations like the Lashkar e Taiba (now rebranded as the Jamat ud Dawa-JuD), Jaish e Mohammed (JeM), and the Afghan Taliban are continuing to function freely in the country and have been collecting funds. Pakistan has been using its established and active money laundering networks in Africa and Europe not only for ordinary Pakistanis sending remittances but also for terror groups and the Pakistani intelligence to fund their activities abroad. The UK has put Pakistan on its high-risk list of countries due to its money laundering and terror financing activities since the money laundered through these networks is used to fund criminal activities. With anti-France sentiments growing in Pakistan, these active money laundering networks may be used by terror groups in Pakistan to facilitate terror activities in France. Pakistan has well-established and active drug trafficking networks in Europe and Africa, specifically in Mozambique, South Africa, the Ivory Coast and Nigeria. In an earlier statement, the Dissident Club claimed that "The money generated through these networks is an important source of income for terror activities, and is used to finance militancy in Africa. In 2019, Europol busted a large organised criminal organisation and arrested more than 150 people who were working in trafficking drugs from Pakistan, China and Laos into Africa and then into Europe." It further added, "The FATF is dragging its feet on these issues in Pakistan due to China's considerable influence on the organisation. China's economic influence over the West consequently results in these FATF member countries also not holding Pakistan accountable for its activities in funding terror." China, a close strategic partner of Pakistan, has a poor record of compliance with targeted financial sanction regimes relating to terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and is also committing grave human rights violations in Xinjiang and other parts of China. "If the FATF succumbs to Chinese pressure and does not blacklist Pakistan, it will indirectly be responsible for the continued abuses against the people of these regions," said the statement. (ANI) The Imran Khan government is silencing media's free speech in the country as Pakistan's electronic media regulator has issued a show-cause notice to a private TV channel, for airing "unethical" remarks about the performance of a federal minister during a talk show, reported local media. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued a show-cause notice to NewsOne, a private TV channel on Friday for airing "derogatory remarks" about Minister for Communications Murad Saeed "without any editorial check", reported Dawn. However, even before the legal formalities were completed and a show-cause notice was issued to NewsOne on Friday the channel had reportedly been taken off air by cable networks. The action by the regulatory authority has drawn criticism from opposition parties and others. Pakistan Peoples Party, broadcasters and journalists have expressed concern over the "unilateral" action taken by the authorities. The remarks by the news channel were made when guests were discussing the performance of the Ministry of Communications, which ranked first among the 10 best performing federal ministries according to the prime minister who awarded appreciation certificates to the ministers at a ceremony on Thursday, according to Dawn. Further, the Pakistani publication reported that PEMRA said NewsOne had aired a show, "G for Gharidah", on Thursday at 10.05pm where the anchor and panelists had questioned the decision to award the top honour to minister Saeed and made remarks insinuating factors behind the award other than the ministry's performance. The notice said such "unprofessional/demeaning remarks" went on air without any editorial control or time-delay mechanism in place. It said airing such remarks "raises serious concerns on the performance of channel's editorial policy and gate-keeping tools being adopted/practised". The PEMRA directed the channel's top management to reply in writing within four days (by Tuesday) as to why legal action, including a fine, suspension and revocation of licence, along with other measures, should not be initiated against the channel, according to Dawn. (ANI) During the meeting held at the Ministry of Defence in Male', discussions focused on the immense and expanding India-Maldives defence cooperation in the past three years, said the Maldives Ministry of Defence in a statement. The Indian Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar noted that the Government of India was committed to further boosting the India-Maldives partnership. The Minister thanked India for the immense assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccine shipments, medical supplies, transportation of food supplies, humanitarian assistance and technical support for MNDF, with more than 170 medical evacuations and 130 surveillance missions conducted in the past couple of years. The Minister expressed her deep appreciation for the Coast Guard Dockyard project, which is set to be the most comprehensive defence infrastructure development project carried out in the Maldives. The Minister of Defence was joined by Military Secretary BG Abdul Matheen Ahmed, MNDF Surgeon General COL Dr Ali Shahid Mohamed, DIDC's Principal Director LTC Ahmed Shareef, and Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Ali Jaishan Amir. (ANI) The recent visit of Pakistan's National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf to Kabul did not turn out to be fruitful to Islamabad as expected as the security concerns of the Imran Khan government were not properly addressed by the new rulers in Afghanistan, according to a media report. It is no secret that the real disappointment for Pakistan with NSA's Kabul visit came in the security-related issues as Dr. Yusuf could not meet with the Taliban PM, Mullah Hassan Akhund, and Deputy PM, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the official statements from the two sides did not make any reference to the Durand Line and cross-border terrorism. Yusuf's efforts to secure the release of Tariq Haqqani, son of Minister for Refugees Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani, along with three Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials with Mullah Baradar-led group in Kabul, also failed, according to the Portal Plus. The visit took place after the Taliban members had stopped the Pakistan military from erecting the barbed fences along its border with Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. The two countries have also years-long issues over the Durand Line which decides the border between the two countries. Moeed Yusuf, led a delegation to Kabul last month to discuss with the Afghan authorities border fencing, security issues and stalled joint infra projects. Dr Yusuf, who also heads the Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell, a policy formulation and implementation forum, called on Afghan Deputy Prime Minister (PM), Abdul Salam Hanafi, and Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, besides participating in delegation-level talks with the other government ministers and officials, according to Portal Plus. Earlier in January, Moeed had made a failed attempt to visit the country for a discussion with the Taliban leadership on the afore-mentioned issues, according to Portal Plus. Prior to Yusuf's visit, Islamabad had assessed highly centralized decision-making within the Taliban regime and lack of recognition from the international community as the two major hurdles in developing economic ties with Kabul. Though the Pakistani side was able to get the Taliban's audience on some trade-related issues, it failed to achieve any substantive outcome. Acting upon the demand of Pakistan's Chamber of Commerce & Industries, the delegation requested Afghan authorities to facilitate a study of Hajigak Iron Ore Mines in Afghanistan. The mines are said to have the potential of becoming the long-term cheap source of iron ore for Pakistan's steel industry. While the Afghan side made no commitment on the issue, the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries & Mines lamented that Pakistan was hindering exports from Afghanistan, while trade between the two countries had plunged from USD 3 billion to USD 1 billion during 2021. The Portal Plus further stated that in absence of cooperation from Taliban, Pakistani government and establishment are confronted with possibilities of more disturbing alliances. According to some reports appeared in Sputnik International quoting a TTP militant, the organization is also training fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) at its facilities located along the said border. In return, BLA is said to be providing TTP an access into Balochistan, a region that is acting as a refuge for TTP fighters leaving the Pakistani Army's counter-insurgency operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (ANI) Washington [US], February 14 (ANI/Sputnik): US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis around Ukraine during a phone conversation on Sunday, the White House said. "The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's borders," the statement said. Biden also reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and promised to "respond swiftly and decisively" together with allies to potential Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to the White House. (ANI/Sputnik) Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx arrives to a news conference at Congregation B'nei Ruven in Chicago regarding the recent hate crimes in the area on Feb. 1, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx was elected in 2016 as a reform candidate, knocking out incumbent Anita Alvarez after harshly criticizing the way she handled charges in 17-year-old Laquan McDonalds fatal shooting by on-duty Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. One major change could make sure police are truly being held accountable, Foxx said on the campaign trail: Special prosecutors not Cook County assistant states attorneys should decide whether to bring criminal charges against officers allegedly involved in such crimes. Advertisement There is an inherent conflict of interest because of the intimate relationship between the prosecutors office and the police, and to suggest that doesnt exist is disingenuous, Foxx said at a campaign forum in January 2016. Van Dyke has since been tried, convicted, sentenced and, as of last week, released from prison. But one of Foxxs most prominent campaign promises has not come to pass. Advertisement Cook County prosecutors in her administration have never sought the appointment of a special prosecutor in a police shooting case. And in at least two instances, Cook County prosecutors have said they opposed bringing in outside attorneys to reinvestigate police shootings, saying their office had already reviewed the cases and determined charges were not appropriate. While Van Dykes case was handled by a special prosecutor, that decision was made before Foxx took office. A group of activists petitioned to take the case out of Alvarezs hands, and after Alvarez lost the Democratic primary to Foxx, she withdrew her opposition to their effort. Then-Kane County States Attorney Joseph McMahon was appointed to prosecute Van Dyke in Alvarezs stead. Ultimately, the barriers to getting special prosecutors in each police shooting case were logistical, rather than philosophical, Foxx told the Tribune. And procedures involving charging decisions in those cases have evolved in Cook County since the Alvarez administration, due to structural changes within Foxxs office as well as changes in Illinois law. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx at her office on Dec. 7, 2020. (Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune) When Foxx began her tenure, if prosecutors wanted a special prosecutor, they would have to petition a judge in each individual case and allege a legal conflict of interest; it would be up to the judge to decide whether the conflict existed and a special prosecutor could be appointed. In appointing a special prosecutor, a judge must determine if other public prosecuting agencies are willing and able to act as special prosecutor before turning to private attorneys. In an interview, Foxx told the Tribune that she envisioned the state attorney generals office handling the charging decisions and potential prosecution of police-involved shootings, which is the practice in some other jurisdictions. But then-Attorney General Lisa Madigans administration said they did not have the resources to do so, Foxx said. After current Attorney General Kwame Raoul took office in 2019, his office said something similar, according to Foxx. Advertisement Annie Thompson, a spokesperson for Raouls office, said she could not confirm which conversations may have taken place, but said that their office gets referrals on a variety of matters not just police shootings when claims are made about a states attorneys possible conflict of interest. Whether a true conflict of interest exists should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the mere fact that a states attorneys office has worked on matters with a police department does not mean an actual conflict exists (for instance, we work with the Chicago Police Department as well), Thompson wrote in an email to the Tribune. Our decision to take up a matter referred by a states attorney involves evaluating our capacity to handle the matter and determining whether an actual conflict of interest exists. A judge could also seek to appoint a prosecutor from another county, but those prosecutors tend to be reluctant to engage in a police-involved shooting in another jurisdiction, Foxx said. These are incredibly difficult cases, complex cases. Another option would be appointing private attorneys on the taxpayer dime, and finding attorneys with the expertise to handle those complex investigations might be difficult, Foxx said. Its not enough to say all right, to ensure you that we are not in cahoots with police, we can let someone else do it, we still need a thorough investigation with lawyers who are trained in doing these types of investigations, she said. And right now we still dont have a system in place that would give that confidence. We would still be waiting for someone to pick it up. Foxx said her office has been communicating with state legislators and Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office in hopes of coming up with a statewide solution to ensuring that independent agencies examine cases of police violence. That could potentially include putting together a panel of qualified private attorneys who could be tapped as special prosecutors in those cases, she said. Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for Pritzkers office said the governor is open to all policy ideas to make the justice system work more fairly and ensure that all Illinoisans can believe in the system. Our office has had preliminary conversations with the states attorney over the past several years, but we would require many more stakeholder conversations before settling on a recommended approach, Jordan Abudayyeh wrote. Meanwhile, internal policy changes and state law has changed the way Cook County prosecutors handle charging decisions in police shootings. Since a new state law took effect in 2018, when the Cook County states attorneys office declines to charge an officer in a shooting, the Illinois Office of the States Attorney Appellate Prosecutor takes a second look at the case to determine if they believe charges are necessary. If you dont trust what Im doing, theres another body that can look at that work, Foxx said, noting that her office pushed for the change in state law. And in 2019, the team of attorneys who prosecute police misconduct was moved out of the normal chain of command in the special prosecutions bureau. Instead, the law enforcement accountability division reports directly to the first assistant states attorney, who is Foxxs second-in-command. That way, prosecutors who rely on police to make their cases are more separate from the prosecutors deciding whether to bring charges against officers. LEAD is tasked with reviewing all claims of officer misconduct, not just shootings or fatalities. Advertisement Joseph Cullen, assistant state's attorney with Kane County, from left, Joseph McMahon, Kane County state's attorney and special prosecutor in the Laquan McDonald case, Lynn McCarthy with the Cook County state's attorney's office, Attorney Daniel Herbert representing Jason Van Dyke and Jason Van Dyke stand before Judge Vincent Gaughan during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago in 2016. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) A prosecutor from the accountability division is on call 24 hours a day to be notified of police shootings, and typically within 72 hours of an incident, prosecutors meet with COPA and representatives of other investigative agencies for a debriefing, said Assistant States Attorney Lynn McCarthy, who heads up LEAD. Foxx acknowledged that the unit needs more staffers; as of this month, there were seven attorneys. They also have brought in outside experts on use of force to consult on whether charges might be appropriate, Foxx said. The LEAD website posts lengthy memos detailing why prosecutors declined to charge in a police-involved fatal shooting. Most of the cases also include the second look decision from the states attorney appellate prosecutors office, explaining why that agency agreed that charges were not appropriate. While some 40 memos are available online, the list is out of date; the most recent police shooting for which a memo is posted occurred in 2019. Cook County prosecutors have brought some charges against police in on- and off-duty shootings in recent years; within the first few months of Foxxs administration, Chicago police Officer Lowell Houser was charged with murder in a fatal off-duty shooting and Amtrak police Officer LaRoyce Tankson faced murder charges in an on-duty fatal shooting. Houser was later found guilty of second-degree murder; Tankson was acquitted. More recently, Chicago police Officer Melvina Bogard was charged last summer for an on-duty February 2020 shooting at the Grand Avenue Red Line station. Video of the lengthy and public struggle on the platform went viral; Bogard is awaiting trial on felony charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct. Advertisement And after nearly a year, the office has not yet announced a charging decision in perhaps the highest-profile police shooting since Laquan McDonalds: The death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo last March. Prosecutors declined to comment about specific cases, but noted that charging decisions in police shootings can take time in part because so many agencies are involved in the investigation, including the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the Illinois State Police for forensic work, and the Chicago Police Department. The review also includes input from families of the individuals involved in the shooting, according to a statement from the office. Its a lengthy process because of how thorough it is in working with multiple agencies, McCarthy said. It involves a lot of time to make sure we have all the materials from various agencies. Because of the seriousness, obviously were going to be as thorough as possible. If Illinois were to take charging decisions out of the hands of local prosecutors altogether, they would be following in the footsteps of other jurisdictions around the country. In New Jersey, all fatal police shootings are investigated by the state attorney generals office. That office also must bring the results of each investigation to a grand jury, which will decide whether charges are appropriate. The New York attorney generals office also handles investigations and prosecutions of fatal police shootings in that state. As of last year, California law requires the state Department of Justice, not local prosecutors, to investigate and make prosecuting decisions after police fatally shoot an unarmed citizen. Advertisement mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com "As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital receives up to eight cases each day of children suffering complications associated with severe acute malnutrition," read UNICEF Twitter post. Meanwhile, the spread of measles across Afghanistan has worsened and as per United Nations the disease has killed tens of Afghans last month, reported The Khaama Press. As per the United Nations, only in the northwestern Ghor province, 95 children died from measles and malnutrition over the previous month. This comes as Afghanistan's health situation is also on the brink of collapse and is in dire need of international aid and support. Moreover, a combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) In usual rhetoric, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again raked up the Kashmir issue ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review this month on Pakistan's performance on countering terrorist financing. In an exclusive interview with Fareed Fareed Zakaria for CNN on Sunday, Imran Khan alleged "RSS ideology" for the stalled talks between India and Pakistan. Zakaria asked Khan about the future of India- Pakistan relations - whether there was any prospect for a greater degree of peace, better relations, more trade, more tourism, all the kind of things that will lift the economies of both countries. Replying to it, Khan said, "There is a tragedy that unfolded in India. The RSS ideology has taken over India. You can Google - Who were the founding fathers of RSS? The ideology that rules India now. Who were they inspired by? By the Nazis -- this is what all-- I am saying is -- can easily be verified. It's a racist ideology that has taken over India. Remember three times RSS was considered a terrorist organization, an ideology that assassinated the great Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi). It's very difficult to come to terms with this ideology." "I tried everything, made overtures, but unfortunately, how do you deal with it --- an ideology based on hate, racial superiority and hate for Muslims, minorities, Christians and of course Pakistan," he added. However, while blaming India, he forgot the concept of an Islamic state that was used in 1978 by General Zia-Ul-Haq. Moreover, it has been the ploy of Pakistani rulers to use Kashmir as a usual trick to keep the real issue at bay. "So we have not made any headways. My worry is -- what is going on in India now -- much, much more damaging for India -- than for Pakistan. Our relationship has frozen and the India I knew -- I think it's of great concern," said Khan. Talking about Pakistan's relations with India, PM Imran Khan said that he has many friends in India. "I am probably one of those Pakistani who knows India and understands India much more than the rest of my own countrymen, probably all over the world. Because of my friendships in India, my relations with all sorts of, whether it is media or politicians. So the moment my government came to power, the first thing I did was to reach out to India. I said you come one step towards us we will go two towards you. There won't be issues in Kashmir and we should solve it like good neighbours on the dialogue table." Meanwhile, when Zakaria asked about the volatility of relations between India and Pakistan - one terrorist attack, a miscalculation on the border could spiral out of control. Does that worry you. Khan affirmed that he was worried about it and he raised the issue in his first speech at United Nations. "Yes, in fact, in my first speech at United Nations, I raised this concern because what happened was that there was an attack in India. A Kashmiri youth blew himself up on an Indian military convoy and Pakistan was blamed (Pulwama attack). I immediately asked, if you have any evidence that Pakistan was involved, we will take action. But, rather than giving us any evidence they bombed us and so Pakistan also retaliated and their plane was shot down. We immediately returned the pilot just to tell them that we had no plans of escalation." 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed in the 2019 terror attack. The attack on the CRPF convoy took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, 2019. A 22-year-old suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the bus. The convoy had 78 buses in which around 2,500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. Days later India carried out an airstrike on JeM's Balakot terror training camp in Pakistan. Indian Air Force ace pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27 a day after the Balakot airstrike. In the process, he flew over Pakistan occupied Kashmir and his MiG-21 was hit and he had to eject over the territory controlled by the enemy. He was then taken into custody by the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army was forced to release him due to the extensive pressure exerted by the Indian side along with international intervention into the matter. "It could have easily escalated and therefore, I think -- which is why when I met President Trump -- I asked him -- the most powerful country to solve this Kashmir issue because it has been festering. The world communities have pledged to the Kashmiris that they would be able to decide their own destiny and if this issue keeps continuing, there is always a chance that two nuclear powers could be confronting each other," said Khan. (ANI) insta_photos / Getty Images/iStockphoto Social Security is a valuable program that ensures retirees have some income to rely on in their golden years. However, many Americans dont understand how it works. Learn: Understanding the Basics of Social SecurityRetirement: 14 Key Signs You Will Run Out of Money in Retirement Just over one-third of soon-to-be retirees (ages 55 to 65) failed and another 18% earned a grade of D on a basic knowledge quiz about Social Security retirement benefits by MassMutual. Only 3% received an A+ by answering all 12 true/false statements correctly. Knowing the ins and outs of Social Security will ensure you take full advantage of your benefits and avoid leaving money on the table. Here are nine facts about Social Security that you may not be aware of. See: All the States That Dont Tax Social Security Social Security Isnt Going To Disappear Its true that Social Security Trust Fund reserves are set to be depleted by 2035, and many Americans worry that there will be no benefits available by the time they retire. This fear causes many people to their detriment, most likely to start collecting benefits as soon as theyre able to so they can get it while it lasts, said Taylor Jessee, a CPA, CFP and the director of financial planning for Taylor Hoffman Wealth Management. However, Social Security is largely funded by payroll taxes, which will continue to be collected for the foreseeable future. I caution todays retirees that Social Security is likely not going away any time soon, Jessee added. Social Security Isnt Enough To Live Off in Retirement Most people cannot live on Social Security. On average, it will provide 30% to 40% of your pre-retirement income. Nonetheless, Social Security benefits are still valuable, so youll want to do whatever you can to maximize them, said Jackie King, a financial advisor at Edward Jones. The more you invest in a retirement plan such as a 401(k) or IRA, the more flexibility youll gain in managing your retirement costs, because youll have more sources of income to pair with Social Security. Story continues So try to contribute as much as you can afford to these plans, King said. When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035 Benefits Are Based on Your Highest 35 Years of Earnings Are you worried that several years on a lower salary will negatively impact how much you receive in Social Security benefits? The good news is that the formula for calculating your benefit is based on your 35 highest-earning years, as well as the age you begin taking Social Security, according to King. If youre curious to know how much youre projected to get, she said you can sign up to receive a yearly statement from the Social Security Administration that provides an updated estimate. Your Personal Situation Matters More Than Your Age The longer you wait to take Social Security, the more money youll receive. You can claim it as early as age 62, for a reduced benefit. Waiting until your full retirement age means youre entitled to your full benefit. Holding off until age 70 means youll get 132% of your full benefit. But waiting as long as possible to claim your benefits isnt always the best move. Your needs come first, said Stephan Baldwin, founder of Assisted Living Center. For example, he said, if your spouse died, filing for survivor benefits instead of waiting for full benefits may make more sense. So be sure to evaluate all your options. Are You Doomed To Work Forever? What You Can Do If Your Social Security Isnt Enough You Can Claim Your Exs Benefits Even if youre no longer married, Baldwin said you may be able to claim spousal benefits. To qualify, your marriage must have lasted more than 10 years, you must be at least 62 and you cant be remarried. You can also claim 100% of the survivors benefit if your ex-partner has died, Baldwin noted. You Get To Keep the Bigger Benefit If Your Spouse Dies If both spouses in a marriage are receiving Social Security benefits, the smaller benefit goes away when one person dies. It doesnt matter who dies first the surviving spouse will begin receiving the larger of the two benefits. That is why couples should focus on increasing the higher benefit, said Jeremy Keil, a retirement-focused financial planner with Keil Financial Partners and host of the Retirement Revealed blog and podcast. Its the one that will stay around longest and be there to help the widow(er). Some of Your Benefits May Be Withheld If you claim your benefits before reaching full retirement age, are still working and make more than the yearly earnings limit, you may have some of your Social Security benefits withheld. The cap is $19,560 for 2022, and you would lose $1 in benefits for every $2 in earnings above the max. But you dont really lose the benefit. You wont receive it while you are below full retirement age; but, as soon as you hit that age, Social Security will recalculate and give you credit for those dollars, Kell explained. More on This: All You Need To Know About Collecting Social Security While Still Working You Can Undo a Social Security Benefits Claim Decision If you decided to claim your benefits and then realized you should have waited, the Social Security Administration allows you to withdraw your application for a one-time do-over. There are a host of reasons why someone may regret the decision to begin taking Social Security, said Jordan Kahn, a CFA and chief investment officer for HCR Wealth Advisors. For example, you could decide to take on a part-time job and no longer need the extra income. Or maybe you didnt realize how much more money you could receive by waiting a couple more years. If a person makes this determination within 12 months of filing their initial application, they can stop receiving benefits and move forward as if they never claimed them, Khan said. But you would have to pay back any benefits you received during that time. You May Have To Pay Taxes on Social Security Benefits Many Americans pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. The exact amount youll need to pay depends on your total income. It does not take a lot of income for your benefits to be taxed, Kahn said. If youre a single filer and earn between $25,000 and $34,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits. If you earn more than $34,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. For joint filers, if you and your spouse have a combined income that is between $32,000 and $44,000, you may have to pay income tax on up to 50% of your benefits. If your combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. In addition to paying federal income tax on your benefits, Kahn noted that 12 states also levy income tax on Social Security benefits: Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia. If youre worried about your tax bill in retirement, its a good idea to speak with a professional who can help you find ways to lower your taxable income. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Things Most Retirees Dont Know About Social Security Australia on Sunday said it was evacuating its embassy in Kyiv, amid a growing threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the situation was reaching a stage he called 'dangerous'. He also called out China for not speaking out for Ukraine. That comes after Beijing criticised Canberra for hosting a meeting of U.S., Australian, Japanese and Indian foreign ministers last week. "The Chinese government is happy to criticize Australia for engaging in such peaceful activities but yet remains chillingly silent on Russian troops amassing at the Ukrainian border. The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on and certainly my government never has." The U.S. has also ordered most of its embassy staff to leave Kyiv due to the deteroriating situation. And on Sunday, it sent more weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine's capital, as part of a $200 million security package. Meanwhile further south, Ukrainian security forces held drillsaimed at cracking down on possible provocations at the border with Russian-annexed Crimea. Russia's state-owned news agency RIA said the Kremlin had also begun naval exercises near the Crimean peninsula. Moscow denies any plan to invade, saying it is maintaining its own security against aggression by NATO allies. YANQING, China (AP) Bus, bus, train, bus, bus, gondola, gondola, gondola. The journey from the heart of Beijing to the alpine ski venue is only about 120 kilometers (75 miles), but getting there via the Olympic transit system hermetically sealed against COVID-19 makes for a rather epic journey. And on Sunday, amid uncharacteristically heavy snowfall, a scenic one too. Along the way, you pass from the flat urban sprawl of the capital into the steep, craggy mountains to its north, through numerous tunnels and past about a million signs bearing the ever-present Olympic panda mascot, Bing Dwen Dwen. The trip begins with a bus ride from your hotel in central Beijing to the Main Media Center's bus depot, and from there on another bus to the Qinghe railway station, where you board a high-speed train. This silky ride passes suburbs, farms and endless orderly rows of newly planted trees, and lasts only about 25 minutes before arriving at Yanqing's modern train station. Not seen during Sunday's whiteout: a section of the Badaling Great Wall reportedly visible from the train on clearer days. The station may be called Yanqing, but your journey at this point has really only just begun. Another bus deposits you at a forlorn parking lot on the side of a highway, where you wait for the next and final bus, which climbs into the mountains, through brightly lit tunnels and over vertiginous ravines before finally arriving at the National Alpine Ski Center. Though one of the signature images of these Olympics has been the ribbons of white artificial snow contrasted against the area's brown, scrubby mountainsides, Sunday's natural snowfall transformed the whole area into a much more traditional alpine scene. For a ski area purpose-built for these Games, the infrastructure is astounding, from the expansive base village to four gleaming gondolas, three of which are required to finally reach the finish of Sunday's men's giant slalom. Despite all this investment, the ski area itself is unlikely to ever become a destination resort. This is because of the steep pitches of its slopes that are unsuitable for novice skiers, and its meager annual snowfall of around 5 centimeters (2 inches). Sunday's storm, however, easily exceeded that amount, making for a race that was high on drama ... and low on visibility. Two years ago, prominent Hollywood therapist Amie Harwick was found fatally injured beneath her bedroom balcony just hours after Valentine's Day -- a former boyfriend has been charged with her death. In his first extensive TV interview, Drew Carey, host of CBS' "The Price Is Right" and Harwick's onetime fiance, offers "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty a raw, honest account of unexpected love and unbearable loss. In the early morning hours of February 15, 2020, police found Amie Harwick, a high-profile family therapist, clinging to life beneath the balcony outside her home. As Amie was rushed to the hospital, investigators immediately questioned her traumatized roommate who had called 911. They set out to interview neighbors and look for surveillance camera video - anything to explain what had happened to her. Amie Harwick during her Valentine's Day hike with friend Cleopatra Slough. Amie acted as a local tour guide as they climbed the winding Hollywood Hills streets. / Credit: Robert Coshland Hours earlier, Amie's Valentine's Day had started peacefully with a sunrise hike with her friend, Cleopatra Slough. Cleopatra Slough: So, I got to her house ... She invited me in because she still hadn't gotten ready yet. ... We went up to her bedroom, which was very beautiful. It had this nice balcony, all this natural light. ...And she was frantically getting ready and at the last minute, she grabbed this little red cardigan sweater and said," it's Valentine's Day, I am just going to throw this on." Amie acted as a local tour guide as they climbed the winding Hollywood Hills streets. Cleopatra Slough: She was pointing out all these different landmarks she liked, telling me different history about the neighborhood. They stopped for breakfast at the Beachwood Cafe. Cleopatra Slough: She talked a lot about how happy she was. How ... she felt really accomplished and happy with where she was in life and very much, like, at peace ... Erin Moriarty: Did she seem worried about anything that day? Cleopatra Slough: No. Erin Moriarty: Did she talk about what her plans were that night? Cleopatra Slough: Yes. ... They were all going to a burlesque show. And she was really excited to get dressed up and go to that.Erin Moriarty: What was she wearing that night? Miss Tosh: She was wearing her rosary necklace, her leather jacket, her purse and her boots and a velvet dress. The necklace would later become a key piece of evidence. Amie's friend, known as Miss Tosh, says the burlesque show started around 7 p.m. Story continues Miss Tosh: They brought a little Kodak camera and taking all these film photos together ... And I could see them even when I was on stage just, like, cheering and standing. The best time. Around the time that Amie and her friends were taking pictures at the show, Amie's roommate Michael Herman - asleep in his room on the first floor - would later tell authorities he thought he heard the sound of a smashing plate. He thought it was Amie, a floor above, and drifted back to sleep. Investigators now believe it was an intruder breaking the glass of the French door to her home. Amie Harwick, left, Miss Tosh, second from left, and friends at the burlesque show on February 14, 2020. / Credit: Miss Tosh Erin Moriarty [looking at photo]: In this moment, everybody, you know, looks happy. Miss Tosh: We're all on a high of thrill of celebrating the show ... we were just having so much fun. Amie, still at the Globe Theater, caught up with Miss Tosh in the lobby after the show around 9 p.m. Miss Tosh asked her to come to the after party. Miss Tosh: And she's like, "no, I'm just going to have tea with my friends" ... and that was my last moment with her was just, you know," I love you. I'll see you again soon."Amie and her friends left the Globe Theatre and they ended up at the Nomad until 12:18 a.m. At around 1 a.m., Amie pulled into her driveway, and she texted her friend Sara Rollins to send pictures from the Nomad: "Send me pics on the green couch!" The time is 1:02 a.m. Moments later, police believe she climbed the stairs to her third-floor bedroom and was viciously attacked. Police theorize that Amie's assailant had been lying in wait for four hours. Amie's roommate was jolted out of sleep by her screams. He later testified that he heard the sound of bodies falling to the floor and more screams that seemed muffled, as though someone had put a hand over her mouth. Unable to find his phone, Amie's roommate first just tries yelling to scare the assailant away. When he runs for help, he gets trapped inside the courtyard, and has to scale a tall metal fence, cutting himself, but he still makes it over to the neighbor, knocking repeatedly, and nobody comes to the door. It was now 1:08 a.m., Amie's roommate is frantic. He then runs across the street and again no one answers the door. Then, he sees someone walking up the street who happens to have a phone. They call for help. It is now 1:14 a.m. In the early morning hours of February 15, 2020, police found Amie Harwick clinging to life beneath the balcony outside of her Hollywood Hills home. Police noted that Amie had severe injuries and deep marks on her neck, signs that she had been strangled before she fell from the balcony. / Credit: Robert Coshland That's when police found Amie lying 20 feet below her bedroom balcony. She was struggling to breathe. Police noted that Amie had severe injuries and deep marks on her neck - signs that she had been strangled before she fell from the balcony. At 2:05 a.m., Sara Rollins, who had no idea Amie was clinging to life, texted that photo of her on the green couch. But, by then, Amie was on her way to Cedar Sinai Medical Center. She died at 3:26 a.m. Inside her home investigators discovered evidence of a violent struggle. There was blood on a bedroom door. There was also a trail of those rosary beads that she'd been wearing earlier that night that went from her TV room, through her bedroom and onto the balcony. And that's where they recovered a syringe filled with liquid. Timeline: The suspicious death of Amie Harwick Considering Amie did not smoke, drink or do drugs, the syringe seemed out of place. Was it left by Amie's attacker? And why? LOVE AND LOSS As dawn broke over Los Angeles on the morning after Valentine's Day in 2020, hearts began breaking. Robert Coshland: It's like the sun was ripped from the sky. Amie Harwick's close friends Cleopatra Slough, Grace Stanley and Robert Coshland, were hearing the news that the 38-year-old woman they'd loved and leaned on was gone. Cleopatra Slough (cries): I didn't believe it. Grace Stanley (cries): She's not there anymore. Robert Coshland: The police called me...and said, "Hey can you come down to the Hollywood station." In 2018, on a special Valentine's episode of Word quickly reached her onetime fiance, too: Drew Carey, comedian and host of "The Price is Right" on CBS. He introduced Amie to the world on the Valentine's Day edition of the show in 2018, just two years before her death. Drew Carey: You want an intimate relationship where you can open up to somebody completely ... and she was that for me. Carey is giving his first extensive television interview about Amie Harwick: A raw, honest account of unexpected love and unbearable loss. Erin Moriarty: How'd you meet her? Drew Carey: I ... met her at - there's this producer that would throw these like, amazing big Hollywood parties. It was 2017. He says he saw stars all over the room that night, but especially when he saw Amie Harwick, who was moonlighting as a bartender. Amie Harwick at Disneyland during her first date with Drew Carey. / Credit: Robert Coshland Drew Carey: Our first date we went to Disneyland. ... And ... I was, like, so amazed by her ... I was telling people at work. ... "Wow, I met this great girl. Her name's Amie." Like Drew, Amie Harwick had grown up in middle America. In her case, a small Pennsylvania town. AMIE HARWICK [modeling agency video]: It was always just a challenge to figure out where I belonged ... And it took a really long time for me to figure out who I was as a person. She had been adopted and had, at one point, briefly been in foster care. As a teen, she was drawn to an offbeat crowd. Sharon Little: We would go to the bathroom and do our makeup together and skip class. The ladies' room wasn't just where Sharon Little and Amie Harwick went to goof off; it's where they first met. One day in tenth grade, Sharon says she was sobbing after hearing a close friend had died, when someone she didn't know offered her a hug. Sharon Little (crying): She saw me crying and just held me. Both craving understanding, Sharon says they seemed to understand each other instinctively. Sharon Little: I felt she knew exactly what I was feeling. In 2001, Amie settled in LA, planning to get a psychology degree, but she needed money. Drew Carey: She worked her way through college ... she worked, like, bartending, go-go dancing. She got gigs at nightclubs and parties around town. Sharon Little: She was blooming. She was eating fire ... Drew Carey: She had a fire act that she would do. And like really hustled. Amie's hustle, smarts and passion for personal growth eventually paid off. Armed with a master's degree in clinical psychology and eventually a Ph.D. in human sexuality, she opened a private practice and worked with clients who were often shunned. AMIE HARWICK ("Good Morning La La Land"): I work with sex workers or people that might be previously sex workers ... Amie brought her unique mix of compassion and charisma to a YouTube audience, too. AMIE HARWICK (YouTube): Hey, this is Dr. Amie Harwick ... AMIE HARWICK (YouTube): You communicate what you're looking to do ... what your boundaries are ... Part of what made her so interesting, say friends, were her own colorful interests. Grace Stanley: Taxidermy and things like that. But while Amie seemed to have a morbid fascination with mortality ... Robert Coshland: She was obsessed with death ... and in fact, at one point she had bought her own coffin. ... she also had a zest for life and living. Grace Stanley: She did everything ... and I don't know where she got the energy from. Drew Carey: I fell so hard for her. Erin Moriarty: You even said that you were lucky enough to have that love of a lifetime, what did you mean by that? Drew Carey: It was. It ... felt to me like finally, here's like everything I ever wanted. He says Amie offered what any person would want: unconditional love. Drew Carey: I have a lot of body issues about the way I look, and- but I would, like, take my shirt off around her and not care, and she would love me. ... like, she didn't care. She just always thought I was sexy and hot. They got engaged in 2017. Drew Carey: We had a great time together ... we would be, you know, in the kitchen and just start dancing. But there were serious problems, too. Drew Carey: There would be an article like, "Oh, Drew Carey and Amie Harwick at a thing." The couple's celebrity outings sometimes brought unwanted attention to Amie. Drew Carey: And then the next day, two days later, there'd be something. Something would almost always appear online: negative, anonymous comments on websites that reviewed doctors, he says. And Amie feared her reputation as a therapist would be ruined. She was convinced they were written by a jealous ex-boyfriend. His name: Gareth Pursehouse. Drew Carey: And she's like ... "I wish you weren't famous!" Erin Moriarty: If this was this great love, and you guys so meshed, what happened? Drew Carey: Well, you know, we had some problems, and - I don't wanna get into it. But Carey told "48 Hours" they tried hard to make it work. Drew Carey: We went to therapy as much as we could and, you know, finally just had to call it a day. ... And it was really upsetting for both of us. Friends say the breakup was amicable and the couple eventually fell out of touch. Carey, by then in a new relationship, says he was thrilled when, on the night before Valentine's Day in 2020, Amie suddenly reached out with a text. Drew Carey (reading text): "I would love to get together with you and talk." And I said, "Yeah, I would love to do that. I love you." Erin Moriarty: Are you sad you never got that chance? Drew Carey: I never got it. Each of Amie's friends handled her death in a different way, but when asked who they thought would hurt her, one name came to mind. Grace Stanley: My friend is terrified of one person. Robert Coshland: It's Gareth. Erin Moriarty: She thought he was dangerous. Grace Stanley: She did ... she knew what he was capable of. ACCUSATIONS OF ASSAULT Robert Coshland went down to the Hollywood police station and told investigators what he knew about Gareth Pursehouse, an ex-boyfriend Amie had dated years before. He was a software engineer, wannabe comedian and photographer. Robert Coshland: They asked ... Who I thought might have done this and ... did she have any enemies? ... "this ex of hers, Gareth ... if anyone ... it would be this guy." Robert Coshland says he instantly knew who might have done this to Amie: Gareth Pursehouse, an ex-boyfriend who Amie had reported for assaulting her before they broke up in 2012. She feared he was stalking her. / Credit: Facebook Coshland also told them that Amie said Pursehouse had assaulted her on more than one occasion. "48 Hours" tracked down numerous police reports and two restraining orders that Amie obtained against Pursehouse. Erin Moriarty [reading]: So, this is what she wrote in April 2011: "Gareth Pursehouse forced me to the ground, covered my mouth to prevent my yelling, kicked me. In mid-May, there were multiple arguments in which Gareth Pursehouse ... choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me, dropped me to the ground with forced force, restrained me, slammed my head into the ground, and punched me with a closed fist." Robert Coshland: They would get in ... yelling fights. And one time she threw a pillow at him. And he hit her and bashed her head against the floor. Robert Coshland: And then immediately he would make up and be all like," I'm really sorry" and "I love you" and all this kind of stuff. But it was a very different relationship when the couple first started dating, as Grace Stanley remembers. Stanley says Amie introduced her to Pursehouse back in 2008 at a photo shoot for Bench Warmer trading cards. Back then, Amy was a model going by the name Amie Nicole. Grace Stanley: It was very obvious when I met him that he was taken by her. ... always taking pictures of her. Grace Stanley: I honestly think she was looking for the nice guy, the safe guy, the guy who wasn't going to break her heart or cheat on her. ... when there's somebody who is that into you, you don't think that they're going to hurt you. Rudy Torres: He was - he was loud ... charming. A little goofy. Pursehouse posted videos on social media. Stanley says there was no sign of a relationship in trouble in the beginning, but something now strikes her as strange. Grace Stanley: I never saw her and him together while they were dating ... and I kind of wonder if he was kind of keeping her away from her friends. Eventually, Amie could no longer hide the signs of abuse. Friends say she started documenting her injuries. Erin Moriarty: He was hurting her. Does that fit the Amie you know? To stay in a bad situation like that? Robert Coshland: Actually, yes, it does ... she really would wanna make relationships work ... even if they weren't working for her. ... She did not like to lose at all. So, I think a relationship breaking up ... would feel like a loss ... and she was very much about maintaining things that she had, even if they weren't good. Grace Stanley: I just remember doing the friend thing ... "leave him, leave him. Like, that's not a relationship you want to stay in." Erin Moriarty: And how did she react to saying get out of that relationship? Grace Stanley: She absolutely agreed. Amie finally ended their relationship in 2012. Rudy Torres: Gareth didn't take that very well at all. He would start to get obsessive. Rudy Torres: He always wanted to know where she was at ... he used to want me to be his go-between, which, I did not wanna do. He'd always ask me to send her ... photos, send her links to sappy love songs. ... and he wouldn't take no for an answer. Rudy Torres: And he just kind of blew up and said ... "you have to pick, it's either me or her." ... and I went with her and after that he cut me off. AMIE HARWICK (YouTube): The video today is on how to survive the breakup. Amie Harwick was a practicing therapist with a master's degree and a Ph.D., / Credit: Genevieve Marie Amie was determined to move on from Pursehouse. Not only did she survive, she thrived. But nearly four years after the breakup, someone broke into her home. Robert Coshland: She called me she's like I think he broke into my house and stole my photo albums and my computer ... It had been wiped. Robert Coshland: She believed it was him, she couldn't prove it, she didn't have cameras. Grace Stanley: She felt as though maybe he was watching somehow ... she felt like he could maybe have bugged her things. Amie was convinced Pursehouse was behind some of the insulting and derogatory online comments she had been getting for years. Gareth had also sent messages to her friends designed to sabotage her friendships. Grace Stanley: It seemed ridiculous. ... Surely, he's moved on by now. But then, on January 16, 2020, they crossed paths for the first time in eight years. The prominent sex therapist received a last-minute invite to the annual XBIZ awards, an adult film industry gala. That's where she spotted Pursehouse working the event. She tried to stay calm, but she later told Robert Coshland when Gareth saw her, he went ballistic. Robert Coshland: And he was yelling in her face saying, "You've ruined my life." And reciting text messages she had sent to him in 2012. And like, you know, created a giant scene. Robert Coshland: There's like a hundred people in this room and he's screaming. He is working the event. He's a big guy and he's screaming at her, sobbing ... falls to the ground in a fetal position wailing. After the show, Amie spent 45 minutes speaking privately with Pursehouse, away from everyone, but still within view of security guards. Robert Coshland: She told me she went into therapist mode ... and tell him, like ... he needs to, like, get on with his life ... but in a non-confrontational, as best possible way. ... she felt like she had talked him down. Robert Coshland: But ... she was unnerved by the whole thing ... After that, she was like, "I want to share my phone location with you." ... "If anything ever happens to me ... it's him." Grace Stanley: She wanted to up the security in her house. She wanted pepper spray. She was taking the steps of somebody who was scared. Two weeks after the run-in with Gareth, Amie called her parents, with an unexpected request. Robert Coshland: She ... told them that, if I die, I want to have an open casket funeral and I want an elaborate headstone and ... like, very explicit wishes. Then, just a day before Valentine's Day 2020, there was that text from Amie reaching out to Drew Carey. Drew Carey: I was really happy ... I was like, "Oh, it'd be great to see her again." But Carey would never hear from Amie again. Robert Coshland would deliver the heartbreaking news. Drew Carey: And he goes, "Hey - Amie was murdered." And - I just started like, "What?" And I - and I just started crying ... And I just - I couldn't even stand up. And - I - you know, I didn't think that was possible. News of Amie's death exploded across the country. And within hours, detectives tracked down Gareth Pursehouse at his home, and charged him with her murder. Now, prosecutors set out to build their case against him. Rhonda Saunders: It's going to be a fight. A LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE In September 2021, a year-and-a-half after his arrest, Gareth Pursehouse appeared at the Los Angeles Superior Court for a preliminary hearing. Rudy Torres, once Pursehouse's good friend, wanted to be there - for Amie. Rudy Torres: You want to know what those last moments were like for her. And you just need to be there because someone has to be in that room for her. Cameras were not allowed inside the hearing itself, where a judge would determine if there was enough evidence to try Pursehouse for the murder of Amie Harwick. Rhonda Saunders: You know, there's no such thing as a slam dunk case, ever. Rhonda Saunders was a deputy district attorney in LA for 33 years. She is not involved in this case but reviewed court records at "48 Hours" request. At the hearing, prosecutors discussed Amie's autopsy, which documents apparent defensive wounds on her arms and hands. There was also a pattern of broken blood vessels around Amie's eyes called petechiae, which can be evidence of strangulation. Rhonda Saunders: There not only were the petechiae, but there were bruises on her neck. But was Gareth Pursehouse the intruder on the night of February 14, 2020? Prosecutors presented evidence of DNA recovered from the French door and the living room floor, which they said was a match to Pursehouse. Rudy Torres: The word of the day was septillion. ... That's the one with 24 zeroes. ... Most of the stuff went over my head, but I can remember septillion. Torres is correct - investigators said the chance that the DNA belonged to anyone other than Pursehouse was less than one in one septillion. And perhaps more disturbing, they say Pursehouse's DNA was on Amie's fingernails. Torres says he's disturbed by the idea of Amie's last moments alive -the roughly 6 minutes after she sent her last text and before her roommate knocked on the neighbor's door for help. Rudy Torres: Six minutes. Her last moments on earth were six minutes. And that's probably the most scary part of all this, that she - doesn't sound like a long time, but she fought for six minutes. At the hearing, the defense questioned whether that DNA was collected and tested correctly, and they questioned whether Pursehouse was there at all. But a neighbor's home security video from the night of Valentine's Day - played in court - shows an intruder that Torres believes is Pursehouse. Rudy Torres: He puts his hand over the camera so it doesn't see him ... but you know somebody for that long it's like seeing him from a distance. It looked like him. Gareth Pursehouse's DNA was found on Amie Harwick's fingernails and in her home. He was arrested and charged her murder. He pleaded not guilty. / Credit: Instagram Gareth Pursehouse pleaded not guilty, and his defense attorneys argue that none of the evidence collected by the state proves murder. They say even if that intruder was Pursehouse - and they don't agree it was - he could have gone there just to talk to Amie, and her fall off the balcony could have been an accident. Rudy Torres: That's ridiculous. ... He's tall. And she's tiny. ... She's unmatched in any way you can quantify. Robert Coshland: He may have wanted to say some things to her, but I think he went there to kill her. Police found Amie Harwick lying 20 feet beneath her bedroom balcony in the courtyard outside her home. Inside, blood on a door and on the balcony, and a syringe containing a liquid that lab tests later revealed to be nicotine - which can be a lethal poison. / Credit: Robert Coshland Then there's that syringe that police say they found on Amie's balcony. Lab tests later revealed that it contained nicotine, which can be a lethal poison. Robert Coshland believes that syringe could only have been there for one reason. Robert Coshland: That just really, I think, showed that he had intent - murderous intent, because there's no benign reason to have a syringe of nicotine, ever. Although very rare, there have been murder cases involving lethal doses of nicotine - notably one that "48 Hours" covered: the case of Paul Curry who was found guilty of the 1994 poisoning of his wife Linda with the toxin. Dr. Neal Benowitz: If you take it orally by mouth or by skin, then it takes much longer because absorption takes a while ... But if you have it intravenously, then you can die within minutes. Dr. Neal Benowitz, a leading expert on nicotine, who wrote a report about the Harwick case, spoke to "48 Hours" in 2014 about how someone could make a high concentration solution of the drug. Dr. Neal Benowitz (holding up a vial): This would be a concentrated nicotine solution that could kill somebody. Police say they later found a syringe in Pursehouse's home similar to the one filled with nicotine. Prosecutors argued that the presence of that poison at Amie's home is evidence of Pursehouse's murderous intentions. Rhonda Saunders: The prosecutor has to show that intent to harm her, to kill her. Why else would there be a syringe with that toxin in it? At the hearing, Amie's friends testified about her fear of Pursehouse, and the measures she had taken-including the home security system, buying pepper spray, and allowing Robert Coshland to track her phone. After her death, Robert located Amie's email password, and says he found what may be the most haunting evidence against Pursehouse, written by Amie herself. Erin Moriarty: You found something in her Gmail. Robert Coshland: Yes. Erin Moriarty: That became very important, didn't it? Robert Coshland: Yeah. Amie used her email to document her frightening encounter with Pursehouse at the XBIZ awards show. She wrote: "He started screaming ... you shouldn't be here, why are you here ... He was sobbing. ... He was distorting his face up and shaking violently ..." Erin Moriarty: What does that say to you - that kind of reaction with just running into a woman that he has not had contact with for years? Kris Mohandie: This was terrifying to her and ... She should have been terrified, because that's not normal. Forensic psychologist Kris Mohandie. Kris Mohandie: This email is a voice, you know, of what Amie Harwick was experiencing. In it she also writes, "It terrifies me that he's been obsessed with me for nine years ... He's malicious, highly intelligent, and focused on harming me." Rhonda Saunders: What that email shows is that there is no way after writing that even to herself, that she would have invited him over, that she would have had anything to do with him, that she was afraid of him. The question now is for the judge to decide. Is there enough evidence to take Gareth Pursehouse to trial? Amie's friends have no doubts. Erin Moriarty: Do you think she fell off the balcony? Cleopatra Slough: No. Robert Coshland: No. ... not at all. Robert Coshland: She literally said, "if anything ever happens to me, it's Gareth." She told those exact words to me. WANTING BETTER FOR AMIE Grace Stanley: You know, she'd had other relationships that hadn't ended well. But they never came up. Amie's close friend Grace Stanley also testified at the Gareth Pursehouse hearing-about texts she had from Amie relaying her fears about him. Grace Stanley: She never really liked to text much about Gareth. She certainly didn't like to use his name. Erin Moriarty: Why? Did she think he might see it? Grace Stanley: She felt as though maybe he was watching somehow. She'd always felt that. After six days of evidence and arguments, the judge ruled there was more than enough to bind Pursehouse over for trial for the murder of Amie Harwick. Erin Moriarty: Will you go to the trial? Rudy Torres: Yes. ... There's a small group of us and we've agreed that, no matter what, there will always be somebody in that room for her. Musician and friend Sharon Little intends to be there too. Sharon Little: I want the judge to see how important she was. And, you know, and I wanted to be there for her. Psychologist Kris Mohandie thinks the state's case against Pursehouse, if true, reflects a deep obsession with Amie, first documented in those long-ago court records that was reignited after that chance encounter on the red carpet. Kris Mohandie: There may have been a lull through these years, but at that awards event it got the pursuit started all over again. Pursehouse has not been charged with stalking and has pleaded not guilty to Amie's murder. But Kris Mohandie believes that if the state's allegations are true, his alleged crime would fit the pattern of what he calls obsessional pursuit. He also says it's likely that Amie was responding to Gareth with sympathy and not safety for herself as her first concern. Erin Moriarty: In hindsight, was it a mistake for her to try to calm him down, defuse the situation? Kris Mohandie: I'm not sure I would call it a mistake. I would call her decision to talk with him twice that evening to try to calm him, to be her humanity. However, the safest course of action for stalking victims, Mohandie says, is never to engage their stalker if they can help it. Well-meant human kindness can be twisted by stalkers' delusions and fuel their rage. Kris Mohandie: And that rage, they don't heal from it. They - it becomes this living thing that they nurture and feed. And what you see in in this case, if true, is a nine-year window of that. Amie's friends say she was never going to let her fear of Pursehouse shut down her life. Robert Coshland: You can't live your life in fear. ... If you wanna live in fear, you're giving that person control over you. And that's not who she was. She was her own person and she was gonna control her own destiny and she would never give him that power. Ever. Erin Moriarty: This is - it's almost two years. The pain has not gone away, has it? Robert Coshland: No. (Cleopatra Slough, sitting beside Coshland, shakes her head, "no.") I don't think it ever will. Erin Moriarty: Is Valentine's Day hard for you? Drew Carey: Terrible. Yeah (emotional) ... Yeah. Valentine's Day sucks now. That's not a good day to remember. Erin Moriarty: Do you have regrets? Rudy Torres: Yeah. I think we all do. You know, you always think, I could have done more, I should have done more, I should have been there, I should have listened more. But one thing Rudy Torres is clear on is what he can do now. He calls on other men to join him. Rudy Torres: A lot of this is a problem because men need to hold other men accountable. Drew Carey says he hopes Amie's death and the attention it has received will help bring more awareness to intimate partner violence and the very real dangers of stalking. Drew Carey: You can't be a person in this country and not know a woman who hasn't been a victim of domestic violence. You just can't. ... And it's really a problem that not enough people acknowledge. Erin Moriarty: What will you miss about her the most? Is there one thing? That you just think...? Robert Coshland: Her. Just her. Her, you know, sittin' next to me. You know, I hear her voice in my head every day. Sharon Little: Every time I feel depressed, and I don't feel like getting up in the morning and I - I just say, "She can't get up. You've gotta do it for - you've gotta get up for her." Amie's parents shared a statement: "As we approach the 2 year anniversary of Amie's death, we remain thankful for the unwavering support of our extended family and friends. Many of Amie's close friends communicate with us regularly, attend court hearings, and update us on those proceedings. We are very grateful. Our hope is that 2022 will bring justice for Amie and focus on her life, her work, and her accomplishments." Drew Carey: She cared so much about helping people. That was her life's purpose. She just wanted to help people. Especially women. Erin Moriarty: You really miss her, don't you? Rudy Torres: It's like, I may have lost a friend and a lot of us lost a friend. But she was en route to just help so many people ... In her chosen field, she helped so many women, and she would've helped so many more. ... it's more than just losing a friend. If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline offers free, confidential help 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. Amie's friends are planning to build a memorial to honor her and victims of domestic violence. Produced by Sarah Prior, Murray Weiss and Josh Yager. Greg Fisher and Michelle Fanucci are the development producers. Gregory F. McLaughlin, Grayce Arlotta-Berner, George Baluzy, Michael Baluzy and Greg Kaplan are the editors. Kathryne Teurfs and Shaheen Tokhi are the field producers. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Here's how long it will take to get your tax refund Jessie Diggins on her historic win at Beijing Olympics Record number of Americans expected to wager on Super Bowl LVI The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office responded to an attempted arson in Supply on Saturday. BOLIVIA A 32-year-old man was jailed Sunday on attempted murder and arson charges for allegedly trying to set fire to a home with four people inside, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office. Justin Orlando Burney is being held in the Brunswick County jail on four counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted first-degree arson, injury to real property and injury to personal property, records show. Stay connected: Like the Brunswick Today Facebook page for all of the latest Brunswick County news. He is accused of attempting to set fire to a house in the 1300 block of Stevenson Road in Supply on Saturday evening, officials said. Records with the N.C. Department of Elections list his home address in the same block. His bail is set at $1 million. Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick County man jailed on attempted murder, arson charges A Southern California multimillionaire who killed his wife nearly a decade ago before fleeing to Mexico pleaded guilty this week to second-degree murder and was sentenced. Newport Beach resident Peter Chadwick, 57, was sentenced to 15 years to life the equivalent of a life sentence with the possibility of parole with no credit for time served, as part of a deal that downgraded his case from first-degree murder, the office of the Orange County District Attorney said. Chadwick killed his wife, Quee Choo "Q.C." Chadwick, likely on Oct. 10, 2012, following an argument over a possible divorce and financial matters, the office said. The couple were raising three children. Police said the Quee Choo was strangled and drowned in a bathroom of their home before her body, wrapped in a comforter, was dumped in a trash bin in San Diego County, the next county south of the Chadwicks' home. On Oct. 10, 2012, when the nobody from the household showed up to pick up their children at school, police conducted a welfare check at the Newport Beach residents, happened upon blood and evidence of a struggle, and launched a search for the pair, authorities said. Chadwick, a real estate investor, was near the U.S.-Mexico border when he called 911 to claim his wife had been killed by a handyman, and, as part of the crime, he was kidnapped and forced to drive to Mexico to dump her body, prosecutors said. His story wasn't convincing, he led authorities to the body, and was arrested Oct. 11, 2012, and jailed in San Diego, prosecutors said. On Dec. 21 of that year, Chadwick posted bond, surrendered his U.S. and U.K. passports, and agreed to stay with his father. It was the last time U.S. authorities would see him for nearly seven years. He failed to appear at a pre-trial hearing in 2015. Prosecutors believe Chadwick left false clues on his whereabouts in his father's Santa Barbara home. They included receipts from the Seattle area and printed material about life in Canada. Story continues His trail actually led to Mexico, authorities said. The district attorney's office said it was believed he was "receiving assistance" from supporters, however, no one has been charged for aiding and abetting a fugitive in connection with the case. In September 2018, while Chadwick was apparently hiding in Mexico, the U.S. Marshals Service placed him on its 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list and offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. The case received global attention, and the Newport Beach Police Department launched a podcast, Countdown to Capture, dedicated to finding Chadwick. Chadwick was nabbed by Mexican authorities Aug. 4, 2019, near the city of Puebla, prosecutors said. His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request Saturday for comment. District Attorney Todd Spitzer noted in a statement Wednesday that the case has taken the better part of 10 years to resolve, including hard work by police and federal authorities tracking down Chadwick. The time was invested "to hold him accountable for the murder of his wife and the mother of his three sons," Spitzer said. "In making the decision to accept a guilty plea," he continued, "we carefully considered the wishes of Q.C.s family, especially her sons who have already suffered the loss not only of their mother but also of their father at such a young age." Feb. 13JOHNSTOWN, Pa. A Philadelphia native shot in Hornerstown early Saturday died from "multiple" gunshot wounds, investigators said. The Cambria County Coroners Office has ruled the death of Terrell Green, 41, a homicide. Green was transported to Memorial Medical Center by Seventh Ward Ambulance after responders found him in Hornerstown but he was pronounced dead of his injuries at 3:48 a.m., Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said. Green was a Philadelphia resident until moving to the Johnstown area about a year ago, according to Lees and District Attorney Greg Neugebauer, who issued a joint release to media Saturday. Investigators have not indicated what prompted the shooting but "based on the information we currently have, it is not believed that this was a random incident," Neugebauer told The Tribune-Democrat. He said Johnstown Police detectives are "aggressively investigating" the homicide case. Neugebauer said the department has been in constant contact with his office since the shooting was reported on the 900 block of Ash Street, but additional details cannot be released as of Saturday evening due to the "ongoing" nature of the investigation. "Anyone with information regarding this matter may make an anonymous tip by contacting JPD by texting "JPD" to 847411," he said. Online tips can also be submitted through http://cityofjohnstownpa.net/tip411-submit-a-tip/, or by calling the Cambria County non-emergency number at (814) 472-2100," investigators said. According to Lees, Green's death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy by ForensicDX on Saturday. All three of the city's confirmed shootings in 2022 have occurred in Hornerstown. One was a New Year's Day homicide that claimed the life of a 19-year-old Ferndale area woman. Jaydin Sanderson, 19, was found dead inside her Chevy sedan early that morning, police said. Investigators are still investigating the case. On Monday, a man in his 50's was struck by gunfire near the intersection of Bedford and Horner streets and taken to Memorial Medical Center but refused treatment and left the hospital, police have said. Continue following tribdem.com for updates. Photographer Brittany Pierre looks for a picture while doing street photography in the Loop on Feb. 8, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) During the pandemic, Brittany Pierre began wandering her neighborhood, taking photos of interesting buildings and other Chicagoans. She had taught herself photography decades earlier, and decided she wanted to start selling her art. But while she could bring in around $40 for each of her shots, it came only after she first paid $30 for printing and framing them. Advertisement Meanwhile, she was falling behind on rent. I wasnt making anything, Pierre said. Advertisement Now, a year after scraping by and being late on bills, she has profited so much from selling her photography as NFTs that she is now able to help others afford to find themselves similar sales. The first time I paid my rent on time, consecutively, my landlord was like, Did you get a new job? she said. NFTs, short for nonfungible tokens, are a one-of-a-kind digital item that someone can own, from videos to photography like Pierres. NFTs have garnered interest in the art-collecting world as a way to ensure ownership of something that could otherwise be easily duplicated. Photographer Brittany Pierre reviews her images while doing street photography in the Loop on Feb. 8, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Pierre, 36, began shooting photos years ago, when she lived in Houston and did not have a car. She spent a lot of time walking, which gave her time to appreciate small details and streetscapes. I was always walking, I was always observing, she said. When you look through a camera, it kind of gives you a different perspective of the mundane. Shed first been inspired by seeing Life magazine images of Gordon Parks photographs of the Black experience. In Houston, after Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, she went out with her camera, photographing things like flood-soaked photos and everybodys discarded lives on the side of the road. After 15 years there, she moved to Chicago in 2019, having visited her former hometown for the Taste of Chicago and feeling drawn to the creative community and the architecture she loves. Thats kind of where my eye would go, she said. She loves, for example, the Wrigley Buildings ornate design. Its just really beautiful. Advertisement But it was during the pandemic that she regularly took her camera outside. She felt trapped in her home, trying to work remotely as a service coordinator at a car wash. Instead, she found herself going on walks and looking through her lens, shooting what she saw as she walked around her Ravenswood neighborhood. I said, You know what? Ive got to do something to get my mind off of things, she said. One day, self-described doom scrolling, she saw that Elise Swopes, an artist she respected on Twitter, had sold an NFT for far more than Pierre was making with her own prints. She thought, OK, I need to find out what that is, and I need to do it, and I need to get on it right now. At the time, like many, she wasnt entirely sure what an NFT was. She taught herself through YouTube videos, Google and asking questions of others already in the community online. Advertisement Now, she helps explain the acronym, and also helps other creatives get involved so they can have more control and profit from their art too. Photographer Brittany Pierre in the Loop on Feb. 8, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) An article last fall in the School of the Art Institute of Chicagos magazine examined NFTs and their impact on the art world, including former alums creating NFTs, and the $69.3 million artwork that sold at Christies in 2021 by the artist known as Beeple. Delinda Collier, a professor of art history, theory and criticism and interim dean of graduate studies at the School of the Art Institute, said NFTs have increased opportunities for artists to control the outcomes of their work and have contracts and contractual relationships be more transparent. My hope is that NFTs can change the balance of power in the art world to benefit artists to the extent that artists can have more control over the sales and ownership of their intellectual property, she said. Collier said it can be a steep learning curve, but many are helping artists learn to use these powerful tools. They discuss them in class. Colleagues and people online helped Pierre understand the NFT world, a generosity she seeks to replicate. After she was given an invitation into one of the marketplaces, her first NFT sold in May 2021 for about $250. Her work ranges from streetscapes featuring textured details of buildings to portraits and black-and-white scenes from the L. Advertisement My mother was very giving with the little that she had, Pierre said. She wants to help uplift Black artists and offset inequality that communities of color face. She has helped dozens of women learn about NFTs, hoping to boost the percentage of women on marketplaces. People have to pay fees to get into marketplaces, so she helps people pay those, as others did for her. The most important thing is making sure were seeing a different route for Black creators, she said. With a recent photography project, she photographed portraits of people, often Chicago creatives, splitting the profits with them so they could afford to join the marketplace and make money there. Since starting to sell NFTs, shes been profiled in a recent CNBC story highlighting how she was able to make more than $109,000 in 2021. Her business has grown again after the publicity, she said. Formerly unable to pay bills or afford a car, shes now buying a Tesla. I never thought that could happen. The biggest change, she said, is simply choosing how she spends her time. When she was struggling to make rent, she was only thinking about her next meal. Now, she has more creative bandwidth and feels more freedom. She recently started painting again. Advertisement And before, she was focused on getting her work into a gallery, thinking that was the only path to prominence. Now, she can choose her price and where she sells. Were not starving artists anymore, she said. I get to set my own standard now. abowen@chicagotribune.com Americas elite colleges are facing growing calls to end the decades-old tradition of giving an admissions boost to the children of alumni a practice that critics say is rooted in racism and bestows an unfair advantage to students who need it least. Fueled by the national reckoning with racial injustice, opponents say they are gaining momentum in the battle over the contentious policy of legacy preferences. Ivy League students are pressing administrators to abandon the policy. Yales student government took a stance against the practice in November. A recent vote of Harvard students found that 60% oppose it. Hundreds of students and alumni across 30 colleges have promised to withhold financial donations over the issue. Civil rights groups are increasingly adding their support, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which is tackling legacy preferences as part of a campaign against systematic racism. And a bill in Congress aims to eliminate the practice. The proposal from Democrats would outlaw preferences for children of alumni or donors at colleges that receive federal money. Its being pushed by the partys progressive wing but has gained support from some conservative activists who want college admissions to be based on merit alone. Legacy preferences give an extra boost to predominantly white and wealthy legacy students, while leaving out millions of Black and brown kids, said Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., a sponsor. There has been a shift in the consciousness of the country around issues of inequity and inequality, Bowman said in an interview. Theres a real yearning to right the wrongs of our past. In the heavily guarded world of college admissions, it's hard to know exactly how many legacy students get a nudge. But at some of the most selective colleges, students with family ties make up 10% to 20% of the latest incoming class, according to data released by colleges in response to an Associated Press request. Story continues On many campuses, the opposition is being led by students of color and those who are the first in their families to attend college. They say legacy status is one more advantage for students who are already more likely to have access to tutoring, test prep and other help applying to college. Zoe Fuad, a junior at Brown University, said it reinforces a cycle of inequity that was designed to serve wealthy white men. By perpetually giving advantages to their descendants, were ensuring that those who were systemically favored continue to be favored, said Fuad, 20, who leads a student group thats challenging the practice at Brown. Many prestigious colleges defend legacy admissions, saying it helps build an alumni community and encourages donations. Officials at Harvard and other schools argue that legacy status is just one of many factors considered in admissions, along with grades, test scores and pursuits outside school. At most, they say, it can provide a slight tip in a students favor. Still, two colleges have ended the practice recently, giving opponents hope that others will follow. Amherst College in Massachusetts dropped the policy in October, saying it inadvertently limits educational opportunity. Johns Hopkins University announced in 2020 that it had phased out legacy preferences. Since then, the school has drawn growing numbers of Black and Hispanic students, along with those from low-income families. The pushback against legacy preferences is advancing amid a broader debate over fairness in college admissions. Last month the Supreme Court agreed to review whether colleges can consider applicants' race as a way to expand diversity. The court will take up lawsuits alleging that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina discriminate against Asian American applicants in favor of Black and Hispanic students. In a rare moment of bipartisan unity, the conservative strategist behind those suits voiced support for the Democrats bill against legacy benefits. In a statement, Edward Blum said too many colleges lower the admissions bar for the children of their alumni. Most schools are not required to disclose how many legacy students they enroll, and many keep it private. Among the nations 30 most selective colleges, only eight provided basic data on the subject in response to an AP request. At those colleges, the share of legacy students in this years freshman class averaged 12%. The lowest share was at Rice University in Houston, where 4% of this years first-year class had legacy status. The University of Notre Dame said legacy students have averaged 23% of the student body over the past decade. Legacy students outnumbered Black students in freshman classes at four schools: Notre Dame, Cornell, Dartmouth and the University of Southern California. At Brown, the share of legacy and Black students was about even. Harvard refused to disclose details, but data made public during its trial over affirmative action showed that family ties carry outsize weight. From 2014 to 2019, the acceptance rate for legacy applicants was 34%, compared with 6% for applicants without legacy status, according to an analysis by the suits plaintiffs. Critics of the practice say it contributes to persistently low numbers of Black students at top colleges. During the racial reckoning following the killing of George Floyd by police, hundreds of students at Georgetown University signed a letter calling for an end to legacy preference, saying it relegates qualified Black students to second-tier status. Historians have traced legacy preference to the 1920s as elite colleges sought to limit the number of Jewish students. It continued for decades at a time when the vast majority of college students in the U.S. were white men. At many schools with legacy preferences, Black students were not admitted until the 1960s, said Michael Dannenberg, a vice president at the Education Reform Now think tank. White applicants have between eight and 16 generations of ancestors on which to establish an alumni connection, said Dannenberg, who has opposed the practice since he was an aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy, the late Massachusetts Democrat, two decades ago. For the vast majority of Black and Latino applicants, theres maybe one or two generations. On college campuses, student activists say they continue to face resistance from school leaders who defend the policy. But at a time of rising populism in the United States, colleges are unlikely to find allies in Congress and other halls of power, said Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank in Washington. Especially in the wake of the Varsity Blues admissions scandal, he said, its becoming more difficult for colleges to defend policies that benefit the wealthy. They are clearly vulnerable on this issue, he said. In the wake of that scandal, Colorado became the first state in the nation to outlaw legacy preferences at public colleges. California lawmakers required colleges to disclose how many legacy students get accepted. Among campus activists, theres a driving desire to change the perception that top colleges are ivory towers reserved for the wealthy. When Viet Andy Nguyen applied to Brown University as a low-income, first-generation student, he knew he was competing against wealthier students with alumni connections. It made him question whether Brown was really a place for people like him. After graduating from Brown in 2017, he launched the nonprofit EdMobilizer with the goal of expanding access to college and ending legacy preferences. He has orchestrated a donation boycott at schools across the U.S., and hes helping students fight the practice on scores of campuses. It isnt lost on him that hes challenging a policy that could benefit his future children. He has faced resistance from some students of color who wonder why he wants to end it now, when campuses are more racially diverse than ever. But to him, the goal is to open doors for students who have been excluded, not to create an elite lineage of people of color. My kids will be fine, he said. They dont need an additional bump just for being my offspring. The New York Times Oleg Y. Tinkov was worth more than $9 billion in November, renowned as one of Russias few self-made business tycoons after building his fortune outside the energy and minerals industries that were the playgrounds of Russian kleptocracy. Then, last month, Tinkov, the founder of one of Russias biggest banks, criticized the war in Ukraine in a post on Instagram. The next day, he said, President Vladimir Putins administration contacted his executives and threatened to nationalize his bank if it d U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan talks about vaccine equity at La Clinica de Familia in Las Cruces on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. WASHINGTON Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, who is recovering from a stroke in January, says he plans to be back at work in just a few short weeks to vote on President Joe Bidens forthcoming Supreme Court nominee. In a video released Sunday by his office, the New Mexico senator said he is at the University of New Mexico Hospital after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and soon will go to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for a few more weeks. Im doing well. Im strong. Im back on the road to recovery, and Im going to make a full recovery, the 49-year-old Lujan said in the video, which showed him seated next to two of his doctors. Im going to walk out of here, Im going to beat this, and Im going to be stronger once I come out. Now Im proud to report, then Ill be back on the floor of the United States Senate in just a few short weeks to vote on important legislation and to consider a Supreme Court nominee, he added. More: What is a cerebellar stroke? A neurosurgeon explains what Sen. Ben Ray Lujan is facing According to his office, the Lujan began experiencing dizziness and fatigue on Jan. 27 and checked himself into a hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lujan was transferred to the hospital in Albuquerque for further evaluation and treatment. His absence from the Senate came as Biden considers a nominee to replace the retiring Justice Stephen G. Breyer. Biden has said he wants to announce a pick by the end of February. In a 50-50 Senate, Lujans vote would be critical if Democrats wanted to confirm Bidens nominee without the help of Republicans. Rest assured, New Mexicans can know they will have a voice and a vote during this process, Lujan said in the video. That has never changed. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Lujan plans return to Senate in weeks for Supreme Court vote I was on a call recently with some very important people talking about the climate crisis. I asked where they had bought properties for the coming apocalypse, and they laughed. I now know why: I should have been asking about cyro chambers and intergalactic spaceships, not bunkers here on earth. If you don't know what I'm talking about then you haven't seen the Netflix film "Don't Look Up," Adam McKay's brilliant, biting satire about a Mount Everest-sized comet headed for planet earth, and mankind's apathetic, disinformed response. If you have seen the film and find yourself criticizing it, then you aren't paying attention, or worse, it's about you and you're not ready to admit it. It was nominated for an Oscar. Leonardo DiCaprio, left, and Jennifer Lawrence try to warn people about a deadly comet in Netflix's "Don't Look Up." The film does a wonderful job lampooning the ridiculousness of our modern digital lives and the direction we are headed in if we keep our heads locked down at our handheld devices, rejecting science and supporting divisive, emotionally-driven populist politics. More: Director Adam McKay eyes the apocalypse right now and salutes MSU in 'Don't Look Up' More: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence play Michigan State astronomy professors in new movie When I watched it recently with my family I recognized myself depicted on the screen and laughed so hard I snorted a woman absorbed in her cellphone, watching the downfall of the world in real time, but on a small screen. Only the hermit that lives in Colorado and tracks snowfall has escaped the clutches of the tech giants. And thank God for him, or we wouldn't know how bad the climate crisis actually is. I am done with masks. We've been idiotic about them since the beginning. Tech guru Peter Isherwell (Mark Rylance, center) wants to mine a planet-killing comet rather than destroy it in "Don't Look Up." Marketing and misinformation The film also reminds us that the end of planet earth's existance isn't the only thing to be depressed about. Kindness, logic and humor appear nearly extinct, too. Thanks to the speed with which information travels digitally, we react before we read. We no longer roll the words around in our mouths three times before sharing them with the world. Instead, we instantly spew our thoughts into the vortex of the internet, where equally lost souls, amygdala on overdrive, share headlines without reading. Story continues A movement is started without anyone having to read a complete sentence; reality TV stars rocket to the Oval Office. But that's not a film script that's real life. Sure, there have always been doomsday warnings. There has also always been marketing, from ancient Egypt until the modern era. But digital media have enhanced the swiftness with which campaigns reach our inner sanctums and mess with our neural pathways. They clash with our lives in real time, telling us what we are doing isn't valuable unless we see it mirrored on social media. That's why all the social media billionaires are on Netflix documentaries telling you not to get on social media. We think our choices are ours, but they aren't. They are a result of our conditioning to think that we need this or that, that this is good and this is bad. This is desirable or important, and that is not. And now, thanks to the algorithms that we feed with our incessant clicks and shares, we are well-studied subjects. We are the commodities in this new era of digital neofeudalism, with tech giants ruling the economy and our choices. "Don't Look Up" makes that point tragically clear. Satire and critical thinking In an interview with The Verge, the scientist who advised the film crew, NASA astronomer Dr. Amy Mainzer, talked about the importance of using humor to deal with difficult subjects. She said, "Hopefully, people will enjoy 'Dont Look Up' as a comedy, because humor is partly how we do cope with serious news. And thats what helps us keep going." Kate (Jennifer Lawrence, far left) and Randall (Leonardo DiCaprio) are astronomers who hit the road with Kate's love interest, an evangelical shoplifting skater punk (Timothee Chalamet), to warn the world about an incoming comet in "Don't Look Up." "Don't Look Up" is a warning that the world could be burning up in front of our eyes and unless we have a major reset, nobody will do anything. Or worse, that we might imagine that by clicking, or liking, a post on social media, we actually "did" something. America needs a do-over: but we clearly aren't ready for it. I hope to God it doesn't take a massive comet to make us look up. Carli Pierson is an attorney, former professor of human rights, writer and member of USA TODAY's Editorial Board. You can follow her on Twitter: @CarliPiersonEsq This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Don't Look Up' Oscar nomination: The movie might be about you One, two, three: howre you feeling? a photographer asked Dorinda Medley and Candace Bushnell as they smushed together for a photo op, baiting the pair to deliver Medleys now-viral response of not well, bh!, which they did happily. The duo were part of the VIP turnout to Christian Cowans One World Trade Observatory show, where guests famous and non alike couldnt resist snapping the panoramic views ahead of showtime. Front row guests included Tan France, Bevy Smith, Faouzia, CT Hedden, Gossip Girl star Zion Moreno and And Just Like That actor Alexa Swinton, who plays Charlottes child Rock on the show. More from WWD The Real Housewives of New York City star Medley was fresh off a plane ahead of the show. I just got back from the Bahamas I actually came back just for this, she said. I wouldnt miss it because I just love him and I love his clothes. While she wasnt dressed head to toe in the label, she was sporting one of Cowans beaded mesh tanks, which she said were her favorite, paired over a black bar and silver legging-type pants. Ive always known about him. Hes so talented, she said of Cowan, who she described as a friend forever. You know what I love about his clothes, theyre chic and elegant but theyre very retro still, she said. Theyre for everybody, added Hedden, seated nearby. It reminds me of the Studio 54 days and the old school sequins, Medley continued. I think all ages can wear it I mean, I cant wear everything, obviously. But you know. After Cowan, she was planning to attend The Blonds show with Hedden, having recently scrapped plans to travel to Milan for the shows. Im just hanging out, going to some great parties, she said. More from the Eye: Justin Bieber Performs at The h.wood Group and Revolve Super Bowl Bash Lucien Laviscount, Khaby Lame, Teyana Taylor Turn Out for Boss in Dubai Story continues Jimmy Choo and Mugler Host L.A. Cocktail Party Finding Happiness and Nostalgia Through the Licorice Pizza Costumes Launch Gallery: Front Row at Christian Cowan RTW Fall 2022 Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Happy Monday, Duluth! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening around town today. First, today's weather: Plenty of sun. High: 54 Low: 30. Here are the top three stories today in Duluth: Gwinnett County Transit is calling on residents to donate to its Stuff-A-Bus drive happening next week. Canned food and toiletries will be accepted at various locations from Feb. 21-25, including the GCT Customer Service Office at 3525 Mall Boulevard in Duluth. More information on the event, including a full list of collection sites and acceptable items, is available at Monroe Local. (Monroe Local) Patch has rounded up five new homes up for sale in and around the Duluth area. Listings include a 2 bed / 2 bath on Calumet Cr. and a 3 bed / 2bath on Albion Farm Rd. Visit Duluth Patch for property prices and pictures. (Duluth Patch) The Georgia Department of Public Health and the Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale Health Department have released health grades, which were conducted in the last two weeks. Some fast food chains scored in the high 90s, with a couple of perfect 100s; a few Duluth bar & grills received below a C grade. Check out Patch for the full list. (Loganville Patch) From our sponsor: Today's Duluth Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Duluth: Great Valentine 5K/10K (Virtual) (All Day) From my notebook: Did you know you can access the library after closing hours? The Gwinnett County Public Library offers Open Access, a service available for library cardholders that are 18+ years old. (Instagram) Gwinnett Coalition reminds all Gwinnett County residents of free COVID-19 vaccines available by appointment or walk-in at the former Sears location at Gwinnett Place Mall. The vaccine clinic is held Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (closed from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for lunch). (Gwinnettcares.org) The Gwinnett County Public Library offers on-demand, 1-to-1 tutoring services, thanks to its Tutor.com program. Residents can access these expert services for free. (Instagram) Story continues More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Anna Razumovskaya Artist Show (February 18) Vaccinate Your Family | Vacuna a tu familia (February 26) Add your event Job listings: Full & Part Time Support Teachers Needed (Details) Add your job listing Loving the Duluth Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! Nicole Fallon-Peek About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. This article originally appeared on the Duluth Patch Elon Musk speaking about the Starship spacecraft and Mars colonization at a 10 February event at SpaceXs Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. (AFP via Getty Images) You too could die for a good cause on Mars, Elon Musk said at an early Friday morning SpaceX press event that was billed as a major update on the companys Starship spacecraft but was more of a sales pitch and philosophical mission statement. In an event live-streamed from the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Mr. Musk spoke on a stage with the recently fully stacked Starship and Super Heavy booster, but mostly covered already known technical details of the vehicle and his philosophical justifications for building a rocket he hopes will help found a city on Mars. The sales pitch for going to Mars is that its going to be cramped, dangerous, difficult, very hard work and you might die, Mr. Musk said. Thats the sales pitch. I hope you like it. Originally announced in 2017, the first Starship prototype was revealed in 2019, and Mr. Musk at the time said he hoped the spacecraft would make an orbital test flight that year. But Starship has made no orbital test flights, and cannot, until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes and approves an environmental review of Starbase. We have gotten a rough indication there may be an approval in March, Mr. Musk said, in answer to a question following his presentation. The presentation covered the current status of Starship, a strikingly reflective, stainless steel spacecraft 50 meters tall and nine meters wide. Paired with the 70-meter tall Super Heavy booster, and Starship serving as the upper stage, the combined launch vehicle towers 120 meters over the Texas desert. The fully stacked SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. (AFP via Getty Images) With the booster using as many as 33 Raptor engines, the combined launch vehicle is expected to produce around 17 million pounds of thrust, more than twice that of the Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon, and will be capable of placing 150 tonnes of payload into low Earth orbit. If Starship becomes operational, it will be the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown, outclassing even Nasas new Moon rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which will carry up to 130 tonnes to low Earth orbit in its most powerful configuration. Story continues But unlike the Saturn V or SLS, Starship, and the Super Heavy booster, are intended to be completely, and rapidly, reusable. Mr. Musk proudly pointed out the launch tower SpaceX spent the past 13 months constructing at Starbase, which will not only stabilize Starship at launch but is intended to catch the autonomously piloted Super Heavy booster as it returns from each launch. It only takes about two minutes on the ascent, and then about four minutes to return, Mr. Musk said. In theory, the booster is capable of being reused every hour. Such rapid reusability is the key to Mr. Musks plans with Starship, not only in terms of his dream of building a settlement on Mars but in terms of changing the space launch industry, likening existing rockets to aircraft that were destroyed after every flight. If aircraft were not reusable, how much would an airline ticket cost? Mr. Musk said. Starship launches could eventually cost as little as $10 million per flight, he said. The all-important issues of costs and revenues aside, Mr. Musk did take time to talk about why he believed it was important to build a human settlement on Mars, before showing a video illustrating Starship space vehicles ferrying astronauts in SpaceX spacesuits to the Martian surface before a glass domed and illuminated Martian city. I think this is just an incredibly important thing for the future of life itself, Mr. Musk said. Something could wipe out life on Earth, as an asteroid did the dinosaurs, and eventually, the Sun will expand and destroy all life on Earth regardless. It is very important essential that over the long term, that weve become a multi-planetary species and ultimately even go beyond the solar system and bring life with us, Mr. Musk said. The creatures that we love They cant build spaceships, but we can. And we can bring them with us. But even ambitious plans to make science fiction a permanent reality must deal with bureaucratic procedure. If the FAA does not approve Starship operations at Boca Chica, Mr. Musk said SpaceX will move operations to Cape Kennedy, Florida, which could delay the orbital test flight he said SpaceX could conduct this year. Its not clear if such a delay could impact one of SpaceXs customers, Nasa, which has contracted SpaceX to build a Human Landing System for the space agencys mission to return humans to the moon in 2025. SpaceX plans to use a modified Starship as a lunar lander, but the spacecraft will require multiple liquid oxygen refillings for the trip, a never-before-tried procedure of using additional Starship spacecraft to refill the lunar lander craft in orbit. SpaceX has yet to test such a refilling system, but Mr. Musk said he is optimistic tests could begin by the end of 2023. I would be surprised if it is longer than two years for doing the refilling, he said. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan's former president on Sunday called a White House order to unfreeze $3.5 billion in Afghan assets held in the U.S. for families of 9/11 victims an atrocity against the Afghan people. Former President Hamid Karzai at a packed news conference sought the help of Americans, particularly the families of the thousands killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to press President Joe Biden to rescind last week's order. He called it unjust and unfair, saying Afghans have also been victims of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was brought to Afghanistan by Afghan warlords after being expelled from Sudan in 1996. Those same warlords would later ally with the U.S.-led coalition to oust the Taliban in 2001. However, it was Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar who refused to hand over bin Laden to the U.S. after the devastating 9/11 attacks that killed thousands. The people of Afghanistan share the pain of the American people, share the pain of the families and loved ones of those who died, who lost their lives in the tragedy of September 11, said Karzai. We commiserate with them (but) Afghan people are as much victims as those families who lost their lives. ... Withholding money or seizing money from the people of Afghanistan in their name is unjust and unfair and an atrocity against Afghan people. President Biden's order signed last Friday freed $7 billion in Afghan assets currently held in the United States, to be divided between 9/11 victims and humanitarian aid to Afghans. Sept. 11 victims and their families have legal claims against the Taliban and the $7 billion in the U.S. banking system. The $3.5 billion was set aside for a U.S. court to decide whether it can be used to settle claims by families of 9/11 victims. U.S. courts would also have to sign off before the release of humanitarian assistance money. We "ask the U.S. courts to do the opposite, to return the Afghan money back to the Afghan people," said Karzai. "This money does not belong to any government ,,, this money belongs to the people of Afghanistan." Story continues Meanwhile, Biden's order calls for the $3.5 billion allocated to humanitarian aid to be put into a trust and be used to assist Afghans, bypassing their Taliban rulers. But Karzai demanded all $7 billion be returned to Afghanistan's central bank to further its monetary policy. He argued against giving Afghan reserves to international aid organizations to provide humanitarian aid. "You give us our own money so that it can be spent for those foreigners who come here, to pay their salaries, to give it to (non-governmental organizations), he said. Afghanistan's economy is teetering on the brink of collapse after international money stopped coming into the country with the arrival in mid-August of the Taliban. Last month, the United Nations made a $5 billion appeal for Afghanistan. The U.N. warns that 1 million children are in danger of starving and 90% of Afghans live below the poverty level of just $1.90 a day. Karzai was Afghanistans first democratically elected president after the U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban in 2001. He served until 2014 before Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country on Aug. 15, leaving the doors open for the Taliban takeover of Kabul. Karzai was highly regarded as embracing all of Afghanistans many ethnic groups but his administration, like subsequent Afghan administrations, was dogged by charges of widespread corruption. Karzai spoke to a packed press conference inside his sprawling compound in the capital of Kabul. Dozens of Afghanistans Pashto- and Persian-language journalists jockeyed for space in a second-floor conference room with more than a dozen television cameras. Karzai used the news conference to press the countrys Taliban rulers and their opponents to find a way to come together. He lobbied for the traditional Afghan grand council, or loya jirga, as a means to find consensus and establish a more representative administration. We, as Afghans, and the current acting Islamic government must do our best to not give America or any other country any excuse to be against us, he said. Anger has been growing in Afghanistan since Friday's White House announcement. Demonstrators marched again in Kabul on Sunday demanding the money be returned to Afghanistan. However, the Taliban, who have also condemned Biden's order, dispersed protesters as they tried to gather near the city's Eid Gah mosque. Meanwhile the United Nations Assistance Mission in a tweet late Sunday said four women activists who disappeared more than two weeks ago have returned home. In late January Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, and her three sisters disappeared, allegedly seized by a group of men after they participated in a demonstration against the forced wearing of the Islamic hijab. The Taliban denied taking them. The UN welcomes the encouraging reports that the four disappeared Afghan women activists, some missing for weeks, are being enabled to return home. Their well-being and safety is of paramount concern, the U.N. agency said. International media, however, has reported that several British nationals and an American are still being held by the Taliban, including freelance cameraman Peter Jouvenal, a dual British and German citizen who has covered Afghanistan for more than 40 years. He has been missing since December and the Taliban have not responded to queries by the Associated Press. His wife, an Afghan, has issued a plea for his release. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on CNNs `State of the Union, that an American was in Taliban custody along with a number of U.K. nationals. He gave no further information, saying only that Washington was actively working to get his release. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, canceled a planned visit to Liberia this week to focus instead on U.N. diplomacy over Russia's troop build-up near Ukraine, the U.S mission to the United Nations said. The White House decided to keep Thomas-Greenfield in New York after President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, a U.S. official told Reuters on Sunday. Biden told Putin the West would respond decisively to any invasion. "Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will remain in New York to engage in diplomacy related to Russia's escalating military build-up on Ukraine's borders," said a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations. The U.N. Security Council is due to gather on Thursday for a regularly scheduled meeting on the Minsk agreements, endorsed by the council in 2015 and designed to end a separatist war by Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine. But diplomats expect Western countries to raise concerns over Russia's current military escalation at that meeting. It is also likely to be a topic of discussion when Security Council envoys meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday for their monthly lunch, diplomats said. The United States said on Friday that the Russian military, which has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, could invade at any moment. Russia denies having any such plans and says its actions are a response to aggression by NATO countries. Tensions between Russia and the United States spilled into the Security Council two weeks ago at a public meeting requested by Washington to discuss Moscow's troop build-up near Ukraine. Russia made a failed bid to stop the discussion. "Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is a threat to global peace and security and to every U.N. member state," the U.S. mission to the United Nations spokesperson said. "We hope that Russia chooses dialogue instead of conflict, but we're ready for any scenario." Story continues The 15-member U.N. Security Council is charged with maintaining international peace and security. But the council won't be able to take any action beyond talking about the Ukraine crisis as Russia is one of the body's five veto powers, along with the United States, China, France and Britain. The council has already met dozens of times over the crisis in Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. China supported Russia in trying to stop the Jan. 31 council meeting called by the United States. Thomas-Greenfield said last week she hopes China will urge Russia to "do the right thing" on Ukraine, prompting her Chinese counterpart to respond with a call for diplomacy and an end to "hyping up the tension." Thomas-Greenfield - a member of Biden's cabinet - had been due to travel to Liberia on Sunday for bicentennial celebrations in Monrovia marking the arrival of free Black men, women, and children from the United States on Providence Island. She was set to return to New York by Thursday for the Security Council's meeting on the Minsk agreements. Dana Banks, senior director for Africa at the White House National Security Council, will now lead the U.S. delegation to Liberia, U.S. officials said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Fabinho celebrates scoring Liverpools winner (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire) Fabinhos fifth goal in eight matches helped Liverpool grind out a 1-0 victory over Burnley in testing conditions to maintain their pursuit of Manchester City. With rain seemingly blowing around Turf Moor in three different directions at the same time, the conditions seemed ideal for an upset one Jurgen Klopps side could ill-afford starting the game 12 points off the leaders. But even though the visitors reunited their famed original front three of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino for the first time since the end of October, it was their new-found goalscoring midfielder who made the breakthrough. Since the turn of the year, no team-mate has scored more than the Brazil international, whose primary role of anchoring the midfield was also performed superbly in a scrappy contest which saw a number of players struggle. Certainly Liverpool, kicking against a strong wind, struggled the most as judging balls played over the top became something of a guessing game and often relied on goalkeeper Alisson Becker making the right judgement call in coming out of his area. Burnley tried their best to exploit that with the runs of Wout Weghorst, Jay Rodriguez and Maxwel Cornet giving experienced centre-backs Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip a difficult time. Josh Brownhills early long-range effort was turned behind by the Liverpool goalkeeper while a counter-attack after Salah unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty saw Weghorst clip over Alisson, only for Trent Alexander-Arnold to hack clear. Burnley are going to need much more from 12million January signing Weghorst, however, if they are going to escape the trouble they are in after an 11th league match without a win. The giant Dutchman has proved to be effective in build-up play but has not yet posed enough of a threat inside the penalty area and the sight of him hobbling off 17 minutes from the end after landing awkwardly on his left ankle was a concern. Rodriguez and Weghorst both had good chances to score before the sight of Alisson twisting and turning in an attempt to evade the attentions of Rodriguez in Liverpools left-back position showed just how Klopps usually well-oiled machine was encountering problems. Story continues Nevertheless, Burnley had been given warning of the opponents threat when goalkeeper Nick Pope produced a point-blank save to keep out a volley from Mane, only in the starting line-up due to Diogo Jotas dead leg in training. (PA Wire) Five minutes before half-time the England goalkeeper did his best to keep out Fabinhos effort when Mane nodded on Alexander-Arnolds corner but he was powerless to prevent the midfielder forcing home the rebound. They escaped further punishment before the break when Mane raced through in a two-on-two with Salah after James Tarkowskis misjudged header, only for the Senegal forward to overhit his pass. Clarets captain Ben Mee headed a corner wide early in the second half and then almost turned Alexander-Arnolds cross into his own net with 10 minutes to go. In between those two events the hosts had improved but still neither side produced anything of note. That remains a greater concern for Clarets manager Sean Dyche, whose side are now seven points from safety after Newcastles victory over Aston Villa. Flower Power Designs head floral designer Ann Kortenhoeven gathers flowers from a cooler to be made into a bouqet at the Portage business on Friday, February 11, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) Portage resident Deborah Watson grinned shyly as she accepted a wrapped floral arrangement from Meagan Trujillo, a delivery driver for Flower Power Designs in Portage. No one ever sent me flowers like this, said Watson on Friday as she searched for a card. Advertisement Flower Power Designs owner Marianne Juscik-Minier said Valentines Day sales and orders are still booming even though she had to raise prices because of worldwide supply chain shortages that increased her own costs. Flower Power Designs owner Marianne Juscik-Minier crafts a bouquet for a Valentine's Day customer at the Portage business on Friday, February 11, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) Despite the lingering pandemic and steeper prices, Juscik-Minier said business is good. Advertisement We find ways to make things more economical, she said. Were trying to paint the positive. Flowers have always been the way to bring comfort and joy. Florists across the country are battling thorny supply chain issues making it difficult to acquire, not just flowers, but items needed for arrangements like floral foam, glue, easels, wreaths and funeral mache. Some of the products typically made in China are no longer being manufactured, Juscik-Minier said. There was one point when we couldnt get glue, she said. Flower Power Designs employee Meagan Trujillo delivers flowers to Portage resident Irma Essig on Friday, February 11, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) Naturally, the flower of choice for Valentines Day is the rose. Juscik-Minier said increased costs have boosted the costs of a dozen roses from $68.95 last Valentines Day to $80. Because Valentines Day is Monday this year, shops like Flower Power were busy in the preceding days with some recipients enjoying their flowers a bit earlier. The shop is normally closed Sundays, but this year its open to accommodate last-minute customers. Workers bustled around on Friday with Juscik-Miniers 8-month-old King Charles spaniel Lily greeting customers as they walked in the door. Lily, who received pats from nearly all the customers, is in training to be a comfort dog. Portage resident Irma Essig holds flowers delivered to her by Flower Power Designs on Friday, February 11, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) Lily has an affinity for carnations, which she eats whenever one drops. I should have named her carnation, said Juscik-Minier, of Burns Harbor. Floral designer Ann Kortenhoeven worked on an arrangement while other workers prepared that days deliveries. Advertisement You have to de-thorn them, she said. You dont want them to grab a rose and get a thorn. My hands are used to it. Cupid is still active, despite the supply chain issues. Well go through 1,000 roses and carnations, gerbera daisies and spray roses, said Juscik-Minier. Her staff of four will handle about 150 to 200 arrangements Monday alone. Flower Power Designs employee Meagan Trujillo delivers flowers to Portage resident Deborah Watson on Friday, February 11, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) The shop delivers to Portage, Hobart, Lake Station and Valparaiso. Juscik-Minier recently purchased Lemsters Floral and Gift when the Valparaiso florist closed. Its physical location is shuttered, but she still serves its client base. Juscik-Minier owned her first flower shop in Wanatah and opened Flower Power Designs in 2018 when she purchased the site occupied by a floral business that closed. Growing up in Hammond, she said her love of flowers came from Nemcek Florist, her best friends family business. Despite competition from convenience stores, supermarkets and big box stores, Juscik-Minier said business is growing. Advertisement We have built a very stable clientele, she said. They keep returning. We do high quality work. Flower Power stayed open as an essential business throughout the pandemic that began in 2020, which Juscik-Minier said was a strong year. We got busier during the pandemic because families were trying to find ways to connect, she said. She said unlike competitors, her shop can wire and deliver flowers fresh every day. The flowers come from Ecuador, Columbia, California and Canada. Meanwhile, Trujillo logs in her deliveries to an app on her phone that plots out the delivery route for the shops Volkswagen Beetle, adorned with Flower Power decals. Sometimes, Cupid is thwarted. Advertisement Often, people will ask whos it from and do I have to take it? Trujillo said. Mostly, on Friday, she got smiles of gratitude and surprise. Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Nicaraguan opposition leader Hugo Torres, who was imprisoned eight months ago by the country's government under President Daniel Ortega, has died at the age of 73, his family said on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. Torres was a commander in the Sandinista revolutionary movement of the 1970s who once helped free Ortega from jail and fought along with him to overthrow the Nicaraguan government in 1979, per the AP. He later broke with Ortega to form the Sandinista Renovation Movement and was jailed last summer along with dozens of other opposition leaders ahead of Ortega's re-election, which international organizations have called a farce. Torres died of "illnesses he had," according to government prosecutors, per the AP. It was unclear if his death was hastened by his confinement in prison. Following the news, the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) condemned "the death of the political prisoner General Hugo Torres" and "the persecution and arbitrary detention for political reasons in the country." "The General Secretariat of the OAS considers the fact of keeping political prisoners, with terminal illnesses and without necessary medical assistance, an abominable act, violating their fundamental rights," the organization said in a statement on Saturday. Ortega's Sandinista National Liberation Front political party held power from 1979 until 1990, and regained power when Ortega was elected president in 2007. He has held onto the office ever since. Following Ortega's re-election victory last year and ahead of his inauguration, the U.S. sanctioned six Nicaraguan officials. "The Ortega-Murillo regime continues its subjugation of democracy through effectuating sham elections, silencing peaceful opposition, and holding hundreds of people as political prisoners," Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement at the time. Story continues Nelson also said that the move was intended to send "a clear message to President Ortega, Vice President Murillo, and their inner circle that we continue to stand with the Nicaraguan people in their calls for the immediate release of these political prisoners and a return to democracy." Torres was one of 46 opposition leaders rounded up and arrested last year by Ortega, according to the AP. Before his arrest in June, Torres criticized his former ally in an interview with the wire service. "This is not a transition to dictatorship, it is a dictatorship in every way," Torres said. "This interview may be the last one I give," he told the AP. "I am here, waiting for them to come for me." Torres was arrested hours after the interview. As scrutiny grows over Donald Trumps handling of White House documents, a former official in his administration says his carelessness prompted other staff to behave the same way. He would roll his eyes at the rules, so we did, too, former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham told The Washington Post. We werent going to get in trouble because hes the president of the United States. Ms Grisham, who served at a number of posts in the Trump administration, has become one of the former presidents fiercest critics since the 6 January Capitol riot. When the news first broke that Mr Trump had hauled 15 boxes of White House documents including some marked classified and top secret to his Mar-a-Lago resort, she said she was not surprised. I think that whats important is this is another example of a White House and an administration that just we had no rules, Ms Grisham told CNN. We followed no rules. Ms Grisham also corroborated reports that Mr Trump often ripped documents to shreds so often, in fact, that she wondered if it was a nervous tick. He always tore everything up, she told the network. Legally, those papers were supposed to be preserved. Under the Presidential Records Act, all White House documents from Mr Trumps term should have been turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) when he left office. According to multiple former aides, however, Mr Trump routinely destroyed such documents, while keeping others for himself. His reason for hoarding his correspondence with North Koreas leader, for example, was obvious to Ms Grisham. He was beyond proud of those Kim Jong Un letters, she told the Post. He talked about them all the time, showed them to people all the time. He took those letters because he wanted them. According to Ms Grisham, Mr Trump was contemptuous of other rules as well. At one point during his presidency, she remembers voicing concern about the Hatch Act, a law that forbids certain types of political activity by federal employees. Mr Trump, she says, told her not to worry. Story continues Whos the boss of the Hatch Act? Its me, the former president told her, according to Ms Grisham. So say whatever you want. Mr Trump has repeatedly accused Ms Grisham of lying about her time at the White House, and denies any wrongdoing with regard to White House documents, which he says he has been turning over to NARA in a cooperative fashion. It is clear that a normal and routine process is being weaponized by anonymous, politically motivated government sources to peddle Fake News, Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Mr Trumps Save America PAC, told The Independent. The Fake News machine, powered by anonymous and politically-motivated sources, is running in overdrive this week, and the leftist media is complicit in spreading these lies. Protesters in cars, campervans, tractors and other vehicles had converged on Paris from Lille, Perpignan, Nice and other cities late on Friday, despite warnings from Paris authorities that they would be barred from entering the capital. Inspired by horn-blaring "Freedom Convoy" demonstrations in Canada, dozens of vehicles slipped through the police cordon, impeding traffic around the 19th century arch and the top of the boutique-lined Champs Elysees, a magnet for tourists. Inside the city's limits, motorists in the "Freedom Convoy" waved tricolor flags and honked in defiance of the police ban. BERLIN (AP) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is flying to Ukraine and Russia this week in an effort to help defuse escalating tensions as Western intelligence officials warn that a Russian invasion of Ukraine is increasingly imminent and Germany has called on its citizens to leave Ukraine as quickly as possible. Ahead of his first visits as chancellor to Kyiv on Monday and Moscow on Tuesday for meetings with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Scholz has renewed his warning to Russia, as well as his advocacy of continuing diplomacy in multiple formats. 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. But at the same time that also includes using all opportunities for talks and further development, Scholz said. Russia has concentrated more than 100,000 troops near Ukraines border and launched a series of military maneuvers in the region, but says it has no plans to invade the nation. Moscow wants guarantees from the West that NATO wont allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members, and for the alliance to halt weapon deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. The U.S. and NATO flatly reject these demands. Scholz has repeatedly said that Moscow would pay a high price in the event of an attack, but his governments refusal to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine or to spell out which sanctions it would support against Russia have drawn criticism abroad and at home and raised questions about Berlins resolve in standing up to Russia. Germanys reluctant position is partly rooted in its history of aggression during the 20th century when the country's own militarization in Europe during two world wars led many postwar German leaders to view any military response as a very last resort. Story continues Despite this historic burden, experts say it is of utmost importance now that Scholz stresses Germany is in sync with its European and American allies, especially when he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz has to convey a very clear message in Moscow, and it can really only be: There is unity and oneness in the Western alliance. There is no possibility of driving a wedge into the Western alliance, and that must be understood in Moscow. I think thats the most important message he has to convey there," said Markus Ziener, an expert with the German Marshall Fund. At the same time, he has to make it clear that the costs are high, Ziener added. Thats basically the message that is most likely to catch on in Moscow as well. So a military invasion of Ukraine has significant consequences for Russia. Scholz has not explicitly said what kind of consequences or sanctions Russia would have to face if it invades Ukraine, but it is clear that the future of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that seeks to bring Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea, bypassing Ukraine, is at stake. U.S. President Joe Biden threatened last week that the pipeline would be blocked in the case of an invasion. That would hurt Russia economically but also cause supply problems for Germany. Construction of the pipeline has been completed, but it is not yet operating. Germany doesnt have much leverage, except for saying that it wont approve Nord Stream 2, which is the only political leverage," Claudia Kemfert, the head of department of energy, transport and environment at the German Institute for Economic Research, said. "Otherwise, Germany is very susceptible to blackmail. We cant do too much. We have committed ourselves to getting the gas supplies, unlike other European countries we have not diversified our gas supplies and we have dragged our feet on the energy transition. So we did a lot of things wrong, and now we are paying the price, Kemfert added. It is not surprising, then, that Scholz has stressed the need to keep some ambiguity about sanctions to press Russia to deescalate and has so far avoided mentioning Nord Stream 2 specifically. The hesitancy of Olaf Scholz obviously leads to the fact that one does not really know what the Germans actually want," Ziener said. "With regard to Nord Stream 2, I think there should have been a clear statement that if it comes to a military intervention, then Nord Stream 2 is off the table." Asked on Friday whether Scholz will be taking any new initiative to Kyiv and Moscow or the positions that are already on the table, his spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, replied that he will stick with the positions that we have already set out. Scholz can only hope that in his talks with Putin he can dissuade him from taking military action with a face-saving solution, says Ziener. He can actually only hope that at the end of this whole round of negotiations there will be a success, that the war is prevented. Then Scholz will be praised for his negotiating skills," Ziener added. "If not, the question will be asked: What was actually the line of the German government? ___ Geir Moulson and Kerstin Sopke contributed reporting from Berlin. By Riham Alkousaa BERLIN (Reuters) - Benedikt Richter, a 40-year-old teacher in the southwest German city of Kaiserslautern, long held out against getting vaccinated against COVID-19. He felt uneasy about the novelty of the mRNA technology used in two of the most commonly administered shots. It did not help that his sister-in-law was hospitalised with heart muscle inflammation a day after receiving her second shot, which doctors officially linked to her vaccine, Richter said. Regulators have acknowledged such conditions as a rare and mostly mild side-effect. But when the European Union in December approved the use of the Novavax vaccine Nuxavoxid, which deploys a long-established protein-based technology, he became interested. "I have done my research and I have a slightly better feeling about it," said the father of two. Data unearthed by Reuters suggests the new two-dose vaccine, recommended in Germany for basic immunisation for people over 18, is already going some way to convince more of the as-yet unvaccinated to get a shot. Some federal states have opened waiting lists to receive Novavax shots. In Rhineland-Palatinate where Richter lives, for example, more than 14,300 people have put down their names. A private Berlin vaccination centre told Reuters they had around 3,000 people registered. "The number is gigantic. We're overwhelmed ourselves by how many people have signed up," said Daniel Termann, a doctor at the Historic Factory vaccination centre in Berlin. The recombinant protein technology behind the Novavax shot has been in use since the mid-1980s and is now a standard tool to fight hepatitis B, the human papillomavirus behind cervical cancer, and bacteria that cause meningitis. A recent survey by researchers at the University of Erfurt with 1,000 participants found that even though unvaccinated Germans had more confidence in traditional vaccines than in mRNA vaccines, trust generally was still low. (Graphic: GRAPHIC-Vaccine confidence, https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/byprjxdrope/chart.png) Story continues Almost two thirds of the unvaccinated were completely against vaccination, the survey found, suggesting that only a small proportion would ever consider taking the Novavax shot. "We are not convinced that it will be a game changer," study co-author Lars Korn told Reuters. Much is on the line. Germany has a lower inoculation rate than many other countries in western Europe at just 74.4% fully vaccinated. But if Nuxavoxid were able to move the needle, that could prompt an easing of restrictions on public life that are dragging on the recovery of Europe's largest economy. A JAB FOR FREEDOM The problem then would be more of how to ensure supply. Germany is set to receive up to 34 million Nuvaxovid doses in 2022 and around 4 million doses should be delivered in the first quarter, a spokesperson for the health ministry said. But there are around 20 million unvaccinated people in Germany. And a Reuters report showed on Tuesday that Novavax had delivered just a small fraction of the 2 billion COVID-19 shots it plans to send around the world in 2022 and had delayed first-quarter shipments in Europe and lower income countries such as the Philippines. Health sector workers will be prioritised to receive the vaccine in the first quarter as a vaccine mandate for them will come into effect in mid-March, according to the federal health ministry. That could prove frustrating for those who are nervous of mRNA vaccines but also fed up with restrictions on public life. In many states in Germany, the unvaccinated are banned from non-essential shops and service providers like restaurants and barber shops. In a group chat about Novavax on the Telegram messenger service, many of the more than 1,500 members toyed with getting the shot due to pandemic curbs. Richter, who has had to take a daily COVID test to teach and learned how to cut his hair by himself, said his main motivation to get vaccinated was freedom. He misses sauna visits, which get him through Germany's dark winters, and would love to take his two children swimming again. "I have two children and they are also restricted because of me," he said. "I am not doing it out of conviction, but rather from external pressure." (Reporting by Riham Alkousaa in Berlin; Additional Reporting by Ludwig Buger and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Editing by Nick Macfie) BERLIN, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Germany does not expect concrete results from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week but hopes to gain insight into what he hopes to achieve with the military build-up on the border of Ukraine, a German government source said on Sunday. Scholz is set to travel on Tuesday to Moscow to meet Putin, hot on the heels of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as part of a whirlwind of diplomatic meetings aiming to prevent a fresh Russian attack on Ukraine. The source said Scholz would make it clear to Putin that the Western partners stood united in their stance that any aggression would prompt "painful, considerable sanctions" on Russia. "He will also underscore that we are not just ready to dialogue, but we insist on de-escalation and the withdrawal of the troop build-up that can only be interpreted as a threat," the source said. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh; editing by Tom Sims) Republicans are facing an uphill battle as they seek to block the Biden administration from implementing a new Iran nuclear deal. Dozens of Senate Republicans are threatening to hamper, if not scuttle, any new agreement if President Biden doesn't submit it to Congress, a move that would also spark an intense brawl that would allow GOP lawmakers to force a vote on formally disavowing a deal. But Democrats are confident they could defeat a formal resolution disapproving an agreement, if the administration sends it to Congress, and say that Republican efforts to attack an agreement in other ways, like trying to cut off funding, couldn't make it past a Democratic-controlled Congress or Biden's veto pen. "I don't know how they could," Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told The Hill about GOP efforts to block an agreement. "I think if we were to find a deal, you would likely see it survive." The prospect of another congressional fight comes as the administration is reaching a critical point in its diplomacy with Tehran to either revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or abandon the talks if an agreement on a mutual return to compliance is not reached. The Obama administration struck an international deal with Iran in 2015 that lifted sanctions in return for limits placed on Iran's nuclear program coupled with inspections. The Trump administration took the United States out of the agreement in 2018, doubling down on a sanctions regime targeting Iran's nuclear activity, its military and human rights abuses. Republicans are deeply skeptical of the Biden administration's negotiations with Tehran, which has amped up its nuclear program, expanded its missile arsenals and supported terrorist proxies and their attacks in the Middle East. "The Biden administration's prepared to surrender everything," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). "They desperately want a deal, and I don't think there's anything they're unwilling to give to get a deal." Story continues If the Biden administration strikes a deal with Tehran it'll need to decide if it is going to submit the agreement to Congress, which will determine how Republicans try to block it. Under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), a 2015 law that paved the way for the implementation of the Obama-era deal, any significant agreements reached with Iran require those documents to be submitted to Congress for review and possible rejection. That would trigger a resolution of disapproval, where opponents of an agreement with Iran would need to get 60 votes in the Senate to overcome procedural hurdles. It's an uphill climb that scuttled attempts in 2015 to block the Obama administration's agreement, which narrowly failed in an 58-42 vote with four Democrats voting with 54 Republicans to disapprove the agreement. Republicans at the time controlled 54 seats in the Senate. They would have a tougher climb now because they would need to win over 10 Democratic senators. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who voted against blocking the deal in 2015, predicted that a vote of disapproval would play out largely the same way. "If there was a vote in the Senate my impression is there would not be the votes to block a diplomatic agreement just like there wasn't in 2015," he said. Kaine added that "it would probably be a vote just like last time." "I think most people realize that there was a diplomatic deal that was working, and Trump blew it up," he said. The four Democratic senators who voted to disapprove the 2015 deal are all still in the Senate, meaning the GOP could find some allies. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), who was at the time the No. 3 Democrat, voted against it, as did Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is now Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), the No. 2 Democrat on the committee, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Menendez sent a warning shot to the administration during a floor speech earlier this month, appearing unconvinced by the Biden administration's pledge to find a "longer and stronger agreement." "A year later I have yet to hear any parameters of longer or stronger terms, or whether it's even a feasible prospect," Menendez said. Menendez brushed aside a question this week about if he would support a GOP resolution of disapproval - saying "I first have to see the deal and then I can make a judgment" - and indicated that it was too soon to say if the administration was losing support on Capitol Hill for an agreement. "I don't know where the level of support is or is not because I don't think members know exactly what re-entry means. What is the deal? Is it exactly the way it was? Is it different? If so, how? What are we giving?" Menendez asked. The administration has not yet committed to delivering to Congress a formal report from Vienna, where U.S. officials are participating in an eighth round of indirect negotiations with the Iranians over a pathway for both sides to reenter JCPOA. State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday that the administration "will carefully consider the facts as well as the circumstances of any U.S. return to the JCPOA to determine the legal implications, which would include under INARA. We're committed to ensuring the requirements of INARA are satisfied." Cruz and dozens of GOP senators sent a letter this week warning that they could try to tank an agreement even if the administration doesn't send it through Congress. "We also write to emphasize that we are committed to using the full range of options and leverage available to United States Senators to ensure that you meet those obligations, and that the implementation of any agreement will be severely if not terminally hampered if you do not," they wrote in a letter to Biden. But in the near term, Republicans could struggle to get legislation placing restrictions on a deal through Congress. Kaine floated that Republicans could try to defund the deal or pass or pass a resolution disapproving it outside of the INARA. "[But] how do they get that passed in a Democratic House, in a Democratic Senate?" he asked. Republicans are feeling bullish about their chances of winning back the House or Senate in November, which could give them more power starting in 2023. The International Crisis Group (ICG), which published a report in January reviewing the last year of diplomacy with Iran, quoted a senior Iranian official raising fears that a GOP-controlled Congress or a GOP president could undo any deal struck with the Biden administration. "The uncertainty of sanctions relief's durability, which depends on whether Republicans take over Congress [as a result of midterm elections] in 2023 or the White House in 2025, is more damaging for our economic operators than the certainty of living under a sanctions regime whose peak is already behind us," the Iranian official told the ICG. But Republicans would still face hurdles, including the requirement for Democratic votes and Biden's veto pen. Instead, they appear to be betting on the long game, warning that the bill could be ripped up not in 2023 but in 2025, if they win the White House. "Because they chose to pursue a hard-left policy of appeasement," Cruz said, "the next Republican president will rip to shreds whatever disastrous deal they negotiate." Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday that he expects former President Donald Trump's one-time attorney Rudy Giuliani to comply with the Jan. 6 committee's subpoena. Host Margaret Brennan asked Kinzinger if the former New York City mayor was "being cooperative at this point." "Well, what I can tell you is, he's been subpoenaed. Our expectation is he is going to cooperate because that's the law, that's the requirement. Same as if somebody's subpoenaed to court," Kinzinger said. He added that "there may be some changes in dates as lawyers do their back-and-forth" and affirmed the committee's commitment to "not rushing" the investigation. According to The Guardian, "Giuliani was scheduled to testify last Tuesday, after the committee issued a subpoena last month, but did not appear." Kinzinger, a vocal opponent of Trump, is one of only two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee, along with Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.). The Republican National Committee punished both for their participation; earlier this month, a resolution to formally censure the two passed without any debate or discussion. Both Kinzinger and Cheney were among the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. You may also like Woody Allen goes out with a whimper South Texas butterfly sanctuary closes indefinitely due to QAnon conspiracies, escalating threats Justin Trudeau says Canadians are 'disgusted' by abusive actions of anti-mandate protesters An Illinois woman faces more legal troubles for a rash of retail store fires allegedly meant to distract workers from her shoplifting. Heather Six Weeden, 46, of Ford Heights and Alton, was charged Wednesday in connection with fires set at the Highland Meijer on Jan. 10. Advertisement Her co-defendant, Jerry L. Pierson, 35, of Chicago Heights, was charged last month. Prosecutors allege she set a trio of fires in different parts of the store as she and Pierson stole a TV, sound bar speaker and Shark vacuum they later tried to resell. Advertisement Weeden was charged with arson, organized theft and theft, according to Lake Superior Court records. Her bond is set at $4,500 cash surety. She denied involvement in a police interview, admitting it was her in security video, but blaming her accomplice, Cap, for the fires, charges show. Weeden is also charged in Cook County with setting fires inside a Lansing Walmart on Jan. 7. She is charged with aggravated arson and retail theft there, with a $85,000 cash bond set. Authorities accused her of stealing about $500 in merchandise, but causing $4.5 million in damages to the store, which was closed for three weeks, prosecutors said. Weeden was convicted of murder and vehicular hijacking in 1998 after she pleaded guilty to a carjacking where she lured a man, Michael Ufert, to a location in Madison County, Illinois, where he was fatally shot, according to the Illinois Appellate Court. She was released from parole in 2020, authorities said. Weeden also had convictions for forgery and aggravated battery to a police officer. The Chicago Tribunes William Lee contributed. A gunman killed a rival after a fight at a Bronx baby shower only to be fatally shot with his own gun by the victims younger brother, cops said Sunday. The two men who wound up dead were inside a party at Webster Ave. and E. 198th St in Bedford Park when they got into a fight Saturday night, police said. Their fight spilled out onto the street, where Arnold Oliver, 24, allegedly shot 28-year-old Jamal Smith in the face about 11 p.m., cops said. The shot mans outraged friends then jumped the gunman, cops said. Smiths brother Wayne, also 28, managed to get the gunmans weapon away from him and shot him in the chest with it, according to police. The Smith brothers were born 10 months apart and Wayne Smith turned 28 Saturday, the day of the slayings, police sources said. The brothers are from New Rochelle, Westchester County, while Oliver lived in Peekskill, also in Westchester, according to cops. Videos from the scene show a man brutally stomping one of the wounded victims as hes sprawled out next to another car. Another man can be seen cradling the other victim, screaming at police, Dont f-----g touch him! This st sounds like a whole movie, said a worker at a nearby deli who saw the violence unfold. This is a whole movie scene. This happens every other day. Its gunfights every time, Man. The deli worker, who gave only his first name, Prince, said the men were attending a baby shower in a second-floor event space above his store. They were definitely drunk off their a-s, drunk basically and started arguing, he said. When youre drunk with a firearm, you dont think straight. Medics rushed both wounded men to St. Barnabas Hospital, but neither survived. Wayne Smith was taken into custody and charged with murder and weapon possession, police said. He was held without bail following an arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court. Police on Sunday released a surveillance images of another man involved in the fight and are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. Story continues Prince said hes used to hearing about violence a couple of blocks away his store, but not right outside . Im surprised it happened right here, he said. But it couldve happened everywhere as long as there is a party. Alcohol, people arent in their right mind. With Thomas Tracy Two men are wounded but alive after gunmen opened fire on them, letting loose more than 70 shots at the car they were sitting in, Texas police told news outlets. Just before midnight on Saturday, Feb. 12, a deputy with the Bexar County Sheriffs Office arrived at the intersection of North Foster Road and Binz-Engleman Road in San Antonio to find a car riddled with bullet holes, KENS reported. Two injured men were inside the vehicle, according to the TV station. One man had taken a bullet to the arm and another to the torso, while the other man had three gunshot wounds to the torso. The men were taken to a hospital in critical condition but are considered stable, outlets reported. Deputies say the shooting happened several blocks away, on Candlebrite Drive, WOAI reported. The car was registered to a home on Candlebrite, outside of which the torrent of gunfire had been unleashed, police told the outlet Two suspects had been waiting near the home one with an AR-15 and the other with a 9mm handgun for the men in the car to show up, KSAT reported. Shots rang out around 11:15 p.m., police told the outlet. The men were hit but sped away to the intersection where deputies later found them. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office is searching for the suspects. Speechless. Middle-schoolers assault high school baseball coach, Texas video shows Teen charged with brothers murder after stray bullet story falls apart, TX cops say Man sleeping in van outside home to keep warm dies in fire, Texas officials say Sonic workers car explodes outside restaurant. Odd smell saved him, Texas cops say Eduardo Salazar, 22, was shot and killed early Monday morning in Kansas City, police said. Now his family is figuring out whats next. Eduardo had a heart of gold; helped everyone & anyone. You asked him a favor he never said no, you could count on him for anything, a GoFundMe created by Salazars sister read. Just after 2 a.m. on Feb. 7, two men arrived at a Kansas City-area hospital with gunshot wounds, police said at the time. Salazar, one of the victims, died from his injuries. The second victim suffered serious injuries. Police believe the men were shot in the 700 block of Spruce. Salazar was the 16th homicide victim this year in Kansas City. Two more people have since been killed, according to data by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. Family of Salazar, who leaves behind parents and siblings among his loved ones, is asking for help covering the cost of his funeral. As of Sunday morning, the online fundraiser had collected almost $2,700 in donations. If you or a loved one are a survivor of sexual assault, you are not alone, and help is available in Kansas City. You can access resources and advice for free from a number of community advocacy groups in addition to institutions like hospitals, law enforcement, your university and the criminal justice system. Sexual assault help numbers Help is available regardless of the circumstances of your assault. If youre not sure whether youve been sexually assaulted, these resources can help you talk through what happened. Even if your assault happened a long time ago, its not too late to seek help. Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA): This Kansas City based organization can help you navigate your options and send someone to accompany you to the hospital, to the police station and to court. Call their 24-hour crisis hotline at 816-531-0233 in Missouri or 913-642-0233 in Kansas. Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP): This nonprofit provides crisis support resources specifically to Kansas Citys LBGTQ+ community. Their services are free and confidential. Call their 24/7 helpline at 816-349-9371. RAINN: This national group is Americas largest anti-sexual violence organization. You can call their free and confidential 24-hour hotline at 800-656-4673 or chat online with a staff member here. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you feel you may be at risk of suicide, call 800-273-8255 or chat online here. Know your options Its common to feel scared, confused, overwhelmed or angry following an unwanted sexual encounter. Here are some of the avenues available to you, along with some of their common benefits and drawbacks. The decision about which to pursue is totally up to you. Medical exam and evidence collection For some survivors, medical care is the first step taken after an assault occurs. To access care, go to your nearest hospital. MOCSA or KCAVP may be able to send an advocate to accompany you call their hotlines above to learn more about that option. Story continues At the hospital, survivors have the option to request a forensic exam that will collect evidence related to the assault. This can include clothing, biological samples and other belongings. In Kansas City, some survivors receive a care package from MOCSA donated by the nonprofit Assistance League containing new clothing, toiletries and information from MOCSA about their options. There is no obligation to report to law enforcement, just because someone wants to go to the hospital, said Vanessa Pickering, MOCSAs Director of Advocacy. One of the benefits that some survivors get from going to the hospital and having evidence collected is that it gives them some time to make a decision about reporting. If you are over the age of 18 and not a member of a vulnerable category such as a nursing home resident or intellectually disabled person, hospital staff cannot report your assault to law enforcement without your permission. Forensic exam evidence is stored by the state indefinitely. Its important to note that if your clothes or other belongings are collected as evidence, you are unlikely to ever get them back. If you choose to undergo a forensic exam following an assault, MOCSA recommends the following tips: Dont shower Dont eat, drink or brush your teeth Wear or bring the clothes you wore at the time of the assault to the hospital Try not to use the restroom until you are at the hospital You should not be charged anything for a forensic sexual assault exam. If you receive a bill, call MOCSAs hotline at 816-531-0233 in Missouri or 913-642-0233 in Kansas for assistance. Title IX reporting This process involves an internal investigation by a survivors university into claims of sexual harassment or assault. This option is only available to enrolled university students, and can result in discipline from the university like suspension or expulsion of the perpetrator. The benefits to undergoing the Title IX process include potential academic accommodations and an investigation that doesnt involve law enforcement. Depending on your universitys policies, you may also be able to report your assault anonymously. Downsides include a lengthy process that advocates say takes a lot of time, paperwork and potential frustration, as well as the chance that your school will contact the perpetrator and inform them of your accusation. Read more about the limitations of Title IX for one survivor here. The Title IX process is often very difficult to go through, especially if a survivor is going through a law enforcement investigation at the same time, said Melody Joy, MOCSAs Title IX Advocate. Joy assists student survivors in contacting their schools Title IX coordinators, filling out necessary paperwork and accessing support while the investigation is underway. Reporting to law enforcement This option is a lengthy process that may result in legal consequences for the person who assaulted you. The choice to make an official report is entirely yours. However, the decision on attempting to charge your assaulter with a crime is made by a government prosecutor. The person who decides whether or not anyones ever charged with [a crime] is the prosecutor, said Pickering. Understanding that that is outside the hands of the survivors, I think is really important when making a decision about whether or not to participate in that process. Survivors can choose whether or not to participate in an investigation and potentially a subsequent prosecution after filing a report. But they should be prepared for the possibility that the state may not attempt to prosecute their assaulter at all. It can feel just, frankly, devastating for survivors. So we try and make sure that thats really clear when we talk to someone about their options, said Pickering. Its not what we see on TV, its not what we hear people say, and so it gives us an incorrect assumption about what to expect. Heres a quick breakdown of the official reporting process: Go to the police station in the jurisdiction where the assault occurred. Advocates from local groups can accompany you for this visit. File a police report. You cannot do so anonymously. You may be asked similar questions multiple times, which can be frustrating. You are allowed to take as many breaks as you need. Your report will be forwarded to a detective, who will begin investigating your case. The detective will contact you for another interview. They may also collect statements from other people about your assault, including the perpetrator. They may also send your forensic kit to a crime lab for analysis. This investigation process can take as long as a year. If the detective decides there is enough evidence, they will refer your case to a prosecutor. If the prosecutor agrees that there is enough evidence to charge your assaulter with a crime, they will file charges against the perpetrator. The case will then proceed to criminal court, where you may be asked to testify against your assaulter. This process can also take a really long time. Finally, a judge will issue a verdict. If your assaulter is found guilty, the court will decide how to sentence them. Protective orders Civil courts in both Missouri and Kansas can issue orders that prevent someone from contacting you or coming near you. Visit your county courthouse to file one. In Missouri, civil courts can issue an Order of Protection to prevent someone from contacting you. These orders last anywhere from 180 days to one year. If you are in immediate danger, a judge can issue a temporary order right away to keep the assaulter away from you until a court hearing date is scheduled. In Kansas, civil courts can issue a Protection from Abuse order to keep an intimate partner away from you, or a Protection from Stalking order to keep someone else away from you. You will need to fill out paperwork requesting that a sheriff deliver the ruling to your assaulter and to keep your contact information confidential. If youre younger than 17 in Missouri or 18 in Kansas, an adult parent or guardian will need to file these documents on your behalf. Civil lawsuit This option involves sueing your assaulter in civil court for financial losses that resulted from the assault. This can include medical expenses, lost wages from missing work and other monetary compensation. This process affords the survivor more control over court proceedings, but often requires expensive legal fees. If youre interested in starting this process, the first step is to contact a lawyer. Civil suits do not result in criminal charges or otherwise punish the perpetrator for the assault. If you win the lawsuit, your assaulter will simply have to pay the agreed amount of money. They will not go to jail, be barred from contacting you or be added to a sex offender registry. Other resources Many sexual assault survivors never seek medical care, apply for court orders or report their assaults to anyone. The choice is entirely up to you whether you want to take any of the steps above, or none at all. Regardless of whether a survivor takes any type of action following an assault, supportive resources are still available for free in Kansas City. These include: Do you have more questions about the resources available to survivors of sexual assault in Kansas City? Ask our Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Vector Limited (NZSE:VCT) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Vector What's the estimated valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$61.2m NZ$93.3m NZ$128.0m NZ$162.1m NZ$193.3m NZ$220.6m NZ$243.7m NZ$263.1m NZ$279.3m NZ$293.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 73.81% Est @ 52.28% Est @ 37.21% Est @ 26.66% Est @ 19.27% Est @ 14.1% Est @ 10.48% Est @ 7.95% Est @ 6.18% Est @ 4.94% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 5.4% NZ$58.1 NZ$83.9 NZ$109 NZ$131 NZ$148 NZ$161 NZ$168 NZ$172 NZ$174 NZ$173 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$1.4b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$293m (1 + 2.0%) (5.4% 2.0%) = NZ$8.8b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$8.8b ( 1 + 5.4%)10= NZ$5.2b The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is NZ$6.6b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$3.9, the company appears quite good value at a 41% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Vector as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Vector, we've compiled three additional elements you should explore: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 3 warning signs for Vector (2 make us uncomfortable!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does VCT's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. A man who assaulted his girlfriend inside a Jack in the Box restaurant was shot and critically injured by an employee, Colorado police say. Pueblo police responded to the 3:15 p.m. Mountain time incident Friday, Feb. 11, at a Jack in the Box on U.S. Highway 50, the department said in a news release. A man inside the restaurant began attacking his girlfriend, and several employees tried to intervene, police reported. One worker shot the man when the situation escalated, police said. He was hospitalized in critical condition but expected to survive. Police are continuing to investigate. No charges have been filed. Police ask that anyone with information call detectives at 719-320-6037 or Pueblo Police Department dispatch at 719-553-2502. Anonymous tips can be left at 719-542-7867. Man preparing to shoot bear found dead after accidentally killing brother, Oregon cops say Man poses as woman on dating app to lure men he sexually assaulted, California cops say Lasers hit 11 planes in one hour at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, feds say Lets talk about anger In the depths of this winter's pandemic, each of us can strive for a tranquil summer. At the grocers last week, I observed a shopper's outburst when she couldn't find bean sprouts. When the clerk told her the store discontinued it because that vegetable is grown in warm, humid conditions that can also give rise to salmonella, the woman shouted more invectives, abandoned her half-filled cart and stormed out. I thought to myself, it's more than bean sprouts. It's about anger. Whether it's pandemic overload or four years of Trump, people are very angry on both sides. What to do? Talk about any anger we're feeling. Schools should talk about anger in classrooms, what causes it, how to manage it. Families need to discuss anger with their children, teaching the right way to express it and especially how to avoid the wrong way. Leaders in our houses of worship and community need to talk about situations that cause anger and appropriate solutions for dealing with those strong emotions. We all need to have a concern about our own anger, but more importantly how to choose and practice kindness. It's really not about bean sprouts. Bill Sarnoff, Eugene Improving traffic I fully agree with Jim Torreys letter urging improvements to the Beltline connections between Green Acres and Santa Clara. But here are two other options that should be considered. One, a southbound I-105 off ramp to West First Avenue to reduce traffic on Sixth Avenue that heads to the River Road area. There is unused land to do that. Two, consider a connection over the Willamette River from Valley River Drive to River Road. There is also vacant land on the west side of the Willamette to accommodate this. Such a shortcut would also reduce congestion on the Beltline and both West Seventh Avenue and West Sixth. Traffic improvements need to be considered especially as we grow denser with the goal of converting high numbers of current drivers to LTD and bicycles may not occur. Story continues John F. Quilter, Eugene Loose change So, here's my good deed for the year. Before any Trump supporters plop money down for that Big Lie commemorative coin set (no, it wasn't a put-on) advertised in Parade magazine, be advised that its peddler, the "American" mint (a German-owned company), has toted up almost 200 Better Business Bureau complaints in the past three years. Be sure to read the fine print: The company has a dogged and unforgiving legal department. That department will be needed to defend the company in a suit filed against it by the state of Pennsylvania (the home state of its U.S. operations) for "unfair, fraudulent and deceptive" business practices. Better you should save your money. Maybe the "American" mint will come out with a gold-plated commemorative edition of the Report from The Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol. It'll be coming out soon. Should be an eye-opener. Jere C. Rosemeyer, Eugene Biden crazy like a fox Having read Catherine Rampell's column (R-G, Feb. 7), "Manchin says Build Back Better's dead," President Biden must be crazy to submit such a grandiose package to the Senate, parts of which include the following: child care and pre-schools, child care and earned income tax credits, home care, affordable care credits, clean energy and climate care provisions, higher education and workforce credits and more. Yeah, he must be crazy. But then I thought: crazy like a fox. Joe has spent too much time in that self-same Senate. Maybe his Build Back Better plan was doomed to fail to begin with. That would make it far easier to push for his real plan all along, to pass various packages. Such a plan would defang Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, and possibly to bring some enlightened Republicans on board as well (I'm talking to you, Susan Collins and Mitt Romney, among others). Build Back Better was pie-in-the-sky to begin with and President Biden knew that all along. Michael E. Peterson, Eugene Ready for the future in Oregon As the executive director of Northwest Youth Corps, I know the importance of helping young people develop knowledge, skills and abilities through career-connected education and work-readiness opportunities. Repeatedly, Ive seen the vital importance of supporting young people through circumstances that impact their ability to participate and thrive. That is why I am so excited about Future Ready Oregon 2022 being considered in the Legislature. Future Ready Oregon will make Oregon a leader in how we develop our workforce. It connects Oregonians statewide with career-readiness, skills training, education, work experience and wrap-around resources to prepare them for meaningful and secure work and a bright future. It invests much-needed new dollars into our workforce system and programs, which decrease barriers to gainful employment. It also expands programs that have already proven themselves successful in re-engaging young people in school, work and communities. Importantly, this package strategically focuses on investments where they are most needed. As we work to build toward a more prosperous future for all Oregonians, Future Ready Oregon gives us an opportunity to set a national example on how to do workforce development the right way. I look forward to seeing it pass this legislative session. Jeff Parker, Eugene The depraved, radical left tries to cancel Joe Rogan The force of the charge of racism is being blunted by overuse. What would be wonderful is if The R-G just printed the news free of slant and bias and eliminated entirely the opinions of blatantly biased commentators such as Eugene Robinson, who makes the scurrilous claim that Republicans are racists. He is fanning the flames of racial division and anyone with a modicum of intelligence understands this, but it is irresponsible and dangerous nevertheless. People like him are attacking the comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan for using a racial slur but fail to mention the context in which he used that word. Ironically, Rogan is nothing of the kind, but that doesn't matter. Rogan's sin is he bucks the official narrative by having longform conversations on subjects that concern us all as opposed to the mainstream media that chooses to continually lie and obfuscate on matters crucial to our health and well-being, and for that he is being crucified. It will be interesting to see if Rogan still tilts left after the dust settles. My guess is this will be his red-pill moment about the shameless mendacity and sleaziness of the depraved, radical left. Scott Fry, Eugene Pay to play with carbon In the inspiring guest view on Feb. 6, "Look up at the forests," the authors mention transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. Many economists believe the most effective way to make this transition is with a carbon fee and dividend. Motivated by this fee, carbon producers become more energy efficient and develop new sources of clean renewable energy. These innovations reduce greenhouse gas and provide affordable, reliable clean energy driving us faster toward net-zero carbon pollution. The dividend is given to families to cover the costs of the transition to clean energy. Please contact the president and your senators to ask them to add a carbon fee and dividend to the reconciliation package they are negotiating. CitizensClimateLobby.org/get-loud-take-action has letters you can modify or send as is to these important people to make a big difference in our future. Carrie McGranahan, Eugene How can you think of rolling back mask mandates? Really Gov. Brown? Have you read Oregon's statistics of new virus cases? In Lane County, where I live, there were 3,320 COVID-19 just this last week. So, yes, remove the masks and let all the unvaccinated people breathe their germs all over the rest of us! Then you can say, oh, I made a mistake and on with the masks. I thought you were a smart governor, but not anymore! Marlene Pearson, Eugene Pushing macho for a buck Dear Ford, I once admired your company. I owned three Ford Rangers, inexpensive and practical pickups that served me well in my construction and farming work and also fit in my garage! But now I cringe for the planet as I view on TV your endless, boring "Beast" pickup ads pushing macho way past its acceptable limit. Do you think we're all seventh graders out here or what? Those ads, and your macho peddling, are why I now consider you an irresponsible corporation. I won't be buying any more Fords, or any other companies' big macho smash-front pickups. Your choice to push macho for a buck has negative impacts on the planet and also poisonous impacts on mental health. I support Oregon governor candidate Patrick Starnes' proposal to tax your irresponsible ads to finance an Oregon Mental Health Fund. We don't see cigarettes advertised on TV anymore. Not in society's best interest. Get a clue, Ford. Phil Robbins, Dexter Global warming and the dimension of depth Dominick DellaSala and others give strong scientific reasons for keeping fossil fuels in the ground and ending deforestation to end our reckless ecological course (Look up at the forests, keep fossil fuels in the ground, Feb. 6). Yet, we need to recognize the enormous economic interests and corresponding political weight involved and pay attention to the cultural context in which policy decisions are made. Without taking the momentum of the complex, tightly woven meanings at the center of our way of life we are deceiving ourselves. Any decision to change, no matter how well supported by reasons, is too weak of a basis for change. This does not mean global warming is an alien, uncontrollable thing over which we have no control. To think this is also self-deception. We are responsible. If not us, who? The difficulty is stubborn human nature. Understanding this dimension of depth is crucially important for affecting the kind of change our times demand. Fossil fuel use and deforestation are central habits around which weve spun a powerful web of significance, on which our whole way of life turns and behind which there is tremendous momentum, including cultural as well as scientific, political and economic factors. Sam Porter, Eugene Tasteless sensationalism! Revolting! Repellent! An oversized photo of a killer, a dead man never apprehended, charged, tried, convicted or sentenced, occupies too much space, four columns wide by five inches high, on the front page of The Register-Guard! How does that gruesome image supplement a readers knowledge of the story? How does a 43-year-old file photo respect the three murder victims, or acknowledge decades of professional work by several detectives? Does a full-face image answer the who of journalisms who-what-when-where basic questions? I do concede that placing that photo below the fold downgrades its importance, but only in layout context, not in the eye of the ordinary consumer of printed news. Even more disgusting is the inevitability that that photo occupying 12.5% of the front page will fill 100% of the screen of a mobile phone, tablet or desktop. My conclusion: tasteless sensationalism and insensitivity. Theda Heinzkill, Eugene Put on your best Birkies Put on Your Sunday Clothes, theres lots of world out there is a celebratory lyric from the musical Hello Dolly! The Broadway production from 2018 took off for the road in 2019 but, as all performing arts, was rudely shut down in 2020. After two years of closed doors, performing venues all have protocols now that most patrons can live with: They all require proof of vaccination, distancing and masks on during the show from the feisty Broadway Metro movie theater to the petit Jazz Station to the newly renovated Shedd. Even the mammoth Hult is now presenting everything from the Eugene Ballet to Weird Al Yankovic the shows are back! Eugeneans can now feel good about putting on our best Birkies to attend and support the arts. Merrie Kelly, Eugene Share the land Eugene has a population. Housing units are not sufficient. Rents and home prices are ruinous to household budgets. You can expand the urban growth boundary(the city limits) or increase density. Those are your choices. Doing nothing guarantees more price increases. The Legislature made the right choice. HB 2001 and SB 458 allow some smaller housing units on smaller pieces of land. That's what it boils down to. Allowing people to share the land. Existing R-1 zoning has blocked anybody from sharing the land. It is inevitable that homeowners, enjoying large properties, will fight against allowing neighbors to share their land. Privileged classes seldom give up without a struggle. Historically, slave owners in the South, for example, the rest of the country had to fight a war to stop that. And settlers who occupied Indian lands in Oregon still hold the whip hand. All of our "title" to land is still regarded as valid. The title companies downtown are defenders of the Willamette Meridian. Wisdom prevailed in the Oregon Legislature, among both parties, to share the land. Our liberties (enjoyment of our property) shall not long endure unless shared by all. Share the land. Support HB 2001. Todd Boyle, Eugene Letters should be 200 words or fewer and sent with the writers name, address, and daytime phone number via e-mail to rgletters@registerguard.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity, and maybe published in any medium. We regret that owing to the volume of correspondence we cannot reply to every letter. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Letters: The depraved, radical left Columbus over the past five years has averaged around 47 homicides annually, with the most recent peak last year, when the city had 70. That surpassed the 46 reported in 2020, according to the Muscogee County coroner. The city recorded 41 homicides in 2019; 34 in 2018; and 44 in 2017. Here is a list of Columbus homicides for the year 2022: 1) Jan. 16: Barbara Luke, 71. Officers called to the 5000 block of Delray Drive around 2 p.m. to reports of gunfire and a car crash found Luke fatally shot in a vehicle that hit a tree, Columbus police said. They gave her chest compressions as paramedics arrived, but rescuers were unable to resuscitate her. Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced her dead at 2:45 p.m. at the scene,which is off Forrest Road between Floyd Road and Wellborn Drive. Authorities suspect Luke was the victim of stray gunfire. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Detective Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268 or shayes@columbusga.org. 2) Feb. 2: Kivonte Clark, 25. Police called at 6:34 p.m. to the Chevron station at 1118 Farr Road found Clark shot. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Columbus Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 7:04 p.m. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Detective A. Moyer, 706-225-4435. 3) Feb. 3: Amari Conwell, 23. Police called at 7:31 p.m. to the 100 block of Sweetwater Drive found Conwell had been shot. An ambulance took him to Piedmont Regional, where an emergency room doctor pronounced him dead at 10:55 p.m. Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Sherman Hayes at 706-225-4268, 706-653-3400, or shayes@columbusga.org. 4) Feb. 13: Brianna Robinson, 22. Officers called at 11:54 p.m. Feb. 12 to the Patton Drive area of Benning Hills Park found Robinson and a 19-year-old man shot. Deputy Coroner Charles Newton pronounced Robinson dead from multiple gunshot wounds at 12:54 a.m. Feb. 13, investigators said. The man was critically wounded. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact police Sgt. M. Neal at 706-225-4295 or mneal@columbusga.org. Well update this list as homicides and arrests are reported. Where to go next must be an increasingly fraught question for Louis Theroux. His early work relied on his being an unknown quantity. Not familiar with his style, his subjects spoke freely, repaying the presenters probing curiosity with eye-opening disclosure. The issue he has had for some years now is that everyone knows who he is. Thats Louis off the telly, they think. Its a kind of documentary quantum problem. Not only do the interviewees behave differently under observation, but they behave differently specifically for Louis Theroux, Britains most famous documentarian. For his new three-part series, Forbidden America (BBC Two), looking at extreme subcultures in the US, Theroux has turned his fame to his advantage. His first subject is the young far right, as seen through some of its most influential bloggers and streamers. These guys and one woman hate mainstream journalists, but love publicity, so welcome Theroux in part because he is the famous guy from the BBC. One of them, Beardson Beardly, turns up for the interview wearing a T-shirt with three pictures of Theroux on it. After Theroux shows him footage of him giving a Nazi salute, Beardly terminates the interview in a fury and goes straight down to his studio to broadcast against him. Later another streamer, Baked Alaska, broadcasts Theroux live. His followers make donations. Theroux, as he acknowledges, is part of the show, helping to make them money. The scariest subject is perhaps Nicholas J Fuentes, a 23-year-old commentator who has built a large following over social media for his videos espousing racist, misogynist views. I just want you to know that I fundamentally disagree with what you promote and with what you stand for, Theroux says, but Im here because Im curious about you. Fuentes is perfectly suited to the internet age, a quick-talking charlatan who makes money by accepting donations for answering viewers questions. Hes an outright white nationalist, who spews his antisemitic, racist, homophobic, misogynistic beliefs with the charming patter of a gameshow host. Story continues Fuentess outriders are mainly recruited through social media and gaming. Aside from the reprehensible individuals, who are on a spectrum from grifters to true believers, the real enemy here is the internet. These young men and woman grew up in the smartphone era. They couch all their statements in the irony of the permanently online, a slippery vernacular where everything is trolling or playing devils advocate and nobody can ever be held responsible for the things they say, even as they lead to actions in the real world. When Theroux confronts them, they either say it was a joke or react with extreme hostility. Socratic dialogue is not good for clicks. Theroux plays a video Alaska filmed after the New Zealand terrorist attack of 2019. We need to start educating people on the difference between internet culture and reality before things go way out of hand, like they did in New Zealand, he says, in the video, with apparent reflection. It was already too late then. Its even more too late now. Soon he was back to his old abusive tactics. After all, streaming is his living. Its too easy to dismiss these people as clowns. When Theroux has investigated right-wing American figures before, it was with an open mind. Even when he disagreed with them, he could usually find points of sympathy. Theres no both-sides here; its Louis vs them, and by extension its us vs them. A depressing, eye-opening vision of where things are headed. On November 19, 2021, Ambassador Qin Gang met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink. The two sides agreed to work together to implement the spirit and consensus of the recent virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden. Jonathan the tortoise, 190, and his caretaker, Joe Hollins, 64, on St Helena island (Tina Lucy) Jonathan the tortoise has lived on one of the most remote islands in the world for 140 years. He has become something of a media star recently, as he just got a lofty distinction: the oldest living land animal in the world. Jonathan is turning 190 this year. Well, that's the best guess about the age of the 440-pound chelonian. To be honest, I suspect hes older, but we can never know, says Joe Hollins, the veterinarian who cares for Jonathan on St Helena island, a tiny volcanic British territory more than 1,000 miles off the coast of Africa. Jonathan has spent most of his life wandering (albeit slowly) with three other land tortoises around the grounds of the St Helena governors residence, Plantation House. Jonathan is estimated to have hatched in 1832, according to a letter that mentions he arrived fully grown on St Helena in 1882 from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, he says. Fully grown in turtle terms meant at least 50 years, Hollins says. A photo taken between 1882 and 1886 shows Jonathan grazing at Plantation House, where hed been presented to the governor of St. Helena as a gift, according to Hollins. It was quite traditional for (tortoises) to be used as diplomatic gifts around the world, if they werent eaten first, he says, noting that they were harvested by ship crews because they were stackable and didnt need food or water for days. This historical photo taken in the late 1800s shows Jonathan, left, with another tortoise, now deceased. (Courtesy of Joe Hollins) Apparently, they were utterly delicious, he says. In addition to Jonathan, Hollins cares for the other tortoises who live on the 10-mile-long island. He also leads a team in looking after the islands cats, dogs, cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and pigs. But Jonathan, as the senior gentleman in the group, is special. I take great delight in looking after him, says Hollins, noting that at age 64 he is at least 126 years younger than the rare Seychelles giant tortoise he has tended to for the past 13 years. Its a huge responsibility, but an honour and a privilege for a vet to see to the needs of the oldest known living land animal in the world, he says. Story continues There are likely sharks in the ocean older than Jonathan, says Hollins, but he hasnt heard of another well-documented land creature that has been alive for more historical events. Hollins says visitors to St Helena, which has a population of around 4,400, are awestruck to learn about Jonathans staggering life span. The tortoise has seen 31 St Helena governors come and go and was likely alive for Queen Victorias coronation in 1837 as well as the inaugurations of 40 US presidents. While wars, famines, plagues, kings and queens and even nations have come and gone, he has pottered on, totally oblivious to the passage of time, says Hollins. Jonathan is symbolic of persistence, endurance and survival and has achieved iconic status on the island, he adds. The tortoise also enjoys sunbathing and has frightened visitors by sprawling on the grass with all four legs and his neck outstretched It isnt unusual for giant land tortoises to live up to 150 years, says Hollins, but Jonathan has endured longer than most people expected. The previous known longevity record was held by a radiated tortoise named Tui Malila, reportedly given to Tonga's royal family in 1777. When Tui Malila died in 1965, she was about 188 years old, according to Guinness World Records. Guinness recently updated its records to reflect that Jonathan is now the oldest land animal in the world, but news of the occasion was met the same way as most other things to the tortoise, according to his caretaker. He knows my voice and comes to me like a dog, but I have to accept it is mainly Pavlovian because he associates me with food, says Hollins, noting that Jonathan is now blind and has lost his sense of smell, but still has a healthy appetite. For more than a decade, he has hand-fed the tortoise carrots, cucumbers, apples and bananas, making sure to put on thick welders gloves to protect his fingers from Jonathan's sharp beak. Even through (the gloves), Ive lost two nails, says Hollins. But I really love this great, crusty reptile. Hes a gentleman of a tortoise. When Hollins was hired as a veterinarian by the St Helena government, he says, Jonathan was in ill health with a blunt, crumbly beak, and was unable to graze. He was grabbing at dirt and dry leaves and tugging on rank grass, he says. After feeding him for some time, we witnessed a miracle: his beak regrew its sharp edge. Jonathan snacking on cucumbers and lettuce in 2021 (Tina Lucy) Hollins says he learned that the tortoise had a vitamin, mineral and trace element deficiency, which was soon corrected with a weekly intake of fresh produce. Hes been resurrected, so now we cant stop, he says, adding that Jonathan turns his beak up at kale, but devours lettuce hearts and sun-ripened pears. The tortoise also enjoys sunbathing and has frightened visitors by sprawling on the grass with all four legs and his neck outstretched, he adds. More than once, says Hollins, Jonathan has fooled us into doing a rush visit because somebody has reported him dead. He says he knows the day may be approaching when a call like that turns out to be real. Ive been here for four governors, and each one has said to me with a note of pleading, Please Joe not on my watch, says Hollins. For now, St Helena is planning to commission a stamp featuring Jonathan and possibly have a national holiday to honour the tortoise sometime in 2022, he says. When he does go, it will be difficult, though we are realistic and prepared, adds Hollins, noting that studies show giant tortoises don't age like humans, but may simply wear out or die after an injury. With good care and attention, he says, Jonathan may yet see many of us in our graves. The Daily Beast (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)Russian authorities are transporting the dead bodies of Russias fallen soldiers from Ukraine back to Russia in small batches in the dead of night in an attempt to conceal just how many Russian troops are dying in Ukraine, according to intelligence shared by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).The intelligenceintercepted calls between Russian troops the SBU said it picked up in the Zaporozhye regionsuggests that Russia is also transporting t Robert Clark Monroe Mayor Robert Clark was recently selected as the Vice President of the Michigan Municipal League. The appointment occurred at the League Board of Trustees' virtual meeting on Jan. 28. Also selected were three new members for the 19-member board: Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley, Ferndale Councilmember Raylon Leaks-May, and Stephanie Grimes Washington, director of governmental affairs for the City of Detroit. Clark was selected to the MML board in September of 2020 and is filling the vice president role previously held by current MML Board President and Sterling Heights City Councilmember, Barbara Ziarko. I am pleased to have Mayor Clark join me in leading our board, said Ziarko, who was named League President in November 2021. Together, we welcome three new officials to our board. Its important to all the board members that we continue to have representatives from some of the states largest cities working side-by-side with officials from some of our smallest communities. The diversity of thought and representation is vitally important to the League board and to the organization. Clark has served as mayor of the City of Monroe since 2010, and previously as a councilmember. He serves on the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, Downtown Development Authority, and Monroe City Employee Pension and Post-Retirement Health Care board of trustees. He also serves on the Monroe County Business Development Corporation, River Raisin National Battlefield Foundation Board, and the River Raisin Watershed Council. Clark is a graduate of William Penn College, Iowa, where he earned bachelors degrees in sociology and psychology. He completed 30 years of service with the Michigan State Police, retired at the rank of major, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Ive been involved with the League for many years and to serve as Board Vice President is an honor, Clark said. I look forward to leading with President Ziarko and working together to further the organizations ongoing work in community wealth building; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and fixing the states broken municipal funding system. Story continues The new trustees join Ziarko, Clark and the other volunteers on the 2021-22 BoardJoshua Atwood, Lapeer City Commissioner; Rebecca Chamberlain-Creanga, Troy City Councilmember; Peter Dame, Grosse Pointe City Manager; Carla Filkins, Cadillac Mayor; Don Gerrie, Sault Ste. Marie City Commissioner; Valerie Kindle, Harper Woods Mayor; Robert La Fave, LAnse Village Manager; Joshua Meringa, Grandville City Councilmember; Deborah Stuart, Mason City Manager; Patrick Sullivan, Northville City Manager; Keith Van Beek, Holland City Manager; Mark Washington, Grand Rapids City Manager; and Tim Wolff, Lake Isabella Village Manager. The Michigan Municipal League advocates on behalf of its member communities in Lansing, Washington, D.C., and the courts; provides educational opportunities for elected and appointed municipal officials; and assists municipal leaders in administering services to their communities through League programs and services. Learn more at mml.org. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe Mayor Clark selected as VP of Michigan Municipal League The board of NCC Group plc (LON:NCC) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 4th of March, with investors receiving UK0.015 per share. This means that the annual payment will be 2.4% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry. See our latest analysis for NCC Group NCC Group's Earnings Easily Cover the Distributions We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Based on the last payment, NCC Group's profits didn't cover the dividend, but the company was generating enough cash instead. Generally, we think cash is more important than accounting measures of profit, so with the cash flows easily covering the dividend, we don't think there is much reason to worry. The next year is set to see EPS grow by 179.4%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 58%, which would make us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend, despite the levels currently being quite high. NCC Group Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2012, the dividend has gone from UK0.022 to UK0.046. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.9% a year over that time. The growth of the dividend has been pretty reliable, so we think this can offer investors some nice additional income in their portfolio. Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. It's encouraging to see NCC Group has been growing its earnings per share at 9.8% a year over the past five years. Although per-share earnings are growing at a credible rate, the massive payout ratio may limit growth in the company's future dividend payments. The company has also been raising capital by issuing stock equal to 10% of shares outstanding in the last 12 months. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective. Story continues Our Thoughts On NCC Group's Dividend In summary, while it's good to see that the dividend hasn't been cut, we are a bit cautious about NCC Group's payments, as there could be some issues with sustaining them into the future. The company is generating plenty of cash, but we still think the dividend is a bit high for comfort. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 4 warning signs for NCC Group that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. At first glance, the crowd appeared no different from your typical boys' basketball gathering at Minneapolis North. But it didn't take long to notice this was far from normal. The gym was already three-quarters full early in the second half of the JV game that preceded the 1 p.m. matinee between North and Hopkins. There were plenty of bro-hugs, as there always are, but they seemed to linger longer than usual. Despite the early-arriving patrons, the atmosphere felt subdued, the usual hubbub reduced to a low hum. A game of this magnitude would normally be expected to draw broad interest, but Saturday, the game was largely an afterthought. It was a remembrance, a tribute to 15-year-old Deshaun Hill D-Hill, to those who knew him the North sophomore athlete who was tragically, inexplicably, gunned down Wednesday while simply walking down a Minneapolis street. He died Thursday. On the North Side, gun violence is regrettably a significant part of people's lives. The thing that made Hill's death so shocking and created such a resonance within the North community was how out of character it seemed. Deshaun was respectful and polite, quick with a smile. He made friends easily and was a hard worker in both the classroom and on the athletic field. His aptitude for football led him to become North's starting quarterback last fall. Some compared Deshaun to former Polars player Tyler Johnson, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson's name is invoked frequently on the North Side as someone who parlayed his natural gifts and an unyielding vision for his future as the gold standard for role models. Hill tried out for basketball at North in late November but could not overcome the fierce competition to claim a spot on one of the rosters. Still, a basketball game at North seemed an appropriate place to honor D-Hill. Boys' basketball games at North are the community's equivalent of the old-fashioned church social. It's where friends meet, where laughter is shared, where gossip is passed. Story continues Alex Copeland, a 2008 graduate of North, has attended just two games this season. This was one he refused to miss. "Especially because of who he was. He was doing the right things. Everybody liked him," Copeland said. Saturday was billed as "Pack the Gym for D-Hill" day. The gym wound up as packed as it possibly could get, considering there are still COVID-19 restrictions in place. There were big names in attendance, such as Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Ed Graff, State Sen. Bobby Joe Champion and members of the Polars 2016 and '17 state championship teams, including Johnson. Polars coach Larry McKenzie spoke to the crowd before the game, relaying a traditional greeting between the Masai peoples of Africa. "When they greet each other, they say 'How are the children?' " McKenzie said. "Right now, our children are hurting." Protecting their young was the theme for the entire afternoon. Tevin, who declined to give his last name but calls himself Band Aid, was there representing his organization, the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, whose mission, he said, is to keep children in the community safe. "I'm here to give the kids support and let them know there are actual people here who support them," he said. Tevin said he believed the outpouring of support Saturday stemmed from lack of understanding for Hill's death. "He was a kid that was trying to be bigger than the community, trying to get out of the community. Death is always sad, period, but when they're young and gifted and talented, it hits a little harder," he said. He was there to help alleviate the pain he was feeling. "It hurts for so many reasons," he said. "It hurts because it's a young child, because he's one of ours, because this keeps happening in our neighborhood, because we don't know how to change it, because this has become the norm in north Minneapolis." Deshaun's surviving family his mother, father and three younger sisters arrived a few minutes after the varsity game had begun. As they made their way to their reserved seats in the middle of bleachers, the game stopped because the fans in attendance rose and gave them a standing ovation. At halftime, three members of the Polars basketball team who also played with Hill on the football team walked cross-court and presented the family with bouquets of flowers, after which school Principal Mauri Friestleben gave a heartfelt speech and led the crowd in a call-and-response chant that ended each time with the crowd yelling "D-Hill!" The Polars held off a Hopkins rally to win the game 76-70, but senior guard Rio Sanders wasn't in a mood to celebrate. "This was the biggest I've ever played in," Sanders said. "He was like a little brother. All week, we've been talking, saying this game was for D-Hill. It was very emotional. It still hurts." CRESTVIEW A man was taken to an area hospital Friday evening after reportedly being struck with birdshot and crashing into a telephone pole. Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the area of Clint Mason Road and Grady Johnson Road around 6:45 p.m. in response to a shots fired call, according to an OCSO news release. A man was taken to an area hospital Friday evening after reportedly being struck with birdshot and crashing into a telephone pole. Double homicide: Man, woman found dead at Fort Walton Beach home. OCSO wants 'armed and dangerous' man for questioning Do you have information?: Arrest warrant issued in fatal Fort Walton Beach shooting. OCSO needs help locating suspect Deputies found a Crestview resident in his 40s with injuries to his head. He had crashed into a telephone pole after being struck with what appeared to be birdshot, according to the OCSO. The man was taken to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment. The OCSO's investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OCSO at 850-651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 863-651-TIPS, emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or the P3 Tips Mobile application. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: OCSO investigating after man struck by birdshot, injured in crash By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel needs to cut red tape in traditional industries so they can boost productivity and catch up with the country's booming high-tech sector, the head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Sunday. Joining Israel's weekly cabinet meeting, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann praised much of Israel's economic progress since joining the OECD in 2010, particularly a robust technology sector, as well as its handling of the latest waves of the COVID-19 crisis without needing lockdowns. He projected Israel's strong economic growth would continue in 2022 but told Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the country faces structural challenges and wide socio-economic gaps due to a "two-speed economy". "The remarkable productivity of Israel's vibrant high-tech sector stands in stark contrast to the lower productivity levels in more traditional lagging sectors which actually employ most of the workforce in Israel," said Cormann, a former Australian finance minister. "This continues to lead to slower gains in aggregate productivity." High-tech jobs account for about 10% of the labour force and the sector is highly efficient unlike manufacturing, agriculture and other traditional sectors that are subject to heavy regulations. "So Prime Minister, the OECD's assessment is that if Israel were to reduce its level of bureaucracy and over-regulation in some of those sectors that has accumulated throughout the years, that will certainly help boost competition, help boost performance and help lower prices moving forward," Cormann said. Bennett and his government have come under fire in recent weeks amid rising food and other living costs. The government last week announced a $1.3 billion plan to reduce the cost of living, including tax cuts for working families, child-care subsidies and streamlined regulation to stimulate price-cutting competition for products. Story continues "We've got to reform the stagnant parts of our economy and we need to increase competition," Bennett told Cormann. "We don't have enough domestic competition and that's something that's always tough because there is always a good reason on why you need to slow down on that. And we need to have the courage to take these actions." Israel's economy grew by an estimated 6.5% in 2021 and is projected to grow 5.5% in 2022, according to the central bank. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Susan Fenton) Happy Monday, Patchogue! Here's everything happening around town today. First, today's weather: Very cold with sunshine. High: 26, Low: 17. Here are the top 5 stories in Patchogue today: The Village of Patchogue announced the Absentee Ballot applications are now available. The Village Election will happen on Mar. 15. Absentee Ballots will be soon available from the Clerk's office. Applications can be downloaded from the Village Clerk page of the village website in both English and Spanish. (Patchogue Village) Celebrate the Black Month History from where you are! Patchogue-Medford Public Library has a collection of books, audiobooks, and a variety of movies ready to be downloaded. Click here to start. (PMPL) Save the date for the Australian Little River Band performance at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. Hits like Reminiscing, Cool Change, Lonesome Loser, and More will lead the crowd into the 70's Rock Scene! The concert is set for Feb. 25, from 8-10 p.m. For more information, visit the Theater website (Click on the link). (Patchogue Theatre) Nearby News: Click on the link to see ten photos of the Anti-mask rally in Hauppauge. The protest attracted hundreds of parents protesting the mask mandate in schools. (Greater Long Island) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, White Castle Canceled its annual Valentine's Day 'fine dining event. The restaurant transforms its dining room into a "fine dining" experience with hostess seating, table service, and decorations. The event is canceled this year. (News12) Today's Patchogue Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Patchogue: Yoga with Annie at Tranquility Within. (9:30 a.m.) Board of Education Business Meeting - Patchogue-Medford UFSD. (7:30 p.m.) Story continues From my notebook: Patchogue-Medford Library: "Check out this amazing art display in our Children's Department! Take in, "The Ideal House: Kazakhstan," which exhibits the works of art from youth ages 6 to 22 years old from Kazakhstan." (Facebook) Holy Angels Regional School - Patchogue: "Second Grade participated in a Catholic Schools Week postcard/letter exchange with 45 schools within 21 states across the country. Here are the responses we received." (Facebook) Patchogue Arts Council: "Play Patchogue Bingo! You can even pop by PAC MoCA L.I. to grab your card!" (Facebook) More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Featured businesses: Events: Announcements: Johns Crazy Socks Partners with Zappos Adaptive (Details) Add your announcement Job listings: Loving the Patchogue Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at Patchogue@Patch.com Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update. Debora Whitehead This article originally appeared on the Patchogue Patch Director Han Han is determined to win again with his new film "Only Fools Rush In," and although the audience didn't rush in this time, the film still showcases Han's strong personal style. A still image from "Only Fools Rush In." [Photo courtesy of Shanghai PMF Pictures] The movie is inspired by "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and takes its title from a lyric in the song "Can't Help Falling in Love" made famous by Elvis Presley. It was a front runner at the beginning of the Spring Festival film season, regarded as the most lucrative of the year. However, it quickly fell down the ranking after negative audience reviews rushed in, making just over 518 million yuan by Feb. 13 and failing to live up to expectations. Han's previous three films "The Continent" (2014), "Duckweed" (2017) and "Pegasus" (2019), made 628 million yuan, 1.05 billion yuan and 1.73 billion yuan respectively. Han, 39, has had numerous titles throughout his professional career and prides himself on retaining a teenage spirit and passion. He was first famous as a writer, then he went on to become a professional car racer. He was also a respectable blogger and social media influencer. Then, in 2014, he challenged himself to become a film director and has enjoyed a successful filmmaking career ever since. In "Only Fools Rush In," Han continues his use of film as a means to tell his story about youth the idealist journey, the harsh and ironic realities while capturing his passion for speed. The new film tells the story of a motorcycle enthusiast played by the young star Liu Haoran. His unreliable father, played by comedy megastar Shen Teng, lives away in Guangzhou and the two rarely see each other. He lives in an island town and performs motorcycle stunts at the wharf. After falling in love with a waitress at a small restaurant played by Liu Haocun, he approaches her and joins her drama-prone brother's motorcycle team, competing in local races. But their lives are turned upside down after an accident, and the innocent young man, along with his girlfriend, has to embark on a motorcycle road trip to Guangzhou where they end up drifting in the city as they struggle to deal with their difficult situation. "I can't describe the film in one sentence, but it's a road movie. You may laugh a lot in the theater, but you will feel it's a very lonely movie in the end. Yet, you can still feel love in it," Han said. He went on to describe the relationship between the two young lovers in the film. "They support each other and want to do something for each other, but they also hope they are independent. It is great to know someone has your back and supports you." Actress Liu Haocun, an emerging star who previously starred in two of Zhang Yimou's movies "One Second" (2020) and "Cliff Walkers" (2021), said her character has a strong heart and she tried to portray her with complex layers during the beautiful moments she stars in. "The director is really nice, and he gave us a lot of room to perform and improvise freely," she said. For actor Liu Haoran, he loves Han Han's unique style of dry humor, and he saw his character in the film had a big problem with his original family. "He didn't fit in other people's lives. He is too independent and naive, and didn't take lessons from real society, so many things he said don't go along with social norms and logic." Han had big ambitions for "Only Fools Rush In," and though the film is cross-genre it's also unbalanced. It integrates young romance, motorcycle racing and stunts, catchy dialogue, nostalgia and Han's symbolic marks, exploring life, philosophy, destiny and father-son relationships. But it is also about loneliness, death, depression and cruelty. Many plotlines fall short and disappointed wider audiences looking for fun during the holiday. In one scene, the young men are swimming beside a shallow shore where they encounter a giant cargo ship, which is impossible in reality. In another, two lovers can't open the door of a hotel room because they don't know how to swipe the room key, leaving them to sleep in the hotel corridor, despite the fact that they know how to use mobile phones and the internet, where they could easily find an answer to their problem. "Trying to portray them as innocent and naive persons doesn't mean making up such plots to make them look like fools," one internet user criticized. More criticism rolled in, from "too many deliberate coincidences" to the film's tragic ending. In the end, Han Han is too cruel to himself and his work, maybe because he wants so much to get out of his comfort zone. But a lot of people in the audience believe he didn't offer any inspiration or hope in this seemingly poetic, romantic and painful coming-of-age adventure. "On the morning of auspicious Spring Festival, to watch such a tragic film does bring bad luck," read one internet user's comment that was co-signed by many others on Douban, China's film review website. One film critic also noted Han didn't think through combining his idealist story with realism, which gave rise to much of the backlash. Nevertheless, Han may still be able to fulfill one aspiration for the film. As the world increasingly turns to electric vehicles to protect the environment, he feels it is urgent and necessary to document real sounds and images of vehicles with internal combustion engines. He pointed out that he felt it's more difficult and challenging to record a motorcycle race than a car race. "Cinematographers and drones can get very close to shoot car races, for example, but you can't do the same for motorcycles. If you are too close and even hit the motorcycles, motorcyclists will get hurt and other horrible consequences will follow." To shoot the film, the cast practiced a lot. Liu Haoran even got a motorcycle driver's license after taking the professional exam. For Han Han, he still believes that even though human emotions and relationships can change over time, "the motorcycle you love will always be there for you." Multiple pileups were reported in the Metro Detroit area Sunday afternoon amid heavy snow showers and snow squalls. Police responded to a large pileup on I-696 in Oakland County that was reported after 12:45 p.m., local time. All lanes of eastbound and westbound I-696 at Orchard Lake in Oakland County were closed after the crash, as well as the northbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-696. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP As many as 35 vehicles are thought to have been involved in the crash, though police have yet to confirm the number, according to Fox 2 Detroit. "These heavy snow showers and squalls have been causing severely reduced visibility and whiteout conditions, which, combined with the quickly accumulating snow, creates a dangerous situation on the roads," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson said. "The rapidly changing visibility and snow intensity caused by squalls typically cause the biggest pileups that we see during the winter months, especially on highways where speeds are higher." Police responded to an accident on I-696 and Hoover on Sunday, Feb. 13. (Michigan Department of Transportation) Troopers were dispatched to a multi-car crash on I-96 eastbound near Grand River after a driver was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, the Michigan State Police (MSP) reported. A preliminary investigation found that the driver had been involved in one of the earlier crashes and left his vehicle to inspect the damage. Another driver was unable to stop and struck the first vehicle, pushing it into the first driver. The person was transported to the local hospital with critical head injuries, according to the MSP. The MSP advised that if someone is involved in one of the crashes, the safest place to be until responders arrive is in the car with the seatbelt fastened. Several other interstate sections are also closed due to other crashes and pileups in Macomb, Washtenaw and Wane counties as the snow continued to fall. Story continues A look at the radar on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2:50 p.m., local time. The National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory Sunday morning for areas along and between the I-94 and M-59 corridors, and the advisory is scheduled to last into the evening hours. "The spotty nature of these heavy snow showers will lead to some towns getting 3 or 4 inches of snow, while the town next door only gets an inch," Thompson said. The threat for heavier squalls and whiteouts will diminish around 8 p.m., he added. For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is preparing for "various scenarios" for a possible influx of refugees if Russia were to attack Ukraine, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said on Sunday. Washington has said Russia, which has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, could invade at any moment. Moscow denies having any such plans. "In connection with the situation in Ukraine we are preparing for various scenarios. One of them is regional preparations related to a possible influx of refugees from Ukraine," Kaminski said in a tweet published Sunday. The mayor of the eastern Polish town of Ciechanow said on Saturday that he was asked by his regional government to prepare accommodation for possible refugees. "We were asked to indicate the list of accommodation facilities for refugees, the number of people it would be possible to accommodate, the costs involved and the time for adaptation of buildings with a recommendation of up to 48 hours," Krzysztof Kosinski tweeted. Poland is home to between one and two million Ukrainians, many of whom came to the country to work. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry declined to provide more details about the preparations taking place, referring to Kaminski's tweet. Ciechanow's town hall did not respond to Reuters request for comment. In late January, Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said Poland was bracing for up to one million Ukrainian migrants. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Alicja Ptak; editing by John Stonestreet) Hey, neighbors! It's me again, Helen Eckhard, your host of the St. Louis Daily. First, today's weather: Sunny and not as cold. High: 45 Low: 26. Here are the top four stories today in St. Louis: St. Louis Police were called at 8:42 a.m. Sunday about a hold-up at the Currency Exchange in the 900 block of North Grand Boulevard. A man entered the check cashing store while two patrons were inside, handed a note to the teller, and displayed a handgun. Two police officers arrived as the suspect was leaving, and the man fired at them, then the officers fired back, shooting him in the leg. He was rushed to the hospital in critical but stable condition. (STLtoday.com) Hundreds of runners gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown St. Louis for Cupid's Undie Run, an annual event to raise money to fund research for neurofibromatosis. The event in St. Louis raised more than $71,000, the most in its 10-year history. Dozens of "brief runs" taking place nationally throughout February have raised more than $2 million for Cupids Charity, the nonprofit that hosts the events. (KSDK.com) On Friday, the citys economic development office tapped a joint venture dubbed Beyond the Bridge to administer a new $15 million housing fund meant to boost new construction and homeownership in North St. Louis and other neighborhoods that have long struggled to attract new investment. After a contract is hammered out with the joint venture, those groups, and the city will work to find sub-developers and locations for housing, with an eye to rehab and infill whole blocks. The program will recruit minority- and women-owned sub-developers and contractors in an effort to grow capacity among minority-owned businesses in the city. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) The 2022 Gateway Outdoor Expo will be taking place on Friday and Saturday, Apr. 1 and 2, at Americas Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis. The event will showcase new outdoor gear, services, and resources as well as interactive demos and experiential attractions. Entrance to the Expo will be free to the public. (RiverBender.com) From our sponsor: Story continues Today's St. Louis Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in St. Louis: COVID-19 Testing - Walnut Park Branch Library (12:00 PM) Monday Matinees: Celebrating Black Actors - Buder (1:30 PM) Grab and Go After School Meals - Lewis and Clark Branch Library (3:30 PM) Valentine's Day Yarn Love Bugs - Machacek Branch Library (4:00 PM) From my notebook: Wish a warmhearted welcome to Winnie, the new red panda at the St. Louis Zoo! The 7-year-old female red panda came to the Saint Louis Zoo upon a recommendation by the Red Panda Species Survival Plan managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (Facebook) From Feb. 18 to Feb. 21, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., the City Museum is hosting a job fair to beef up staff for the busy season. Come in and interview, get hired on the spot! (Facebook) The PrideSTL Royalty Committee and PrideSTL are happy to announce the return of the Pride Royalty Pageant. The pageant, held in partnership with River City Casino, will be on Sunday, Mar. 27 at 7 p.m. (Facebook) More from our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Lowered Costs for 2022, Get Your Cannabis Card from Home! (February 19) Add your event Loving the St. Louis Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers You're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow for another update. Helen Eckhard About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her masters degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels. This article originally appeared on the St. Louis Patch A couple share a kiss at Mather Point in Grand Canyon National Park. Anyone with even a mild case of acrophobia is familiar with the gut-flipping fear that arises while peering over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Death is one false step away. So, it may come as no shock that a European marketing company known as Outforia has identified Arizonas abyss as the most dangerous venue in America's National Park system. From accidental falls to drowning and even attacks by wild animals, over a thousand people have lost their lives in the USAs national parks, Outforia warns, using data for 62 venues from 2010 to 2020. Yet, for those who have rambled into the canyon or blundered with statistics, something about the numbers doesn't to add up: How could analysts decide places are more or less dangerous based only on total deaths, without considering the number of visitors? Consider two hypothetical communities: The first, a village of 1,000, has 50 deaths. The second, a metropolis with 1 million residents, has 51 deaths that same year. By Outforias reckoning, the big city with 51 deaths would be most dangerous. Yet, the odds of dying in the small town are roughly 1,000 times greater. Via email, Outforia spokeswoman Rachel Fernandes said researchers used only death counts because they "werent able to get visitor numbers for all the parks." The company data sheet includes annual visitor numbers for each location. "Though Mother Nature is beautiful, she can also be deadly, with thousands of visitors, even the most experienced adventurers, getting into trouble every year," Fernandes noted. "We create resources to educate adventurers about all the risks of the great outdoors, so they undertake every adventure as prepared as they can be." Questionable use of data is not a new phenomenon. Mark Twain grumbled about lies, damned lies and statistics long before computers. But, in the information and Internet age, lists containing dubious superlatives have proliferated. Story continues Often a marketing ploy, companies and advocacy groups churn out press releases enumerating the most vicious dog breeds, most dangerous cities, best beaches, most popular people, etcetera. The news outlet, oneindia.com, even published an article under the headline, "FBI Lists Most Dangerous Zodiac Signs: What Type of Criminal Are You?" (That narrative, widely disseminated online, was false. The FBI created no such list.) Which brings us back to the most dangerous parks, and the issue of discernment. Sarah Cohen, journalism chair at Arizona State University, said it seems axiomatic that the Grand Canyon would have more deaths than most parks because it is one of the most visited places in the world. She stressed that, when calculating danger, certain pitfalls similar to cliffs should be avoided. On one hand, popular parks likely will have more fatalities without being more dangerous. On the other hand, if a small park with few visitors has even a few fatalities, its danger ratio may be exceptionally high, yet not statistically significant. Alex Honnold, a free soloist, climbs El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. (National Geographic/Jimmy Chin) [Via MerlinFTP Drop] Cohen added that parks which differ dramatically in size, purpose and other characteristics may not be comparable at all. She lives near Rock Creek National Park, a metropolitan historical attraction of 1,754 acres in Washington, D.C., with about 2.4 million one-day visits. By contrast, Yosemite covers 759,620 acres of rugged mountains and sees roughly 4 million annual visits, many of them overnight adventurers. Is the Grand Canyon perilous, or not? Outforia describes itself as the worlds new favorite place to discover everything you seek plus much more you never knew about regarding the beautiful wilderness of Planet Earth. Grand Canyon National Park dangers are evident, the company notes, with drops of 100 feet into the base of the canyon itself. (In fact, the chasm is roughly a mile deep with sheer plunges more than a thousand feet in some places.) During the decade studied, 134 visitor deaths were recorded, 27 of them from falls. Last year, 1Point21 Interactive a California market branding company was retained by the law firm Panish Shea and Boyle to figure out just how risky U.S. recreation sites really are. Based on government data from 2007 to 2018, they identified 2,727 deaths at 59 attractions overseen by the Park Service, including recreation areas not included in the Outforia study. During that time, there were 3.5 billion visitors or just under 8 fatalities per 10 million visits. If you look at the data, national parks are not dangerous at all, said Brian Beltz, head of content at 1Point21. Indeed, Beltz added, a hazard rating system that does not account for per capita deaths is completely wrong. Based on deaths per visitor, Grand Canyon does not even make the top 20. Instead, North Cascades National Park had by far the highest ratio of fatalities. The mountain-climbing destination in Washington state tallied just 19 deaths over a dozen years. But, with only 291,255 visitors during that time, it worked out to 652 fatalities per 10 million people a mortality rate six times Alaskas Denali National Park, which ranked second. Outforias data sheet, which covers a time span overlapping the years studied by 1Point21, ranks North Cascades among the least dangerous national parks, showing no deaths from 2010 to 2020. (Asked about the discrepancy, a Fernandes said Outforia used data supplied by the Park Service in response to a public records request.) 'We can accidentally love our parks to death': How to protect crowded national parks Snow-capped peaks mark the mountain-climbing attraction at North Cascades National Park. Karlie Roland, NPS.gov The chance of dying: less than 1 in a million The federal Park Service oversees more than 400 outdoor recreation sites, including preserves, seashores, islands, recreation areas and 63 listed as national parks. Some are remote destinations from glacial Gates of the Arctic to baked desert in Death Valley and Virgin Islands tropical beaches. The most popular location, Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, sees about 12.5 million visitors a year. It was listed by Outforia as the third most dangerous park with 92 deaths in a decade. In 1Point21's analysis based on fatalities per visitor, it is 45th. The Park Service's website debunks frightening notions about safety, noting that from 2014 to 2016 the mortality rate nationwide at federal parks amounted to 0.1 deaths per 100,000 recreation visits which is very low when compared to the mortality rate of the overall U.S. population (844 deaths/100,000 people.) Safety over selfie: National park visitors can't seem to stop getting too close to wildlife The chance of dying during a visit: less than one in a million. In an email, Park Service spokeswoman Cynthia Hernandez noted, "While hundreds of millions of visitors to national parks across the country have safe and fulfilling experiences every year, its important that visitors understand that national parks are wild and natural places." Hernandez said trip planning and preparation are crucial, including an understanding of possible hazards and how to avoid or overcome them. Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs with the National Parks Conservation Association, said the Outforia numbers seem misleading, but also contradict a notion that the outdoor recreation sites are dangerous. "The first thing that struck me is that these parks are much safer than even I anticipated," said Brengel. "It just goes to show what a great job the National Park Service does." How people die in national parks? In the movie, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," there's a famous scene where a posse has trapped the protagonists on a cliff overlooking a river. Butch decides the only hope is a leap into the water below. Sundance adamantly refuses, blurting, "I can't swim." Butch breaks out laughing: "Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill ya." In fact, the Park Service and 1Point21 Interactive found that more people die from drowning than any other cause in National Parks. Nearly a quarter of all park deaths involve swimmers, boaters, river rafters and others at places such as Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, according to 1Point21. An emergency rescue boat speeds to aid a BASE jumper who was killed in 2006 after his parachute failed to fully open following a leap from the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, W.Va. AP Photo/The Register-Herald, Lew Whitener Outforia, which did not include national recreation areas in its analysis, identified falls as the No. 1 cause of death in U.S. parks. That analysis does not appear to separate suicides from accidental falls. In the Park Services three-year analysis, deaths by suicide are nearly two times more common than accidental falls. Places with iconic bridges New River Gorge, Natchez Trace Parkway and Blue Ridge Parkway account for a disproportionate number of suicides. Moreover, the data suggests that many other fatalities have nothing to do with inherent dangers of the great outdoors. According to 1Point21's data, car crashes and suicides, along with natural and undetermined causes, accounted for half of all fatalities during the study years. The big takeaway from 1Point21's analysis: Visiting U.S. National Parks is very safe overall despite frightening anecdotes and statistical reports that may suggest otherwise. Cohen, the journalism professor, said the lesson may be that, even with something as simple as vacation plans, its wise to question how data are used: Avoid naivete without becoming so skeptical that youre cynical. Besides, Cohen added, people go to wild places with an understanding that being out in a beautiful, natural area carries some danger. Latest news on National Parks: National Park Service approves first entrance fees for Indiana park Here are the best national parks for families to visit this winter From grime to gleam, America's national parks, monuments get a much needed makeover This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Most dangerous' national parks rankings by Outforia are flawed Four people, including rapper Kodak Black, were wounded on Saturday morning during a shooting outside a West Hollywood, Calif., bar where a host of celebrities had gathered for a party. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department said the four people who were injured in the shooting are in stable condition and are expected to recover. The police source did not release the names of the victims. Kodak Black, 24, was among those wounded in the shooting, NBC News reported, citing multiple law enforcement sources. The shooting happened around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday at the 400 block of N. La Cienega Boulevard, police said. NBC reported that the location was outside of Nice Guy, an Italian restaurant, where Justin Bieber was holding an after-party event following a concert. Videos obtained by TMZ showed a fight breaking out before gunshots were fired. A police spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and there are no suspects at this time. Kodak Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was granted clemency last year by former President Donald Trump and released from prison after being sentenced to 46 months for making a false statement on a federal document. I trust you, but baby, you dont know how to draw, said Offset. Rappers Cardi B and Offset tattooed their wedding anniversary date on each other on her Facebook Watch show, Cardi Tries. Hey guys, Im going to do something crazy for Valentines Day for my husband, she said in a teaser for the episode posted on her Instagram on Friday. Im going to give him a tattoo. You know, I wanna do something really special, so make sure you guys check out this episode where me and Set are getting tatted, she added. During a visit to a tattoo shop that Offset frequents, she revealed to the Migos rapper that they would be tattooing each other to honor their wedding date of September 20, 2017. Youre supposed to trust me Im your wife, the Grammy-award-winning rapper exclaimed before the two practiced tattooing on synthetic skin. I trust you, but baby, you dont know how to draw, Offset responded. After tattooing Offset, Cardi was pleasantly shocked by the outcome saying, actually, I did pretty good! When it was time for her to get a tattoo, the rapper was a bit reluctant and visibly squeamish, but she was happy about the end results. This is the rappers second tattoo dedicated to her husband. Cardi also has the word Offset tattooed on the back of her thigh. Offset of Migos (L) and Cardi B attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images For dcp) Though the couple is celebrating love and their fourth year of marriage, their relationship has not always been smooth sailing. Back in December 2018, Cardi announced that the couple split after rumors of Offsets infidelity circulated. Offset publicly apologized on his Instagram, calling himself a selfish, messed-up husband and surprised her during her Rolling Loud set asking for her to take him back. She eventually did. Cardi filed for divorce in Georgia back in 2020, however, calling the relationship irretrievably broken, before calling it off two months later. The couple welcomed a son last year and share a 3-year-old daughter, Kulture Kiari. In an interview with E! News in late 2021, Cardi said that shes never been happier in her marriage to Offset and that they are working through their issues. Story continues We went through some challenges, she said. I feel like, not even with just with marriage, but our family and unity, the friendship that we have. The I have your back, you have my back. Its never been stronger. The couple did it big for Offsets birthday back in December, with Cardi gifting him $2 million and throwing a lavish party. Have you subscribed to theGrio podcasts, Dear Culture or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Download theGrio today! The post Rappers Cardi B and Offset tattoo marriage date on each other on Facebook Live show appeared first on TheGrio. KYIV (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy to Ukraine's remaining diplomatic staff will work from the western city of Lviv, online newspaper Ukrainskaya Pravda cited a U.S. diplomatic source as saying on Sunday, amid mounting fears of a possible Russian invasion. The U.S. embassy to Ukraine could not immediately be reached for comment. Washington said on Saturday it was ordering most staff at its embassy in Kyiv to leave Ukraine immediately due to the threat of an invasion by Russia. "This is a temporary decision, the embassy team will return to Kyiv as soon as the security situation allows," Ukrainskaya Pravda's source was quoted as saying. U.S. warnings that the Russian build-up of more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine could herald an invasion have become increasingly urgent in recent days. Moscow has denied that it plans to invade and has accused the West of hysteria. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by) ADEN (Reuters) -Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen struck again at telecommunications compound in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Monday, residents said, following an earlier round of attacks on the site around dawn. The coalition said earlier on Monday it had destroyed a Houthi system used to control drones, accusing the Iran-aligned movement of using telecommunications ministry headquarters to "launch hostile operations". Houthi telecommunications minister Misfer Al-Numair denied that the facilities were being used for military purposes. The coalition, battling the Houthis for nearly seven years, said it asked civilians in ministries to evacuate before the operation carried out in response to last week's drone attack on Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, which injured twelve people. Residents and the Houthi-run Al Masirah television channel reported another attack on the Sanaa compound, which also houses the TeleYemen telecoms company building, on Monday evening. A TeleYemen official told Reuters that employees had been evacuated. Internet and phone services were working, residents said. Houthi forces have frequently fired drones and missiles at Saudi cities, and recently expanded attacks to coalition member the United Arab Emirates. The alliance has retaliated with air strikes inside Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from Sanaa. The movement says it is fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari and Reyam Mokhashef; Additional reporting by Alaa Swilam, Omar Fahmy and Nayera Abdallah; Writing by Alaa Swilam and Ghaida Ghantous; editing by Angus MacSwan) Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would "forever change" US-Russia relations. Graham called for immediate sanctions against Russia, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin's "provocation." The White House last week warned Russia could invade before the Winter Olympics conclude. Sen. Lindsey Graham warned on Sunday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would destroy US-Russian relations for years to come. "If Russia invades the Ukraine, you will destroy the US-Russian relationship for decades, and every president in the near term will be put in a box when it comes to dealing with Russia," Graham said. "So I hope Putin understands that." The South Carolina Republican made the comments on ABC News "This Week" on Sunday, calling for a stronger sanctions package to be passed by Congress. "I'm convinced that we could do more in Congress and should. We've been working in a bipartisan fashion for about three weeks now to come up with pre-invasion, post-invasion sanctions, and the White House keeps pushing back," Graham said. Democrats and the White House have proposed sanctions that take effect pending an invasion, while Republicans have argued for sanctions to preclude an invasion, Politico reported. National security advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday said there is a "credible prospect" that Russia could invade Ukraine before the Winter Olympics conclude on February 20. President Joe Biden said it would be "wise" for Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately, adding that he would not send troops to rescue Americans who stay in the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said she believed Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to invade Ukraine, but said she hoped sanctions imposed by the US would deter him. Story continues "If we were not threatening the sanctions and the rest, it would guarantee that Putin would invade. Let's hope that diplomacy works," Pelosi, a California Democrat, said. Graham called for immediate action, saying Congress needs to pass a package that "would destroy the ruble and cripple the Russian economy so Putin could see it in writing." He added that the potential invasion and resulting sanctions would leave Russia's relationship with the US "forever changed." "He should be punished now. What I can't get over is that the world is allowing him to do all this without consequence," Graham said, citing how Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 and now has amassed over 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border. "He's paying no price at all, so I'd like to hit him now for the provocation and have sanctions spelled out very clearly, what happens to the ruble and his oil and gas economy. I think that's what's missing," Graham said. "We're talking way too much and we're doing too little," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider You are here: China Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order promulgating a set of regulations on the experiment and assessment of military equipment. The regulations stipulate the basic tasks, contents and management mechanisms of military equipment experiment and assessment under new circumstances, and serve as the fundamental rule of relevant work. The regulations, consisting of 56 articles in 11 chapters, took effect on Feb. 10. For decades, Barcelona has been Spains unassailable city-break destination. But with notable new and reimagined properties from the likes of Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Rosewood Hotels, plus upcoming debuts from Edition Hotels and JW Marriott, the long-maligned capital of Madrid now boasts serious luxury-travel clout. The citys current buzz was never a dead cert. Four Seasons opened in late 2020 in a grand heritage building just steps from Kilometro Cero, considered the geographic center of Spain. That may sound like a prime location, but well-heeled Madrilenos, who had long compared the areadisparaginglyto Times Square, were bemused. And yet Four Seasons arrival in the historic district was emblematic of hospitality brands nascent interest in Madrid, a vote of confidence in a destination underappreciated even by locals. More from Robb Report The bar at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid. - Credit: Manolo Yllera Manolo Yllera Plans for the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, the centerpiece of a roughly $700 million development that also includes residences and a high-end shopping mall, began as far back as 2012, making it a significant gamble at the time. But with Barcelona subsequently plagued by political unrest, protests and antipathy toward holidaymakers amid damning reports of over-tourismbefore the pandemic, a moratorium was declared on new hotels in popular districtsthe wager appears to have paid off. And Four Seasons wasnt the only player to bet on Madrids future. According to the citys hospitality staff, the story is the same: The instability in Barcelona spooked investors, so luxury hotel brands looked inland. That list includes Mandarin Oriental, with the Hong Kong hotel group putting the Ritz, the citys Belle Epoque grande dame established by Cesar Ritz in 1910, through a multiyear renovation after acquiring it in 2015. The newly christened Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid reopened in mid-2021 with a subterranean pool lit by chandeliers and a golden-hued restaurant, Deessa, where chef Quique Dacostas theatrical menu might include an egg whose casing is a film of whipped white asparagus. All that increased prestige comes at a (higher) price: Whereas rates prior to MOs arrival averaged about $400, they now start from $1,020. Story continues One of the clean, modern design abounds at the new Rosewood Villa Magna. - Credit: Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels One mile north, at Villa Magna, its a similar situation. Established in 1972, the hotel closed for refurbishment in late 2020 and reopened as Rosewood Villa Magna a year later. (Staff claim the hotels owners wanted to partner with a major hospitality brand to amplify recognition internationally, not least because of the suddenly fierce local competition.) Rosewoods customary sophistication is evident throughout, including at the Tarde.O bar, with its discreet courtyard and skilled mixologists who can rustle up 400 cocktailstry the signature Negroni, aged for 72 hours in countertop clay potsand the handsome Amos restaurant helmed by Michelin three-star Jesus Sanchez. Accordingly, nightly rates have jumped from roughly $650 pre-reopening to about $800 now, and are expected to settle around $1,000 or more. Back at the Four Seasons, where rates start at about $1,100 per night, Dani Garcias rooftop restaurant, Dani, is a casually beautiful burst of cherry reds and glossy greens, with a terrace that overlooks a sprawl of imposing landmarks, including the Casino de Madrid and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Far from a stuffy, special-occasion restaurant, Four Seasons wanted a hip, energizing venue that locals could embrace. Which is exactly what I discovered during my visit, with Dani at capacity and a multitude of diners stepping outside to take a fresh look at their home city. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters The village of Aceredo, Spain, was flooded in 1992 to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir. Due to drought, the reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing the ruins of the old town. Tourists including some who knew it before it was underwater are now visiting Aceredo. A near-empty reservoir in Spain has revealed the ruins of Aceredo, a ghost village that has been underwater since 1992. The village, located on the Spain-Portugal border, was purposefully flooded using a dam in order to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir, Reuters reported. The ruins of Aceredo are now attracting tourists to the old, muddy streets and dilapidated buildings. The water level in the Alto Lindoso reservoir is at 15% of its capacity, revealing a village that has been stuck in time, Reuters reported. A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters The ruins of Aceredo village include partially destroyed buildings and lots of loose debris. A house is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters There are signs of life that once occupied the village, including an old cafe, a drinking fountain that is still spewing water, and a rusty car. A house is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters The mayor of the area, Maria del Carmen Yanez, said drought and the low levels of rain in recent months were to blame for the low water levels, Reuters reported. The roof of a house is seen in the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters She also blamed Portugal's power utility that manages the reservoir, accusing it of "quite aggressive exploitation." A house is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters Portugal's power utility told the outlet drought was the cause of the low water level and that they are "efficiently" managing the water resources they control. A submerged tree is seen at the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters Maximino Perez Romero, a 65-year-old from the area, told Reuters: "It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," adding: "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change." A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters Jose Alvarez, who worked construction in Aceredo before it was submerged, told the outlet: "It's terrible, but it is what it is. That's life. Some die and others live." A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters Tourists are now coming to see the remains of a village that has been inaccessible for decades. A general view shows the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged by Limia river in the 1990s after the dam was built in Concello de Lobios, Spain, February 10, 2022. Miguel Vidal/Reuters Read the original article on Insider The St. Petersburg Police Department is offering an award of up to $5,000 for information regarding the death of a 25-year-old man who police say suffered gunshot wounds before dying in a fiery car crash early Saturday morning. At 3 a.m. Feb. 12, police responded to reports of a crash on Tyrone Boulevard near Ninth Avenue in St. Petersburg, where a white Infiniti had lost control, flipped and was in flames. Police identified the driver as Demond Perry, who was trapped in the car. Perry was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died, according to police. On Sunday morning, police learned that Perry had suffered gunshot wounds prior to the crash, according to a release by the St. Petersburg Police Department. The department is investigating the death as a homicide the first in St. Petersburg in 2022 and are seeking help from the public. Police are asking anyone with information regarding Perrys death to contact 1-800-873-8477 or to leave a tip online at crimestoppersofpinellas.org. This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates. Russian soldiers attend a military training at the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia Fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine dominated the Sunday morning political shows, with multiple guests weighing in on the concerns. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned that an "assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy." She also discussed Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) remarks about inflation, the "defund the police" movement and whether she would run again for Speaker if Democrats retain the House in November. Read The Hill's complete coverage below. Pelosi: 'An assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy' By MYCHAEL SCHNELL Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday said "an assault on Ukraine is an assault on democracy," as concerns mount that Russia is planning an incursion that U.S. officials warn could happen "any day now." Asked by anchor George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week" what Russian President Vladimir Putin should know from Pelosi about the consequences of an invasion of Ukraine, Pelosi emphasized that "there are very severe consequences to his aggression," adding that "we are united in using them." Read the full story here Pentagon press secretary says time is 'shrinking' in diplomatic efforts with Russia over Ukraine By JOSEPH CHOI Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said on Sunday that time is "shrinking" when it comes to finding a diplomatic resolution to the Russian military buildup at the Ukrainian border, as U.S. officials warn that an invasion could come within days. Read the full story here Sullivan warns Russian buildup could result in 'major military action very soon' By MYCHAEL SCHNELL National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said Russia's buildup of forces near the Ukraine border "makes it a distinct possibility that there will be major military action very soon," as tensions grow between Moscow and Kyiv amid fears of a potential Russian invasion. Read the full story here GOP senator backs Biden's refusal to send military to evacuate Americans in Ukraine By JOSEPH CHOI Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy (R) on Sunday voiced his support for President Biden's refusal to send U.S. troops into Ukraine to evacuate Americans in the country if Russia invades, saying people should use common sense. Read the full story here Pelosi says 'defund the police' is 'not the position of the Democratic Party' By MYCHAEL SCHNELL Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday said "defund the police" is "not the position of the Democratic Party," a direct response to Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who recently said she stands behind the slogan despite some of her colleagues disagreeing with the phrase. Read the full story here Pelosi won't say if she'll run for Speaker again if Democrats win By MYCHAEL SCHNELL Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday would not say if she plans to run for Speaker again if the Democratic Party holds control of the House after the November midterm elections. Read the full story here Graham says Trump 'hurting his chances' at reelection by focusing on 2020 By MYCHAEL SCHNELL Sen. Lindsey Graham (D-S.C.C) on Sunday said former President Trump is "hurting his chances" at reelection by staying focused on the 2020 presidential election. Read the full story here By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's president cemented his grip over the judiciary on Sunday with a decree that lets him dismiss judges or block their promotion, helping consolidate his power after he seized executive authority last summer in a move his foes call a coup. President Kais Saied outraged his opponents and alarmed democratic foreign allies with his announcement last week that he was dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council, a body that guaranteed judicial independence. Several thousand people took to the streets of the capital Tunis on Sunday to protest against the measures. "Shut down the coup... take your hands off the judiciary," some chanted as they gathered in central Tunis. The protest was organised by the moderate Islamist Ennahda, the biggest party in the suspended parliament that has emerged as Saied's most vocal opponent, and by a separate civil society organisation. Saied, a former constitutional lawyer and whose wife is a judge, has accused the council of acting for political interests and has set up a temporary replacement to oversee judges' work while he prepares broader changes. The judiciary was seen as the last remaining institutional check on Saied's actions after he suspended parliament last year and said he could rule by decree. Anas Hamaidi, president of the Tunisian Judges Association, said he feared there could now be a wave of sackings of judges. "We will move forward in protecting the legitimate judicial authority," he said in a statement, hinting that judges could stage more strikes, after going on strike last week. Youssef Bouzakher, head of the dissolved Supreme Council rejected the decree, describing it as "unconstitutional that ends guarantees of the independence of the judiciary". Saied has said his actions were temporary and were needed to save Tunisia from a corrupt, self-serving elite that had allowed its economy and politics to stagnate for years and brought the state to the brink of collapse. Story continues Some Supreme Judicial Council members and other judges demonstrated last week and shut down many courts with a two-day strike in protest at Saied's moves on the judiciary. However, Saied issued a new decree early on Sunday creating a temporary new council, with no fixed term, to oversee the judiciary and saying judges had no right to go on strike. The decree also said Saied has the right to object to the promotion or nomination of any judges and is responsible for proposing judicial reforms, effectively giving him sole power over the entire justice system. Saied has already seized absolute control over both executive and legislative authority, and his critics accuse him of seeking dictatorial powers and undermining rule of law. He has said he will uphold rights and freedoms won in the 2011 revolution that brought democracy and that he will put a new constitution to a referendum this summer, with new parliamentary elections to follow in December. However, with Tunisia facing a rapidly looming crisis in public finances, the Western donors that have previously bailed it out have voiced deep concern at Saied's moves and have said any political process needs to be inclusive. "What has happened is the completion of the coup... Tunisia has become a nascent dictatorship after being a nascent democracy," Nadia Salem, one of the protesters, said. (Reporting By Tarek Amara; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Frances Kerry and Susan Fenton) KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine on Sunday advised airlines to avoid flying over the open waters of the Black Sea from Monday to Saturday due to Russian naval exercises taking place there. More than 30 Russian ships have started training exercises near the Crimea peninsula as part of wider navy drills, RIA news agency reported on Saturday. "From tomorrow, airlines are advised not to fly ...over this area, and to plan optimal routes in advance, taking into account the current situation," Ukraine's state air traffic service said. It said the airspace over the territory of Ukraine remained open. A senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday that Ukraine sees no point closing its airspace in response to Moscow's troop build-up, as Dutch airline KLM - part of Air France - said it would stop flying to Ukraine and Germany's Lufthansa said it was considering suspending flights. The United States has said Russia could invade Ukraine at any time. Moscow denies any plan to invade, saying it is maintaining its own security against aggression by NATO allies. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by John Stonestreet) KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine on Sunday received a consignment of Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition by plane from Lithuania, the defense ministry in Kyiv said. Earlier on Sunday two other planes delivered about 180 tonnes of ammunition from the United States, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Ukraine had so far received almost 1,500 tonnes of ammunition delivered on 17 flights, he said on Twitter. Military officials say Ukraine has significantly strengthened its armed forces with the help of allies, equipping the army, in particular, with American and British anti-tank systems and Turkish drones. The United States and allies say Russia could invade Ukraine at any moment. Russia, which has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, denies having any such plan. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk) China's central authorities have agreed to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government in taking all measures needed to contain the fifth wave of COVID-19, a senior official said Saturday. John Lee, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government, told a news conference here that the central government and Guangdong Province will take measures to ensure the supply of food and daily necessities to Hong Kong, and five task forces will be established to strengthen Hong Kong's capacities in testing and quarantine, among others. Hong Kong does not plan to impose a lockdown at the current stage, said Lee, who led a delegation of Hong Kong officials to meet with mainland officials on Saturday in the neighboring southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, where they discussed ways to help Hong Kong to curb the latest resurgence of COVID-19. Due to the rapid spread of the virus, Hong Kong has encountered bottlenecks in facilities, and when such issues are resolved, Hong Kong will be containing COVID-19 in a more effective way, said Lee. Hong Kong's current anti-epidemic strategy is consistent with that of the Chinese mainland, which is to promptly detect and precisely contain the spread of the virus to save lives, according to Lee, who said he believes that the current social-distancing measures will produce results. The HKSAR government will prioritize protecting the people's lives as well as public health and safety, he said, noting that the "dynamic zero-case" strategy can best achieve this goal. HONOLULU (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts Saturday in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests. Blinken said at a news conference after the meeting that North Korea was in a phase of provocation and the three countries condemned the recent missile launches. We are absolutely united in our approach, in our determination, Blinken said after his talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong. He said the countries were very closely consulting on further steps they may take in response to North Korea, but didn't offer specifics. The three released a joint statement calling on North Korea to engage in dialogue and cease its unlawful activities. They said they had no hostile intent toward North Korea and were open to meeting Pyongyang without preconditions. Hayashi later told Japanese reporters the three ministers had very fruitful discussion on the North. He declined to give details on additional measures they may take. North Korea has a long history of using provocations such as missile or nuclear tests to seek international concessions. The latest tests come as the Norths economy, already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling U.S.-led sanctions, is hit hard by pandemic border closures. Many see the tests as an attempt to pressure President Joe Bidens administration into easing the sanctions. The Biden administration has shown no willingness to do so without meaningful cuts to the Norths nuclear program, but it has offered open-ended talks. North Korea has rebuffed U.S. offers to resume diplomacy, saying it wont return to talks unless Washington drops what it says are hostile polices. The North bristles at both the sanctions and regular military exercises the U.S. holds with South Korea. The tests also have a technical component, allowing North Korea to hone its weapons arsenal. One of the missiles recently tested the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile is capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. It was the longest-distance weapon the North has tested since 2017. Story continues North Korea appears to be pausing its tests during the Winter Olympics in China, its most important ally and economic lifeline. But analysts believe North Korea will dramatically increase its weapons testing after the Olympics. The recent tests have rattled Pyongyang's neighbors in South Korea and Japan. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who helped set up the historic talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019, said last month that the tests were a violation UN Security Council resolutions and urged the North to cease actions that create tensions and pressure. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006. It made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and the countrys increasingly sophisticated nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China and Russia, citing the North's economic difficulties, have called for lifting sanctions like those banning seafood exports and prohibitions on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. Blinken arrived in Hawaii from Fiji, where he met with Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and other Pacific leaders to talk about regional issues, especially the existential risk posed by climate change. It was the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Fiji since 1985. He started his Pacific tour in Australia, where he met his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. The four nations form the Quad, a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter Chinas regional influence. Hayashi and Chung held a separate bilateral meeting Saturday for about 40 minutes before seeing Blinken. Japans Foreign Ministry said they reaffirmed the importance of cooperating together and with the United States to respond to North Korea and to achieve regional stability. The ministry said they also frankly exchanged views on ongoing disputes between the two countries, including wartime Korean laborers and sexual abuse of Korean women forced into sexual servitude by Japans imperial army. Chung proposed the two countries accelerate diplomacy to find solutions to the disagreements, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Blinken also met separately with Chung. He met Hayashi earlier this week in Australia. ___ Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. USPS is working to keep up with surging package delivery, yet delivery times are often impacted. As a local business owner in Florida, we have been reading about this shipping issue for years. Some of the changes in USPS practices impact our businessslower delivery times and higher postage rates affect our business the most. Target Print & Mail is a locally-owned second-generation woman-owned business in Tallahassee, and were pleased to be celebrating our 40th year in business this year. We are grateful for a community who has continued to choose us for their print and mail projects. We employ a diverse team of 21 printing and mailing industry veterans, and we deliver multiple pallets of mail to the post office every day. Amazon and others are keeping their package shipping rates artificially low while small businesses and families absorb the added costs, especially around the holidays. This is bankrupting the Postal Service and causing quality and speed issues with mail delivery. We see USPS is working to keep up with surging package delivery, yet delivery times for all of us are often impacted. We hope our state leaders, like Sen. Rick Scott and his colleagues in the US Senate, are focusing on protecting taxpayers and businesses here in Florida. We would like to see our post office succeed, and its difficult to do so under these conditions. For the sake of businesses like ours and American taxpayers, our representatives in government should prioritize transparency and pricing reforms that are desperately needed at USPS. We join other local business owners who hope that Amazon, and other big parcel shippers, pay their fair share and support the struggling Postal Service for the good of small businesses, families, and communities across the country. Our leaders who share the values of working families and small businesses must guide their colleagues in the right direction. It is important that leaders take the reins and ensure that USPS business practices are fair for everyone. Tracey Cohen Tracey Cohen owns Target Print & Mail in Tallahassee, Florida. Story continues JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: USPS desperately needs more Congressional oversight | Opinion Metas Reality Labs VR division has yet to disclose how many Quest 2 headsets it has sold to date. What we do know is that it recently became more popular than ever. On Christmas Day 2021, the Oculus app hit the top of Apples App Store charts for the first time. The software achieved that milestone thanks to everyone who bought a Quest 2 headset to gift to their friends and loved ones. In another more amusing sign of just how popular VR headsets are becoming, insurer Aviva said last year it saw a 31 percent increase in home contents claims involving VR headsets and a 68 percent overall increase since 2016. In 2021, the average claim for VR-related accidental damages was about 650 or $880, and most incidents involved cracked TVs screens. As new games and gadgets become popular, we often see this playing through in the claims made by our customers, Kelly Whittington, Avivas UK property claims director, told The Guardian . In the past, weve seen similar trends involving consoles with handsets, fitness games and even the likes of rogue fidget spinners. Feb. 12BELFAST, Maine A man indicted in a decades-old cold case death in Waldo County pleaded guilty Friday to a manslaughter charge. Police arrested Kirt Damon Sr., of Stockton Springs, in 2020 and charged him with murder stemming from the death of 63-year-old Dorothea Burke. He was 20 when she was last seen alive the night of June 23, 1984 at a Bucksport bar. Construction workers found her body on the side of a dirt road in Stockton Springs five days later. Damon, now 58, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, but did plead guilty to the lesser charge on Friday during a hearing at the Waldo Judicial Center in Belfast. "Are you pleading guilty to this charge because you are, in fact, guilty of this charge?" Superior Court Justice Robert Murray asked Damon. After a pause, he answered. "I am, your honor," he said quietly. For his sentence, Murray ultimately agreed with the recommendation that was jointly presented by state prosecutors and Damon's defense team that Damon would spend 20 years in prison with all but 12 years suspended, followed by four years of probation. According to the terms of his probation, he will be barred from having contact with 20 or so people, including some who would have served as witnesses if the trial had gone forward. The conviction was a long time coming. Police had interviewed Damon several times over the years as part of the murder investigation, beginning the day her body was discovered. But he steadfastly denied his involvement in her death. Over the years, though, advancements in forensic science and more witnesses, including Damon's ex-wife, coming forward to tell police about things Damon had told them allowed the state to finally prosecute the case. Among the things that Damon said was that another man had been involved in Burke's death. That man died at sea in the early 1990s, prosecutors said. Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea said after the hearing that it's hard to reconstitute a motive so many years later. But, she said, it is likely that it was simple. Story continues "They took her purse and she had money in her purse," Zainea said. Lara Nomani, an assistant attorney general, spent about half an hour going over the evidence that would have been presented if the case had gone to trial. The prosecutor told the court that on the evening of June 23, Burke was celebrating her birthday and going to a wedding reception in Prospect. She got ready at her daughter Ruth Shute's house, and made sure she had plenty of her preferred cigarettes Bright 100s at hand. The two women, who planned to see each other the following day at a birthday party Shute was throwing for her mother, said goodbye. At the wedding reception, some of Burke's family members showered her with confetti and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. "That confetti would later be important," Nomani said. Witnesses who would have testified also saw Damon at the reception, talking to Burke, who decided to leave to go dancing elsewhere at 9:15 p.m. Both Damon and Burke eventually went to the two Bucksport bars. One witness would have testified about seeing Burke arrive at Captain Jack's in a compact red car in the company of a young man who looked like Damon, Nomani said. The next day, after Burke didn't come home and didn't go to her own birthday party, her family reported her missing and began to search for her. When her body was finally found, it appeared to police that her body had been dragged away from the road. She was wearing the same clothes she had worn to the wedding black pants, a maroon blouse and a pink sweater and investigators found pieces of confetti in her hair. She had obvious wounds to her face, including lacerations and multiple fractures. Dorothea Burke Credit: Courtesy of the Maine State Police During the investigation, police searched Damon's mother's car, a red Chevette. They collected confetti from the passenger's seat and cigarette butts from Bright 100s, Nomani said. Over the years, she said, Damon made various statements to his friends and family, including that he and his friend backed the car over Burke, moved her body and then took her money. He also said that Burke's death was an accident. But Burke's injuries were not consistent with being run over, prosecutors said. They showed that she died by blunt force trauma to the head, likely caused by a baseball bat or a two-by-four. Her family "had to live with the thought that Dot was discarded on a desolate road like she was a beer can or cigarette butt," Zainea said. The decades of questions about who had done this to her were very hard, family members wrote in letters that were read to the court by a victim witness advocate. The murder shattered feelings of safety and peace in Stockton Springs, a small town where people thought they knew their neighbors, "It was a day that our hearts were broken forever. Our lives changed forever," Kimberly Burke, the daughter-in-law of Dorothea Burke, said. "For more than 37 years, Kirt went on with his life like nothing ever happened. I hope he spends the rest of his life in prison." Damon chose to not address the court. There are challenges inherent in prosecuting a case that's as old as this one, Zainea said. It relies in part upon "fading memories," but also new information from witnesses who previously were nervous about testifying against Damon. "This was a good resolution for the family," she said after the hearing. "It gave them some closure after nearly 40 years. I think there was some relief for the family." More articles from the BDN Watch: Rain and wind set to hit the UK on Wednesday People across Britain have been warned to brace themselves for high winds and heavy rain this week, with weather warnings in place for the whole country. The Met Office warned that gusts of wind could reach 90mph, with the entire country set to face a blustery week. There is a possibility that the weather system causing the high winds could become a named storm, which would mean the arrival of Storm Dudley. The country is set to face heavy rain and high winds this week. (PA) The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of the country. (Twitter/Met Office) The Met Office had issued a yellow alert for wind on Wednesday and Thursday for parts of Northern Ireland, most of Scotland and the north of England, but had warned that that could be upgraded. Meteorologist Tom Morgan warned that "this whole week is going to see quite a disturbed weather pattern developing across the UK". The worst of the wind is set to hit midweek, with a 24-hour weather warning in force from 6pm on Wednesday, covering the Orkney Islands down to parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Read more: Reckless motorists caught driving dangerously to get around bin trucks Watch: Storms Malik and Corrie hit Scotland and north-east England in January "Thats likely to bring some severe gales and possibly storm force winds to parts of this region," Morgan added. "Western parts of Scotland look like bearing the brunt of the strongest winds, where we could see gusts of 80mph to 90mph on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. "Thats strong enough to bring some quite widespread disruption, and its an area of the country thats seen several named storms this winter season already." Clouds and rain cover the hills beyond the Welsh village of Treherbert at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley as heavy rainfall in the area. Picture date: Sunday February 13, 2022. As part of the yellow wind warning, the forecaster said inland gusts could reach 60-70mph, with exposed coasts and hills seeing speeds reaching 90mph. He said parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England could also see snow, with the potential of snow and ice warnings over the next few days. He added: "The southern parts of England and Wales will see their turn. It looks very, very windy in the south at this stage for Friday. "There could be some quite widespread travel disruption in parts of the UK through this week. All parts of the UK will see some very strong winds at times. "Its Scotland and the Norths turn on Wednesday and into Thursday, and then its probably going to be the southern parts of England and Wales that will see the very strongest winds on Friday." Flash U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation Saturday over the situation in Ukraine. During the call, which lasted for about one hour, the two leaders discussed situation in Ukraine and related security issues, according to White House statement and the Kremlin. The White House said Biden made it clear to Putin "while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy," it is "equally prepared for other scenarios". Russia has not received a substantive response from the US on security guarantees, Sputnik reported, quoting Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Russia will soon submit its response to the US and NATO on security guarantees, Ushakov said, adding the two leaders agreed to continue contacts. Direct engagements between the United States and Russia have yielded little substantial progress, with the Kremlin saying the White House failed to address its key security concerns and the Biden administration repeatedly warning Putin's government of severe economic sanctions if it were to invade Ukraine. CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago White Sox are requiring COVID-19 booster shots for their players with minor-league contracts in order to participate in spring training. On Saturday, the team confirmed reports by ESPN and The Athletic that minor leaguers must be fully vaccinated. A minicamp for some prospects is scheduled to start Feb. 22, with minor-league camp opening on March 7. It was not clear what percentage of White Sox minor leaguers have their booster shots or how many have received either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one shot of Johnson & Johnson. Spokesman Scott Reifert said players who do not comply would be placed on the restricted list rather than be released. Major League Baseball is not requiring players with minor-league contracts to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season, but is mandating that most staff receive the shots. While players with major-league contracts are unionized and rules regarding them must be negotiated by the Major League Baseball Players Association, players with minor-league contracts are not collectively organized. The White Sox required minor leaguers to be vaccinated last year. Reifert said they had 100% compliance by the opening of camp. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports NEW LONDON The only remaining colonial structure left in New London celebrated a special milestone this week. Community members, Friends of New London and staff from Liberty University celebrated the unveiling of a new plaque Thursday on Meads Tavern, which recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Donna Donald director of Public History Initiatives in the History Department at Liberty University and also a member of the board for Friends of New London, a local nonprofit preservation group said the project has been collaborative. A lot of different people have contributed to research, to encouraging means of financial support, encouraging developing classes, all of the different facets that have gone into this and I do appreciate that, she said Thursday. The two-story tavern, built in 1763, provided meals and a nights stay to travelers. The building later was turned into a school and doctors office before becoming a single-family dwelling during the 1820s. William Mead, the original owner of the tavern, never lived in the building but the earliest residents of the basement may have been his employees, Robert Hairston or Richard Turner, and their families. The National Register of Historic Places is a federally established listing of buildings, sites and structures which have been officially recognized as possessing historical and cultural value for the nation. Randy Lichtenberger, lead archaeologist on the tavern and founding member of Friends of New London, helped to lead tours through the building Thursday and said it actually looks a little bit worse now than it did in 2012 when the Friends of New London purchased the property. This is obviously a structure that you have to see with your mind, in your heart, not with your eyes at the moment, but that's a natural part of the restoration process, he said. Things have to look worse before they look better typically. We're at that point right now. So please excuse our mess. Wonderful things do sometimes lie hidden under modern features, and Meads Tavern is one of them. It was a real struggle for Friends of New London to put the money together to acquire the Campbell County property, he said, but by the time it came on the market their research indicated it was a diamond in the rough the last surviving Colonial-era structure in New London as well as one of the earliest in the entire region. Our board of directors and the many friends pooled our resources and were able to buy the tavern, we worked some late nights removing carpets to reveal the wooden floors, spending hours pulling tack strips and staples, cleaning and dusting to keep it in good shape, he said. In 2015, Liberty University purchased the tavern, and since then students have participated in ongoing excavation and restoration projects in association with the Friends of New London and local archaeologists. The first restoration phase will include stabilization of the taverns basement which launched this winter. Lichtenberger said the addition of Meads Tavern to the National Register of Historic Places validates the groups efforts to save a piece of early history for future generations. Sam Smith, chair of the history department at LU, always has been fascinated by the fact the tavern was built even before the establishment of the United States. 1763 is a unique year. Its the end of the French and Indian War and people are on the move, he said. There's the Proclamation of 1763 that's supposed to keep American settlers from going west, but a lot of people ignored that. And a lot of people came down the old wagon road, which is now roughly Interstate 81. So this place represents movement and activity that was going on in the same year that the French and Indian War ended. Smith said the site has been special for the history department and he is grateful for the people who've worked hard to keep the project going. Essentially, we use Meads Tavern as a laboratory for our students to study archaeology, to study historic preservation, to study digital history and other public history initiatives, he said. It has been so valuable to our students. So this is a special place for us. And it's special that we were having this recognition and having the unveiling of this plaque. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Consider this column to be a cautionary tale here on the eve of Valentines Day. It was my first semester at the University of Delaware. As a recently discharged Marine sergeant and a Vietnam veteran, I had been slogging through the rice paddies of the mind, and starting college that fall was the first thing that had made me feel normal. Id become a born-again student. I got off to a good start, and I was resolved to live like a monk, if thats what it took to see it through. I hadnt taken a vow of poverty, but I might as well have. The Vietnam-era G.I. Bill proved inadequate. I had sold my car in order to pay for the upcoming spring semester. A single room in Delawares Rodney C dormitory had become my monastic cell. The medieval history course I was taking that first semester met twice a week in a large lecture hall with the professor and once a week in a small discussion section conducted by a graduate student. The section I had registered for met at 4:00 pm on Friday afternoons. I challenge any college to try to fill a late Friday afternoon class today. But I was high on academics back then and had nothing else to do with my Friday afternoons. I was so academically gung-ho, in fact, that I would get to most of my classes early, that discussion section included. Having arrived early one Friday in early December, I was trying to go over the reading assignment but found myself distracted by two young women sitting in front of me. They were commiserating, complaining bitterly to one another about what a disappointment the freshmen boys had turned out to be. To hear them tell it, all of them fell into one of two categories, with no shades of gray in between: Either they were aspiring to be fraternity wolves or they were nerds who giggled. I ignored this diatribe as long as I could. Assuming that my superior standing as an older four years older, to be exact former Marine and man of the world was apparent, I decided to speak up: Well, some of the freshman girls havent lost their baby fat either! That must have shocked them into silence. They didnt say another word. I dont remember how, but after class, one of the girls struck up a conversation with me, and I ended up walking her back to her dormitory. Her name, I learned, was Andrea. She was from Smyrna, Delaware, a small town Id never heard of although I had to have passed through it on family trips to Rehoboth Beach. She would later confide that her first impression of me had been, Well, theres at least one freshman boy who has some wit and spunk! Before I knew it, wed made a date for the following Friday night. As Steve Allen wrote, and as Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme sang, this turned out to be the start of something big. We celebrated our 51st anniversary last August. The moral of the story is this: Weigh your words wisely. An offhand remark might just change your life. It changed mine for the better! A former enlisted Marine and a Vietnam veteran, Palm retired from the Marine Corps as a major and went on to an academic career. He lives in Forest and can be contacted at majorpalm@gmail.com. A question from my granddaughter who just finished college prompted me to think about Germanys role in Europe since 1945. She asked if I had written about how I felt to be in Nurnbergs courtroom in October 1946 when top Nazi leaders, including Herman Goering, were sentenced by the International Court. I suggested she take a look at A Cold War Odyssey, which describes how I managed to be in the press gallery that day and watched the proceedings. Germany became a crucial prize for the Soviet Unions dictator, Josef Stalin, in the 1940s and 1950s. His armies had conquered all of eastern Europe and occupied the eastern third of a divided Germany that included Berlin. Western Europe, under U.S. leadership, formed NATO in 1949 to keep West Germany tightly tied to the West. Soviet policy was to use East Germany as a wedge to convince a defeated Germany that Russia, not the U.S., would soon dominate the continent. Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin has a similar dream, to gain control of unified Germany and use its industrial power and Russias armies to dominate Europe. Moscows strategy Stalin concluded after his armies defeated Hitlers troops and occupied eastern Europe in 1945 that he wouldnt cooperate with the U.S. and Britain to administer postwar Germany as a single unit. Instead, he stripped East Germany of anything his economy sorely needed to rebuild. His goal was to communize all of Germany and make it an ally of the USSR. The U.S. Marshall Plan of economic aid to help rebuild West European economies was a threat to Stalins plan. His answer was the Berlin Blockade, designed to force the Western allies out of their legal presence in Berlin. It failed because of a massive U.S.-British airlift of thousands of food and fuel supplies to beleaguered West Berlins residents. Stalins belligerence lead to the formation of the North Atlantic alliance in 1949, and he countered with the Warsaw Pact, which included his satellite East European countries, principally Poland and Hungary. After Stalin died in 1953, his successors, Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev, continued Moscows efforts to undermine West Germanys growing integration with NATO. Moscow promoted neutralism as the new propaganda line toward Germans in the west. Khrushchev was ousted as party leader after his disastrous effort to place missiles in Cuba and President Kennedy threatened war. Brezhnev then served as Moscows top leader for 18 years. He was careful not to provoke Washington while he built up Soviet nuclear power and expanded its armed forces. Soviet propaganda sought to convince West Germans that a war would devastate their country. Moscows effort was aided by reemergence of the German Social Democratic Party that favored better relations with Moscow. Germanys response Until 1969, German coalition governments were led by conservative party chief Konrad Adenauer. He had worked closely with the Washington. But a new leftist coalition government was elected in 1969, headed by Social Democratic leader, Willy Brandt. He worked to create good relations with Brezhnev and reduced tensions. This occurred while America was absorbed in the Vietnam War and its European allies felt isolated. Many Germans concluded they should not rely on the United States for protection. And Washingtons humiliating withdrawal from Saigon in 1975 gave Moscow more ammunition to promote neutralism among Germans. Helmut Kohl, leader of a conservative coalition, was elected chancellor in 1982 and worked with the conservative American president, Ronald Reagan, who had decided to confront Moscow militarily and economically. Kohl was followed as chancellor by Angela Merkel, another conservative, who remained in office until 2021 and maintained good relations with Washington. But she also desired good relations with Putin. One reason was that Germany had become more dependent on natural gas shipments from Russia after it dismantled its nuclear power plants under pressure from the Green Party. What many outside Germany dont appreciate is that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a Social Democrat who served from 1998 to 2005, was hired by Gazprom, Russias major gas company, soon after he left office. Schroeder has been the moving force in building Nordstream 2, the gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, to a German port. It will provide a major part of Germanys energy requirements for many years. When Angela Merkel stepped down as chancellor last fall, she was succeeded by a coalition led by Social Democratic Party chief Olaf Scholz. His foreign policy views are not yet clear, but there is much concern among European leaders that Scholz is moving Germany away from its close relations with NATO. We may again see Germany be the big prize that Russia and the U.S. have tried to woo for 70 years. Without doubt, Mr. Schroeder is a key factor in facilitating Mr. Putins goal of pulling Germany closer to Moscow. Donald Nuechterlein is a political scientist who lives near Charlottesville. E-mail him at nuechtd@cstone.net. With more talk about murals and the zoning ordinance anticipated for next weeks Auburn City Council meeting, support for the Welcome to Auburn mural on Opelika Road continues to grow. Advocates for keeping the mural include the head of Momma Goldbergs Deli, whose logo is featured in the artwork. No one ever asked for permission, but I had no problem with it and was not upset with it, said Nick Davis, president of Momma Goldbergs. The mural is painted on a wall of the Auburn location of the mattress chain Bedzzz Express and can be seen when driving from Opelika. It includes people and places in a postcard style and could be compared to a similar mural on Opelikas public library depicting things important to the railroad city. The City of Auburns opposition to the mural has focused less on trademarked and copyrighted imagery and more on the citys established zoning ordinance, which lists murals under a prohibited signs section. I thought the mural was an asset rather than a detriment, Davis said. Davis, a 1984 graduate of Auburn University, said hes in the city 50% of the time and has always enjoyed seeing art like the War Eagle Wall on College Street and doesnt understand the strictness of the ordinance given the existence of other urban murals in the city. Auburn University is featured prominently in the Bedzzz Express mural. While the university didnt grant permission for use of elements like the AU logo or Aubie, it doesnt discount the possibility of allowing them to remain should the mural be allowed to stay. In this particular case, Trademark Management and Licensing wasnt contacted by the business, but Trademark has worked in the past with several vendors to consider requests that include Auburn branding, Auburns trademark and licensing office said in an emailed statement to the Opelika-Auburn News. (Trademark) encourages individuals and businesses to contact them prior to the start of any such work. Chicken Salad Chicks corporate offices in Atlanta did not immediately return requests for comment from the Opelika-Auburn News. Auburns Board of Zoning Adjustment previously voted on Feb. 2 to deny a variance to Bedzzz Express to maintain the mural. While the board voted 3-2 in favor of approval, state law dictates that zoning variances need four votes. Austin Bond, owner of the Bedzzz Express store among others in Alabama, commissioned the art in the fall and is now considering taking the city to the Lee County Circuit Court, depending on whats discussed at Tuesdays City Council. Were waiting to do anything until that City Council meeting on (Feb.) 15, Bond said. I know itll take some time to change that law if thats even the direction (the city is) headed, but were hopeful we see that they are wanting to change that law. During Thursdays Auburn Planning Commission, member Nonet Reese raised the prospect of reevaluating the signage zoning ordinance in relation to murals. Is there a timetable for us to revisit the ordinance that prohibits murals? she asked. I think we could have avoided a lot of heartache for a lot of folks if we already tackled it. Planning Director Steve Foote said the City Council, Planning Commission or property owner can initiate a text amendment to revise the city zoning ordinance. Planning Commissioner Warren McCord referenced a hypothetical public art commission discussed in a work session between the Planning Commission and city planning department last year. He said some members of the commission would be interested in relaxing the approach to murals under certain circumstances. We had a good presentation, and there was a great deal of consensus about that presentation on this board, McCord told Foote. It would seem to me it would behoove us to revisit that, have you present that back to us at some work session, let us have further discussion and be prepared to respond appropriately to the circumstances. Foote responded that the City Council will address murals in its next Committee of the Whole ahead of its meeting Tuesday and determine whether to direct staff to make an action, so he suggested the Planning Commission wait until after then to make any further discussion. Theyre just going to bring it up as a discussion point, I think, talk about where we are today and how do we want to proceed with this if we want to make a change, he said. Bond has until Thursday to make an appeal in the circuit court against the zoning boards vote before he must comply with city ordinance. Without an appeal, he faces up to $500 in fines each day the mural is present beginning 15 days following the ruling from the board. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Since Opelikas new rental inspection ordinance became effective Jan. 1, the city has inspected about 40 rental properties, with less than half of them passing on the first inspection, said Jeff Kappelman, chief building inspector for the City of Opelika. Kappelman said some properties only required minor fixing while others were beyond the point of repair and will likely be torn down. What it has allowed us to do is inspect some units that most likely we would never look at, Kappelman said of the ordinance. Meanwhile, Bert Jordan, a Birmingham attorney representing three rental property owners whove filed a lawsuit against the city, called the ordinance unnecessary government overreach, and questioned the motives of the city. Trying to improve One case was brought to the Citys attention by Pastor Skip Long, who works with the Lee County Youth Development Center as well as with a program that mentors men who are about to get out of prison. Long said a woman and her son were paying $600 a month to live in a mobile home that had issues the landlord refused to repair. He said he discovered the situation one morning when he picked up the boy to drive him to school. It was below freezing outside and he noticed the boy was shivering. The boy then told Long that his home didnt have any heat. He let me into their trailer, Long said. You stand in the kitchen and when you look down at the floor, you see the dirt ground. Throughout the house theres just holes in the trailer. The box where the heating units supposed to be is empty. Long wanted to help figure out how to get some repairs done and the next thing you know theyve been served an eviction notice, he said. After seeing the conditions, Long said he called Mayor Fuller to see if they could get the place inspected. When Kappelman went to inspect the mobile home, the mother showed him the issues she said she couldnt get the landlord to repair, and Kappelman said he found other problems. In addition to holes in the floor and no heating system, there were no smoke detectors, no carbon monoxide detectors, dangerous steps and multiple shock hazards as well as wires protruding from the wall. Kappelman said theyve started the abatement process because it was in such a condition he didnt feel it would be cost-effective to bring it up to code, but the landlord told Kappelman that he is going to make the repairs, which will need to be completed before the abatement is brought before the Opelika Council later in March. Were just trying to improve conditions for people that have no way to defend themselves, Kappelman said. If youd seen some of this stuff Ive seen, youd feel sorry for the people living there. Long said the ordinance has helped to expose the substandard rental homes and encouraged landlords to step up their game of providing meaningful housing. Overreach Three rental property owners, Edna Ward, Eleanor Perry and SMB Rentals, managed by Susan Bolt, have filed a lawsuit against the city. My clients just want to be left alone, said Jordan, their lawyer. Theyre good citizens, responsible people, and this seems like unnecessary government overreach, just very disappointing. Jordan, from Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt LLC in Birmingham, said that an affidavit from Matt Mosley, the Opelika Planning Director, shows that the city can obtain its objectives without the provisions for warrantless searches. In the affidavit, Mosley showed 10 houses that were dilapidated, and Jordan said the city should apply for a warrant for those specific homes instead of having an ordinance that applies to every landlord. It makes you wonder what the real motives are, Jordan said. He also pointed out that the City of Opelika wants to charge criminal penalties against landlords who dont register and who wont allow warrantless inspections. The ordinance states that violators and those that fail to comply will be fined no more than $500 or imprisoned for no more than 180 days, or both. What were saying is that the state law says theres not to be any ordinance adopted or enforced relative to landlords or aimed at the landlord tenant relationship unless they are applied to similarly situated owner occupied residential properties, Jordan said. He said his clients position is that the city cannot require landlords to register and they cannot conduct warrantless searches. Jordan said they are not the first to argue this, and referenced other areas, including Portsmouth, Ohio, that have fought against similar ordinances. He provided the file that he sent to the courts on the plaintiffs behalf, which stated: This case is not about whether the Plaintiffs favor sanitary housing. They do. This case is not about whether the City may establish ordinances and codes that require minimum building standards. The City can do that. Rather, this case is about the scope of the Citys power to force landlords to self-identify to the government, to force landlords to make a statement admitting to realizing the legal ramifications of City Building Code, to force landlords to submit to warrantless searches of their property, and to single out landlords and subject them to criminal penalties in violation of Alabamas law on ordinances affecting landlords. A judge is still reviewing all the paperwork, and a court date has not yet been set. Get a handle Fred Bennett, a managing member of the Bennett Group LLC, said he was against the rental ordinance at first. He said the property management company initially pushed back, saying, This is a tax. This is an overreach by the government. Another reason was the potential financial impact on the company, he said. Bennett has worked in Lee County since 1969 and has four rental properties in Opelika with a total of about 200 units. The ordinance states that the owner of the rental dwelling unit will have to pay $50 per unit for the initial inspection and one reinspection. For any additional follow-up reinspections, the cost is $25. The ordinance also states that a unit will not be subject to inspection more often than every three years. Bennett said the companys primary focus is the development of affordable housing, and that it takes a lot of pride in maintaining the quality of its properties and already has multiple inspections from investors. For those that are doing a good job, this is a penalty, but the reason that I have come to support it as strongly as I have is because of this other situation that youre reporting on, Bennett told the Opelika-Auburn News, referring to stories of renters living in squalid conditions. In this case, I actually think its the best way to get a handle on the problem. Bennett said he sees the purpose for the ordinance and has spoken with Mayor Fuller about the possibility of eventually modifying the ordinance to extend the inspection time period from every three years to maybe every five years. Bennett said Fuller was in support of that proposal. My prayer is that the vast majority of those landlords will respond by doing the upgrades they need, Bennett said. While its true that the dangers of nuclear meltdown have been way overstated, the dangers and impracticalities of spent nuclear fuel have, if anything, been under-emphasized. More than a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the nuclear debate is once again raging in global forums. While fear about nuclear fallout and future tragedies like those that took place at Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island remains clear and present in the minds of many policymakers, the pressing need for rapid decarbonization of the global economy has brought nuclear, a zero-emissions proved technology, back to the forefront of energy policy debates. While many nations most notably Germany, who vowed back in 2011 to shutter all of its nuclear power plants by this year remain staunchly opposed to nuclear power on the basis of the outsized risk posed by nuclear meltdown, many other countries are re-embracing the technology as an unfairly demonized and relatively safe clean energy alternative. While those aforementioned nuclear disasters loom large in the public consciousness, such nuclear disasters are exceedingly uncommon, and nuclear energy has actually been demonstrated to save lives on the whole. In 2013, NASAs Goddard Institute released a paper that calculated that the nuclear industry had already saved 1.8 million lives that would have otherwise been lost to air pollution from fossil fuels. The paper went on to calculate that if nuclear energy were to displace fossil fuels on a large scale, it could save up to 7 million more lives in the next four decades. Of course, if you were to factor in all of the lives that would otherwise be lost to causes associated with catastrophic climate change in a business-as-usual scenario where greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels continue to trend upward at the current rate, those numbers would skyrocket. And then there is the energy security provided by a robust nuclear energy sector. To be sure, there are considerable barriers to entry for developing nations, as building new nuclear facilities is prohibitively expensive, but for countries with deep pockets nuclear is a dependable option that is consistent, relatively unencumbered by imports, and cheap to carry on once a plant is up and running. These factors are becoming increasingly attractive as a global energy crunch is highlighting the dangers of dependence on other countries and global supply chains to keep the lights on. With these arguments in mind, nuclear power is back on the table for many countries, including China, India, and the United States, all of which have recently publicly stated that they are in favor of building up their nuclear energy sectors in the coming years. In fact, according to analysis by Rystad Energy, investments in nuclear are expected to total $45bn in 2022 and $46bn in 2023, up from $44bn in 2021 [...] with 52 reactors at present under construction in 19 countries worldwide. While the arguments in favor of nuclear are getting more and more traction, however, on the global stage relatively little lip service has been paid to one of the most pressing arguments against nuclear energy. While its true that the dangers of nuclear meltdown have been way overstated, the dangers and impracticalities of spent nuclear fuel have, if anything, been under-emphasized. Nobody has yet given a satisfactory answer to the question of what to do with thousands of metric tonnes of high-level nuclear waste, some of which can remain radioactive, and thereby lethal, for up to 300,000 years, the Financial Times astutely points out. At present, its estimated that 250,000 metric tonnes of spent nuclear fuel is sitting in storage in 14 countries, primarily sitting in cooling pools at shuttered nuclear facilities as a temporary measure until someone, anyone, can figure out what to do with them. All this waste, in addition to being hazardous, is also quite simply a big pain in the ass. Finding areas that are willing to store such waste is no easy task, and often comes at a hefty price. In the UK, the cleanup of the Sellafield plant is expected to take more than 100 years with a price tag of over 90 billion (~$USD 122 billion). Across the pond in the US, the cost of spent nuclear fuel storage hit $7.5 billion back in 2019, a bill that has been passed to taxpayers. Nuclear energy remains a promising part of the path toward decarbonization. At the end of the day, climate change poses a far greater threat than nuclear waste. However, if the world ramps up nuclear power production, nuclear waste storage is going to have to become far easier, cheaper, and more streamlined. So why is it still so absent in nuclear policy debates? By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A surprise jump in Venezuelas crude oil output at the end of 2021 caught industry analysts by surprise. According to data provided by Caracas to OPEC the crisis-riven country pumped an average of 871,000 barrels per day during December 2021. That number, while considerably lower than the one million barrels per day announced by national oil company PDVSA as its end of 2021 target, still represents noteworthy growth of Venezuelas crude oil output when compared to 2020. December 2021s oil output was 3% greater than a month earlier and nearly double the 441,000 barrels per day pumped for December 2020. While the spike in PDVSAs oil production during the final months of 2021 is impressive Venezuela still only pumped an average of 636,000 barrels per day, which according to data published by OPEC is only 12% higher than 2020. It is also important to note that despite the impressive production increases for November and December 2021 Venezuelas oil output is well below the 1998 record of 3.5 million barrels daily. There are signs that PDVSA is struggling to boost oil output further, despite copious assistance from Iran, with industry experts speculating that Venezuelas national oil company has reached capacity. A key indicator that Venezuelas oil production is at capacity and may be significantly lower than PDVSA is reporting is the tremendous disparity between production volumes from direct communication and those obtained by OPEC from secondary sources. Cartel data from secondary sources indicate Venezuela only pumped 681,000 barrels per day during December 2021, which is 190,000 barrels or 22% lower than the numbers provided by PDVSA. This is a common theme when reviewing the member production data published by OPEC as part of the organizations Monthly Oil Market Report. The chart below shows a wide divergence between the production volumes provided by PDVSA and those reported to OPEC by secondary sources. Source: OPEC Monthly Oil Market Reports 2019 to 2022. When examining production numbers for other OPEC members there is typically only a slight variance between the volumes reported through direct communication compared to secondary sources. That indicates Caracas is potentially over-stating PDVSAs crude oil production volumes. Since 2016, when PDVSA ceased publicly publishing production and other data, there has been considerable conjecture about the veracity of the data provided by Caracas concerning the national oil companys operations. This included ceasing reporting on oil spills and operational outages, leaving many to question whether PDVSA is distorting the data it supplies to appear operating in compliance with the ambitious targets set by the Maduro regime. In January 2020 Maduro proclaimed that Venezuelas production would reach two million barrels of crude oil per day that year. This did not occur with the crisis-riven country only pumping an average of barrels per day during 2020 because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and strict U.S. sanctions, along with decaying industry infrastructure on operations. At the start of 2021, Maduro announced another ambitious target vowing to triple Venezuelas crude oil output to 1.5 million barrels per day, once again PDVSAs production fell short. By late-2021 Venezuelas national oil company had revised that number down to one million barrels per day and reported it produced an average of 871,000 barrels per day during December 2021. Maduro recently announced (Spanish) that during December 2021 PDVSAs oil output reached one million barrels daily. In the same statement, Venezuelas authoritarian leader then went on to set a two million barrel per day goal for 2022. There is considerable conjecture among analysts and industry experts as to whether this is achievable. A combination of strict U.S. sanctions blocking the sale of Venezuelan crude oil and foreign investment, crumbling infrastructure and a lack of condensate for blending with the extra-heavy oil produced makes achieving that goal highly unlikely. Industry experts believe that by the end of 2021 PDVSA was operating at full capacity and would be unable to boost production without considerable investment in crucial maintenance and refurbishment of decayed industry infrastructure. In a December 2021 Reuters article Venezuela expert Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America energy program at the Houston based Rice Universitys Baker Institute, stated: We are reaching that capacity now. To see an output increase during 2022, investment in new wells and upgrading infrastructure is needed, Two decades of mismanagement, malfeasance and chronic underinvestment in maintenance, as well as refurbishing industry infrastructure, makes it difficult to see how PDVSA can grow production further, even with a steady supply of condensate from Iran. This is particularly the case when substantial foreign capital is required if production is to return to over one million barrels per day for a sustained period. The uncertainty surrounding the accuracy of PDVSAs production data makes it extremely difficult to know whether the national oil companys production reached the volumes claimed by Caracas. OPECs secondary data indicates that for December 2021 Venezuela, on average, only pumped 681,000 barrels of crude oil per day. While that is 20,000 barrels higher than a month prior and 249,000 barrels greater than November 2020 it is 7% less than the 735,000 barrels per day produced in December 2019. That number is significantly lower than Oil Minister Tareck el Aissamis target of 1.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2021 and less than PDVSAs revised 2021 production target of one million barrels daily. In a November 2021 article Argus Media asserted that Venezuelas production data is questionable going on to state: While some estimates peg flow as high as 750,000 b/d, these likely include gas liquids and tend to overlook sizable water content and sediment. Even where data is considered more reliable, a tendency by local managers to embellish performance to meet unrealistic targets imposed by Caracas headquarters and the erosion of measurement expertise and functional metering equipment remain distorting factors. For these reasons, especially the long-term disparity between the crude oil production volumes reported by PDVSA and OPECs secondary sources, it is difficult to trust the accuracy of the crude oil production volumes announced by the Maduro regime. Until U.S. sanctions are eased, and western energy majors can operate profitably in Venezuela, Caracas will struggle to attract the considerable investment needed to revive PDVSA and Venezuelas petroleum industry. That means any further meaningful expansion in crude oil production is unlikely, and Maduros 2022 target of two million barrels per day is unachievable. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Plans were outlined for greater engagement between the public and private sectors. The agreement is expected to lead to a rise in infrastructure investment. A number of Latin American and Caribbean countries have strengthened their ties with China after signing a wide-ranging economic and political agreement. In December the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), a bloc of 33 countries that includes regional heavyweights such as Argentina, Colombia and Mexico, signed the China-CELAC Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Key Areas 2022-24. The seven-point agreement outlines plans for greater engagement and cooperation between governments, private companies and financial institutions in a number of areas, including infrastructure development, the economy, and political and security issues. While China has invested significantly in the region in past decades, the deal is expected to herald a deepening of cooperation in a region that has traditionally been heavily tied to the US. The agreement is also indicative of CELACs growing ties with the world: the deal with China builds on previous agreements with the US, Canada, ASEAN, the EU, Turkey, Japan and Russia. Infrastructure investment A key pillar of the joint action plan relates to infrastructure. This is a crucial issue for Latin America and the Caribbean, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) predicting that the region will need to invest 3.1% of its GDP into infrastructure annually in order to meet its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Of this, the bank says 59% of the amount would need to be invested in new infrastructure, with the rest allocated to the maintenance and replacement of existing assets. To this end, the China-CELAC agreement has outlined plans for greater cooperation with regard to the formers Belt and Road Initiative, which could see more state-backed Chinese infrastructure investment in the region. Further to this, the agreement also included the objective to hold a Forum on China-CELAC Transport Cooperation as soon as possible. An improvement in transport infrastructure is crucial to Latin America and the Caribbeans economic development. Around half of the 3.1% of annual GDP in infrastructure investment required in the region according to the IADB relates strictly to the transport sector, whether in the form of roads, airports or other types of public transport. The pandemic laid bare some of the shortfalls of the regions transport networks, with many parts of the continent experiencing either food, medical or key equipment shortages at different stages. Improving transport connections would not only build resilience in the regions internal supply chains, but also improve the business environment for local companies. Aside from strictly public involvement, the joint action plan also looks to incentivize greater private sector investment in Latin America, and dovetails with a number of current global economic developments. The disruption of global supply chains created by the pandemic has created a higher impetus to locate industrial sites closer to the main destination markets, Bruno Martinez, the CEO of Mexican industrial park developer Alveo Kapital, told OBG. Coupled with rising wages in Asia, this context has put Mexico under the spotlight for Asian investors looking to diversify their production bases and bring them closer to the US. Increasing economic cooperation In addition to facilitating infrastructure investment, the China-CELAC deal also seeks to improve what it describes as pragmatic economic cooperation. Highlighting nine focus areas trade and investment, finance, agriculture and food, science and technology innovation, industry and information technology, aviation and aerospace, energy and resources, tourism, and Customs and taxes the agreement aims to improve cooperation and collaboration between the various parties. While the effects of this could be felt across a wide range of sectors, one area that would significantly benefit is that of high-tech manufacturing and what are known as Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies. 4IR, also known as Industry 4.0, refers to technologies such as artificial intelligence, analytics, the internet of things, cloud computing and robotics that are seen as key to next-generation manufacturing, as well as advancements in other sectors. Through greater cooperation with innovative Chinese companies and state bodies, CELAC firms and governments alike could benefit from an improvement in technology, skills and know-how. A number of countries, including Argentina, Chile and Mexico, have highlighted the importance of developing 4IR capabilities, which are seen as key to future economic growth and the ongoing recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. By Oxford Business Group More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In an increasingly competitive environment, an Omaha senator wants to give Nebraskas governor a new incentive to lure and retain businesses a pot of money to use at his or her discretion. State Sen. Brett Lindstrom introduced Legislative Bill 729, which would create a fund within the Department of Economic Development that could be used for economic or infrastructure development that would help land a high-impact business project or facility or to keep a business already located in the state. A high-impact business is one that is expected to create a net benefit to the state, through jobs and investments, compared with the cost of the incentive. Assuming a project meets the necessary requirements, including thresholds for jobs and salaries, the governor would have the discretion to award the funding. This is just another little extra thing that the governor can put on the table and say lets do the deal, Lindstrom told the Legislatures Revenue Committee last week. Asked whether he would support the bill, a spokesperson for Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the governor had no comment on the proposal. Ricketts is in his final year in office due to term limits. LB 729 would create the fund it wouldnt allocate any money into it. State dollars put into the fund would be at the discretion of the Legislature. Lindstrom also didnt put a cap on the amount of money the governor could award for individual projects. Lindstrom, a two-term lawmaker who is also a Republican candidate for governor, said he was inspired by a similar program created in Oklahoma in 2011. Since then the program has awarded about $14 million to seven companies, according to Lindstrom. That resulted in the creation of 3,500 jobs and $3.4 billion in investments by those companies. Most of those incentives went toward construction. For example, it awarded $3 million to General Electric for construction of a new facility in Oklahoma City. It also awarded $1.5 million to Macys for employee training. While one of the investments led to the creation of jobs earning a salary bellow the average annual pay in the state, a 2018 report by a commission created to evaluate the program concluded it had a net positive return on investment for Oklahoma. A 2018 study that looked at a similar program in Arkansas was less conclusive. The study, published in Review of Regional Studies, found no evidence that the Arkansas program increased employment or business establishment in counties with a project that received subsidies. Business incentive programs are not new in Nebraska. For more than a decade the state had the Nebraska Advantage Act, which provided tax credits and exemptions to companies that reached employment and investment thresholds. Lawmakers eventually questioned the effectiveness of the program. In 2018, a committee of lawmakers called for ending the program a year earlier than its original expiration date in 2020. Jennifer Creager with the Greater Omaha Chamber told the Revenue Committee this past week that there were discussions about creating a discretionary fund similar to Lindstroms proposal around the time the ImagiNE Act was drafted. However, given that governors have not historically requested the fund and concerns over transparency, it was taken off the table early in the process of crafting the act. Creager, who also testified on behalf of the Lincoln and state chambers and Nebraska Bankers Association, spoke in support of Lindstroms bill, adding that it could allow the state to be more nimble when responding to economic development opportunities. Lindstrom said that is the goal. To me there is one extra step that other states have that we dont and thats a governors closing fund, he said, referencing a shortened version of the funds name. Its ultimately something to make us competitive. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For many years youve heard complaints about the neglected state of our nations roads and bridges. This neglect is due to inadequate funding directed toward the care and maintenance of these critical components of our daily lives. More recently weve heard about the growing digital divide in rural America. Fortunately, passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has injected much-needed funding to address these longstanding issues. It cannot be forgotten that this important and necessary piece of legislation became law with bipartisan and bicameral support. Thanks to senators including Chuck Grassley and Deb Fischer, and House members including Reps. Cindy Axne and Don Bacon, communities like Council Bluffs and Omaha will have access to money for much-needed infrastructure improvements. Such improvements include road, bridge, highway, transit and water projects, as well as megaprojects such as a multimodal bridge across the Missouri River to connect additional development on the riverfront to the urban core of both communities. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Iowa will receive $3.8 billion over the next five years to repair some of the states 4,571 bridges and 403 miles of highway in disrepair, while Nebraska anticipates seeing over $2 billion for similar efforts. Nebraska and Iowa will also receive billions in additional funding for water, transit and megaprojects as a direct result of the bill. It is no secret the energy infrastructure in Nebraska, Iowa and across the nation has also been badly neglected over the years. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act represents the largest investment in clean energy transmission in our countrys history to help facilitate the expansion of renewable energy. Cleaner, increasingly reliable energy makes our states more appealing places to invest and do business. Developing more clean energy careers is an exciting prospect for our respective states. Some $8.6 billion will be dedicated for clean energy manufacturing and workforce expansion. As our economies seek to decarbonize while maintaining a competitive edge, these targeted investments are critical. From growing our tax base to providing meaningful long-term job stability, this is a win-win for economic advancement in our communities. While for years weve experienced the lack of investments in our states hard infrastructure, the growing rural digital divide has also been overlooked, until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 21st century, high-speed internet access has become a necessity. According to Nebraskas Rural Broadband Task Force, Iowa and Nebraska will both receive a minimum of $100 million for broadband planning and deployment projects. The funding for these projects will be focused on unserved and underserved areas throughout our states. Narrowing the rural digital divide wont just benefit rural communities throughout Iowa and Nebraska but will help strengthen our states overall economies and ensure equal opportunity for all. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will breathe new life into Iowa and Nebraska communities and foster economic growth by providing local municipalities the money we need to drastically improve our infrastructure. This generational piece of legislation is a testament to the widespread benefits bipartisan work can achieve for local communities, along with the families and employers who call them home. David G. Brown is president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. Drew Kamp is president and CEO of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce. The Platte River, including the South Platte River tributary, runs about 400 miles through the heart of Nebraska from its western border with Colorado to the Missouri River. In Nebraska, the basin supports a population of well over 1 million people, including Lincoln and portions of Omaha. The river provides water for more than a million acres of irrigated agriculture, produces up to 140 megawatts of hydropower, provides cooling water for Gerald Gentleman Station Nebraskas largest power plant sustains multiple threatened and endangered species, and generates countless recreational opportunities. It is arguably Nebraskas most precious natural resource. Now, it faces an imminent threat. Colorados South Platte River basin population is expected to increase from 3.8 million to as many as 6.5 million people by 2050 (more than three times the population of our state today). Seventy thousand people move to the Front Range region every year. To support this explosive growth, Colorados legislature commissioned a study in 2016 to identify every drop of water in excess of that required to be delivered to Nebraska under the 1923 South Platte River Compact. Today, Colorado has nearly 300 projects in various phases of completion, planning and assessment, all with the singular aim of preventing this excess water from reaching the state line. Every drop of South Platte water that fails to reach Nebraskas state line will need to be made up from storage in Lake McConaughy on the North Platte River. This means lake levels will be lower, carbon-free hydropower production will decrease and storage supplies needed to mitigate drought within the Platte River Basin will be less reliable. This growing threat led the editorial boards of the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald, in the summer of 2019, to call upon state officials to protect Nebraskas South Platte rights, echoing what we in the basin already knew Colorado was coming for our water. But what could be done? To address that question, the Nebraska Legislature appropriated $350,000 in 2020 to study Colorados upstream development and its potential impact on Nebraska. Most in the basin understand the 1923 Compact provides for a flow of 120 cubic-feet-per-second during the irrigation season. Many people have just recently learned the compact also allows Nebraska to divert 500 cfs in the non-irrigation season. This right can only be enforced in priority, however, if Nebraska constructs a diversion near Ovid, Colorado, to transport the water to Nebraska, authorized by the compact. For longer than 100 years, building this diversion has been deferred, and as a result, Colorado has been taking the water Nebraska is not demanding. The proposed canal will allow Nebraska to fully exercise its compact rights for the first time. Beneficiaries of this multipurpose project include those reliant on the Platte to irrigate crops and those who rely on hydropower to light their homes and businesses. It also includes municipalities that draw water from the Platte but need more reliable supplies to attract new industries and promote Nebraskas growth and development. Some have claimed that even if constructed, such a project would yield too little water to justify itself. This is contrary to the available hydrologic data. Colorado itself has stated that over 300,000 acre-feet of excess flow enters Nebraska annually water the new canal would help to protect for Nebraska. Some say the project is too complicated and fraught with legal challenges. However, Nebraskas entitlement to this water is cast in law by the two state legislatures and by Congress. Rarely is a legal right so clear and compelling. Moreover, for a century, we have been able to work cooperatively with Colorado in administering the compact during the irrigation season. There is every reason to believe our state officials will continue to do so. Ultimately, if litigation became necessary, what alternative do we have? If Colorado develops as projected, it will reduce flow in the South Platte by 90%, forcing Nebraska to search out more expensive and less certain alternative supplies. We cant simply abandon our water rights. Some fear such a project could harm key species by reducing flows to the river. The opposite is true. If Nebraska fails to assert its rights on the South Platte, less water will cross the state line. By protecting our non-irrigation season rights, Nebraska will ensure South Platte flows are maintained in the key stretches of the river that support these species and their habitats. Indeed, the project would aid in species recovery by offering water managers greater flexibility to deliver water at times and locations needed to maximize wildlife benefits. This makes it easier for Nebraska users to remain in compliance with their obligations under the Endangered Species Act and the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program. Finally, some argue the price tag is too high. Certainly a $500 million investment must be carefully assessed and evaluated. But, to put that figure in context, our neighbors are planning to spend approximately 20 times that amount ($10 billion) to access the same water we would divert through the project. One of the projects Colorado has identified as most critical would cost $800 million alone, piping tens of thousands of acre-feet of South Platte water every year about 150 miles uphill to the Parker area near Denver. Colorado understands the value of whats at stake; we cant afford to be pennywise and pound foolish while our water is diverted away from the river and from future generations of Nebraskans. The time to act is now. The South Divide Canal is our last best chance to protect and preserve the South Platte River in Nebraska. The following organizations support this opinion: Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Western Irrigation District, Twin Platte Natural Resources District, South Platte Natural Resources District, Central Platte Natural Resources District and Nebraska Public Power District. The Omaha World-Heralds spotlight on the 2021 Midlanders of the Year was in the right place: Nebraskas school workers. We are grateful for the outstanding professionalism of our teachers and staff members who keep serving families and educating children in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wed also like to shine a spotlight on Nebraskas school superintendents, administrators and school board members who are working diligently behind the scenes and around the clock to help maintain order in educational environments in an ever-changing, oftentimes chaotic pandemic environment. In the midst of challenging debates filling our community conversations these days, we have much to celebrate in Nebraska when it comes to our school and the district leadership. The unwavering focus has been on the health, safety, and emotional and educational development of more than 300,000 students and the support of thousands of teachers on the front lines. Heres where Nebraska and Omaha stands out as a national model: Unlike much of the country, our students were back in school learning in person in the 2020-21 academic school year. Just months after the pandemic began, our public and non-public school leaders, working with teachers, staff, school boards, health officials and many others, developed plans to safely bring children and teachers back to the classrooms. The beneficiaries of this leadership are most certainly our children, but the collaborative resilience of our school leaders helped safeguard our communities. The Omaha-area superintendents have a unique group of advisers to help share strategies for district planning: the superintendents themselves. For longer than three decades, through an organization called the Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium, or MOEC, the 12 Omaha-area superintendents meet with each other monthly along with leaders from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Metropolitan Community College and Iowa Western Community College. Similar efforts across the state with regional leadership from educational service units and school organizations managed both the challenges of health and safety and the need to have students in school. During COVID, school leadership met more frequently. Our superintendents have each other to turn to for sharing thoughts, resources and strategic initiatives; keeping lines of communication open; leveraging the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group; and leaning on the trust they have built over the years. School leaders are not alone in a silo; they are together in a community. Another key group of leaders include the members of the districts school boards. Board members are voluntary, unpaid elected officials. As public servants they devote their time and energy to serve their communities and do what is best for all children. They deserve recognition and gratitude as well. These neighbors, friends and family members have worked tirelessly with their superintendents to return children to school, improve student achievement and provide community stability during turbulent times. The superintendents and their teams were also crucial community connectors to services and resources, like food. Since the pandemic began, millions of meals have been distributed to students and families through well-orchestrated curbside pick-up services. President and CEO of the Foodbank for the Heartland Brian Barks said he simply could not have reached as many families in need without the critical partnership of our public schools. The partnerships we have with area superintendents is one of the difference makers between dangerous food insecurity or access to healthy food for children and adults, he said. As we face continuing challenges from COVID, our school leaders are not only handling the day-to-day challenges of education but keeping a firm eye on the horizon, building momentum and holding the line against chaotic interruptions with students and the community at the heart of their service. To all our educational leaders, superintendents, school board members, administrators and classroom teachers: We see you. We thank you. We know the effects of the pandemic have been minimized by your extraordinary efforts to care for and educate each and every child in your schools. Your collaborative resilience has ensured our community will flourish for decades to come. Our collective community future is in the skilled hands of our educators. Matthew L. Blomstedt, Ph.D., is Nebraska commissioner of education. The League of Women Voters of Nebraska continues to be concerned about the ongoing environmental disaster caused by AltEn Ethanol in Mead. We are greatly concerned for our fellow Nebraskans and the surrounding ecosystems that have been poisoned. Information shared by the media on Feb. 9 that the state of Nebraska approved unprecedented use of pesticide-laden seed corn underscores our request for urgent action. We have learned that on July 26, 2012, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (now Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy) approved AltEns request for a change to their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. According to the permit request, this granted AltEn the ability to utilize discarded treated seed in the ethanol production process in addition to and/or in lieu of traditional grain feedstock. The majority of the discarded seed will be treated with herbicides and pesticides prior to AltEn taking possession. It states in the request that wet distillers grain (WDG) will no longer be sent to the adjacent feedlot as the chemical treatments render WDG unsuitable for livestock feed. In 2018, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture allowed the use of WDG to be applied to fields as a soil conditioner. In March 2019, NDA tested the material and in April 2019 ordered the firm to cease and desist its use on fields. Why didnt the NDA test the wet cake before it was allowed to be applied to the land? On March 1, 2021, in the NDEE lawsuit complaint in State of Nebraska v. AltEn, the state tells the court something quite different: The Department discovered in 2015 that AltEn was using discarded seed corn that had been treated with pesticides as its feedstock rather than normal field corn. The Department, however, did not know until 2018 that the byproducts from AltEns ethanol production could contain measurable residues of pesticides. This problem has been allowed to continue for far too long, especially at the expense of those it impacts directly. In a Feb. 7, 2022, letter to each Nebraska state senator, the League of Women Voters of Nebraska asked them to act with a sense of urgency and prioritize creating a special committee, protecting the victims, initiating safe clean-up solutions, conducting long-term research, and establishing safeguards to never allow this to happen again. The League supports LR159, Request the Executive Board to appoint an AltEn LLC, Ethanol Plant Special Investigative and Oversight Committee, to study and investigate the timelines, records, rules, products, drinking water and costs associated. AltEn is a statewide problem that requires a whole-state investigation to be sure that our environmental laws are strong enough to stop entities like AltEn. We support LB1102 to adopt the Nebraska Environmental Response Act and change provisions relating to enforcement of environmental protection requirements. We also support LB694 with the amendment to provide a statute of limitations for exposure to certain chemicals, prescription drugs or medical devices. AltEn is a complex problem that requires multidisciplinary research not limited to plant, animal and human life. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln believe it would take 10 years and $10 million to do a complete analysis. Obviously, this is an urgent request that must be fulfilled. Thus, we support LR277 for an interim study to protect and manage vulnerable pollinators that are in decline as a result of this harmful situation. Additionally, the League asks the Nebraska attorney general to move forward with the AltEn lawsuit, filed March 1, 2021. And we request that the NDEE schedule a public hearing to receive public comment on the AltEn Facility Response Group Remedial Action Plan filed with the agency on Nov. 1, 2021. Quality of the land, air and water have all been compromised. Our neighbors deserve human dignity and healthy lives. Environmental stewardship and hazardous waste remediation are key components for long-term solutions, not Band-Aid shells and leaky liners. Citizen-led organizations are doing everything in their power to advocate for the best outcome. We need our elected representatives to use every option in their toolkits to make this better. Janelle Stevenson and Megan Lyons of Lincoln are co-directors, Natural Resources and Energy, for the League of Women Voters of Nebraska. Streetwise: Changing School Enrollments February 2022 by Frank DunniganFebruary 2022 Most readers are familiar with San Franciscos private religious schools (primarily Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Russian Orthodox) that have attracted solid numbers of San Francisco students for many years. Today, however, there has been a notable increase in the number of private, non-sectarian institutions serving students from pre-K to Grade 12. The following schools advertise the accreditation of their programs, and have annual tuition rates starting at $2,000 for some of the preschools up to $50,000+ at some of the high schools. These schools are co-educational, except as noted, and all appear to have diverse student bodies, need-based tuition waivers/assistance, plus active programs in sports, music, science, and arts. Facts and figures on cost and enrollment numbers involved research through multiple listing groups as well as with the individual schools themselves. Here is a brief look at 20 of the largest private, non-religious schools that are now operating on the western side of San Franciscoand serving well over 4,000 students. Note that an additional 8,000 students attend private, non-sectarian schools in other San Francisco neighborhoodsBayview, Excelsior, Mission, Portola, Pacific Heights, and morebut that will be a topic for the OpenSFHistory STREETWISE column, to be published later this month. BAY SCHOOL OF SAN FRANCISCOOperating in the Presidio since 2014, the school occupies 3 historic buildings in the Main Post areathe only high school in the United States to be operating in a national park. The school has nearly 400 students in Grades 9-12. BRIGHTWORKS SCHOOLA K-12 school operating with 100+ students at the former Star of the Sea campus on 9th Avenue in the Richmond District. EDGEWOOD CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIESThis Grade 1-12 school serves about 40 children with special needs, operating at the former Protestant Orphanage campus on Vicente Street in the Parkside District. KATHERINE DELMAR BURKEOperating on the western end of California Street in the Richmond District, Burkes is an all-girls K-8 school with approximately 400 students. Founded as a K-12 school in 1908 in Pacific Heights, the school acquired the Sea Cliff area property in 1929-30 and moved its Nursery and Kindergarten operations there in 1936, with the lower school making the move to the new campus in 1949. In 1975, the high school closed its doors, with all operations consolidated at the Richmond District site. KITTREDGE SCHOOLA K-8 school with about 85 students, established 60 years ago, and operating on Lake Street in the Richmond District. LICK-WILMERDING HIGH SCHOOLA long-time San Francisco school founded with a philanthropic history and an emphasis on industrial and mechanical arts, the institution is now home to nearly 500 students on its Ocean Avenue campus. Read more: A long-time San Francisco school founded with a philanthropic history and an emphasis on industrial and mechanical arts, the institution is now home to nearly 500 students on its Ocean Avenue campus. Read more: StreetwiseLick-Wilmerding School LYCEE FRANCAISThe French-speaking bi-lingual school has two campuses: PK-5 at the old St. Agnes School site on Ashbury Street (450) and Grades 6-12 at the old Conservatory of Music site at 19th Avenue and Ortega Street (400). MONTESSORI CHILDRENS CENTEROperating in the Parkmerced neighborhood with about 65 students in Nursery-Pre-K-Kindergarten. MOTHER GOOSE SCHOOLA Nursery-K school with approximately 100 students, operating on 28th Avenue in the Richmond District. MY CITY SCHOOLA small Grade 5-8 school with about a dozen students, operating on 27th Avenue in the Richmond District. ONE FIFTY PARKER AVENUE SCHOOLA Nursery and Pre-K school with about 65 students, opened in 1954 and operating on Parker Avenue. SAN FRANCISCO DAY SCHOOLThe school, with an enrollment of 400+ students has operated its K-8 classes on Masonic Avenue since the late 1970s. SAN FRANCISCO GIRLS SCHOOLOperating out of the former Star of the Sea campus on 9th Avenue in the Richmond District, the small school is home to 20 students from grades 9-12. SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTSA private arts school for students in grades 6-12 operating just off Stanyan Street near Golden Gate Park with about 25 students. SAN FRANCISCO PACIFIC ACADEMYA K-8 school with about 200 students operating in a new 4-story building with a rooftop schoolyard on Balboa Street in the Outer Richmond District. SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOLHOUSEA K-8 school with 100 students operating on 14th Avenue in the Richmond District. SAN FRANCISCO WALDORF HIGH SCHOOLA school with 470 students in Grades 9-12, located at the site of a former Pacific Telephone Directory Assistance site at the end of West Portal Avenue near Sloat Boulevard. SEQUOIA VILLAGE SCHOOLHOUSESmall Special Ed school serving a group of K-5 students in the Sunset District. STRATFORD SCHOOLMultiple locations, including a K-5 campus with 300+ students at the old St. Emydius School building on DeMontfort Avenue, just off Ocean Avenue. Stratford also operates a Nursery-Pre-K campus near 19th & Taraval at the site of the old Parkside Theatre, a PK-5 campus on 14th Avenue in the Richmond District, and a grade 6-8 campus at the former Corpus Christi School building near Alemany Boulevard in the Outer Mission/Excelsior neighborhood. WOODSIDE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLThis small high school with a 40-year history in San Francisco caters to both local and international students while operating on Irving Street in the Sunset District. Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places! POLO Grain farming is an unusual occupation in that the grower destroys the very thing he nurtures. We always joke that in a corn-on-corn setting, we do everything to make that plant as healthy as possible, then we want it to deteriorate and go away as fast as it can, said Bayer agronomist Chris Kallal. Its a little bit counter-productive. While the deterioration is necessary for harvest, whats left standing in the field can be a concern for farmers who must deal with it the following season. At issue is the strength of the stalks supporting the ears that make up the cash crop. Corn hybrids have been bred through the years to develop stronger stalks. And while that is an admirable trait, it can create some problems, especially on no-till operations. Brian Duncan likes the idea of plants that are able to withstand the storms that occasionally rage across his acreage. Were in northern Illinois, which is pretty prevalent for high winds and derechos, so I prefer a hybrid with good stands, he said. We are pretty aggressive on our residue management, with chopping heads. Duncan grows continuous corn on his farm near Polo. While sturdy stalks can mean stubborn residue, the health of the plant during the growing season is of higher importance. If youre spraying fungicide, then the key is managing that residue ahead of next years corn crop, he said. Thats the path a lot of farmers have taken. The way the wind blows here, I like standing corn, and you just learn how to deal with the residue. Kallal has found the majority of farmers share Duncans view. The bigger concern is the current crop, he said. Theyll deal with the residue next year. Standability may not be front of mind for farmers choosing hybrids to plant in the spring, but the lack thereof can become important in the fall. People are always talking about yield with corn, but the easiest way to lose business is to have corn that falls over right at harvest time, said Pat Holloway, a Becks Hybrids agronomist based in southwest Iowa. It may not be the first thing a farmer will ask when youre selling them seed, but its the thing that will get you kicked off the farm. Kallal agrees. We always joke internally that the main things any corn breeder is looking for are yield, yield and yield, he said. Thats definitely No. 1. After that, its stalk lodging and disease tolerance. Those are high in importance. There is a greater need today than in the past for stalk strength, partly because corn plants are expected to stand for longer periods. Farms are large today and not everything can be harvested in a two-week period, Holloway said. In certain areas where corn dryers are more common, 28% stalk quality is less important. In Minnesota theyre used to harvesting wet corn. Farther south you want it to stand there until its under 20%. In that scenario, stalk quality is one of the key things. Strong stalks also factor into tillage choices. They may offer more resistance in a no-till operation, but there are also considerations in conventional tillage. I could argue in both directions, Kallal said. The conventional-till guy has to worry about it getting in the seed trench. If the stalks are big, their row cleaners are going to get it moved out of the way so it doesnt cause germination issues. The no-till or strip-till guy may worry about it more if the stalk is strong and continues to be intact and upright, making more trash they may potentially have to run through the head the following year. But theres a whole growing season of deterioration. Duncan generally sees stalk strength as a positive trait, though he has a healthy skepticism of seed company claims. None of them are going to admit they dont have strong stalks. No ones going to come out and say this corn doesnt stand worth a darn, but go ahead and plant it anyway, he said. Sometimes I think those stalk ratings are something like (fishermen exaggerating) fish size. But overall, I think stalk quality is a lot better than it was 15, 20 or 25 years ago. The GMO traits have helped with that. Some of the lodging weve seen recently has been root lodge. I run corn heads with a chopping attachment. We run a pretty aggressive fall tillage. We still want some residue there for erosion control, but it has to be manageable. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NORBORNE, Mo. It began, like countless young romances through the years, at the Missouri State Fair. At the 2015 fair, Logan Korff and Abby Bertz were both in high school and met through mutual friends. They were involved in FFA and their families farmed. Logans family farmed in the Missouri River bottom near Norborne, and Abbys family farmed near Mayview, in the same area but on the other side of the river. Abby caught Logans eye at the fair, and she remembers being impressed right away with his demeanor. I remember looking at Logan and thinking he holds himself different from other boys in high school, Abby says. He has an aura of confidence. When Logan and Abby got married on Sept. 4, 2021, it represented two people starting out in the world of agriculture together, and also the joining of two family farming legacies. Abby is a seventh-generation farmer, and Logan is a fifth-generation farmer. As they work to build their own farming career, they both say it helps to have that background and support from which to grow. Im fortunate enough to be coming to an operation thats already established, Logan says. He says this means access to advanced technology and newer equipment as he works to get his part of the family farming operation developed. Of course, building a farming operation is not easy, and Abby notes how competitive the market for land is, especially in the Missouri River bottom. But time is on their side, as both graduated from the University of Missouri in 2020. Logan studied ag systems management, and Abby majored in agribusiness. Abby also works for Pioneer as a territory manager, which gives her another level of involvement in agriculture and also supports their farming efforts. Logan says river bottom farming has its challenges with high water and flooding, but the payoff can be excellent in the good years, when the fertile soil produces great yields. When its good, its good, he says. Having someone to share that farm journey with, in times pleasant as well as challenging, is something both appreciate. Its somebody to bounce ideas off of in a non-judgmental environment, Logan says. Abby says she appreciates having someone she can have conversations with about farming plans and decisions, someone with a similar background. But also having perspectives from two different family farms can be beneficial, and they can talk about different ways of doing things and what has worked. It helped that both of us grew up on farms, she says. There are challenges they and other young farming couples face, including the uncertainties and impacts from the coronavirus outbreak, which impacted their final year of college. Logan graduated in May 2020, and Abby in December 2020. MU went to virtual learning midway through Logans last semester. He says it was unfortunate to say goodbye to those college years that way, but adds the situation affected everyone. He made the most of it and was able to help the family on the farm during spring planting that year, while keeping up with his coursework. I was able to do work from our farm, he says. Regardless of the farming challenges of the day, they express excitement at starting out full-time in the industry. Logans and Abbys parents have served on the board for the Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, and the couple participates in the Missouri CornRoots leadership training program. Abby says it has been inspiring to watch their parents work, and they are excited to be playing a part as well. Its finally our turn, she says. Were 23 and we get to have this opportunity. That spirit of gratitude is noticeable when the couple talks about what they do for a living. I just love the lifestyle, Logan says. Were so fortunate to be where we are, to do what we do. Abby agrees, and appreciates getting to share the journey. Its not a job, its something we get to take each other along for the ride, she says. We both feel so fortunate that we got to grow up on the farm. It becomes who you are. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON Kids had the opportunity to get their first COVID vaccine Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal. Two adults boosted their inoculations and two children had their first rounds of Pfizer doses during the event. Tony Morstatter, club CEO, said they've partnered in the past with the McLean County Health Department and Chestnut Health Systems on a vaccine clinic. However, this time was the first chance younger children could sign up. "We wanted to make sure that we opened up another opportunity for our community to be able to access the vaccine," he said. Morstatter said the pandemic has shifted the way they do things at the club, and "safety has always been our No. 1 priority." He added the kids do a great job of masking up and sticking to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He said they want the kids to have fun too, but also to be safe. Karen Manos, of Chicago, was there Saturday to help give the shots. She said she was a labor and delivery nurse for 41 years until the hospital she worked at closed. "Then this came about the vaccines and it was a good cause, so I thought I'd do it," she said. She's also worked at clinics in Colona, Dixon, Erwin and Burr Ridge. Manos said COVID is affecting kids more and more, and she agreed it is important to get the doses out to the kids. The clinic will return to the club from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12. Walk-ins for first, second, booster and kids' doses are welcome. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A January letter asked what value does teaching that advancing interests white people comes at the expense of people of color. This question followed queries about light sentences and giving convicted felons voting rights, defunding police, requiring no ID on mail-in ballots and ballot harvesting plus why migrants are allowed to come here and why its news when migrant children are separated from their parents and never returned. The letter's writer asserted government policies should benefit the majority not the minority, illustrating why students must learn how this very attitude has resulted in decades, even centuries of inequalities for people of color. Therefore, policies now must make America a land of equal opportunity for everyone as our Constitution requires. Minds can be changed when people learn our justice system has historically given minorities much longer sentences creating many hardened criminals. After serving sentences, convicted felons should have the right to vote as part of the rehabilitation programs that prevent them from committing future crimes. More support for voter rights in every state will materialize when people understand theres no widespread fraud, but laws being passed disproportionately suppress voting in minority communities. Immigration reform can be realized once awareness is raised about how severely limited immigration harms our economy and devalues human rights, plus its legal for asylum seekers to come here, but having their children taken away is just not. More than ever we must be inclusive and united in securing the blessings of liberty for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or gender. Its un-American to deny our history and advocate self-interest over altruism. We must build cohesiveness that can survive partisan and racial hatred and corrupt leaders whose only goals are wealth and power. Lets embrace progress, not erase it, then vote. Linda Doenitz, Bloomington Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 100 years ago Feb. 13, 1922: Obituaries today include Dan ONeil and Harve Lewis. Both died Sunday. ONeill, a former alderman, started a west-side grocery store and cofounded Corn Belt Bank. Lewis had been ticket agent at the Lake Erie & Western depot for the past 40 years. 75 years ago Feb. 13, 1947: About 350 people turned out in Hudson (population 324) to honor Junius Thompson and Mrs. Ferdice Stinley for their 10 years as telephone operators. It was a farewell party. Thompson and Mrs. Stinley are leaving Hudson for Rolla, Missouri, where they bought a farm. 50 years ago Feb. 13, 1972: Fire destroyed a Civil War-era house near McLean. It was a stately old brick home occupied by the Russell Alexander family. No one was home at the time. The Alexanders were restoring the house for their landlord, who couldnt work on it himself due to a heart condition. 25 years ago Feb. 13, 1997: Four percent pay raises are on their way for District 87s education support personnel. They are in a new contract between the school board and the Bloomington Education Association. The raises will last for only a year. Then wage negotiations are set to reopen. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid has disclosed that the price deregulation policy of the petroleum sector is being reviewed. Addressing the media on Friday, 11 February 2022 in Kumasi after a tour of the Ashanti region, he said a committee was set up and has completed its work on it and has presented its report to him. Dr. Mustapha said the report will be studied by him and pass it on to the Minister for Energy to also study it. He said the Minister will decide with his technocrats whether to take it to the cabinet for a proper cabinet decision to be taken on the next face of the deregulation policy. The policy was implemented in 2015 to allow marketers and importers of petroleum products to set directly, their prices based on import parity costs, taxes, and margins. It brought an end to government subsidies on the product. Dr. Mustapha said the policy is being reviewed. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A team of military operatives stationed at the Aflao border in the Volta Region has intercepted a total of 192 units of fake electricity prepaid meters being brought into the country from the Republic of Togo. The office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Volta Region told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that two men were arrested in connection with the smuggling. A tipoff aided the military officers in uncovering the contraband being loaded onto an intercity commercial bus, and the suspects were handed over to local law enforcement, who extracted that the prepaid meters were destined for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The Police are expected to process them further for court prosecution. Mr Emmanuel Lumor, General Manager for the ECG in the Volta Region, commended the support of the various security agencies in the Region, and said the arrests gave credibility to intelligence on illegal meter infiltration, which he noted affected stable power supply. The Companys surveillance over the past months has revealed that some people have been making frantic efforts to infiltrate our stable electricity distribution network with illegal meters. Our findings revealed that these illegal meters are fake meters being smuggled into the country from Togo by people who have not been licensed under the Public Utilities Act by the Energy Commission to possess or install electricity distribution meters. Such people do not have the mandate to import meters and do so illegally to affect the financial health of the company. Their actions are unacceptable and must be condemned by our customers and the public, the General Manager stated. He added also that aside being retailed at exorbitant prices, the illegal meters were of inferior quality, and had proven to cause higher electricity consumption. Mr Lumor said the cost of replacing such units, was unable to bill such customers, which added on more losses. He also cited damage caused transformers from system infiltration and overload and said the arrest of the suspects was a step in the right direction to curbing the menace of the importation of fake meters from Togo and other sources. We are sounding a strong note of caution to the general public especially those engaging in this illegal act and those who purchase these fake meters, that, we would not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught engaging in this illegal act. Mr Lumor said the ECG had enough prepaid meters available and urged all to contact the offices of the Company for all transactions to prevent falling prey to illegal activity. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has described as an afterthought government's town hall meetings on the controversial E-levy The government has said that the town hall meetings are aimed at explaining the importance of the E-levy to Ghanaians as well as taking feedback. So far the town hall meetings have been held in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, Koforidua and Takoradi. Reacting to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Charles Owusu said the various meetings and engagement should have been done before the levy was introduced to Ghanaians. "I hear the ruling administration is a listening government and that that is why they are engaging Ghanaians on e-levy; to me, it's an after-thought...had the levy been accepted in Parliament, would they have come back to us for town hall meetings? he queried. Listen to him in the video below Pratt Agrees Speaking to the same issue and on the same platform, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr agreed with Charles Owusu. According to him, government would not have considered any engagement with Ghanaians had the levy been accepted. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong has said he has been informed about the dismissal of Afia Akoto. While condemning the development, the legislator mentioned that the basis for Afia Akoto's dismissal from the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) is unfathomable. Im told Afia Akoto has been sacked from MASLOC. They say she got married to an NDC man so they sacked her, he said on Accra-based Oman FM. The legislator believes that the partys action against members will be detrimental, stressing that there is the need for something to be done about the situation. He noted that members of the party are peeved by the actions of the party and are rather preaching against the party - a move he believes will not go well for the party if nothing is done about it. Members of the party are bitter about what is happening in the party. They are the ones preaching against the party and if nothing is done about this it will lead us to opposition, the businessman said. Kennedy Agyapong noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) does not reward people who sacrifice for the party because they do not see their worth. The party, rather, rewards people who pretend to be gentle, he argued. He cautioned against this indicating that people who communicate and work for the party should be rewarded. Afia Akoto, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is married to Chief Biney, the Deputy National Organiser for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). She was appointed the Deputy Executive Secretary of MASLOC by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017. Source: ghanaweb.con Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Grapevine information indicates that there is currently a conflict within the Central Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party. Sources reveal that "almost all the registration books containing the list or names and particulars of the party members in various polling stations have been destroyed by some suspected members and executives with the purpose of creating confusion and chaos in the upcoming polling stations elections, scheduled for on 19th February to 5th March this year". Read statement below: *NPP Electoral Area Coordinators in Agona West constituency call for an investigation into the destruction of the party register*. Information reaching us indicates that the leadership of central regional branch of the New Patriotic party has been called upon to investigate some serious misconduct of some constituency executives and members of the party in Agona West. Information available to us indicate that almost all the registration books containing the list or names and particulars of the party members in various polling stations have been destroyed by some suspected members and executives with the purpose of creating confusion and chaos in the upcoming polling stations elections, scheduled for on 19th February to 5th March this year. Narrating the story by two of the electoral area coordinators to our reporter, Daniel Prah, the constituency executives invited the coordinators to a meeting at the party office on Wednesday, 9th February around 3:00pm. According to the coordinators, there were no agenda prior to the meeting , only to be told at the meeting that they wanted to handover the registration booklets to them to inspect whether everything is intact. This was a surprise to us because the booklets were given to us some months ago to register our party members from various polling stations. The exercise ended long ago and we the coordinators submitted the filled registration booklets back to the constituency executives, so it doesnt sound well to us to be invited again only to inspect the very same books that we the coordinators submitted by ourselves. In fact when the books distributed to us at the party office, we were surprised to see that all the names and particulars in the booklets have been removed from the booklets. Every name written in the booklets have been removed. This is a very serious issue because some people who love the party spent a lot of money for the registration exercise not long ago. How could a human being sit down and plan this against the party they claim to love? Angry coordinator. Further investigation into the matter shows that an informant who was at the party office on 31st January, 2022 has narrated the events leading to the destruction of the registers to the party office Assistant, Kwesi and he also forwarded same to the acting constituency chairman, Mr. Isaac Aggrey. According to the narrations, he was with the Office Assistant at the party office on that day when the 2nd vice chairman, Mr. Ako Mohammed came to the office. He met the office assistant (Kwesi), his Father and himself (brother of Kwesi) at the office on that day. A few minutes later the father of Kwesi who was at party office left for a meeting. Mr. Ako Mohammed then sent the Office Assistant out to buy him food away from the office with party car and the driver (Ibrahim - Younger brother of the 2nd Vice). According to the narrations to acting chairman, when the administrator left the office, one Eric Acquah and Joe Cedy came and walked straight to the chamber of the office where the booklets were kept. According to him, He was watching the AFCCON tournament at the party office, but Mr. Ako Mohammed then asked him to sit outside because the two men were having confidential meeting in the office chamber so he should step out of the office which he obliged and sat outside the office together with Mr. Ako Mohammed. While sitting outside the party office, Ako Mohammed engaged him in so many conversations for almost one hour till the two gentlemen left the office. The two men spent about 1hour inside the chamber before they left. According to him he saw a black bag filled fully in the hands of Eric Acquah when they were leaving the office. They told Mr. Ako Mohammed that they are done. Immediately they left, Mr. Ako then told him he could go and watch the Afcon game since the said meeting was over. The narrator stayed there till his brother (the office assistant) returned from where he went to buy food for Mr. Ako Mohammed. According to the narrator, he suspected the two men of something unusual so he decided to follow them to see what they were holding in the bag but Mr. Ako Mohammed upon sensing that, gave him Ghc 7.00 to buy food and started engaging him again till the two men left the scene. The narrator claims that he suspects that the registers were destroyed by the two men with the knowledge of Mr. Ako Mohammed. This narration drew Kwesi's attention to how the driver (Ibrahim) intentionally delayed him when he was sent out by Mr. Ako Mohammed on that day. He said, after buying the food, the driver told him that, one Ato Preko was coming so they should wait for him. They waited for over 40 minutes, but he didn't show up. According to him, Ibrahim told him he would also buy the food, but he will eat there before they leave. This was after waiting for Ato Preko for over 40 minutes. Meanwhile, when the Acting Chairman enquired from Mr. Ako Mohammed after hearing this narrations , Mr. Mohammed said it was true, but the two men only came to inspect the booklets to know whether everything was intact. In a related issue, our information is that the office keys to the chamber where the books and other vital documents of the party were kept were changed by Mr. Ako Mohammed together with some other executives about four months ago and the new keys have been with him. Asking the coordinators their next action, they stated they have expressed their disappointment to the constituency acting Secretary and they are waiting to hear from the regional executives through the acting Secretary before any further action. By Hon. kofi Anto Delegate Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian actress Emelia Brobbey has called on the government to work towards reducing petroleum prices in the country as the frequent rise in petrol prices is affecting businesses. Emelia who owns a water producing company said the petrol prices is having a toll on her water business. Speaking on Accra FM on Thursday, 10 November 2022, Ms Brobbey said Ghana is tough, petrol prices have increased over 10 times and it has affected my water production business. The workers dont really care about the hike in petrol prices and that means as the business owner, Ive to re-invest my interest into the business. The petrol increment is just too much. Ill call on the government to do something about the frequent hike in fuel prices. They say dumsor is over but in Kumasi, one of my pure water machines broke down and I had to spend about GHS7000 instantly because of the power fluctuations so they must also take a look at the electricity situation in Kumasi, she added. Earlier this week, the Chief Executive of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Kwaku Agyeman Duah noted that if the current trend on the world market, among other things remain the same, then consumers will be buying a litre of fuel for GHS8 in March. Emelias latest work is Heroes of Africa which premieres on 13 February 2022 at the Under-Bridge Event Centre, East Legon, Accra. Emelia who is also a musician, is currently also promoting her single titled 'Emilia' produced by Kuami Eugene. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Love is in the air this Valentines Day at Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, which will treat couples to a trio of sweet dining experiences! This February, diners can choose from an enchanting Valentines Afternoon Tea, a tantalizing Tapas & Cocktails, or a delectable Valentines Day Dinner, all of which are sure to fan the flames of romance. Krua Talad Yai, the hotels vibrant restaurant, will set the stage for romantic moments with an enchanting Valentines Dinner, hosted every evening from 13th to 20th February 2022 (18.00-22.00 hrs). Highly-skilled chefs will craft a mouth-watering four-course menu using local and seasonal ingredients, including fresh Andaman seafood. For the appetizer, couples can savor perfectly Poached Tiger Prawns with spicy salad or a classic Caprese Salad, followed by a choice of soups: BBQ pork Ravioli Chicken Consomme or Creamy Tomato Soup. The main course offers Steamed Andaman Snapper Hor Mok with Roselle steam rice or, Zucchini Spaghetti with Beetroot, or Tender Braised Beef Shoulder with Red Wine Massaman Gravy, before this memorable meal ends with a choice of Mango & Palm Fruits served with Rice Pudding, or White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. Perfect for two people, this captivating culinary experience is priced at THB 1,950 net per couple, including two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine. Alternatively, guests can celebrate a whole week of romance at Talung Lounge from 13th to 20th February 2022. The Valentines Afternoon Tea (daily, 12.00 17.00 hrs) features a delectable selection of Western or Thai bites. The Western Set includes decadent items such as Double Chocolate Tart, Lemon Tart, Red Velvet Cake, Macarons, and Scones with Clotted Cream & Strawberry Jam, while the Thai Set comprises Deep-fried Prawn Wraps, Watermelon with Dried Shredded Fish, Seared Prawn with Spicy Lemongrass Salad, Mango Sticky Rice & Water Chestnuts in Sweet Coconut Milk. Both options are priced at THB 650 net per couple, with an optional free-flow sparking beverage package for THB 1,350. Then, as the sun sets, Talung Lounge will light up the evening with its Tapas & Cocktails (daily, 17.00 21.00 hrs). This culinary love story is revealed in four parts: Ill Take You Home features a Baked Oyster, Scallop au Gratin and Chicken Yakitori, while Hey, Love offers Japanese Tuna Maki Roll, Mini Salmon Poke Bowl and Prawn Satay. Forget Me Not promises a mini burger and burrito selection, and My Sweetheart ensures a happy ending with Pink Velvet Cake, Lavender Creme Brulee and Chocolate & Salted Caramel Tart. Served with four drinks, this sublime set is priced at THB 1,990 net per couple. To book your romantic Valentines celebration at Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, please call 076 643 555 Or connect us via these channels: Website www.courtyardphukettown.com Email reservations.phukettown@courtyard.com Facebook CourtyardbyMarriottPhuketTown Line @courtyardphuket Some of the manmade fossils discovered in the cave which led to the archaeological findings. Homo sapiens ventured into Neanderthal territory in Europe much earlier than previously thought, according to an archaeological study published in Science Advances on Wednesday. Up to now, archaeological discoveries had indicated that Neanderthals disappeared from the European continent about 40,000 years ago, shortly after the arrival of their "cousin" Homo sapiens, barely 5,000years earlier and there was no evidence of an encounter between these two groups. The new discovery, by a team of archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists led by Ludovic Slimak of Toulouse University, pushes back the arrival of Homo sapiens in Western Europe to around 54,000 years ago. Another remarkable finding of the research is that the two types of humans alternated in inhabiting the Mandrin cave in what is now the Rhone region of southern france. The Mandrin site, first excavated in 1990, includes layer upon layer of archaeological remains dating back over 80,000 years. "Mandrin is like a kind of neandertalian Pompeii, without catastrophic events, but with continuous filling of sands in the cave deposited progressively by a strong wind, the Mistral," Slimak told AFP. His team uncoevered a layer, known as the "E layer", containing at least 1,500 cut flint points, more finely executed than the points and blades in the layers above and below. Very small in size, some of them less than a centimetre in length, these points "are standardised, to the nearest millimetre, something we haven't seen at all with Neanderthals," said Slimak, a specialist in Neanderthal societies. These, he explained, were probably arrowheads, unknown in Europe at that time. He attributes this production to a culture called Neronian, linked to several sites in the Rhone area. Milk tooth discovery In 2016, Slimak and his team visited the Peabody Museum in Harvard to compare their discoveries with a collection of carved fossils from the Ksar Akil site at the foot of Mount Lebanon, one of the major sites of the expansion of Homo sapiens to the east of the Mediterranean. The similarity between the techniques used convinced Slimak that the findings at the Mandrin site were the first traces of Home Sapiens found in Europe. A milk tooth found in the "E layer" confirmed his suspicions. Archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists led by Ludovic Slimak inside the Mandrin cave. In all researchers found nine teeth at the Mandrin cave site, belonging to six individuals. These ancient teeth were entrusted to Clement Zanolli, a palaeoanthropologist at the University of Bordeaux. Using microtomography, similar to medical scanning technology, the verdict was clear. The milk tooth from the "E" layer" was the only modern human tooth found at the site. That "fossil molar from a modern human child provides the earliest known evidence of modern humans in western Europe", the Natural History Museum in London said in a statement. Co-existence? The archaeological team then used a pioneering technique, fuliginochronology, which analyses layers of soot impregnating the walls of a cave and the traces of ancient fires. The reachers demonstrated that "this Modern human population occupied this Rhone territory for some 40 years," said Slimak. At some point, the two populations either co-existed in the cave or on the same territory, the researcher concluded. He imagines that Neanderthals could have served as guides to Homo Sapiens to lead him to the best sources of flint available, some of which were located up to 90 kilometres (55 miles away. "Nothing new under the sun This is precisely what happened when Europeans began the colonization of the Americas or Australia," he noted. "The findings from Mandrin are really exciting and are another piece in the puzzle of how and when modern humans arrived in Europe," concludes Professor Chris Stringer, co-author of the study and a specialist in human evolution at the Natural History Museum in London. "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," he added. This overlap, which was evident in Mandrin, now places the Rhone region as a "major migration corridor (for Homo sapiens) enabling them to reach the Mediterranean and continental European areas", said Slimak, who promises more discoveries from the Mandrin site. Explore further French cave tells new story about Neanderthals, early humans More information: Ludovic Slimak et al, Modern human incursion into Neanderthal territories 54,000 years ago at Mandrin, France, Science Advances (2022). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj9496 Journal information: Science Advances Ludovic Slimak et al, Modern human incursion into Neanderthal territories 54,000 years ago at Mandrin, France,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9496 2022 AFP Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility. Elon Musk delivered updates on SpaceX's efforts to develop its interplanetary Starship rocket on Thursday night, but stopped short of announcing a firm launch date for an orbital test or new missions, despite considerable buildup ahead of the rare presentation. Addressing an audience at the company's Starbase facility near Boca Chica, south Texas, the tycoon merely said: "I feel at this point highly confident that we'll get to orbit this year," while hinting at a potential pivot to launching from Florida if the company encounters regulatory hurdles. Musk was speaking against the impressive backdrop of the spacecraft in its fully-stacked configuration, standing 394 feet (120 meters) tall, with a matte black upper-stage placed on a 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 also intended to be the world's most powerful rocket, and will be capable of lifting up to 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit. SpaceX envisages the ship carrying crew and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyondand 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. SpaceX's first orbital Starship SN20 is stacked atop its massive Super Heavy Booster 4 at the company's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on February 10, 2022. $10 million launches? In his first detailed progress report on the project since 2019, Musk recapped his ultimate vision for colonizing Mars as a "life insurance" in case of catastrophe on Earth, and as the first step in expanding humanity's footprint beyond the solar system. The speech was peppered with dry humor, such as his "sales pitch" for Mars: "It's going to be cramped, dangerous, difficult, very hard word, you might die"though he eventually hopes to terraform the Red Planet. Musk also included some updates for fans, such as an illustration of how one Starship would be sent to refuel another on deep space voyages, and the thrust advantage and neater design of the latest generation of Raptor engines compared to the first iteration. Each Starship booster is planned to have 33 Raptors, and a bottleneck in the production is expected to ease in the coming weeks, with as many as one engine manufactured per day by next month, said Musk. He also revealed that within years the cost of launch could be as little as $10 milliona price point that could revolutionize the industry by making rockets attractive for commercial transportation purposes. A flight to Singapore from the US is 20 hours "while in a rocket it would be less than an hour. So like 45 minutes or there abouts." 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. A woman walks her dog on the beach near SpaceX's first orbital Starship SN20 stacked atop its massive Super Heavy Booster 4 at the company's Starbase facility. Possible pivot to Florida But a far more ambitious orbital test is pending an environmental impact clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said in a December release it would deliver a report by February 28. Musk said that while he was optimistic of receiving approval, he was prepared to shift launch operations to the company's launch site at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, if it was held up. Former deepwater oil drilling rigs the company has acquired to convert into rocket launch and land sites could also come into play, he added. Beyond exploration missions, Starship's tremendous payload capacity could also be a boon for astronomers seeking to place bigger telescopes into space, while the US military has given SpaceX a five-year contract to demonstrate its capacity to whizz cargo around the world in ultra quick time. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has contracted Starship for a journey around the Moon with a crew of artists, and Musk hinted there would soon be "future announcements that I think people will be pretty fired up about," without divulging more. Explore further Musk to give rare presentation on ambitious Starship rocket 2022 AFP A female chimpanzee helps an adult male in Loango National Park, Gabon, in an undated photo taken by researcher Tobias Deschner. How to treat a wound? For humans, the first instinct would be to disinfect it and then cover it with a bandage. But chimpanzees have invented a more creative method: catching insects and applying them directly to the open wound. Scientists observed this behavior in chimpanzees in the West African nation of Gabon, noticing that the apes not only use insects to treat their own wounds, but also those of their peers. The research, published Monday in the journal Current Biology, marks an important contribution to ongoing scientific debate about the ability of chimpanzeesand of animals in generalto selflessly help others. "When you're going to school and you read in your biology books about the amazing things that animals can do," Simone Pika, a biologist at the University of Osnabruck in Germany and a co-author of the study, told AFP. "I think it could really be something like that that will end up in those books." The project began in 2019, when an adult female chimpanzee named Suzee was observed inspecting a wound on the foot of her adolescent son. Suzee then suddenly caught an insect out of the air, put it in her mouth, apparently squeezed it, and then applied it to her son's wound. After extracting the insect from the wound, she applied it two more times. The scene unfolded in Loango National Park on Gabon's Atlantic coast, where researchers are studying a group of 45 central chimpanzees, an endangered species. Over the following 15 months, scientists saw chimpanzees administer the same treatment on themselves at least 19 times. And on two other occasions they observed injured chimpanzees being treated in the same way by one or several fellow apes. The wounds, sometimes several centimeters wide, can come from conflicts between members of same or an opposing group. Far from protesting the treatment, the bruised chimpanzees were happy to be tended to. "It takes lot of trust to put an insect in an open wound," said Pika. "They seem to understand that if you do this to me with this insect, then my wound gets better. It's amazing." Soothing properties? Researchers have not been able to identify what bug was used on the wounds, but they believe it to be a flying insect given the chimpanzees' rapid movement to catch it. Pika says the insect could contain anti-inflammatory substances that have a soothing effect. Insects are known to have various medical properties and researches will need to conduct more work to detect and study the insect in question. Birds, bears, elephants and other animals have already been observed self-medicating, for example by eating plants. But what is unique about chimpanzees is that they will treat not just themselves, but also help others. Some scientists, however, still doubt the ability of animal species to exhibit prosocial behaviors, such as selflessly caring for others, Pika said. But here the chimpanzees have nothing to gain, she stressed. So why do they do it? In humans, prosocial behavior is generally linked to empathy. Could the same feeling be at play in chimpanzees, Pika wondered. "It is a hypothesis that we must study," she said. More information: Simone Pika, Application of insects to wounds of self and others by chimpanzees in the wild, Current Biology (2022). www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(21)01732-2 Journal information: Current Biology Simone Pika, Application of insects to wounds of self and others by chimpanzees in the wild,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.045 2022 AFP U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, said his distinction as one of the few eight to be exact engineers in the House of Representatives gives him a unique perspective. Ive learned to study a problem and propose science-based solutions, said Tonko, who will be the incumbent running for reelection in November in Glens Falls, Queensbury, Moreau and Wilton, local communities that have been redrawn into the new 20th Congressional District. In a recent telephone interview, Tonko said he was good at math in high school and aspired to be either an architect or an engineer, and decided on engineering. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1971 with a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering and has applied those principles in a more than 45-year political career that began when he was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors in 1975, at the time the youngest member ever elected to the board. He had not initially intended to run for office when he volunteered on several political campaigns. The local Democratic Committee said I channeled a lot more enthusiasm, at times, than the candidates, he said. From county government, Tonko went on to serve in the state Assembly and as president and chief executive officer of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority, and is now serving his seventh term in Congress. In his closest election, he received 54.9 percent of the vote in 2008. In 2020, he received 59.5 percent of the vote to defeat Liz Joy, a Glens Falls native who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge him again in November. Tonko, in a speaking style similar to that of the late Sen. John McCain, has a kind and melodic voice, yet is not afraid to speak directly. Only a handful from the Republican side voted for this, which I dont understand, Tonko said, referring to the recent federal infrastructure bill. Tonko is passionate about the environment, climate change, alternative energy and water quality. Paul is a very energetic and enthusiastic fellow, said former U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, who served with Tonko in the House. So, hes very bright. Hes had a lot of experience, particularly in the field of green energy. Warren County Democratic Chairwoman Lynne Boecher said Tonkos environmental expertise will be beneficial in efforts to protect the water quality of Lake George. Tonkos home city, Amsterdam, like Glens Falls, is a small city attempting an economic rebound, said Larry Bulman, national general officer of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, a labor union. I think hes well positioned, from that point, to deal with some of the growing pains the revitalization, said Bulman, a former Saratoga County Democratic chairman who splits his time between the D.C. region and Moreau. Tonko said that waterfront tourism and alternative energy manufacturing, research and development will be prominent in the next wave of economic revitalization. Tonko, generally considered a liberal, used the term progressive a number of times in the interview. Asked about that, Tonko said he thinks of progressive as moving things forward, not as a political philosophy. Asked if he considers himself a progressive or a moderate, Tonko said voters generally judge elected officials by their effectiveness. So many of the assignments I have to deal with in the halls of Congress rely on effectiveness, not politics, he said. Tonko said there are opportunities for bipartisan compromise. The battlefield in politics ends on Election Day. Im there to represent everyone, he said. In 2016, for example, Tonko said, he collaborated with Republicans to update a 1976 law that required manufacturers to keep records of, test for, and report the use or emission of toxic chemicals. While the bill wasnt perfect, I think it made many important steps, he said. Of 23 bills Tonko has personally introduced this session, 15 have Republican co-sponsorship. The Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranked Tonko the 52nd most bipartisan member of the House for the 2019 and 2020 session. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, was ranked 13th. On business issues, Tonko received a 48% score on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce scorecard, based 80% on voting record, for the 2019 and 2020 session, the lowest score of any upstate New York House Democrat. On environmental issues, Tonko received a 100% score on the League of Conservation Voters scorecard for the 2019 and 2020 session, and has a career score of 97. Communication is the key to ending divisiveness, Tonko said. I make it a goal to have a one-on-one with Republicans of the (Energy and Commerce) Committee, around the start of each year, he said. Tonko said that meeting individually for lunch or a cup of coffee with a colleague is more effective at relationship building than meeting with Republican members as a group. You cant, perhaps, legislate relationships, but you can work hard at it, he said. Owens, Boecher and Bulman all said that Tonko is accessible and easy to talk to. I think people will find him very approachable, Owens said. Tonko said he emphasizes the importance of constituent service to his co-workers, as he prefers to call his staff. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 Warren County Health Services reported an additional 44 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday afternoon. There have been 231 new cases over the previous five days. There were a total of 233 hospitalizations throughout the Capital Region reported, which is seven fewer than on Friday and the lowest number since Nov. 23. Health Services reported 12 county residents hospitalized with COVID-19, which is four less than on Friday. Seven of those hospitalized are vaccinated. While the states mask-or-vaccine mandate for public places has been discontinued, Warren County Health Services, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continue to recommend the use of a mask or face covering in public settings per CDC guidelines for areas with high transmission of COVID-19. People can find those guidelines on the CDCs website. Warren County Health Services will hold vaccine clinics for the general public on Tuesday afternoons and evening at the Warren County Municipal Center until further notice. Health Services will also be holding two vaccination clinics this week that will be open to the public: Warren County Municipal Center, Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Warrensburg Central School, Thursday, 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Information and registration links for these clinics can be found on the countys COVID hub page. The countys seven-day positivity rate was 8.1% on Saturday. New York state vaccine data showed that the vaccination rate for Warren County was 74.8%, with 79.8% of county residents receiving at least one dose of a vaccine. Statewide Gov. Kathy Hochul reported that the total number of hospitalizations in the state was 3,883, which is the lowest reported number since Dec. 19. According to Hochul, hospitalizations have dropped by 69% since the peak of 12,671 on Jan. 11. She said that there has been a decline in hospitalizations of nearly 30% over the past week. She said that the vaccines and boosters are the best way to defend against COVID-19, and that it is effective, safe and doctor-recommended for everyone who is at least 5 years old. New Yorkers should be proud of our continued progress in bringing down the numbers since the omicron peak in January, but this is no time to let up, Hochul said in a news release. Out of the 169,476 tests reported, only 4,232, or 2.5%, were positive. Jay Mullen is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls, Warren County and crime and courts. You can reach him at (518) 742-3224 or jmullen@poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Recently, I participated in Queensburys William H. Barton Intermediate (WHBI) World Language Club, in which high school students teach foreign languages to 4th and 5th graders for two weeks. This club offers several different opportunities throughout the year for students from both the high school and WHBI to get involved. I remember doing this club when I was younger, though I will admit I do not remember which language I chose. While teaching my 4th grade group with the help of two other high school students, I remembered how fun it was to learn a foreign language as a young child. It also made me think about the benefits of learning a foreign language at a young age. After researching a little bit, I found that it not only makes learning other foreign languages easier, but it also offers countless other benefits in all areas of life. One of the top benefits I discovered was cognitive flexibility. This essentially means that children who know more than one language appear to have a better ability to focus on one thing and change their response. Both of these actions require self-control, which is an important skill in life. Researchers think that this cognitive flexibility comes from how a child must actively suppress one language while communicating in the other, requiring attention and the ability to be flexible. The connection between knowing multiple languages and cognitive abilities is also reinforced by the notion that foreign languages appear to improve the brains command center. This furthers ones ability to plan, solve problems and perform other demanding tasks, like switching attention and remembering information. Additionally, research shows that children who know multiple languages show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility, which perhaps may be a reason why learning another language can help protect against, or at least delay, Alzheimers disease. Many of these skills and abilities are just as valuable in the real world as they are in the classroom, and they can also apply to adults who learn foreign languages. It appears that learning foreign languages, especially at a young age, offers many cognitive benefits that will help children succeed as they grow up, both inside and outside of the classroom. Another important benefit of learning a foreign language at a young age is that it helps children grow curiosity, empathy, tolerance and cultural awareness. Learning a foreign language also includes being exposed to the culture from which it comes. This is important for young children because it can help them be more open-minded and tolerant of other cultures and a way of life that is different from their own. In fact, research shows that children exposed to foreign languages early on display more positive attitudes toward other cultures. This aspect of learning foreign languages applies to those of all ages, but it is particularly important for children to learn to be open-minded early on because it sets them up for more success as they grow. Tolerance and empathy appear to be things that many in our society struggle with, so it would be beneficial to build these skills in children early on. Learning a foreign language can help children work and cooperate better with others, which is very valuable in school, the workforce and life. Perhaps some people may be concerned that learning a language would confuse young children because they are in the process of developing many other important skills. However, studies show that childrens brains are flexible and absorb other languages very well. The ideal time to teach a second language is between the ages of zero and three, but children (and adults) can learn foreign languages beyond this time frame, with similar benefits. According to research conducted by Michigan State University, up until the age of 8, children have the benefits of flexible ear and speech muscles that detect differences between a second languages sounds. Furthermore, it has been shown that learning another language does not negatively affect a childs ability to learn or speak their native language. In fact, it might improve the childs vocabulary and linguistic skills in their native language, especially since there are grammar and vocabulary rules that people usually learn only through a foreign language. The benefits of a foreign language are so important that most European students start learning a foreign language between the ages of 6 and 9. It is clear that not everyone is linguistically suited to teach their children a foreign language; though if you have the ability to teach a foreign language at home, the benefits may be worth the effort. Children should be exposed to foreign languages while at school, starting younger than middle school (the age at which most students in the U.S. begin). While some districts may not have many teachers who are fluent enough in a foreign language, nor qualified to teach a foreign language, simply teaching beginning phrases, such as hello, my name is, and how are you, would still be very beneficial to students. Such beginning phrases are easily found on a Google search or in a library book, and can be taught quickly through fun exercises. For example, when a student walks into the classroom in the morning, ask them how they are doing (in a foreign language) and have them respond. It is a simple exercise, but also a good way to get children to learn a basic phrase. Thanks to technology, we are more interconnected than ever before, making it even more important for children to learn other languages. Exposure to a foreign language at a young age, big or small, helps students build their curiosity and open-mindedness toward the world and sets them up for success, as foreign languages, particularly Spanish, become increasingly valuable in the workforce. Que idioma aprendera? Rachel B. Mannix is a senior and full IB diploma student at Queensbury High School. She has been a student reporter for the Spartan Scoop for two years and did research and writing for the Moreau town historian in 2020 as well. She has taken both French and Spanish in high school and is part of those respective Honor Societies, in addition to the National Honor Society. She will be receiving the Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation in June. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 James Carney has always considered himself to be a tough guy. The former Atlantic County Surrogate and member of the then Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders has also served in numerous other local, county, state and federal positions, and he has endured his share of personal and professional jabs over the years. But now, the 76-year-old Pleasantville native and lifelong Atlantic County resident is in a fight for his life and could use a little help in his corner. After surviving kidney cancer in 1993, Carney was down to living with one functioning kidney. But progression of Type II diabetes caused that organ to go into full renal failure, and for about the past 18 months he requires daily dialysis to stay alive. His doctors told him the only medical option open to him now is kidney transplant surgery through a living donor. Jim has always strived to help others throughout his life, and now he needs the help, said Donna Tissot, a social media influencer advocating for the Carney family. "His wife and family are hopeful someone will be a match and help him return to a normal functioning life without the daily connection to the dialysis machine. Tissot is also a volunteer with the NJ Sharing Network, which works to increase public awareness and education about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The Carney family came to know of Tissots work from a mutual friend who suggested they enlist her help. A resident of Morris County, Tissot has spent the past several years advocating for those who need a donor by creating a personalized online kidney page and then inviting all her followers to share the information on behalf of the family. Getting the chance to live life is a gift that everyone deserves to have, Tissot said recently through an email. She said in the past several years, her efforts have been successful in helping a number of people find donors. Privately, the Carney family has been trying for quite a while to find a kidney match by signing up for transplant lists and working with various hospitals. But as his condition became more dire, Carney said Tissot suggested they now expand the search and go public. Carney has always been open and willing to talk about this medical journey. He and his wife, Jacqueline, have been married for 45 years and have three grown children, Dr. Michelle Carney-Ray, Adam Carney and Ryan Carney. And they have two grandsons, Rex and Asher. The family has stayed supportive of all the efforts. And his church family also has been supportive, he said. Several parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Linwood, where he is a member, stepped forward for testing but ultimately didnt make it through the vetting process. And there have been other leads that also fell through. Carney said there are a lot of people both in his personal and professional life who probably still dont know about the urgency of his need for a donor. He also acknowledged that it has been a very humbling experience. There are a lot of people like me, hanging in there for one reason or another, hoping to get a chance to connect with a donor, and Im very grateful for any opportunity that presents itself, Carney said recently in a phone interview from his Egg Harbor Township home. He said having a healthy, functioning kidney again would allow him to resume his life to the fullest. He continues to work from home in his capacity as the director of asset acquisition and liquidations for Surplus Services Company of Northfield and as a commissioner with the New Jersey Casino Revenue Fund Advisory Commission. But most of his time is devoted to hooking up to a machine and going through the procedure of peritoneal dialysis, a treatment for kidney failure that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter the blood inside the body through a port surgically placed in the belly. Its a complicated procedure of fluid exchange, but Carney said he was determined to master the at-home treatment. It was about a year ago when he was going through tests for a new port to be placed that his cardiologist informed him he needed triple bypass heart surgery. He was in the hospital for 15 days. Once released, he was back to his regimen. Still, he insists on staying positive. Its an attitude that has enabled him to absorb the hard knocks of fate and keep moving forward. He absolutely believes that every day is a new adventure. I take it one day at a time. Its part of life, youve got to learn how to work through things, said Carney. I have faith. I have the support and love of my family. I can look back over my life and say Ive been a pretty lucky guy. ATLANTIC CITY Embellished gowns, tailored suits and distressed denims were just a few of the pieces that adorned the runway this weekend at the Showboat hotel for the 20th season and 10th anniversary of Atlantic City Fashion Week. The first of three shows A.C. Fashion Week holds a year, the six-day event was presented by KingBee Media LLC, the parent company of ACFW and fashionSTYLE Magazine, an online publication launched by Lamont Bowling and his wife, Jeana, in 2005. Not many fashion weeks last this long, said Lamont Bowling, executive producer of A.C. Fashion Week. Were just glad to be here. The Bowlings are both admitted fashionistas and have been married for 22 years. Their love of fashion, the industry and each other led them to create A.C. Fashion Week. This years Fashion Week events included virtual lecture series, runway shows, vendor exhibits, designer pop-up shops and networking opportunities. Models from children to older adults walked the runway, exuding confidence and grace as they struck poses on the cross-shaped catwalk before hundreds of people under the circus-tent themed high-rise ceilings, crystal chandeliers and grandiose Carousel Room of the Showboat. We wanted to make this year special and over the top because its our 10th anniversary, said Jeana Bowling. Every year gets better and better. Theres always room for improvement. This year, the fashion show offered a VIP experience, which included an exclusive lounge equipped with food, drinks and plenty of mingling space. Other new amenities this year included a 360-degree photo booth and VIP vendors. Jeana Bowling said Fashion Week was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced its usual number of at least 42 vendors from years prior to half that. Fashion Week started Monday with virtual workshops for designers and models. The designer workshop was run by Sofia Davis, editor-in-chief of Fashion Avenue News Magazine. The model workshop included a panel of professional models who shared their experiences in the industry. Tuesday marked Fashion Weeks first show at Rowan College at Burlington County, which featured a fashion show themed to Black History Month. Atlantic City Fashion Week returns with virtual, in-person events ATLANTIC CITY Fashion Week returns to the resort next week, featuring creations from area Wednesday featured a second round of virtual workshops for designers and models. On Thursday, designers from across the region converged on the Showboat to compete for prizes including $1,000 in cash and a Brother sewing machine. Winner Marayah Roher has participated in previous A.C. Fashion Week seasons. Amir Black, 21, a sophomore at Montclair State University who majors in fashion design, said he entered the competition for more exposure, and to win the cash prize and sewing machine. Ive always wanted to have my own clothing line, said Black, who started designing after a girl from his college asked him to make her a dress for her birthday. After that, more people started coming up to me asking me to make them things. Black started his fashion brand Shameless Opinion in in 2018. His work includes urban streetwear with a Disney-inspired fairytale twist. Since he started designing, Black has participated in the New York Fashion Week, has hosted his own fashion shows and hopes to dress celebrities like Zendaya one day. On Friday night, the line for Fashion Week stretched from the front lobby of the Carousel Room to the middle of the Lucky Snake Arcade. Many people were dressed to the nines, while others came casually, as they waited to enter Fridays show, which featured Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders debuting the teams FLY Collection. Kara Gilberts silver sequins could be spotted immediately as she sat in the front row with her husband, Jason, 42, daughter, Arianna, 11, and son, Jason, 9, for their first ever fashion show. The kids are excited to see the cheerleaders, said Gilbert, while her son added he was just excited for the Eagles. This is something we dont usually get to do, said cheerleader Tamia Casey, 25, who said walking the runway was different than her usual cheer walk. Casey has been an Eagles cheerleader for three seasons, and was one of 10 cheerleaders who modeled the FLY Collection, which also included two of the teams male cheerleaders. Pleasantville BOE holds special meeting for public comments after contentious reorganization PLEASANTVILLE Nine days after its meeting began, the school board finally moved into the p Were showing the FLY gears versatility. Its an everyday look you can wear all the time with secret details people would really appreciate, said Casey as she pointed to the subtle details on her long-sleeved FLY shirt, like the coordinates to Lincoln Financial Field a shade of black just light enough to notice on her top left sleeve. Other FLY pieces included modernized tops, monochromatic headgear, pops of color and sleek padded pants. Devlin Parkins, 36, also showed his urban fashion brand The Kulture Collection, which he started in 2019. My aunt was a big seamstress, and I used to be her model, said Parkins. When she passed away, I felt like I had to keep it going. Ive always had an eye for fashion, so I took a shot at it. Parkins was a college athlete before dropping out to pursue his fashion career. He said his inspiration comes from music, his upbringing and his struggles, which is why The Kulture Collections slogan is Dream. Pray. Hu$tle. Many artists have endorsed his brand on social media, such as rappers Rick Ross and Fetty Wap. Saturdays shows featured avant-garde and couture-inspired creations. Shaco Couture Dresses started the show with at least 20 unique pieces including suits, dresses and shirts with lion, leopard, peacock and tribal designs. Richard Q Designs showcased gowns and two-piece sets with an emphasis on different sleeve styles and fluttering pieces that flowed seamlessly down the runway. Other designers, like Kathleen Arthur, showcased kids collections. Arthur featured black, monochromatic designs throughout his collection, playing with lace, leather, satin and all forms of black fabric and styles. After the finale of a hectic fashion week, Jeana Bowling said she and her husband will relax Sunday before they get back to work Monday preparing for the next Fashion Week in June. Contact Selena Vazquez: 609-272-7225 svazquez@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dressed to the nines with a sparkling tiara on her head, Jade Weller was all smiles waving to the crowd of people lined up Friday inside one of the buildings of the Iowa National Guard Armory on West Kimberly Road in Davenport. Weller, 17, of Davenport, was one of thousands of participants in the 8th Annual Night To Shine held around the globe from the Americas to Zimbabwe and many other nations in between to celebrate people with special needs for ages 14 and older. The Quad-City event was held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the armory. While there was hope that this years event would be held in a venue where everyone could dance and mingle, the COVID pandemic once again forced alternate plans. But instead of just having a virtual event, this years event also included a parade where participants could drive through, have their photos taken and be cheered on without ever leaving their vehicles. They would then return home for virtual event. With her dad, Tyson, behind the wheel and her mom, Crystal, in the back seat with cell phone out making the recording, Jade truly shined. Im really excited, Jade said as she sat in the front passenger seat waving to the crowd and giving high-fives to the people along the indoor route, which included Davenport police and Miss Iowa Grace Keller, as well as Chuck E. Cheese, McGruff the Crime Dog, Radar the team mascot of the Quad City Storm and Sparky the fire dog. Even St. Nicholas was on hand. Volunteers Scott and Sandy Sievert of Risen Christ Lutheran Church have worked the event since it first began in the Quad-Cities in 2017. Planning for the event started in June, but at that point it was still going to be a live event, Scott Sievert said. It was about September that the Tim Tebow Foundation said it would be virtual again. That gave us plenty of time to plan. Last year, of course, it was kind of last minute. The idea of a parade had been bantered about the Foundation, Sievert said, and it was put out in time for the locations to make plans for it. Sandy Sievert said a number of locations were considered, and the armory worked best. Randy Beyhl, of Davenport, who was dressed as St. Nicholas for the event, and his wife, Bonnie, were among the 90 volunteers who made the event happen. This is nice, Beyhl said, of the event and the venue, understanding well what it took to pull off the parade. Its easy to have a parade in Florida at this time of year, but in Iowa youve got to be creative to make it work. Many of the volunteers who made the parade a success worked behind the scenes. Cheryl Allbee, 76, who once owed The Flower Shop in LeClaire, has put her floral skills to use during the Night To Shine events in the Quad-Cities. This year, she directed the making of 300 corsages, using materials she got from Bonnett Wholesale Florist Inc. in Milan. My daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter had a hand in this, Allbee said. Emily Pries, who works for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport, said about 270 people registered this year for the virtual event and about 130 people registered for the parade. Jennie McKenna, of Eldridge, one of the volunteers cheering for two hours, said her daughter, Abbey, 38, had loved the Night To Shine since its inception. Abbey was one of the sponsors of the nights festivities at the armory. Shes come to all of them, Jennie McKenna said. Sometimes its been me that brought her and sometimes my husband. As a parent I can see these kids welling up, she said of the joy that participants have at being recognized. The first time I was at it I felt like crying, but I was too busy grinning, McKenna said. Everyone participating at this years event had one wish: that next years event can be held where everyone can be together once again. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD If hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to decline for the rest of the month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to lift his executive order that mandates face coverings indoors by Feb. 28. The plan does not apply to schools. Its unclear what level of rise in hospitalizations could lead the state to change its course, but Pritzker and health officials said at an afternoon news conference Wednesday that such a scenario was not out of the question. Regardless of what happens with hospitalizations, masks will continue to be mandated at schools, on school buses and other public transportation, at nursing homes and congregate living facilities, and at day cares beyond March 1. The equation for schools just looks different right now than it does for the general population, Pritzker said at the news conference in Chicago. Schools need a little more time for community infection rates to drop, for our youngest learners to become vaccine eligible and for more parents to get their kids vaccinated. But whether he has the authority to issue such mandates in schools will be a question decided by state courts. The 4th District Court of Appeals is currently considering whether a lower courts temporary restraining order on the governors school mandates pertaining to about 170 school districts will remain in effect. Pritzker did not state specific metric thresholds would need to be met before school mask mandates could be lifted, but noted he hoped it would be weeks rather than months when a decision could be made. The reason the state was able to get to a place where Pritzker could consider lifting the mandate, he said, is because hospitalizations for COVID-19, which pushed heights of 7,400 cases in mid-January, have fallen by nearly two-thirds, to 2,496 cases as of Tuesday night. Twenty percent of statewide intensive care unit beds were available as of Tuesday night, up from a low of about 8 percent four weeks ago, Pritzker said. Its a faster decline in hospitalizations than at any point in the pandemic, Pritzker said. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said 89% of those hospitalizations are in unvaccinated individuals. Approximately 75% of the states population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting Illinois at the top of Midwestern states. Ezike said lifting the mandate does not signify an end to COVID-19, but the latest in the states effort to coexist with COVID. The path forward likely includes masks, vaccines, testing and creating safer settings through better ventilation, she said. Local jurisdictions and businesses may continue to enforce stricter masking guidelines than outlined by the state. * * * SCHOOL MASK MANDATE STAY: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Gov. Pritzkers administration are asking a state appellate court to set aside a lower court order from Feb. 4 that invalidated the mask and vaccine mandates that the state imposed last year for public schools. On Feb. 4, Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow granted a temporary restraining order blocking schools from enforcing those mandates, saying the mitigation rules amounted to a kind of quarantine and that the Pritzker administration overstepped its bounds by issuing those mandates through emergency rules. Beginning in August 2021, Pritzker issued a series of executive orders related to the reopening of public schools. They included a requirement that schools enforce a mask mandate for all students, staff and visitors; that they require all school personnel either be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, and that they exclude from school premises for specified periods of time any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been in close contact with someone who has. The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education then issued a series of emergency rules to implement the executive orders. Parents, students and, in some cases, teachers sued roughly 170 school districts across the state seeking to block those mandates. Those cases were eventually consolidated and transferred to Sangamon County. In her ruling, Grischow said that at the time the emergency rules were issued, the Department of Public Health had known about COVID-19 for well over a year and a half and that vaccines had been around for more than nine months. She then questioned why the rules could not have been developed under the normal process which would have allowed for public comment and legislative review. She also noted that state law gives the Department of Public Health authority to issue vaccine mandates. But in this case, IDPH did not issue such a mandate, the governor did, and then the State Board of Education issued rules to carry out the governors order something she said was an improper delegation of an executive branch agencys authority. She also found that exclusion from school buildings was a form of quarantine, and under state law, people who are ordered quarantined have a right to challenge the order in court and receive due process. Her order strikes down several provisions of the emergency rules IDPH and ISBE issued in September and specifically restrains the agencies from requiring school districts to enforce mask mandates without a lawful quarantine order from a local health department. As of Monday afternoon, the 4th District Court of Appeals had not yet ruled on the motion for an emergency stay. * * * EXPRESSWAY SHOOTINGS: Pritzker appeared with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly in Chicago Monday to outline actions taken and arrests made in expressway shootings. Pritzker and Kelly said more than 20 arrests have been made in recent months related to expressway shootings and crime, including three first-degree murder charges, one involuntary manslaughter, three attempted murders, and other crimes. While they were in the news conference, however, a shooting occurred on the Dan Ryan expressway, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Kelly said expressway shootings have increased because of the prevalence of cameras from doorbell cameras to store security systems almost everywhere else, other than expressways. Putting cameras there can help deter the shootings, he said. The state has installed 99 cameras with license plate readers on the Dan Ryan expressway in Chicago, where many of the shootings have occurred, with hundreds more cameras coming. In recent weeks, the ISP has worked with the Chicago Police Department, Homeland Security and local law enforcement agencies, Pritzker said, leading to the 20 arrests. Kelly said the agency increased patrol presence on Chicago expressways by over 150% at peak criminal activity times. Since October, that has led to nearly 5,000 traffic stops, 132 DUI arrests, 69 firearm recoveries and 133 criminal arrests in the Chicago area. The Monday news conference touting the Pritzker administrations approach came as he and Democrats in the General Assembly have faced consistent attacks from Republican lawmakers and political opponents amid the recent rise in violent crime. Republicans have painted a criminal justice reform bill passed one year ago in January as a contributing factor to rising crime rates. That bill, known as the SAFE-T Act, overhauls police certification, reforms use-of-force standards, improves police accountability and abolishes cash bail beginning in 2023 in favor of a system that prioritizes risk of re-offending over an offenders ability to afford release. The GOP has introduced a package of bills looking to create mandatory minimums for certain violent crime offenses and to create a special, $125 million grant fund to beef up officer hiring and retainment efforts. In recent budgets, Pritzker said his administration has increased funding for ISP officers to retrieve illegally owned guns and to hire new ISP cadets, including 300 in the upcoming fiscal year. He also touted violence interruption spending, which hes more than doubled in his tenure, an increase made possible due to hundreds of millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 response funding. * * * RETAIL CRIME BILLS: Attorney General Kwame Raoul appeared with the president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association Monday to outline a proposed legislative package taking aim at organized retail crime. Warning of criminal rings and illicit trade, Raoul, appearing with IRMA President Rob Karr, differentiated what he referred to as organized retail crime and the types of retail theft committed by ragtag, low-level offenders. The legislative package addressing organized retail crime has not yet been drafted. But Raoul and Karr said it will aim to define organized retail crime in law, allowing prosecutors greater leeway to charge those participating in it, while also holding online marketplaces accountable and aiming to provide more state funding to address organized retail crime. Raoul touted an organized retail crime task force overseen by his office, a public-private collaboration that includes retailers, online marketplaces, law enforcement agencies and states attorneys. Its first major bust was announced in early December, when over $1 million of stolen goods were recovered after an unrelated weapons arrest in Chicago. But law enforcement alone cant stop organized retail crime, Raoul said. The effort must also include retailers, online retailer platforms and lawmakers. According to a news release, in the new proposal, prosecutors would be given wider discretion to bring charges regardless of where the crime takes place, meaning if the conspiracy, theft, and selling all occurred in different jurisdictions, each jurisdiction would have the ability to prosecute the entire crime. The AG would also have the ability to prosecute via a statewide grand jury. Online third-party sellers would be required to verify the identity of high-volume sellers using bank account numbers, taxpayer IDs or other information, and to suspend sellers for non-compliance. The plan would also require the courts to give retail crime theft victims seven days notice of a court hearing. The proposal also calls for an unspecified amount of funding, according to a news release, to create new positions in the AGs office and various states attorney offices to investigate and prosecute retail theft and illicit trade. * * * FELONY MURDER LAW: Illinois House Republicans on Wednesday continued a push to repeal a criminal justice reform bill passed one year ago, citing the law as the reason a Chicago man was not charged with murder for his role in a shootout that left one bystander dead. A Cook County grand jury declined to indict Travis Andrews, 26, for the murder of Melinda Crump, 54, who was shot in the abdomen during a shootout initiated by Andrews while walking to a convenience store in December, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. While Andrews initiated the shootout by firing multiple shots at someone else, his bullet did not kill Crump. Bullets apparently fired by the intended target, who has not been identified, struck Crump in the abdomen. State law, in certain circumstances, allows a person who did not directly take the action that led to a death to be charged with first-degree murder. But reformers, in passing the criminal justice reform law, tried to lessen prosecutors ability to file those so-called felony murder charges if a persons action doesnt directly cause the death. The reform bill, called the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T Act, passed during a lame duck session in January 2021. It changed one of three subsections to crimes contained under first-degree murder. Under the SAFE-T Act, it allows for felony murder charges of an individual if he or she, acting alone or with one or more participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible felony other than second degree murder, and in the course of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, he or she or another participant causes the death of a person. The previous version did not include the language which said causes the death of a person. Andrews was indicted on weapons charges in the shooting but not on the first-degree murder charge. While grand jury deliberations are secret, the Sun-Times reported that Assistant States Attorney James Murphy told a judge during a hearing that jurors cited the SAFE-T Act as the reason for not pursuing the murder charge. The Cook County grand jurys decision not to indict Travis Andrews on first-degree murder because of the SAFE-T Act highlights what we have been saying all along, Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva said at a news conference Wednesday. The SAFE-T Act has made Illinois a less safe place to live. But Jobi Cates, executive director of Restore Justice Illinois, said the reforms narrow the wrongdoings and make it difficult to charge people with first-degree murder when they did not intend to kill the person who died. Cates said the change in the statute is intended to prevent the possibility of charging someone with a first-degree murder when the killing was committed by a third party. Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, released a statement following the GOP news conference and grand jurys decision, saying he hoped the person responsible for Crumps death would be arrested. * * * AG PETITION: Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a petition on Thursday asking the Illinois Supreme Court to intervene in a controversial sexual assault case that ended with a circuit judge voiding his original guilty verdict and freeing the defendant early. Raoul petitioned for a writ of mandamus urging the Illinois Supreme Court to order Adams County Circuit Judge Robert K. Adrian to impose a lawful sentence in the sexual assault case four to 15 years in prison. Adrian released the defendant after he served five months in a county jail when the sentence would otherwise require four to 15 years in prison. Adrian presided over the three-day bench criminal sexual assault trial of Drew S. Clinton, 19, in October. Clinton was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a graduation party in Quincy on May 30. Adrian found Clinton guilty of one count of criminal sexual assault. But when Clinton returned to court in January, Adrian decided to reverse his own finding of guilt and vacate the conviction. This allowed Adrian to avoid sentencing him to the minimum sentence under Illinois law. He then ordered Clinton to be released from custody. A transcript showed that Adrian criticized the parents where the party was held. 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, he said, according to a transcript. Carrie Ward, the executive director for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said Adrians statements were victim-blaming and further traumatized the victim. Adams County Chief Judge Thomas McCartney reassigned Adrian from the criminal docket to a civil docket last month. Clinton, who formerly lived in Quincy, turned 18 two weeks before the crime occurred. He had no previous criminal record. He currently resides in Michigan. Daniel S. McConkie Jr., who teaches criminal law at Northern Illinois University School of Law, said Adrian avoided appellate review by reversing the conviction, instead of imposing a sentence that was less than the mandatory minimum. Adrian said during the hearing that he knew that his decision would be overturned if he did that. That leaves the case to the Supreme Court to force Adrian to impose the sentence prescribed by Illinois law. * * * GAS SURCHARGE: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. * * * RENTAL PORTAL GLITCH: An online portal through which tenants impacted by COVID-19 can apply for rental assistance went offline for two days last week after the discovery of a programming glitch that compromised some personal information. It was an applicants call on Feb. 1 to the Illinois Housing Development Authoritys call center that alerted the department to the problem. The applicant told a call center representative that they saw someone elses document when they logged into their rental application, said IHDAs spokesperson Amy Lee. The portal went offline and all access to external users was blocked while IHDA identified and resolved the issue. The portal was shut down until Thursday, Feb. 3, while IHDA identified and resolved the issue. IHDA found the personal information exposure was the result of a coding error associated with web portal update, not hackers. The processing of applications for rental assistance was not affected by the error. Tenants used the portal to apply to the Illinois Rental Payment Program, or ILRPP, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden in March. The portal was opened on Dec. 6 but stopped accepting applications on Jan. 9. While the portal is no longer accepting new applications, it remains open until Feb. 17 so landlords can submit supporting documents for existing applications. IHDA received more than 89,700 applications. Of those, 110 applications may have had their information compromised. Lee said they have no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that there was any use of the information that was compromised. The coding was fixed, thoroughly tested and the portal was back online on Feb. 3. The state incurred no additional costs to fix the coding error, Lee said. * * * GOP CRIME BILLS: Senate Republicans unveiled an updated package of crime bills the week ending Friday, Feb. 4, that they say will help curb violent crime and provide a morale boost to law enforcement. The proposal includes a Fund the Police Grant Act that would provide $125 million in funding per year to local governments that will help with hiring, rehiring and retaining officers. Funding would help with the purchase of equipment and storage for body cameras along with other equipment designed to keep officers and communities safe and provide additional training. Grants would be administered by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. But Pritzker, in his budget address, drew a stark contrast between his favored policies and those backed by the GOP. Pritzkers FY23 budget includes $240 million for the Reimagine Public Safety Act, which aims at investing in youth-focused violence prevention resources in the states most dangerous areas. That includes $235 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for grants and $5 million in general revenue for staffing and operations. Pritzker noted his budget includes an $18.6 million increase to allow for three classes of Illinois State Police cadets, about 300 officers. The governors proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023 includes $4.5 million to help fund body cameras for Illinois State Police in accordance with the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, or SAFE-T Act, passed in January 2021. The SAFE-T act overhauls police certification, reforms use-of-force standards, improves police accountability and abolishes cash bail beginning in 2023 in favor of a system that prioritizes risk of re-offending over an offenders ability to afford release. In accordance with the SAFE-T Act, Pritzker proposed $3.5 million in additional resources for ILETSBs operational costs, which include creating new trainings for officers and creating a public officer misconduct portal. Another $10 million would go to ILETSB to provide grants for body cameras related to the SAFE-T Acts requirements. But the law continues to face strong opposition from Republican lawmakers. Their package in response to rising crime also proposes mandatory sentences of 10 years to life for violent gun offenders, imposes a 10-year minimum on those who sell or give firearms to convicted felons, and requires defendants who commit aggravated battery against an officer or brings a weapon into a penal institution to serve at least 85% of their sentence. Juveniles who commit crimes related to gun violence or violent carjackings could receive 10 years to life in prison, per the proposal. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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, Rep. Jon Jacobsen, R-Council Bluffs, said. 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. While 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, an Onawa 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 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 you're fired to we're setting up quarantine cans for those who do not comply, which is a pending bill in New York right now. Barry hoped 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx was elected in 2016 as a reform candidate, knocking out incumbent Anita Alvarez after harshly criticizing the way she handled charges in 17-year-old Laquan McDonalds fatal shooting by on-duty Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke. One major change could make sure police are truly being held accountable, Foxx said on the campaign trail: Special prosecutors not Cook County assistant states attorneys should decide whether to bring criminal charges against officers allegedly involved in such crimes. There is an inherent conflict of interest because of the intimate relationship between the prosecutors office and the police, and to suggest that doesnt exist is disingenuous, Foxx said at a campaign forum in January 2016. Van Dyke has since been tried, convicted, sentenced and, as of last week, released from prison. But one of Foxxs most prominent campaign promises has not come to pass. Cook County prosecutors in her administration have never sought the appointment of a special prosecutor in a police shooting case. And in at least two instances, Cook County prosecutors have said they opposed bringing in outside attorneys to reinvestigate police shootings, saying their office had already reviewed the cases and determined charges were not appropriate. While Van Dykes case was handled by a special prosecutor, that decision was made before Foxx took office. A group of activists petitioned to take the case out of Alvarezs hands, and after Alvarez lost the Democratic primary to Foxx, she withdrew her opposition to their effort. Then-Kane County States Attorney Joseph McMahon was appointed to prosecute Van Dyke in Alvarezs stead. Ultimately, the barriers to getting special prosecutors in each police shooting case were logistical, rather than philosophical, Foxx told the Tribune. And procedures involving charging decisions in those cases have evolved in Cook County since the Alvarez administration, due to structural changes within Foxxs office as well as changes in Illinois law. When Foxx began her tenure, if prosecutors wanted a special prosecutor, they would have to petition a judge in each individual case and allege a legal conflict of interest; it would be up to the judge to decide whether the conflict existed and a special prosecutor could be appointed. In appointing a special prosecutor, a judge must determine if other public prosecuting agencies are willing and able to act as special prosecutor before turning to private attorneys. In an interview, Foxx told the Tribune that she envisioned the state attorney generals office handling the charging decisions and potential prosecution of police-involved shootings, which is the practice in some other jurisdictions. But then-Attorney General Lisa Madigans administration said they did not have the resources to do so, Foxx said. After current Attorney General Kwame Raoul took office in 2019, his office said something similar, according to Foxx. Annie Thompson, a spokesperson for Raouls office, said she could not confirm which conversations may have taken place, but said that their office gets referrals on a variety of matters not just police shootings when claims are made about a states attorneys possible conflict of interest. Whether a true conflict of interest exists should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the mere fact that a states attorneys office has worked on matters with a police department does not mean an actual conflict exists (for instance, we work with the Chicago Police Department as well), Thompson wrote in an email to the Tribune. Our decision to take up a matter referred by a states attorney involves evaluating our capacity to handle the matter and determining whether an actual conflict of interest exists. A judge could also seek to appoint a prosecutor from another county, but those prosecutors tend to be reluctant to engage in a police-involved shooting in another jurisdiction, Foxx said. These are incredibly difficult cases, complex cases. Another option would be appointing private attorneys on the taxpayer dime, and finding attorneys with the expertise to handle those complex investigations might be difficult, Foxx said. Its not enough to say all right, to ensure you that we are not in cahoots with police, we can let someone else do it, we still need a thorough investigation with lawyers who are trained in doing these types of investigations, she said. And right now we still dont have a system in place that would give that confidence. We would still be waiting for someone to pick it up. Foxx said her office has been communicating with state legislators and Gov. J.B. Pritzkers office in hopes of coming up with a statewide solution to ensuring that independent agencies examine cases of police violence. That could potentially include putting together a panel of qualified private attorneys who could be tapped as special prosecutors in those cases, she said. In a statement, a spokesperson for Pritzkers office said the governor is open to all policy ideas to make the justice system work more fairly and ensure that all Illinoisans can believe in the system. Our office has had preliminary conversations with the states attorney over the past several years, but we would require many more stakeholder conversations before settling on a recommended approach, Jordan Abudayyeh wrote. Meanwhile, internal policy changes and state law has changed the way Cook County prosecutors handle charging decisions in police shootings. Since a new state law took effect in 2018, when the Cook County states attorneys office declines to charge an officer in a shooting, the Illinois Office of the States Attorney Appellate Prosecutor takes a second look at the case to determine if they believe charges are necessary. If you dont trust what Im doing, theres another body that can look at that work, Foxx said, noting that her office pushed for the change in state law. And in 2019, the team of attorneys who prosecute police misconduct was moved out of the normal chain of command in the special prosecutions bureau. Instead, the law enforcement accountability division reports directly to the first assistant states attorney, who is Foxxs second-in-command. That way, prosecutors who rely on police to make their cases are more separate from the prosecutors deciding whether to bring charges against officers. LEAD is tasked with reviewing all claims of officer misconduct, not just shootings or fatalities. A prosecutor from the accountability division is on call 24 hours a day to be notified of police shootings, and typically within 72 hours of an incident, prosecutors meet with COPA and representatives of other investigative agencies for a debriefing, said Assistant States Attorney Lynn McCarthy, who heads up LEAD. Foxx acknowledged that the unit needs more staffers; as of this month, there were seven attorneys. They also have brought in outside experts on use of force to consult on whether charges might be appropriate, Foxx said. The LEAD website posts lengthy memos detailing why prosecutors declined to charge in a police-involved fatal shooting. Most of the cases also include the second look decision from the states attorney appellate prosecutors office, explaining why that agency agreed that charges were not appropriate. While some 40 memos are available online, the list is out of date; the most recent police shooting for which a memo is posted occurred in 2019. Cook County prosecutors have brought some charges against police in on- and off-duty shootings in recent years; within the first few months of Foxxs administration, Chicago police Officer Lowell Houser was charged with murder in a fatal off-duty shooting and Amtrak police Officer LaRoyce Tankson faced murder charges in an on-duty fatal shooting. Houser was later found guilty of second-degree murder; Tankson was acquitted. More recently, Chicago police Officer Melvina Bogard was charged last summer for an on-duty February 2020 shooting at the Grand Avenue Red Line station. Video of the lengthy and public struggle on the platform went viral; Bogard is awaiting trial on felony charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct. And after nearly a year, the office has not yet announced a charging decision in perhaps the highest-profile police shooting since Laquan McDonalds: The death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo last March. Prosecutors declined to comment about specific cases, but noted that charging decisions in police shootings can take time in part because so many agencies are involved in the investigation, including the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the Illinois State Police for forensic work, and the Chicago Police Department. The review also includes input from families of the individuals involved in the shooting, according to a statement from the office. Its a lengthy process because of how thorough it is in working with multiple agencies, McCarthy said. It involves a lot of time to make sure we have all the materials from various agencies. Because of the seriousness, obviously were going to be as thorough as possible. If Illinois were to take charging decisions out of the hands of local prosecutors altogether, they would be following in the footsteps of other jurisdictions around the country. In New Jersey, all fatal police shootings are investigated by the state attorney generals office. That office also must bring the results of each investigation to a grand jury, which will decide whether charges are appropriate. The New York attorney generals office also handles investigations and prosecutions of fatal police shootings in that state. As of last year, California law requires the state Department of Justice, not local prosecutors, to investigate and make prosecuting decisions after police fatally shoot an unarmed citizen. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 To win in 2024, the Republican presidential candidate must recapture three of the five states that flipped from Donald Trump in 2016 to Joe Biden in 2020. With this goal in mind, GOP legislatures in these states have muscled through dozens of voter suppression bills on party-line votes. Georgias Election Integrity Act of 2021 (SB 202), which Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last year, bans public officials from sending out unsolicited absentee ballots, reduces the window of time allowed to request or return absentee ballots, and increases ID requirements for absentee ballots. It also limits the number of absentee-ballot drop boxes and the hours drop boxes are available. These changes will disproportionately harm Democrats in a state where Biden received 65% of the absentee vote. The omnibus bill will have an especially adverse effect on Black and Latinx voters, who wait around 45% longer to vote in person and have faced notoriously long lines in Georgia. Arizonas legislature passed SB 1485, which purges infrequent voters from the early voting list, and SB 1003, which limits the amount of time voters have to fix unsigned absentee ballots. If Arizona Republicans expand their majorities in the midterms, they might be able to pass other voter suppression laws, including HB 2793, which prohibits automatic voter registration. Taken together, these bills could tip the balance in a state Biden won by only 10,543 votes, where nearly 90% voted by mail in 2020 and 75% are registered on permanent early voting lists. Similar legislation has been proposed in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania states with Republican legislatures and Democratic governors up for re-election this fall. Michigans Republican-led legislature is trying to slip absentee ballot restrictions and voter ID laws past Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Using an obscure provision in the state Constitution, Republicans are attempting to gather 340,000 signatures less than 10% of the number of voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial race for the Secure MI Vote initiative. If 340,000 signatures are collected in a six-month span, Republicans will pass the bill into law while avoiding Whitmers veto pen. If they fail to get the signatures needed but Whitmer loses her re-election bid, a new Republican governor could rubber-stamp any of several dozen voter suppression bills drawn up by Republican legislators. Joe Biden won Wisconsin by just 20,000 votes out of more than 3 million cast. If Democratic Gov. Tony Evers loses his re-election bid this fall, the GOP legislature has voter suppression legislation ready that would harm disabled Wisconsinites and make it very challenging for a Democratic presidential candidate to win the state. Even if Whitmer and Evers win, the GOP could cement control in Pennsylvania, where the Republican legislature passed House Bill 1300. The Voting Rights Protection Act toughens voter ID requirements, reduces the window of time to register to vote and request absentee ballots, and limits the use of absentee ballot drop boxes. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the bill; his Republican opponent in 2022 would likely sign it into law. Given the polarized and closely divided nature of the U.S. electorate, a voter suppression boost in these swing states could give the Republican presidential candidate a virtual lock on the electoral college in 2024. Optimists believed that the 2020 election proved the system works, as Republican judges and state officials followed the rule of law despite Trumps attempts to overturn the election results. In 2021, the ranks of Republicans willing to oppose undemocratic power grabs were shown to be smaller than expected. The 2022 midterms could determine whether U.S. democracy stays on life support or flatlines. Dan Benbow is a features writer whose work has appeared at Salon, Truthout, RawStory, AlterNet, and BuzzFlash. This column was produced for Progressive Perspectives, which is run by The Progressive magazine, and distributed by Tribune News Service. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 CHICAGO On New Year's Eve, Cook County Jail correctional officers removed a sick man from a tier inside Division 9, one of the jail's maximum-security facilities, according to several men detained there. They weren't surprised when jail staff quarantined them soon after taking the man away. He had been coughing for days, they said. The surprise came when the quarantined men realized that the jail's health care provider didn't plan to have them immediately tested for COVID-19. Tommie Davis was there. Davis, 59, remembers wrestling with mounting fear and uncertainty as days passed and more people on his tier appeared sick. There was no way for him to know for sure who might have COVID-19, he said. At least six detainees said staff never administered tests to people on the tier during their seclusion. After approximately six days, Davis said they were let off quarantine without a test. "It's just terrible," Davis said in a phone interview from the jail. "This is like being in hell. Not jail hell." Spokespeople for the Cook County sheriff's office and Cook County Health, the jail's health care provider, said they could not confirm or deny the detainees' account but maintained that authorities follow guidance from local and federal health departments for testing and quarantines. Tests may be administered to symptomatic people or those exposed to an infected person, and people held at the jail can request testing or reject it, according to a spokesperson for Cook County Health. However, multiple people detained at the Cook County Jail said they didn't know they could request a test, and others expected to be tested after having close contact with someone suspected positive for COVID-19. Injustice Watch interviewed 15 people about their experiences behind bars during the pandemic, as the jail weathered a record-breaking peak of COVID-19 cases; the sheriff's office reported that at least 430 people in custody on Jan. 10 were currently positive for COVID-19. The men, interviewed between Jan. 11 and Feb. 6, expressed fears about getting sick and accused the jail of inadequate testing and quarantine measures, poor social distancing, and unsanitary conditions. These issues are not new. Complaints about the jail's conditions and access to health care predate the pandemic. In 2020, as the virus spread behind bars, detainees filed an emergency class action lawsuit in federal court alleging that the jail's handling of the COVID-19 crisis put thousands of lives at risk. A judge ordered the sheriff's office to implement policies to ensure adequate testing, sanitation, and personal protective equipment. Jails face particular challenges combating outbreaks of contagious viruses such as COVID-19, according to multiple studies. The flow of new admissions, barriers to social distancing, and unsanitary conditions can all contribute to easier spread of viruses. As of Feb. 8, 10 detainees had died after contracting COVID-19 in the jail and five correctional officers had died from the virus, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Most people locked in the Cook County Jail are defendants in criminal cases awaiting trial. They are still considered innocent in the eyes of the law. Advocates have urged court officials to depopulate the jail as much as possible since COVID-19 began spreading behind bars. As of Feb. 8, more than 6,000 people were detained at the jail. That's an increase of about 50% since May 2020, when the jail population decreased after prosecutors and judges worked to reduce the number of detained people during the early onset of the pandemic. About 76% of the jail population is Black, and 17% of the jail population is Latinx. The jail can't control who is put in custody or released. But people are tested for COVID-19 when they are admitted to the jail, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson. Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health, praised the jail for its response to the pandemic. "After the initial surge, for example, they implemented strong practices to separate and quarantine people coming into the jail, knowing many come in already infected with COVID," she said in a statement to Injustice Watch. To the people inside, though, the jail's actions are not enough to make them feel safe. Davis and others on his tier, 3E, said the quarantine procedures after the sick man was removed on New Year's Eve were insufficient. People on a quarantined tier aren't allowed to mingle with other parts of the jail's population or to leave for in-person court. But they can still interact with other people on their tier for hours at a time, which is one policy that multiple people on 3E said frightens them. The tier is known as the "old man's deck" among jail detainees. Many people held there are in their late 50s or older, according to the men Injustice Watch spoke with, a population at higher risk of suffering severe health complications or death from Covid-19. Their age group also may shed the virus for longer periods, said epidemiologist Monik Jimenez, who researches COVID-19 in jails and prisons. Viral shedding occurs when someone releases virus particles into an environment, whether through symptoms such as coughing or by talking, eating, or exhaling. One man on the tier, Jesus G. Silva, said he's worried about the lack of social distancing at the jail. He remembers his anxiety growing during the quarantine and said he fears for his life. Silva, 37, said he heard coughs echo around his tier during the day and slept just a few feet away from his cellmate during the night. "I'm scared that I'm not going to make it to my kids," Silva said. "I got two boys and a girl, and I talk to them mostly every day. They tell me to be safe, and I tell them to be safe. But am I really safe?" In correctional facilities, incarcerated people who have had close contact with someone suspected of or confirmed to have COVID-19 should only be quarantined as a group if there are no alternatives, especially if they are older adults or have medical conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines. The facility should monitor people quarantined in groups for symptoms and "consider" testing people every three to seven days until no new cases in the group are found for two weeks, according to the CDC's guidance. But the men quarantined on tier 3E say that didn't happen. And while jail health care officials maintain that quarantines typically last until no new cases are detected on a unit, or until there is no further evidence of sustained transmission of COVID-19, multiple people on tier 3E remember seeing other detainees who appeared symptomatic during the quarantine and days after, with some so sick they stayed in their cells. Jimenez said the jail should do routine mass testing of staff and detained people, rather than relying on sick people to speak up about symptoms. Otherwise, cases fall through the cracks, she said. "If we're willing to do testing for our college students regularly, people who are incarcerated should have the same value placed upon their health and their lives," she said. Some people in the jail said they're scared to report that they're sick and be blamed for triggering a quarantine. Others, such as Kelsey Jackson, said their requests for health services are often denied or delayed when they seek medical help. Jackson, 43, said he had headaches and a cough around New Year's and filed what's known as a medical slip to alert staff. However, he said, he wasn't tested or isolated from others during the tier's quarantine. Some detainees who speak limited English said it is difficult to get help because of the language barrier. Jose Zavala said he thinks his complaints and medical requests are ignored by staff. After about 14 months in jail awaiting trial, he said lack of medical care and poor conditions inside the jail has contributed to suicidal thoughts. "I told my family I can't do this anymore," he said in Spanish. People living behind bars during the pandemic aren't just worried about the jail's handling of COVID-19 or getting sick. Many of them are also concerned about how loved ones outside jail walls are weathering the pandemic without them, and some detained men are grieving people they've lost while awaiting trial. Davis is one of more than 2,000 people who have spent longer than a year in jail amid a court backlog that has delayed their cases. He was already detained when the pandemic started, and he is still waiting to receive judgment on his case. Last June, Davis' mother died. He had to give her eulogy over the phone. "That will stick with me for the rest of my life," he said. "I start shaking just thinking about it. That was not right." Being detained took away his chance to say goodbye to his best friend, Davis said. After about 31 months in jail, he said he wants to get out not only because of COVID-19 but because he has to step up for his family now that his mother is gone. That was a promise that he made in his eulogy: "Your flesh can rest in peace," he said. "I got it from here." For now, though, he's still sending his support through phone calls. ___ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The horror of war, one of humankinds worst afflictions, is often summed up by the number of a nations soldiers killed, and here are examples: the war in Korea, 33,643 American military deaths; Vietnam, 58,220; Iraq, 4,550; and Afghanistan, 2,448. Now lets consider deaths by drug overdoses in the United States during just a single 12-month period ending last April. The record, stomach-churning figure is 100,000 more than all the deaths cited above. The major poisons afflicting so many are methamphetamine and opioids, one of which is synthetic fentanyl thats now a chief threat, 20 to 100 times more powerful than heroin and illustrating as much daily. It comes from delighted, money-grubbing Chinese businesses protected by the Chinese Communist Party. The businesses send the drug or the materials necessary for producing it to Mexico, these days considered the most corrupt country in South America as the government adjusts operations to deal more pleasantly with cartels smuggling the drugs up to our porous southern border. The fentanyl often arrives here in the form of pills that can mislead victims into swallowing them without realizing exactly what they are or that just a couple of milligrams can kill. Varied sources report that, in the summer of 2021, border patrol agents seized 9,337 pounds of fentanyl, a 94% increase over the 2020 bombardment. Fentanyl is now said to be one of the chief causes of U.S. deaths for Americans between 18 and 42 years of age. Sadly, the negligent, court-reprimanded Biden administration assumed anything the Trump administration did to deal with drugs and hordes of illegal migrants was irresponsible and then undid much that actually worked. It has now fixed some of its inanities, if with slippage. For instance, President Joe Biden did get Mexico to reinstate troops at its own southern border where encroaching migrants are usually from Central America. We are told they are now also arriving from such places as India, Turkey and Ukraine and can get Mexican visas, travel permission slips and pay bribes for their desert treks on which 80% of the women get raped. Some seem to think everyone should be allowed in, perhaps not understanding that some 42 million people from Latin America and the Caribbean have told Gallup pollsters how much they desire to live here. The Border Patrol encountered a record 2 million of the eager group evading border laws this past year with multitudes getting past them and others coming by other means. One should have sympathy for most of these people but also have sympathy for those employing legal means to live in America. They likewise have deep human needs they are less likely to satisfy with illegal migrants taking their place. Orderly, supervised migration has immensely better, more humane results than disorderly, unlawful migration that, among multitudinous culpabilities, makes drug smuggling easier. The tricky, masterful cartels are getting ever bigger and now also operate in networks inside the United States. We need to rewrite laws and rules, definitely ending catch-and-release and freeing up ICE agents to do their job. We must make more demands of China, Mexico and South American countries, and hire more border agents their boss they dont have the means to get things done right. Ports of entry have been a favored means for the drug smugglers to get their goods across the border except that now it is getting easier to cross wherever they want with millions of dollars soon to greet them. I emphasized the 100,000 number early on, but consider an individual story from The Guardian of how a 14-year-old girl got some blue pills on social media before taking off for her first appearance in high school the next day. She did not take off. She was dead. Weve got to stop this. And yes, there is more to it than smugglers. But without doing something about them, the threat will not cease. Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Readers may email him at speaktojay@aol.com. This was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Florence-Carlton and Darby School districts are searching for new superintendents. On Tuesday, the Florence-Carlton School Board released Superintendent Brian Rayburn from the last year of his three-year contract and will begin searching for a new superintendent. Rayburn said his decision was based on how busy hes been with the school, through COVID and school construction. Ive got four years left to be a dad and I want to really be there for my kids, he said. I found the last couple of years has been a lot of work. I have this rare opportunity to step back and find a position in a smaller district that would allow me more time with my kids. Currently, he doesnt have firm plans or job offers but will be submitting applications and setting up interviews. Rayburns sons will begin their freshman and senior years in the fall. [Im] getting ready to send one off to college and just watch the other one grow through his high school years, Rayburn said. With construction and everything involved in COVID I found myself missing a few of the important things. I really want to devote that time to them as best I can. I know Ill be busy with a new job but Im looking for a smaller town, smaller district and give what I can while I enjoy my sons. He said being in Florence has been a great experience. Ive been able to do a lot of good things in the last two years here, but it has been because Ive been surrounded by great people, Rayburn said. From the staff to the board to the community it has made it easier to do the work Ive had to do, and I wish them all the best. Being a dad is important and I want to look back on the next four years and say, I was there for my boys. Rayburn will remain the superintendent until June 30. He said the school board is looking at two search consultants and soon will be launching into the search for the new superintendent. The Stevensville community will also miss him, especially his work as a volunteer with the Stevensville Rural Fire District. Rayburn has been a firefighter for nine years. All the towns Ive lived in have all relied on volunteer fire departments and most likely the town I end up in will be in the same situation. Ill try to get on the fire department there, he said. I really enjoy the work involved with that. The Rayburn family came to Florence from Lima, and he said more rural is his goal. Im looking forward to getting back to a rural community, to be a part of that environment again, Rayburn said. A rural community would be tops for me. The Darby School Board is searching for a superintendent and has an administrative restructuring need. The school has a TK-4 principal (also the superintendent) and a grade 5-12 principal but have a three-grade overlap as they have hired their current superintendent to serve as TK-7 principal. Chris Toynbee is the TK-4 principal and superintendent and at the last school board meeting, he turned down the superintendent position offered to him. I have been the interim superintendent for the past two years and now I am declining a one-year superintendent contract so that I can return to being a principal (TK-7th grade), Toynbee said, Tuesday. I maintained my tenure as the interim superintendent and I'm not willing to give that up at this time. The Darby School Board rehired Toynbee for the 2022-2023 school year as K-7 principal at a special meeting on Thursday, Jan. 27. Currently, Darby High School Principal Christopher Mothorn covers grades 5-12. Board Chair Rosemary Griffin said all will be well as the board is working on the details and should have everything resolved at the next Darby School Board meeting, which is Monday, Feb. 14. The Darby superintendent position is open, closes at 4 p.m. on March 3, and is posted on the Montana School Boards Association web page of superintendent openings. There are currently 11 superintendent openings listed around the state on the MSBA website. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two students from the Bitterroot Valley have been selected to travel to Washington, D.C. by Montana electric cooperatives. Across the state, the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association and electric cooperatives are sending 26 high school students on an all-expenses-paid trip to the nations capital for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Associations 2022 Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., from June 18-24. Madeline Sacry from Stevensville High School and Tylin Sorenson from Corvallis High School will join 24 other youth from Montana to spend a week in Washington, D.C., experiencing history, learning more about how cooperatives work and what they do, and visiting with their congressional delegation. Students are selected by writing and submitting an essay. This year the topic was, What does the second democratic principle mean to you and your community? Ravalli Electric Co-op Communications Specialist Melissa Greenwood said that principle is about democratic member control. Stevensville High School student Madeline Sacry was selected as the REC initial winner and when her essay was forwarded she was chosen as statewide Youth Tour essay contest winner. Her trip is paid for by the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association. Madelines essay was super interesting, Greenwood said. She did additional research and interviewed others. She had an interesting take on her essay and did her homework. Im not surprised hers won at the state level. Sacry said her essay emphasized that democracy in co-ops is important, as is democracy in the nation. To win at the state level is absolutely insane, Sacry said. My essay was about the democratic process and how members and elective representatives are accountable to the membership. I researched and learned how co-ops work. I like how everyone has a say in decisions about our electricity. Since Sacry was selected as the state-wide representative, Ravalli Electric Co-op moved up runner-up Tylin Sorenson from Corvallis High School. We get to send two kids this year from our area which is nice, Greenwood said. Sorensen said she is excited to win and eager to take the trip. It is a really cool opportunity and Im honored to have been chosen, she said. [Melissa Greenwood] surprised me in front of the whole band. It was scary but very cool. Ive never been to Washington, D.C. She said her essay was about democratic member control. It was about equality in the co-ops and also in the communities and that every person has a voice, Sorensen said. Greenwood said she announced the local winners in their classrooms. It was fun, they were really surprised, Greenwood said. I announced the contest and who the winner was. Tylin was in jazz band and couldnt believe it, they were both very surprised. Greenwood said the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has taken high school students to Washington, D.C. for a week in June every year since the late 1950s. Slowly, more and more co-ops throughout the nation have been sending kids, she said. It started small, but it keeps growing. Ive chaperoned a couple of times and the last one had probably 1,800 kids from all over. She said the experience for selected youths is rewarding. They learn about electric co-operatives, they do leadership classes, hear motivational speakers and we take them to memorials, museums and famous historical sites. They also get to go to the Capitol, take a tour and meet with our state representatives. The Youth Tour started when Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson addressed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Annual Meeting in Chicago in 1957. Since then, nearly 50,000 students from rural areas and small towns across America have participated. Some Youth Tour alumni have gone on to design airplanes, lead companies and serve in the highest ranks of government, including the U.S. Senate. Other 2022 Montana winners are Axel Blodgett of Rapelje, Beartooth Electric Cooperative; Carolyne Christoffersen of Froid, and Kaylee Olson of Froid, both of Sheridan Electric Cooperative; Delaney Clark of Shelby, Marias River Electric Cooperative; Caroline Devoto of Wilsall, Park Electric Cooperative; Alexander Edwards of Broadus, Tongue River Electric Cooperative; Gavin Garrison of Glen, and Taryn Martinell of Dell, both of Vigilante Electric Cooperative; Adam Healy of Whitefish, Neila Lyngholm of Kalispell, and Adam Schrader of Columbia Falls, all of Flathead Electric Cooperative; Caden Hogan of Circle, McCone Electric Cooperative; Daniel Hopf of Hysham, Mid-Yellowstone Electric Cooperative; Kate Maxwell of Lewistown, Fergus Electric Cooperative; Drae Nelson of Bainville, Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric Cooperative; Shea Ostberg of Fairfield and Avery Schubarth of Vaughn, both of Sun River Electric Cooperative; Laynie Sattoriva of Hingham and Colton Spicher of Great Falls, both of Hill County Electric Cooperative; Whitney Thielen of Plevna, Southeast Electric Cooperative; Trent Truman of Trego, Lincoln Electric Cooperative; and Addison Ulrich of Malta, Big Flat Electric Cooperative. Additionally, Kash Ator of Plentywood, Sheridan Electric Cooperative, will be attending under the Willie Wirehand program for family members of electric cooperative employees. The Montana Electric Cooperatives Association is a nonprofit, statewide trade association with service areas covering all 56 Montana counties. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Admittedly behind other states in installing electric vehicle charging stations for whats expected in a national conversion to electric vehicles over the next 13 years, Montana is in line to receive up to $42 million for the transition. The U.S. Department of Transportation last week launched a five-year, $5 billion program to assure electric vehicles have places to plug in along what DOT is calling alternative fuel corridors. The corridors are routes that states have previously identified for charging stations. The funding formula would make Montana eligible for up to $42.9 million to install stations along 2,141 miles of interstate and highways within the state. Electric vehicles could account for half of all U.S. manufactured automobiles in 2030 if the federal government meets its clean energy goals. Rob Stapley, with Montanas Department of Transportation, said the federal investment marks a turn in EV charging station development. Most of the stations installed by state government so far have depended on funding from the Volkswagen Clean Air Act civil settlement, which resolved VWs sale of 590,000 diesel cars with software rigged to cheat federal emissions standards, specifically nitric oxide. State DOT hasnt been a part of that. Just about everything that's happened has been directed through the Department of Environmental Quality. They have been installing chargers and have a plan, Stapley said. DOT, really has not done anything with this. We're trying to get our arms around it. The infrastructure bill that was signed says there's dollars in there for it. So, we're trying to figure that out, along with everything else in that bill. The VW money flowed through DEQ because it was specifically tied to Clean Air Act violations. Passed by Congress in November, the infrastructure bill is a once-in-a-generation $1 trillion investment in American infrastructure. For Montana, the bill is a more than $3 billion investment in roads, airports and water projects, with millions more in the liner notes for things like EV charging stations and energy infrastructure. Thursday, following U.S. Transportations $5 billion rollout, Stapley was informed by the regional U.S. Transportation office that Montana was eligible for just over $6.3 million through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. There are conditions for receiving the money. Montana has to craft an EV charging station plan by August to qualify. Otherwise the funding will be made available to other states, Stapley said. Beyond the initial planning requirement, state transportation needs to parley with Montana legislators about the states commitment for the next biennium. There is a required state match of about 23%. Stapley said Montana will take a look at plans by large western states like Colorado and Nevada, which are ahead on electric vehicle planning and have tackled the challenge of long distances between communities. The long distances between Montana towns pose unique challenges for entirely electric vehicles, which require more pitstops than cars with combustion engines, and more time to re-power. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides an online national map of charging stations for electric vehicle owners. The map indicates there are about 70 places to recharge in Montana. The residents of Montana are used to travelling long miles. The immediate need is probably not for the resident, it is for the tourist industry. And for those folks that are coming to Montana to visit, are they able to do that? Stapely said. State Transportation is already communicating with state lawmakers about other issues related to the transition away from cars that run on gasoline, namely a decline in gas tax revenue, which is important to highway funding. There are at least 1,100 electric vehicles licensed in Montana now, said Ben Brouwer of Montana DEQ. That electric vehicle count represents vehicles registered by January 2021. Over the last couple years the department has worked with communities and stakeholders to develop two types of stations: fast stations for people traveling; and slower, level-two charging stations for people who can charge more slowly, perhaps while theyre at work or shopping. The guidance from the federal infrastructure bill is for placing charging stations every 50 miles, fast-charging station locations every 50 miles. And that's the general guidance that we've been using in our planning and in our funding opportunities, Brouwer said. As battery range improves, certainly cars can go much further than 50 miles, but that 50-mile gap will provide extra redundancy for travelers and actually extra assurance that they'll have the charging equipment when they need it. Friday in the Second Avenue North parking garage in downtown Billings, a Chevy Spark EV with Massachusetts license plates was charging up. Billings opened six vehicle charging stations in May 2021, with Mayor Bill Cole ceremoniously cutting a gas hose, instead of a ribbon. He used a battery-operated reciprocal saw instead of scissors. DEQs charging station program provided the funding. There are 21 charging stations in various stages of development in Montana. The big push currently is to establish more fast-charging stations, pushing the number of fast chargers to 18. Brouwer said DEQ will be involved in the next planning phase as well. The funding that we've released so far, has really been focused on building out a backbone of fast-charging equipment along high-use corridors, so specifically the full length of I-90, the full length of I-15, I-94, Highway 93, and Highway 2, Brouwer said. We anticipate the federal funding will also be prioritized along those routes, which are designated by the Federal Highway Administration as alternative fuel corridors. And those designations are made based on Montana's nomination of those corridors. There are several private partners in the charging stations across the state, which were announced last December. NorthWestern Energy was awarded grants to develop charging stations in Big Timber, Billings, Conrad, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Great Falls, Hamilton, Hardin and Helena. That grant helps cover the cost of a fast-charging station and one level-two charger at a Town Pump in each community, according to DEQ. Town Pump received grants to install charging stations at convenience stores in Eureka, Kalispell and Libby. Missoula Electric Cooperative installed one fast-charging station and one level-two charger at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation. And GBP Enterprises installed a fast-charging station at Gardiner Travel Center, just outside the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ayana Askews voice grew steadily louder and cracked occasionally as her emotions took over. A student at Norfolks Booker T. Washington High School, Askew, 17, stood in front of the bell tower on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol on Saturday morning and recited a poem shed written in 2020 called Is Justice Blind. As the words poured from her in rhythmic time, and tears formed in her eyes, the dozens whod gathered were visibly moved as they listened to the young woman speak about many Black men and women who have been victims of police brutality and the resounding, heartbreaking effects on those left behind. Before she recited her poem, Askew addressed the crowd, saying that while she wrote it two years ago, it still shocks me to this day how relevant it is. In celebration of Black History Month and the 113th birthday of the NAACP the Virginia NAACP rallied in front of the bell tower on Saturday to reinforce its legislative agenda with respect to public education, health care, criminal justice, voting rights and more for Black communities locally and across Virginia. Led by Virginia NAACP political action committee chair Gaylene Kanoyton, the event drew about 50 people, including local chapter members spanning Fairfax County to Petersburg. Speakers included Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond Commonwealths Attorney Colette McEachin and Virginia Education Association President James Fedderman, as well as Doris Crouse-Mays, president of the AFL-CIO; RISE for Youth executive director Valerie Slater; and others. Taking aim at executive orders from Gov. Glenn Youngkin that have thus far inspired the likes of snitch lines, Youngkins tip line that allows parents to report when teachers are teaching something offensive, Stoney said the Virginia NAACPs efforts are needed now more than ever. He encouraged all to honor the history and contributions of Black America more than just 28 days each year. Black history is American history [and] sometimes people need to be reminded that it was the Black bodies that built this city and built this country, he said. That fact cannot be whitewashed from the textbooks and from the curriculum. Teachers are increasingly afraid to teach the truth about Virginias history because it makes someone feel uncomfortable, he said. I recognize that the truth can sometimes feel like an indictment, but we cannot ignore the facts, and we cannot ignore the contributions as well ... thats what justice is all about. The VEAs Fedderman told the crowd that politics in education is a long-standing tradition and that we are the only buffer to keep mass politics out of our classrooms. He likened the group to a parent-teacher conference, in that we always get the people we dont need to be here, meaning those who show up are already informed and involved. Whats needed, he said, are many others who normally dont get involved to start attending their local school board and government meetings to make their voices heard. We cannot fight the outside world when were fighting amongst ourselves we have to stand shoulder to shoulder, he said. Show up, stand up, speak even if your voice shakes your presence matters. McEachin reiterated the importance of serving as a role model for children through civic responsibilities. She said her role as commonwealths attorney isnt to imprison the citys residents, but to empower them and help them grow. She said her parents impressed upon her and her three siblings the importance of voting and civic duties at an early age then noted that her nearly 90-year-old mother was in attendance to support her. My parents took us to the polls with them when they voted, she said. We have to model the behavior we want our children to aspire to. It is education and voter registration, along with all of your civic duties, that makes us a stronger city, she said. One Richmond, where we are all contributing and where we are leading our children and our fellow citizens forward into the future. As Chesterfield County officials work to rezone the Upper Magnolia Green property in Matoaca, they continuously face stark criticism from residents. County officials are looking to take the property, consisting of roughly 2,248 acres, and rezone it in two cases: a western rezoning case to create a technology village campus and an eastern rezoning case that would include single residential housing and new elementary and middle schools. Plans to also build a new county high school were recently scrapped. The Upper Magnolia Coalition, consisting of Chesterfield residents living in Matoaca and elsewhere, have adamantly been against the rezoning project for months. There is no respect for western Chesterfield, said Victoria Sagstetter, an organizer of the coalition, at a rally on Feb. 3. At the rally, residents said the proposal would contaminate the areas drinking water from the Swift Creek Watershed, cost the taxpayers a fortune, and increase traffic. Acknowledging the site has environmentally sensitive areas, the county will require any future developer of the site to avoid and minimize impacts to these areas, said Jessie Smith, the deputy county administrator for community development, in an email on Friday afternoon. The county for years has not only tracked the water quality of the Swift Creek Reservoir but also prides itself on the award-winning quality of water produced at Addison-Evans, Smith said. For homes that have well water, the only discharge to surface water will be treated as stormwater, which as Smith wrote, should not impact the quality of groundwater. One component of the project is to rezone roughly 700 acres to include up to 600 single-family residential lots, schools and a library. The proposed technology village would need to rezone 1,728 acres of the property into an industrial (I-2) zone for development. The village could be home to a variety of uses, including a data center, computer equipment manufacturing, a laboratory and pharmaceuticals product manufacturing. Sagstetter, who lives across the street from the proposal, said the coalitions biggest opposition with the rezoning proposal is the industrial rezoning portion. There are concerns regarding the industrial site being close to homes and the technology center producing hazardous chemicals, Sagstetter said at the rally. County leaders continue to be responsive to the input provided by residents. As a result, plastics manufacturing has been removed as a primary use permitted on the Upper Magnolia Green West property under the proposed zoning, but it would be allowed as an accessory use for example, as material needed for the production of cellular phones, Smith said via email. In December 2020, at the direction of the Board of Supervisors, the countys Economic Development Authority purchased the western Chesterfield acres for $13 million from developer Salvatore Cangiano. The county bought the land, known as Upper Magnolia Green, for future economic development opportunities. By purchasing the land, the county can compete with other localities for major economic development projects, county officials have repeatedly said. With many of the countys commercial parcels off the market, putting the Upper Magnolia Green property into the hands of the county was crucial. Cost estimates for the two rezoning cases is not part of the process at this time, Smith said. When the county moves forward, officials will work with federal and state officials to secure funding. The county Planning Commission is slated to have a work session on the zoning project on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The next community meeting regarding the project is scheduled for March 10. Eighty-nine of Virginias 133 localities may not have to comply with a law passed in 2020 meant to improve the response to mental and behavioral health crises across the state. A measure unanimously passed last week in the state Senate would require only about a third of localities to enact a Marcus Alert system. Lawmakers worry that smaller localities cant afford the cost or find enough mental health workers to comply with the law meant to ensure they respond to some 911 calls instead of police. The law, named for Marcus-David Peters, a 24-year-old unarmed biology teacher killed by a Richmond police officer in 2018 amid a mental health crisis, set timelines that even some of the states largest cities and counties have struggled to meet. The proposed legislation also delays components for localities still required to implement it. Richmond is among five areas in the early stages of shifting toward Marcus Alert programs. Its a lot to do to fully implement, said Stephen Willoughby, director of Richmonds Department of Emergency Communications, one of the primary agencies, along with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and Richmond police, tasked with overseeing the response locally. Its still a work in progress. In the first two months since the Marcus Alert system launched on Dec. 1, less than 5% of the mental and behavioral health calls made to 911 in Richmond were diverted to the call center that serves the region; and the city has yet to fully staff its alternative response teams three of the eight positions were filled as of Friday which means that police officers alone continue to respond to the vast majority of mental health calls in the city. Citing worker shortages in behavioral health and a lack of funding from the state, Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, introduced a bill that made the system optional for every locality. After several amendments and substitutions, the Senate agreed to allow localities with populations under 40,000 to opt out. That threshold covers nearly 67% of Virginia localities, including several that were supposed to be among the first adopters. If all choose to opt out, more than 19% of the states population wont have access to a mental or behavioral health response when calling 911. They dont have the funding, Stuart said in a phone call last week, referencing the states smaller localities. They dont have the staffing. They dont have the wherewithal to do it in the time frame that was mandated by the General Assembly. The state earmarked $600,000 for each community services board which can cover multiple localities or behavioral health authority to implement the program. Richmond budgeted an additional $1.1 million to fully fund its plan. CSBs and BHAs provide services to individuals with behavioral and mental health and development disabilities. Five areas were selected to begin: Richmond, Prince William County and Virginia Beach, each with a CSB of its own; in the west region, Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services, which covers the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock; and in the southwest, Highlands CSB, covering Washington County and Bristol. Speaking on the Senate floor, Stuart said his hope is that the larger jurisdictions, like Richmond, Prince William and Virginia Beach, get a system in place, then the rest of the localities can learn from that and we can develop a much better model which will be easier and more cost-effective for the smaller counties to develop. Princess Blanding, Peters sister, criticized the original legislation that passed in 2020, calling it a watered-down version of what she and scores of demonstrators who protested that summer had been calling for. Blanding also denounced the piecemeal approach, allowing each locality or community services board to individualize their approach. It means there is no uniformity across the state, which could be made worse if some localities within a CSB opt out altogether under the new legislation while some are required to move forward. She said shes disappointed but not surprised that just over a year after its passage, lawmakers are already making changes to further weaken the system. We must strengthen it, not take steps towards basically undoing everything that weve worked so hard to do, Blanding said. Seventeen of the 40 CSBs would fall under this mixed-implementation dilemma, where they would have at least one locality that would be required to implement and others that could opt out, according to Jennifer Faison, executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, who spoke at a House subcommittee meeting on Thursday. Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, is carrying a bill similar to Stuarts but rather than making the system optional, it delays implementation by two years for localities with populations less than 40,000 and those in the midst of implementation, and an additional year for larger localities. If that measure passes the GOP-controlled House but is not identical to the Senate version, both chambers will have to reconcile them. *** Richmond, like most of the early adopters, had a soft launch on Dec. 1, according to John Lindstrom, CEO of RBHA. We realized that some pieces and parts still have to be built out over time, said Lindstrom, adding the supply and staffing shortages have slowed the citys progress. The Marcus Alert legislation really presses for a change in decision-making culture and protocols for 911 and law enforcement. Thats the key. Nearly all of the 80-plus employees at the Department of Emergency Communications, which answers calls made to 911, received training from RBHA to help them better identify calls that require a behavioral health response, and the department is overhauling its software to better screen and divert calls and track outcomes, according to Willoughby. Dispatchers ask a distressed caller about thoughts of self-harm and whether they are receiving mental health care, when prompted by a continuum of questions theyve developed to determine if an alternative response is required. So a real key part that was launched was protocols for when Stephen Willoughbys emergency communications center will screen calls and direct them towards the regional crisis call center for a lower-level response that doesnt involve law enforcement, Lindstrom said. From Dec. 1, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, the Department of Emergency Communications received 1,391 calls for mental and behavioral health needs. The figure accounts for less than 2% of all 911 calls received during that two-month period. Of those for mental health, 250 calls fell outside of the Marcus Alert system, including physician- or court-ordered temporary detention or emergency commitment orders where someone has been deemed a danger to themselves or others. But only 53 of those remaining 1,141 calls were diverted to the regional crisis hotline, which will eventually tap into a national alternative to 911 called 988, for over-the-phone counseling or follow-up from mobile crisis teams, staffed only by mental health service providers from RBHA. While that number isnt large less than 5% of all Marcus Alert calls in the city Willoughby said it didnt surprise him. Its only when theyre in crisis that they call 911, said Willoughby, adding the situation has typically escalated to a point where its unsafe or they need immediate attention. And thats 53 calls where a police officer wasnt dispatched needlessly, Willoughby added. Lindstrom said he expects a much greater number of calls being diverted to the call center once the screening process matures, though Willoughby disagrees. Eventually, calls may bypass 911 altogether, both men agreed, as the public learns to call the crisis line rather than 911 for mental or behavioral health emergencies or services. Karen Gill, a spokeswoman for the DEC, is working on a public awareness campaign about the Marcus Alert system and the crisis hotline. The whole point of Marcus Alert is to have non-law enforcement options, and so what were trying to do is have a whole range of options, where more of the calls would be diverted to totally non-law enforcement options, either with telephone intervention or the mobile crisis team, or co-response interventions, Lindstrom said. And then of course, in a situation that is the most urgent and life-threatening, they would continue to dispatch law enforcement first because no matter the case, they can get there the most rapidly. More than 60% of Marcus Alert calls within the first two months under the program fell under a classification called investigate that will eventually send a clinician and a police officer to the scene together, with the mental health professional taking the lead. Those two teams could start responding to calls in late March or early April, Lindstrom estimated. The remaining 17% of the mental health calls were classified as emergent, meaning a weapon was involved or harm to the caller or another was imminent, which will continue to require police, EMS and fire response even after full implementation of the Marcus Alert. In Richmond, $120,000 of the states $600,000 funding pays the salary of a regional coordinator. The remaining $480,000 in state funding is being used to staff and equip the co-response teams. That includes salaries for a supervisor and the two clinicians who will be paired with police officers, and two other team members. Were hiring another mental health professional/case manager and a peer a person with lived experience to do follow-up activities with people that our teams respond to ... to help reduce the chance that theyll go into crisis again, Lindstrom said. Funding two police officers, the funding to reprogram the data systems that our 911 center uses, all of those things are being borne by the city, and the city budgeted a little over a million dollars for all of those parts. Lindstrom acknowledged parts of the Marcus Alert system will be difficult and costly for small counties or cities, especially those without 24/7 mental health services. But Richmonds model could be duplicated, he said, once the agencies iron out all the kinks. *** Blanding, Peters sister, was outspoken about her criticism of the original law that passed in 2020. She said it didnt go far enough to limit police involvement in mental health calls. The language in the bill was, is weak and its watered down, Blanding said in a recent phone call. And so what were getting, to me, is very superficial because it still has language in it thats subjective. That although we have this alert system named after my brother, and its supposed to be for mental health, it still gives police officers discretion to determine when and how they are involved. Under the law as currently written, an encounter like the one in which Peters was killed wouldnt be diverted by the Marcus Alert system because no 911 call came before his death. Richmond police officer Michael Nyantakyi saw Peters driving and acting erratically and intervened, which eventually led to the fatal shooting. Nyantakyi was cleared of any wrongdoing by two Richmond prosecutors. Officer-initiated encounters arent diverted by 911 operators, according to Willoughby, so additional training was needed so officers are better equipped to handle those situations. To completely eliminate the police from any encounter with mental health subjects isnt possible, Lindstrom said. So what we do is be sure that we use the best practices in terms of how those calls are handled, how those encounters are managed, and how we get people connected to service. The co-response teams involving a mental health clinician and a police officer that Richmond plans to use are optional under the state plan, in addition to mobile crisis teams staffed only by mental health service providers. Lindstrom said the authority is currently hiring providers to fully staff the mobile crisis response team that serves the Richmond region, as well as clinicians for co-response teams, but worker shortages are making that difficult. Richmond police, which are also struggling with staffing and are down more than 100 officers, said they are interviewing candidates from within and outside the department to fill the two officer positions that will be part of co-response. But mobile crisis teams are active and responding to calls across the state, according to Alexandria Robinson, the states Marcus Alert program coordinator at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, though she couldnt say exactly where or how often. The state isnt required to collect data from the five early adopters until July, so she couldnt say if the low number of calls diverted in Richmond was comparable to the other four regions. For almost 130 years, Central State Hospital has operated just outside of the Petersburg city limits, caring for people with mental illness and for most of its history, only Black Virginians, because of racial segregation in state institutions that ended in 1968. But now, Petersburgs public school system is working to build a path to the state mental hospital to expose high school students to potential careers in behavioral health and address a severe staffing shortage that threatens the ability of state institutions to care for people who need it most. The school system already is teaching almost 60 students this year about potential jobs in behavioral health from direct care of patients to support positions throughout the hospital that make it run. Next year if the COVID-19 pandemic relents and restrictions on visits end students will begin learning on-site at Central State. The pilot program is a first for Virginia in behavioral health, as state policymakers and their private partners try to create new ways to fill empty jobs that are crippling a wide range of health care professions from hospitals and long-term care to group homes for people who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. What were trying to do is bring leadership, organization and funding to workforce development around health care, said former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel, now senior deputy executive director at the Claude Moore Foundation. We have to stop the bleeding. The foundation, based in Fairfax City, is using its philanthropic endowment to help finance health care workforce development initiatives in Petersburg and other communities across Virginia. The Petersburg school system has received nearly $331,000 from the Claude Moore Scholars Program this year and almost $1 million over three years to promote programs to attract students into a half-dozen health care fields, including behavioral health. Our goal is to expose our students to as many positions and as many career paths as possible, said Terrie Allsbrooks, director of college and career readiness at Petersburg Public Schools. Those paths include licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants, who provide the backbone of direct care of patients in a wide range of health care settings. It encompasses careers in general health and medicine, public health and emergency medical services, where the school system uses a simulated ambulance to show students how EMTs respond to emergencies. Our students are highly interested in health and medicine, said Allsbrooks, citing a survey of 400 high school and middle school students in Petersburg that ranked health care at the top of their career choices. Our community is in great need for health and medicine. State policymakers are trying to address that need with a number of new initiatives to bring a collaborative approach to overcoming staffing shortages in critical fields. House Bill 191, sponsored by Del. Keith Hodges, R-Middlesex, would create a new position for a special adviser to the governor for health care workforce development and a new state grant fund to help finance initiatives to address worker shortages in a variety of health fields. Were looking across the board, said Hodges, a pharmacist. You name it, theres a tremendous shortage. A special adviser to the governor could help cut across different sectors of government that play important roles in educating and training health care workers, and provide much of the funding for care in behavioral health, hospitals and nursing homes. Right now, we dont have anyone to carry the torch and move forward to fix this, Hodges said. The bill, supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and endorsed by the House Appropriations Committee last week, would direct the special adviser to coordinate with the secretaries of health and human resources, commerce and trade, and labor on ways to expand the health care workforce. The advisers office would be part of commerce and trade. The adviser also would address issues of state reimbursements, primarily through Medicaid, that negatively impact recruitment and retention of health workers in critical practice areas, including behavioral health, developmental services, nursing and public health. The bill also would create the Virginia Health Workforce Development Fund, which would issue grants to finance incentives to remove barriers to educating and training health care workers, produce more workforce credentials and degrees, reduce regulatory obstacles, and promote education and training. ****** Separately, the General Assemblys money committees are considering a Youngkin budget proposal to provide $84 million to GO Virginia for the regional economic development initiative to create talent pathways to recruit and retain workers. The governor also proposed $32 million for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to expand opportunities for paid student internships and work-based learning programs. The health care workforce shortage could be hard to solve because of its dependence on government funding. For example, Virginia nursing homes estimate they have lost about 9,100 employees, or 11.6% of their workforce, since the beginning of the pandemic, which hit them first and hardest. Its as bad as its ever been, said Keith Hare, president and CEO of the Virginia Health Care Association, representing most nursing homes in the state. Hare acknowledges the industry has to improve pay and expand benefits for workers to attract and keep them, but he said nursing homes cannot do it without higher reimbursements from Virginias Medicaid program, which pays them less than the cost of care. Thats something we absolutely have to tackle, he said. Providers who run group homes and day programs for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities say they are losing direct care staff faster than they can replace them. They cant staff. They cant operate, said Jennifer Fidura, executive director of the Virginia Network of Private Providers, of day programs for adults and youths with disabilities. Sometimes, theres no place to go. The need has been dire at Virginias nine mental hospitals, where COVID infections have depleted the workforce and sometimes have forced the state to halt admissions to ensure patient and employee safety. At one point last year, the institutions had more than 1,600 staff vacancies, or more than one-fourth of the workforce. It has 1,425 vacancies now after aggressive and creative retention and recruitment efforts, said Lauren Cunningham, spokeswoman for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. This is indeed safer, but it is very fragile and far from good, Cunningham said on Friday. The behavioral health workforce challenge extends beyond the institutions to the Behavioral Health Authority and the states community services boards. Here in Virginia, vacancy rates within specific [community services board] programs can far exceed 35%, and CSB emergency services have been hit hard during the pandemic, Cunningham said. Without an adequate workforce, we risk another closure of critical state hospital safety net beds. We view our work with the Claude Moore Foundation as truly building a pipeline for the future, which would help the entire system, she said. The first step is acquainting students with health care professions they could pursue and enjoy. It really is about making kids aware, said Shirley Bazdar, director of the Claude Moore Scholars Healthcare Education Program. And thats what the Petersburg school system is doing with behavioral health and other health workforce programs that go beyond the academic requirements of a high school diploma. Petersburg began its behavioral health program last fall with 58 students and hopes to enroll 80 to 100 students next school year. The goal is to give them opportunities for workplace experience at Central State next spring. Tanyika Mobley, chief diversity equity and inclusion officer at the state behavioral health department, said the agency hopes the pilot will expose students from under-represented communities to a wide variety of jobs and careers at the state hospital. She also hopes the state can extend the pilot program beyond Central State to other state institutions in regions of Virginia with the highest needs for jobs and behavioral health care. We are super excited about where this is headed, Mobley said. The key for us is to get past the pandemic, get the restrictions lifted and get the doors open for students to come in there. The world can use some extra joy right now, and the students at Pulaski Elementary School are doing their part to uplift their school community with kindness, compassion, unity and respect. To recognize Pulaski Elementarys ongoing commitment to kindness and their participation in the 11th annual Great Kindness Challenge, they have been designated as a Kindness Certified School by Kids for Peace. Kids for Peace is a global nonprofit that hosts The Great Kindness Challenge, a positive and uplifting program that fosters connection, inclusion, appreciation and overall well-being. The annual program has multiplied in enrollment each year, having grown to more than 18 million students in 36,000 schools, reaching across all 50 states and 115 countries. Pulaski Elementary has demonstrated their commitment to kindness by encouraging all students to complete random acts of kindness, as well as participating in the global Kindness Unites Paper Chain Project. This project, led by school counselors Morgan Dowdy and Lauren David, allowed students in PreK-5th grade to complete paper chain links with positive and uplifting messages, which were then submitted to The Great Kindness Challenge. Pulaski Elementary School submitted close to 2,000 links to this global project. The massive paper chain measured 18 miles long when it was assembled by volunteers in California. The measuring process took six days. The Great Kindness Challenge set a new record for Worlds Longest Recycled Paperchain with Messages of Love and Hope. Pulaski Elementary is so excited to be among the 702 schools that participated in setting this world record! Their school principal, Mike Price, couldnt be prouder of the Pulaski Elementary student body. I think this is a well-deserved recognition that shows how kind and compassionate many of our students are, Price said. This also reflects on the teachers, staff and parents, and their commitment to create a kinder school community. Jill McManigal, co-founder and executive director of Kids for Peace, is thrilled to recognize the schools commitment to kindness. Our hearts are bursting with joy knowing that so many students are actively creating a brighter, happier and more positive world for all, McManigal said. Even during the pandemic, students are finding creative ways to spread love, honor classmates, show gratitude and offer a helping hand. We are thankful to Pulaski Elementary for providing this opportunity for their students to practice kindness and we are grateful to their students for demonstrating that kindness matters! PES fifth-grader Thomas Tedesco said, I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this project. When asked what kindness meant to him, he said, If theres one thing I have to say, its that kindness is brought to others. Kindness is one thing that makes everyone happy. It also brings a little joy in life and helps others be kind too. Thats why I say kindness is a wonderful thing to share. Pulaski Elementary invites the Pulaski County community to keep the kindness going by lifting each other up, helping each other out and cheering each other on. Kindness has the power to heal and unite us all! - Submitted by David Gravely VIRGINIA BEACH About four months after complaints about their content led six Virginia Beach school library books to be removed from circulation, multiple school division committees have decided to return them to the shelves. Each committee decided the books can provide students with different perspectives and life experiences and support instructional material taught across other class subjects, while noting the lasting impact some of the works could have on students, among other reasons. The divisions chief academic officer sent a memorandum to board members on Jan. 28 with the committees findings. The books under review included A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, Good Trouble by Christopher Noxon, Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Committee members were required to read the text and answer six discussion questions based on the districts instructional material policy. Almost every committee had a parent, student, teacher, library media specialist and a coordinator from the divisions Department of Teaching and Learning. Every committee unanimously agreed to keep its assigned book. Member Victoria Manning listed issues with four of the six books in an Oct. 5 email to Superintendent Aaron Spence after she said parents raised concerns. Books have become a pressing topic over the past few months after debate about whether controversial teachings were coaxing students to think a particular way. State legislators also took up the issue this week, passing a bill in the Senate that would require the Virginia Department of Education to develop guidelines for school boards on how to notify parents about sexually explicit content assigned to their student. The two books from Gaines and Morrison can be taught respectively in 11th and 12th grade courses as supplementary instructional material. The Bluest Eye is only approved for seniors in Advanced Placement Literature. Students can check out the other four books from the school library. The Bluest Eye was called into question because of sexually explicit scenes. Members a high school library media specialist, teacher, parents and department coordinator decided the scenes did not supersede the message and purpose of the book after reading it and other online information. Morrisons book has been one of the most challenged over the past three decades, according to the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom. But it will remain in the districts libraries and available as supplementary instructional material because it provides students with perspectives (specifically from Black women) they wouldnt usually encounter, addresses multiple social issues and is referenced on the Advanced Placement exam, the report said. School officials initially removed Kobabes Gender Queer from circulation because some of the graphics did not meet the divisions expectations for instructional value, a spokesperson said in an email to The Virginian-Pilot in October. But it was reinstated at the committees recommendation. One committee member did not initially recommend keeping the book in high school libraries as a result of objections to graphic depictions in the novel, Kipp Rogers, the districts chief academic officer, wrote. After the high school student spoke about the benefits of the book helping students who struggle with self-identity, the committee member agreed to vote to keep the book in the library. Rogers noted he and Spence had concerns about the books graphics, but that those concerns did not warrant removal of the book from school libraries for student voluntary checkout. From the earliest days of the pandemic, COVID-19 has wrought a far higher toll in communities of color than in the general population thrusting the long-standing issue of health disparities in the U.S. to the attention of public health officials and the general public. Even though non-Hispanic white people make up 57% of the population, racial and ethnic minorities in the United States have borne significantly higher risks of COVID-19 infections than white people, as well as hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. So a conversation is raging among doctors, health researchers, public health officials, policymakers and activists about how to address the social determinants of health that are driving this unequal toll on communities of color. I am a global public health professor with expertise in multicultural health and health disparities. My teaching and research focus on the social determinants of health: the layers of policies, economic factors and social structures that affect health and quality of life, and the complicated ways they interact. I also study social justice in the context of public health, including the sociocultural context of infectious diseases. Throughout the pandemic, American Indians and Alaska Natives as well as Hispanics and Latinos have borne more than twice the risk of white people of death from COVID-19, and Black people have been at nearly twice the risk. Research has shown that the pandemics unequal toll on communities of color has been driven by long-standing health inequities: injustice or unfairness in the distribution of good health and well-being in society. Public health experts and professionals call the resulting health gaps health disparities: the inequitable differences that exist between various groups of people in terms of disease, injury, death and other health issues. The World Health Organization describes health inequities as differences in health status or the distribution of health resources between certain populations of people. The differences are generally caused by the varied social conditions in which people are born, grow, live and work. In the U.S., the main drivers of health inequities are structural inequalities. They include poverty, unemployment, lack of health insurance and inability to afford health care, as well as access to healthy food, good education and transportation. These problems can cut across race and ethnicity. Overall, however, people of color are at higher risk of poor health than non-Hispanic white Americans, whom the U.S. Census Bureau defines as being of European, Middle Eastern or North African ancestry. For example, Black Americans are twice as likely as their white counterparts to suffer from hypertension and heart failure. Black Americans also have a diabetes rate of 13% and an obesity rate of 38.3%, compared with 8% and 30% for non-Hispanic white people in the U.S., respectively, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a 2021 study, researchers investigated the influence of social determinants of health on COVID-19 outcomes at the county level. They found that counties with higher overall death rates had a greater proportion of Black residents. They also had higher rates of health and social inequities, including low birth weight, uninsured adults or households lacking internet. In 2020, life expectancy declined across most ethnic or racial groups, according to the CDC. However, while the drop for the majority population of white Americans was 1.5 years, Black Americans life expectancy dropped by 2.9 years. For people of Hispanic and Latino descent, life expectancy dropped by three years. Not surprisingly, health inequities also affect immigrants of color. My previous work over the past four years with Hispanics, Black Africans, Burmese and other minority refugees and immigrants participating in the Iowa Migrant Education Program revealed that the health inequities they experience are largely caused by poverty, unemployment and lack of access to health care. The U.S. population has become more racially and ethnically diverse over the past decade. Many demographers predict that by 2045, the majority of people in the U.S. will be people of color. Children of color already make up the majority of people under age 18 in many states. But these trends dont mean that health inequities will improve on their own. Solutions will require dealing with the root causes of inequities in all sectors of society, including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, food and health care. Research suggests that effectively addressing social determinants of health involves an equity-focused approach. This will require providing not just equal resources and opportunities, but enough resources to reach equal health outcomes for disadvantaged populations. In action, this might look like providing disadvantaged neighborhoods with grocery stores that offer healthy food options, or improving parks and playgrounds so residents have better opportunities to exercise, play and enjoy the outdoors. Policy makers may be starting to take this approach. For example, the city of Roanoke recently established an equity and empowerment advisory board. The boards tasks include reviewing all existing city policies, ordinances and regulations in order to advise its City Council on those needing change or elimination because they promote inequities. Research has shown that those numbers stem largely from unaddressed health disparities. It remains to be seen whether the pandemic will be the health crisis that finally spurs deep enough changes to bring about health equity and justice. Abubakarr Jalloh is an assistant professor of global public health at Hollins University with expertise in multicultural health, health disparities, and social determinants of health. He is a native of Sierra Leone, West Africa. " " Even stalks of corn growing in the Arizona desert create their own microclimate. The temperature in the carefully leveled irrigation rows at the base of these corn is lower than the outside temperature. Dusty Pixel photography/Getty Images If weather is your mood, climate is your personality. That's an analogy some scientists use to help explain the difference between two words people often get mixed up. In other words, weather exists in the short term. It's the state of the atmosphere in a specific area during a limited period (think minutes, hours, days or weeks). Climate, meanwhile, describes long-term average weather trends. And if you're interested in the latter, you'd better know geography: Our global climate is made up of smaller regional climates. Break those down and you'll find local variations at just about every conceivable scale. That brings us to microclimates, an amazing subject with broad applications for farming, conservation, wildlife management and city planning. Advertisement Size Matters Climates are a bit like woven tapestries. The big picture is important, no question. But so are all the seemingly minor details found inside the larger whole. Tommaso Jucker is an environmental scientist at the University of Bristol. In an email, Jucker says he'd define the term microclimate as "the suite of climatic conditions (temperature, rainfall, humidity, solar radiation) measured in localized areas, typically near the ground and at spatial scales that are directly relevant to ecological processes." We'll talk about that last bit in a minute. But first, there's another criteria to discuss. According to some researchers, a microclimate by definition must differ from the larger area that surrounds it. Forests provide us with some great examples. "The climate near the ground in a tropical rainforest is dramatically different from the climate in the canopy 50 meters [164 feet] above," says University of Montana ecologist Solomon Dobrowski in an email. "This vertical gradient among other factors allows for the staggering biodiversity we see in the tropics." Likewise, scientists observed that a 2015 partial solar eclipse caused the air temperature of an Eastern European meadow to change more dramatically than it did in a nearby forest. That's because trees provide not only shade, but their leaves also reflect solar radiation. At the same time, forests tend to reduce wind speeds. All those factors add up. A 2019 review of 98 wooded places spread out across five continents found that forests are 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) cooler on average than the areas outside them. Now if you hate the cold, don't worry; there's a cozy exception to the rule. According to that same study, forests are usually 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) warmer than the external environment during the wintertime. Pretty cool. " " This image of the Santa Monica Mountains in California shows how a north-facing slope (left) can be covered in white-blooming hoaryleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), while the south-facing slope (right) is much less sparsely covered in a completely different plant. Noah Elhardt/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 2.5 Advertisement A Bug's Life When does a microclimate stop being, well, micro? In other words, is there a maximum size we should be aware of when discussing them? Depends on who you ask. "In terms of horizontal scale, some have defined 'microclimate' as anything that is less than 100 meters [328 feet] in range," Jucker says. "I'm personally less prescriptive about this." Instead, he says the "scale at which we want to measure [a particular] microclimate" ought to be "dictated" by the questions we're trying to answer. "If I want to know how temperature affects the photosynthesis of a leaf, I should be measuring temperature at centimeter scale," Jucker explains. "If I want to know if and how temperature affects the habitat preference of a large, mobile mammal, it's probably more relevant to capture temperature variation across [tens to hundreds] of meters." For instance, solitary plants have the power to generate itty-bitty microclimates. Just ask Peter Blanken, a geography professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the co-author of the 2016 book, "Microclimate and Local Climate." "A single stalk of corn can create its own microclimate through the shading and changes in soil properties in the immediate vicinity of the stalk," Blanken says via email. "For a field of corn, the microclimate created would be much larger, extending over the entire field," Blanken says via email. Many organisms eke out a living in some of the dinkiest microclimates you can imagine. Take aphids, spider mites and leaf miner insects. All those critters are dwarfed by the plant leaves they feed on. And every leaf comes with its own microclimate. Observations show that aphids seek out cooler leaves while those other invertebrates prefer warmed ones. Because none of these animals can generate their own body heat, leaf microclimates have a critical effect on their well-being. " " The urban heat island effect is a good example of how microclimates work. NOAA Advertisement Microclimates on a Grand Scale It's no secret that our planet is going through some rough times at the macro level. The global temperature is climbing; nine out of the 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2005. And by one recent estimate, roughly 1 million species around the world are facing extinction due to human activities. "One of the big questions that ecologists and environmental scientists are trying to answer right now is how will individual species and whole ecosystems respond to rapid climate change and habitat loss," says Jucker. "...To me, [microclimates are] a key component of this research if we don't measure and understand climate at the appropriate scale, then predicting how things will change in the future becomes a lot harder." Developers have long understood the impact small-scale climates have on our daily lives. Urban heat islands are cities that have higher temperatures than neighboring rural areas. Plants release vapors that can moderate local climates. But in cities, natural greenery is often scarce. To make matters worse, plenty of our roads and buildings have a bad habit of absorbing or re-emitting heat from the sun. Vehicle emissions don't exactly help the situation. Still, it's not like Boston or Beijing are thermal monoliths. Sometimes, the documented temperatures within a single city vary by 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (8.3 to 11.1 degrees Celsius). That's where metro parks and city trees come in. They have nice cooling effects on nearby neighborhoods. "Several cities around the world have developed programs to increase urban green spaces," says Blanken. "Tree planting programs and green roof programs, have been shown to lower surface temperatures, decrease air pollution and decrease surface water runoff (urban flash-flooding) in urban areas." NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Spruce-fir moss spiders are appropriately named. And they depend on a very specific microclimate: These endangered North American tarantulas live beneath moist moss mats that grow on rocks at high elevations. (Before you ask, dry moss just doesn't cut it for them.) FLORENCE, S.C. Florence voters could decide on off-premises Sunday alcohol sales in November. Monday, the Florence City Council is expected to consider the first reading of an ordinance asking the Florence County Board of Elections to place a referendum on the November general election ballot allowing residents to decide whether retailers can sell alcohol to be consumed outside the location where the alcohol is purchased on Sundays. Florence City Councilman William Schofield said on Facebook last month that the city should ask the voters whether to allow the sales or not. He added he would be voting yes. Several people responded that they would also be voting yes. Randy Propps, a former county council candidate, said he would be voting no but agreed voters should get to decide. The ordinance is the latest in a series of ordinances making it easier to purchase alcohol on Sundays. The Florence County Council considered and approved a similar ordinance allowing for on-premises and off-premises alcohol sales in 2018 and that ordinance was approved by the voters. The city of Johnsonville also considered a similar ordinance this month. And in 2008, city voters approved a proposal allowing the drinking of alcohol at businesses in the city on Sundays (on-premises sales). Another ordinance being introduced Monday will be an ordinance amending the city's zoning ordinance regarding portable donation receptacles. Also on the agenda is the final readings of an ordinance that would annex and zone a property on Annelle Drive. There are resolutions on the agenda which would add to the places where beer and wine can be sold and drunk and adopting the South Carolina Municipal Association's advocacy initiatives. Two resolutions could be added to the agenda by a two-thirds vote of the council. One resolution supports autism awareness and recognizes the contributions of All 4 Autism. The other authorizes Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin and the City Council to approve an agreement to receive a grant for disaster preparedness. An ordinance annexing around half of Lake Oakdale and some other properties will come off the agenda at the request of the petitioner. Three people are expected to speak to the council. Betty Williamson is expected to speak about abandoned homes in District 1, Stephanie Bosch is expected to give an update from the Florence County Economic Development Partnership and former City Council candidate James Kennedy is expected to speak about housing concerns. Councilman Chaquez McCall is also expected to speak to the council regarding the city's committees. The council meets at 1 p.m. in the council chambers of the City Center at 324 W. Evans St. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Heres something a little different a column packed with as many differing opinions as possible. Medical marijuana. Thank goodness the Senate finally passed a GOP medical marijuana bill after three weeks of debate. Now the House must follow suit to help relieve the crippling pain suffered by many. And Gov. Henry Mcmaster dont let your Reagan just say no prosecution past get in the way of compassion. Tax reform. Lawmakers shouldnt nitpick the states tax structure by focusing only on income taxes. Comprehensive tax reform including reducing billions of dollars of sales tax exemptions to broaden the tax base is a must. Challenge maps. Advocates for fair voting must use all tools at their disposal to overturn the legislatures gerrymandered maps for S.C. House, S.C. Senate and U.S. Congress. Sue big and broadly to help the federal courts understand why maps must be equitably redrawn. Stop the pandering. Its almost impossible to go a week without politicians cravenly pandering to get their faces in the media when they should be doing the public good. The latest example of one-upmanship: Former S.C. GOP Rep. Katie Arrington on Wednesday rolled out another bid for Congress in the Charleston area showing mindless fealty to Donald Trump. The next day, the current seatholder GOP U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace puppeted support for the former president, who earlier endorsed Arrington, on a sidewalk in front of New Yorks Trump Tower in what can only be described as pitiful politicking. Support Childs. All of South Carolinas elected leaders need to do whatever they can to support the potential nomination of U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs to the U.S. Supreme Court. This can be an exercise in bipartisanship. Since the founding of the republic, only three South Carolinians have served on the high court John Rutledge (1790-91 and later as chief justice), William Johnson (1804-1834) and James Byrnes (1941-42). Be careful still with COVID. While mask mandates are being removed across the country as it seems to recover from the COVID-19 virus, it is still active. Get both shots and a booster for protection. Wear masks if you feel unsafe. Wash your hands frequently. Racial reconciliation. Hats off to Charleston city officials for establishing a permanent racial reconciliation commission to deal with the vestiges of prejudice. Cities and counties across the state need to emulate Charlestons policy example to bring people together. Kill vouchers. Stop. Using. Public. Money. For. Private. Schools. Period. Pass hate crimes law. Its embarrassing South Carolina is one of just two states without a hate crimes law. Fix the Charleston loophole. Amend a state law to fix the loophole that allowed a racist murderer to kill nine worshippers at Emanuel AME Church in 2015. Reform ethics laws. Media outlets around the state have been showcasing how the states ethics laws are relatively toothless, especially for legislators. Voters expect ethical public officials. Pass meaningful reform to prove you are. Split DHEC. Follow the lead of S.C. Finance Committee Chair and Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, who suggests splitting the state Department of Health and Environmental Control so each part can do a better job. Stop picking on LGBTQ community. Legislators need to get off the kick of micromanaging Columbias ban on so-called conversion therapy. Some people are gay. Get over it. Spend surpluses wisely. Lawmakers should keep from looking at shiny new things on which to spend billions of surplus dollars. Rather, invest it in long-suffering needs better education, more access to health care, improved prison funding and more. Be fair on voting. Expand voting opportunities in South Carolina, instead of creating hurdles to keep people from exercising their fundamental democratic right. Support small businesses. We see more and more attention by state officials to giving big money to big companies. Why cant they go to banks for funding? Thats capitalism. If the state is going to invest in South Carolina, focus more on small businesses. Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com. SIOUX CITY -- The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Rd. (Hwy 12), is hosting a relaxing yoga class from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Feb. 22. Bring your own yoga mat and enjoy the view from the Nature Centers windows overlooking the bird feeders. Attendance is limited to 15 people. Please pre-register by calling 712-258-0838 or emailing ksandage@woodburyparks.org. Tree identification The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is also hosting an educational tree-identification walk from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 26. Attendance is limited to 15 people. Attendees will learn how to identify trees in the winter by looking at barks and twigs. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy walking shoes. Please pre-register by calling 712-258-0838 or emailing ksandage@woodburyparks.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Meetings and events Top O' Morning Toastmasters Club, Mondays, noon to 1 p.m. Contact LeAnn Blankenburg, 712-870-1120, for meeting information. The Siouxland Ostomy Support Group, find us on Facebook. For more information and meeting times contact Dick Lindblom at 712-251-2453. Southside "South Bottoms" former residents, 6 p.m. potluck, second Wednesday of the month at Goodwill Industries cafeteria, 3100 Fourth St. Gert, 258-2227. Siouxland Metal Detecting and Archeology Club, 6:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the month in the Gleeson Room at 4510 Buckwalter Drive. Visitors welcome. Ray Turner, 712-899-2114. American Legion Post 64, 7 p.m. last Thursday of the month at 4021 Floyd Blvd. 712-258-3986. Marine Corps League, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Elks Club on TriView Ave. All marines welcome. For more information, call Cathy Moreno, 712-899-8441. Sioux City Chapter of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. 712-203-2052. Sioux City Duplicate Bridge Club, 12:30 p.m. Mondays (open); at the Senior Center. Mary 605-670-9613. Siouxland Fly-Fishing Club, 10 a.m. last Saturday of the month at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on Hwy 12. All interested in fly fishing; beginners welcome. Monthly programs provided. For more information, call Bob Gillespie, 712-251-9463, or Diana, 402-987-3945. Siouxland Coin Club, 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1915 Nebraska St. Bob, 255-4829. The Siouxland Pride Alliance, peer support group, 5:30 p.m. Fridays; potluck, 5:30 p.m. second Sunday of the month; business meeting. First Unitarian Church, 2508 Jackson. Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild, 7 p.m. second Monday of the month at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St, door #2. Visitors and new members welcome. Siouxland Sewing Guild, 6:30-8 p.m. first Thursday of the month at South Sioux Public Library, 2121 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City. For anyone interested in sewing. Denise, 402-922-1822. Sooland RC Modelers, 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Morningside Lutheran Church. Non-profit club that flies remote control aircraft. Anyone interested in RC is welcome. Retired Educators, 10:30 a.m. third Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Mid-Step Services for Handicapped, meal at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Confirmation Instruction and Midweek Lessons, 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Open to all kids 5 years old through 8th grade. Primetime (Potluck), 12 p.m., second Thursday of each month, at Whitfield United Methodist Church, 1319 W 5th. For more information call 252-3261 Tuesday-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Abundant Life Fellowship, 809 S. Alice St., in Sioux City will distribute food boxes after their 11 a.m. Sunday services. For additional information contact Pastor Bob at 605-205-0718 or Donna at 605-205-0719. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council voted Saturday in a split decision to upgrade a part-time administrative secretary position for the Human Rights Commission to full-time, but didn't make a decision, during the day-long operating budget hearing, on a request from the police department to add one full-time evidence technician. The council voted 3 to 2 in favor of the Human Rights Commission's request, with Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr and Mayor Bob Scott casting "no" votes. The move, which was not recommended by city staff, has a net expense of $39,995. "A budget is a moral document and it shows what we prioritize as a city," said Councilman Matthew O'Kane, who brought the matter up for a vote at the end of the meeting. "I think human rights is something that we can all agree is something that should be prioritized." Human Rights Commission Director Karen Mackey told the council that nine people have covered that administrative secretary position in 16 years. "They sacrificed to work for us part-time because they believed in our mission," she said. "But, eventually, most left because they needed a full-time job with benefits. When we lose staff, we lose knowledge and experience; and training new staff costs time and money." Top staff recommend increasing the city's operating budget next year by $5.8 million, or 2.62%, which would result in a slight increase in the city's property tax rate. The City Council began its review of the proposed $226.7 million fiscal 2023 budget, $47,166,994 of which accounts for debt service, at the special meeting in the Council Chambers. The proposed increase of 4.25% in general fund expenditures is due primarily to increases in employee wages and benefits. The Police Department is requesting an operating budget of $24.3 million next fiscal year, an increase of $367,938, or 1.5%. Staff recommended that three senior police identification technicians be reclassified as full-time crime scene investigators, which would result in a net expense of $8,038. They did not recommend the addition of two more police officers, a net expense of $238,290, or adding one full-time evidence technician, a net expense of $80,656. "Right now, having good forensic evidence is huge in court," Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller said. "All of our county attorneys, they're focusing on it. Our federal attorneys are focusing on it. Nothing beats having that forensic evidence to back up what the investigators do, what the detectives are doing. We place a high emphasis on that." Mueller said the department, which is currently allocated 127 officers, is fully staffed as far as hiring goes and is "responding accordingly" to an increase in violent crime. But, due to military deployments and injuries, he said it doesn't feel like the department is fully staffed. "It's always a challenge and we're always moving and allocating resources to make sure that essential services are covered. Our bread and butter is making sure that we're able to answer those calls for service," he said. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore asked Mueller what the standard number of officers is for a community of Sioux City's size. Mueller said the city, which is growing further east and south, is 21 or 22 officers short, based on type of calls, time spent on calls and the city's demographics. If the city were to try to keep pace with national standards, Mueller said that shortage rises to about 70 officers. "Now, I can understand we have to be responsible to the taxpayers. There's no doubt about that. And, I think we do an extremely good job of doing more with less, but that doesn't mean that more officers, more staffing in certain areas would not create more community safety, because it would," he said. Mueller said he "couldn't be more proud" of how officers responded to an incident Friday involving an armed robbery suspect near Heelan High School. According to police, Emanuel Pleitez, 36, grabbed a gun while handcuffed in the back seat of a police car and threatened to harm himself and the officer who was driving. The officer immediately pulled over near the intersection of 12th Street and Grandview Boulevard, exited the vehicle, took cover and called for backup. Negotiators then spent nearly an hour trying to convince Pleitez to drop the weapon. 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. "That was all of our resources. That was everything we had," Mueller said. "In fact, there was a lack of resources, where I didn't have public information officers because they were on the scene. There were certain things that we were lacking, even though we managed that scene very well. Numbers do help." Later on in the meeting, following a request from Inspection Services to upgrade a part-time clerical assistant to full-time, Scott remarked that taxpayers will be "stretched" if every department gets what it wants. The proposed property tax levy is around $15.43 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, up about 6.7 percent, from the previous year's levy of around $14.45. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $761 in property taxes to the city, up $16 from the previous year, while while the owner of a commercial or industrial property with an assessed value of $100,000 would face a city tax bill of $1,389, up from $89 the prior year, according to the proposed budget. Scott noted that the average house in the community is $150,000, rather than $100,000. "You've got a lady that got a 6% increase on Social Security, but most of that's going to gas and food. And, she's going to have a tough time," he said. "I know it doesn't sound like much, but when prescription drugs are going up and that. I'm not going to get up on my big soap box today, but think about it. If you're on that kind of an income, it's tough." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Once in TV journalism there were people called assignment editors and news directors. Among their responsibilities was to instruct reporters and camera crews which stories they were to cover that day. Their choices were based on several factors that included what they regarded as news, viewer interest (i.e., ratings) and much more subtly, their own biases. When I began my journalism career as a reporter, there were only three broadcast networks and local TV and radio stations. The radio stations played music and reported local news. The news was what these gatekeepers said it was. When the broadcast TV networks went from 15-minute newscasts to 30 minutes, some expressed fear there wouldnt be enough news to fill the time. Then, the news was considered serious business. We would cover congressional hearings and presidential press conferences. There would be stories about crime, and news from Europe and Asia reported by bureau chiefs who were full-time correspondents. Mostly, though, it was subjects considered of importance to America, a type of eat your vegetables approach. Yes, the times changed and much of the media today appears to be more opinion than facts, more infotainment than news. In 1987, the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, which required broadcasters to present fair and balanced coverage, contributed to the rise of alternative media. These cable networks and some print publications began carrying stories ignored by the once dominant major media. They quickly attracted the loyalty of conservative political and religious people who felt their beliefs and values were being ignored. The power to ignore is still the greatest power major media has and few issues demonstrate that more than the trouble at our southern border. Fox News and The New York Post have been the only media entities to consistently cover the flood of undocumented migrants entering the country illegally. Critics usually dismiss anything carried by these outlets as coming from right-wing media and thus inherently untrustworthy. The latest example is reporting by Angie Wong in the Post. Wong traveled to Mission, Texas, and reported that after being processed, migrants are given color-coded folders to the city of their destination. She says she saw airplane tickets to Atlanta, Houston, Newark, and New York. The folder, she writes, also includes a U.S. passport looking booklet, cash, prepaid credit cards, travel itineraries and an English translation card, which asks people to help the migrant find the right flight. Furthermore, observed Wong, each migrant receives a set of clothinga blanket, a pillow-sized bag of shelf-life food and a carry-on travel bag. Some have received cellphones. All of this is presumably paid for by American taxpayers. Wong further notes their handlers get through immigration and security with just a flash of documents, whereas all other passengers had to show identification. She says she was told the handlers are members of non-government organizations (NGOs) and churches. Why isnt this news? It is, of course, but it doesnt fit the narrative of a media whose members are, according to numerous surveys over many years, predisposed to Democratic politicians. They ignore what in other circumstances might be called an invasion. Again, ignoring something that is newsworthy is the greatest power they have. No wonder their trust level is, according to Gallup, at its second lowest level on record. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With Russian troops moving closer to the Ukrainian border from multiple angles, the chance of war creeps higher by the day. Yet Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are still hinting at the possibility of a diplomatic solution, which would offer Putin a face-saving way out of the crisis he created. The question is whether they canand are willing todevise a mutually palatable deal, given the dense tangle of conflicting interests driving this conflict. There is a way to cut the knot: Biden could borrow a move from John F. Kennedys playbook and offer Putin a secret deal. Advertisement Here is the current state of affairs. After Putin and Bidens hour-long phone conversation on Saturday, the White House read-out made it seem nothing had changed; Biden, it said, warned once again of swift and severe costs if Russia invaded Ukraine. Period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, at a press conference in Moscow later in the day, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov revealed that much more was discussed. Biden, he said, recalled the long record of cooperation between the two countries, noted the many issues on which they still needed to cooperate, and offered several diplomatic compromises to the crisis (Ushakov did not detail what they were). Putin said he would think them over, but complained that the West was ignoring his fundamental demandthat Ukraine never join NATO. (A still-later background press briefing by a senior administration official confirmed Ushakovs account.) Advertisement Advertisement Biden, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have all taken maximalist positions on this issue: Biden says NATOs open-door policy cant be shut permanently on Ukraine; Putin says it must be; Zelensky keeps asking to join the U.S.-led military alliance. Any backing away from these positions would be seen as an act of weakness: U.S. credibility would be shot; Putin would lose what he sees as his last chance to restore Russias sphere of influence on its western border; Zelensky would be hounded by anti-Russia nationalists who view any compromise as treason. Is there a face-saving way out? The classic case study in such matters is the 1962 Cuba missile crisis, though, even now, 60 years after the fact (and 35 years after all the documents and secret White House tapes have been declassified), few historians and almost no journalists fully understand how that crisis was resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev covertly shipped nuclear-tipped missiles to Cuba as an act of desperation. A year earlier, U.S. officials had declared that the missile gapthe intelligence agencys estimate of overwhelming Soviet superiority in intercontinental ballistic missileswas a myth. New reconnaissance satellites revealed that the Soviets had only four ICBMs; the U.S. was way ahead. Khrushchev had been propagating this myth, bragging that his factories were churning out missiles like sausages. Now, he knew that we knew it wasnt so. He feared the U.S. was planning a nuclear first-strike against the Soviet Union, and now they knew he had nothing with which to retaliate. To close the gap, he sent medium-range missiles to Cuba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the shipment wasnt covert enough. On Oct. 14, an American U-2 spy plane saw the first load of missiles being set up on the island. Two days later, President John F. Kennedy assembled his top advisers in the White House Cabinet Room. For the next 13 days, they met every day to discuss what to do. (Unbeknownst to the advisers, Kennedy tape-recorded these meetings. They are now available in the JFK Library, and transcripts have been published.) Advertisement Advertisement At one point, on Oct. 18, Kennedy mulled what Khrushchev was up to. The Soviet leader must have known he couldnt win; maybe he just needed a face-saving way to withdraw the missiles. Maybe, Kennedy proposed, we could tell Khrushchev, If you begin to pull them out, well take ours out of Turkey. The U.S. had recently deployed medium-range nuclear missiles there, which could hit the southern part of the USSR. None of Kennedys advisers paid any attention to his remark. Advertisement Nine days later, after many knuckle-clenching moments, Khrushchev publicly proposed exactly that ideahe would take the missiles out of Cuba if we took ours out of Turkey. Instantly, Kennedy liked the idea. To any man at the United Nations, any other rational man, it will look like a very fair trade, he said. But all of his advisersnot just the generals, but civilian cabinet secretaries as wellattacked the idea as dangerous. Keep the heat on! Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara urged. If we appear to be trading the defense of Turkey for the threat in Cuba, we will face a radical decline in power. National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy warned, his voice quivering with anger. Others predicted that the Turks would be humiliated, our credibility would be shot, and NATO would be finished. All of this, even though the missiles in Turkey were trivialthere were only 15 of themand they would soon be replaced by Polaris submarines, which would be much more secure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, Kennedy instructed his brother, Robert Kennedy, the attorney general (who also opposed the missile trade), to go see Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and say we would take the tradebut only if it was kept secret. If the Soviets revealed he accepted the deal, it would be called off. Kennedy told just six of his advisers about his agreement. (He deeply feared the political consequences of compromising with the Kremlin.) To everyone else, and the rest of the world, he put out a cover story, claiming hed rejected the missile trade but instead accepted a proposal that Khrushchev had put forth the night before: that he would remove his missiles if Kennedy promised never to invade the Communist island of Cuba. Advertisement The next day, Sunday, Oct. 29, Khrushchev announced he would remove the missiles, reciting the fictional cover story. Remarkably, this deal was kept secret for a long time. Only in 1982, on the 20th anniversary of the crisis, when the existence of the tapes was about to be revealed, did McNamara, Bundy, and other advisers reveal the true storyor at least part of it. (They did not confess that they had all opposed the secret deal.) Advertisement Advertisement If the deal had not been struck, U.S. air strikes were scheduled to begin two days later, on Monday, Oct. 30500 conventional bombing raids per day, for five days, followed by a ground invasion of the island. Some of the Soviet missiles were already armed with nuclear warheads; they might have been launched in retaliation. And, though it wasnt known at the time, the Soviets had secretly deployed 40,000 troops on Cuba to fend off a possible U.S. invasion. In other words, by taking Khrushchevs deal, John Kennedy might have singlehandedly prevented World War III. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does all this have to do with the Ukraine crisis of 2022? Putin has proposed a way outkeep Ukraine out of NATOthat everyone, in this case including Biden, is denouncing as unacceptable, even while admitting that Ukraine wont be allowed into NATO for a long time, if ever. The simplest solution would be for Biden to just take Putins dealbar Ukraine from ever entering NATO. But there are three problems with that idea. First, its an impossible promise; even if Biden wanted to make it, theres no way to shut out Ukraine forever. Second, U.S. influence in the world would tumble; every other ally would soon be looking for another protector. Even John Kennedy, back in 1962, knew that he couldnt accept Khrushchevs deal publicly. He had to make it in secret. (He even lied to his predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower. When he informed the former five-star general that the crisis was over, Eisenhower asked if hed made a backroom deal. Kennedy said that he hadnt.) Advertisement Advertisement Would it be possible to keep such a pledge secret in todays media-soaked environment? Back in 1962, Kennedy and his advisers met for 13 days in the Cabinet Room without any mention of the meetings being leaked to the press. That would be unthinkable now. But what about a secret deal with Putin, a man who has no problem with secrets? Here is one way to do thismaybe. Biden could secretly send an emissary to see Putin. CIA Director William Burns would be a good choice; he has made low-profile trips Moscow before. Burns could bring along this assurance: Ukraine will not join NATO for as long as Biden is president; in practical terms, that is the most that any president could promise. However, he could add, if Putin makes this pledge public, the deal would be offand, in fact, he could count on Ukraine joining the alliance next week. Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Burns could go on, if Russia pulled its troops away from Ukraine, back to their original bases, Biden would do all the things he has proposed in recent talks, and take various confidence building measures to put U.S.-Russian relations on more stable footing. Advertisement Advertisement Some possibilities: Re-open arms control treaties that President Trump abrogated. Open up all military exercises and missile deployments in the region to inspectors. Convene a conference on European security, to include consideration of Russian interests and concerns. Open negotiations to settle ambiguities in the Minsk Agreements, the ceasefire accord that Russia and Ukraine signed in 2015 but have never implemented because of differing interpretations. Senior U.S. and Russian officials have mentioned the revival of Minsk as a way out of the crisis. It is now time to test the proposition. Finally, in exchange for some sort of security assurances and vast economic assistance, Zelensky would have to agree to stop requesting membership in NATO. This, too, would have to be kept secret, to keep Zelensky from getting pushed out of power by Ukrainian ultra-nationalists. Meanwhile, Putin could tell the world, See, as Ive been saying, I was just conducting military exercises. He would be able to take satisfaction that his security concerns were being addressed, and maybe even be hailed (with muffled sneers) as a man of peace. Is any of this possible? I dont know. Much of it depends on Putins intentions. If he just wants to settle the Ukrainian question by force in the next few days or weeks, then no deal Biden might offer would be good enough. If he is looking for a face-saving way out, a secret deal like this might be the only way. Lawmakers who are on the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot said they expect Rudy Giuliani to comply with a subpoena and give his testimony to the panel. The members of the panel spoke about the issue after a New York Times report, which was later corroborated by others, said Giuliani was in negotiations to answer questions from the panel. Although everything is still very preliminary and negotiations could quickly fall apart, Giuliani seems to have made clear that he wont take the same confrontational stance as other close allies of former President Donald Trump who have refused to cooperate with the committee. Advertisement Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat who is part of the committee, confirmed Giuliani had been in discussions about his testimony. He has been in contact with the committee, she said on MSNBC. He had an appearance that has been rescheduled but he remains under subpoena and we expect him to cooperate fully with the investigation. Giuliani had been scheduled to testify on Tuesday but he did not show up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) confirms that Rudy Giuliani is in talks to testify before the committee investigating January 6th. "We expect him to cooperate fully with the investigation." pic.twitter.com/sJdT7rtwnK The Recount (@therecount) February 13, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican who is also on the panel, also said Sunday the committee expects Giuliani to testify. Our expectation is he is going to cooperate because thats the law, thats the requirement, same as if somebody [is] subpoenaed to court, Kinzinger said on CBS Face the Nation. There may be some changes in dates and moments here, as you know, lawyers do their back and forth, but we fully expect that in accordance with the law, well hear from Rudy. .@RepKinzinger tells @margbrennan that the January 6 House select committee expects Rudy Giuliani to cooperate with a recently issued subpoena "because that's the law." pic.twitter.com/CSKcI1dY9C Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 13, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources tell ABC News its still not quite clear the level of cooperation that Giuliani is ready to offer the committee. The fact that hes even having the discussion to testify suggests he is trying to avoid what could potentially be a costly legal battle. Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist, has been indicted on two federal counts of contempt of Congress for his refusal to cooperate with the committee. Mark Meadows, who was Trumps chief of staff, has been referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal charges after he refused to interview with the committee. Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the committee, said he expects public hearings to begin in the spring or summer. We will want to be able to take this information and present it to the American people, not just in a report which is going to be essential, but in people, in faces and in stories, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Russia could invade Ukraine soon and may create a pretext to launch the attack, U.S. officials said on Sunday. As Washington warned that Russia had positioned more troops along the border, Ukraines president is also urging calm saying he has yet to see convincing evidence that an attack is imminent. We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begin, a major military action could begin by Russia in Ukraine any day nowthat includes this coming week, before the end of the Olympics, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on CNN. Moscow has repeatedly denied any plans for an invasion. Advertisement Speaking on CBS, Sullivan said that the acceleration in the build-up of Russian forces along the Ukraine border shows why the invasion could happen essentially at any time. There are unconfirmed reports that U.S. intelligence indicated Russia plans to invade Wednesday but Sullivan said Washington cannot predict the precise day or time of an invasion. The way they have built up their forces, the way they have maneuvered things in place, makes it a distinct possibility there will be major military action very soon, he added. Any attack is likely to begin with a significant barrage of missiles and bomb attacks, which would be followed by an onslaught of a ground force moving across the Ukrainian frontier, Sullivan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States updated its estimate of how many Russian forces are now near the Ukraine border to more than 130,000, an increase from the 100,000 Washington had been talking about over the last few weeks. Sullivan said it was important for the United States to continue sharing intelligence it received regarding Moscows actions in an effort to prevent a false flag operation that could be used as a pretext for an invasion. Were not going to give Russia the opportunity to conduct a surprise here, to spring something on Ukraine or the world, Sullivan said. President Joe Biden spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Sunday and vowed that the United States and its allies would respond swiftly to any attack. Zelensky has been trying to tamp down the increasingly dire warnings from Washington even as some airlines suspended flights in Ukrainian airspace amid concerns over safety. We understand all the risks, we understand that there are risks, Zelensky said. If you, or anyone else, has additional information regarding a 100% Russian invasion starting on the 16th, please forward that information to us. Canadian police made good on their promise and moved in to clear the remaining Freedom Convoy protesters and vehicles that had blocked the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing. Law enforcement made around 12 arrests and towed seven vehicles just after dawn near the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ontario with Detroit. Officials celebrated that the protesters were removed without violence but it remains unclear when the bridge would reopen amid concerns that demonstrators could return. There are isolated reports that protesters made their way back to a previously cleared intersection near the Ambassador Bridge about an hour after police had said they had cleared the area. A Facebook group that supported the protesters called on people to return to the bridge. Advertisement Amid the uncertainty, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the bridge will reopen when it is safe to do so after police made the arrests and ended the blockade that had been in place since Monday. Today, our national economic crisis at the Ambassador Bridge came to an end, Dilkens said. There were only a few protesters remaining after police called on everyone to leave the area on Saturday, a day after a judge ordered everyone to leave the Ambassador Bridge. Meanwhile, protesters continued to block part of Canadas capital, Ottawa, for a third consecutive weekend. Counter protests have also grown and many started blocking vehicles that tried to join the protests on Sunday in Ottawa. Were fed up, were tired. We want Ottawa to be boring again, an Ottawa resident at a counter protest said. The Freedom Convoy protests started with Canadian truckers opposing a vaccine-or-quarantine mandate for those crossing into the United States. But has since grown into a broad protest against all sorts of COVID-19 restrictions as well as a way to express general anger with government policies. The Freedom Convoy has inspired similar action in several countries, including France, New Zealand, and the Netherlands and the Department of Homeland Security has warned the United States could be next. On Monday in Beijing, Madison Chock and Evan Bates will skate for the U.S. in the ice dancing free dance at the Winter Olympics. They competed with the same routine just about flawlessly on Feb. 7, winning the ice dancing free skate in the team event and helping the American team secure its silver medal therein. (That may be upgraded to a gold pending the outcome of the Kamila Valieva doping inquiry.) As the opening strains of a Daft Punk medley played for the routine, announcer Johnny Weir said, This is a wonderfully theatrical free dance. Evan portrays the astronaut; Madison, the extraterrestrial. Not your usual ice dancing narrative, but when youre as good as Chock and Bates are, you can pretty much do whatever you want. Advertisement Ive spent the past several years writing a book about aliensabout how we imagine them in science and in fiction, and what those conceptions say about how we understand being human. And this ice dancing routine has a lot to say about our visions of alien contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair starts with Chock standing with her arms crossed at the elbows, fingers splayed across her foreheadshe evokes something mysterious and exotic, or perhaps the big headpointy chin look of classic UFO voyagers. Bates is crouched a bit down-ice of her, looking placidly away into well, into space. As the music begins and Chock undulates, Bates mimes opening an airlock door, and skating out into a spacewalk. Its the closest we get to mime in the routine, literal rather than evocative. He looks around him with naive wonder, but then locks eyes with Chock. She slithers her neck, he grasps her wrist, and four minutes, 15 seconds of push-and-pull, of lift-and-spin, of ice dancing, begins. Advertisement Advertisement Would I know this was an alien and an astronaut if announcers (and giddy coworkers) hadnt told me? Absolutely not. Bates wears a black jumpsuit with some slightly military piping; Chock wears gray-purple sequins and gauze. One could make the case that the high neck of her costume is ridged a bit like a Klingons forehead. Her sleeves extend to full gloves, perhaps covering uncanny anatomy beneath. As she skates, her arms again and again form a large circleevoking planets? Or wormholes? On the other hand, a lot of Earthly things are circular or spherical. Perhaps her big circle arms, spooky finger movements, and wiggly wrists are meant to represent some alien language of postures and signs. But without hints from the announcers, Id probably guess that Chock was a witch seductress and Bates a young soldier; maybe the routine would read more like a very strange retelling of Macbeth. Advertisement Advertisement At first, knowing this is an extraterrestrial story, you want a bit more pizzaz, a bit more alienness. Green skin, big black eyes, extra limbs. We have so much cultural iconography to indicate aliens that goes unexpressed here. You could say its to the pairs credit that they dont look like X-Files Extras on Ice, but what better place than ice dancing for that sort of camp? Theyre skating to Daft Punk after allcould the astronaut not wear a helmet? Advertisement Advertisement The little green men of UFO visitation manifest an easy vision of superintelligence, with oversized heads and atrophied bodies, an alternative pejorative to the immobile future humans of Wall-E. But accurately channeling those scrawny limbs would make for bad Olympians, so nix that idea, ice dancers. What about going weirder? The most alien aliens in human imagination are not only unhumanlike, but unlike any life we know on Earth. Think of the heptapods from Arrival: Seven limbs could give you some really good lift for a jump (though I know enough about ice dancing to know that jumping is not part of ice dancing). Theres also the xenomorph from Alien, whose monstrosity psychoanalyst Harvey Greenberg located in her unnaturalness: It is a Linnean nightmare, defying every natural law of evolution; by turns bivalve, crustacean, reptilian, and humanoid. Her slobber might create issues, though, for the ice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Chock and Bates give us instead is a different strain of alien story, one about likeness across distance, about searching for connectionthe story in which the alien is (whispers) fuckable. I mean, youve gotta work within the constraints of your genre, and as a genre, ice dancing is really horny. But this sexy alien evokes not the horniness of consummation but that of lust and longing, of coming together and swirling apart, again and again, the tender holds and outstretched hands reaching and yearning. Alexandra Petri wrote in the Washington Post last week that ice dancing has enough romantic routines, and she cited Chock and Bates program as among those pushing the boundaries into other storylines. Petris argument was in service of telling some jokes, but I have to note: You cant watch this routine and not see a romance. Advertisement But there is another possible interpretation. Perhaps its not literally sex that the routines astronaut and alien are after, but instead a more essential yearning: contact. This is what alien contact storiesCarl Sagans includedare about, after all: the desire to know the unknown, to connect with an impossibly strange stranger and find that theyre a person just like you. Or to find that theyre nothing like you, and to have your understanding of what a person (or intelligence, or biology) is thus expanded. Advertisement And so far, thats not a yearning that humanity has gotten to consummate. We pop out of our metaphorical airlock just like Bates at the start of our routine, craning our heads in wonder at the vast universe newly accessible to our telescopes electronic ears and eyes. But unlike Bates on the ice, about to dance with the entrancing extraterrestrial, we still find ourselves in the cosmos alone. Advertisement Maybe the most poignant moments of the routine, then, to me, are the footwork sequences that have Chock and Bates skating separately in parallel. Part of what makes the team so good is the perfect unison in which they execute these sequences. The universe may be similarly full of alien life thats eerily like life on Earth, but if so, thus far were just living our lives in parallel, obviously different but ineffably the samejust too far apart to touch. Chock and Bates do eventually touch, coming back together again and again. Not just embracing each other but moving as one body through holds and lifts and spins, a unity we also hope for when we imagine an inhabited cosmos. And whether its first contact or romance or just the pleasure of moving through vast open space, it looks like it feels really good. https://sputniknews.com/20220212/hysteric-fit-western-medias-russian-invasion-claims-coordinated-by-washington---zakharova-1092975653.html 'Hysteric Fit': Western Media's Russian 'Invasion' Claims Coordinated by Washington - Zakharova 'Hysteric Fit': Western Media's Russian 'Invasion' Claims Coordinated by Washington - Zakharova MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The information campaign surrounding Russia's imminent "invasion" of Ukraine is coordinated from Washington, Russian Foreign Ministry... 12.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-12T23:32+0000 2022-02-12T23:32+0000 2022-02-12T23:50+0000 us western media russia ukraine washington /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/09/1082025818_0:162:3065:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_ea15e547b4eeb74b0b0f9573a21f740d.jpg "The media coverage, I would say, is unprecedented, because all Western resources that position themselves as independent have shown their true face by exclusively serving this custom-made story from Washington," Zakharova told the Soloviev Live YouTube show, adding that the West is attempting to incite a breaking point.Zakharova remarked during her Saturday interview that the continued unsubstantiated claims of a looming "invasion" should be handled "exactly as a hysteric fit", particularly as the US has been hankering for a conflict in the region for years.The provocation did not start two months ago, as the ground was prepared long ago - since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, which is "actively run by the United States," she underscored.Zakharova's remarks came as Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov offered details on a Saturday phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden following the latest spike in tensions between the two nations.Ushakov relayed to the public that the more than hourlong call saw Russian officials repeatedly call out the false invasion reports that are being "deliberately" given to the US media, as well as a clear failure by the West to implement the Minsk agreements."We outlined our considerations and stressed several times that we do not understand why it is necessary to transmit deliberately false information about Russian intentions to the media," the Kremlin aide said. In line with Zakharova's comments, Ushakov similarly referred to persistent invasion allegations as "artificially inflating hysteria" put out by the US, stressing that "allegations of an invasion create a pretext for possible provocations by the Ukrainian armed forces."The Saturday call also saw Putin discuss with Biden the supply of weapons to Ukraine, which might encourage potential provocations by Ukrainian armed forces in Donbas and Crimea, Ushakov noted.Earlier, a White House readout detailed that Biden had warned his Russian counterpart of "swift and severe costs on Russia" if Russian troops move into Ukrainian territory. The Biden administration has not clarified the "costs" it may inflict on Russia.Tensions between the US and Russia were kicked up a notch after PBS reporter Nick Schifrin tweeted on Friday that "three Western and defense officials" had informed him that Putin had "communicated" a decision to launch an all-out invasion against Ukraine to military chiefs. Moments later, however, during a White House briefing, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan informed reporters that the US had no evidence to that effect. The US official explained that the PBS reporter's finding "does not accurately capture what the US government's view is today."US officials have yet to provide any solid evidence to back claims of a looming invasion, with State Department spokesperson Ned Price earlier getting into a heated exchange with AP reporter Matt Lee when he was challenged on the assertions.As several US allies have begun evacuating their respective embassies in Ukraine, including Australia, Russian authorities announced on Saturday that it too would reduce its staff at its diplomatic mission in Ukraine over concerns of provocations by the US and its partners. https://sputniknews.com/20220212/biden-made-clear-to-putin-that-us-open-for-diplomacy-but-ready-for-other-scenarios-wh-says-1092972113.html us ukraine washington Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 us, western media, russia, ukraine, washington https://sputniknews.com/20220212/protesters-staying-put-at-us-canada-border-negotiators-working-on-resolving-situation-1092975504.html Protesters Staying Put at US-Canada Border, Negotiators Working on Resolving Situation Protesters Staying Put at US-Canada Border, Negotiators Working on Resolving Situation WINDSOR (Sputnik) - About 200 protesters remain at the US-Canada border, although police have managed to push demonstrators back from the customs area, a... 12.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-12T23:30+0000 2022-02-12T23:30+0000 2022-02-13T01:43+0000 us canada border protest truckers /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1e/1092617792_0:157:3000:1845_1920x0_80_0_0_7be7b73f7ee28c3f54ed753fe28319b2.jpg Significant law enforcement resources, including helicopters, remain in place and some police officers are equipped with tear gas guns, the Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday afternoon. It appears that there are also snipers present.One police officer said that negotiators are working on resolving the situation.There is very poor reception in the area, which could mean that communication is being jammed.Some protesters are leaving the area, but there are also others who are coming in, so it appears that the demonstrators, about 200 in total, are staying put for now, according to the Sputnik correspondent.A Canadian judge ordered authorities to clear the blockade at the US-Canada border starting at 7:00 p.m. EST (midnight GMT) on Friday. A Sputnik correspondent reported that the protesters continued to block the Ambassador Bridge despite the court-ordered injunction.In mid-January, a mass peaceful protest began in Canada consisting of truckers, farmers and other Canadians. The so-called "Freedom Convoy" protesters descended on the capital Ottawa to demand the government scrap discriminatory COVID-19 vaccine mandates.The protest has since spread and truckers also blocked several US-Canada border crossings, including the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that the Canadian province was declaring a state of emergency in connection with the trucker protest. The premier called the protest at the Ambassador Bridge a siege and an illegal occupation.Earlier this month, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson declared a state of emergency for the city due to the ongoing "Freedom Convoy" protests. https://sputniknews.com/20220211/canadian-judge-orders-end-to-protesters-freedom-convoy-blockade-at-ambassador-bridge-1092951445.html us canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 us, canada, border, protest, truckers by Xinhua writer Sun Ding WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- "This is international friendship in action," Adam Foster, chairman of the Helen Foster Snow Foundation, said recently after receiving a reply letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It is wonderful to see that President Xi acknowledges the special role people like Helen Foster Snow have played in the relationship of our two countries," Foster said in written responses to media outlets, including Xinhua. "The Helen Foster Snow Foundation and its important work has also received tremendous support from people across the United States and China." CONTRIBUTOR TO CHINA'S REVOLUTION, CONSTRUCTION Foster is a great-nephew of Helen Foster Snow, a Utah-born, late author and journalist known for her writings on the Communist Party of China (CPC) before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. She was once married to Edgar Snow, the first Western journalist to interview late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, and writer of the classic "Red Star Over China," which gives a rare and detailed account of the Chinese revolution in the 1930s. Edgar and Helen Snow actively promoted the Chinese Gong He (Gung Ho) movement of industrial cooperatives, and played an important role in establishing the Shandan Peili School in China's Gansu Province, Xi wrote in the reply letter to Foster sent in late January. Helen encouraged her friend Rewi Alley, a renowned social activist who helped build friendly relations between China and New Zealand, to establish the Peili School that helped underprivileged youths obtain an education, Foster said, adding Helen also traveled with Edgar throughout Southeast Asia, raising funds "for this important effort to be successful." The year 2021 marked the 90th anniversary of Helen's arrival in China. Foster stressed that the letter from the foundation and the Foster family to Xi "was to thank the Chinese people for the way in which they have honored Helen's work during this past year, and in previous years as well." "As a Foundation, we looked at our accomplishments over the last four years and decided it was important to emphasize the spirit of international friendship which Helen Foster Snow embodied," he said. "It was extremely important to Helen that people on both sides of the Pacific understand each other, despite our differences." INFLUENTIAL LIFE, GREAT LEGACY When Helen returned to the United States in the 1940s, she moved to the town of Madison in Connecticut. She spent the next 60 years of her life continuing the relationships she had developed in China, and wrote more than 60 books and manuscripts. The Foster family were among some of the first visitors to China after the normalization of China-U.S. relations. Helen made two trips to China in the 1970s, and also received many Chinese visitors to her home in Connecticut, where she passed away in 1997. Because of Helen's influence, many of her nieces and nephews traveled to China to continue these relationships, according to Foster. "Several of my cousins have spent time living in China to learn more about the culture, language, and people," he said. "The Foster family in the U.S. consider Helen's life and work as a precious legacy that will forever connect our family to the people of China." The Chinese people, Xi said in the reply letter, bear in mind the contributions made by international friends, including the Snows, to China's revolution and construction, as well as their sincere friendship with the CPC and the Chinese people, adding that he highly appreciates the positive contributions made by the Helen Foster Snow family to the development of China-U.S. relations over the years. Foster made it his "life's mission" to learn everything he could about Helen's life after returning to the United States from a trip to various sites of Helen and Edgar Snow's past in northwestern China's Shaanxi Province, where there are many old revolutionary base areas, including the caves of Yan'an, the cradle of the Chinese revolution. "I visited her collection of 11,000 photographs and 60 books and manuscripts at the library at Brigham Young University. I read her book Inside Red China about her visit to the caves of Yan'an, and Red Star Over China written by Edgar Snow," Foster recalled. "These books by two American journalists had a profound effect on me and helped me, as an American, to better understand the Chinese people." PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES MATTER The Helen Foster Snow Foundation, a Utah-based non-profit organization, aims to preserve, promote and continue Helen's legacy of building bridges of understanding between China and the rest of the world, and hopes that by continuing her legacy, the U.S.-China relationship will become one of increased mutual respect and cooperation. "We feel the best way to honor Helen is to continue the work she was engaged in, adapted to current conditions," Foster said, while putting an emphasis on people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. "I feel it's essential for both countries to learn more about each other, and people-to-people exchanges are a real benefit to each side," he explained. "These grass-roots efforts play a stabilizing role when the two countries may have disagreements in other areas." The exchange of letters between Xi and Foster came before the arrival of the Chinese New Year, one of the most important festivals in China, which many in the United States, including members of the Foster family, also celebrate. "My wife and I feel it's important to have our kids understand different cultures and countries, and with Helen's connection to China, our family enjoys learning about Chinese holidays together," said Foster, who also mentioned there are over 18,000 K-12 students learning Mandarin across Utah. "I'm sure Helen would be thrilled if she were able to see these Utah kids speaking Mandarin and learning about the culture and traditions of the Chinese people that were so close to her heart," he added. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/austria-to-continue-favouring-launch-of-nord-stream-2-economy-minister-says-1092994328.html Austria to Continue Favouring Launch of Nord Stream 2, Economy Minister Says Austria to Continue Favouring Launch of Nord Stream 2, Economy Minister Says VIENNA (Sputnik) - Austria, contrary to the wishes of other countries, will not block the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 gas project, in which it has invested... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T16:22+0000 2022-02-13T16:22+0000 2022-02-13T17:31+0000 russia austria nord stream 2 business /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/03/1090438897_0:154:2993:1837_1920x0_80_0_0_8896b20cae25f80eac81553492248801.jpg "I know some countries would like Austria to abandon Nord Stream 2, but this will not happen on my part and on the part of the foreign minister [Alexander Schallenberg]. The country has invested a lot through [Austrian oil and gas] company OMV. We need the international rule of law, security of investments ... therefore, if there is no invasion, then Nord Stream 2, in our opinion, should start to operate," Schrambock told Austrian broadcaster ORF TV.Nord Stream 2 is designed to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. On September 10, Russia's Gazprom announced that the construction of the pipeline was complete. The process of certifying Nord Stream 2 AG as the pipelines independent operator is currently underway to ensure the project complies with the conditions of the 2019 EU Gas Directive. German regulators are expected to decide on the certification in the second half of 2022.On January 26, Nord Stream 2 AG announced it had established a subsidiary, Gas for Europe GmbH, in Germany for certification under national law. The new entity will become the owner and operator of the 33-mile section of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in German waters. The German Federal Network Agency told Sputnik that the certification would resume after the completion of the transfer of main assets of the German subsidiary and verification of the completeness of the documentation. austria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, austria, nord stream 2, business https://sputniknews.com/20220213/bidens-visit-to-ukraine-in-coming-days-can-help-de-escalate-tensions---zelenskyy-1093001240.html Biden's Visit to Ukraine in Coming Days Can Help De-escalate Tensions - Zelenskyy Biden's Visit to Ukraine in Coming Days Can Help De-escalate Tensions - Zelenskyy KIEV (Sputnik) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited US President Joe Biden to visit Kiev in the coming days and said that this visit could... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T21:15+0000 2022-02-13T21:15+0000 2022-02-13T21:15+0000 ukraine biden administration joe biden volodymyr zelensky /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/08/1083096789_0:0:2795:1572_1920x0_80_0_0_9a3b72dd81f4b464348bd8005410cae5.jpg The presidential office said that Zelenskyy thanked Biden for his support and invited him to visit Ukraine during the phone conversation on Sunday.Zelenskyy also told Biden that it is important for Kiev to receive security guarantees from Washington, the statement said.Moments before additional insight was provided on the highly-anticipated call, reports indicated that the Ukrainian president had urged Biden to make a trip to Ukraine "as soon as possible," a knowledgable source told CNN.However, Biden's visit seems unlikely given the current state of affairs, CNN said, citing unnamed US officials.Biden and Zelenskyy talked over phone on Sunday for a bit under one hour. According to a White House statement, the leaders agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the current crisis around Ukraine. Biden also promised Zelenskyy to "respond swiftly and decisively" together with allies to potential Russian aggression against Ukraine.This was the third phone conversation between the presidents since the beginning of 2022. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, biden administration, joe biden, volodymyr zelensky https://sputniknews.com/20220213/calling-fallout-fans-fixer-upper-ex-nuclear-silo-on-sale-for-less-than-median-cost-of-us-home-1092987039.html Calling Fallout Fans: Fixer Upper Ex-Nuclear Silo on Sale for Less Than Median Cost of US Home Calling Fallout Fans: Fixer Upper Ex-Nuclear Silo on Sale for Less Than Median Cost of US Home The United States military built hundreds of underground silos housing intercontinental ballistic missiles throughout the Midwest during the Cold War. Over... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T12:29+0000 2022-02-13T12:29+0000 2022-02-13T12:50+0000 silo nuclear missile property sale /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092986827_0:236:713:637_1920x0_80_0_0_c8b1da8c963412dcdeed8439bc774a55.png A one-of-a-kind fixer upper nuclear missile silo facility sitting on an 11 acre lot been put up for sale on Zillow, with the single family residence-listed property featuring no bedrooms, one bathroom, and a whopping 6,900 square feet of indoor space.The lot, situated in Abilene, Kansas, about 130 km west of Topeka, has a $380,000 list price, making it a one-of-a-kind bargain below the median US home price of $400,000.The lot has a range of features one wouldnt find in your typical suburban home, including privacy galore guaranteed by twin 75 tonne-apiece blast-proof concrete doors, the perfect ambience for hosting Fallout-themed costume parties or live-action role playing, and just as importantly for the discerning buyer, the ability to withstand a world-ending nuclear apocalypse.The facility was built in 1960 to house an Atlas F, a now-retired ICBM with an operational range of 10,200 km. Unfortunately for any fledgling Dr. Evil wannabes out there, no missiles are included, but the lot does have water, electricity, plumbing and sewage.John Dautel of Hirsch Real Estate boasts of the endless possibilities for potential buyers, ranging from a private home or a bed and breakfast to an Airbnb. I had a call from someone on the West Coast who wants to put computer components there, Dautel said in an interview with BI. A person is thinking he might use it for renewable energy, put solar panels across the 11 acres, he added.The lot is currently zoned for residential use, but Dautel says getting it rezoned to industrial or commercial purposes shouldnt be a problem. Just dont get any ideas about using the site for anything illegal, though. In 2000, world-famous LSD manufacturer William Leonard Pickard was caught and convicted after conspiring to manufacture large quantities of the drug at a former Atlas silo outside Wamego, Kansas.The Abilene, Kansas silo was reportedly decommissioned in 1965, just a few years after being built, for reasons unknown, with groundwater flooding it after some time as it lay in disuse. The facility has since been cleared and given an environmental inspection complete with a clean bill of health.Along with the main quarters, including a command centre and silo burrowed 170 feet underground linked by a connecting tunnel, the lot includes a 4,000-square-foot Quonset hut fitted with water, a sewer and electricity, plus two smaller buildings onsite. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov silo, nuclear missile, property, sale https://sputniknews.com/20220213/durham-clinton-campaign-funded-efforts-to-establish-inference-narrative-tying-trump-to-russia-1092978957.html Durham: Clinton Campaign Funded Efforts to 'Establish Inference, Narrative' Tying Trump to Russia Durham: Clinton Campaign Funded Efforts to 'Establish Inference, Narrative' Tying Trump to Russia The investigation by Special Counsel John Durham aims to find out whether the FBI probe into allegations of Donald Trump's "collusion" with Russia was legal... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T06:12+0000 2022-02-13T06:12+0000 2022-02-13T07:00+0000 us donald trump hillary clinton /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092979984_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4cdf2dbadb32ca14173df7693416baa5.jpg Hillary Clinton's campaign paid a tech company to "inflitrate" Trump Tower and later the White House servers in order to forge a "narrative" that would link then-candidate Donald Trump to Russia, Special Counsel John Durham has revealed in a new filing.A new motion filed by Durham on 11 February is looking at the potential conflict of interest in regard to former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussman, who was charged with making false statements to a federal agent (a charge Sussman pleaded not guilty to).Sussman said he was not doing work "for any client" in September 2016, when he looked into the alleged "covert communication channel" between the Trump campaign and Russia's Alfa Bank. Durham's motion, however, argued that he "had assembled and conveyed the allegations to the FBI on behalf of at least two specific clients, including a technology executive (Tech Executive 1) at a U.S.-based internet company (Internet Company 1) and the Clinton campaign".Durham went on to assert that Sussman "repeatedly billed the Clinton Campaign for his work" regarding the purported ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian bank.Sussman had also allegedly met and communicated with a former General Counsel to the Clinton campaign, who, according to Fox News' sources, was Marc Elias of the law firm Perkins Coie. According to the motion, the Clinton campaign assembled a team of tech executives, attorneys and cyber researchers who allegedly worked to create a false narrative linking Trump to Russia.Durham accused the tech executive allegedly hired by the Clinton campaign of "[exploiting] his access to non-public and/or proprietary Internet data". Among those affected by the actions were "a particular healthcare provider", Trump Tower, Trump's Central Park West apartment building and even the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP).The Durham findings illustrate that the Clinton campaign funded an attempt "to orchestrate a criminal enterprise to fabricate a connection between President Trump and Russia", as put by former chief investigator of the Trump-Russia probe for the House Intelligence Committee under Devin Nunes, Kash Patel.The now infamous dossier crafter by ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele also claimed that Donald Trump "colluded" with the Kremlin during the 2016 presidential election. The dossier, funded the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign through Perkins Coie, was later debunked by the authorities.Trump ResponseThe new Durham filing quickly made waves, drawing reactions from many political figures, the former US president among them. Commenting on the new findings, Donald Trump said they were part of "a scandal far greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate". According to him, "those who were involved in and knew about this spying operation should be subject to criminal prosecution".He noted that "in a stronger period of time in our country, this crime would have been punishable by death." Additionally, the former president demanded that "reparations" should be paid to those affected by the alleged plot by the Clinton campaign.The ex-president's son, Donald Trump Jr, also reacted to the new motion by Durham.Hillary Clinton has been mum on the new spin in the Durham investigation.Durham ProbeSpecial Counsel John Durham was appointed by then-Attorney General William Barr to lead a review into the "Russiagate" investigation launched by the FBI. Durham aims to determine whether the FBI probe into the allegations of Trump "colluding" with the Kremlin were legal.The Special Counsel's work has been praised by Trump, who only lamented that Durham's findings did not emerge before he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.The former president has dismissed "Russiagate" as a hoax concocted to sabotage him and his political career. Moscow, in its turn, has repeatedly underlined that it had never interfered with the domestic affairs of the US and the 2016 presidential election in particular.As of now, practically all allegations referring to the purported "collusion" have been dismissed or called into question. The infamous Steele dossier has been debunked, and a report by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller also found no evidence of what was actively promoted as Russian efforts to "meddle" in the 2016 election. After Mueller completed his report, Durham took over the investigation into the origins of the FBI "Russiagate" probe that kicked off in July 2016. https://sputniknews.com/20220127/dnc-hack-hillarys-skeletons--fbis-secrets-three-possible-directions-of-durhams-probe-1092561141.html https://sputniknews.com/20220209/trump-expects-durham-to-fully-expose-fbis-russiagate-probe-as-crime-of-the-century-1092887062.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us, donald trump, hillary clinton https://sputniknews.com/20220213/first-agroexpress-from-azerbaijan-to-russia-to-bring-fresh-vegetables-and-fruits-1092988697.html First Agroexpress From Azerbaijan to Russia to Bring Fresh Vegetables and Fruits First Agroexpress From Azerbaijan to Russia to Bring Fresh Vegetables and Fruits The first "Agroexpress" cargo train from Azerbaijan to Russia left on 12 February from Lajat station, the Russian Export Center (REC) website says. It will... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T13:59+0000 2022-02-13T13:59+0000 2022-02-13T13:59+0000 world businesses russian export center jsc (rec) azerbaijan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102113/24/1021132405_0:170:3037:1878_1920x0_80_0_0_d7b08d0ccbfd7986e768f1ad0c4a75c4.jpg Agroexpress is a specialized service for the delivery of goods by accelerated trains, which allows exporters to reduce delivery times as well as transportation costs. The first cargo that left Azerbaijan for Russia in January 2022 as part of the pilot launch of the route was Azerbaijani persimmon.This is a successful start in the implementation of the Agroexpress project, and we see huge potential in its development. Considering the many advantages, this will not only be an alternative, but one of the most competitive routes. Of course, we will continue to work on debugging and improving processes, and we plan to carry out regular transportation in the near future. Also, active work is underway to connect the Astara station to the Agroexpress route for the transportation of goods to Russia as part of the development of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC). In general, Agroexpress will contribute not only to the development of logistics and trade, but also to agricultural enterprises in our countries, Natig Heydarov, head of Alliance Logistics LLC, said.The Agroexpress service is a kind of synergetic model, within which we optimise the work of many participants in order to obtain the most effective tool for business. First of all, we are talking about agro-industrial complex enterprises, which belong to small and medium-sized businesses. Today, according to experts, the potential for cargo turnover along the INSTC is at a very high level, and given the ongoing containerisation and the positive dynamics of freight turnover throughout the entire railway network, it will only grow. Railway transportation of agricultural products, in comparison with other modes of transport, is profitable, fast and convenient, Dmitry Murev, General Director of RZD Logistics JSC, said.The competitiveness of export goods is largely ensured by effective schemes for their transportation and distribution. The Agroexpress project achieves exactly this goal and contributes to the promotion of Russian agricultural products in foreign markets. Moreover, Agroexpress will increase the volume of export deliveries by providing high-quality logistics services using modern technologies and optimised control procedures. We see that Agroexpress in Azerbaijan is already fulfilling its task and is in demand among exporters. The development of such integrated logistics services on the ITC North-South routes in the near future will allow Russian manufacturers to expand cooperation with the countries of the Caspian Basin, the Persian Gulf and South Asia, Azer Talybov, Chairman of the Board of Eximbank of Russia JSC, said.Negotiations on Agroexpress were held within the framework of two extended business missions, which took place in the second half of last year under the auspices of ROSEXIMBANK with the support of the Azerbaijan-Russian Business Council. azerbaijan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 world, businesses, russian export center jsc (rec), azerbaijan https://sputniknews.com/20220213/further-measures-against-dw-can-be-avoided-if-russian-journalists-have-equal-rights---russian-fm-1092977605.html Further Measures Against DW Can Be Avoided if Russian Journalists Have Equal Rights - Russian FM Further Measures Against DW Can Be Avoided if Russian Journalists Have Equal Rights - Russian FM MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Further retaliatory steps against German state media Deutsche Welle (DW) in Russia will not be necessary if Germany ensures equal rights for... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T03:26+0000 2022-02-13T03:26+0000 2022-02-13T03:24+0000 deutsche welle journalists russian foreign ministry /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/04/1092750695_0:234:2048:1386_1920x0_80_0_0_38683e14996d487de557e3dd58b234f1.jpg "The important point is that the subsequent stages of response measures will not be required if the German side shows a constructive attitude and ensures equal rights for Russian journalists working in Germany," the ministry said in a statement.The ministry emphasized that the closure of the DW bureau in Moscow, which affected 16 Russian citizens and three foreigners (from Germany, the UK and the US), does not mean that these individuals can no longer work in Russia.The ministry stressed that Russia is ready to reconsider its decision with respect to DW if Germany provides equal opportunities for the Russian channel RT DE.According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Deutsche Welle reporters can work in Russia if they arrive as part of the pool of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 15.At the start of February, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow was closing the DW bureau in Moscow, annulling the accreditation of its employees, and terminating DW satellite and other broadcasts in response to the RT DE ban in Germany. A ministry official told Sputnik that if Germany were to revisit its position on RT DE, Moscow would respond in kind.RT DE had received a broadcasting license in Serbia, which gives it the right to broadcast in most EU countries, including Germany. Nonetheless, German media regulator MABB said that RT DE was officially banned in Germany because it lacked the necessary permission for broadcasting. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 deutsche welle, journalists, russian foreign ministry https://sputniknews.com/20220213/look-at-this-dckhead-kanye-west-bashes-pete-davidson-online-1092996328.html 'Look at This D*ckhead': Kanye West Bashes Pete Davidson Online 'Look at This D*ckhead': Kanye West Bashes Pete Davidson Online Ye's post mulls the possibility of his Instagram page being shut down for dissing Hillary Clinton's ex-boyfriend, which may be a reference to a tattoo of the... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T19:02+0000 2022-02-13T19:02+0000 2022-02-13T19:03+0000 viral kanye west pete davidson social media /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/07/0f/1079887049_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_1750f316cd6fd8ddbe255966a65c0e60.jpg Famous American rapper Ye, aka Kanye West, recently launched a verbal attack online against actor and comedian Pete Davidson, who recently confirmed being in a relationship with Kim Kardashian, the mother of Ye's children.Ye and Kim have been married since 2014, but last February the latter filed for a divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.In a recent Instagram post of his, Ye shared a partial picture of a man who TMZ says is pretty clearly Pete Davidson" with the caption, "LOOK AT THIS D*CKHEAD I WONDER IF INSTAGRAM GONNA SHUT DOWN MY PAGE FOR DISSING HILARY CLINTONS EX BOYFRIEND."As the media outlet suggests, the Hillary Clinton part of the caption was apparently a reference to the fact that Davidson has a prominent tattoo of her on his arm. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Andrei Dergalin Andrei Dergalin News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Andrei Dergalin viral, kanye west, pete davidson, social media https://sputniknews.com/20220213/lugansk-withdrawal-of-western-observers-from-donbass-is-preparation-for-large-scale-provocation-1092985600.html Lugansk: Withdrawal of Western Observers From Donbass is Preparation for 'Large-Scale Provocation' Lugansk: Withdrawal of Western Observers From Donbass is Preparation for 'Large-Scale Provocation' LUGANSK (Sputnik) - The withdrawal of EU, UK, and US representatives from the OSCE special monitoring mission in Ukraine under the pretext of insecurity would... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T11:14+0000 2022-02-13T11:14+0000 2022-02-16T09:07+0000 europe ukraine donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105493/71/1054937196_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c4abf307c1ff1c5af9a40f19e8a417c2.jpg "The recall of representatives by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom from the OSCE SMM is a conscious step by the West to block the flow of official information from Ukraine, and the military danger has nothing to do with it. These are preparations for some kind of a large-scale provocation", Miroshnik said.The decision to withdraw their SMM representatives means that the mission loses the opportunity to perform its duties under the mandate, Miroshnik added.Western plans to withdraw their SMM envoys was reported by CNN, citing officials.Denis Pushilin, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), which together with the LPR makes up Donbass, said on Saturday that US representatives in the OSCE SMM had already "packed their bags", being ready to leave any moment. He also said that their departure would mean that a Western-sponsored Ukrainian provocation is being plotted.The conflict in Donbass between Ukraine's government and the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk republics has been going on since 2014. The Minsk agreements, designed to find a political resolution to the conflict, were negotiated by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine the Normandy group in February 2015. However, the agreement has not been observed so far and sporadic clashes continue. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kiev is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements and is delaying negotiations to resolve the conflict. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 europe, ukraine, donbass https://sputniknews.com/20220213/man-stoned-to-death-over-alleged-desecration-of-quran-in-pakistan-as-police-fail-to-protect-him--1092985405.html Man Stoned to Death Over Alleged Desecration of Quran in Pakistan as Police Fail to Protect Him Man Stoned to Death Over Alleged Desecration of Quran in Pakistan as Police Fail to Protect Him Last December, hundreds of Islamists lynched and set fire to the body of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Pakistan's Sialkot district after he removed stickers... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T12:05+0000 2022-02-13T12:05+0000 2022-02-13T14:05+0000 mob blasphemy the quran pakistan punjab radical islam islam imran khan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092990274_0:50:960:590_1920x0_80_0_0_613538f9b8e64f8ddce6d2341b930cbe.jpg After Punjab police failed to save a man who allegedly burned pages of the Quran from the fury of hundreds of villagers in the district of Khanewal, Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Sunday demanded the local authorities ensure the "full severity of the law" is imposed on those responsible for the mob lynching. Khan also sought a report from the Punjab police concerning the officers who "failed in their duty" to protect the factory manager. On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in the remote village of Mian Channu village in the district of Khanewal following an announcement from the mosque that a middle-aged man had torn pages from the Quran pages and burned them. Police said officers rushed to the scene and arrested the alleged perpetrator. However, the crowd snatched the man from police custody and lynched him.In a series of tweets, the police claimed that they demanded that the angry crowd hand over the man, but to no avail."The suspects hung his body from a tree which spread immense fear," the police report said, adding that the body was recovered hours later.Punjab Province police have launched massive raids across the region and detained 62 suspects so far. A case against 33 known suspects and 300 unknown people has been registered.The incident is a stark reminder of the lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a Christian from Sri Lanka who was set on fire by mobs in the Sialkot district of Pakistan on 3 December 2021.Kumara had allegedly removed stickers linked to an extreme Islamist party from inside the factory where he worked as a manager. The perpetrators claimed that Quranic verses were featured on these stickers. punjab Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg mob, blasphemy, the quran, pakistan, punjab, radical islam, islam, imran khan https://sputniknews.com/20220213/maxwell-was-described-as-prince-andrews-ex-girlfriend-during-buckingham-palace-2002-tour---report-1092983943.html Maxwell Was Described as Prince Andrew's 'Ex-Girlfriend' During Buckingham Palace 2002 Tour - Report Maxwell Was Described as Prince Andrew's 'Ex-Girlfriend' During Buckingham Palace 2002 Tour - Report The revelation comes at a time when the Duke of York continues his legal battle against sex abuse accusations made against him by Virginia Giuffre. 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T13:04+0000 2022-02-13T13:04+0000 2022-02-13T13:06+0000 uk us prince andrew ghislaine maxwell /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/0f/1081461300_0:64:1549:935_1920x0_80_0_0_5aacf2a18f91641faafb601cef01a186.jpg Prince Andrew gave a private guided tour of Buckingham Palace to British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, the former US President Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey in 2002, the Telegraph reported, showing never-before-seen photos it has exclusively obtained. Maxwell joined the tour because she had been reportedly introduced to staff as the Duke of York's "ex-girlfriend"."Ghislaine Maxwell was the one who led us into Buckingham Palace - she knew her way around this area of the palace...She was described to me [as] an ex-girlfriend of Prince Andrew's," a source who was part of the party said, as quoted by the Telegraph. The photographs show Prince Andrew pointing at something while Maxwell and Clinton examine the ballroom of the Queen's official residence; another photo shows Maxwell and Spacey, all smiles, sitting in the Chairs of Estate that were used during the Queen's 1953 coronation. The tour of Buckingham Palace was reportedly organised for Clinton and Spacey as guests of Prince Andrew. It is believed that the photographs were taken on 30 September 2002, 18 months after Duke of York allegedly had sex with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was 17 at the time and who now is suing him for unlimited civil damages in the US, claiming that she was trafficked to Prince Andrew by his friend, the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying he had never known Giuffre. He is now preparing to testify under oath at the Giuffre trial scheduled for 10 March in London. In December 2021, Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of recruiting and grooming underage girls for sexual encounters with Epstein between 1994 and 2004. In total, she is facing up to 65 years in prison, which means that she will likely spend the rest of her life in jail. The next hearing for Maxwell's sentencing is expected on 28 June. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/prince-charles-tells-andrew-to-keep-out-of-line-of-sight-amid-sexual-assault-scandal-report-says-1092979858.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sofia Chegodaeva Sofia Chegodaeva News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sofia Chegodaeva uk, us, prince andrew, ghislaine maxwell TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian army has set up a missile unit, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, quoting a senior commander as saying. The missile unit has been established in the army' Ground Force, the force's Commander Kiomars Heidari said. The Ground Force is planning to upgrade equipment and introduce new gear suitable for rapid reaction operations and is developing automated and smart ordnance capable of hitting targets at long distances with pinpoint accuracy, he said. On Sunday, the Iranian Defense Ministry unveiled the latest homegrown military equipment, including an array of stationary missiles, smart ammunition for artilleries and mortars used for precision strikes. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday unveiled a new ballistic missile named Kheibar Shekan, with a range of 1,450 km, which is a strategic missile using solid fuel with maneuverability to pass through the missile shield in the landing phase. The showcase of the latest military development of Iran's armed forces is taking place as the country celebrates the 43rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution victory. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/no-recommendation-on-flight-bans-in-ukraine-from-easa-zelenskyys-office-says-1092987255.html No Recommendation on Flight Bans in Ukraine From EASA, Zelenskyy's Office Says No Recommendation on Flight Bans in Ukraine From EASA, Zelenskyy's Office Says MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) did not make recommendations regarding the restriction of flights over Ukraine, Kyrylo... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T12:43+0000 2022-02-13T12:43+0000 2022-02-13T12:56+0000 ukraine flight airspace /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104107/14/1041071400_0:291:3000:1979_1920x0_80_0_0_47047ddafb419a7e4dcabf10e768cac1.jpg "The sky over Ukraine is open, the authorities did not make a decision to close the airspace. EASA also made no recommendations to restrict flights in Ukrainian airspace. We use facts, not assumptions. Most airlines continue to operate without restrictions," Tymoshenko said on Facebook.Kiev will also implement measures to support air carriers soon, he added.Earlier in the day, the Irish lessor prohibited a plane of the Ukrainian airline SkyUp from entering Ukraine's airspace. The flight, which was headed from Portugal's Madeira to Kiev, landed in neighbouring Moldova.Ukrainian digital news outlet Strana.ua reported on Saturday, citing sources, that a pool of major international insurance companies was preparing to announce that it would stop covering the flights in Ukraine's airspace starting Monday. Dutch carrier KLM has already cancelled its Ukraine-bound flights.Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said on Sunday that the country's airspace remains open and the government is working out measures to avert risks for air carriers.Ukraine sees no point in closing its airspace, the adviser to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Mykhailo Podolyak, said, quoted by Reuters. "The most important point is that Ukraine itself sees no point in closing the sky. This is nonsense. And, in my opinion, it somewhat resembles a kind of partial blockade," Podolyak said.At the same time, international insurance companies have notified Ukrainian air carriers of the termination of aircraft insurance when flying over the country due to the risk of hostilities, Ukrainian SkyUp airline announced."On February 12, 2022, the world's largest insurance companies informed Ukrainian air carriers that they will stop insuring aircraft for flights in Ukrainian airspace within 48 hours. This decision is associated with increased risks of the outbreak of hostilities. Accordingly, the owners of aircraft, lessors, demand the urgent return of aircraft to the EU," the company said. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, flight, airspace https://sputniknews.com/20220213/prince-harrys-new-book-will-shake-british-monarchy-to-the-core-media-claims-1092989102.html Prince Harry's New Book Will Shake British Monarchy 'To the Core,' Media Claims Prince Harry's New Book Will Shake British Monarchy 'To the Core,' Media Claims The prince's friend reportedly explained that Harry and his brother, Prince William, were never close with their stepmother Camilla, "and they still arent." 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T14:48+0000 2022-02-13T14:48+0000 2022-02-13T14:48+0000 prince harry camilla, duchess of cornwall memoirs uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/11/1083632463_0:45:2001:1170_1920x0_80_0_0_179d5756b3ffc8d678d0c4540b5097c1.jpg Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, will likely be criticised in an upcoming memoir penned by her stepson, Prince Harry, the Mirror reports.According to the newspaper, a friend of Harry's said that the book will outline the prince's feelings about his father's second wife.While Harry used his latest public appearance to pay tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, he kept quiet about the news of Camilla's future role as Queen consort when Prince Charles becomes king, with Harry's friends suggesting that the Duke of Sussex's silence on the matter "speaks volumes."The newspaper's source also pointed out that Harry's lucrative memoir deal "states that it should include personal details of personal and family arrangements."The prince's book is expected to be released in the run-up to Christmas. https://sputniknews.com/20220125/spotify-taking-prince-harry-meghans-podcast-into-its-own-hands-to-squeeze-out-more-content-1092508594.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Andrei Dergalin Andrei Dergalin News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Andrei Dergalin prince harry, camilla, duchess of cornwall, memoirs, uk https://sputniknews.com/20220213/rapper-kodak-black-among-four-shot-outside-west-hollywood-party-for-justin-bieber--1092977295.html Rapper Kodak Black Among Four Shot Outside West Hollywood Party for Justin Bieber Rapper Kodak Black Among Four Shot Outside West Hollywood Party for Justin Bieber Justin Bieber, his wife, Hailey Baldwin, Drake, Khloe Kardashian, Tobey Maguire, rapper Kodak Black, and other celebrities flocked to 'The Nice Guy' restaurant... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T03:17+0000 2022-02-13T03:17+0000 2022-02-13T03:15+0000 us shooting rapper celebrity super bowl los angeles california /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092977065_0:0:2985:1680_1920x0_80_0_0_0463ba6080ab7d5f0a44a2ddf4c54414.jpg LAPD Officer Lizeth Lomeli confirmed in a Saturday statement that four menaged 60, 22, 20, and 19suffered gunshot-related injuries during a Saturday morning incident in West Hollywood.Authorities did not identify the injured by name. As LA detectives have called on the public to assist in identifying a gunman. Social media footage and exclusive footage from TMZ.com shows rapper Kodak Black mingling and snapping photos with fellow artist Gunna just moments before a chaotic brawl breaks out. Be advised, the following content may offend some audiences. Gunshots are heard soon after, causing party guests to scatter and scramble for cover. TMZ was among the first to report that Kodak Black, real name Bill Kapri, was among those shot early Saturday morning."Sources with direct knowledge" told the outlet that the rapper's injuries were non-life-threatening. Based on video footage, it appears Kodak Black was struck in the leg. Saturday's gunfire incident comes as one of many for Kodak Black, who was notably pardoned by US President Donald Trump early last year. In April 2021, the rapper's bodyguard was shot outside a McDonald's in Florida, not long after his Cultur3 Fest music festival performance. The bodyguard survived the shooting. https://sputniknews.com/20210120/trump-reportedly-grants-clemency-to-rappers-lil-wayne-kodak-black-1081821629.html us los angeles Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead us, shooting, rapper, celebrity, super bowl, los angeles, california https://sputniknews.com/20220213/red-carpet-event-watch-200000-kg-in-seized-cannabis-set-on-fire-by-indian-police-1092982962.html Red Carpet Event: Watch 200,000 Kg in Seized Cannabis Set on Fire by Indian Police Red Carpet Event: Watch 200,000 Kg in Seized Cannabis Set on Fire by Indian Police Marijuana/ Cannabis is banned in India for all purposes except medical research. However, police claim that insurgents in several parts of the country... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T09:45+0000 2022-02-13T09:45+0000 2022-02-13T09:45+0000 cannabis marijuana weed pot police andhra pradesh india narcotics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092983148_0:0:3641:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_83e9917f8246e0fc59b167dd5754507e.png Under normal circumstances, heaps of marijuana stashed up inside tents with red carpets rolled for guests, music blaring in the background, and police vans in the vicinity, give the impression of a celebrity rave party being raided by cops.A similar stage was set in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India, but with an interesting plot twist.The rave party-like arrangement was made for senior cops to arrive and set on fire the huge cache of around 200,000 kg of ganja worth about $26 million, which had been confiscated from peddlers since October 2020.Authorities had deployed several drone cameras to shoot, what it called, a historic occasion in the annals of Andhra Pradesh Police.In a video which has since gone viral, Gautam Sawang, chief of Andhra Pradesh Police, walked the red carpet with grandeur and lit a fire that consumed the entire stash.Sawang said the outlawed Maoists encourage marijuana cultivation in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and supply the contraband to other parts of the country.The state police have launched an Operation named Parivartan (Change) to eliminate cannabis and its illegal transportation along the Andhra-Odisha border. Police chief Sawang said that the team had arrested over 1,500 people involved in the cannabis business since October 2020. andhra pradesh Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 cannabis, marijuana, weed, pot, police, andhra pradesh, india, narcotics https://sputniknews.com/20220213/selfie-care-new-ai-medical-program-can-spot-genetic-disease-with-a-single-picture-1092977902.html Selfie Care: New AI Medical Program Can Spot Genetic Disease With a Single Picture Selfie Care: New AI Medical Program Can Spot Genetic Disease With a Single Picture A new AI medical program developed by a team of researchers at the University of Bonn called GestaltMatcher can spot rare genetic diseases with a single... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T03:45+0000 2022-02-13T03:45+0000 2022-02-13T03:43+0000 artificial intelligence (ai) medicine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107827/90/1078279055_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_a35cac4d1fc47433f027264fe7fef82b.jpg The Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics (IGSB) at the University Hospital Bonn team used 17,560 patient photos for the project. Around 12,000 came from digital health company FDNA with another 5,000 from the University of Bonn and nine additional universities. The study was published in Nature Genetics.The artificial intelligence technology can spot subtle facial features and compares them to its own database to determine an approximate genetic disease. The AI has analyzed a total of 1,115 different rare diseases, and has been touted as having the ability to detect unknown genetic diseases.A vast majority of genetic diseases also come with an identifiable physical abnormality, with many causing a particular facial feature to be present.According to Tzung-Chien Hsieh, a member of the University of Bonn team, The face provides us with a starting point for diagnosis, adding, It is possible to calculate what the disease is with a high degree of accuracy.The technology reportedly does not need a wide variety of examples to pinpoint a genetic aliment.The technology could be applied to other medical imaging services to help assist in diagnosis, according to Krawitz.The technology could be coming to medical practices soon. In Germany, doctors are already using an AI to assist in their practices. The developers of the technology believe its ability to be quickly disseminated could see it become a key tool in diagnostics. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown artificial intelligence (ai), medicine https://sputniknews.com/20220213/several-un-staff-abducted-in-yemens-abyan-province---reports-1092977750.html Several UN Staff Abducted in Yemens Abyan Province - Reports Several UN Staff Abducted in Yemens Abyan Province - Reports MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Six UN workers have been kidnapped in southern Yemen, the Yemen Press Agency (YPA) reports. 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T03:40+0000 2022-02-13T03:40+0000 2022-02-13T03:40+0000 yemen united nations kidnapping /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/101801/35/1018013524_0:68:1310:805_1920x0_80_0_0_5dd965e26988fe038952fb9ffac09e0f.jpg The UN staff, which included five Yemeni nationals and one Bulgarian, were abducted on Friday in Abyan Governorate. The kidnappers drove the UN workers to an unknown location, local sources told YPA on Saturday.So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but, according to local media reports, members of the local branch of al-Qaeda* could be behind the abduction.According to YPA, the International Rescue Committee announced that it was suspending its humanitarian work in Yemens Abyan last year, after two of the aid organization's vehicles were robbed by unidentified militants.Yemen has been gripped by an internal conflict between the government forces and the Houthi movement for over six years. Since 2015, the Saudi-led coalition fighting on the government's side has been conducting air, land and sea operations against the rebels. The Houthis often retaliate by firing projectiles and bomber drones on Saudi territory. The United Nations has described the situation in Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.*Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organisation outlawed in Russia and many other states yemen united nations Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 yemen, united nations, kidnapping https://sputniknews.com/20220213/st-valentines-day-how-did-a-tradition-of-blood-and-fertility-become-a-celebration-of-love-1092989484.html St Valentine's Day: How Did a Tradition of Blood and Fertility Become a Celebration of Love? St Valentine's Day: How Did a Tradition of Blood and Fertility Become a Celebration of Love? Valentine's Day is viewed by many as a "non-holiday" created by vendors to peddle flowers, chocolate, pink cards, and teddy bears, but the day has a bloody and... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T19:47+0000 2022-02-13T19:47+0000 2022-02-13T19:45+0000 society st. valentine day tech /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1092989947_0:528:2048:1680_1920x0_80_0_0_25a79c73fc2c4a1c02a0cfe9d5f6b8d8.jpg When it comes to holidays, scary stories filled with blood are typically associated with Halloween, but delve into the history of St. Valentine's Day and you might learn something that will shock you.Love and Romance? More Like Fertility and BloodMany believe that what we know today as St. Valentine's Day, celebrated on 14 February, was initially the pagan festival of Lupercalia. The day was celebrated in the Roman Empire on 15 February and dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.The ancient Roman festival was about female fertility rather than romantic love and there wasn't a piece of chocolate or a rose in sight. Tradition dictated that priests would gather at the entrance to the sacred cave where Romulus and Remus were believed to have been nurtured by a she-wolf. They would then sacrifice a goat (for fertility) and a dog (for purification). The goat's hide would be cut into strips and dipped into sacrificial blood, with priests taking the bloody skin chunks to the streets and literally slapping Roman women of childbearing age with them in the belief that it would increase the likelihood of them becoming pregnant. The story continues that, at the end of the holiday, those women who were slapped would place bits of papyrus with their names written on them in a big urn, and the city's biologically-viable bachelors would each choose a name, becoming "coupled" with her for one year which would sometimes end in marriage if things went well.At the end of the 5th century, however, Pope Gelasius I declared 14 February to be St. Valentines Day, a move to "Christianise" a fertility festival without cancelling it completely.Who is St.Valentine and... Which One is It?Those who believe that Valentine's Day is actually dedicated to Saint Valentine are confused, however.According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Catholic Church recognises at least three saints called Valentine, and all were martyred. One of the three Valentines was a third century Roman priest. The second Saint Valentine comes from Terni (Interamna back at the time), a bishop who was martyred. It seems that both were sentenced to death for helping Christians at a time when the sect was constantly harassed. The third Saint Valentine is only known to have suffered in Africa, and there are no details about his life. Legends about a Valentine - one of the three who ended up being the namesake for the holiday - say that after a Roman emperor prohibited marriage for young men due to a belief that single men were better warriors than those with families. The story goes that Valentine refused to obey and helped other young soldiers to be married. When our purported Valentine was found out, the emperor reportedly sentenced him to death. Other stories claim that an imprisoned Valentine sent the first "valentine" to a young woman he was enamored with (some suggest that it was the jailors daughter), before being executed.Regardless of one's choice for an origin story for the modern - 'Christianized' - equivalent of Valentine's Day, all are marked with imprisonment, execution and heartbreak. Ah, romance. It could be offered, however, that a holiday about love and romance was implemented to simply balance - or cover up - a bloody origin story. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko society, st. valentine day, tech https://sputniknews.com/20220213/talks-on-israel-lebanon-maritime-border-continue-but-a-solution-is-nowhere-in-sight-1092979427.html Talks on Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Continue But a Solution is Nowhere in Sight Talks on Israel-Lebanon Maritime Border Continue But a Solution is Nowhere in Sight Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations and years of animosity have prevented the two states from settling their maritime borders. The US is now trying... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T06:40+0000 2022-02-13T06:40+0000 2022-02-13T06:40+0000 israel lebanon middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/0c/1080744582_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_57e927be238fe98f4dace67bebc48e7d.jpg The United States continues to put pressure on both Lebanon and Israel to come to an agreement on the demarcation of their maritime border, a dispute that's so far has prevented exploration in the area, which is believed to be rich with gas.Both countries claim that a triangular area of the Mediterranean Sea, where the energy resource is believe to lie, is located within their territorial waters. Years of animosity and war have prevented Israel and Lebanon from resolving the crisis. Now, with the US mediation, a solution might be on the horizon.Divided We StandMohammed Kleit, a Beirut-based journalist, has been monitoring the developments closely, and he says the local media and the public are largely divided over their attitude towards the negotiations.The second one, says the journalist, is driven by the distrust Beirut has regarding the US and Israel.Acute Energy CrisisLebanon has been having energy problems for years. Its state electricity company, Electricite Du Liban, has been a loss-making utility that has contributed significantly to the country's debt.To cope with the crisis, Lebanese authorities used to import energy resources but as the country's financial situation deteriorated in 2019, that mission has become nearly impossible. As a direct result, the state is often plunged into darkness; queues at petrol stations have become a common phenomenon.Those energy and financial crises have stirred public dissatisfaction and compelled many to protest. At times, the situation has become so tense that experts and journalists have warned that Lebanon was an inch away from another civil war.To avoid such a scenario, Lebanon has agreed to hold talks with the US to resolve the decades' long dispute with Israel, but Kleit says he doubts a resolution is possible any time soon.No Solution in Sight?The first reason for this is the "far-fetched" demands of Washington, which insists Lebanon should be sharing its maritime resources with Israel. The second is general Lebanese distrust in the State Department as a fair negotiator.Beirut knows not to underestimate the influence the US has in the region and the world. On the one hand, Washington has been providing the Arab country with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual humanitarian assistance. It gave a greenlight to Egypt to transfer gas to energy-hungry Lebanon via Jordan and Syria.On the other hand, it knew to impose sanctions on its companies and banks and the fear is that it can also pull strings with the International Monetary Fund, that's currently leading negotiations with Lebanon on a generous cash injection, and prevent it from unlocking billions of dollars needed for Lebanon's assistance.Lebanon desperately needs that monetary package. In 2021, poverty rates in the country neared 75 percent. Unemployment levels have also been alarming, but to get international cash injections, Beirut needs to implement a number of political and economic reforms.Now, with the US intensifying its efforts, Lebanon might be also asked to end its maritime dispute with Israel.However, there is a catch -- Hezbollah. The Iran-backed Shiite militia has been at war with Israel since the 1980s, and there is "no chance," says Kleit, that the group will agree to bow down to US pressure."Hezbollah has strong political, social and military positions in the country. Plus the anti-Israel sentiment in Lebanon is still strong, and as such a deal is highly unlikely," he added. lebanon Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade israel, lebanon, middle east https://sputniknews.com/20220213/tulsi-gabbard-speculates-on-why-us-military-industrial-complex-wants-war-in-ukraine-1092989634.html Tulsi Gabbard Speculates on Why US Military-Industrial Complex Wants War in Ukraine Tulsi Gabbard Speculates on Why US Military-Industrial Complex Wants War in Ukraine Claims by the West that Russia is getting ready to attack Ukraine have reached a fever pitch in recent days, with the White House asking Americans to leave the... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T13:55+0000 2022-02-13T13:55+0000 2022-02-13T13:56+0000 tulsi gabbard russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107762/45/1077624502_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d55a1209a531e7070b58d6050a8363b6.jpg The US military-industrial complex needs a war in Ukraine to justify new arms spending and to solidify a new all-out cold war with Russia, former US congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has alleged.First of all, President Biden could end this crisis and prevent a war with Russia by doing something very simple: guaranteeing that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO, Gabbard said, speaking to Foxs Tucker Carlson.Because if Ukraine became a member of NATO that would put US and NATO troops directly on the doorstep of Russia, which as Putin has laid out would undermine their national security interests. The reality is that it is highly, highly unlikely that Ukraine will become a member of NATO anyway, so the question is why doesnt President Biden and NATO leaders actually just say that, and guarantee it? she asked.The former active duty National Guardswoman, who has two tours of the Middle East under her belt, including a deployment in Iraq, emphasized that the MIC would make a tonne more money than it has in the so-called War on Terror, fighting al-Qaeda* or making weapons for al-Qaeda.Who pays the price? The American people pay the price, the Ukrainian people pay the price. The Russian people pay the price. It undermines our own national security, but the military-industrial complex that controls so many of our politicians wins and they run to the bank, Gabbard added.The politician went on to slam the Biden administrations go-to justification for pumping up tensions with Russia in Ukraine, arguing that the we have to defend democracy talking point rings hollow as this current president arrests political opposition, throws them in jail, shuts down TV stations that are critical to him. I have a hard time seeing how President Biden or anyone can say with an honest face we are defending democracy. And the reason is our own government has publicly supported these authoritarian actions by the Ukrainian president in shutting down their own political opposition, she said.War FeverRussian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova blasted Washington on Saturday over what she alleged has been a coordinated US government and media campaign of claims about an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine following press reports suggesting that Russia will attack its neighbour as soon as next week.We should treat it as a fit of hysterics. The purpose of this hysteria is to escalate the situation and, of course, to create a provocation, Zakharova said.Her comments followed the publication of a report by Politico Friday citing a warning by Biden to the USs European allies that Russia is expected to launch its invasion as soon as February 16. Also on Friday, PBS claimed, citing multiple US, Western and defence officials, that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a firm decision to attack, with the incursion scheduled for next week. The panic follows Bloombergs accidental launch of a livestream last week suggesting that a Russian assault had already begun, and a testy exchange between State Department spokesman Ned Price and an AP reporter after Price claimed that Russia is planning to create video fakes to justify a false flag attack on Ukraine, but provided no proof.On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked media to provide proof regarding the 100 percent guaranteed invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 16 February claims, and said Ukrainian intelligence had no evidence of the existence of such plans at this stage.The State Department cited these media reports to justify the evacuation of the US Embassy in Kiev, and has called on all Americans in Ukraine to leave the country ASAP, ramping up tensions further.Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the invasion claims and accused the West of stoking fears to validate NATO moves to beef up its military footprint in Eastern Europe. Russian suspicions appear to have been confirmed over the past two weeks, with the US redeploying 1,000 troops from Germany to Romania, sending 5,000 troops to Poland and Germany, preparing a 8,500-troop strong contingent ready to fly out to Europe at a moments notice, and stepping up arms deliveries to Ukraine. US and European lawmakers have also threatened to impose crushing sanctions against Russia, including preemptive restrictions which can be implemented immediately, whether Moscow invades Ukraine or not.* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/lugansk-withdrawal-of-western-observers-from-donbass-is-preparation-for-large-scale-provocation-1092985600.html https://sputniknews.com/20220212/majority-of-americans-believe-sending-troops-to-ukraine-to-fight-russian-soldiers-a-bad-idea---poll-1092974638.html https://sputniknews.com/20220213/blinken-explains-us-embassy-staff-departure-from-kiev-doubling-down-on-imminent-threat-claims-1092978852.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov tulsi gabbard, russia, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20220213/university-of-alabama-to-cease-honoring-kkk-leader-rename-hall-after-schools-first-black-student-1093003285.html University of Alabama to Cease Honoring KKK Leader, Rename Hall After School's First Black Student University of Alabama to Cease Honoring KKK Leader, Rename Hall After School's First Black Student Autherine Lucy, born October 5, 1929, made history in 1956 as the first Black student enrolled at the University of Alabama. Lucy attended classes for three... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T22:55+0000 2022-02-13T22:55+0000 2022-02-13T22:53+0000 university of alabama us alabama /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0d/1093002413_0:148:3157:1924_1920x0_80_0_0_b53f49d5a26a5136474a3c8cc6414fcb.jpg The University of Alabama's College of Education building, which was previously named after a leader of the Ku Klux Klan, will be renamed after Autherine Lucy, 92, the first Black student to attend classes at the university, and a trailblazer for the 1963 enrollments of Vivian Malone and James Hood. After earning a bachelor's degree from Miles College in 1952, Lucy and Pollie Myers, an activist with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, applied to the University of Alabama to further their education.Lucy and Myers' applications were submitted two years before the Brown v. Board of Education verdict declared school segregation unconstitutional.Although admitted, the public university attempted to retroactively reject the women's applications because they were not white. The rejection was challenged by the NAACP and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who secured a court order for Lucy to attend the school. Myers was allegedly rejected from enrollment due to having a child out of wedlock. Despite being allowed to attend classes in 1956, Lucy was subjected to hateful language, protests against her enrollment and violent acts, including classmates pelting her with rotten eggs. She was also barred from the school's dormitories and dining halls. After three days of violent protests, the school moved to expel Lucy, arguing that her case against the university amounted to slander.Although Lucy's enrollment lasted a mere three days, her tenacity throughout the years-long enrollment debacle paved the way for James Hood and Vivian Malone, who attended the university amid integration efforts in 1963. By 1965, Malone was the first Black student to graduate from the university. After years of struggling to find employment due to the notoriety of her case, Lucy was able to obtain a position in the Birmingham School system in the mid-1970s. In 1988, the University of Alabama moved to annul Lucy's expulsion, allowing her to enroll and graduate with an M.A. in Education in 1992. In its attempt to right a wrong, the school has taken a number of steps to honor Lucy, including the 2010 erection of a clock tower in her name. The College of Education building, now Autherine Lucy Hall, was previously named Graves Hall, after two-term Alabama Governor Bibb Graves, a 'Grand Cyclops' of the KKK who received political backing and other support from the American white supremacist group. Lucy's family requested her maiden name (rather than Foster) be used for the dedication, as it was her name at the time of enrollment.Before reaching a final decision on Friday, the school considered renaming the building after both Graves and Lucy. The announcement to honor the conflicting figures did not go over well, as evidenced by an editorial in The Crimson White, the university's student newspaper. "Graves' Klan membership was a convenient stepping stone in his political career. He shed his white robes once they no longer suited his political purpose. While he became known as one of the most progressive governors in the South, his ability to do so came with the endorsement of a white supremacist organization," wrote the paper's editorial board."Graves was a prominent figure in the Klan. He received a gold passport and carried the title of Grand Cyclops. White supremacy protected Graves and endangered Lucy. Commemorating their legacies together is disingenuous, but such false comparisons are par for the course in the state of Alabama." us alabama Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead university of alabama, us, alabama Yemeni government soldiers patrol in Harad district of Hajjah province, which is a frontline between the Houthi militia and the internationally-recognized government in northern Yemen, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua) HAJJAH, Yemen, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni Houthis drove the government army out of Harad city in the Yemeni northern province of Hajjah on Saturday, killing more than 60 soldiers and wounding 140 others, an army source said. "The rebels recaptured the al-Mihsam military camp and the range of high mountains from the army during today's battle," the source on the frontline told Xinhua. A Yemeni government soldier patrols in Harad district of Hajjah province, which is a frontline between the Houthi militia and the internationally-recognized government in northern Yemen, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua) "The rebel snipers killed more than 60 soldiers who had infiltrated into the southern and western neighborhoods and wounded 140 others," he said. Yemeni government soldiers patrol in Harad district of Hajjah province, which is a frontline between the Houthi militia and the internationally-recognized government in northern Yemen, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua) The Saudi-led coalition forces backing the Yemeni government army launched three airstrikes against the Houthi advance, the source said, adding that "the army now is out of this strategic city," which borders Saudi Arabia. The defeat is a major blow to the Yemeni government army which had recaptured most of the city in a fierce battle that began last week. Yemeni government soldiers patrol in Harad district of Hajjah province, which is a frontline between the Houthi militia and the internationally-recognized government in northern Yemen, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Al-Wafi/Xinhua) Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control over northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to exile. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/us-military-says-its-submarine-did-not-enter-russian-territorial-waters-1092976322.html US Military Says Its Submarine Did Not Enter Russian Territorial Waters US Military Says Its Submarine Did Not Enter Russian Territorial Waters WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - No US submarine was operating in Russian territorial waters, a spokesman of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T00:37+0000 2022-02-13T00:37+0000 2022-02-13T00:37+0000 russia us submarine territorial waters /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/19223/00/192230006_0:109:2101:1290_1920x0_80_0_0_4d0f62cdaf0982622b756d736c55f12c.jpg The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it had handed over a note of protest to the US military attache over the violation of Russian territorial waters by a US submarine earlier in the day.According to the Russian defense ministry, a Virginia-class US submarine was spotted in the Russian territorial waters near the island of Urup, which belongs to the Kurils archipelago, on Saturday evening, during scheduled drills of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The US sub ignored the initial request to come up to the surface.The modernized frigate of the Russian Pacific Fleet "Marshal Shaposhnikov" then used "relevant methods," in accordance with the guidance on protecting the national borders, according to the Russian defense ministry. After that, the US submarine left Russia's territorial waters.The Russian defense ministry told the US military attache on Saturday that Russia considers the submarine incident a gross violation of international law. https://sputniknews.com/20220212/us-submarine-was-discovered-in-russian-waters-near-kuril-islands-on-saturday-1092969719.html us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, us, submarine, territorial waters https://sputniknews.com/20220213/washington-not-considering-preemptive-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-crisis-pentagon-says-1092992577.html Washington Not Considering 'Preemptive' Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Crisis, Pentagon Says Washington Not Considering 'Preemptive' Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine Crisis, Pentagon Says US lawmakers and think tank eggheads have spent months recommending that Russia be slapped with a financial "preemptive strike" of sanctions over the situation... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T16:16+0000 2022-02-13T16:16+0000 2022-02-13T18:10+0000 pentagon russia-nato row on european security /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104502/67/1045026706_159:0:2840:1508_1920x0_80_0_0_5e69f0e7b3aa9ace1d2dbbddd048488f.jpg The US is not considering "preemptive" sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has announced."If it's a deterrent and you use it before the aggression is made or the transgression is made, then you lose your deterrent effect," Kirby said, speaking to Fox News on Sunday.Pressed to confirm that the US would not impose sanctions in the absence of Russian "aggression," Kirby indicated that "right now we are not considering a preemptive sanction regime."Kirby's comments echoed those made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month when the secretary suggested that if new sanctions were "triggered now," the US would "lose the deterrent effect."Russia has dismissed that any "sanctions deterrent" has any influence on its calculations, and has vocally dismissed months of claims by Western officials and media that it plans to attack Ukraine. Russian officials have expressed concerns that the US is using the invasion fears as a pretext to beef up its military presence in Eastern Europe, and has slammed Washington over alleged collusion with media to ramp up anti-Russian hysteria. At the same time, Moscow has expressed concerns that the US or its allies may be preparing some kind of provocation against the self-proclaimed Donbass republics to reignite the frozen conflict in eastern Ukraine.Earlier this week, US media reported that Senate negotiations on a so-called "mother of all sanctions" bill against Russia were ongoing, and were running against the clock of a 21 February deadline, when the Senate will go into recess for a week.Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen recently told a Washington think tank that sanctions aimed at holding Vladimir Putin "accountable" were "very close" to an agreement between Democrat and Republican members of the Foreign Relations Committee. Last month, Republican Senator Joni Ernst urged for new sanctions against Russia "now" to "show strength and not be in a position of a doctrine of appeasement."Possible preemptive sanctions could include new personal restrictions on senior Kremlin officials and Russian oligarchs, plus "Iran-esque" sanctions on Russia and possibly even an attempt to shut down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline should Moscow go ahead with an invasion of Ukraine (targeting the pipeline is said to be supported by Republicans, but opposed by Democrats). A Senate aide told CBS News on Friday that President Biden could not stop the Senate-proposed sanctions from being implemented if an invasion did take place.On Friday, US and European Union officials told Reuters that Washington and Brussels were finalizing new restrictions targeting Russian banks, but said that cutting Russia off from the SWIFT interbanking money transfer system was not on the cards thanks to objections from European countries. European countries have expressed concerns that an escalation in Ukraine could disrupt Russian energy supplies flowing to Europe amid already sky-high spot prices and shortages of natural gas in the region.On Thursday, the UK, which has spearheaded efforts among Washington's European allies to ramp up tensions with Russia, published a comprehensive set of sanctions regulations threatening to target the Russian government, ministries, the Central Bank, strategic sectors of the economy including the chemicals, construction, defence, electronics, energy, extractives, financial services, IT and transport, plus individuals and companies doing business with Russia or deemed to be involved in destabilising Ukraine or undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity. https://sputniknews.com/20220202/warsaw-says-us-will-deploy-additional-2500-troops-to-poland-1092676425.html https://sputniknews.com/20220202/russia-has-plans-to-hedge-risks-in-event-of-new-us-economic-sanctions-kremlin-says-1092681724.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov pentagon https://sputniknews.com/20220213/white-house-says-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-could-start-any-day-now-cant-predict-specific-day-1092990495.html White House Claims 'Russian Invasion of Ukraine' Could Start Any Day Now, Can't Predict Specific Day White House Claims 'Russian Invasion of Ukraine' Could Start Any Day Now, Can't Predict Specific Day On Friday, US media alleged that Russian President Putin has made up his mind to invade Ukraine, saying the incursion is expected to commence "as soon as... 13.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-13T14:11+0000 2022-02-13T14:11+0000 2022-02-13T16:24+0000 ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/04/1092763087_0:0:3137:1765_1920x0_80_0_0_51a6619a0add97bd55f116f98166a8ab.jpg A Russian invasion of Ukraine may begin any day now but the White House cannot predict the specific day, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said.Sullivan stressed that the US would not allow Russia to start a "surprise" attack against Ukraine, promising to continue to share intelligence and warning the world to be prepared for Moscow to stage a pretext to justify an invasion."We are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed," the top Biden national security official said.In a separate interview with Fox News on Sunday, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said he couldn't confirm Friday's report by Politico that Russia would start an invasion of Ukraine on 16 February."And again, these assessments are coming from a variety of sources, and not exclusively just inside intelligence, but also what we're seeing in plain sight; these more than 100,000 troops now continue to be arrayed against Ukraine's border," Kirby said."I think a mosaic of the intelligence that we're seeing -not speaking to it specifically but uh, but you know we have good sources of intelligence and they're telling us that things are sort of building now to some sort of crescendo opportunity for Mr. Putin," the Pentagon spokesman added.Provocation FearsThe officials' comments follow a warning by President Biden on Saturday in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow would be made to pay "swift and severe costs" if it went ahead with its supposed Ukraine invasion plans. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov dismissed the US "invasion" claims and charged Washington with "artificially inflating hysteria."Also on Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the US government of colluding with the media to spark a fit of hysteria regarding the situation in Ukraine, warning that the US may be looking for a provocation to spark a conflict in the region.Moscow expressed concerns on Sunday about the decision of several countries to redeploy representatives to the Organisation for Security Co-operation in Europe's special monitoring mission in Ukraine (SMM). Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic warned that the withdrawal of EU, US, and UK representatives from the SMM under the pretext that their safety could not be assured could mean that a large-scale provocation by Kiev or its Western benefactors may be in the offing.US and NATO officials and media began talking about Russia's alleged plans to "imminently" invade Ukraine last fall, regularly citing the "100,000" Russian troops near the border and quoting reports by unidentified officials to various outlets and calling on diplomats and nationals to evacuate the country. Russia has dismissed that it has any plans to invade its neighbour, calling on Kiev to implement the Minsk Agreements on Ukrainian peace, and suggesting that the West's allegations about Moscow's aggression may be aimed at justifying the further buildup of NATO troops near Russian frontiers. Officials in Kiev have also questioned their Western backers' invasion claims, saying Russia would need far more troops than it currently has near Ukraine to mount a successful invasion, and that Ukrainian intelligence is unaware of such invasion plans.Ukraine Conflict Marks 8th AnniversaryTensions in relations between Russia and the West over Ukraine began in February 2014, when pro-Western political forces backed by ultranationalist fighters overthrew the neutrality-seeking government in Kiev and attempted to push Ukraine toward integration with the European Union and NATO. The coup d'etat prompted authorities in Crimea to hold a referendum on the peninsula's status in March of 2014, with residents voting overwhelmingly to split off from Ukraine's jurisdiction and rejoin Russia. Efforts by independence-seeking forces across eastern and southern Ukraine opposed to the post-coup authorities to similarly split with Kiev led to a military and security crackdown, with activists in cities including Kharkiv and Odessa disappeared or murdered, and troops sent to the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk to crush fledgling pro-independence militia. The latter move sparked a civil war which led to the deaths of at least 13,000 people, and left over 2.5 million people displaced.In February 2015, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met in the Belarusian capital of Minsk to sign the Minsk Agreements stipulating a ceasefire, the pullback of forces from the conflict zone, elections in the breakaway regions and amendments to Ukraine's laws to grant the eastern breakaways broad autonomy in exchange for their return to Kiev's jurisdiction. The ceasefire was successfully implemented (despite regular reports of sniper and artillery fire, troop movements and other violations), but the Ukrainian government has refused to implement the political portion of the deal. Shortly after his election in 2019, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled his intent to do implement Minsk, prompting tens of thousands of ultranationalists to flood the streets of Kiev threatening to overthrow the government and forcing him to relent. https://sputniknews.com/20220213/militaristic-psychosis-russia-concerned-by-withdrawal-of-western-osce-observers-from-ukraine--1092990439.html https://sputniknews.com/20200429/ex-ukrainian-president-poroshenko-accused-of-trying-to-hide-truth-about-euromaidan-shootings-1079126082.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine Longtime harness racing industry participant Brent Davies of Perth Township passed away suddenly on Thursday, February 10, 2022 in his 77th year. Brent was an accomplished and respected trainer / driver. Starting his early career in Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C then moving onto California and Arizona before heading to Ontario in 1966 where he quickly made a name for himself on the Ontario Jockey Club Circuit as a much sought-after catch driver. Some of his most memorable horses were Maple Lane Strike, Garma Hooligan, Arnies Suwannee and Champ Tass. Winner of numerous driving titles over his years including the title of Slowest Mile on record at a whopping 2:08.3 with Columbia Brooks at The Meadowlands. His successful career included 1,922 driving wins and more than $5.8 million in purse earnings. After retiring from racing Brent became a judge for the Ontario Racing Commission. Cherished father of November, Paul, Cody, Megan, Lee, Amy and the late January and Beau. Proud grandfather of six grandchildren. Dear brother of Janie and Robin, lovingly remembered and missed by his nieces, nephews and sister-in-laws. Predeceased by parents Donald and Alice, and siblings Brian, Donnette, Kerry and Kent. To honour Brents wishes cremation has taken place. As expressions of sympathy donations can be made to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society or Harness Horse Youth Foundation. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Brent Davies. Hall of Fame drivers Tim Tetrick and David Miller highlight a bonanza 13-race extravaganza at Pompano Park on Monday (Feb. 14), featuring the annual Tetrick-Miller Pro-Am competition contested in a three-race series with the top amateur drivers in South Florida. The Pro-Am event, sponsored by the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC), has become an annual highlight in South Florida with Miller and Tetrick competing in a spirited but friendly competition benefitting local, regional and national charitable organizations. Since its inception, the FADC has donated over $220,000 to charity made possible by the generosity of the entire FADC membership donating all earnings from driving to the cause. The Pro-Am competition will take place in Race 2, Race 5 and Race 7 with Tetrick and Miller heading their respective teams with a point system determining the winner. While Tetrick and Miller, full time professionals on the harness racing circuit, have accumulated over 26,000 wins between them accounting for over $500,000,000 in earnings benefitting standardbred horse owners, many of the amateur drivers, competing relatively sparingly, have amassed several hundred wins, including some on foreigh soil. As FADC President Dein Spriggs said, "yes, it's a friendly competition but we are all out there to reach the winner's circle and the prestige in winning this team event cannot be over-emphasized. It should be a very competitive event with no easy task for our two professionals!" The first Pro-Am event features Miller driving Phoenician from post two with an 8-1 morning line while Tetrick will handle Keystone Orion, the classy 13 year-old with lifetime earnings of over $500,000. Keystone Orion has drawn post eight and has a morning line of 6 to 1. Tetrick will attempt to guide the veteran to a milestone win his 50th in his career. The next Pro-Am has Miller paired with Dont Sass Me (post 7) with a morning line of 9-2, while Tetrick will guide the mare Celebrity Serena (post 8) opening at 6-1. The final event has Miller driving Chav Hanover from the rail at 4-1 while Tetrick will take Little Big Rigs postward off of morning line odds of 8-1. Among the combatants for the FADC are Dein Spriggs, Tony Dinges, Kelly "Sky" Walker and Joe Pennacchio. Spriggs enters the competition with 496 wins and a UDRS this season of a lofty .510. He will be guiding his own Uva Hanover in the finale, going for his fifth-straight win. Dinges, one of the higher percentage trainers at the track, has seven wins on the circuit this season while "Sky" Walker has nine. Pennacchio has been driving in the amateur ranks since 1995, when he won his first race over the famed Delaware, Ohio Little Brown Jug oval and has won close to 200 races. Proceeds from the event will benefit two of the Hall Of Famers favorite charities, New Vocations and The Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tetrick long has been an advocate of aftercare for retired standardbreds. He said, "These equine athletes--and they are athletes, give us their heart and soul every day, whether it be training or on the track in competition. Some make it all the way to retirement when they reach 15 and some don't but all deserve care and a good home after their racing days are complete. They are the real stars of the track and New Vocations does an incredible job in the transition of racehorses for a second career as a riding horse or finding them lifetime, caring homes." Miller, likewise, has envied the work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation relating, "They do an amazing job making wishes come true for the kids that are not as fortunate in terms of health. If I--if we--can help change a life with our contributions, it's worth so much to me. It's an honor for me to participate in some small way." While the Miller-Tetrick Pro-Am is the headliner for Monday, it is not the only competition in which they will compete. Miller is listed in all 13 races on Monday and will kick off the festivities in the opener, the $14,200 Open Handicap Pace, with Seeing Eye Single, listed as the 3-1 morning line favourite. Tetrick will drive in seven events, including the featured first race, as well, back of JMs Delight, listed at 5-1. The top trotters on the grounds will also be in action in the $14,200 Open Handicap Trot as an evenly matched sextet goes postward in the sixth race kicking off the Pick-4 with a $15,000 guaranteed pool and an industry low 12-percent takeout. There will also be a pair of Pick 5 events, a late Pick 4 and a full wagering buffet for the "Send It In Army." Post time Monday is set for 7:20 p.m. (EST). (Pompano Park) Cody Creech, Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Specialist at the University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff, has been named the Fenster Professor of Dryland Agriculture. In 2005, the Fensters endowed the Charles R. and Eunice R. Fenster Professorship Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation. The Fenster Professorship is intended to perpetuate scientific progress in dryland agriculture by supporting research and Extension programs that enhance the profitability and sustainability of dryland agriculture in the Panhandle. This is the first established professorship for faculty in University of Nebraska-Lincolns (UNL) Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) who are located off-campus. Creech is the second faculty member to hold the Fenster Professorship position. Charlie Fenster, who retired in 1982 and passed away in 2016, was a dryland cropping specialist at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center (PREC) for many decades. Charlie had already been retired, maybe for 20 years, when I started yet he was a regular fixture at the Panhandle Center. He would stop by my office almost weekly, I would stop whatever I was doing and just soak it up, Jeff Bradshaw, Entomologist at the PREC recalled. According to PREC, Fenster was an innovator in conservation farming in Nebraska. His work on farming methods such as conservation tillage and ecofallow is fundamental to the environmentally sound practices used in dryland farming today. Fensters research at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (HPAL) on dryland farming practices has had a widespread and lasting impact on wheat yields, soil and water conservation, and profitability. It has helped transform the way dryland farmers raise crops in the High Plains, from the original wheat-black fallow rotation, which was associated with dust storms and severe wind erosion, into the more productive, sustainable conservation tillage systems used today. Fenster was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement in 1983, and in 1991 was recognized as an honoree for the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. In 2000 he was recognized as an honoree for the Nebraska Agribusiness Club Publics Service to Agriculture Award. He was the 2008 recipient of the Outstanding Service to Panhandle Agriculture Award. In Aug. 2015, HPAL named a newly completed building for Fenster. It was a real honor to be able to work with (Fenster) who had such a legacy and I feel honored to be able to walk in his footsteps, Creech said. Creech has served as the dryland cropping systems specialist at the Panhandle Center since 2015, with the academic rank of Associate Professor in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department. He is the faculty supervisor in charge of research at UNLs HPAL. Creech completed his Ph.D. in 2015 in Agronomy and Weed Science from UNL. According to PREC, Creechs research and extension efforts focus on enhancing agronomy practices to increase profitability, optimizing soil water conservation, and delivering weed management solutions. His research has refined the seeding recommendations for winter wheat and evaluated the role wheat residue has in facilitating soil water conservation. In 2019 Creech received the Early Career Award from the Crop Science Society of America for outstanding contributions to agronomy through education, national and international service, and research. In 2021, Creech received the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant. He is an active member of CSSA, the American Society of Agronomy, and national and regional Weed Science societies. He has served as an associate editor for the Agronomy Journal. He is also a Robert B. Daugherty Institute Global Water for Food Faculty Fellow. Dr. Creechs research scope is multifaceted and regionally relevant. He has developed a strong extension program that is relevant to the stakeholders in the Panhandle region while partnering with a broader Nebraska Extension, Bradshaw said. On behalf of PREC and acting interim Director, Bradshaw presented Creech with a framed photograph with a plaque reflecting his dedication to the people. One of (Creechs) extension successes is his leadership in coordinating programs at each path as a supervisor much like Dr. Finster did back then. Martha Mamo, UNL - IANR Department Head of Agronomy and Horticulture, presented Creech with a medal in honor of the Fenster Professorship. Today is a special day and I want to thank the IANR board for providing this opportunity to help us honor Dr. Charles Fenster, Mamo said. Many of you have worked with Dr. Fenster or have benefited from his work. We want to keep his legacy going and one of the ways we do that is to honor our faculty with this Professorship. Marcia White, IANR Director of Development and with the University of Nebraska Foundation, offered Creech congratulations and thanks on behalf of the Foundation. The work that (Creech) does means that I can come home and see the communities are thriving, Bridgeport native White said. In conjunction with the Professorship, White presented Creech with a pool of funds available to support graduate students, purchase equipment or use for anything that might be necessary to carry out his research. Creech said the Professorship is not honoring himself but it is in honor of the late Dr. Fenster and the many people that support Creech. He gave special thanks to the IANR and the UNL department, the research technicians, the people in the field doing the work, Amanda Easterly (Assistant Research Professor at HPAL) and the support from his family. Creech will also be honored at the distinguished faculty celebrations at UNL in September. Nicole Heldt is a reporter with the Star-Herald, covering agriculture. She can be reached at 308-632-9044 or by email at nheldt@starherald.com. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Art has been a release for Joi Phelps since she was a little girl attending grade school in Scottsbluff. Now in her 70s, Phelps continues to paint with oil and enrolls in college courses to grow her skillset. Phelps attended a country school from kindergarten through eighth grade where she was first introduced to art. We got to do art every Friday afternoon for like an hour, maybe an hour and a half, provided nobody had done anything bad, she said. Students in grades kindergarten through fourth would complete cut and paste art projects while the older kids could use paint. Phelps said she loved every project. As she entered high school, her focus shifted toward college. I took one semester of art and all of my other classes were college prep, she said. (Art) went by the wayside, but I always loved it. Even though her courses focused on the primary subjects, Phelps remained interested in art outside of the classroom. She began to travel with her family, something she continues to do to this day as she finds inspiration for her next piece. I did things when I was in high school like spent all of my money on a trip to Canada for a painting that we carted around all wet in the trunk, Phelps said. My parents were tolerant. After high school, Phelps got married and started a family. In her free time, she enrolled in art classes to practice painting with different mediums. I enjoy all kinds of art, she said. I love watercolor, but I prefer doing oil. Then Phelps received news she wasnt expecting. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was then I decided if I was going to be painting, I needed to get to it, she said. Phelps began painting people, animals, angels, buildings and scenery from photos she took during her travels. She enrolled in painting courses at Western Nebraska Community College with instructor Yelena Khanevskaya, who has helped Phelps finish her pieces when she gets stumped. Some of Phelps favorite paintings are a pigeon in Italy and carousel horses from a carousel in Paris. However, the carousel horses proved to be tricky since the horses mouths were open and cast shadows of various colors. I even had to make a second trip there to check and see what the roof of that carousel horses mouth really was, she said. I just will get myself stumped so I went to take pictures and went back home. As she overcame the struggles of finishing a painting, Phelps also overcame cancer. She is a 19-year survivor of breast cancer. Her current project is a portrait of Charlotte, a friends bulldog that was struck by a vehicle and killed. It was a very tragic thing, Phelps said. Charlotte ran out of the house she was kind of a free spirit and right in front of them, someone in an SUV on her phone, hit Charlotte, looked and drove off. Phelps decided she wanted to paint Charlotte as a memento for her friend and then the pandemic hit. She struggled to start on the piece, comparing the feeling to writers block. I never dreamed that I would be in kind of a slump, she said. I dont know if its the pandemic or exactly what but Im coming out of it and Im happy. So, she enrolled in another art course at WNCC to have support from Khanevskaya to get the portrait finished. With three photos sitting on the easel, Phelps uses oils to bring Charlotte to life on the 10-by-10-inch canvas. She hopes to finish the project during Wednesdays class. West Nebraska Arts Center has a show coming up about all things local, Phelps said. I just think Ill put Charlotte in because she was a local girl and then my friend can go see her there and then go home with her when the show is over. The 100 Years of Community exhibit is accepting entries Feb. 22-27 and the show will be open to the public March 3-27. Phelps has entered her artwork into previous shows at the art center and even received an honorable mention for painting a woman wearing a golden mask. While she never sells her pieces, she hopes when people look at her work theres something there that touches someone else. Art has challenged Phelps to learn new skills, has offered her comfort and continues to bring her joy. It is calming to me, she said. Art is something that is always there. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On their mission to recycle America, the American Pickers are returning to Nebraska looking for treasures hidden amongst the trash. American Pickers Producer Jasmina Joseph said while the pickers do not have a route yet, they are looking for people willing to share their items not only with the pickers, but also viewers. We wont know dates and locations until last minute once we see where submissions are coming from and we scout everyone to find good collections that we will actually go to, Joseph said. The team never knows what they are looking to buy. Anything that is good value like cars, vintage items that has a great story, motorcycles or anything that tells a story that they feel is worth something. The items need to be of good quality and any vehicles must be in original or close to original condition. They are not looking for hot rods. The pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something theyve never seen before, the show said in a news release announcing the April visit to Nebraska. The reality T.V. series on History Channel explores the world of antique picking by following pickers across the country to uncover forgotten relics people have held onto because of a personal connection to the piece. The shows pickers are looking for sizable, unique collections, historically significant objects, and exceptional antiques that may also have a history or interesting story to go with it. Ahead of their arrival, American Pickers is looking for leads on hidden treasures and is asking anyone with large, private collections, accumulations of antiques or knows someone who would be willing to allow the pickers to look through the collection to submit their information. However, Joseph said people must understand they will be filmed. A lot of people when they do reach out to us, they say they do not want to be on T.V. and they dont want their stuff to be shown its private; its a family memory, Joseph said. If you have an amazing collection and youre ready to sell and ready to let go, just know that you have to comfortable with the camera and sharing your story with us and with people watching. Joseph helps find locations for the pickers to visit and hopes to receive several submissions. Obviously, the more the better, she said. The search is throughout Nebraska. Wherever you are, if you have a big collection, were coming to you. Once a person has submitted their collection information, someone from the show will be in contact to let the person know if it is a good collection or not for the pickers. They will gather more information about the persons story and items in the collection before scheduling a time for the pickers to come to the residence. If you think you have something good or even if youre not sure, send it anyway and well let you know, she said. Just have fun in the process. Its a fun show. To submit your collections for consideration by the American Pickers, include your name, address, phone number, location and description of the items with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 646-493-2184. The public can also connect with the show on its Facebook page, Got A Pick. The pickers only pick private collections. Stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses, or anything open to the public will not be considered for inclusion on the show. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Forty-one eighth grade musicians at Bluffs Middle School are currently rehearsing twice as much music as they usually do at this time of the year. They are preparing for a 45-minute performance at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Convention as one of three band ensembles from across the state selected to attend and perform at the convention this March. The band is led by director Mike Koch, who has been the band instructor at Bluffs Middle School for the past 24 years. Koch, who has been in music education for a total of 34 years, said he was extremely proud of his students for being selected this year, especially alongside two eastern Nebraska high school ensembles. This year they picked three groups, so its us; theres a high school band from Elkhorn North High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska; and then a jazz band from Omaha Central, he said. Its always a thrill to get a chance to take the kids across the state and have band directors from the eastern part of the state hear what we do out here and things like that. Koch and the eighth-grade band sent in an audition recording of three songs in mid-December for a committee appointed by the NSBA to evaluate. When the NSBA announced their selection of Bluffs Middle School as one of the guest performing bands, the group began working on their plethora of music right away. We normally will perform for 20-25 minutes at a concert, Koch said. This performance is 45 minutes, so they are quite a bit more (pieces of) music than normal. The convention takes place on the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus, and it is attended by members of the NSBA; Koch estimates thats nearly 80-90% of all band directors across the state. Guest performing groups, like Bluffs Middle School, have the chance to show off to directors from all over the state what they can do. This isnt the first time that one of Kochs bands has been chosen for this honor. Koch led the 2016 eighth grade band to the convention. Prior to becoming a middle school, bands from Scottsbluff Junior High School performed at the NSBA Convention six times in 1970, 1972, 1976, 1978 and 1987 under the direction of Georgene Diers and L. Lean Maxwell, according to a press release. The long tradition of musical excellence at the middle school is something that Koch and the students are proud to be a part of. (Im) very proud of the kids, of course, because theyve worked really hard and theyve done a great job, he said. Its a big feather in the cap of not only the students but also the school, because like I said, not just anybody gets a chance to go and perform. The NSBA Convention will be held March 3-5. The Bluffs Middle School eighth grade band will perform on Friday, March 4 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) at the Graduate Hotel, 141 N Ninth St. in Lincoln. The concert is free and open to the public, and parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Detective Jason Rivera had been on the job for one year and three months. Three months early the 22-year-old married his wife. On Jan. 21, 2022, he and his partner, Detective Wilbert Mora answered a domestic dispute call in an apartment at 119 Wester 135th Street in Harlem. They joined a third officer and arrived at the apartment at 6:30 p.m. After speaking with the suspects mother, officers Rivera and Mora went to the rear of the apartment to interview the suspect. The third officer stayed with the suspects mother. As Rivera and Mora approached the door to a bedroom the suspect was in, the suspect opened the door and immediately began to fire at the officers. Both officers were struck. The third officer was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Detectives Rivera and Mora were transported to Harlem Hospital. A short time after arriving at the hospital officer Rivera died from his wounds; four days later detective Mora died. Mora was only 27 years old and had been on the force four years. The two New York City Police Department detectives are among the 42 brave officers who have lost their lives so far in 2022. Sunday, Feb. 13 is the 44th day of the year. These brave men and women lost their lives protecting and serving their communities. In Phoenix, Arizona, five officers were shot in an ambush Friday four as they tried to take a baby to safety. All five will survive, along with the baby. However, it highlights the danger officers can find themselves in anywhere, anytime. Looking at the website Officer Down Memorial Page (odmp.org) the numbers of officers lost over the last seven years has climbed. In 2016 a total of 181 officers died, 64 by gunfire. Twenty-one ended their watch in January and February. A year later 186 officers ended their watch, 45 to gunfire, 35 in the first two months of the year. In 2018 187 officers died, 52 to gunfire, 26 in January and February. A year later 156 officers died, 50 to gunfire and 29 were lost in the first two months. In 2020 the number of officers who died jumped to 387, 45 to gunfire, 22 in January and February. Last year 526 officers died, 62 to gunfire, 98 in the first two months of the year. Why the huge jump? The COVID-19 pandemic has hit law enforcement hard with 256 lives lost to the virus in 2020, 362 in 2021 and 24 so far this year. Many of those officers lost contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty. We have focused a great deal of time and press on the few bad officers. The picture of law enforcement officers today is often seen as the bad guy, though the vast majority is just the opposite. They are hard workers, good family members, involved in their communities, and truly want to serve and protect. Most are not like the cops on TV and real cases are seldom, if ever, solved in one hour, with no loose ends. They also find themselves working closely with people who are battling COVID-19 and though the officers wear masks and gloves they can still be exposed. These officers leave their families and go to work without knowing, most days, what they will face. They could find themselves dealing with an angry motorist involved in a fender bender, a couple fighting over a child, a person wanting to commit suicide by cop, a person with COVID-19 needing help getting to the hospital, or an angry son in a back bedroom with a gun. In Phoenix the officers put themselves in the line of fire to protect an innocent child. In Harlem, detectives Rivera and Mora were answering a call about a family dispute between a mother and her son. Like anyone else they need to be held accountable, but they also deserve our respect and thanks. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Passengers walk with their luggage as they arrive from Kiev, Ukraine at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday urged all Israelis to leave Ukraine "as quickly as possible," ahead of a possible escalation with Russia. "I call on Israelis in Ukraine: Return home," Bennett said at the weekly cabinet meeting. "Do not take unnecessary risks. Do not wait for a situation in which you will very much want to return but will be unable to do so. Be responsible for your lives and leave Ukraine as quickly as possible," he said. "Like the rest of the world, we hope that the tension will end without escalation," he said. "However, our primary obligation is to look after our Israeli citizens," he added. Israel was ramping up on Sunday its efforts to help Israelis leave the east European country. Israeli flight carriers increased Israel-bound flights from Ukraine to accommodate people wishing to depart. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement that 32 flights are planned for the upcoming week. "I call Israeli citizens to get on these flights," he added. Over the weekend, Israel started to evacuate Israeli diplomats and embassy employees from Kiev. It also issued a travel warning and called on Israeli nationals to leave the country. Passengers walk with their luggage as they arrive from Kiev, Ukraine at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) Passengers walk with their luggage at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) Passengers walk with their luggage as they arrive from Kiev, Ukraine at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Feb. 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) Serving their patients as best as they can is the goal behind HealthReach Community Clinics desire to obtain a new EKG machine through the Love United Iredell campaign. The clinic, located at 400 E. Statesville Ave., Suite 300, has been at this location since 2003, making sure that those individuals who need health care can receive it. As the only free medical clinic in Iredell County, Angela Holland, the clinics associate director, said they serve individuals who are at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines and then anyone who does not have any form of health insurance whatsoever. These individuals must reside in Iredell County, she said. The clinic offers a variety of services including primary care, acute care, prescription medications for their patients, labs, social services through their social worker and mental health care. "We offer as much as we can for our patients at zero cost, Holland shared. While the clinic does have an EKG machine, it was noted that the current one is old and, as Holland said, it doesnt interface with our electronic health records system. Many of the newer models of EKGs actually will communicate seamlessly with electronic medical records systems, so thats what we are hoping for. We are hoping to have something thats a bit more user friendly and something that is a better fit for our clinic and for all of our patients so we can serve them the best that we can. This particular project for the Love United Iredell campaign was decided upon after the nurses at the clinic, who, as Holland said, are the ones who are dealing hand in hand with patients every single day. They are the ones conducting EKGs and scans, and it was brought to our attention that EKGs are expensive machines and being a free medical clinic, its sometimes hard to procure that expensive technology. Claudia Moody, an RN at the clinic, shared that having a new EKG machine would be so much faster for patient time and noted that after doing an EKG they have to run it to the provider across the office and then back. It would just be so nice for the patients if it integrated and flowed, she said. We would love to be able to link it up to our electronic medical records system that we use and the patient's results as they are being taken will send directly into that system and be integrated into the patient chart, it will be sent directly to the physician while the nurses are taking the EKG, they will be able to get results directly to them in their offices, start developing care plans from that very moment and it just streamlines the process, shared Holland. With the click of a button on a new EKG machine, it goes to everybody that it needs to go to, it streamlines the process and it ensures we are staying as up to date as possible with the technology as we move forward through the future. Therefore, the possibility of getting a new machine was posed to Dr. Sabrina Niggel, executive director of the clinic, and asked what avenues could be taken to get that new technology. So the idea was a culmination of everyone coming together and saying this technology is lagging behind, lets see where we can improve it and ways we can improve it and get to that next level of technological advancements, said Holland. The better that we can streamline this process and do our jobs in the most effective way possible, we are ensuring that every single one of our patients is receiving that highest quality care that we can possibly provide. With HealthReach Community Clinic being the only free medical clinic in the county and serving all of Iredell County, Holland said they want to make sure that everyone has access to the medical care they deserve, and thus would encourage folks to donate to their campaign through Love United Iredell so they are able to obtain a new EKG machine to help ensure that their neighbors in need are being served to the fullest extent and the best possible capacity, to make sure that their neighbors are living long, healthy, happy lives. Medical health care is critical. Holland said she hopes people will see the importance of health and what a great time for this project to be happening as she pointed out with a big smile that February is Heart Health Month. The project goal to get the new machine is $2,500, which could impact the 700 patients the clinic serves. However, Holland noted that in the past year, inquiries from people in the community about becoming patients have increased up to 50 percent, so this number that it impacts could be limitless, she said. We just want to be able to help as many people in Iredell County as we can. We want to get our name out there and want to make sure people know about us and see what we are doing and we want to help. With many of their patients having issues that could make them likely to have heart conditions, Holland shared that they want to be able to detect those conditions as soon as possible, which is what an EKG machine can do. It can detect numerous heart conditions. Heart disease, disease of the muscles surrounding the heart, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, it can detect that which are things nobody wants to be experiencing, and so with an EKG machine, we are able to ensure that we are catching these conditions as early as possible, Holland said. At the present time, because of COVID, they are trying to keep people spread out and keep appointments spaced out as much as possible to help have some infection control and limit any unnecessary contact with anyone else the best that we can, said Holland. Plastic shields are in place in the entry area, which pre-COVID was a packed waiting area. Housed in the clinic are multiple patient rooms. One they are especially proud of is self-contained with its own bathroom and equipment plus it has a negative pressure system built in so the air in the room is directed out of the building. Theres no chance of intermingling of potentially infected air, Holland said. The clinic has office space for the director, nurse practitioner, nurses, a staff break room and more. They offer free lab work, which is sent to the local hospital and processed free for the clinic. We are super thankful for that partnership, and were able to offer such a wonderful service to our patients free of cost, Holland noted. Another area that she said they are very proud of is the in-house pharmacy where the patient prescriptions are filled at no cost to the patients. She said that last year they were able to dispense more than $2 million worth of medications at absolutely no cost to our patients. The clinic also has offices where their social worker can see people who need different social services, Holland shared. This area is also shared with their psychiatrist and clinical psychologist at HealthReach. We are so thankful we have them here and can provide those integrative health services for our patients, and for our social worker, who is able to provide those social services to our patients as well, she said. Holland also pointed out a special area complete with photos of their volunteers, corporate sponsors, and civic partners which serves as a way to thank everyone. We wouldnt be here without the support of our community, so we just want to make sure that we are highlighting those who help us do all of the work that were able to do. If anyone is interested in joining with HealthReach Community Clinic and signing up to become their official community partner, you may reach out via email to Sara Lewis, director of community engagement and foundation relations with United Way of Iredell County, at slewis@uwiredell.org. To learn more about the campaign or to donate, visit www.LoveUnitedIredell.org. In January South Korea announced its largest ever weapons sale; $3.5 billion for an unspecified number of KM-SAM missile batteries and missiles for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). These will probably be the Block 2 version of the system, which can intercept ballistic missiles within 40 kilometers of the launcher. The UAE sale may also include some L-SAM equipment as well. The UAE was the first export customer because the UAE and South Korea have long been trading partners. The UAE sells a lot of its oil to South Korea and imports a lot of manufactured items. The UAE noted that South Korea has become one of the top ten weapons exporters in the world. The UAE was always impressed by the quality of South Korean manufactured goods and was attracted to the new KM-SAM Iron Hawk air defense system South Korea had developed, South Korea began production of its new Block 1 KM-SAM (Iron Hawk) surface-to-air missile systems in 2017. The first batteries deployed in 2018 and deliveries to the South Korean military were completed in 2020. Block 1 replaced the 24 batteries of 1960s era American Hawk missile systems South Korea had been using. The Block 2 KM-SAM became available in 2021. Block 1 equipment can be upgraded and thats apparently what South Korea is doing with all or most of its Block 1 equipment. The growing tensions with North Korea and China have caused KM-SAM development to proceed more aggressively. China was not pleased because KM-SAM is the first step in a South Korean effort to develop an anti-missile capability similar to what the American Patriot system has. That was to be KM-SAM Block 2. Development of this upgrade began in 2012 and took about eight years to complete. The Block 1 version began development in 2001. KM-SAM (or just M-SAM) development began with the help of a Russian firm and Russian missile tech. KM-SAM is mobile and each battery has six launcher vehicles each carrying an eight-cell storage-launcher box. Each missile weighs 400 kg (880 pounds) with a range of 40 kilometers and a max altitude of 15 kilometers (49,000 feet). Block 2 missiles can intercept at up to 20 kilometers (66,000 feet). A larger L-SAM missile will have a range of 150 kilometers and max altitude of 61 kilometers (200,000 feet). This means going after longer range and faster moving (on reentry) ballistic missiles. L-SAM will carry two types of missiles, one for aircraft and one for ballistic missiles. L-SAM batteries will be introduced in 2024. KM-SAM batteries a 3-D phased array radar and fire control system (which can track six targets simultaneously). These are much improved over the American Hawk systems South Korea has been using since the 1960s. South Korea developed KM-SAM and L-SAM with the help of Russian missile tech provided to pay off old debts. This included the tech for the high-speed interceptor missiles South Korea needed. Russia eventually used the same tech for their S-350 and S-400 SAMs. Since the 1960s over 40,000 Hawk missiles have been produced and bought by the nearly 30 countries that used (or still use) Hawk. While Hawk has been upgraded since it entered service in 1959, some countries have gone beyond that. Back in 2011, South Korea revealed that it was working on what later became the Iron Hawk II anti-aircraft missile system, and some early models were built to replace three existing U.S. Hawk missile battalions. This was what became KM-SAM and introduced the use of a launcher truck with missiles in sealed storage/firing containers. The original Hawk did not use the container system. The KM1 search radar (with a max range of 100 kilometers) guides missiles part of the way before the missiles' own guidance system takes over for the final approach. Because the main military threat, North Korea, is right next to South Korea, Hawk range is not a big issue. For the sake of export sales the L-SAM missile was quickly developed. As part of the Google bug bounty program, the tech giant has thanked Indian techie Aman Pandey for reporting vulnerabilities and keeping Android safe for users. An Indian researcher, Aman Pandey, has just received a big shoutout from Google for finding Android bugs and revealing them to the company under the Google bug bounty program. He has thereby kept Android safe for users. Now, for keeping its website and services safe and secure for everyone, Google has honoured Aman Pandey for his many achievements. Basically, this is part of the Google bug bounty program under which Google pays security researchers to discover flaws in its software. In a recent blog post, Google released the 2021 year review in terms of 'Vulnerability Reward Program' where security researchers identify and fix thousands of vulnerabilities in Google services. The main highlight is that Google thanked Aman Pandey of Bugsmirror Team as he has become the top researcher reporting and submitting vulnerabilities in Android. "Aman Pandey of Bugsmirror Team has skyrocketed to our top researcher last year, submitting 232 vulnerabilities in 2021! Since submitting their first report in 2019, Aman has reported over 280 valid vulnerabilities to the Android VRP and has been a crucial part of making our program so successful," Google said while giving special shoutout to the top researchers to keep Android safe and secure. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Who is Aman Pandey? Aman Pandey is the founder and CEO of the Bugsmirror site, which is an Indore-based company registered in 2021. Bugsmirror is working on security research projects for the last three years. 2021 was a record-breaking year Not just the Indian researcher, but Google thanked the whole research community, which has contributed to keeping Google safe and secure from vulnerabilities. The tech company said that the Vulnerability Reward Programs across Google continued to grow, and even in 2021, it has given away a record-breaking $8.7 million in rewards for vulnerabilities. Not just this, but Google awarded the highest payout in Android VRP history in 2021. The Chrome VRP also achieved some new records this year, with 115 Chrome VRP researchers receiving $3.3 million in VRP prizes for 333 unique Chrome security bug reports submitted in 2021. Google also launched bughunters.google.com website last year, a special portal to keeping Google products and the internet safe and secure. It brings all the Googles Vulnerability Reward Programs at one place such as Google, Android, Abuse, Chrome, and Google Play and making security bug submission easier than ever. A NASA mission carried out by Astra has failed after its rocket failed to reach orbit. It was the first time the company was attempting to launch operational satellites A mission funded by NASA, which was being carried out by California-based aerospace company Astra, failed mid-launch. Astra was delivering four satellites into orbit around Earth. It was the companys first ever launch mission dealing with operational satellites. The NASA mission was also Astras first ever launch from Floridas Cape Canaveral launchpad, which is located at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. The fallout was immediate for the company. After the mission failed, the companys shares fell 26 per cent. Formerly known as the Stealth Space Company, Astra was founded five years ago, in 2016 by Chris Kemp and Adam London. The company confirmed that it faced an issue during the flight which resulted in the Astra rocket failure. Kemp later apologized in a tweet saying, 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. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Astras first ever payload launch results in failure Astra was on a NASA-funded mission to deliver four operational satellites. It was using the launch vehicle 0008 (LV0008), a 13 meters tall structure. The ELaNa (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) mission took off on February 10, and initially was performing well. But 3 minutes into the flight, right after the rockets first and second stage separated, it lost control. At the altitude of 500 kms, the rocket was seen spinning out of path. So far, Astra has conducted four missions, out of which it has reached space twice. In its last launch mission, it successfully made it to orbit as well. But so far, the companys launches were done in test mode and this NASA mission would have been its first operational flight. The failure also meant none of the satellites made it to orbit. The satellites were ambitious student projects that aimed at solving existing problems in space. For instance, cubesat Bama-1, which was developed by students at the University of Alabama, was trying to solve the space debris problem. This failed NASA-funded mission has also lowered the faith of private investors in the company. At present, the shares are continuing to fall and have dropped another 15% to stand at $3.31 per share. It remains to be seen how the company regains shareholders faith. Six area students recently graduated from Blinn Colleges phlebotomy technician program. The three-course program includes 60 hours of classroom instruction and 48 hours in a clinical setting and prepares students to fill roles in hospitals, labs and medical offices. The students who received certificate of completion are Tanesha S. Jones of Bryan; Mercedes N. Searcy of College Station; Samantha R. Grier of College Station; RiKeyna R. Washington of Bryan; Shameka S. Flowers of Somerville; and Digna Martinez-Neira of College Station. Four area students have been named to the Deans List for the fall 2021 semester at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Amanda Overbye of College Station, Janie Beyer of Bryan, Ryann Fatheree of Brenham and Callyn Walton of College Station were recognized for earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher with no grade below a C. Rachel Davis of College Station and Tori Smith of Caldwell graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in December. Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French, and Smith received a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies. Kyle Robinson Wood of College Station has been named to the Academic Honors List for the fall 2021 semester at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To be named to the list, part-time students who are working toward a degree must earn a 3.5 grade point average or higher for the semester. Wood is majoring in computer programming Aiden Hackenberg of Plantersville has been named to the Deans List with high honors for the fall 2021 semester at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Students name to the Deans List with high honors are enrolled in at least 12 graded units and have earned a 3.65 to 3.84 grade point average for the semester. Hackenberg is majoring in exercise science. Elizabeth Kouns of Bryan has been named to the Deans List for the fall 2021 semester at Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania. To be named to the Deans List, students must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Skyler Seets of College Station has been named to the Deans List for the fall 2021 semester at College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. To be named to the Deans List, full-time undergraduate students must earn a 3.6 grade point average for the semester. Joel Coppernoll of Hearne has been named to the Honor Roll for the fall 2021 semester at University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. Mason Haggerty of Bryan graduated in December from the University of North Texas in Denton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in media arts. Seven Texas A&M faculty members have been selected as 2021 fellows for the American Association for Advancement of Science. Deb Bell-Pedersen, Valen Johnson, Robin Murphy, Stephen Safe, Virender K. Sharma, Kathy Svoboda and Reginald W. Taylor will be inducted as fellows at the groups Feb. 19 meeting in Philadelphia, where the AAAS will honor 564 new fellows within 24 scientific disciplines. The AAAS was founded in 1848 and is the worlds largest general scientific society that serves 10 million individuals through more than 250 affiliated societies and academies. Bell-Pedersen, a member of Texas A&Ms department of biology, was recognized for contributions to the field of molecular biology. Johnson, from the department of statistics, was recognized for contributions to the field of Bayesian statistics and cancer research. Murphy, a faculty member in the department of computer science and engineering, was recognized for founding the field of search-and-rescue robotics and pioneering the field of human-robot interaction, and for informing policy and practice in rescue robotics worldwide, the university said in a press release. Safe, from the department of biochemistry and biophysics, was recognized for contributions used to advance the safe use of chemicals in commerce and development of more effective and safe pharmaceuticals. Sharma, a faculty member in the department of environmental and occupational health, was recognized for contributions concerning the occurrence and remediation of toxins, antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes, and nanoparticles to address challenges of water sustainability. Svoboda, from the department of biomedical sciences, was recognized for contributions to the study of the influence of the extracellular matrix on development, and for leadership in the field of oral and craniofacial developmental biology, the press release states. Taylor, a faculty member in the department of orthodontics, was recognized for contributions to the field of oral and craniofacial biology, particularly in matrix biology, diagnostic sciences and the mentoring of dental students at all levels, the press release said. The Hispanic Forum of Bryan-College Station will host a forum on Tuesday for candidates in the March 1 primary. The event will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bryan Ballroom, 701 Palasota Drive in Bryan. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. SATURDAY EVENTS Aggieland Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Texas A&M University. A campuswide open house that include campus tours, demonstrations and presentations. The event is free, but registration is required at go.theeagle.com/aggieland. The 43rd annual Home and Garden Expo, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brazos County Expo, 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan. The event includes products, vendors and seminars. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 for adults and $3 for seniors; kids under 12 are free. Silent Sky, 7 p.m. at Sunny Furman Theatre, 104 W. Washington Ave. in Navasota. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children, and $12 for students and seniors. go.theeagle.com/sky. Now and Then, 8 p.m. at Unity Theatre, 300 Church St. in Brenham. Tickets are $27; student tickets are $15. unitybrenham.org. Jeeves Takes a Bow, 7:30 p.m. at StageCenter Community Theatre, 218 N. Bryan Ave. in Downtown Bryan. Tickets are $15; student and senior tickets are $12. stagecenter.net. X-Treme Team Ropings Brazos Valley Classic, through Sunday at the Brazos County Expo, 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan. Competition begins at 9 a.m. Teen Share and Care support group, 10 a.m. online and in-person at the National Alliance for Mental Illness Brazos Valley office, 3705 S. College Ave. in Bryan. A weekly support group for teens. To register for online access, visit namibv.org/namibvsupport. Lick Creek Nature Center exhibit unveiling, 10 a.m. to noon at Lick Creek Park, 13600 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. The opening of a new exhibit with interactive activities for all ages each Saturday through April 23. The displays are open throughout the week; admission is free. Topics feature mammals, owls, snakes, butterflies, birds, vegetation and more. Blood drive, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Post Oak Mall, 1500 Harvey Road in College Station. Call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter postoakmall to schedule an appointment. Valentines cookie decorating, 2 to 5 p.m. at Nestle Toll House Cafe in the Post Oak Mall, 1500 Harvey Road in College Station. All materials supplied; no reservation needed. Brazos Valley Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at 500 N. Main St. in Downtown Bryan. brazosvalleyfarmersmarket.com. Citizenship classes, 10 a.m. at Brazos Interfaith Immigration Network, 2500 S. College Ave. in Bryan. Free. English classes are 10 a.m. to noon, and Spanish classes are noon to 1:45 p.m. Register at brazosimmigration.com. First Saturday Art Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Degallery, 930 Rosemary Drive in Bryan. Outdoor family event with live music, art activities, vendors and artist demonstrations. Canaan Cemetery cleanup, 9 to 11 a.m. at the corner of Kuder Road and Pitts Road, just west of the Texas A&M RELLIS Campus. Bring gloves and tools. Second Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Caldwell. Burleson County Farmers Market opens at 7 a.m. Activities and events scheduled throughout the day. Journaling workshop, 10 a.m. to noon at Middleway Urban Monastery, 309 Tabor Ave. in Bryan. The workshop will explore how journaling can be used in spiritual growth. Supplies will be provided; a $10 donation is suggested. For more information, email info@middlewayurbanmonastery.org. LIVE MUSIC Flyer Fest with Joey McGee, Mary-Charlotte Young, Ripp Tackett and Ricky Montijo, noon at WildFlyer Mead Co. 16481 County Road 319 in Navasota. Bridget Kibbey and Alexi Kenney, 5 p.m. at A&M United Methodist Church, 417 University Drive in College Station. A harp and violin duo presented by Friends of Chamber Music. Free. Texas 105, 8:30 p.m. at Bottlenecks, 1789 F.M. 60 in Deanville. Trent Herrera, 7:30 p.m. at Canteen Bar and Grill in Cavalry Court, 200 Century Court in College Station. Opie Hendrix, 9 p.m. at 3rd Floor Cantina, 201B W. 26th St. in Downtown Bryan. Colton French, 7 p.m. at Ronin, 800 N. Main St. in Downtown Bryan. Austin Crews, 6 p.m. at Brazos Valley Brewing Co., 206 S. Jackson St. in Brenham. Free. Trey Gonzalez, 8 p.m. at Stage 12 in Brookshire Brothers, 455 George Bush Drive in College Station. Jenna Lynn, 1:30 to 5 p.m. at Bernhardt Winery, 9043 County Road 204 in Plantersville. Free admission. No reservation required. Food truck on site. Picnics and coolers are welcome; no outside alcohol. Nacho Baby & The Deadbeats, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Home Sweet Farm Biergarten, 307 Park St. in Brenham. Kyle Reed, 7 to 10 p.m. at Floyds Wine Lounge, 315 S. Baylor St. in Brenham. Frank Martin Gilligan, 4 p.m. at West Sandy Creek Winery, 1773 F.M. 1791 in Richards. Aaron Loesch, 6 p.m. at P.A. Smith Hotel, 111 S. Railroad St. in Navasota. Tickets are $14. Greg Tivis, 7 to 10 p.m. at Luigis Patio Ristorante, 3975 Texas 6 in College Station. Let it Rock, a Bon Jovi cover band, 7:30 p.m. at DeepRoots Vineyards, 19318 F.M. 1774 in Plantersville. Tickets are $19 and only available at go.theeagle.com/deeproots. Community yoga, 8 a.m. at Lake Walk Pavilion, 4107 Lake Atlas Drive in Bryan. Free and open to the public. Punk rock yoga, 2:30 p.m. at The 101, 101 Texas Ave. in Bryan. Free; all skill levels welcome. The three Republican candidates vying for the Brazos County District Clerk seat in the March 1 primary election competed against each other in the 2018 primary after the position was left open by Marc Hamlin, who left office after almost 25 years. In 2018, businessman Gabriel Garcia defeated attorney Margaret Meece by fewer than 150 votes in a runoff election. They will compete again with paralegal Krystal Kelly. Early voting begins Monday. The winner of the Republican primary will face Searcy L. Toliver in the November general election. Toliver is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. The district clerk is responsible for maintaining a smooth process in the district court system by being a clerk and custodian of all records. Duties include issuing documents required for legal actions, indexing and securing all court records, assigning cases to specific courts, preserving paperwork and documents associated with felony criminal cases, as well as misdemeanor family, juvenile, tax and civil cases of more than $500. The office is also charged with collecting filing fees, handling funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors, and coordinating the jury selection process. Garcia, 53, owns two oil and lube centers in Bryan. Meece, 63, is an attorney, former Brazos County justice of the peace, former associate city judge and the founding partner of a Bryan law firm. Kelly, 39, is a paralegal at The Benn Law Group who previously worked as a litigation case manager for Chad Jones Law and in the district clerks office as a deputy district clerk. In separate interviews, Garcia said he wants to continue the progress hes made in modernizing the office and improving communication among departments, while both Meece and Kelly said they are running because of the problems they say have arisen since Garcia took office. Gabriel Garcia Garcia, a third-generation Brazos County resident, said he enjoys serving the public and the office needs his leadership skills to continue the progress the department has made over the past four years. Garcia said the department was in need of modernization when he became district clerk. It was behind as far as being updated going into the 21st century, he said. Computerized it was still running like it was in the early 2000s. Garcia said things are working more efficiently and the progress needs to continue. That office is much more efficient, more productive than before I took office, and I feel very confident we can continue to raise the bar, he said. Im very proud of the work we have done in the office, and I would like to continue it. Garcia said his priorities are the same from when he ran in 2018: public service, service to the courts, employee efficiency and retention. Garcia said hes proud of opening up the communication between departments as well as the effort to preserve records in the office that date to the 1800s. The staff has imaged 36 of 79 index books in a secure, disaster-safe binder. These records are important to the history of Brazos County, and they are still very valuable, he said. People still look up records for real estate. To have to put on the gloves and come in and be very delicate because the sheets were falling apart was totally unacceptable to me, so we are working on that, and we have done a good job, but there is still work to be done. Margaret Meece Meece, who has worked for 28 years as an attorney, said she wants to address inefficiencies that plague the office. Three short years ago, our district clerks office was one of the best in the state, Meece said. You could file something in with the district clerks office and the court always had it when you needed it, and its just gotten to not be the case anymore. More and more lawyers are working around the district clerks office to get things done. Meece said her experience of working with district clerks offices around the state has taught her when an office is running well and when it isnt. I have the knowledge and experience to do it, Meece said. And thats my commitment to work full-time and get it done, to get us back to where we were just three years ago one of the best in the state. Meece said timely filing of documents by the district clerks office can be crucial in cases of child support or orders to the sheriffs department involving safety of children. A lot of times theres no communication between the district clerks office and the sheriffs department, Meece said. Those are the kinds of things I will address on the first day. Meece also said she will quickly address an issue with a lack of ability to accurately take care of and maintain records. The district clerk has to be able to get his hands on previous files and evidence immediately, and it has to be in good shape; our offsite storage facility was almost full three years ago, and no matter what we do, we have to keep evidences around; it will never be completely paperless, that issue has not been addressed, Meece said. Krystal Kelly Kelly said she has experience working on both sides of the desk. I worked in the district clerks office, and I also now work in private practice, so I have gained quite a bit of perspective, especially in private practice, Kelly said. Because transparency and efficiency in the district clerks office is imperative for paralegals, attorneys, case managers and legal assistants, the office needs a dedicated leader who will make sure files are secure yet accessible, Kelly said. What we have currently is not working, Kelly said. I dont have access to my records that I used to have access to four years ago, and its very important to have that access, especially whenever you are on the other side of that desk in private practice trying to file an answer or obtain a copy of a signed order that is important to keep your case going that is a huge reason why Im running. As district clerk, Kelly said she would focus on restoring public access to court filings, maintaining the budget and leadership that encourages quick turnaround on court orders and filings. It is also a priority to go back to having high-quality customer service, which would include having a well-trained staff and providing training and resources that are not already offered to employees so that they feel confident in their job duties, Kelly said. Kelly said she wants voters to know that she will foster a culture of continuous improvement and make sure that the office works closely with stakeholders across the entire courthouse. I have built a good relationship with so many people in the district clerks office, she said. We are constantly working there, that is our hub, and its so important for that hub to be solid. Action plan to help with implementation of national green growth strategy To help carry out the national green growth strategy, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is making a national action plan on green growth for 2021 - 2030 to be submitted to the Prime Minister this April. The plan is critical to ensuring the targets, orientations, and tasks set in the national strategy are feasible and implemented effectively. Workers produce solar panels at the factory of the Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co. Ltd in the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park in Hai Phong city. Le Viet Anh, Director of the ministrys Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment, cited the PMs decision which approved the national green growth strategy for 2021 - 2030 with a vision to 2050 as stating that green growth helps promote economic restructuring in tandem with the growth model reform and improvement of the countrys competitiveness and resilience to external shocks. It is also useful to implementing the socio-economic development strategy for 2021 - 2030, the national planning system, and sectoral development strategies. Besides, green growth is important to achieving sustainable development, directly contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions towards an economy of carbon neutrality in the long term, centres on the people, and helps ease human vulnerability to climate change. Green growth encourages a responsible lifestyle, the formation of a civilised and modern society in harmony with the nature, along with investment in advanced technology, digital transformation, and smart and sustainable infrastructure. It also creates momentum for private investment to play an increasing role in a green economy, according to the PMs decision. Anh noted the action plan drafting board and compilation group have been working together on the approach and orientation for making the plan so as to carry out green growth solutions and tasks while ensuring feasibility in the monitoring and assessment of the strategy implementation. MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Saturday on how to overcome the stalemate in settling the intra-Ukrainian conflict, said the Kremlin. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin once again drew attention to the absence of a substantive response from the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the Russian initiatives. "Putin stressed the reluctance of the leading Western powers to prompt the Kiev authorities to implement the Minsk agreements, which was demonstrated again by the futility of the February 10 round of consultations in Berlin between political advisors to the Normandy format leaders," said the statement. Putin and Macron also discussed the provocative speculations about an alleged Russia's planned "invasion" of Ukraine, which are accompanied by massive supplies of modern weaponry to Ukraine, thus creating conditions for possible aggressive actions by the Ukrainian military in Donbass, according to the statement. The leaders agreed to keep these issues on the agenda of the Russian-French top-level dialogue, the Kremlin said, adding that they also touched upon the preservation of and full-fledged compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Steven Franzman doesnt mind being alone on The Island. All by himself, he throws a one-man party in the morning. Even though he has a party five days a week on FM 107.7 The Island, Franzman doesnt think of himself as a comedian. We all know someone who tries to be funny all the time, he says. That can be annoying unless youre truly funny. Franzmans goal on the air is to be informative and entertaining. The information part of the job includes news and weather. If he can make listeners feel comfortable or provoke a smile, it would be ideal, he said. But he says hes not a comedian. A woman told him once that hes not hilarious. But, she said, You regularly make me smile when Im in my car. Thats what I want, Franzman says. He tries to let the humor happen naturally. Franzman is heard from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Fridays on The Island, which is officially KSYZ-FM. Franzman, 54, has a lot of listeners. According to Nielsen ratings, his shift leads the market among all listeners 12 and older. Known by only his last name on the air, Franzman started working at The Island in October 2013. The station, which has an adult contemporary format, plays music from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, with more current hits tossed in sparingly. When Franzman was a kid, he used radio as a companion. I think theres a lot of that going on out there, he said. Theres people that want to escape the world today listen to some great music. He thinks theres a percentage of kids growing up today that might not like todays music. We were lucky growing up. Everything on the radio was good. There might be kids that dont care for new music, so they want to go back. Franzman didnt work in radio until 2003. A native of New Haven, Conn., he was a graphic designer for 20 years at newspapers in New Haven and Stamford, Conn. He was also a drummer, playing in 13 bands over the years. Its why my ears ring constantly, said Franzman, who still has the urge to tap on dashboards, desks and tables. Eventually his newspaper career ran its course. Hes heard it said that when you dont know what to do, you do what youve always wanted to do. So he turned to radio, enrolling in a broadcasting school at Lombard, Ill. His first job, which he took while still a student, was at a Christian station not far from the broadcasting school. He then worked at a station in Joplin, Mo., for five years. Later, jobs took him to Columbia, Mo., back to Connecticut and then to Texas and Indiana. Knowledge and experience made radio a good fit. Shortly after my first couple of jobs, I realized this is for me, and I love it. This job that I get to come in every day and do its a blessing, he said. Like many other radio stations these days, The Island uses a technique called live to tape. Most of the time, Franzmans show is broadcast live. Sometimes, listeners hear something he actually said four or five minutes ago. Tired of moving, Franzman likes it in Grand Island. He praises NRG Media, which owns The Island. The company, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, owns five stations in Grand Island and Kearney. They believe in live and local, which is why Ive been here almost nine years, he says. Franzman has no say in the music he plays. That decision is made at the corporate level. He patronizes businesses that sponsor The Island. If hes going to a restaurant anyway, he says, why not go to a place that supports his show? Franzman has another job on the side. He puts in 10 to 12 hours a week for a greeting card company, maintaining the selection at Dollar Tree and Hy-Vee. He finds the work oddly soothing. He wants the people of Grand Island to know that they live in a fantastic community. I believe that I got this radio gig as a blessing because if I didnt have all that experience in my background, I dont know that I would have respected what I have here. Grand Island is a giving community, he says. The people are nicer and more charitable than hes found in other cities. Franzman said hes basically a chameleon. I pretty much fit in everywhere I went. But those markets didnt work out for me, and this one its different. Hes impressed by the number of fundraisers in the area, and the strong support for nonprofits. People come together for every one of them. Somehow they find the time and the money to help out every single event. Growing up, he doesnt remember hearing about all those fundraisers on the radio. We have that here, he said. We have a good, local community of really good people. Im happy to be a part of it. If youve lived here all your life, appreciate what you have here. Because I do, he said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The writing is on the wall literally as Wood River Rural Schools work to find the leader in every student through its participation in the Leader in Me program. The most obvious testament to the program, a nationwide effort based off Steven Coveys best seller The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, are the colorful artwork and inspiring messages being painted in the elementary schools hallways by Wood River 6-12 visual art teacher Jennifer Pietrzaks painting students. We were asked by the elementary school here to brighten up the walls, so weve designed some different elements to go here and there throughout the school, Pietrzak said. They wanted some things throughout the school, we focused on the Seven Habits, so there will eventually be a tree (mural) with those. The multiphase project consists of six murals in phase one, followed by murals in the restroom area, cafeteria and murals for each elementary grade level, Pietrzak said. They work so well together, Pietrzak said of her mural student-artists. They decided who has what abilities and they tackle those, share and split a couple that are really good at blending colors, other ones that are really good at the straight lines or bumpy surface and others are just multitalented. Faith Parlin is one of Pietrzaks art students. Parlin said she wants to eventually become a professional artist, but the mural project has something for everyone in the class. Were all pitching in on different roles. (Pietrzak) has helped us go where we think we fit most and where we can give our best to the painting, she said. Its giving us a lot of like leadership opportunities and it helps add color to elementary. Leader in Me helps students at Wood River Public Schools discover their own leadership gifts. Wood River Elementary School Principal Kelly Klanecky explained: (Seven Habits) basic tenets of everyone can be a leader, and everyone has genius is really tapping in on the strengths of the kids. One thing that were working on this year is getting kids more active in leadership roles. I have a crew that is the announcement team. They give the announcements every morning over the intercom and help me plan the assembly on Monday mornings, Klanecky said. We have a green team who looks at ways to brighten up or freshen up the space outside the building. Theres a library team that comes in and helps with checkout. Wood River Elementary School fifth grader Berkley Stroud is on the lunchroom and announcement teams. Strouds classmate Harper Doane is a member of the team who takes photos and does photography projects. Stroud and Doane said they are enjoying having the high school students in the building and watching the art progress. I like watching the process, Stroud said. Im looking forward to having it done. Doane said even though the project isnt finished, its already making a difference at the elementary school. It puts out more enthusiasm. Elementary school students also get to observe the high school students as examples. The two grade levels are in separate buildings. Klanecky said the art students presence has been a positive. Everybodys really excited to see the older kids and the older kids are excited to see the younger kids, Klanecky said. Its so much fun to have those role models in our building. Yes, we have kids who go (to the high school) for sporting events or different things, but to actually see the big kids investing in our elementary school, it has been amazing. Parlin said she has enjoyed being around the elementary students. Every time the kids walk by and they see us painting, theres always questions. They asked what it is or whats going on the walls and you can just tell it makes them happy to see. So that makes me happy. Leader in Me has worked well so far, Klanecky said, but the school is just getting started. Were still early on in implementing Leader in Me, so weve got a long ways to go, but just those changes that weve seen in the last couple of years its really been fun especially seeing some of the positive messaging going up on the walls thanks to our high school friends. Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Paris, TX (75460) Today A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Then cloudy skies through the afternoon hours. High 67F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Cuban visual artist Alfredo Chong, a 73-year-old Chinese descendant who admires China's traditional cultural values and national identity, has recently finished a 1.8-meter-high Terracotta Warrior sculpture exhibited at Havana's Confucius Institute as part of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in the Caribbean nation. Under the title "Cuban Terracotta Warrior," the paper mache sculpture pays homage to the bravery and strength of the Chinese people throughout history. Chong, who has never visited China, spends three or four hours a day at home, in the Havana district of Arroyo Naranjo, depicting the huge diversity of Chinese culture through calligraphy and Chinese paintings. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he displays most of his artworks at his home's big terrace surrounded by orchids, ornamental plants and fruit trees. Over the past few years, Chong's sculptures have been installed in public places across Cuba, including cultural centers, stores and the House of Chinese Arts and Traditions. Produced by Xinhua Global Service SPRINGFIELD U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth reiterated her support for imposing "very strong sanctions" against Russia should it invade Ukraine, but acknowledged that any diplomatic or economic pressure may not be enough to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from such an action. "I obviously want diplomacy to work," Duckworth said. "And I think that we have applied every tool in our arsenal diplomatically. At this point, it has always been whether they truly want a diplomatic solution or whether they just want to annex Ukraine." "I don't think he does," Duckworth said. "I think he wants the territory ... I think he wants to occupy Ukraine because he sees that as part of Russia." The tense situation in Ukraine the U.S. government has warned that Russia could invade at any time now was among several topics Duckworth addressed in a wide-ranging interview with Lee Enterprises Saturday morning in Springfield. Duckworth is seeking reelection to her second term this year. Four candidates have announced their intentions to challenge her: Republicans Timothy Arview, Peggy Hubbard and Bobby Piton, and Libertarian William Redpath. Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm after her Blackhawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004, said that "it's been very clear that the oligarchs around Putin have been significantly hurt by the sanctions and that they are not in favor of invading Ukraine." Further sanctions could hit more than just oligarchs, with regular Russian citizens likely to feel the impact. U.S. lawmakers have been negotiating a package of sanctions for the past month, though news reports indicate that the process has hit a snag. President Joe Biden and the Pentagon have ruled out sending in American troops to defend Ukraine. "So I think that the sanctions will help, but I don't think this is a rational decision on the part of Putin in terms of he's going to do something that is in the economic interest of his people," Duckworth said. "I think he's willing to let the Russian people suffer economically because he wants this territory. I think it's a personal thing." Either way, Duckworth predicted that Russia has about a two-week window to invade if they decide to mount a ground assault with tanks "because after that, the ground will start to thaw" in marshy Ukraine. "They need frozen ground," Duckworth said. "So I think we're right now at the point where Russia has to decide what they're going to do. And we put every bit of pressure we can on them. But ultimately, it's what Vladimir Putin wants to do." Duckworth, first elected to the House in 2012 before her election to the Senate in 2016, also had infrastructure on her mind. During her two-day swing in Central Illinois, she visited Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield to discuss resources for airports in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by Biden in November. She later appeared with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Normal to highlight the funds being directed to expand the country's electric vehicle charging infrastructure. "If you see sewers being fixed, bridges being fixed, railroad crossings getting taken care of or your kids have been able to go back to school, it's because Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote," Duckworth said. She added that she was proud of the bipartisan roll call on the infrastructure law that came later in the year, but pointed out that the only Illinois Republican to support it was Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon. "So when I go to Normal today and look at EV charging stations or here in Springfield and they talk about how they were able to get a couple million dollars to to work on one of the runways, what I say is, 'You better not have a single Republican who voted against that bill show up at that and take credit for it, because they voted against it,'" she said. Duckworth had harsh words for Republicans. Speaking on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, she said that the party no longer reflects the values of Illinois' favorite son. "It is no longer the party of Lincoln," Duckworth said. "I mean, it's not even the party of George Bush or Ronald Reagan." "It's now a party of folks who think that an insurrection that destroyed the sacred Capitol of the United States, including the beating of police officers with the American flag, is legitimate political discourse," she said. "So I would ask folks who identify themselves as Republicans, are those your values?" Still, a scan of Duckworth's website reveals several press releases touting initiatives with her Republican colleagues. "I can have the conversation about the Republican Party's values with my Republican colleagues while I'm working to pass clean drinking water and wastewater," she said. "I got 89 votes on the floor of the Senate." That legislation provides more than $35 billion for water resource development projects in the country through grant programs and revolving loan funds. Some other topics Duckworth addressed on Saturday: Supreme Court Duckworth applauded Biden's pledge to nominate a Black woman to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Further, she said Vice President Kamala Harris called her last week to get her thoughts on the matter. "And I said, 'Well, I'm always going to put in my two cents for (Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi) because she's a hometown pick," Duckworth said. "But really, any of the (judges) would be in any would be great." Jackson-Akiwumi was nominated by Biden and confirmed by the Senate last year to serve on the Chicago-based United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Diversity in Biden Administration Duckworth had tough words for Biden on the lack of Asian American representation in his administration, however. Still have the same concerns," she said, referencing last March, when she threatened to oppose any administration nominees who were not racial minorities or LGBTQ. "He's the first president in 20 years, Democrat or Republican, to not have a cabinet secretary who's Asian American at a time when the Asian American population is the fastest growing population in the nation," Duckworth said. "It's wrong." Duckworth backed down on her threat when the White House agreed to have a staffer with authority in place who could stand up to Biden on issues impacting the Asian American/Pacific Islander population, and when Biden agreed to have a meeting with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. He also agreed to nominate an Asian American cabinet secretary when an opportunity arises. Biden has followed through on the first two, but there still isn't an Asian American cabinet member. Proudest accomplishment Duckworth is viewed as a heavy favorite in her reelection bid so much so, the Republican Party passed on the opportunity to recruit a serious challenger, unlike with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other statewide elected Democrats. Regarding her first-term record, Duckworth said she's most proud of securing a provision in the current fiscal year's National Defense Authorization Act that establishes a minimum inventory for C-130 fleet of aircrafts. This essentially secures the mission of the Peoria-based 182d Airlift Wing for years to come. She also cited the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 that passed 89-2 last year as a major accomplishment. "I think, overall, what I would say is I'm really proud of the breadth of things I've been able to do," Duckworth said. "I've tried to fix sewers and C-130s. And I hope that the people of Illinois know that I've delivered for them and I go to work every single day trying to make lives better for working families across the state." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For the most updated version of this story: Students in Heartland Community College's training program are at the "forefront of the electric vehicle revolution," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Saturday. Buttigieg appeared at the college in Normal along with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. The visit was meant to highlight work that the transportation department is doing to make electric vehicles accessible to more Americans. Heartland's electric vehicle and energy storage program is designed to train students in the manufacture, diagnosis, service, and repair of electric vehicles. "We believe that there is a strong policy role to make sure that the EV revolution happens quickly enough to beat climate change, that it happens on equitable terms and benefits every American, and that it is a Made in America electric vehicle revolution," Buttigieg said, "and you see all of those goals at play in what is going on right here in the Bloomington-Normal area." Before speaking to the media, the group spent time with a truck driver, had a roundtable discussion at Heartland and "just had an opportunity to see for ourselves not just the equipment, but the students who are very much at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution," said Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend who was among Democratic primary candidates for the 2020 election. The Biden administration released its EV charging action plan Dec. 13, outlining the steps federal agencies are taking to boost infrastructure, manufacturing and consumer adoption. The $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law in November, includes $5 billion in funding for states and a $2.5 billion competitive grant program for rural and disadvantaged communities to put the U.S. on the path to a national network of 500,000 charging stations. The Chicago Tribune contributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 South Carolina State University trustees got an update on a host of building projects designed to improve the campus. We presently have 16 projects that are awarded and underway. We have 21 projects that are either in the bid phase, or in the design phase. Then we have another 12 projects that are what I would call on the board that are being discussed amongst the administration and moving forward before they move into the design phase, Ken Davis, director of facilities/planning and construction, said during the boards February meeting. Active projects include the upfit of Azalea Hall, which will house the residence life and housing department, as well as the replacement of an air handler unit in Mitchell Hall. Projects in the design phase or bid phase include those dealing with enhancing building access. We are working very hard with IT and an outside vendor to install CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) access on Hugine Suites and all of our academic buildings. Thats a project that we hope to complete over the summer if we can get through the design phase and get it out in time," Davis said. He continued, Renovations to ROTC are underway as well as Brooks Health (Center) and Poplar Hall. The seating project thats going on in S-H-M is close to being finished with the design and should be out on the street (for bid) soon. We hope to complete that over the summer as well. Along with that project, well also be replacing the floor thats around the court, as well as the exterior doors leading into the building. Davis also reported a $750,000 grant is being used to rectify humidity and leaky roof issues in the university's Fine Arts Building. "We hope to have it on the street for bid in March. ... Were also looking at an outdoor waiting area for the Crawford Zimmerman building. Thats one of the projects that were looking to complete with some of the COVID funds. Washington Dining Hall water line replacement is underway and about to be out on the street for bids," he said. Consideration of approval for the second phase of renovation work on the university's student center is also on the agenda of the state General Assembly's Joint Bond Review Committee. "Were definitely in hopes of getting that project out on the street before the summer so construction gets started on that ... and we have quite a few academic space upgrades that were going to try to get going over the summer. Thats upfit to some classrooms in Hodge Hall and Turner D, as well as bathroom upgrades in Turner A, B, C and D, Belcher Hall, Staley Hall first floor and Nance Hall," Davis said. "Then we also have the relocation of the Honors College on the board that were working on, as well as some Rowe and Nix ideas that were working on with (S.C. State Interim) President (Alexander) Conyers," he said. Public relations/institutional advancement Sonja Bennett-Bellamy, the universitys vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs, said, "It has indeed been an awesome year up to this point from a public relations standpoint." The university, for example, welcomed new chief development officer Adrian Scott and has awarded a contract to a vendor for the development of a new university website. "We're excited about that. We're also in the process of initiating multiple projects across the board in the communications and marketing realm, specifically marketing activities that are going to highlight student successes and our academic programs," she said. Bennett-Bellamy continued, "We've also initiated some campus beautification initiatives that include the installation of new flag pole banners and banners across the campus." "We just had a very high-level meeting with the enrollment management VP and Mr. Roger Jones with The Parish Group. That is the firm that has been commissioned to produce our collateral materials for recruitment," she said, noting that the university is also continuing to prepare for major upcoming university events such as Founders' Day, the Honors and Awards Convocation and spring commencement. Scott said, "I've got about 20-plus years now in higher ed fundraising, planned giving, major giving, corporate and foundation relations. ... I'm excited to rejoin Bulldog Nation to help and to strengthen and develop the comprehensive fundraising plan and to begin wrapping my arms around the feasibility study that was done for the capital campaign." Hank Allen, president of the S.C. State National Alumni Association, reported on alumni relations, including the amount of giving made to the university following the Celebration Bowl. It included the Atlanta chapter's $24,000 donation to the university's "Ready All to Do and Dare" fundraising campaign, along with the $54,000 that the association raised. "In less than seven days, over 1,000 people donated to a Text to Give campaign. All of those funds totaling $78,000 will go to the Ready All to Do and Dare campaign, along with the names and addresses of all of those folks who supported those campaigns. Again, that definitely helps increase our participation rate," Allen said. He also thanked Davion Petty, the university's new admissions director, for his work to reach out to alumni chapters and talk about admissions and recruitment support. "Everything is about enrollment ... and retainment. So we appreciate that Mr. Petty is now in admissions, and we look forward to collaborating and working with him on a day-to-day basis. We also want to welcome and look forward to working with Mr. Adrian Scott," Allen said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. (TBTCO) - Thi truong 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. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A large bull moose spent more than an hour stomping on the sled dog team of a rookie Iditarod musher in the wilds of Alaska last week and the attack didn't end even after Bridgett Watkins emptied her gun into the animal. She said on Facebook Friday that the moose, after seriously injuring four of her dogs, wouldn't leave and that the ordeal stopped only after she called friends for help and one showed up with a high powered rifle and killed the moose with one shot. "This has been the most horrific past 24 hours of my life," she posted after the Thursday moose attack on the Salcha River trail system near Fairbanks. But just days later, her four dogs are on the mend and she's back training with the others. "This isn't what I was planning for, but these dogs and myself have trained for so long and so hard for this race ... when I walk back out to my dog yard and I have 12 perfectly healthy dogs out of the 16 and they look at me and all they want to do is run, how can I tell them no?" she told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "That would be selfish of me." "These are freaking amazing athletes that just survived probably the most traumatic experience of any dog team ever in history, and they're survivors and they're still pushing through," she added. Watkins said that the attack, first reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, happened while she was on a 52-mile (83.7-kilometer) training run for the nearly 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It starts March 5 in Anchorage. "As he charged me I emptied my gun into him and he never stopped," she wrote on Facebook. "I ran for my life and prayed I was fast enough to not be killed in that moment. He trampled the team and then turned for us." Watkins said she and a friend who was trailing her on a snowmobile took refuge next to the snowmobile. The moose stopped its charge toward them about 2 feet (0.6 meters) from the snowmobile and she managed to cut free six dogs that were tied to the machine. But the moose went back to her sled and began stomping the dogs that were still tethered to it standing over the dogs and trampling them repeatedly for over an hour. "I have never felt so helpless in my life," Watkins wrote. "He would not leave us alone and he even stood over top of the team refusing to retreat." She called friends and the moose was shot and killed after one arrived with a rifle. Alaska State Troopers had been preparing a helicopter to respond but stopped doing so after they were told the moose was dead, agency spokesperson Tim DeSpain said in an email. Her four injured dogs were taken to a veterinarian in the nearby community of North Pole and are recovering, Watkins posted. Watkins, a native of Arkansas who moved to Alaska when she was 5, is no stranger to mushing or its dangers. Her father and step-mother are well-known mushers Allen Moore and Aliy Zirkle. In the 2016 Iditarod, Zirkle and four-time winner Jeff King were attacked by a man on a snowmobile near the community of Nulato. One dog on King's team was killed and two others were injured. Another famous tale of a musher's run-in with an angry moose happened in the 1985 Iditarod when the late Susan Butcher came across one while she was leading the race. She used her ax and a parka to fight off the moose, but it killed two of her dogs and injured 13 others. Another musher came along and killed the moose. She had to withdraw from the race, but later won four Iditarod races. Butcher died in 2006 from leukemia at age 51. "It is never a musher's intention to go out and kill an animal," Watkins told the AP. She said no musher would ever travel with a rifle or a large caliber gun, instead preferring to scare off animals with a flare gun. And with all the jostling of the sled, the larger guns could easily go off. "People have a lot of negative comments about what I should or should not have been doing but they're not the people on the back of that sled," she said. "It's not that I wasn't prepared. I wasn't prepared to kill a moose, that's correct," Watkins said. "It's not my intention to go around in February and hunt and kill an animal. This is like worst-case scenario defending my life." She did carry a .380 caliber gun because there are few people where she trains, and she keeps it to to deter or scare off animals. She has since upgraded to a larger caliber firearm after it didn't stop the moose. "That would be asinine to go back out there on the same trail, the same place, and not have a gun where I can't truly put down an animal if I have to," she said. The experience has rattled her, but it's really no different than what other people face, she said. "I'm just trying to face those fears every day because they're there. It's not that I'm not scared and I'm not terrified and that I don't nearly have a panic attack when I'm on the sled and I think I see a moose in front of me," she said. "It's not that those things aren't occurring ... people have these situations in their life all the time. They're just different obstacles that they have to overcome, and this is mine, and this is my story, and I just hope that I can be inspiring." Meat from the moose that attacked her dogs was donated to charity. *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Sunday, Feb. 6, Victoria Eavis raised some insightful questions regarding Liz Cheneys future political career. Eavis points out that Cheney will have a hard time winning the Republican primary in August and that her only real path to re-election to Congress goes through a surge of anti-Trump sentiments within the GOP. I share that analysis. I also believe, as Eavis suggests, that Cheney is planning to run for president as an independent. Technically, she might do it on a new platform, a third party of sorts, but in reality it will be as an independent. Cheneys big short-term problem is that she cannot lose the primary in August and still be a credible presidential candidate in 2024. If her own voters choose a Trump-endorsed candidate instead of her, it will be a strong signal to Trump voters across the country to stay away from Cheney. As thing look today, Cheney would not have much sway with Democrat voters in 24. She would need to court virtually all independents and also peel off a substantial part of Trumps voter base in order to win. With a Congressional primary loss to Harriet Hageman under her belt, that last voter group will reject her and go for whoever Trump endorses (very likely Florida Governor Ron DeSantis). To have a credible path to the White House, Cheney needs to do two things. First, she needs to back out of the GOP Congressional primary. She can do this if she turns her partys own ostracization of her into an asset. It would have to be strong enough to win over 20 or 30 million moderate Republicans and win an equal amount of independents and moderate Democrats. In a tight three-way presidential race, theoretically speaking Cheney could win with 180 electoral votes. She would need a popular-vote share around 50 million, evenly spread, to make that happen. It is unlikely, but not impossible. To increase her chances, Cheney need to do one more thing: play herself up as the undisputed leader on national security and foreign policy. This is the only policy area where she truly excels. On the other hand, she has very good command of it, better than most other credible presidential candidates. Cheney has, in fact, worked so hard on building her credentials on foreign policy and national security that she has put aside almost every other important policy issue. She has no distinguishable track record on economic policy, other than having voted in lockstep with Trump for four years. Her position on social issues is not very well known. She has recently shifted her position on gay marriage (coinciding with her gradual move away from the Republican fold) but she has avoided speaking about abortions or education-related issues dear to conservatives, such as transgender bathrooms or critical race theory. Her lack of interest in domestic policy issues have increasingly made Cheney irrelevant in Congress. This will be even more so going forward: with our national debt at completely unsustainable proportions, we will need every member of Congress to commit wholeheartedly to a major bipartisan fiscal rescue plan. Wyoming needs to send someone to Congress who has his or her focus on domestic issues in general, and fiscal responsibility in particular. Cheney, on the other hand, could successfully position herself as the right presidential candidate. Without being cynical, her chances of doing so will get better with rising unrest around the world. With tensions high in the Indo-Pacific region as well as in Eastern Europe, a president with global expertise is preferable to a Congresswoman with the same focus. Once she gets around to announcing her run, Cheney has some essential questions to answer. For example: the tensions in Ukraine are already spilling over into an arms race in the Balkans and NATO expansion in northern Europe. Does Cheney believe that Sweden and Finland should join NATO, thus heightening tensions with Russia in a part of Europe that, currently, is one of the most peaceful regions in the world? Does Cheney share the traditional neoconservative opinion that America should engage in global, police-style military activism, or does she prefer a more restrained approach to sending our armed forces to faraway corners of the world? Again, these are questions for her to answer on another day. For now, we will all wait for her to drop out of the Republican primary and announce her bid for president. Sven R. Larson, Ph.D., is a political economist and writer with the European Conservative. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 About a year ago, a politician from Florida flew into Wyoming for a day, having never been here before. Mere hours after arriving, and with no prior interest in our state, he told a crowd of Wyomingites whom they should and shouldnt vote for. For a long time, Wyomingites would have no patience for a silver-tongued politician with the temerity to tell the state how to vote. You could imagine him running south toward the Colorado border, an angry crowd of Wyomingites on his heels. But Rep. Matt Gaetz was greeted warmly in January 2021, and the outside influences havent stopped since then. Weve seen an unprecedented national interest in our politics. Or more specifically, the 2022 Wyoming Republican House primary. Why? It all comes down to two people: former President Donald Trump and our states lone congressperson, Rep. Liz Cheney. For a long time, the two seemed to get along. Cheney voted with Trump 93% of the time during his administration. When he was impeached the first time, she defended him. But even as the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was still occurring, she began to criticize the president, saying he helped to incite the attack with his constant and unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. Cheney voted to impeach Trump over the attack, and in the face of mounting criticism from her own party, said to anyone who would listen that he represented a threat to the rule of law. That criticism, and the feeling among Republicans that she was helping Democrats and harming her own party, led to a backlash as severe as Cheneys criticism. The Republican Party censured Cheney, stripped her of leadership and voted to no longer recognize her as one of their own. Trump has made it his mission to unseat her the upcoming election, endorsing lawyer Harriet Hageman as his preferred challenger. To supporters of the former president, Cheney is seen as a turncoat who must be punished and thrown out of office. To Trumps critics, she represents principle over party, someone willing to speak the truth regardless of the consequences. That battle over the future of the Republican Party is playing out within our borders. Any war is expensive, and this one is no different. Out-of-state money has flowed into the state. Weve seen huge donations from states that you would not expect: California and New York, to name a few. Weve seen politicians from all over the country weigh in. Weve seen Hageman court super PACs and Cheney become a darling of people who at one time saw her and her father as the epitome of everything they disagreed with politically. During the Cold War, the West and the Communist Bloc squared off over what was billed as the future of the world. While they never directly fought, they battled in a series of proxy wars in places like Korea and Vietnam, the Congo and Central America. Wyoming is now the site of a proxy war between those who support and oppose Trump. During this proxy war, weve seen many welcome outside assistance. But its critical to ask: Is this all worth it? Is the attention and money and star power really helping Wyoming? In one clear respect, the answer is no. Were a small state, and one that many others already overlook. It seems foolish to give up our political autonomy. Those whove cheered Matt Gaetz as he told them whats best for Wyoming are only inviting more Matt Gaetzes to interfere with our politics, and ultimately, the Wyoming way of life. Ask the people living in the countries where proxy wars took place whether it was worth it in the end. What youll find is when the fighting was over, the money and attention and power disappeared along with the combatants. What they left behind was rubble. Is that really what we want here? Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 1 JERUSALEM, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli state-run company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide Morocco with an advanced air and missile defense system, after they signed a 600-million-U.S.-dollar deal, Israeli media reported Sunday. IAI will provide Morocco with the Barak MX system, in a deal that began to take shape during Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz's visit to Morocco in November last year, according to Israel's Channel 12 TV news and financial website Globes, Barak MX provides a single integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats from different sources and ranges in several mission types and battle conditions, the reports said. These threats include fighters, sea-skimming and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, helicopters and gliding bombs, and the system offers three interception ranges of 35, 70 and 150 km. Morocco and Israel signed a historic agreement for the establishment of full diplomatic relations in December 2020. The deal comes amid Morocco's growing tension with its neighbor Algeria and a possible threat of booby-trapped drones against the North African country, according to Channel 12. Editor: Victoria Eavis asked: Should Cheney keep her head down to improve her odds of reelection? Or would you like her to continue her criticism of the former president? I think this goes far beyond a simple war of words between Cheney and Trump or whether she should just sit down and shut up to keep her job. Its about preserving our democracy. Its about adhering to the rule of law. Its about not letting a would-be fascist dictator get away with attempting to overthrow our democratic republic. Trump and the people who helped him in his attempt to become an unelected dictator need to be held to account for what they tried to do. This is the mandate of the Jan. 6 committee. What would it serve Cheney to suddenly back off investigating and holding those Jan. 6 criminals to account? It would show her to be no better than republican weasels like Graham and Cruz who shift their positions depending on which way the wind blows from Mar-A-Lago. Even though Cheney is a Republican, today's Republican Party is not her Republican Party. Todays Republican Party has become a proto-fascist party. They are no longer able to work within the confines of the system, so their solution is to destroy the system. They dont want a free and equitable system where everyone has an equal chance. They want a system that benefits the wealthy and the corporations over the people. Todays Republicans dont think in terms of right and wrong or what is best for the nation. They only think in terms of winning at all costs and if the cost happens to be our democratic republic, then so be it. This is what Cheney is fighting. She is fighting to preserve our democratic republic. She and the other members of the Jan. 6 committee know that if Trump and his cohorts are allowed a pass on their attempted coup, the next time they may not fail. RANDY VLACH, Casper Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NIDCO (the National Infrastructure Development Company) says it has not initiated any tender or award of contract process with regard to the Toco Port. In a news release, the company said the issuance of any letters of award or contracts relating to the Toco Port project is fraudulent and not authorised by Nidco. THE Childrens Authority is failing to protect migrant children, many of whom are commonly abused in child care facilities. And when they complain, the Authority is unresponsive. A ten-member team appointed by Cabinet to investigate reports of child abuse at childrens homes found that Venezuelan girls placed at St Judes School for Girls were openly labelled prostitutes by staff and other residents, beaten by other residents and in one instance by a security guard, resulting in multiple physical injuries. CANBERRA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Australians have gathered in the nation's capital to protest coronavirus vaccine mandates. Up to 10,000 people during the weekend took to the streets of Canberra to urge the federal, state and territory governments to immediately abolish all health orders making COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for workers. Protesters have gathered in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) since late January but police said there was a "significant influx" for Saturday's rally, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Three people were arrested on Saturday and more than 100 breached barriers were erected at Parliament House but police said protesters were "generally well behaved." The ACT police have warned protesters camping at Canberra's Exhibition Park that they have until Sunday to leave the site or face arrest for trespassing. The Opposition Labor Party on Sunday urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to take a stronger stance against the protesters after members of the government joined the rallies. "He should stand up and condemn the violent extremists who are part of that protest, and he should make clear it has no place in Australian democracy," Kristina Keneally, Labor's Home Affairs spokesperson, told the ABC television on Sunday. On Saturday, Morrison told reporters that the protesters were "speaking up for the things they feel strongly about." "The Commonwealth government has only ever supported mandates that relate to aged care workers, disability workers and those who are working in high-risk situations in the health system," he said. "All other mandates that relate to vaccines have been imposed unilaterally by state governments." Australia on Sunday morning reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases and 45 deaths - 22 in New South Wales, 18 in Victoria, four in Queensland and one in the Northern Territory. Those with authority over others often become wolves because the people under their charge The Hebrew month of Adar has begun, and it brings to our attention its zodiac sign the fish. It may be surprising to many that literature on Jewish mysticism includes references to classical astrology and the fish is a symbol that has profound significance in both. I thought it would be appropriate to consider these aquatic creatures and what they might teach us. Here are seven lessons Ive picked up from fish: 1. Keep a forward-looking outlook Most fish cannot swim backward (eels being a rare exception). Memories can ground us and help inform our decisions, but our sights should be set firmly on the present, with the goal of shaping the future. To paraphrase the 19th century Lithuanian Rabbi Israel Salanter, so long we are alive, we can still accomplish more. 2. Everyone moves at their own pace While sailfish can move at nearly 70 miles per hour, the dwarf seahorse moves at five feet per hour. The latters pace is so slow youd barely be able to tell its moving at all. Even if our pace is slow, it doesnt mean we are not moving at all. King Solomon tells us Train a child according to his way (Proverbs 22:6). Progress for one individual can look very different than progress for another. None of us should try to always be a sailfish. We just need to make sure we are swimming in a good direction. 3. Never let down your guard about yourself Most Fish do rest but they never sleep as humans do. This is so they can remain alert about danger. When weve worked on ourselves and feel that weve reached a level of success, its easy to let our guard down. But as Hillel the Elder said, Do not trust yourself until the day of your death. Complacency can lead to backsliding, and losing much of what we have gained. 4. Your sharp edges affect you too The fangtooth fish is several inches long, but its teeth are so disproportionately large, it cannot close its own mouth. That physical constraint can let a lot of food just float away. Being particularly sharp or acerbic can be an advantage that prevents people around us from taking advantage of us. But having extra-sharp teeth might come back to bite us or at least leave us limited by our inability to maintain social connections. 5. When a leader is needed, step into the breach Male angelfish live with a number of female mates. If the male dies, one of the females will change to male and assume the place of the fallen leader. This particular form of gender fluidity is about individual responsibility. Throughout our lives, we may rely on leadership figures to guide us along the way. But we need to remember that when confronted with a challenge that requires that we step up, we each have the potential to become a leader. 6. Dont be a fish out of water Fish need oxygen-rich water to survive. The first-century sage Rabbi Akiva was once asked why he continued to study Torah at a time when the Romans forbade it. He answered: As water is to a fish, so is Torah to the Jew. G-ds teachings not only provide direction and purpose but also is the secret to Jewish survival. 7. No matter where you roam, your soul can always come back home Salmon travel hundreds of miles and spend years in the ocean, far from their breeding grounds. And yet, when its time, they find their way back to the same riverbed in which they were spawned. Every human being was created in the image of their Creator and has a mission to fulfill during his or her lifetime. As far as we may ever stray from our true identity, we can always circle back to our roots as G-dly, G-d-conscious beings. Tucson faith leaders, we would like to include your original sermon or scriptures of encouragement. Sermons must be written by the person submitting them, not borrowed from another source or writer. If you are a faith leader from any religion or denomination, please contact Sara Brown at sbbrown@tucson.com. Meet the Rabbi Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. A sewer leak spilled over 600,000 gallons of sewage near the city of Nogales, Arizona, over the course of eight days in the summer of 2017. It was not the first or the last time, but it was the most significant indicator of the sewer pipelines condition. Sewage leaks are common in Nogales, and they bring with them the rancid smell of wastewater throughout the city. All the way from City Hall to the border, which is about a mile-and-a-half or 2 miles, the smell is so bad, Nogales Mayor Arturo Garino said regarding the sewage pipe that runs through the heart of downtown. Were standing right here next to the plant, and this doesnt smell the way that it smells (in Nogales). That 9-mile sewage pipe that starts in Nogales, Sonora, and travels through Nogales, Arizona, to the plant in Rio Rico will finally be repaired, marked by a groundbreaking ceremony late last month at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant. But some say the much needed repair of the International Outfall Interceptor, also referred to as the IOI, does not go far enough to address long lasting issues. After years of planning, the city of Nogales secured $38 million in funding for the sewage pipe repair. Since 2010, Congress has annually appropriated funds to rehabilitate the IOI for a total of $34.2 million. About $1.36 million of cost was shared with Mexico, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality provided $2.59 million in funding. Additionally, $1 million came from Freeport-McMoRan Inc., an American mining company founded in Phoenix. Infrastructure takes a while to build, it takes a while to plan, it takes a while to develop the correct solutions. And it takes a while to get the funding, said Maria-Elena Giner, the commissioner for the International Boundary and Water Commission, a federal government agency that settles binational differences that include water, sanitation and water quality. Even so it does take having strong advocates that are going to be pushing for this infrastructure. And we just had the right advocates. The fight for who would fund the project was ongoing, and much of the reason that its taken so long to get the project off the ground. Previously, Mexico did not agree to share construction costs for the IOI and also stated that they did not have any responsibility for the operation and maintenance costs. According to the commissions documents a resolution was approved for Mexico to fund $1.36 million of the IOI repair stating that the rehabilitation was necessary. Today we highlight what can occur when we give up conflict and contention and instead choose cooperation and collaboration, said Misael Cabrera, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Today we highlight what is possible when we stop finger-pointing and start problem-solving. Issues and deterioration Originally built in 1951 and then replaced in 1971 the condition of the pipeline was assessed in 2005 by Brown and Caldwell, an engineering consultant company in Tucson. They noted that the pipelines lifetime was 50 years and identified significant pipeline issues and deterioration. The international water commission had previously spent $5 million in emergency repairs in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017 combined, but this repair would be a semi-permanent repair, with a lifetime of 50 more years, according to spokesperson Lori Kuczmanski. This repair comes right in time as 2022 will be its 51st year. It marks the binational generational efforts from past and present commissioners, mayors and representatives to keep the project alive. The five-phase project will be performed by SAK Construction under a $13.8 million contract with the water commission for the first three phases. Each phase covers different stretches of the sewage pipe. Phases one through three cover 5.3 miles north from the international border and will be completed by October 2023. Phases four and five, which have not yet been given a construction contract, cover 3.4 miles which ends at the wastewater treatment plant in Rio Rico and is anticipated to be completed by October 2024. The repair will consist of trenchless technology and Cured-in-Place Piping, a method where a liner is placed inside the pipe and then cured in place to reinforce the walls from possible root damage and other structural issues that lead to sewage leaks from the pipe. You dont have to dig up everything and rip out old pipes and create those sorts of issues that can have a variety of impacts on a community, said Sally Spencer, the water commissions U.S. Secretary. A Band-Aid repair There are still critics of the project, saying it doesnt do enough to address long lasting issues. Nogales Mayor Arturo Garino calls it a Band-Aid. It will protect us, he said. But itll be a certain amount of time. Its not like having a line the proper size and capacity. When you have a small line like this, and you have close to half-a-million people, then the lines are gonna be pressurized. Thats what causes the problems. Garino argues that the pipeline would need a 48- to 60-inch diameter to move without pressure. However Kuczmanski, with the water commission, said that the pipeline is already gravity-fed and does not move with pressure as Garino claimed, though the needs of the pipeline could change if the population increases on either side of the border. Garino has been a proponent for reconstructing the pipeline since talks about a reconstruction project began in the early 2000s. Studies have been done, and its just not feasible, Kuczmanski said, referring to the 2005 study done by Brown and Caldwell. It would be a lot of money to have that IOI completely removed out of the wash, thats just not going to happen. So the next best thing is to use the CIPP technology. And its like a new pipe for the next 50 years. The pipeline goes under the Nogales wash and is transported to the sewage plant in Rio Rico where it is treated. The effluent is then put back into the Santa Cruz River that travels north toward Tucson, where it dries up. Near Rio Rico and Tubac, though, the water brings life to the desert where endangered Gila topminnow prosper and aquatic invertebrates thrive, according to the Sonoran Institute, a non-profit organization that aims to protect the regions natural resources. Its a beautiful, lush riparian corridor, said Luke Cole, a spokesperson for the Sonoran Institute, which has released annual reports on the condition of the Santa Cruz River since 2008. Problems with antiquated sewer systems on both sides of the international border in Nogales had caused health threats for residents due to fecal coliform bacteria, according to Arizona Daily Star archives. In 2011, the report stated that the fish population was growing back due to a $59 million cleanup of the sewage plant. A sewage breach put out millions of gallons of raw sewage in 2017 into the Santa Cruz River and created serious concern for the rivers health, as well as E. coli possibly making its way into the riverstream where people visited. Two years later a Sonoran Institute report found that high levels that do not meet Arizonas E. coli standard continue to be seen in the river, with 73% of exceedances occurring during the rainy season, suggesting that rain washes fecal material into the river. By maintaining an IOI thats bringing water into the U.S., it creates the Santa Cruz River in Nogales as we know it, and its a large beautiful river corridor that we think warrants protection for the benefit of the people who live here and the fish and the bugs and wildlife, Cole said. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Underground mining operations have had to deal with development challenges including drainage, ventilation, illumination and excavation support. Water underground originates from the surface, oftentimes through porous or fissured rock masses, alluvial material, sand, gravel and limestone. Meteoric water from rain, snow and fog, connate water buried with rocks that contain it, and magmatic water originating from cooling magma and resulting rocks are some classifications defining water sources. Mines throughout Arizona have met the challenges of dewatering workings through aggressive pumping systems. The Magma Mine early on built a 1,200-gallon-per-minute pumping station at the 3,600-foot level. The Old Dominion Mine used deep-well turbines to bore holes removing water from the mine levels as a prerequisite to further development. The mines at Tombstone employed heavy Cornish pumps to mitigate flooding in the 1880s and 20 years later built two 1,500-gallon-per minute pumps at the 700-foot station to handle more than 2 million gallons of water daily. Challenges involving water acidity in copper mines include corrosion of mining equipment such as fittings, pipes, pumps and valves. Solutions including the use of lime as a neutralizing agent of acid water were used in the early 1900s. However, when mixed in an agitating tank and added to slurry in varying amounts, the lime compound would accumulate on the ditches and sumps. Harrison M. Lavender was a renowned Phelps Dodge vice president in charge of Western Operations and the namesake of the Bisbee open pit mine development known as the Lavender Pit. He was successful in processing acid copper-bearing mine water that replaced lime mineralization. Mine water was passed through a series of 10-foot-long by 5-foot-wide and 5-foot-high water-proofed concrete boxes filled with scrap iron, which precipitated the copper while neutralizing the water acidity. Ventilation, another challenge to successful underground mining operations, involved the need to manage accumulation of gases in workings including those of carbon monoxide, methane, hydrogen and nitrogen. These gases occur naturally in most rocks; however, in high concentrations, these can prove fatal to miners. Firedamp, a combustible gas comprised of methane, is often found in coal mines. Blackdamp, a mixture of around 90% nitrogen and 15% carbon dioxide, is caused by combustible gases. Heavier than air, it is often found on the surface of a mine, reducing the oxygen content in the air and leading to the asphyxiation of miners in proximity. Oftentimes mice or small birds were taken underground to measure levels of carbon monoxide due to their sensitivities to gases, hence the phrase canary in a coal mine. This practice was later replaced by electronic detectors. Some early examples of mine ventilation in Arizona involved the Oatman district at the Tom Reed gold mine. Work at the 1,100 level in 1931 proved challenging with temperatures in excess of 103 degrees. Procurement of a No. 8 Sirocco fan driven by a 25-horsepower motor, delivering 31,000 cubic feet of air per minute, was installed at the bottom of the United Eastern shaft on the 950 level. A system of wooden control doors was also installed to moderate the air flow. Better air distribution, cooler temperatures resulting from the absorption of heat from exposed surfaces, and reduction of relative humidity resulted in improved working conditions. Another example involved the 4,600-foot-deep Magma Mine installing an air-conditioning plant that required 494,310 kilowatt-hours for its monthly operation in November 1937. The refrigerating units were placed underground, relying on underground water source for cooling and pumps for circulating. Other methods of ventilation included dust mitigation with bag filtering units and spray chambers around loading chutes, transfers and underground crushers. Today, small portable devices including anemometers and airflow meters use wind velocity as a means to test air quality and determine airflow in a mine, reducing the buildup of deadly gases. Innovations in mine illumination have evolved from candles, oil and carbide lamps to the electric cap lamp consisting of a lamp attached to a miners cap connected by a flexible cord that draws current from a small storage battery attached to the miners belt. Battery power lasted 12 hours and was recharged after the miners shift. Permissible electric mine lamps included a safety feature that would prevent ignition of explosive methane and air mixtures in the event that the lamp bulb was broken. A history of mine disasters in the United States in the early 20th century (25 alone in 1910), preceded by the 1907 Monongah Coal Mine disaster in West Virginia (considered the largest coal mine disaster in U.S. history with a documented 362 casualties), prompted congressional action. The U.S. Bureau of Mines was established in an attempt to improve working conditions in mining operations across the country. The Mine Safety Appliances Co. was tasked to create an improved and safer electric cap lamp. Thomas Edison was credited with having designed the Edison Cap Lamp, comprised of a rechargeable battery pack in a self-locking steel case. It included the safety feature of an electrical contact disconnect should the bulb break, enabling the tungsten filament to cool, so as to avoid igniting flammable gasses in the air. Another safety concern involving underground mining is rock support for excavations. Early methods employed including timber post and cross-members installation to avoid cave-ins induced when conducting blasting and seismic loading. Many types of materials are used as support structures in mines including timber, concrete, stone, steel, brick and cast iron. Treated timber for longevity with coal-tar creosote or zinc chloride has proven effective in shafts, adits, stations, air ways and track lines. Principle systems involving timbering include cribs (appears as a log house structure), square-sets (trusses constructed on vertical and horizontal lines) and stulls (timber props wedged between two walls of a stope as a framework to prevent cave-ins). No doubt, underground mining practices evolved over the 20th century to facilitate the safety needs of the miner and the production of the mine site. Photos: The birth and life of San Manuel mine, smelter and town in 1950s-70s Town of San Manuel San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter, 1955 San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine and smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter San Manuel copper mine, refinery, smelter Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel Town of San Manuel A special thank you to local Tucsonan Bruce McDermaid, who provided the author with the mine safety lamps of which several images are displayed in this article. William Ascarza is an archivist, historian and author of seven books available for purchase online and at select bookstores. These include his latest, In Search of Fortunes: A Look at the History of Arizona Mining, available through M.T. Publishing Co. His other books are Chiricahua Mountains: History and Nature, Southeastern Arizona Mining Towns, Zenith on the Horizon: An Encyclopedic Look at the Tucson Mountains from A to Z, Tucson Mountains, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with Peggy Larson and Sentinel to the North: Exploring the Tortolita Mountains. Email William Ascarza for a signed copy of his publications at AZMiningHistory@gmail.com Sources A special thank you to local Tucsonan Bruce McDermaid, who provided the author with the mine safety lamps of which several images are displayed in this article. Bayley, W.S. Guide to the Study of Non-Metallic Mineral Products. New York. Henry Holt & Co. 1930. Hoover, Herbert C. Principles of Mining: Valuation, Organization and Administration. New York. McGraw-Hill Book Co, Inc. 1909. Ilsley, L. C. and A. B. Hooker. Permissible Electric Mine Lamps. Bulletin 332. United States Government Printing Office. 1930. Kneeland, F.H., Weigel, W.M., Collins, H.E., Mining Equipment and Mine Organization and Safety, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York, 1915. Mining engineers' handbook , edited by Robert Peele and J. A. Church , 3d edition , 2 vols . , 3,515 pp .,New York, John Wiley & Sons , Inc., 1941. Profitable Mine and Plant Practices. Published by McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1933. MSA Catalog Industrial Safety Equipment Catalog No. 6 B 1951. Young, George J. Elements of Mining. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., 4th ed., 1946. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. A lawsuit claiming libel and false-light invasion of privacy against the Arizona Daily Star and two of its journalists has been filed in connection with reporting about the stalking of a local judge and a shot fired near the stalker. The focus of the reporting was on a February 2021 incident in which Adam Watters, a Pima County justice of the peace, fired a gun into the ground near Fei Qin, a man who had been stalking Watters. News coverage of the incident outside Watters house included a video the judge made of himself threatening to kill Qin before firing what he called a warning shot. At Qins trial, a jury heard evidence that the Watters family was unnerved after several incidents in which garbage was left on their lawn in early February 2021. The trash left outside the Watters home included mail addressed to tenants Qin had recently sought to evict in Watters court, evidence showed. Around the same time, the judges truck tires were slashed in two separate incidents while parked outside his house. The Pinal County Attorneys Office declined to prosecute Watters. In January, Qin was sentenced to 1 years in state prison for stalking the judge. The lawsuit, filed in Pima County Superior Court, says a March 2021 news article by Star reporter Carol Ann Alaimo about the confrontation incorrectly implied that the judges daughter, who was there that day, quit her job as a Pima County prosecutor in connection with the incident. The lawsuit says Caitlin Day Watters had already been interviewing with a Tucson law firm and was offered a job with her new firm before the shooting incident. The lawsuit also says that a July 2021 news opinion column by Tim Steller made false and misleading statements, including that Caitlin Watters and her sister were armed and waited for Qin in lawn chairs hidden by bushes. The lawsuit says Caitlin Watters sister was not armed and was reading a book. An incident report by a sheriffs deputy who interviewed Caitlin Watters as a witness in the case says the attorney was armed during the incident but did not fire. The column did not identify either woman by name. Caitlins gun ownership, like her other activities in this matter was legal, honest and appropriate, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says Caitlin Watters was approached on multiple occasions by co-workers, friends, fellow attorneys, judges and members of the public about the articles after they were published. The suit also says Watters is member of a long-standing established Arizona ranching and Republican family that includes her grandmother, former state Sen. and Pima County Supervisor Ann Day, and her great aunt, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor. Attorney Dan Barr, who is representing the Star in the lawsuit, said the news story and column about the incident dealt with a matter of public concern involving, among other things, the conduct of two public officials a justice of the peace and a then-prosecutor with the Pima County Attorneys Office. We intend to vigorously defend the Star and its reporters. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan foiled an attempt to smuggle heroin at the Bacha Khan International Airport in the country's northwestern Peshawar city and arrested one suspect, according to local media and officials on Sunday. According to the ANF, they found 3 kg of heroin concealed at the bottom of a bag during a search of luggage. The arrested man has been sent to an undisclosed place for further investigation, with a case filed against him. In a separate development, the ANF in Peshawar conducted an intelligence-based operation, seizing over 9 kg of hashish and arresting a person, local media reported on Sunday. Rosemont Mine is health threat Lets keep Tucson livable. According to Arizona Mining Review, the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Ritas could become the third-largest copper mine in America. Approximately 120,000 of the 1 million people who live in Pima County live within a 12-mile radius. These areas are at lower elevations than the proposed mine; downtown Tucson, only 25 miles away being the lowest. Blasting, dust, noise, lights and heavy road traffic will be the conditions in nearby Green Valley, Sahaurita, Corona de Tucson and Vail. Particulate matter in dust and toxic fumes from possible processing can cause permanent lung damage and exacerbate respiratory conditions. As a retired nurse, I know from experience that its better to prevent disease rather than treat the suffering it inflicts. Furthermore, 8.9 million gallons of water will be used daily and billions in profits go to Canada. This mine must be stopped if we want Tucson to survive and thrive. Elaine Wolter SaddleBrooke Child tax credit an equity issue Our congressional leaders must listen to the public and take action in support of the Build Back Better bill. We must speak and advocate for our children who cannot. It seems skeptics believe recipients of the child tax credit will abuse the credit and use it for nonessential items such as vacations and lavish expenses. This is simply not the case. Research has shown that families use these tax credits to pay for necessities like basic household expenses and education. Supporting the Build Back Better bill is also an issue of equity. According to the 2021 U.S. Household Pulse Survey, reported rates of receipt were lowest among Hispanic/Latinx adults; non-Hispanic/Latinx adults who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and adults with household incomes below $25,000. I urge Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly to work to address the administrative burdens that prevent low-income families from claiming the child tax credit by supporting the Build Back Better bill. Karina Garavito Foothills Supreme Court needs reforms The Supreme Court is the only federal court in the country that has no ethical guidelines and mandatory recusal for conflicts of interest. This situation needs to be remedied. The Supreme Court has become the most powerful branch of the government and is heavily politicized. It is rare that any controversial law or executive order is not taken to court. Eventually, every case is taken to the Supreme Court, further slowing our gridlocked government. When the cases reach the current activist court, it seems many cases are decided based on political position with no regard for legal precedents. Many past judges have made changes in their personal situations to avoid conflicts. Unfortunately, the most blatant violator of ethical guidelines, Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, consistently rules on cases that directly deal with his wifes political activities and income. If Sen. Kyrsten Sinema wants to do something meaningful to protect democracy, forget about the filibuster and clean up the corrupt Supreme Court. Bruce Hilpert North side Holding public schools hostage I think the majority of our legislators and our governor are hellbent on destroying public education. By failing to prioritize waiving the aggregate expenditure limit, they are dangling the threat of withholding already budgeted funding that was allocated to schools last summer. They seem to have forgotten a primary lesson of the pandemic: Our childrens social-emotional health and the economic health of our communities rests on district public schools being open and serving the 90% of Arizonas K-12 students who attend them. Its not enough for officials in government to keep our state 49th in education funding. Now they are holding districts hostage because they fear doing so will create an opening for Prop. 208 funds, despite the fact these voter-approved funds had no impact on 2021-22 budgets. If legislators care at all about our students and economy, they will immediately and unconditionally waive this outdated spending cap and stop using students education and our states future as negotiating chips. Judi Moreillon Northeast side Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: This April Fools Day, children across Arizona may arrive at school to find that their favorite teacher has vanished. Or the bus that transports them home has disappeared. They may discover their favorite class has been erased from their schedule. Their prom and graduation planning committees? Canceled. Thats because in less than a month, the Arizona state Legislature may force Arizona public schools to cut a whopping $1.15 billion (15.26%) from this years already approved budget. If our representatives fail to intervene, schools must begin budget reductions by April 1st. These cuts would mean losses of $5.9 million in Catalina Foothills, $15.1 million in Marana, and $58.2 million in Tucson Unified School District, to name a few, according to the Arizona Education Association. Schools that cant afford these dramatic cuts may close permanently. Parents like me have watched our children persevere through three grueling school years disrupted by COVID. Is it possible they will face yet another interruption to their education, this time in the form of a preventable budget cut? Yes, and its happening because of an outdated funding formula called the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL). This spending cap, which was adopted by the Arizona state Legislature in 1980, limits how much districts can spend on education each year, adjusting for student population and cost of living. School districts had their 2021-22 budgets approved by the Legislature months ago, and have been spending that money accordingly. However, several factors have arisen this year that could prevent districts from accessing over $1 billion of these preapproved funds. If youre confused as to why districts may be blocked from spending their own money, youre not alone. Here are a few reasons were in this predicament. Proposition 301 funding now counts toward the AEL: When Prop. 301 was passed to fund education in 2000, voters exempted that money from counting toward the expenditure limit. When the proposition was extended in 2018, however, the Legislature did not exempt that revenue. Therefore, the $638 million generated by Prop. 301 now counts toward the AEL, making it appear that districts have overspent by this amount. Last years low enrollment affected this years budget: When schools went online because of COVID in 2020-21, many districts enrollments plummeted. As schools reopened, enrollment increased. The problem is, this years budget is based on last years low student count. This translates to a lower spending limit this year than in previous years. The AEL uses an antiquated formula: The AEL was created 42 years ago, when the idea of computers in classrooms was the stuff of science fiction. This funding limit has not changed with the times, and our children are paying the price. Were already last in funding: Lets not forget that Arizona currently ranks dead last in per pupil spending in the nation. Can you imagine legislators cutting 15% from the budgets of schools that already receive the least funding of any state in the U.S.? Thats more than a cruel April Fools joke. Thats downright immoral. While the factors impacting this situation are complicated, the solution is simple. 1. The Legislature must vote to override the AEL by March 1. Theyve done this twice in the past, and they can do it again. 2. Going forward, Legislators need to update or repeal the AEL so we can avoid this problem in the future. Overriding the AEL requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, and the clock is ticking. Parents, grandparents and advocates for children, contact your state representatives today and ask them to override the AEL. Educate your friends and neighbors about what this vote means for our community. Get motivated and get organized. Our children have endured so much during this pandemic. They deserve to end the year with the staff, programs and celebrations that they hold dear. Legislators, stop fooling around with our childrens education. Vote to override the AEL. Heather Mace is a contributor to the Arizona Daily Star and a teacher mentor in Tucson. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: The National Public Radio announcer read the report with appropriate concern, emphasizing the final three words: A Bronx apartment fire killed 19 people, including nine children. The focus on children highlighted the deep sorrow and shock we feel when children are hurt. Thats because humans are hard-wired to protect the young. And yet, during the two years of COVID-19, the assumption of adults protecting children has been upended. Weve asked children to protect adults, viewing kids as vectors of disease and inadvertently teaching them to think of themselves and their friends that way. Its time to stop. At the beginning of the pandemic, before we understood how COVID worked, before vaccines and treatments, all of us including the kiddos had to pull our weight in mitigation efforts. But we now have more than enough data to show it was exceedingly rare for children to have serious outcomes from COVID, and that schools are not a huge cause of community spread. And yet we still encourage and sometimes mandate mitigation measures that are having an increasingly negative effect on our childrens social, emotional and mental health. The most obvious of these measures is masking. I was a huge proponent of masking in schools until this September, when I started teaching a 90-minute Tuesday afternoon class to first graders. This experience has shown me what masking means in a classroom. Masks are optional in this educational setting as they are in about half of Pima County public schools and about half the class wears masks. That half is less participatory, more easily frustrated and decidedly more fatigued as they try, again and again, to be heard from behind a mask. The joy and abandon much less excited learning that normally permeates early-childhood classrooms is gone. My teacher friends in schools with mandated masking report something similar, an unnerving zombielike presentation among children of all ages and Im ashamed to say I didnt believe them until I saw it myself. Educators arent the only ones raising the alarm. A group of pediatricians, psychologists and family doctors launched The Urgency of Normal website at the end of January calling for an end to all mandatory masking in schools. This is not an anti-vax, anti-mask, Tucker Carlson devotee group. They are pro-vaccine medical professionals who celebrate the continued high effectiveness of vaccination while growing gravely concerned about the effects of extended restrictions on childrens lives, according to their mission statement. Additionally, three national medical groups representing pediatricians, child psychiatrists and childrens hospitals declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health, last month, detailing a marked national increase in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation in children and teens, much of it tied to the complete disruption of normal school. In other words, our kids are unhealthy but it isnt because they have COVID. The primary argument for school masking has been that children dont live in a vacuum. As Pima County Public Health Director Theresa Cullen has told me, these children go out into the community and, in some cases, home to live with grandparents. Ergo, masking children protects the wider community. While I do not dismiss the viruss danger for older adults and the immunocompromised, I believe we must put that danger into perspective, especially in Pima County, where we have a fully vaccinated rate in all ages of nearly 67% and a nearly 93% fully vaccinated rate in ages 65 and over. Masks were promoted as a needed, effective placeholder while we developed vaccines and treatments. We now have vaccines for everyone who wants them, and treatments for everyone who is high-risk. Yes, children under 5 cannot yet be vaccinated, but data shows that just like their older brothers and sisters preschoolers are at more risk of car accidents than poor COVID outcomes. Ending mandatory masking does not mean we should give up protecting the elderly or immunocompromised. But we can protect them and give most children normal school, because research shows one-way masking works. If a person wears a well-fitted KN95 or N95 mask not cloth or surgical she is protected regardless of what others do around her. Teachers and students who want or need to mask can continue to do so. We also know that certain conditions most notably obesity make adults more likely to have poor COVID outcomes. But is it appropriate to require children to mask to protect the overweight adults in their lives, or should those adults work to reduce their COVID risk with lifestyle changes? (Also, is it a coincidence that the United States has had more COVID deaths than our peer countries and we also have much higher rates of obesity?) Weve been acting as if children are infinitely resilient. They are not. Some break. I see it in my grandsons meltdowns pandemic-fatigue behavior that looks like the 4-year-old he was when this crisis began instead of the 6-year-old he is. I see it in the clinging 8-year-olds who were once independent and exploratory before two years of pandemic loss. I observed it in the severe anxiety of my great-niece, and hear about it weekly from counselor friends with monthslong waiting lists of children in need. Mostly, I see it in the despair in the middle schoolers at my neighborhood bus stop, who used to be talkative and playful and now sit, masked and silent, looking like they are facing a firing squad. Ending mandatory masking for children will not be a cure-all. Weve got a lot of damage to reverse helping children unlearn the Im dangerous/Im in constant danger message our fears inadvertently laid upon them. But tossing the masks is a good first step because, with the virus here to stay and it is staying we must return childhood to its rightful owners before those precious, joyful, once-in-a-lifetime years are lost forever. Renee Schafer Horton is a regular Star contributor. Reach her at rshorton08@gmail.com. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Some light freezing rain or sleet is possible Monday night. Accumulations would likely be minimal, but slick spots on roads could easily develop as temperatures stay below freezing. Downtown Tulsas second QuikTrip opened in the fall of 1981 less than two blocks from the companys other downtown location, an experiment that introduced a new urban type of convenience store at the height of the citys oil boom. The second store occupied part of the historic Pythian Building at Fifth Street and Boulder Avenue, the western edge of the old pedestrian Main Mall and strategically kitty-corner to the gigantic Cities Service tower, then under construction. Cities Service, known today as CITGO, had cleared an entire city block to erect a new corporate headquarters, which was supposed to become the states tallest building, with 52 stories sheathed top to bottom in dark red granite. And local officials expected other large-scale developments to spring up nearby, bringing thousands of new jobs to the area. QuikTrip, wanting to cater to office workers as they came and went from the new skyscraper, designed a smaller, experimental store that focused even more on food and snacks than the other downtown location, near Fourth and Main streets, according to the archives of the Tulsa World. That first store had opened in 1976 and was more or less a regular-size QT for the time. Neither downtown location sold gas, but that didnt seem unusual back then. No QuikTrip had gas pumps until 1971. The company expected Tulsas thriving downtown to provide more than enough customers to support both QuikTrips. But nobody was counting on the oil bust. As crude prices dropped, the Cities Service project stopped at just 17 floors and eventually changed owners to become ONEOK Plaza. Other construction projects never got started. And instead of adding thousands of new jobs, downtown lost roughly 15% of its workforce, according to the Worlds archives. QuikTrips second downtown store closed after only two years. And even the first location began to lose business steadily. If everybody goes down there about an extra eight times a day, then maybe we can get sales up enough to keep it open, a QuikTrip official joked during a World interview in early 1990. The store closed that September. The old QuikTrip has since been reborn as an independent store called Treats and remains a downtown favorite. But now QT itself is coming back downtown. The Tulsa-based chain will be part of a new food court on the plaza level of the BOK Tower, and company officials describe it as a unique, new store design. Its likely to be smaller and more focused on food than the typical QuikTrip, which sounds a lot like the experimental QT that opened 41 years ago in a different part of downtown. Will this one be more successful? Featured video: Majestic augmented reality mural unveiled in downtown Tulsa Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said here that his recent visit to China was of great significance, further strengthening bilateral relations and opening new windows for investments. "The visit was of utmost importance," he said. "Both sides had discussed several core issues related to bilateral relations and investments." Khan made the remarks when meeting with Pakistan's former diplomats, representatives of think tanks and media people in Islamabad to brief them on the results of his visit to China from Feb. 3 to 6. During the visit, the prime minister attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and held meetings with the Chinese leadership. Regarding the prospect for bilateral cooperation on investment, the prime minister said his government has been working to promote connections between the private sectors of the two countries in order to increase investments in Pakistan and generate employment opportunities. Praising China's governance system, the Pakistani prime minister said that China has practiced democracy in its real sense and ensured the rule of law and equality, greatly benefiting its people. On the occasion, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the visit has given a fresh impetus to the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said that China has helped Pakistan build infrastructure, which is supporting the country's economy. He pledged efforts to facilitate Chinese investors doing their business in Pakistan. Nominee knocking: U.S. Sen. James Lankford used a Senate floor speech to criticize President Joe Biden's appointments to positions ranging from Health and Human Services to the Defense Department. "I really believe you can tell a lot about an administration's priorities based on the people that they put in place in each location," Lankford said. High on his list was Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a former congressman and California attorney general who Lankford said has no background in health care and was appointed because of his support of abortion rights. Lankford also lashed out at the appointments of administrators with views at odds with the oil and gas industry and police reform. He discounted the possibility of quickly transitioning to noncarbon-based fuels and said that "70% of the energy in the United States is fossil fuel-related. So what happens suddenly if it gets harder to be able to do natural gas investment? It gets harder to do oil investment in the United States? Well, two things happen with that. It's pretty straightforward. We import more energy, and the prices go up." Gassing up: One alternative fuel gaining favor among Oklahoma's public officials and natural gas sector is hydrogen. In fact, a state Senate committee is scheduled to hear a series of bills on incentives for the industry next week. In theory, hydrogen can produce energy with only water as a byproduct, but in current practice the process usually involves natural gas or gasified coal and throws off carbon dioxide. Even so, it's cleaner than more traditional fossil fuel energy generation. The biggest drawback is cost. Although hydrogen is the universe's most plentiful regular substance, it exists almost entirely in combination with other elements, most notably oxygen. Current extraction technologies are very expensive. Last week a Williams Cos. executive testified in a Senate hearing on hydrogen fuel. Lankford temporarily assumed the role of ranking Republican, even though he is not a member of the committee. Among other things, Lankford noted that natural gas pipelines Williams operates about 30,000 miles of those could be used for transporting hydrogen-based fuels. "If our goal is to determine whether hydrogen is a viable alternative to some of our existing energy technologies, we cannot discount a method that could drive the need for, and development of, other parts of the supply chain," said Lankford. Nuking up: Also last week, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe advocated for a permanent solution for disposing of spent nuclear fuel, in part to facilitate expansion of nuclear power. Inhofe said resistance to nuclear power has derailed efforts to systematically dispose of spent fuel, with the result that many communities are stuck with radioactive waste literally in their backyards. "No locality should have stranded nuclear waste," he said. "Taxpayers nationwide, including Oklahomans, already pay the liability cost of storing spent fuel where it is after a government failed to build a permanent repository." Smokin': Inhofe was among several Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators upset about a Biden administration program that supplies "safer smoking kits" to some drug addicts. Some, including Inhofe, injected race into their responses. It appears that this administration is using the guise of 'racial equity' to advance a harmful, far-left agenda that will only worsen drug abuse in our most vulnerable communities," Inhofe wrote in a letter to Becerra, the head of Health and Human Services. The HHS document laying out the program's parameters says the purpose is to reduce harm to addicts. The only mention of racial equity is to a "behavioral health disparity impact statement," which addresses differences in access and treatment among different groups. According to reports, the smoking kits contain "disinfectant wipes, rubber mouthpieces to prevent burns and cuts, and brass screens to filter out harmful contaminants" and are intended to prevent those addicted to crack cocaine and other "smokable" drugs from further harming themselves. Inhofe and others have suggested the federal government is spending $30 million for the kits, which some have referred to as "crack pipes," but that is not correct. HHS did OK a three-year, $29.2 million grant to implement about 20 "harm reduction" measures, including the smoking kits and sterilized syringes. In the past few days, the administration issued an ordered specifying that pipes are not to be included in the kits. Inhofe said he doubts the efficacy of the measures. It is imperative that this administration implement sound, evidence-based health care programs that produce beneficial results for vulnerable communities," he said. Dots and dashes: Lankford said he wants sanctions against Belarus for cooperating with Russia as the latter country threatens Ukraine. Oklahoma Reps. Stephanie Bice, Tom Cole and Frank Lucas voted in favor of legislation financially restructuring the U.S. Postal Service so that it can continue six-day-a-week delivery; Reps. Kevin Hern and Markwayne Mullin opposed it. Mullin called President Joe Biden's assertion that private citizens have no need for certain semi-automatic weapons "ignorant." Hern was among a large number of Republicans asking Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign. Lucas, ranking Republican on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, and Bice, a member of the committee, called for an investigation of White House climate adviser Jane Lubchenko for her role in the publication of a research paper co-written by her brother-in-law. Lankford called for more data on the effectiveness of natural immunity against COVID-19. Mullin backed Medicare higher reimbursement rates for home medical equipment suppliers. Cole filed legislation to prevent members of Congress from benefiting from student loan debt cancellation enacted while they are in office. Inhofe met with representatives of the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World Featured video: Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Under the dome: The second week of the 2022 legislative session gets off to a quick start with several measures of note scheduled for their initial committee hearings. On Monday afternoon, the Senate Public Safety Committee will hear three medical marijuana bills that increase penalties for law violations and take other steps related to enforcement. At the same time, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will take up President Pro Tem Greg Treats bill to separate the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority into a stand-alone agency. On Tuesday, Treats bill to repeal the state sales tax on groceries will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee. In the House of Representatives, items on Mondays committee agendas include: House Bill 3734, by Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, which would add a step in the medical marijuana business licensing process; HB 2990, by Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, a measure sought by Tulsa County that would give it and other large counties greater ability to govern themselves; HB 4099, by Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, a $46 million Oklahoma Historical Society bond issue that would specifically exclude the OKPOP Museum in Tulsa; and HB 4196, by Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, which would authorize what amounts to bonuses to public college and universities based on the number of students enrolled in nursing, engineering and teacher education programs. On Tuesday, Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, will present several bills related to charter school oversight in the House Common Education Committee. Nurses pay: State Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, the Legislatures only nurse practitioner, dispelled rumors that the federal government is considering caps on nurses pay. Nobody is proposing a limit on the salaries of nurses, Roe said in a Friday press release. She said the rumors appear to have originated with a letter signed by more than 200 members of Congress, including three from Oklahoma, asking the Biden administration to investigate reports of profiteering by medical staffing agencies. The nursing shortage has significantly increased since 2020, and many hospitals have little choice but to contract with nurse staffing agencies to fill their available positions, Roe said. Last months letter asks for an investigation into these agencies to determine if any are padding their own bottom line rather than passing the bulk of the hospitals payments along to the nurses. Campaigns and elections: State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate April Grace challenged the accuracy of fellow Republican Ryan Walters fourth-quarter campaign finance report, noting that it did not include any expenses for his kickoff event at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City or much of anything else. According to the online McCarville Report, Grace said Walters needs to explain who paid for the event as well as his campaign signs and website. If any of these things were provided by corporations, they are illegal, said Grace. If these were paid for by his campaign or allowable in-kind contributions, why are they not on his ethics report? Grace implied that the reports raise questions about Walters ability to manage the states common education system. The largest appropriation the State of Oklahoma makes every year is to common education, she said. The state superintendent of public instruction manages billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Walters is the current state education secretary and Gov. Kevin Stitts handpicked choice for state superintendent. Grace is superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools. John Cox is the third candidate for the June primary. Meetings and events: Creek County Democrats hold their first meeting of the year at 6 p.m. Thursday at La Margarita restaurant, 1215 New Sapulpa Road, Sapulpa. The meeting will focus on planning activities for the coming year. ...The Oklahoma Democratic Party plans a statewide phone bank blitz Feb. 22 on behalf of selected school board candidates. Bottom lines: Elevating Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, to speaker pro tem resulted in the promotion of Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, to Hilberts former position as vice-chairman of Appropriations and Budget. Allison Littrell was named 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas director of constituent services. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. She was in San Diego to learn how to protect abuse victims. Instead, Candida Manion went wine tasting. Federal funds paid Manions salary as executive director of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. In September 2019, they covered her flights, lodging and meals for the Summit on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Across the Lifespan. Rather than learning more about prosecuting child abusers and treating batterers, Manion skipped a day of conference sessions to sip wine with an employee. Federal auditors uncovered a pattern of improper and irresponsible spending under Manion that included conference trips to Southern California and Florida. Money intended to support Oklahoma shelters, crisis centers and victims was spent on employee and board member vacations. A federal audit shows that on Manions watch, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault squandered or mismanaged $886,495 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women from 2015 to 2020. Thats 98% of the grant money spent by the coalition during those five years. Though Manion and her employee paid for the wine-tasting trip to Temecula, the June report shows she spent nearly $239,499 on travel during the period scrutinized by auditors more than triple the coalitions budget. Every six months, the Inspector Generals office provides an audit report to Congress. The most recent report includes the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault audit and 40 others. Of the money questioned by auditors, the Oklahoma nonprofits total amount was the third highest and far exceeded the other four programs receiving money from the Office on Violence Against Women. The findings jeopardize critical aid for Oklahoma women and their children, who suffer abuse at a rate nearly twice the national average, according to the latest Kids Count report. During the pandemic, state domestic violence incidents reached their highest level in at least 20 years, the most recent Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data shows. The U.S. Department of Justice could pursue criminal charges as it did in a recent case involving a similar nonprofit organization in Montana. The Office on Violence Against Women could force the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to repay some or all of the funds. It could forgive the full amount. It could suspend or ban the coalition from receiving future grant money, making it even more difficult for Oklahoma victims to find justice and safety. We dont have enough shelters, we dont have enough staff and we dont have enough money to go around, Manion said during a town hall meeting in Norman in 2019. So, we have to leverage our resources in the community to get the work done. Manion was fired early last year. Employees of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are in police stations counseling law enforcement on how to talk to victims. Theyre at shelters delivering masks and designing COVID-19 protocols. Theyre on the phone searching for an empty bed. Theyre at the Capitol advocating for victim rights and access to services. They spend a week each year certifying victim advocates across the state so shelter directors like Latricia Kippers can keep their doors open. We cant do this work alone, by ourselves, and be effective, said Kippers, who runs New Directions in Lawton. So losing that coalition and that resource for guidance and training and accreditations and all of that would not be good. I dont know what else to say but it would really be a disservice to shelters across Oklahoma. When board members hired Manion in June 2014, they lauded her grant management skills and oversight of millions in grant funding as the supervisor of tobacco prevention programs for the Norman Regional Health System. At the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Manion made at least $60,000 a year and controlled an annual budget of $450,000 to $650,000, according to income tax reports. Federal funds made up most of the nonprofits revenue, which are supplemented with membership fees paid by victim service programs. Over several weeks, Oklahoma Watch called and sent texts to Manion, 49, and her attorney requesting an interview for this story. They did not respond. Manion used coalition money to send board members to conferences in exchange for looking the other way when it came to her spending, according to allegations in documents obtained by Oklahoma Watch. The coalitions former office coordinator, Jamie Bond, booked reservations in Orlando for one board member who stayed in a hotel at Disney World with her family. Bond described the trip as a kickback. In one case, auditors discovered Manion reimbursed herself for the cost of a hotel based on the reservation amount. But the hotel invoice showed the cost to be $465 less than the amount she was paid. In another, funds designated to victim services paid for the cost of hotel rooms for Manion and the coalitions former bookkeeper, Kim Wynn. Auditors described those charges as in-town expenses and in defiance of federal guidelines because they were not for official business. The coalition routinely used federal funds to send staff to in-state and out-of-state conferences. These grants allow for some travel. But the frequency and expense of Manions travel caught the attention of coalition board member Jan Peery. I can remember at one point thinking, goodness, theres a lot of travel, a lot of education going on, said Peery, who is also the president and chief executive officer at the YWCA in Oklahoma City. But I also knew she was new to this field. Manion had no professional experience working with abuse victims. It made sense to Peery for Manion to seek more education than past directors. And Manion did provide updates to the board about what she was learning, Peery said. But Peery was unaware Manion was skipping full days of the conferences. Manion sometimes spent the day sleeping in her hotel room instead of attending sessions, Bond said. Manion would call Bond around 3 p.m. to check in, saying that she had just woken up and was doing some work before going out to dinner and drinks with conference attendees, Bond said. The state Attorney Generals office certifies programs the coalition supports, ensuring they follow state rules for reporting and meet its standards of care. Melissa Blanton, who leads the victim services unit, said she attended two out-of-state conferences with Manion and we attended both of them fully together. Blanton said she was unaware of any financial trouble the coalition was experiencing until the audit report was released. Manion was fired in February of 2021 and given two months of severance, according to documents obtained by Oklahoma Watch. In a similar case last April, the board chairwoman of the nonprofit Montana Native Womens Coalition was convicted of fraudulent travel claims and theft of public funds from the Office on Violence Against Women. The court sentenced her to four years of probation and ordered her to pay $29,114 in restitution. The coalitions executive director and another board member pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds and received probation and were ordered to repay a combined $38,100. Auditors also found the coalitions record keeping defied federal grant requirements. Auditors questioned all of the money spent on staff pay and benefits, more than $526,000 because they identified significant issues related to the reliability of the timesheets, the report states. Black binders, one for each fiscal year, contain timesheets for the coalitions employees. Staff members were responsible for tracking their own hours and paid time off, and Manion for verifying their reports. But Manions signature was missing from years of timesheets. After auditors emailed a final warning to Manion to provide documentation, she signed and back-dated some of the old timesheets, said Bond, who sent auditors copies of the timesheets before and after Manion signed them. Manion also created retroactive timesheets for her own hours and asked the nonprofits board chairman, Scott Mitchell, to sign them. He did. Mitchell declined to comment on the incident. These are federal funds that are meant to help victims, said Bond, who is a victim of childhood abuse and took a job at the coalition to help others like her. And its just scary to me that someone could just come in and hold no regard for what thats meant for. Bond, 31, said she quit her job at the coalition in December 2020 after the stress of the audit and toxic work environment became too much. The coalitions legislative liaison, Mackenzie Masilon, resigned two months later, though she has since returned as a contractor to work with lawmakers crafting legislation. The subsequent resignation of the bookkeeper left ReJeania Tolliver, who trained victim advocates, as the coalitions only remaining employee. Tolliver is now being prepared to take over as the coalitions director after the audit is resolved. Until then, Meline Epley, president of Elite HR Business Solutions, is the interim director. Epleys company helps businesses in transition and conducts employment law violation and fraud-related investigations, according to her LinkedIn profile. Board member Tracey Lyall, who is also the chief executive officer of Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa, is overseeing the new staff. Lyall and Peery left the board a couple of years after Manion was hired during an effort to downsize and bring more community members onto the board. Prior to 2014, the board was made up of a representative from all of its member programs. In January 2021, Lyall and Peery agreed to rejoin the board at Mitchells request to help rebuild the coalition. Lyall said they are working with auditors to salvage the coalition, though its future remains uncertain. Board members have already approved new financial policies for the board and the coalition with help from Office on Violence Against Women auditors. A new requirement that the coalition director provide grant applications and budgets to the board will allow members to keep better tabs on spending, Peery said. You know, theres always gonna be a way around safeguards if somebodys intentionally doing something wrong, Peery said. But if you dont have the safeguards there, it makes it a whole lot easier and it takes a lot longer before you catch it. The past year was marked by continuing societal disruptions and persistent economic fragility, but an unheralded law with vast and far-reaching implications quietly went into effect here in our state. Locally supported by Tulsa firefighters and the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the Invest in Oklahoma Act was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt last year. Simply put, the measure directs the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to provide state funds with a catalog of local, Oklahoma-based investment opportunities. Funds in this context refer to state entities such as the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund, the Commissioners of the Land Office, and each of seven public employee pension and retirement funds. The opportunities to be collected by Commerce Department include a broad range of investment potential from private equity, real estate, venture capital, and growth funds. An example where the intent of this legislation has been exercised exists in the near-term history of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System. In 2014, the Board of Trustees and staff who managed the then $2.2 billion pension fund on behalf of this states firefighters took a critical look at our investment holdings. There was a comprehensive and diversified portfolio that generated best-in-class returns with assets all over the U.S., North America and the world. However, none of those asset managers were specifically based out of Oklahoma. There were real estate and private equity funds from New York to New Delhi, but none from places nearby like, say, Tulsa. This fact was not intentional or really ever considered as a lens from which to evaluate a potential asset manager. But it begged the question: Are there quality, institutional grade investment opportunities in Oklahoma? Could they meet the qualifications and obligations of our pension statutes and bring new wind into the sails of the Oklahoma economy? The answer was and is a categorical and unconditional YES! Since then, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension Fund has made four separate allocations to in-state managers for a combined sum of $65 million invested. Their returns have contributed to the historic growth of our fund, now valued in excess of $3.7 billion. The new law guides all nine state funds to properly and prudently invest up to 5% of assets under management in Oklahoma-based opportunities. The total value of these state funds? It currently stands near $50 billion. A 5% stake by all participants could equal $2.5 billion of new capital investment in Oklahoma. Now think of all the effects every dollar could make as it winds through local investment vehicles: resourcing underlying assets and businesses, capitalizing new ventures and startups and employing tens of thousands of Oklahomans. The exponential impact to every community will be inexorably enriched for generations to come. So just where does this money come from? Who are the actual investors potentially sparking yet another surge in Oklahoma economic growth and opportunity? They will be the teachers, law enforcement, civil servants and firefighters. These are the people you see every day working hard in our public agencies for all Oklahomans. Just imagine the synergy possible. Local companies and corporationsfrom manufacturing, energy, aerospace, commercial development, and infrastructureall being financially underwritten by the very same people who serve and protect their families, businesses, and interests each and every day. Imagine a co-investment strategy between teachers and firefighters that could put solar panels on the roofs of schools. This was done in Batesville, Arkansas. Those panels could be manufactured by a Tulsa company with a private equity partner that generates returns for one pension fund, while the solar energy yields dividends for an infrastructure play in another fund. Then, excess units of power generated are sold by the school system to fund teacher pay raises. This focused and intentional effort led by the Department of Commerce to join private sector asset managers with our public funds has limitless potential to change the face of our state in short order. Take this opportunity to join with me as we Invest in Oklahoma. Featured video: Matt Lay is president of Tulsa Firefighters IAFF Local 176 and member of the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We could fill this space with all the real-world problems in Oklahoma were not fixing. We could list neglected public schools, mental health, addiction, public safety, employment, roads and tax and budget policies. Oklahoma is ranked 48th in education and 43rd in overall livability. We lag our regional sister states while they beckon our businesses, families, teachers and graduates. Despite sporadic innovations, often generated by private citizens and businesses, nearly half of Oklahomans have so little faith in democracy that they dont vote. We kick the can down the road and patch with bandages instead of tackling the fundamental challenges that hold us and our economy back. Thats because were electing politicians with no incentive to govern. Our general election races are increasingly uncompetitive, and voters have no interest in meaningless elections. The real decisions are made in primary contests. In Oklahomas closed primary system, only the most partisan voters participate. To these voters, and these voters alone, our resulting politicians believe theyre accountable. This closed loop produces a revolving door through which politicians are elected and re-elected by placating the most partisan voters, at the expense of the rest of us. All taxpayers fund Oklahoma primary elections, but not all get to vote in them. Independents, who make up almost 20% of registered voters and growing, do not have the statutory right to vote in primaries. The states Democratic Party has allowed independent voters in its primary since 2015 and has informed the State Election Board it will continue that practice through 2023, but the Republican Party does not. We spend millions every election season on primary contests that privilege certain voters and shut out 20% of those funding them. Thats not right. As a result of our closed system, Oklahoma has earned the honor of having the worst eligible voter turnout in the entire U.S. nearly every one of the last 20 years. In 2020, we were dead last in voter turnout behind Arkansas and West Virginia. Only 55% of eligible Oklahomans voted. Of the remaining 45% who didnt participate, 20% were registered independents shut out by law and another 25% were too uninspired to show up. As we drift further and further into extreme partisanship, this narrative will never help us fix real problems or sell Oklahoma to new businesses and families. What if instead of shaking our heads and accepting things as they are, we all supported one fundamental legislative tweak with the real potential to help elect our best possible representatives, empower them to solve our challenges, hold them personally accountable and put Oklahoma in front as a regional leader: open primaries. Senator Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, has filed Senate Bill 1754 to do just that. Open primaries, operating just like our general elections are a simple, cost-saving solution with profound implicationsdrawing us together, not apart. This bill would give all voters the right to choose the candidate they like from any party on a single ballot. Its called a nonpartisan, top-two primary, and its the standard in most cities across the country. Its used in Oklahoma for municipal races in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. At least 14 states have open primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Two others, California and Washington, use a top-two format listing the political affiliation of candidates. The general election choices in those states could be two of the same party or two differing parties. Nine states allow independents to vote in either party primary, and six others have partially open primaries. Politicians elected in a nonpartisan, top-two system are accountable to all their constituents. No longer would they win election by throwing red meat to an extreme base. With open primaries, theyre incentivized to be productive and work in partnership with their fellow politicians to fix real problems. Voters get to see more choices and ideas on a primary ballot. The shift focuses from party to the candidates. Thats what our state so desperately needs: politicians willing to take on and solve our big challenges. Surely, were at the point in Oklahoma when we appreciate that something needs to budge to invigorate our state and motivate voters. Its time to steer a new course. Open primaries are simple, fair, nonpartisan and transparent. Write and call your state senator and representative today. We need SB 1754 this year. Margaret Kobos is the founder of Oklahoma United for Progress. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Vietnam will no longer limit the frequency of regular international flights from mid-February, and the actual frequency will depend on the regulations of the other countries as well as market demand. Dinh Viet Son, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Sunday that Vietnam will lift restrictions on the operating frequency of international flights starting February 15. The frequency of regular international flights will be restored to pre-pandemic levels, Son continued. Vietnam has resumed regular flights with the U.S., Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany since January 1. However, the frequency of flights is limited according to the requirements of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. After such restrictions are removed, international arrivals will still need to follow regulations on immigration and pandemic prevention and control, as instructed by the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Health, Son elaborated. The number of flights from Vietnam to other countries will still depend on the regulations of local authorities, the official continued. Japan and South Korea still restrict flights from Vietnam as part of pandemic response measures. China has not agreed to resume regular flights with Vietnam despite the latters proposal, Son added. Due to the pandemic, Vietnam closed borders from March 2020 to the end of 2021, with an exception for Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts, diplomats, investors, skilled workers, and students, who are allowed to enter the Southeast Asian country if meeting strict quarantine requirements. The country has documented 2,484,481 COVID-19 cases, with 2,218,939 recoveries and 38,862 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. Over 79.2 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while more than 74.6 million have been jabbed twice. The number of third doses has exceeded 31.3 million. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A leather shoe manufacturing company in Nghe An Province, Vietnam has agreed to increase the basic salary of all employees by six percent after more than 5,000 workers staged a strike at the firm earlier this week. Nguyen Chi Cong, vice-chairman of the provincial labor confederation, confirmed on Saturday that the agency had had a meeting with authorities in Dien Chau District and leaders of Viet Glory Company. At the session, Viet Glory Company decided to increase the basic salary by six percent for all employees starting February, while raising the seniority allowance for those who have worked for one year and over. With this latest decision, workers at the firm will have VND200,000 (US$8.8) added to their basic salary each month. This means that the company will have to spend over VND1 billion ($44,000) more every month to pay its staff. The board of directors asked all workers to return to work on Monday. If any employee still refuses to resume work, the company will handle each case in accordance with the labor law. Leaders of Viet Glory Company negotiate with their employees in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, February 10, 2022. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre At the meeting, Viet Glory also complained about several difficulties it has been facing, including rising prices of raw materials, more production, operating, and management costs, as well as low profits. The labor confederation vice-chairman believed that the company has answered all the questions raised by its employees. He called on all workers to return to work in order to ensure their incomes as well as the production process. More than 5,000 workers staged a stoppage at Viet Glory Company on February 7, the very first day they went back to work after the Lunar New Year holiday. The striking workers complained that the current base salary and seniority allowance are too low, rendering their monthly income insufficient to make ends meet. Leaders of the company had tried to negotiate with their employees but the efforts were in vain as the workers said they would only go back to work if the firm raised their basic salary and seniority allowance. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities of Lai Chau Province, located in northern Vietnam, have asked the investor of the Rong May Glass Bridge to replace a glass panel purportedly cracked to enhance thrills for visitors with a standard alternative for safety purposes. Despite recognizing that the cracked glass panel was created as an effect to thrill visitors, a local inspection team has requested the bridge investor, Lai Chau-based Hoang Lien Son Group Joint Stock Company, to install it as soon as possible. The inspection was conducted by local tourism and construction authorities on Saturday afternoon after a traveler posted a video on social media showing a cracked glass panel on the bridge floor. The video immediately attracted special attention from numerous viewers who expressed their concerns about the safety of the glass bridge. Inspectors confirmed that the panel was not actually broken but said such an effect-creating panel could affect the loading capacity of the bridge and does not comply with safety rules, Tran Quang Khang, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday evening. A replacement is therefore necessary and the site management should arrange staff to remind visitors not to jump or stand on the spot for the time being, Khang said. Nguyen Xuan Binh, director of Rong May Glass Bridge Tourist Area, affirmed that the cracks are made-made as an effect to enhance the adventure experience among visitors. The image shows a sheet of paper affixed on a glass structure that reads Site For Cracked Glass Panel Effect Experience on the Rong May Glass Bridge in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Rong May Glass Bridge Tourist Area As a routine, an employee is on daily duty at the site to explain this effect to visitors, but on the day when the video was spread on social media, that employee took sick leave, Binh claimed. Some travelers have misunderstood them as natural fractures, the director explained. Every panel of the bridge consists of three layers of tempered glass, connected with each other by special transparent films to make it very strong and safe, he added. The crevices seen by visitors are only on the top tempered glass layer, Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper cited Binh as saying. The bridge, approved by the Department of Construction of Lai Chau after meeting all safety criteria, has welcomed several hundred visitors every day since early this year, Binh added. Opened to the public in 2019, Rong May Glass Bridge is located at Rong May Tourist Area on O Quy Ho Pass in Tam Duong District, bordering Lao Cai Province's Sa Pa Town. The bridge spans over 500 meters including a 60-meter-long and five-meter-wide section that extrudes from a cliff of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. As the highest such glass structure in Vietnam, the bridge is situated at around 2,200 meters above sea level and has a glass elevator that is 300 meters high. The bridge underwent the latest quality inspection by the provincial Department of Construction in February last year, according to VnExpress. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Thousands of people gathered at the iconic Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, central Vietnam on Saturday evening to admire a popular fire and water breathing performance after the show was suspended for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the show was scheduled to begin at 9:00 pm, crowds of visitors and residents had already filled the surrounding areas as of 8:00 pm. Huynh Minh Tam from Ho Chi Minh City said she and her boyfriend traveled to Da Nang to celebrate Valentines Day. The couple arrived in the central city on Saturday afternoon and were very excited to hear that the fire breathing performance would resume later the same day. We have never seen the show before, Tam said. Thousands gather at a park near the Dragon Bridge to enjoy a fire performance in Da Nang, Vietnam, February 12, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre The atmosphere here is bustling and joyful, which makes me feel like life has been back to normal. Ho Quoc Hung, a local resident, said he was happy and proud that visitors have begun to return to Da Nang. I hope that the pandemic will remain under control this year so that the local tourism sector can recover, Hung added. Vo Thanh Duoc, director of Da Nang Bridge and Road JSC, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the iconic show at the Dragon Bridge was resumed from Saturday following a long hiatus due to the pandemic. Each show lasts for 15 minutes and is scheduled to take place at 9:00 pm every Saturday and Sunday. People watch the fire and water breathing show at the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam, February 12, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre The resumption of the show is part of local authorities efforts to bring back visitors to the city, Duoc stated. The citys tourism sector is working with travel firms, accommodation faciltiies, airlines, and tourist attractions to develop a plan to stimulate tourism demand, which is expected to launch in March, he added. Da Nang has recorded more than 42,800 local COVID-19 cases since the fourth virus wave hit the country last April. About 960,000 out of 1.13 million people in the city have received their first vaccine dose, while over 912,000 have been jabbed twice, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! SKOPJE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Two diplomats and 30 Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers from North Macedonia will remain in Ukraine by now, but family members of the diplomats and other North Macedonia's nationals are urged to leave the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani said here on Sunday. According to Osmani, currently there are around 100 nationals from North Macedonia working and living in Ukraine. Osmani told a press conference that the ambassador and another staff member from the Embassy of North Macedonia in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, will "remain in Ukraine until further notice," but their family members will return to Skopje early next week. Another category that will continue to stay in Ukraine, according to the minister, is the 30 OSCE observers from North Macedonia, who will remain there within the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. "The OSCE mission is important to monitor developments in Ukraine, and that is why there's no decision for now to withdraw our observers," he said. Osmani reiterated his ministry's call to the nationals of North Macedonia to leave Ukraine as soon as possible using commercial flights amid escalating tensions near the Ukrainian border. On Friday, North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry called on its citizens to leave Ukraine and avoid traveling to the country. Valentines Day finally regains its normal bustling atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City since people are willing to pay despite the huge surge in prices of roses, go-to gifts for the romantic day. This years Valentines Day comes over a week after Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), which explains why demand for roses has spiked up 40 percent over the same period last year, florists said. Last year's Valentine's Day occured at nearly the same time as Tet; however, the economic slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic pulled the demand low, recounted Phuong, manager of the Dalat Hasfarm flower shop on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. This year is a different story. People started pre-ordering roses as gifts for Valentines Day early this week, Phuong added. Customers are not afraid to spend millions of Vietnamese dong for bouquets which are in trendy colors and attractive presentations, she said. Many flower shops had to enhance their workload and deploy more staff to make available varied options in both price and style for customers. Many flower shop owners said it could cost buyers VND800,000-1,200,000 (US$35-53) for a beautiful bouquet of flowers this year. Roses presented in heart-shaped models, the most iconic, are sold at VND2.5-4 million ($110-176) each bouquet, depending on size and the accessories included, florists said. Ngoc, manager of a flower shop near Thi Nghe Market in Binh Thanh District, said consumers have to pay higher for beautiful bouquets, compared to last year. I see much larger increases in the wholesale cost, which ranges from VND280,000 [$2.3] to VND350,000 [$15.4] for a bunch of roses, while roses of the poorest quality fetch VND250,000 [$11], Ngoc said. Red roses see the biggest jump in price when peaking at VND22,000 ($0.97) for a branch on this special occasion, while they were priced at VND16,000-18,000 ($0.71-0.79) on normal days. Some kinds soar as high as the imported roses, which has never been seen before, Ngoc emphasized. In dealing with the rose shortage, shops have proactively introduced different alternatives, in which orchids, peony, tulips, daisies, and ravenala are decorated along with chocolate boxes and heart-shaped patterns in Valentines Day designs. In the meantime, increasing demand for souvenirs, high tech gadgets, jewelry, cosmetics, and cakes as gifts also elevates purchasing power prior to Valentines Day. Many stores have offered their promotions, lasting up until International Women's Day, due on March 8. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tyler, TX (75702) Today Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High around 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Overcast with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the evening. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. (RNS) Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI took a penitential approach in his response on Tuesday to a report on clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Munich, which he led from 1977 to 1982. While denying accusations that he covered up cases of abuse, he leaned heavily on the language of confession, saying he could rely on the consolation of God's forgiveness, only "if I sincerely allow myself to be examined by him, and am really prepared to change." The lengthy report commissioned by the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, published on Jan. 10, found that bishops who oversaw the diocese, including then-Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, failed to punish abusive clergy and lay people. The report showed that 497 people were victims of abuse in the large German diocese between 1945 and 2019. In question is whether Benedict's more fulsome regrets in today's message will quell criticism for what some said was his overly legalistic response that was published with the Munich report. The Rev. Hans Zollner, regarded as one of the Vatican's top experts on child protection and abuse prevention, told Religion News Service that Benedict's response lacked "empathy and humanity." In that Jan. 10 statement, Benedict claimed he was not present during a meeting on Jan. 15, 1980, where the case of an abuser priest was discussed. The emeritus pope immediately retracted that statement through a message sent via his personal secretary, Archbishop George Ganswein, and in today's response, Benedict said legal experts were responsible for drafting it. Amid the vast amount of paperwork, "an oversight occurred," Benedict wrote on Tuesday. "This error, which regrettably was verified, was not intentionally willed and I hope may be excused," he wrote. Benedict said that the criticism after the release of the report had wounded him. "To me it proved deeply hurtful that this oversight was used to cast doubt on my truthfulness, and even to label me a liar," he wrote. The retired pontiff said he found consolation in the numerous demonstrations of support that he received from friends and collaborators. "I am particularly grateful for the confidence, support and prayer that Pope Francis personally expressed to me," he wrote. An editorial in the Vatican newspaper published Jan. 26 defended Benedict and his actions and laid out his track record in combating abuse as bishop, head of the Vatican's doctrine watchdog agency and as pope. Pointing out that as Benedict XVI he became the first pontiff to meet with victims of sexual abuse by clergy, the paper advised against seeking "easy scapegoats and summary judgments." In his interview, Zollner also lamented how, when it comes to abuse, Catholic clergy often forget the value of the sacrament of confession, which requires the penitent to acknowledge the mistakes that were made, confess them with honest repentance and seek reparation. In his Tuesday statement, Benedict seemed to have picked up this thread. He expressed "my profound shame, my deep sorrow and my heartfelt request for forgiveness." He especially voiced his pain for those who suffered abuse during the time in which he occupied positions of great responsibility in the church. "Each individual case of sexual abuse is appalling and irreparable. The victims of sexual abuse have my deepest sympathy and I feel great sorrow for each individual case," he wrote. The final words of Benedict's 'penitential act' were not for the judgment of the Catholic Church, or the world, but in the afterlife. "Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life," the 94-year-old pontiff wrote. "In light of the hour of judgment, the grace of being a Christian becomes all the more clear to me. It grants me knowledge, and indeed friendship, with the judge of my life, and thus allows me to pass confidently through the dark door of death," he added. Religion News Service Read more Royce Rhodes lived alone in a home on Lake Limestone, and his son knew he might be under distress during the major winter storm and power outages in February 2021. Rhodes, 85, suffered from emphysema, and the storm knocked out power to the device supplying him with oxygen, said his son, Alan Rhodes, who was snowed in at Lake Brownwood with no power in his home for three days and no way to get out to check on his father. Efforts to reach his father were not successful because he could not charge his cellphone, Rhodes said. Deputies sent over to check on Royce Rhodes found a large fallen tree limb on his car but could not get in the house because the door was locked. They left without contacting him, his son said. By the time a friends son made it inside to check on Royce Rhodes, the retired owner of an office equipment repair store, he was unconscious and barely alive. He was rushed by ambulance to a Groesbeck hospital, where he died days later. His death certificate cites cardiopulmonary arrest, hypoxia and the February 2021 Winter Storm as factors that contributed to his death. Hypoxia is deprivation of oxygen. Royce Rhodes was the lone Limestone County resident whose death was among 246 deaths across 77 counties attributed to last years winter storm as identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services. A report by the agency records three storm-related deaths in McLennan County, two in Hill County and one in Falls County. A Department of State Health Services spokesperson said Friday that state law precludes the agency from providing the identities of the people listed as storm-related casualties. Both Pete Peterson and Dianne Hensley, McLennan County justices of the peace, said they were not called to the scene of any storm-related deaths last year. The daughter of an 82-year-old Waco man who died from hypothermia during the February freeze filed a negligence lawsuit against the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and Oncor Electric Delivery Co. in September. The lawsuit was filed in Wacos 170th State District Court by Diane Jamerson on behalf of her father, Ollie Driver Jr., and seeks more than $1 million in damages. Jamerson declined comment this week and her attorney, Daryoush Toofanian, of Dallas, did not return phone messages. An ERCOT spokesperson declined comment on the lawsuit in September, while Oncor spokesperson Connie Piloto said, We are heartbroken by the struggles that our customers and all of Texas endured during the February power emergency. We are unable to comment further due to pending litigation. It is important to note that as an energy delivery company, Oncor does not generate or produce electricity. The lawsuit says the power went off in Drivers home Feb. 14, when the temperature in Waco was 11 degrees. The suit says that over the next 48 hours, his power was never restored and the temperatures continued to drop. The following day, the high temperature in Waco was 19 degrees and the temperature in Drivers home reached freezing temperatures, and Decedent was unable to stay warm, the suit alleges. During this time, Decedent would intermittently use his vehicle to warm himself, the suit says. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, Decedent had to be transferred to the hospital by ambulance due to hypothermia. Driver was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and the lawsuit alleges he died of hypothermia because of the power outage. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Parnell McNamara is not sure how or when the moniker first took hold, but he has not exactly done anything to discourage the people locally who refer to him as Americas sheriff. McNamara, 75, in his third term as McLennan County sheriff, arguably is the most popular elected official in the area, as evidenced by the huge ovations he receives at Republican meetings and other gatherings. McNamara has previously not gotten involved in anyone elses political campaign since he first ran for office, upon his retirement from a more than three decade stretch with the U.S. Marshals Service. But that changed this year. McNamara is focusing his considerable political clout on the races for McLennan County district attorney and Precinct 4 constable. His interest in the DA race is professional, he said. His involvement in the constables race appears to be more personal. The sheriff, who comes from a long line of lawmen in McLennan County, is openly supporting Josh Tetens in his bid to unseat first-term DA Barry Johnson in the March 1 Republican primary. But he also is paying special attention to the constables race in McGregor, a down-ballot contest that rarely draws much attention. Charlie Guerrero, who county commissioners appointed recently to the post after the arrest of his predecessor, Stan Hickey, is opposed by Matt Cawthon, a retired Texas Ranger with 32 years law enforcement experience. Cawthon is a former close colleague of McNamaras and served as McNamaras chief deputy at the sheriffs office before Cawthon resigned in 2014 when their longtime alliance was split by what they described at the time only as professional and philosophical differences. McNamara said animus played no part in his decision to get involved in the DAs race. When asked about the constables race, McNamara side-stepped the question, sang Guerreros praises and did not mention Cawthon by name. Barry is a nice guy. But I think Barry has failed the citizens of McLennan County as the district attorney, McNamara said. I have just had so many members of the public, our good citizens, asking me about the lack of prosecution, over and over and over, and that is when I decided to step up. If there was ever a time to get involved in some other race, this was it. I have never gone out on a limb like this before and involved myself in somebodys elses campaign. But I think it is time, and in todays climate, we need someone in the district attorneys office who puts teeth in the law, makes criminals accountable for their actions. McNamara said it speaks volumes, it speaks very loudly that Tetens has gained endorsements from the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the Waco Police Association and the Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County. In rebuttal, Johnson has come out swinging against Tetens and McNamara. In at least three gatherings during the primary season, Johnson tore into McNamara only moments after he was introduced as Americas sheriff to a thunderous round of applause. Parnell has been mad at Barry Johnson since I beat his buddy, Abel Reyna, four years ago, Johnson said this week. This is nothing but a power play for him. He wants to run the DAs office, so he has this young guy who is going to be his rubber stamp to run for DA. He didnt even know him, but he is out there campaigning for him and raising money for him because he wants the power back. He misses having the power of owning the DAs office and being the high sheriff. Anybody can see that. They want the good ol boys days to come back. Why would a 75-year-old man in the twilight of his career be doing all of that? There is no question about why he is doing that. Johnson, 65, also has launched plenty of missiles at Tetens, saying he will be beholden to McNamara as district attorney and a rubber stamp for law enforcement. He also has criticized Tetens, a criminal defense attorney with 15 years experience, for representing child molesters, perverts and wife beaters. Johnson defeated two-term incumbent Abel Reyna after a 30-year career in Dallas as a civil attorney with no criminal law experience. Tetens, 41, denies the allegations and said he intends to improve communication between the district attorneys office and the countys law enforcement agencies. What I am obligated to do as the district attorney is to follow and enforce the laws, Tetens said. The title does include chief law enforcement officer, so having a direct relationship with law enforcement is part of the job, period. It is the law enforcement officers who are on the ground who make the arrests, do the reports and we then at the district attorneys office review, screen and ultimately, potentially take the cases to trial. So those would be the states witnesses. So I would not be obligated to any one individual, the sheriff, a chief, a certain officer. But they see and understand that this current district attorneys office is dismissing far too many cases, and even worse than that, they argue, they are not communicating with law enforcement at all. Tetens said he was pleasantly surprised when McNamara jumped on board his campaign wagon in such a public and vocal way, and he certainly welcomes his help and support. It was surprising. He just told me that this was the fist time he has gotten involved in another campaign, Tetens said. It makes me feel very good because he further explained that its because it is such a serious race and office and we need somebody in there who has the experience to prosecute those offenses and communicate with law enforcement. McNamara cut two 30-second television advertisements in which he endorses Tetens and has called and talked to his friends and supporters to encourage them to back Tetens. McNamara also solicited affluent donors to serve on a steering committee for a fundraiser hosted by Jim and Nell Hawkins at their lakeside estate known as Hawkesdene. The event raised about $35,000 for Tetens campaign. Johnson questioned the accuracy of the television spots McNamara shot for Tetens in which McNamara said Johnson allowed a cold-blooded killer back on the street after dismissing a capital murder case. Johnson told the Tribune-Herald he had prepared a timeline of the case to prove the inaccuracies in the ad, and offered to send a reporter a copy of Johnsons paid political ad that ran in Fridays Tribune-Herald. Johnson asked a DAs office employee to email the ad, which was sent to the Tribune-Herald by Johnsons employee on a McLennan County email address. The Texas Election Code prohibits the use of political subdivision resources to produce or distribute political advertising in connection with an election. A violation of that section of the code could constitute a Class A misdemeanor, according to the Texas Ethics Commission website. Asked about it later, Johnson said he does not think sending an email amounts to a violation of election law. Thats not a problem, I dont think, he said. Johnson said using a county computer to send an email does not cost the county any money. Its just air, he said. Constables race Speaking of his involvement in the constables race, McNamara declined to discuss his strained relationship with Cawthon. McNamara, his wife, Charlotte, and some of his deputies have taken the 66-year-old Guerrero to political meetings and have introduced him around while passing out his political push cards. I have known Charlie Guerrero for years, McNamara said. I consider him a friend. He is a very good, solid, hard-working, honest, ethical lawman. He has done a phenomenal job as constable of Precinct 4. Cawthon, 62, said he is puzzled by McNamaras involvement in his campaign and bears no animosity toward the sheriff despite his abrupt resignation as chief deputy. All Cawthon said as he left the office was, Itd be fair to say that we have some basic philosophical differences in police management, and instead of continuing those differences, Im going to leave. Cawthon said he is running for the job because he wants to continue his years of public service. I was disappointed to see that Sheriff McNamara has decided to cross a line and get involved in Republican primary races that are not his own and that dont involve him because what hes doing is not only unethical and unprofessional but very likely a violation of the national Hatch Act, Cawthon said. Its just sad that local politics have devolved to this. I would like to go on record and say that Im concentrating on the final phase of my own race. My message is one of wanting to bring real, professional law enforcement leadership to the office of constable in Precinct 4. My opponent cannot match my years of actual law enforcement experience and leadership. My opponent has had 13 years as a deputy constable without making a noticeable difference. Its time for a change in Precinct 4. Guerrero, too, said he was surprised to receive such support from the sheriff, but said he is honored to receive it and would like to continue in the office. Before 2012, McNamara may have come close to crossing the line in violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees and some state and local elected officials from using their office resources for political purposes. However, the federal Office of Special Counsel revised its policies regarding elected officials in a memorandum opinion in 2012. The OSC generally concludes that state and local employees violate the Hatch Act when they use their official titles, or otherwise trade on the influence of their positions by, for example, wearing their official uniforms, while engaged in political activity, the opinion states. As you know, OSC recently re-evaluated this conclusion as it applies to elected officials who are covered by the Hatch Act. Specifically, in recognition of the fact that they hold partisan political office, OSC reasoned that they would not violate the Hatch Act by wearing their uniforms or using their titles while campaigning for re-election or campaigning for others. A sheriff in upstate New York received a warning from federal investigators for violating the Hatch Act by flying a Making America Great flag on a department patrol boat during a pro-Trump boat parade last summer. McNamara would violate the Hatch Act for his political activities only if he used department equipment or coerced or pressured his employees to support a certain candidate. He said he has not done that. Johnson noted that McLennan County paid out $600,000 in 2014 to settle a lawsuit filed by former sheriffs office employees who alleged McNamara fired, demoted or retaliated against them for supporting McNamaras opponent. The sheriffs political instincts are well-known, Johnson said. He was sued by his own deputies because they were fired or demoted for expressing their freedom to vote for the candidate of their choice, who was not Parnell McNamara. Early voting starts Monday in the March 1 primaries. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. They stormed through police barricades, these ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. They shattered windows and chanted death to the vice president, these ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. They smeared their own feces on the wall, ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. Over the last 13 months, weve heard Republicans offer all sorts of rationalizations for the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Weve heard the white nationalist thugs who perpetrated it called patriotic and good and likened to tourists. Weve borne repeated insults to intelligence, memory and the service of police who defended against these gangsters as they tried to overthrow an American election. But even that was scant preparation for the resolution the party adopted last week. It accused the Jan. 6 select committee the one Democrats in the House impaneled after Republicans refused to support a full congressional probe of the persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. Mind you, that legitimate political discourse gouged eyes and broke bones, erected a gallows and paraded a traitors flag through the peoples house. The resolutions larger purpose was to formally censure Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, which it described as people who purport to be Republicans. Their sin? To serve on the aforementioned committee. Youd think every American, regardless of political affiliation, would want to know all they could about what happened on Jan. 6. Youd think every American would demand accountability. Youd be mistaken. The GOP has other priorities. Keep in mind that on the national level, Republicans are losers. Only once in 30 years has the party won the popular vote on the way to the presidency. Small wonder. The GOP stands on the wrong side of every important social and demographic trend reshaping this country. They could choose to confront that challenge by strategizing ways to appeal to the rising new electorate. Or, they could do what theyve been doing: work overtime to energize their old electorate. Scare them half to death by telling them how theyre being victimized by critical race theory, cancel culture, radical wokeism and every other piece of scary-sounding jargon they can manufacture or inflate. Embrace a strategy of sophistry and gaslights, suppress votes, push the Big Lie and the bigger contempt for democratic norms. Last weeks resolution was right out of that playbook. But even at that, the statement was chilling. Not because it provided fresh, albeit superfluous, evidence of Republican estrangement from objective reality, but because it implicitly endorsed political violence, even normalized it. And while Donald Trump does that on a regular basis, one is hard-pressed to recall when it has ever been stated in print by the partys administrative leadership. The distinction matters. It makes this moment feel like a Rubicon decisively crossed and renewed political violence more likely than not. Were gonna drag motherf------ through the streets, declares one man on a Jan. 6 video newly released by the Justice Department. Cut their head off! he cries, this ordinary citizen engaged in legitimate political discourse. Imagine what hed say if he was a violent insurrectionist out to burn the country down. Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for the Miami Herald. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com. Russian President Vladimir Putin has a 20-year history of exploiting foreign lands to overcompensate for his domestic shortcomings. Make no mistake: Russias threat to Ukraines sovereignty is real and deserves an international response. However, this moment is not novel e.g., the 08 Russo-Georgian war and the 14 annexation of Crimea. Putins revanchism isnt going anywhere soon. Instead, unprovoked aggression is a part of Putins autocratic playbook to distract the Russian people from their domestic problems. Prominent among many festering domestic issues, Putin has a series of interrelated population-based problems. While Russia reversed its multidecade population decline during the 2010s, its current fertility rate of 1.6 children per woman sits below 2.1, which is needed to increase its population annually. At the other end of the age spectrum, Russias graying population diminishes the countrys economic productivity and strains government services. Tragically, Putins confused COVID-19 response also contributed to Russias largest-ever peacetime population decline in 2020. Like many nations with declining fertility rates and aging populations, Putin made increased immigration a central pillar to overcoming Russias demographic issues. For example, in 2019, of the nearly 500,000 foreigners who received a Russian passport, approximately 300,000 were Ukrainian. But its unclear if Putins foreign aggression enhances the efficacy of his immigration plans. Even if he annexes pro-Russian citizens from other nations, those numbers will not fix his problem. In fact, those citizens will likely need training and government services, which Russia does not have too much of. A more plausible alternative contends that Putin believes his aggression will deepen current relations or engender respect from nations along Russias European borders. Putin could then translate that respect into broadening the Eurasian Economic Union and deepening his military alliances. Shifting from the Russian population to its economy, untangling Putins kleptocracy defies the confines of an op-ed. However, a few facts highlight Russias economic fragility. The Russian economys energy dependence belies Putins pledge for Russia to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. In the short run, Europes reliance on Russias reserves complicates a unified Euro-American response, exemplified by Germanys muddled response thus far. In the long run, however, continued global progress toward diversified energy inputs will weaken Russias economy and foreign policy. Russian businesses rely on technical imports to enable their sophisticated machinery, leaving it totally susceptible to sanctions. While conducting sentiment polling in Russia can be tricky, numerous polls agree that many young adults want to flee the country, draining the economy of talent. Finally, the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny led to the most defiant protests in Russia under Vladimir Putins 20-year authoritarian rule. Even though Putin has a legislative lock he received 77.5 percent of the vote in 2018 and can rewrite the constitution as he pleases, dissent against Putin and his constellation of autocrats grows. If we look back to when Putin served as acting president in 1999, he responded to a series of Russian apartment bombings with assertiveness followed by a foreign show of force, which boosted his domestic approval, leading to his successful bid for president in 2000. Rather than an exception, Putin made this approach the rule: Putin has sent Russian forces on several combat missions abroad, including to the former Soviet republics of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, as well as to Syria in 2015, NPR noted. In addition to these formal campaigns, Putin has expanded Russias footprint in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As an American service member, Im aware of the irony: The U.S. has approximately 800 military installations globally, depending on how we count them. This rebuttal, however, reeks of false parallelism in that the current U.S. global force posture remains relatively stable (the tragedy of Afghanistan notwithstanding) compared to Putins trend of fabricating foreign crises that benefit him domestically. While all of this fails to help Ukraine today, it does argue that any long-term assessment of Putins actions abroad must consider his motivations at home. When we look under the hood, its oh-so-clear: Putins external bluster overcompensates for his internal insecurities. Ted Delicath is an Army Officer with a Masters degree in security and conflict who currently works at the McChrystal Group. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. McLennan County District Attorney Barry Johnson, 65, son of late District Judge Joe Johnson of Waco, seeks Republican Party nomination in the March 1 primary election to continue serving in his post. Johnson touts his experience practicing law for 32 years; his willingness in 2018 to challenge a district attorney beleaguered by allegations of corruption and incompetence to the extent of arguably bungling prosecution of the high-profile 2015 Twin Peaks cases; and his vow to emulate his father by standing against the good-ol-boy network he says has long operated in certain corners of McLennan County law enforcement because thats the easiest place to have corruption and illegality, in the district attorneys office. Republican Congressman and Waco native Pete Sessions states: I can say without reservation that Barry Johnson is a man of integrity and a strong conservative. Barry is a proven advocate for the victims of crime and works with our community to keep our streets safe. Johnson serves on the board of the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, and the Behavioral Health Leadership Team of Prosper Waco. He is a founding member of the Texas Anti-Gang Unit placed in Waco by Gov. Greg Abbott. Question: After nearly four years as district attorney, you find yourself in a tough bid for reelection in your contest with Josh Tetens, an attorney far more experienced in criminal law. This is a good time for you to lay out your legacy as district attorney thus far. Barry Johnson: There are many things we have done. When we got in there, we had about 2,100 felonies pending and there hadnt been a lot going on prior to us winning. Now weve pretty much cut those cases in half by working and trying cases and becoming more responsive in terms of settlements and plea bargains. Even after the pandemic hit in February 2020, that caseload has not gone up over 2,100, so weve been able to manage it. Im very proud of that. Weve continued to work on our pretrial intervention program. Its working really well. For those who are first-time offenders, for those who are young offenders, for those who qualify for the program, its been a great thing. And we are aggressively prosecuting violent crimes. And we have been involved in getting the mental-health court going, the veterans court going and, of course, Judge [Mike] Freeman already had the drug court going. We have helped bring up to speed the Texas Anti-Gang center. Q: Your opponent says the problem between you and local law enforcement unions boils down to communication between your office and work-a-day law enforcement folks. He says when he talks with folks at these associations, they say, DA Johnsons staff never talks with us, its no wonder he has to drop these cases, its no wonder he refuses cases. Johnson: I dont think you can really make that argument. When we turn back a case to Waco PD, we turn back cases for more work to be done so they can make a case out of it that we can take to the courthouse. Or we turn it back because it hasnt the elements or jurisdiction or its just not a case we can pursue. And we only turn back cases 5 percent of the time. Ninety-five percent of the time we take all the cases they bring. Thats not the problem. Sure, it boils down to communication. When the police association endorsed Josh, Assistant Chief [Robert] Lanning, Assistant Chief [Frank] Gentsch and Chief [Sheryl] Victorian wanted to let me know, Hey, lets see if we can help each other in communication. But for some [the lament is often], Hey, yall [in the district attorneys office] want to do our job! Well, no, we dont want to do their job, we want them to do their job and get the case completed and bring it to us. Then we would love to sit and go over the facts of the case so we can make some recommendations on the case pursuant to the law because if you dont do this, this and that, were not going to be able to go forward with it. Youre looking at not guilty. Same thing with the sheriff. We have more friends in the sheriffs office than [Sheriff] Parnell McNamara [who is actively campaigning for Johnsons opponent] wants to admit. Q&A with Josh Tetens: DA candidate stresses two-way street with police, deputies In a lengthy interview with the Tribune-Herald, defense attorney and challenger for district attorney Josh Tetens, 42, son of a law enforcement officer, touts his 15 years in criminal law a strength he says his opponent lacks lacks as well as his endorsement by several major law enforcement groups. Tetens says his father told him when he began practicing law that Id never go wrong if I followed the Constitution, never stopped fighting to protect law and order, and backed the blue. Q: Mr. Tetens suggests you have refused bench trials when the pandemic made jury trials impossible. Johnson: Thats not a fair allegation. Its not even close to accurate. I cant remember a time when we had a criminal defendant I mean, under the Constitution, we would love to have a bench trial. Josh sure never came up here and said, I want to have a bench trial. Not once. Q: Last fall the district attorneys office, citing insufficient time to prepare, dismissed charges against Albert Love on a capital murder charge in an ambush-styled double slaying in East Waco. Love was released after ten and a half years behind bars. His original conviction was overturned in 2016, for which you of course had no responsibility given that you werent in office. But some including your opponent argue some of those four years Love spent in county jail awaiting retrial should have given your office sufficient time to prepare. I know your office sought 90 days more to prepare for this retrial and Judge [Thomas] West didnt give you that. But didnt the DAs office really have enough time to prepare for this case? Johnson: That case resulted in us having to dismiss it because of two bad court rulings. One was the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, our final arbiter, our supreme court. They said it didnt abide by the strict construction of the statute and they reversed the death penalty because of texts that were involved. [NOTE: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals awarded Love a new trial after ruling that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when Waco police seized the contents of his text messages without a search warrant and District Judge Ralph Strother allowed prosecutors from then-District Attorney Abel Reynas office to use the messages at trial.] Well, without those texts, we didnt have any way of putting Albert Love at the scene. So thats what happened there. We come into office in 2019 and were set to go to trial without those text messages, but nobody would ever set it. Then we get into 2020 and here comes COVID. Some might not understand, but when youre working 400 or 500 cases, even in a large murder case like this one on a retrial, you finally get busy on it when [the court] sets it. And the problem we had after Judge West set it was that without the text messages putting Albert Love at the scene of the crime, we get right up to trial and the one witness we had a witness who not only in a sworn statement but at the previous trial said Albert Love was there and he saw him there before he blew those two guys faces off in the back of a car he basically right before the trial, less than 90 days, says, I lied. Q: He recanted. Johnson: He recanted. And so we got to go back to the drawing board and we were just luckily able to find this hoodie. And thats what we went to the court about. Hey, we need 90 days to take this hoodie so that we can hopefully [employ testing to] get some DNA from Albert Love so we can put him at the murder scene. Right now if we try that case, its going to be not guilty. And then folks are really going to fall out about that. So we said, Judge, we need 90 days. And Judge West, a Josh Tetens supporter who has done everything he can to damage and criticize the district attorneys office since hes been there and I understand, he was a 20-year defense lawyer, thats who he is thats the second bad ruling we got: his saying he wasnt going to give us 90 days to get the DNA. So we had no choice but to dismiss it. Q: So you anticipate refiling this case based on DNA outcomes? Johnson: Yes. If we cant get the DNA to work out, well make the decision as to whether or not we can try it at all. I think we can, but its going to be really difficult if we dont have any way to put Albert Love at the scene. And the two guys who were in the front seat of that car they just got shot we know they saw Albert Love coming. They had to [see him] for them to be able to exit the car. But they are so doggone scared of Albert Love and his friends theyre like, No, we didnt see anything. Thats common in these kinds of cases. Q: Your opponent criticizes you for not more readily using the newly created mental-health court to resolve cases when appropriate instead of avoiding not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity pleas. He suggests your office bungled matters by not communicating with the Kenneth Cleveland family when Judge David Hodges made a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity ruling in the case of Zachary McKee in 2019 without objection from the district attorneys office. This criticism suggests youre consequently battle-scarred and inappropriately leaving such cases to jury trials or dismissing them with time served behind bars for certain defendants. Johnson: I think weve given the mental-health court a chance. Weve also tried to work the kinks out of it. The not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity cases youre talking about are difficult. When we got in there [with this new mental-health court], those cases increased by about a thousand percent. My approach is were going to still look at those on a case-by-case basis, but typically thats something the jury needs to decide. One big problem weve had since 1980 in the state of Texas: Theres not any place to put somebody in a mental facility. Now regarding the murder of the AT&T employee we were discussing with that kind of heinous, violent behavior, those people are going to go to ASH [Austin State Hospital]. Theyll come back for review once a year, but the odds of him ever getting out are close to zero. Hell never get out. [NOTE: McKee, 31, told doctors he heard crows telling him that AT&T technician Kenneth Cleveland, 61, working in the 1400 block of Barron Avenue, was actually a police officer on a sting operation before McKee stabbed Cleveland more than 20 times, beat him with a shovel and set his clothes on fire. Before McKee was committed to Vernon State Hospital, an Austin psychiatrist and a Waco psychologist found McKee insane at the time of the offense, while a Waco psychiatrist found that he was legally sane. McKee has since been transferred to Austin State Hospital.] The really violent ones cannot get out, but other than that, if theyre deemed NGRI theyre done, theres nothing on the record other than theyre not guilty by reason of insanity. And heres the kicker: Once theyre found insane and they go out and commit an aggravated assault or another crime, theyre deemed to be insane the rest of their life and we as the prosecutors have the burden to prove that they were sane when they committed that second crime. Once theyre NGRI, theyre NGRI from now on until the prosecutor can flip that and we got the burden of proving theyre sane when they kill Grandma six months later. And Ill mention this too: The mental-health court cannot its been very good about taking people into that court, but they cannot really handle people who are really sick, really mentally ill, with bipolar, major mental illnesses. Q: Why cant they? Johnson: They dont have the facilities here. They dont have any place to treat them. If all of a sudden they got somebody whos a paranoid schizophrenic coming into that court once a week and theyre as dangerous as they can be, and the crimes involved are usually horrible because theyre horribly mentally ill we dont have anywhere to send them to be able to treat those severe mental illnesses. The mental-health problems we have in mental-health court usually involve criminal trespass, people who have had problems with alcohol, with drugs and they havent committed any kind of violent crime thats whos in mental-health court and its working well for them. But the court is not set up for more serious cases. [NOTE: While Judge David Hodges of McLennan County Mental Health Treatment Court stresses that he cannot endorse a candidate in this race, he acknowledges that, yes, the mental-health court is not structured to handle individuals charged with violent or dangerous offenses. He also says the district attorneys office is now using the court more often than it initially did. Law enforcement officials have for more than 20 years raised concerns in the Tribune-Herald about the paucity of state-funded mental-health beds in Texas, a sentiment Judge Hodges echoes.] Q: What should state Rep. Charles Anderson and Sen. Brian Birdwell be doing to alleviate this problem? Johnson: Every time I drive by that Hillcrest hospital being torn down, coming from my house to work, I look over there and think to myself, Man, I wish we could have had the political strength in McLennan County to have a mental hospital. We dont have any anymore for people who are sick like that. [NOTE: Community leaders hoped their state legislators, Anderson and Birdwell, could press into reality an ambitious plan to turn the abandoned, 14-acre Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center campus in North Waco into a state-run, 339-bed mental-health hospital for patients whose treatment is almost complete. State leaders claimed no money existed for such needs, even as they pursued mental-health facilities in Dallas and Houston.] What we need is funding to have someplace to treat our mentally ill. Our mental-health hospital is unfortunately the McLennan County Jail out there on Highway 6. Thats where people go who are mentally ill. Of the 1,300 at the jail, probably half have some diagnosis from depression on up, and about 250 to 300 are on psychotropic drugs and have really bad paranoid schizophrenia. Q: Given his vigorous advocacy of your opponent, do you feel the sheriffs department or the sheriff himself has become too political? Johnson: I dont think theres any question about it. There might even be some problem of violation of federal law and maybe even state law when youre using your office as an elected official to influence voting in elections [to that degree]. This election has gotten down to where its critical that we cant just turn our district attorneys office over to Sheriff Parnell McNamara, and thats what he wants. It will be chaos, there will be problems, and thats how important its gotten to be in my opinion. Weve come a long way to suddenly take a chance on somebody who a lot of people just dont know in this town or didnt know till McNamara got in there and funded his campaign and at least got the signs up and all that kind of stuff. My dad taught me from Day One: Treat everybody right. Justice and fairness for all. And I just think its too important to take a chance on somebody like Josh Tetens. This interview with the Tribune-Herald Editorial Board was conducted by Editor Steve Boggs and retired Opinion Editor Bill Whitaker. It has been edited for clarity and brevity. Local defense attorney Josh Tetens, 42, son of a law enforcement officer, is the challenger in the March 1 Republican primary election battle for McLennan County district attorney. Tetens, of the Bellmead-based Simer & Tetens law firm, touts his 15 years in criminal law a strength he says District Attorney Barry Johnson lacks as well as his endorsement by the Waco Police Association, Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County and Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas. To quote the sheriffs association: Our citizens need a district attorney that will move forward with tough cases and show criminals that crimes will not go unpunished in our community instead of just dismissing cases. As district attorney, Josh Tetens will enforce the laws, work to protect the public and ensure the diligent pursuit of justice. Tetens says his father told him when he began practicing law that Id never go wrong if I followed the Constitution, never stopped fighting to protect law and order, and backed the blue. Tetens is president of the Bellmead Chamber of Commerce and Rapoport Academy Public School boards and serves as municipal judge in Golinda, a community of about 600 between Robinson and Chilton. Question: One thing keeps coming up in this campaign the role of law enforcement in crime prevention. Do you feel a district attorneys office, here or anywhere, has a significant role to play in preventing crime? Josh Tetens: Yes. A friend of mine put it succinctly just last night: Youre looking at a community, you have law enforcement doing their job, and they can make all the arrests in the world and if it all bottlenecks at the DAs office, then those cases are dismissed and those individuals are released and back on the streets, so you just constantly have this revolving door. If you have a district attorneys office that is proactive in working with law enforcement, you can address that. Here in Waco unfortunately we have a lot of gang violence with shootings. Many of those individuals, we know who they are. Law enforcement knows who they are. Its a matter of getting them charged with some crime and you need to have a district attorneys office ready and willing to prosecute those cases quickly and efficiently. That can have a result on the crime rate of a community. Q: Is that a lock-em-up mentality? Tetens: No, that is a process. Id have to verify these numbers, its been a few weeks ago, but they had a hundred people in our county jail who had been there more than 500 days, sitting and waiting for trial. So they have been charged, maybe even indicted at this point, or they should have been. Now, some might be there on holds from other counties we can think of various excuses and special circumstances but even if you cut that number in half, its still too many. You have people sitting in jail, charged with a crime, yet not convicted. Just locking them up is not the solution. One the sheriff mentioned this week the Weiss case, the Tradinghouse Lake case where the mother and baby were killed. That happened in November of 2017. He has been sitting in jail, charged with two homicides, since 2017. He has not seen the inside of a courtroom yet. It is not fair to him or the community to just lock him up and have him sit there without having his day in court. [NOTE: Christopher Weiss was jailed under a $1.5 million bond, charged with capital murder in the deaths of Valarie Martinez, 24, and her 1-year-old daughter, Azariah. Both victims were shot in the head at Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir.] So we need to address that bottleneck at the district attorneys office. We need to prioritize and move those cases. The jail should not just be a holding facility for people charged with a crime. Q&A with Barry Johnson: DA incumbent continues pledge against good-ol-boy cronyism In a lengthy interview with the Tribune-Herald, McLennan County District Attorney Barry Johnson, seeking reelection, touts his experience practicing law for 32 years; his willingness in 2018 to challenge a district attorney beleaguered by allegations of corruption and incompetence to the extent of arguably bungling prosecution of the high-profile 2015 Twin Peaks cases; and his vow to emulate his father by standing against the good-ol-boy network he says has long operated in certain corners of McLennan County law enforcement because thats the easiest place to have corruption and illegality, in the district attorneys office. Q: You announced your run for district attorney last May after you and your partner Michel Simer won acquittal for George McClain, who spent more than 800 days in jail before a jury cleared him of charges he stabbed another man in a fight over a woman. It was the first criminal trial in McLennan County in 14 months because of COVID-19 restrictions. You lambasted DA Johnson, saying: Justice delayed is justice denied. Not only did George suffer, but so did McLennan County taxpayers. For the last year, the district attorney has avoided trials and they can no longer use COVID as an excuse. Its time for a change, one that will ensure justice is served equally, efficiently and effectively. Yet many jurors understandably feared close proximity with one another during a pandemic that packed hospitals and filled morgues. Jury trials shut down statewide. How is DA Johnson to blame? Tetens: Bench trials were open and available that entire time and their office chose specifically to not have a bench trial under any circumstances for any case for anyone. [NOTE: A bench trial is one in which there is no jury and a judge decides the case.] So we were working, we were ready and willing as were the courts and the judges. They did not close the courthouse, just like they did not close the jail. Q: Some might argue that Barry Johnson was voted into office in 2018 because of allegations of corruption and incompetence leveled at his predecessor, Abel Reyna, even though Mr. Johnson lacked significant experience in criminal law. Yet as a well-known attorney experienced in criminal law and a public servant in other areas, you decided to not enter the DA race when allegations were arguably more serious against then-incumbent Reyna. Many of us marveled at the stunning paucity of candidates from our legal community. Why did you not run in 2018 when the very best candidate was needed front and center? Tetens: I would boil that down to political strategy at the time. Secondary to that would be finances. You had a candidate, Mr. Johnson, who came in very early in that process and loaned his campaign a significant amount of money. As you can imagine, in the political world for any other candidate, that brings you to pause: Can I compete with that financially? I cannot raise those kinds of funds. And then going back to the political side of things, a three-way race versus a two-man race also significantly changes the dynamics. If you want to attack and campaign against the incumbent Mr. Reyna at the time are you going to be splitting that vote between yourself and Mr. Johnson and ultimately getting the incumbent re-elected? Q: Lets turn to one of District Attorney Johnsons remarks about you, raised at a forum mounted by the McLennan County Republican Club on Jan. 20: Josh Tetens has spent his last 15 years using his best efforts to put child molesters, wife beaters, perverts and violent criminals back on the streets of Waco and McLennan County where they can continue to prey on you and your families. Luckily for our citizens, hes not too good at what he does and his efforts usually end in failure and a jail cell for his clients. Care to dissect that charge? Tetens: Well, my first response would be that every person charged with a crime in the United States has a right to counsel. That is in our United States Constitution. And by somehow associating my representation of somebody for a crime with the crime itself is not only reprehensible but shows a complete lack of understanding of the criminal justice system. At no time in my life have I ever been accused of or charged with any of the crimes mentioned in any of the cases Ive handled. Q: Well, as you know, the district attorney repeated this. Tetens: Yes. Now to follow up on dissecting this he said Im not very good at my job, so everyone goes to jail. So I guess I would respond with a question in return: Which is it? Am I so wonderful at my job that these alleged criminals are being released onto our streets or are they all going to jail because Im not? I would probably further say that when it comes to dismissing cases, this district attorneys office has from the numbers I have seen and heard from judges and I have received personally on cases dismissals have skyrocketed in the last three years compared to what they were in previous administrations. I dont sign dismissals. The district attorneys office signs dismissals. I do think I am good at my job. And I dont think theres much more of a conservative thing to do than to represent an individual who has been charged by the government to make sure the government actually does its job and has evidence to prove one guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Q: You have endorsements from the Sheriffs Law Enforcement Association of McLennan County, the Waco Police Association and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, which is pretty remarkable. I have their statements, but is there one thing their concerns really boil down to? Tetens: Communication. No. 1 is communication. I tell folks that sounds cliched or cheesy, but I hear this every day. I heard it when I did my interviews [with members of the law enforcement groups]. Mr. Johnson, literally as a great example, did not show up to any of the interviews [with the law enforcement groups], and he was invited. I have talked with chiefs who have said, I have never set foot in the DAs office, I have never gotten a phone call from the district attorney. [NOTE: A spokeswoman representing the Waco Police Department on Friday declined to discuss back-and-forth claims by the candidates.] Q: But surely youre hearing from assistant district attorneys on cases. Tetens: No. And in relation to the dismissals, [law enforcement union officials] have told me, Hey, were not going to get every case filed and indicted. Period. We understand. But why did [this case] get dismissed? Did we screw up? Did we not have probable cause? Did we fail to submit something? One chief told me, I went to the DAs office. Can I talk to someone? No was the answer. So [its just] that blanket were-not-going-to-tell-you, were-not-going-to-communicate-with-you. I was sitting in court during one of the last things [District Judge Ralph] Strother did before retirement. Im there on another case. He calls a case, not mine, and it was a motion to suppress. Any defense attorney can tell you motions to suppress just dont get granted. Sometimes you file those as a Hail Mary. So he calls the case and says, OK, state, call your first witness. Its normally the police officer. And [the prosecutor says], Well, judge, I dont see him. [And the judge says,] Well, do you want to step into the hall, do you want to call him, do you want a recess? No, I havent talked to him, judge. I dont see him here and I havent talked to him. Have you talked to him about this case? Well, I sent an email that we had a hearing today. When did you send the email? Well, when it got set a few weeks back. Have you communicated further with him, followed it up? No, judge, havent had time. Or whatever the excuse was. Well, then Im going to have to grant the motion to suppress. You dont have a witness. Q: One happy development is that our police department is making inroads regarding mental health. Tetens: Im glad you brought that up because we have a fully funded, fully staffed mental-health court thats just not being utilized and you have a district attorneys office thats not encouraging defendants to go through that program. They make it punitive: If you want to go through the mental-health court program, its going to cost you more, its going to be longer, and youre going to have to do more and you may be on probation longer or well give you time served. [NOTE: While Judge David Hodges of the McLennan County Mental Health Treatment Court stresses that he cannot endorse a candidate in this race, he notes that, yes, mental-health treatments are a minimum of 12 months and that some attorneys nonetheless pursue this option in hope of treating clients regularly arrested for low-level criminal offenses.] Q: Allegations suggest the DAs office is relying on mental-health experts in some criminal cases but disregarding their expertise in others, and that the solution is either letting a jury decide mental-health cases or cutting them loose with time served and arguably sending them back into society without the treatment they need. Tetens: All of that is true. To get into some legal weeds here, one of the things this DAs office no longer does are NGRIs not guilty by reason of insanity. I think this stems from the killing of the AT&T technician. They pled that NGRI but did so without communicating with the victims family. [NOTE: This involved the April 2016 killing of 61-year-old Kenneth Cleveland, of Hewitt, who suffered injuries from a blunt object, suffered incised injuries and was set on fire. Zachary McKee was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the gruesome death in 2019. Mr. Clevelands family voiced outrage at the cases resolution, calling it a big slap in the face. Some attorneys claim the district attorneys office has generally opposed NGRIs ever since.] Q: Yes, the family went ballistic. Tetens: Had you had an office that could explain it and prepare them for it I mean, NGRI may say theyre not guilty, but they dont get off. I mean, theyre institutionalized. And the DAs policy now is, Well, we got burned in that one case, so were not going to do it anymore, so were going to dismiss it, were going to let them go, were going to reduce the charge, whatever it takes, and move on, because it [a mental-health case] is a lot of work. I am now on that mental-health docket wheel for the defense and it burns up more time than any first-degree felony case. You have to monitor these cases closely, constantly be in touch with family members. We had one where we were finally able to find a family member in Minnesota and worked with the courts and MHMR and got them a bus ticket and got them there, but its time intensive. Q: Sheriff Parnell McNamara is quite your campaign advocate, to the degree some suggest he has stepped over the ethical line of mere political endorsement. Are you concerned as possibly the next top law enforcement officer of McLennan County that you might wind up unduly obligated to him if elected? Tetens: No. What Im obligated to do as district attorney is follow the law, enforce the law. The title does include chief law enforcement officer, so having a direct relationship with law enforcement is part of the job. It is the law enforcement officers on the ground who make the arrests and do the reports for the district attorneys office to review, screen and ultimately potentially take to trial. I would not be obligated to any one individual a sheriff, a chief, a certain officer but they see and understand that the current district attorneys office is dismissing far too many cases and, worse, theyre not communicating with law enforcement at all. This interview with the Tribune-Herald Editorial Board was conducted by Editor Steve Boggs and retired Opinion Editor Bill Whitaker. It has been edited for clarity and brevity. LOS ANGELES To make sure her 3-year-old daughter survived the night on her ventilator, Amber Suarez stayed awake for four hours, then woke up her husband to watch Mia for another four hours as the girl dozed. It had already been months since the family lost a nurse who assisted them during the day, which meant Suarez had been caring for her disabled daughter since the morning, juggling the needs of Mia and her twin sister, Savannah. She feeds her through a gastrostomy tube, administers breathing treatments, and suctions out fluid from the tube that helps her breathe. Mia is also supposed to have a nurse at her side by night, but Suarez said the night nurse hadn't shown up that Friday. The next night, another nurse missed her scheduled shift, forcing her and her husband to stay up again, Suarez said. "I'm just so desperate for a break. Just a breather so I can do simple things like cook breakfast, go to the bathroom, shower," said Suarez, a mother of three in Palmdale, Calif. "I can't leave her alone. She likes to pull out her trach" the breathing tube surgically inserted into her windpipe. "I'm just trying to keep my daughter alive." Families have long struggled to get nursing care at home for medically fragile children. Even after doctors have deemed home care necessary to keep their kids healthy and safe, many have been unable to secure enough nurses to fill their allocated hours. Parents and advocates say that, despite efforts to tackle the problem before the pandemic, it has persisted with the arrival of COVID-19. Home health agencies say it has been harder to hang on to nurses when other businesses are recruiting them to handle new demands tied to the coronavirus, including administering tests and vaccines. "COVID didn't create a problem that wasn't there," said Jennifer McLelland, a member of the advocacy group Little Lobbyists. "COVID just made everything worse." A decade ago, McLelland had so much trouble lining up home nursing for her then-infant son that it took three months before he could be released from the hospital and go home to Fresno County. The family ended up moving from a rural town to the Fresno suburbs to have a better shot at finding nurses for her son, who has a rare genetic condition and has a feeding tube and a tracheostomy. At night, they need to keep reconnecting his ventilator when the 10-year-old rolls over and disconnects the machine in his sleep. If no nurse is there, "we really just don't get any sleep," McLelland said. And "when parents are exhausted, when they're not getting nights of sleep, the risk of getting things wrong is death." Years before the pandemic, the California Department of Health Care Services found in one study that 29% of home nursing hours authorized through a Medi-Cal program for children were not being filled. Another analysis, funded by the home health agency Maxim Healthcare Services, found that the majority of California home health agencies surveyed could only provide a quarter or less of the nursing hours approved for their Medi-Cal patients. Four years ago, attorneys with Disability Rights California and other groups took the state to court, arguing that systemic failures to arrange for home nurses put children at serious risk of injury, hospitalization and institutionalization. The lawsuit centered on children and teens who are authorized to get home nursing through Medi-Cal. Attorneys ultimately secured a settlement requiring case managers to assist families with getting nurses. Before the pandemic arrived, the state also used money from a cigarette tax to increase its rates for home nursing for children under Medi-Cal, amid complaints from agencies that the rates had been too low to recruit and retain nurses. Home care for kids, which relies heavily on public funding, "has traditionally lagged behind the other opportunities that nurses have," said Michael Davidov, president of American United Home Care. Davidov said the Medi-Cal rate increase had helped four years ago, but now "COVID has turbocharged the disparity." The gaps in nursing care have made it impossible for many parents to work regular hours and strained families already frazzled by the enduring pandemic. Suarez grows frustrated whenever a nurse fails to show up, but fears that if she lets one go, it will be impossible to find another one. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When life gets messy and ugly, and goes in the opposite direction from our dreams, we can really become worried, stressed and worked up! We lose patience and probably enter sleepless nights, trying to figure out whats going to happen next. We think, This should not be so! And wonder what we should do. I have been guilty of this. God has had to test my faith many times to help me really witness and believe in His faithfulness in all things. I hope this article will encourage and help you to enter into Gods rest too. And as I found out, resting in GOD doesnt actually mean doing nothing or lying down and relaxing. Gods rest is from the inside: it is the peace of God that lasts no matter the storms in your life; this peace is within you and so you are at rest in Gods presence. If you are in a season of testing, struggles and trials right now, believe me, God will do something big in your life! If your dream seems like it is running away from you, dont even believe it! Look upon the One who gave His one and only Son for your sake, the One who shed His blood on the cross just so you could gain eternal life and inherit the whole of Gods Kingdom. God didnt do this just to leave you stuck somewhere in this life. I am saying this because I have witnessed Gods faithfulness in this certain area of my life. He answered both my wants and needs: I needed finances to support our church, the kids ministry, and of course, myself and future family. I have experienced people looking down at me and my husband many times because we are church workers. One time, we were so hungry that we didnt eat because we had no money; this combined with what people were saying about us. At that point, I came to realize that something wasnt rightno, not with those people but with this kind of faith! I realized that if my Father in heaven is so rich, why would His children suffer in this way? From that point on, I learned to actually live my identity in Christ: I am the Kings daughter! So, over four months, I went looking for a full-time job that would not affect my calling as full-time church worker. Is that even possible? With God all things are possible In that span of four months, I honestly felt I could not connect to God anymore because my mind was so filled with jobs. With what was happening inside me, I only had one choiceto keep trusting in God. If He could raise Lazarus from the dead, then He could definitely restore my spirit. To cut the long story short, an employer told me, If God says hire this person, we just obey. I landed a job with an amazing boss who works for Gods Kingdom, a kind of job in which Gods Word could be my everyday spiritual food, working at my own schedule and paid with my desired salaryfull-time! God showed me His faithfulness in terms of finances that would support His Kingdom works and just be a blessing! When God restores, He does it as He did to Job, twice as much as before! (Job chapter 42, verse 10) So I learned that trusting in God should be the first thing you doalways and every time! It spares you from unnecessary anxieties and stresses. No matter what is happening, know that God wont ever fail you. And remember who you are, you are a child of the living God! "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah chapter 32, verse 27) WATERLOO Three spectators at a Saturday night monster truck rally at the National Cattle Congress complex were transported to a local emergency room after exhibiting symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Waterloo Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ben Petersen. Petersen said the assumed source was truck exhaust. He declined to provide further information. Were still working through the details, he said. Waterloo man found guilty of federal gun charge after threatening woman, firing shot 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. The event Monster Truck Chaos took place at the Hippodrome, according to the Facebook event page. It featured a jam-packed lineup including FIVE Big Name Monster Trucks, Quad Wars, Hillbilly Clown Entertainer, Kids Power Wheel Races, and tons of high-flying, ground-pounding action. The people were transported at about 9 p.m. when the crowd began to file out as the event wrapped up, Petersen said. Petersen said event staff responded to the incident by opening up all forms of ventilation and continuing to evacuate everyone in the facility. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CEDAR FALLS The Board of Education on Monday will consider approving bids totaling $541,779 for kitchen equipment and remodeling at Cedar Heights Elementary School. The board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the Cedar Falls Community Center, 528 Main St. Cedar Heights is the final elementary building to have its kitchen upgraded. The improvements have allowed Cedar Falls Community Schools to decentralize meal preparation that previously was done at the high school or Peet Junior High. Bids of $318,300 for the construction work and $222,979 for the equipment are being recommended by project manager ISG of Waterloo, according to a board memo. Failor-Hurley Construction of Waterloo submitted the lowest of two proposals on the remodeling work, with the other bid at $337,733. Boelter of Mitchellville submitted the lowest of three bids for the equipment. The other companies bid $231,550 and $242,252. Estimated remodeling costs were $315,145, including $133,745 for construction and $181,400 for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. Equipment costs were estimated at $220,725. Design fees were estimated at $68,525. The project also has a contingency fund of $107,180 to cover any unanticipated costs. The work is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 12. In other business, the board will accept the resignation of Suvada Kuburas, North Cedar Elementary School interim principal, effective June 30. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WAVERLY -- Students graduating from any Bremer County high school in 2022 and planning to further their education may now apply for the annual Klea Shipman Scholarship through Trinity United Methodist Church. Criteria are academic achievement, service to others, school activities, community activities and financial need. Students should request an application from their school counselor. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2022, and be sent or delivered to Trinity United Methodist Church; 1400 W. Bremer Avenue; Waverly, IA 50677. This memorial scholarship is an endowed gift from the estate of Klea Shipman. She was a member of Trinity UMC and a lifelong resident of Bremer County, 1915-2003. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WAVERLY Composer Denzel Washingtons new commissioned work, A Hope for a New Morning, will have its world premiere at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Wartburg Community Symphony. Its exciting. Its one thing to hear it in your head and capture whats in your head on paper. But its another level when performers bring what is written on paper to sound and make music. Its always a beautiful surprise in how it comes out, said Washington, who earned his masters degree in music composition from the University of Northern Iowa School of Music. In 2019, Washingtons piece, American Pastorale, was premiered by the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra. Music Works is theme for the Saturday concert celebrating Black History Month in Wartburg Colleges Neumann Auditorium. It opens with Edvard Griegs Peer Gynt Suite I and In the Hall of the Mountain King, as well as works by Black composers William Grant Still and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Guest artist Clare Longendyke also will perform Piano Concerto in One Movement by female African-American composer Florence Price. A pre-concert talk begins at 1 p.m., featuring Wartburg Community Symphony Conductor Rebecca Nederhiser and Washington. Washington drew inspiration from Psalm 30:5: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The music is designed to evoke a sense of hope that there will be a new morning. The last couple of years, families have been kept apart, masks-no-masks, politics, anxiety feels like its been higher than its ever been, so I want this piece to be a small reminder that theres more than tonight there is still a God who is there in the morning, explained Washington, 27, who earned a bachelor of arts in music degree from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. The melody came from doodling around on a tin whistle, he said. I liked it and had to figure out how to create music out of it. Composers have different tools they can use repetition, variation, texture change to bring an idea to life. Washington describes the piece as reflective and peaceful. A grant from the Guernsey Charitable Foundation made it possible to commission the work, Nederhiser said. Its cool to be able to commission a work and part of our mission to support local composers. Its really important to commission work and it needs to be a reflection of our larger community. When the audience can see themselves on stage, it allows them to feel more included. It encourages aspiration and inspiration. Shes also excited to conduct a new piece with the orchestra. Washington attended a rehearsal and worked with musicians for about an hour. Orchestras dont usually get to interact with a composer, to ask questions are we playing how you meant? and share fun facts about creating the creative process, which makes it so much more meaningful, Nederhiser explained. And I think, too it gives more credence to how much responsibility we have to play what is on the page and be true to the composers vision. Washingtons wife, Bethany, is concertmaster with the orchestra. This is my first time working with them in my capacity as a composer. I recently played saxophone on their Christmas concert. Music is a shared experience, Washington said. His ultimate goal is to use the gifts God gave me to create works that will continue to bless people year after year. And about that first name: Yes, my mom named me after the actor Denzel Washington. I find great joy in it. Its actually an easy conversation starter, Washington added, with a laugh. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CEDAR FALLS Worth-A-Shot has rolled out a second program to help people break down financial barriers associated with getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The nonprofit can help offset expenses that otherwise may make it difficult to get children under 18 vaccinated. Despite the vaccine being free, the organization has found success by granting up to $100 in reimbursements for hundreds of people in Iowa and across the United States. People can be reimbursed for lost wages, travel, child care and other expenses when getting the vaccine or experiencing side effects. Its been amazing to see all the walks of life whove showed up and benefited, said Jubal Slone, one of the organizations founders. And as more and more kids stop with remote learning and return to school, its become important that we help these families out too. For example, the first program reimbursed an early-20s cancer survivor who got vaccinated for lost wages for taking time off from a job as a server. Slone, who also serves as board president, says people can apply by sending a message through the nonprofits Facebook page; visiting its website, https://worthashot.net; sending an email to info@worthashot.net; or calling (319) 774-5505. Applicants must have gotten their first shot within the last seven days or not yet received it. He recommends people reach out while setting up the appointment to get fully vaccinated or the booster shot. Its not an much as application but a conversation, he said. One of our volunteers will follow up and ask about whats going on that is causing you hardship. Whether you qualify is not based on your income. The nonprofit asks interested people be cognizant of its limited resources, to be saved for those who havent already received assistance of $100 or more from an employer or another agency. After showing proof of vaccination, the reimbursement is delivered through PayPal or as a check in the mail to the adult or the parent of the kid. The organization is nonpolitical and and its reimbursement is not viewed as an incentive. The trio founded the nonprofit after reading an article that (said) 19% of people who were interested in being vaccinated were concerned about the financial implications of getting vaccinated. Since then, theyve raised thousands of dollars, and are still accepting tax-deductible donations to continue helping people. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES A state court judge has ordered the state of Iowa to pay a labor union representing state workers nearly $2 million in a five-year legal dispute centered on whether the state could continue to deduct union dues from state worker paychecks after a state law change in 2017. In a decision posted Monday, Judge Paul Scott said the state knew its failure to deduct union dues from worker paychecks would hurt the union financially. The legal dispute dates back to 2017, when the Iowa Legislature and then Republican Gov. Terry Branstad changed state collective bargaining laws weakening the unions right to negotiate many conditions of employment and eliminating the requirement to have the state deduct union dues from state paychecks. Some unions representing state employees sued to challenge the new law but it was upheld by the Iowa Supreme Court in 2019. The UE Local 893-Iowa United Professionals union and the state had renegotiated and ratified a new two-year contract in February 2017 days before Branstad signed the bill into law. The contract required the state to continue collecting union dues, but the state stopped collecting the dues in 2017. That forced the union to use a private vendor to collect dues, but the collections decreased by about $1 million. The union sued and has won several court rulings from state court judges and the Iowa Supreme Court. The union represents about 1,700 social services and scientific state workers. The state was required to deduct dues from the union members checks during the term of the 2017-2019 contract. The state breached this obligation and the union is entitled to full damages for said breach, Scott wrote. Scotts order requires the state to pay $1.05 million for the dues deductions, nearly $412,000 for back pay, and nearly $487,000 for overtime pay. We certainly feel the judge reached the right decision. This has been a very long road for the local union, said Charles Gribble, an attorney for the union. For two years the state must allow the union to use bulletin boards, union leave, union visitation time and union orientation provisions included in the 2017 contract and allow union workers to use their personal leave rights granted under the contract, the judge said. A spokeswoman for the Iowa attorney generals office, which represented the state, said they are reviewing the decision and considering options, including appeal. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Monkeys howled, toucans brayed, but whining about masks wasnt apparent in Costa Rica during our mid-January eco adventure in the Americas third-longest democracy. Masks in public spaces are mandated in Costa Rica, omnipresent on the pedestrian malls of San Jose, the capital, save for an occasional male. Hand sanitizer was everywhere. We even wore masks during jungle cruises and in rain and cloud forests. Costa Rica claims a vaccination rate of 81.6%, markedly better than the U.S. (64%) and Iowa (60%). Its population of 5.1 million had 7,575 COVID-related deaths through January, comparing favorably to Iowa, 3.1 million, with 8,501 and the U.S., 331 million, 911,572 fatalities. Yet the U.S. State Department calls Costa Rican travel high risk, and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has ended the states COVID emergency. Im not mask zealot, but felt safer (and much warmer) in Costa Rica. Costa Rica can warm the hearts of liberals, while reaffirming some conservative tropes. Its the size of West Virginia, home to 8% of all bird species, 5% of mammals and 3% of reptiles and amphibians with 27% of its land protected. Tourism is huge, and its a destination for American and European expatriates. Hunting is illegal, but ignored by farmers whose animals fall prey to predators. Animals (unless imported) cant be caged. Costa Rica has no standing army, but police are omnipresent. Residences and stores are gated, often with barbed wire, because of theft blamed, in part, on the influx of Nicaraguans (more than 300,000) fleeing an oppressive socialist government. They mainly work in service industries and agriculture (coffee, bananas and pineapples). Some hawk cigars, lottery tickets and tacky merchandise. The bias rivals that of the U.S. far right against Hispanics. Costa Ricans are accepting of Venezuelans, fleeing another despotic leftist regime 27% have college degrees, compared to 2% of Nicaraguans. Costa Rica is highly socialized in human development. The government fled most of the private sector (except energy) after racking up unstainable debts. Public education is free through high school. Costa Ricans pay 10% of income for a popular public health program, although doctor visits can entail long waits. Private coverage is an option. According to the national museum, Costa Rica initially cleansed history books of sensitive material to whites, ignoring the near extermination of indigenous people and bigotry, until finally coming to terms with it. African slaves were imported for agricultural work and, once freed, confined to certain areas. Now Costa Rica is a destination for Black professionals looking for a less stressful environment. At the fore of Costa Rican history and ignored in the U.S. texts is the defeat of Confederate sympathizers in Latin America. In 1856, William Walker recruited mercenaries, overthrew the Nicaraguan government, re-instituted slavery and was recognized by the U.S. Walker set his sights on Costa Rica, but was thwarted, later tried and executed in 1860. His downfall is depicted in the National Monument in downtown San Jose, the rare memorial to the failed Confederacy effort to perpetuate slavery. Saul Shapiro is the retired editor of The Courier, living in Cedar Falls. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Russian_Village A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia. Editorial page writer Sharon Hendrix rarely throws anything out. So before retiring last month after a stellar career of 35 years at the Journal, she had to sort through piles of old files, clippings and correspondence. Among that stuff, she found a few gems. One was a memo to the staff from now-deceased editor Gerald Crawford, written in 1991. Crawfords memo acknowledged the Journal did not have a short, pithy mission statement (and still doesnt). Instead, over four pages he outlined aspirations and goals. He wrote that at the Journal, we retain the responsibility to give our readers the information they need that which informs about government and the events which affect their lives, along with that which entertains, educates and helps readers to cope in a complex society. While his prose is more formal than what you see in staff inboxes today, he includes key words that we still stand by. The Journal is a for-profit organization, but foremost in our minds is the word responsibility a responsibility to inform New Mexicans and focus on what affects their lives. We often do it by writing individuals stories, and through their stories we hope to shine a light on bigger problems or offer inspiration. Take Shawnna Boyd, whom law enforcement calls a frequent flyer due to the more than 100 calls she has made to 911, often threatening suicide. I dont know what she needs, but I know she needs something that she is absolutely not getting, says her mother, Kathy Boyd. Journal reporter Elise Kaplan and photographer Roberto Rosales spent time at the Boyd home as mother and daughter told their frustrating and all-too-familiar story. The 37-year-old Shawnna has struggled for years with mental and behavioral health problems. Talk about a revolving door. When police answer her 911 calls, she is often taken to a hospital and then released. When she runs away, she frequently goes into traffic and has caused at least one crash. Other times, police respond to some type of disturbance she has created, then she ends up in jail. Its been recommended she attend a facility in Texas, but insurance through Medicaid wont cover it. Kaplan talked to myriad folks familiar with Shawnnas case but no immediate solution presents itself. Unfortunately, thats often the case. And one of the states biggest issues in search of a solution is crime. The Journal team has produced dozens of important stories reporting stats and quoting officials. But the memorable stories are often those that put faces both victims and suspects to these troubling stats. One recent example is Sihui Fang, who grew up in an impoverished Chinese village and became a successful entrepreneur in Albuquerque, owning her own massage spa. Journal reporter Matthew Reisen pieced together her final minutes through interviews and records before the 45-year-old was shot to death by two apparent armed robbers. Reisen told readers how Fang had come to the United States in her early 20s and at the time of her death owned a home and a successful business. She was exceptional in every way, says a good friend. Again, no obvious solutions. But we believe the first step is shining a light on a problem and what better way to do that than telling New Mexicans stories? Of course not all of our stories are tragic. Capitol bureau reporter Dan McKay provided an upbeat glimpse into a state legislator Rep. Javier Martinez who suddenly found himself in a leadership role. Originally from El Paso and Juarez, Martinezs family moved to Albuquerque when he was 7. He spoke little English at the time. Fast forward 40 years. He recently became House Majority Leader, and colleagues from both sides of the aisle credit him with being a good listener and honest broker. Again, it was putting a face on the 112 lawmakers who are spending this month crafting our state budget and addressing critical issues. (Go to abqjournal.com/legislature for full coverage by our Capitol team.) More than 20 years ago, editor Jerry Crawford also wrote, We must improve the Journals reputation as a newspaper that knows and is in touch with the community. It would be unrealistic for us to believe we can understand or walk in the shoes of all New Mexicans. But I hope these few examples of our reporters strong work are the type of journalism Jerry was referring to and which we are proud to produce. Again, let me know if you have suggestions, feedback or just some basic gripes. You can email me at kmoses@abqjournal.com. Please add the word comments as part of the subject line to ensure it does not get lost. Until next month. Karen Moses is editor and senior vice president of Journal Publishing Co. An innovative new program to recruit substitute teachers for New Mexico public schools received a lot of national attention recently, as it should have. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams Supporting Teachers and Families initiative is using volunteers from the National Guard and state agencies to keep our schools open for the in-person learning our educators, children and families need to thrive. We are deeply indebted to these National Guard members, state employees and community members who have stepped up to help support our educators and students during this challenging time. But we also know that these substitutes cannot replace the expertise and training of New Mexicos educators, and our state needs more of these dedicated professionals. Many people want to answer the call to teach, but society hasnt made it easy for them to do so. College students often have to weigh tens of thousands of dollars in student loans against the potential rewards. For too long, that scale has not tipped in favor of careers in education, ultimately contributing to a nationwide educator workforce crisis. In New Mexico, although we successfully reduced teacher vacancies by nearly 25% in 2019 by raising pay, eliminating a hated standardized test and instituting a new educator evaluation system, the number of teacher vacancies nearly doubled from the 2020-2021 school year to this school year. We must use every tool in our toolbox to help more teachers get into, and stay in, this critical profession. But theres good news. Under the leadership of Gov. Lujan Grisham, New Mexicos three education agencies are collaborating to fortify our teacher pipeline, support our valued educators and address the pressing need to recruit a greater number of qualified teachers. Increasing educator salaries is an important step toward making sure teachers feel valued for their expertise, hard work and the critical role they play in our childrens lives. The governors proposed 7% pay raise for all pre-K-12 public school educators is a big step in the right direction, as is her proposal to raise minimum salaries by $10,000 for the three teaching tiers to $50,000, $60,000 and $70,000. These measures will make our state competitive with our neighboring states, drawing more into the profession and attracting more to our state. Were also opening new pathways to becoming a teacher in New Mexico. On the state level, our plan is to provide additional support for the educator fellows program and teacher residencies. The educator fellows program provides resources to districts and state charter schools to help recruit and retain teaching assistants and get them into the pipeline to become full teachers. Teacher residencies help pay college education majors to gain experience by working in high-need districts. The New Mexico Higher Education Department is working alongside the states other education agencies to support current and future teachers at all levels and to recruit and retain teachers from multilingual and multicultural backgrounds. We are investing $10 million in fiscal 2023 into the Teacher Preparation Affordability Scholarship and Teacher Loan Repayment programs, which helped nearly 3,000 New Mexico teachers in the past year. Gov. Lujan Grishams plan to make free college a reality for all New Mexicans will also go a long way toward ensuring New Mexicans can choose to pursue teaching degrees without having to worry about paying off debt as they embark on their careers. This will go a long way toward ensuring qualified and motivated educators can continue to work and live in their communities. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department pays 100% of tuition and books and offers mentoring for early childhood professionals seeking advanced degrees and certifications from in-state universities, creating a pipeline to put highly qualified teachers in classrooms with our youngest learners. ECECD is also working to ensure early childhood professionals reflect New Mexicos diversity, investing in recruitment of bilingual and indigenous educators and offering incentive bonuses to child care professionals who obtain bilingual certifications. New Mexicos kids deserve the very best education we can provide them, and educators deserve to be given every opportunity to do so. These strategic and collaborative investments will set us on a path toward making both of those possible. We urge the state Legislature to support these proposals. Chola Salvation is the title story of Estella Gonzalezs compelling debut collection. The story is about the emotional turmoil of 14-year-old Isabela growing up in a Mexican American family in East Los Angeles in the 1980s. She suffers sexual, physical and verbal abuse. The tipping point for Isabela is when she refuses her mothers demand for a quinceanera. Isabela contends shes fat and has no friends, so why have a party? Feeling trapped, she flees to live with her Tia Rosa in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Two other characters the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and La Virgen de Guadalupe seem to hold the unexpected power of a deus ex machina for Isabela. However, the author sees their roles in a different light. I think they are a part of Isabela, Gonzalez said in a phone interview from her home in Tucson, Arizona. They are projections of what she wants to be and she is too afraid to be. They have the guts to say what she wants to say and do. Frida and La Virgen are street-savvy feminists. In modern times, Gonzalez said, La Virgen is very much a Chicano icon, transformed by Chicano activists. She is seen as a blend of the Mexican American woman with the Aztec goddess. Shes a Chicano goddess, a bad-ass, an activist. The story introduces Frida and La Virgen in the first scene. Isabela is drinking her dads beer in the family restaurant when the two women show up with attitude and advice: La Frida is in a mans suit, a big baggy one like the guy from the Talking Heads but this ones black, not white. All her hair is cut off so she isnt wearing no braids, no ribbons, no nothin. The only woman thing she has on are those hand earrings, Gonzalez writes. Y La Virgen? She has blonde hair, lots of white eyeshadow, and shes wearing chola clothes. You know, tank top with those skinny little straps, baggy pants and black Hush Puppy shoes. And she has this lipstick like she just bit a chocolate cake. Her hair is so long, it touches the back of her feet. Her bangs are all sprayed up, like a regular chola, but she wears a little gold crown. Isabela finally recognizes them, La Virgen by the crown and Frida for her emblematic unibrow. Isabelas recognition is confirmed when Frida gives her a cigarette, defying the Thank you for not smoking sign, and La Virgen holds up a lighter. Frida smiles, opening the conversation with Isabela and asking, Que ondas, comadre? Whassup? The women offer the teen a set of rules to live by, hoping to boost her self-image. Rule No. 1: Have as much sex as you want but dont get pregnant. Rule No. 2: Go to school. Youre gonna have to work the system. Rule No. 3: Youre in charge of your own genitalia. Rule No. 4: Spread the word, especially to the homeboys; maybe theyll quit with all this macho stuff. Rule No. 5: Were all indias. Be proud of the indigena inside of you. An armed Virgen makes a surprise reappearance in Juarez, saving Isabela from the unwanted advances of Cowboy Dude, a stranger making kissing noises and calling her mamacita. Chola Salvation, the book, is mostly set in working-class East L.A., and sprinkled with rawness, obscenities and Chicano slang. The author grew up there but wasnt a chola. Chola Salvation, the title story, won first place for the Martindale Literary Prize given by Pima Community College. Winning the prize solidified Gonzalezs determination to write more short stories and poetry. She is currently working on a screenplay based on the title story. She is developing a novel based on the origin story of hotel housekeeper Merced, lead character of Angry Blood, a tale in her 16-story collection that received Pushcart Prizes Special Mention. The novel is about a woman who falls in love and wreaks havoc on everybody, the author said. Powder Puff, another story in the same collection, was selected as a Reading Notable for The Best Non-Required Reading anthology. In Tucson, Gonzalez is in a writing group, an involvement she said has been helpful for her literary aspirations. We have prompts and they start me on stories. Thats important for writers. It has sustained me. One of the hardest things to do is to sustain the writing spirit, she said. Police say a man was shot and killed inside a Northeast Albuquerque apartment early Saturday morning. Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman with the Albuquerque Police Department, said officers were dispatched to 5328 Montgomery NE at 2:15 a.m. When they got there, they discovered a male who had been shot in the chest and succumbed to his injury at the scene. Detectives are interviewing several witnesses and processing the scene, he said in an email. No other details on the shooting were immediately available. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico would make $55 million available for bonuses intended to help recruit and retain law enforcement officers around the state, under changes to a $8.5 billion spending plan unveiled Saturday by a Senate committee. The increase in funding for officer hiring and retention stipends the initial version of the budget bill included $13 million for such incentives comes after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham accused lawmakers of not taking violent crime seriously enough during this years 30-day legislative session. Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said New Mexico law enforcement agencies currently hire often from one anothers ranks and struggle to retain new recruits. Somehow we have to get more officers, he said, while adding that hiring 1,000 new officers statewide, as proposed by Lujan Grisham, would likely be an unattainable target. The proposed law enforcement recruitment stipends would be available for local governments to dole out over the next two years, provided they adopt a community policing strategy. In addition, the spending plan debated Saturday would provide hefty pay raises of nearly 16% for State Police officers. We do not have enough police officers in the state of New Mexico, Lujan Grisham said during a recent speech to Albuquerque business leaders. The increased pay rates are doable due to a state revenue surge generated by increased oil and natural gas production and an uptick in consumer spending. In all, the budget plan, House Bill 2, would increase state spending by slightly more than $1 billion or 13.9% for the fiscal year that starts in July. Teachers and state employees would also get average 7% pay raises under the plan, which would provide funding to establish a $15 per hour minimum wage for such workers. That proposed spending growth has prompted unease among some lawmakers, even though the budget bill would set aside about $2.6 billion in cash reserves in case projected revenue levels do not materialize. But Munoz said he was hopeful investments in economic development initiatives such as $50 million for a state closing fund would bear fruit and help avert future spending cuts. The Senate changes to the spending bill approved last month by the House would keep about $400 million available for tax reductions to be approved during this years session. Several tax proposals are under consideration as the session enters its final week, including cutting the states gross receipts tax rate by 0.25 percentage points and exempting Social Security retirement income from taxation for most New Mexicans. But some lawmakers said theyd prefer a chunk of the states revenue windfall to go directly back to taxpayers. I certainly support rebates going back to the people that helped build this, said Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, referring specifically to those employed in the oil and natural gas industries. Unspent federal relief funds Lawmakers not only have a bonanza of state tax dollars to spend this session, but are also sitting on more than $700 million in unspent federal relief funds. Those dollars were the subject of a court challenge last fall that pitted a bipartisan group of lawmakers against the Governors Office. Ultimately, the Supreme Court sided with the Legislature in the dispute, ruling lawmakers have the authority to make spending decisions regarding the funding. Given that backdrop, the revised spending bill would earmark $130 million of the federal relief dollars to bolster a lottery scholarship program so that college students who qualify would have all tuition costs covered for the next four years. It would also target $247.5 million of those funds for highway repairs and construction around New Mexico, $20 million for statewide highway rest area improvements and at least $20 million to begin construction of a media academy to train students for film industry jobs. But that issue drew scrutiny when Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, questioned budget language stipulating the media academy be located in Bernalillo County. The Senate Finance Committee held off on voting on the proposed budget changes until the issue was clarified. Proposed public health college Among the other changes to the House-approved budget plan is the addition of $15 million to set the stage for a new college of public health that would be a joint effort between the states largest universities University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. Several senators have pushed for even more funding for the purpose a bill filed during this years session carried a $75 million price tag amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has now lasted for nearly two years. Backers have argued a school of public health would expand New Mexicos access to research funding and give policymakers more data to make proactive spending decisions when it comes to health care programs. Sen. Martin Hickey, D-Albuquerque, said the appropriation could also eventually produce hundreds of new public health professionals in New Mexico. This appropriation is the transformational act to reverse New Mexico health outcomes, Hickey told the Journal. These funds will allow New Mexico to join nearly every other state in having a true school of public health. The spending also exemplifies investments in other areas, as lawmakers have described the states budget situation as an opportunity to pump more money into programs aimed at fixing statewide shortages of teachers and nurses after several years of big revenue swings in New Mexico. But at least some senators also acknowledged the states revenue bonanza might not last for long. As we move forward were going to have to make sure New Mexico has a sustainable budget, Munoz said. We may not and probably will not have this money forever. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexicans with children would get an annual tax credit of up to $350 per child under a House bill that sparked debate but not a vote on Saturday. The proposed new income tax credit, House Bill 213, could end up being included in a tax package thats still being crafted by lawmakers in the final days of this years 30-day legislative session. It would provide a tax credit that would vary in amount depending on a parent or legal guardians income levels. For instance, a resident with less than $25,000 in total annual income would be eligible for a tax credit of $350 per child, while those making more than $350,000 annually could get a $50 credit for each child. The tax credit would be refundable, meaning it could be applied to any tax liabilities incurred by an individual or family. Backers of the measure said it could lead to improved New Mexico health and educational outcomes by alleviating the financial strain on low-income families. We think this policy is really crucial right now because we know that so many of our families with kids are still struggling, said Amber Wallin, the executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, a nonprofit group that supports the proposed tax credit. But critics said the state already has numerous assistance programs for low-income residents, including Medicaid health care coverage and other tax breaks. My concern is, When is enough?' asked Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs. When will we say we have sufficiently provided for these folks that are not capable of providing for themselves? Members of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee heard testimony on the bill, including from some workers who spoke in Spanish, but did not vote on the bill as they work to come up with a final tax framework. Several lawmakers also shared stories of their own financial hardships in a state with one of the nations highest poverty rates. Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Mesilla, one of the bills sponsors, related her experience raising children as a college student. There were still moments when I had to look ahead and figure out what bill I was going to pay with limited dollars in those accounts, said Cadena, who also cited a recent study that found more than 35% of Latino families in New Mexico have less than $100 in their checking accounts. If approved, the proposed child tax credit would cost an estimated $144.8 million in the coming budget year, according to a fiscal analysis of the legislation. A budget bill approved by the House thats pending in the Senate allows for roughly $400 million in tax code changes to be enacted during this years session. SANTA FE The House voted 50-17 late Saturday to endorse a bill increasing penalties for crimes involving firearms, advancing the proposal on to the Senate with just four days left in the 30-day legislative session. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham lauded the vote on House Bill 68, which also creates a crime of making a threat of violence targeted at schools or other public places. The Democratic governor has pushed lawmakers to pass a slew of crime-related bills in this years session and said the importance of the legislation approved Saturday was demonstrated by the alleged shooting of a State Police officer by a suspect believed to illegally be in possession of a firearm. Every New Mexican deserves to be safe in their community; every New Mexico law enforcement officer should be able to serve their community and return home safely, Lujan Grisham said in a statement. It is essential that violent offenders are held accountable for their actions. The vote on the bill did not break down along party lines. Nine Republicans and eight Democrats cast no votes on the proposal. The bill sponsored by Reps. Meredith Dixon and Pamelya Herndon, both Albuquerque Democrats, is one of several measures backed by Albuquerque city officials who have lobbied lawmakers for help after the city set a record high with 117 homicides last year. Other proposals theyre supporting include a statewide Violence Intervention Program that seeks to keep people from reoffending and a law targeting chop shops that dismantle stolen vehicles. But a bill aimed at making it easier to hold defendants accused of certain violent crimes in jail until trial has faced pushback at the Roundhouse and was overhauled by its sponsor to deal with collecting data from ankle monitors. And another measure aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of minors by making adults who fail to secure them subject to criminal charges was tabled in a House committee. The legislation approved Saturday was amended before reaching the House floor, with a provision dealing with deadly weapons in school zones being stripped out. In its current form, the bill calls for increased criminal penalties for violent felons found to be in possession of a firearm. It also includes a sentencing enhancement for individuals convicted of possessing a gun during aggravated burglary or drug deals. The firearms in question could also be subject to seizure and forfeiture under the proposed legislation. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists using lab software and a series of new satellites recorded a pair of lighting megaflashes in 2020 that recently were confirmed as setting new records of distance and duration. The longest-distance flash was detected over the southern United States and spanned more than 477 miles from Mississippi to Texas and the longest-duration lightning bolt, also detected in 2020, was recorded over Uruguay and lasted 17.1 seconds. New geostationary satellites, launched by the governments National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, have provided new and better eyes to track lightning events, LANL remote sensing scientist Michael Peterson told the Journal. We are always discovering that lightning can do some fantastic and sometimes terrifying things, he said. .. We can see flashes that are not just 100 kilometers (just over 62 miles) but 200, 300 even now 700 kilometers (almost 435 miles) across, Peterson said. These are flashes that are far greater than the typical lightning which are usually 10 miles across, he said. Arizona State Universitys Randall Cerveny, the chief of records confirmation for the World Meteorological Organization, called the record strikes absolutely extraordinary in an interview with the Associated Press. Peterson, lead author in a recent article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, wrote that these record events occur in extraordinary thunderstorms. They occurred in hotspots for what are called Mesoscale Convective System thunderstorms mainly in the Great Plains in North America and the La Plata basin in South America. They are very large and organized with dozens of individual storm cells whose unique features can produce unique hazards and effects you dont see in ordinary thunderstorms, Peterson said. The NOAA satellites and instruments can detect all lightning and provide real time information for forecasters and other people who need to know what the weather is doing, Peterson said. GLM, this instrument, which stands for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, is a fantastic tool for advising people on the lightning hazards around them, he said. The advancements have real world applications. During lightning events clouds and light rain may not seem significant and may prompt people to be outside but if they are electrified they can still cause problems, Peterson said. So what it means practically for the people on the ground is that you can have a lightning flash that starts well over the horizon where you cant even see the storm that produced it but it can still strike anywhere around you. Peterson grew up in Minnesota and, with its prevalence of water and boating, the proverbial bolt out of the blue lightning strike was something that people constantly warned about and is a similar concept to the megaflashes. The National Weather Service gets raw data from the NOAA satellites that can produce potentially better forecasts, Peterson said. The data helps determine thunderstorm intensity, said meteorologist Brian Guyer with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. If we see an increase in the in-cloud lighting flashes thats an indication a storm is strengthening, Guyer said. That gives forecasters a longer lead time for thunderstorm warnings. Often in-cloud lightning precedes ground lightning strikes, Guyer said. Peterson noted, its always important no matter what situation you find yourself in to appreciate the fact that lightning doesnt always behave as we expect. He cited guidance from NOAA: when thunder roars go indoors. New Dantri Bridge opens in Tuyen Quang Dantri/Dtinews Online Newspaper on Saturday opened a new bridge for people in a remote village in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang. Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief, Pham Tuan Anh (fourth from right) and officials in Tuyen Quang Province at the opening ceremony of the bridge in Chiem Hoa District on February 12 The 20th Dantri Bridge, which is 12 metres long and five metres wide, was built in Yen Binh Village in Chiem Hoa District with donations of VND300 million (USD13.043) from the Samsung Vietnam Company and VND270 million by Dantri/Dtinews' readers. An overview of the bridge Speaking at the bridge opening ceremony on February 12, Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief, Pham Tuan Anh, expressed his thanks to Samsung Vietnam Company, other donors and authorities and people in Chiem Hoa District for their help and support during the construction of the bridge. Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief, Pham Tuan Anh speaks at the ceremony "Today we are very happy to gather here to attend the bridge opening," he said. "We hope that the bridge will help local people travel easier and contribute to the socio-economic development in the area." Anh shared that Dantri/Dtinews has built over 60 schools and bridges in many localities nationwide, including some northern mountainous provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Yen Bai. "This is the second bridge built in Tuyen Quang," he said. Head of Yen Binh Village, Ban Thi Lan, said that she wanted to send her thanks to Dantri Newspaper, Samsung Vietnam Company and kind donors for their support to build the bridge. "The bridge is built on a key road which has met rising traffic demand in the area," Lan said. "This is a major gift to local people. We no longer have to worry about travelling during the flood seasons." Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief, Pham Tuan Anh gives gifts to local people At the ceremony, Dantri/Dtinews' Editor-in-Chief, Pham Tuan Anh gave gifts worth VND1 million each to 10 households with difficult conditions in the area. Instagram Celebrity A fight breaks out outside a restaurant in West Hollywood after someone allegedly tries to attack one person from the 'Wake Up in the Sky' spitter's entourage. Feb 13, 2022 AceShowbiz - Kodak Black is reportedly among four people who got shot during an altercation outside Justin Bieber's afterparty in Los Angeles, California. Following the massive fight, the "ZEZE" rapper was rushed to a hospital to treat his injury. Thankfully, the Los Angeles Police Department stated that the 24-year-old emcee and three other victims were in stable condition. In addition, law enforcement sources noted that they are "expected to recover from non-life-threatening gunshot wounds." The incident took place early Saturday, February 12 outside The Nice Guy restaurant in West Hollywood. According to TMZ, Kodak first went to Justin's party without any issues. At around 2:45 A.M., the Pompano Beach native, Gunna and Lil Baby were seen outside the building talking and smiling. Shortly afterwards, a fight broke out after someone tried to attack one person from Kodak's entourage. Once the "Wake Up in the Sky" spitter tried to help out his buddy, gunfire was heard. He, along with a 19-year-old man, a 20-year-old man and a 60-year-old man, were wounded. The case is still under investigation and it remains unknown what caused the altercation. Although police have a description of a suspect, no arrest has been made just yet. In addition to Kodak, born Bill Kahan Kapri, celebrities like Drake, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire came to Justin's afterparty after the husband of Hailey Baldwin performed at the Pacific Design Center. "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" alum Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian were also included in the guest list. The ordeal came one year after Kodak was released from jail as he received a pardon from Donald Trump on the latter's final full day as POTUS. The hip-hop star was previously sentenced to 46 months in Kentucky's United States Penitentiary Big Sandy after pleading guilty for unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a firearm. Facebook Celebrity The 'Respect My Crypn' spitter reportedly is taken into custody after he is pulled over at the intersection of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood for driving with a car that has an expired registration. Feb 13, 2022 AceShowbiz - Blueface just had a run-in with the law. It was reported that the "Respect My Crypn" spitter got arrested for gun possession when driving around California over the weekend. According to TMZ, the 25-year-old was pulled over around 3 A.M. on Saturday, February 12 at the intersection of Sunset and Vine in Hollywood. The hip-hop star was stopped by police because he was driving with a car that had an expired registration. Police later found out that Blueface was also driving with a suspended license. When cops searched the vehicle, they discovered a loaded handgun in the center console. Blueface, whose real name is Johnathan Jamall Porter, was subsequently arrested for possession of a concealed firearm. Othe people in the car, meanwhile, were not taken into custody. Back in November 2021, Blueface got an arrest order issued on him after he was caught attacking a club bouncer in Los Angeles. He and two other men were slapped with two felony charges, one for assault and another for robbery. The robbery charge reportedly stemmed from an accusation that one of the men took a necklace from the bouncer. The ordeal took place on September 12 after Blueface and his pals were not allowed to enter the Skinny's Lounge in the San Fernando Valley. In a video obtained by TMZ, the rapper's team was seen pushing the security guard inside the club before striking him. As for Blueface, he was filmed kicking the bouncer several times. One of his crew members then tried to lift the man up by his feet while the attack continued. Blueface later prevented his friends from further attacking the club bouncer. However, before he left the location, the musician set aside time to give a couple of taps at the man to make sure he was either conscious or still alive. Alton, IL (62002) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 66F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low 47F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. In 1942, the dilapidated ship carrying 769 desperate Jewish refugees en route to Palestine, was blown up. There was one sole survivor. Eighty years ago, on the morning of February, 24, 1942, a decrepit cattle boat named MV Struma, sank in the Black Sea. The ship, carrying 769 desperate Jewish refugees, including 101 children, was the last to leave Europe for Palestine during World War II. A Russian submarine torpedoed this floating cage, killing everyone on board, except one survivor. The tragic sinking of the Struma sparked widespread international protest against Britain's policy on immigration into Palestine. By October 1941, the German army controlled the Romanian oil fields. Romanian soldiers and the fanatical Green Shirts, antisemitic League of the Archangel Michael (The Iron Guard) supported by German troops, went on a rampage slaughtering Jews in what the authorities described as the purification of Romanian land. Franklin Gunther, the American ambassador in Bucharest, reported butchery and brutal deprivation of human rights, stating that 1941 was a black year for the Jews of Romania. British yacht Xantha in about 1890. In 1941 she was renamed Struma The Romanian port of Constanta, on the Black Sea, was the main port of embarkation for Palestine. Thousands of terrified refugees poured into Constanta seeking a safe passage through the Bosporus. The Montreux Convention of 1936 declared the Bosporus an open international waterway. Neutral Turkey did allow safe passage for Jews through their country, but like most countries refused haven for people unwanted anywhere else. Palestine became the center of a power game as the British limited Jewish immigration under a League of Nations Mandate (1920 1948). The Royal Navy patrolled the coast to block illegal immigration . The Arabs supported this policy. Antagonizing the Arabs was not in the British interest as the oil of the Middle East and the Suez Canal were of immense strategic importance. The British impounded ships that got through the blockade and imprisoned crews. Lord Moyne, Walter E. Guinness, Minister for the Middle East who lived in Cairo, and Sir Harold Mac Michael, British Colonial Administrator, enforced this hard-line policy. The British blocked the sale or rent of ships ferrying Jews. In desperation the Zionists rented the 75-year-old MV Struma, a 240-ton rusting hulk. She had a second-hand engine two old lifeboats and no life belts. The radio transmitter did not work, and the generator failed sporadically. The sanitary facilities consisted of eight toilets, little more than holes at the stern. Yet no one was willing to give up their place on the unseaworthy Struma, a measure of their fear of staying in Romania. Photo believed to show Struma in port in Istanbul, 1942 On December 12th the Struma, flying the neutral Panamanian flag, departed Constanta. A short distance from port the engine failed. After repairs the ship proceeded and three days later, at the mouth of the Bosporus, the engine again failed. A tug assisted the decrepit Struma into Istanbul harbour. The British told the Turks that the ship could not land in Palestine and insisted they should return her to the Black Sea. For ten weeks Turkey quarantined the ship. Food and water ran dangerously low, and fevers were rife. Passengers resorted to bribery to get food and water. The squalid conditions on board, the icy winds, freezing temperatures and the fear that the police would force them back to Romania increased the tension. Desperate passengers draped large painted signs in English and Hebrew Save Us, SOS , and Jewish Immigrants on the sides of the ship. No help came as the press paid little attention. David Stoliar, the sole survivor, 1946 On February 23, the police towed the doomed ship ten miles off the coast. Before dawn the next day, in cloudy, damp, and calm weather, an explosion plunged the Struma to the bottom of the frigid sea. Years later Soviet naval archives revealed that submarine Shch-213 had torpedoed the ship, allegedly by mistake. Stalin had issued instructions to sink neutral ships to deny chromium to the Germans. Chromium, a rare mineral, was essential for manufacturing military equipment and Turkey was selling it to Germany. The sinking sparked worldwide outrage over Britains policy. Guinness and Mac Michael were accused by Zionists as the architects of the tragedy. Calls that the blood of the Struma refugees will be inflicted upon Mac Michael. Wanted for Murder posters of Mac Michael appeared throughout Palestine. He survived seven attempts on his life. Walter Guinness, heir to the Guinness empire, was not so lucky and on November 6, 1944, two members of Lehi, a Zionist paramilitary organization, shot him dead in Cairo. His death shocked the British and was one of the reasons for their withdrawal from the Mandate that led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Turkish light-house keepers saved the sole survivor 19-year-old David Stoliar from drowning. He later joined the British army to fight the Nazis. Stoliar visited those who rescued him from the icy waters of the Black Sea 59 years later. Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins, authors of Death on the Black Sea: The Untold Story of the Struma and World War IIs Holocaust at Sea, write: The passengers were victims of the British geopolitical strategy of keeping the Arabs pacified, the Turkish insistence on maintaining the facade of neutrality, and the heartless pragmatism of the policy of Stalin and the Soviets to starve the German war machine. In their book Frantz and Collins quote Ruth Ben-Zvi, who lost a childhood friend on the Struma: There were Jews who died by starvation. There were Jews who died on forced marches There were Jews who were killed in police stations. It was a Holocaust. The means of killing doesnt matter It is the Holocaust because they died because they were Jews. Northwestern Oklahoma State Universitys department of social work has received a $1,000 gift from the Potts Family Foundation out of Oklahoma City. Dr. Kylene Rehder, social work department chair and professor of social work, said that the funds from this gift will provide continued support for a focus on infant health in the curriculum. The department also will be able to use the funds to join the Oklahoma Association for Infant Mental Health, which promotes awareness, understanding and excellence in infant and early childhood mental health through education, workforce development, multi-disciplinary collaboration and advocacy for best practices. Rehder added that the department is honored to be supported by the Potts Family Foundation, whose mission is to provide support for sustainable early childhood initiatives and nonprofit capacity building. Rehder said the social work program is focused on developing professionals able to support the healthy social-emotional development of infants, toddlers and their families. Kevin Evans, a board member of the Potts Family Foundation and executive director of Western Plains Youth & Family Services, presented the gift to Rehder. For more information about Northwesterns social work program, visit https://www.nwosu.edu/school-of-arts-and-sciences/social-work or contact Rehder at 580-327-8135 or [email protected] Give Lori Jones a No. 2 pencil and a sketch pad, and you'll see wonderfully detailed drawings flow from her fingers. The self-proclaimed "pencil artist" finds her inspiration all around her. Jones is fortunate to live on a ranch in the beautifully rugged Gyp Hills of southern Kansas between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater. As she and her husband David handle the ranch chores including livestock and horses, she keeps a camera close by. When her eyes catch an intriguing scene or a particular play of light and shadow, she tends to shirk her ranch duties to capture the image. Later she'll transfer those photos onto paper or canvas. Traveling such as the trips to Texas to visit her husband's family provide fresh inspiration, but Jones says the day to day work on the ranch, her children and grandchildren give her plenty of ideas. Western art is part of her everyday life. From an early age, Jones has loved to draw and create. She grew up on a ranch in Colorado. In 2008 her family sold that ranch and moved to Kansas. She credits her "fantastic" art teacher in high school with encouraging her to make her art more than a hobby. Marriage and the children that followed slowed down her art career. Jones said she had to put her paints away because they didn't mix well with young children. However, it was easy to keep a pencil and paper handy to do sketches when she had moments to herself like waiting in the car. Now that her children are grown and she's enjoying grandchildren, Jones has more time to devote to her art. When she's at home, Jones can be found in her studio where she sometimes works in watercolors and colored pencils. Recently she attended a workshop on dry point etching and is experimenting with that technique. If Jones is not in the studio, she may be downstairs at the vise when she does custom engraving of firearms. Although Jones has done some portraits, most of her artistic creations come from what she sees around her. Western art and old barns are favorites along with the beautiful sunsets we see in this part of the country. Although she enjoys working with color, she continues to return to her first love, her pencils, for much of her work. Touting the versatility of pencils, Jones says they are portable, mobile and flexible. While the reliable No. 2 is readily available, she keeps a set of 2H to 9B pencils and a couple of erasers at hand. The softer leads are great for shading while the harder points give her fine lines. She says those supplies are readily available at a nearby Walmart. Jones has enjoyed teaching her pencil art, but it has been three or four years since she conducted formal classes in Pratt. She has done some teaching with 4-H kids in Barber County, Kansas, and other informal instruction. An intricately braided mane and tooled western saddle are depicted in pencil by artist Lori Jones. Next weekend, Jones is presenting a two-day class in Alva at Graceful Arts Gallery and Studio. The Friday and Saturday class, Feb. 18-19, titled Drawing with Confidence is described as an all-inclusive, fun and productive two days. It will include drawing, layout, perspective and shading techniques that will result in a finished drawing. Jones said previous art experience is not required. "While 99 percent say they can't draw a stick figure, anyone can learn," she said. The class provides a lot of hands-on experience. Although class size is limited, Jones said there is still space available. As an added bonus, the class will count for continuing education college credit. Contact Graceful Arts Gallery 580-327-2787 about the classes or contact Jones on Facebook at Lazy J, Ranch Horses and Western Art with questions. Her website is http://www.lorijonesart.com. She was in San Diego to learn how to protect abuse victims. Instead, Candida Manion went wine tasting. Federal funds paid Manion's salary as executive director of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. In September 2019, they covered her flights, lodging and meals for the Summit on Violence, Abuse and Trauma Across the Lifespan. Rather than learning more about prosecuting child abusers and treating batterers, Manion skipped a day of conference sessions to sip wine with an employee. Federal auditors uncovered a pattern of improper and irresponsible spending under Manion that included conference trips to Southern California and Florida. Money intended to support Oklahoma shelters, crisis centers and victims was spent on employee and board member vacations. A federal audit shows that on Manion's watch, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault squandered or mismanaged $886,495 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women from 2015 to 2020. That's 98% of the grant money spent by the coalition during those five years. Though Manion and her employee paid for the wine-tasting trip to Temecula, the June report shows she spent nearly $239,499 on travel during the period scrutinized by auditors - more than triple the coalition's budget. Every six months, the Inspector General's office provides an audit report to Congress. The most recent report includes the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault audit and 40 others. Of the money questioned by auditors, the Oklahoma nonprofit's total amount was the third highest and far exceeded the other four programs receiving money from the Office on Violence Against Women. The findings jeopardize critical aid for Oklahoma women and their children, who suffer abuse at a rate nearly twice the national average, according to the latest Kids Count report. During the pandemic, state domestic violence incidents reached their highest level in at least 20 years, the most recent Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation data shows. The U.S. Department of Justice could pursue criminal charges as it did in a recent case involving a similar nonprofit organization in Montana. The Office on Violence Against Women could force the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to repay some or all of the funds. It could forgive the full amount. It could suspend or ban the coalition from receiving future grant money, making it even more difficult for Oklahoma victims to find justice and safety. "We don't have enough shelters, we don't have enough staff and we don't have enough money to go around," Manion said during a town hall meeting in Norman in 2019. "So, we have to leverage our resources in the community to get the work done." Manion was fired early last year. Employees of the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault are in police stations counseling law enforcement on how to talk to victims. They're at shelters delivering masks and designing COVID-19 protocols. They're on the phone searching for an empty bed. They're at the Capitol advocating for victim rights and access to services. They spend a week each year certifying victim advocates across the state so shelter directors like Latricia Kippers can keep their doors open. "We can't do this work alone, by ourselves, and be effective," said Kippers, who runs New Directions in Lawton. "So losing that coalition and that resource for guidance and training and accreditations and all of that would not be good. I don't know what else to say but it would really be a disservice to shelters across Oklahoma." Frequency of Travel Questioned When board members hired Manion in June 2014, they lauded her grant management skills and oversight of millions in grant funding as the supervisor of tobacco prevention programs for the Norman Regional Health System. At the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Manion made at least $60,000 a year and controlled an annual budget of $450,000 to $650,000, according to income tax reports. Federal funds made up most of the nonprofit's revenue, which are supplemented with membership fees paid by victim service programs. Over several weeks, Oklahoma Watch called and sent texts to Manion, 49, and her attorney requesting an interview for this story. They did not respond. Manion used coalition money to send board members to conferences in exchange for looking the other way when it came to her spending, according to allegations in documents obtained by Oklahoma Watch. The coalition's former office coordinator, Jamie Bond, booked reservations in Orlando for one board member who stayed in a hotel at Disney World with her family. Bond described the trip as a kickback. Oklahoma Domestic Violence Reports Reach Highest Level in 20 Years In one case, auditors discovered Manion reimbursed herself for the cost of a hotel based on the reservation amount. But the hotel invoice showed the cost to be $465 less than the amount she was paid. In another, funds designated to victim services paid for the cost of hotel rooms for Manion and the coalition's former bookkeeper, Kim Wynn. Auditors described those charges as in-town expenses and in defiance of federal guidelines because they were not for official business. The coalition routinely used federal funds to send staff to in-state and out-of-state conferences. These grants allow for some travel. But the frequency and expense of Manion's travel caught the attention of coalition board member Jan Peery. "I can remember at one point thinking, 'goodness, there's a lot of travel, a lot of education going on," said Peery, who is also the president and chief executive officer at the YWCA in Oklahoma City. "But I also knew she was new to this field." Manion had no professional experience working with abuse victims. It made sense to Peery for Manion to seek more education than past directors. And Manion did provide updates to the board about what she was learning, Peery said. But Peery was unaware Manion was skipping full days of the conferences. Manion sometimes spent the day sleeping in her hotel room instead of attending sessions, Bond said. Manion would call Bond around 3 p.m. to check in, saying that she had just woken up and was doing some work before going out to dinner and drinks with conference attendees, Bond said. The state Attorney General's office certifies programs the coalition supports, ensuring they follow state rules for reporting and meet its standards of care. Melissa Blanton, who leads the victim services unit, said she attended two out-of-state conferences with Manion and "we attended both of them fully together." Blanton said she was unaware of any financial trouble the coalition was experiencing until the audit report was released. Manion was fired in February of 2021 and given two months of severance, according to documents obtained by Oklahoma Watch. In a similar case last April, the board chairwoman of the nonprofit Montana Native Women's Coalition was convicted of fraudulent travel claims and theft of public funds from the Office on Violence Against Women. The court sentenced her to four years of probation and ordered her to pay $29,114 in restitution. The coalition's executive director and another board member pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds and received probation and were ordered to repay a combined $38,100. 'Funds That Are Meant To Help Victims' Auditors also found the coalition's record keeping defied federal grant requirements. Auditors questioned all of the money spent on staff pay and benefits, more than $526,000 because they "identified significant issues related to the reliability of the timesheets," the report states. Black binders, one for each fiscal year, contain timesheets for the coalition's employees. Staff members were responsible for tracking their own hours and paid time off, and Manion for verifying their reports. But Manion's signature was missing from years of timesheets. After auditors emailed a final warning to Manion to provide documentation, she signed and back-dated some of the old timesheets, said Bond, who sent auditors copies of the timesheets before and after Manion signed them. Manion also created retroactive timesheets for her own hours and asked the nonprofit's board chairman, Scott Mitchell, to sign them. He did. Mitchell declined to comment on the incident. "These are federal funds that are meant to help victims," said Bond, who is a victim of childhood abuse and took a job at the coalition to help others like her. "And it's just scary to me that someone could just come in and hold no regard for what that's meant for." Bond said she quit her job at the coalition in December 2020 after the stress of the audit and "toxic" work environment became too much. The 31-year-old mother lives in Norman and now works for herself with no plans to return to victim services. The coalition's legislative liaison, Mackenzie Masilon, resigned two months later, though she has since returned as a contractor to work with lawmakers crafting legislation. The subsequent resignation of the bookkeeper left ReJeania Tolliver, who trained victim advocates, as the coalition's only remaining employee. Tolliver is now being prepared to take over as the coalition's director after the audit is resolved. Until then, Meline Epley, president of Elite HR Business Solutions, is the interim director. Epley's company helps businesses in transition and conducts employment law violation and fraud-related investigations, according to her LinkedIn profile. Board member Tracey Lyall, who is also the chief executive officer of Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa, is overseeing the new staff. Lyall and Peery left the board a couple of years after Manion was hired during an effort to downsize and bring more community members onto the board. Prior to 2014, the board was made up of a representative from all of its member programs. In Jan. 2021, Lyall and Peery agreed to rejoin the board at Mitchell's request to help rebuild the coalition. Lyall said they are working with auditors to salvage the coalition, though its future remains uncertain. Board members have already approved new financial policies for the board and the coalition with help from Office on Violence Against Women auditors. A new requirement that the coalition director provide grant applications and budgets to the board will allow members to keep better tabs on spending, Peery said. "You know, there's always gonna be a way around safeguards if somebody's intentionally doing something wrong," Peery said. "But if you don't have the safeguards there, it makes it a whole lot easier and it takes a lot longer before you catch it." Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit organization that produces in-depth and investigative journalism on important public-policy issues facing the state. The organization's website is at http://www.oklahomawatch.org. 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 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system is failing our children from every conceivable angle, while the Chicago Teachers' Union (CTU) voted again in January to work from home due to the omicron COVID variant. This vote left hundreds of thousands of students in limbo. The CTU voted in the last two years to teach students remotely from the spring of 2020 to the spring of 2021. Finishing in a hybrid form that year, half of the students received class via home remote learning, and the other half attended class in school. Data show that CPS students lost over two years of "education," not to mention the mental and emotional trauma created by the constant fear-mongering about a virus, masks and push to get vaccinated and boosted. Children continue to have a 99.995 percent chance of survival if they contract COVID. Young people have a better chance of dying from suicide, car accidents, and the experimental vaccine than from the virus. However, CPS's newly appointed chief executive officer, Pedro Martinez, has continued to push the experimental vaccine, touting it as safe and effective protection from COVID. Meanwhile, countless studies show that the experimental vaccine does not prevent people from getting the virus, nor do they stop the spread. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) website shows (as of 28 Jan. '22) that there are over 23,149 deaths caused by the experimental vaccine and over 124,445 hospitalizations. A growing number of vaccine recipients have presented with serious myocarditis, including young athletes. CPS, the Biden administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Fauci, unelected bureaucrats, and partisan politicians who take money from Big Pharma vaccine-makers have been eerily silent on vaccine safety data. Their silence doesn't change the fact that they are malfeasant and broke the federal common rule by not protecting children and sharing the risks of the experimental vaccines being administered under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which afford the vaccine-makers zero liability from injuries or deaths. The vaccines have not been tested on animals. Shortly after CPS's head, Martinez, was appointed by Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot in September 2021, he gave the entire school district a day off for vaccinations. Martinez stated in his email, "The day that so many parents have been waiting for, myself included, is finally here! The CDC has approved COVID vaccines for children ages 5 to 11. As the commandant of the Marine Leadership Academy (MLA), under CPS, I sent out an email in November 2021 sharing information from the VAERS website to the students and parents, and I suggested they talk to their doctors about this information before getting vaccinated or boosted. CPS suspended me immediately and stated that my letter to parents was completely "inappropriate," because I had encouraged informed consent and a review with their doctors of information that Martinez was not "preaching" about. We are in dark times when the truth is attacked, lies are pushed from bureaucrats, and the health of our children is being sacrificed at the altar of cowardice and globalism. Critically examining the possible reasons why we see systemic dereliction of duty among the CPS ranks, we can suspect many will claim ignorance when the damage is all said and done. However, Martinez is now on record as discounting the mounting VAERS data, ignoring his moral duty, and doubling down on having no interest in sharing the dire government data with parents. Martinez has sidelined safety, brushing off vaccine injury and mortality data as "misinformation" while he advocates for Big Pharma. CPS also is censoring information regarding suicides brought on by the politically motivated draconian measures, where kids were isolated, were forced to wear masks, and had activities restricted. There have also been numerous suicides by students who are questioning their sexual identity, which has been amplified by the sex-charged, debauched K12 sex education program now being pushed in Illinois. This K12 Sex Education Program is designed to separate children from their parents, as the teachers encourage students to leave their principles at the door to begin their reprogramming. I attended a funeral for a young student confused about her sexual identity while being isolated at home because of the mandates. I was told of two other student suicides, and the death of another, from one of the other 148 CPS high schools. Another CPS failure is Mayor Lightfoot's endorsement of Critical Race Theory (CRT), which maintains that America is fundamentally racist yet teaches people to view every social interaction, and person, in terms of race. CRT adherents push "anti-racism" through the end of merit, the end of objective truth, and the adoption of race-based policies. But theories are not facts and can be proven false. CRT goes against the teachings of the honorable Rev. Martin Luther King. Virginia recently outlawed it. CPS also has continued to fail in meeting even the low academic standards it has set for itself. Consider that four out of ten CPS freshmen don't graduate, and 91% of CPS graduates must take remedial courses in college because they don't know how to do basic math and other schoolwork. Only 26 percent of CPS high school students are college-ready, according to results from ACT subject-matter tests. Pressure coming from the district to the administrators and teachers not to fail students has students figuring out quickly that they will graduate regardless. Many under-performing students refuse to apply themselves. Eighty-four percent of Chicago Public Schools students graduate when only 26% of 11th-graders are proficient in reading and math. CPS has failed to administer effective policies on discipline, with teachers left with few tools to address discipline issues. Suspensions are strongly discouraged and rarely allowed. The students run the schools, much like how the criminals run the city. CPS has proven that it is more committed to indoctrination than education. CPS is creating an undisciplined, fragile, and dependent-on-government type of individual. Jesse Sharkey, the leader of the CTU, was a certified member of the International Socialist Organization before the group dissolved over internal scandals. CPS has lost over 105,000 students since 2000 and over 14,000 students in the last year based on its appalling results. It is imperative to have a voucher system where parents are provided the funds for the education of their choosing. Image: Marie via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped). BlackRock Investment is a company bigger than most of you can imagine. BlackRock and The Vanguard Group, together, own just about every business in America (not to mention a staggering amount of real property). It turns out that BlackRocks CEO, a guy named Larry Fink, is another one of those limousine leftists who believes its his job to force leftism on America, one corporation at a time. Hes also gung-ho on China and uses the money of ordinary investors to help fund Chinese aggression. This isnt capitalism, this oligarchy and it needs to be addressed. Rather than do a lot of writing, Ill just offer you two short and one medium-length videos. First, Vivek Ramaswamy manages to explain in under one minute how Larry Fink is using investors money to push American corporations further and further left: Second, a group called Consumers Research has put had a short video focusing on Larry Finks strong support for the Chinese Communist Partyagain, using investors money: The group has also set up a website that covers topics such as Finks love for China, woke pressure on American corporations, use of ordinary Americans financial trouble to increase his financial control and BlackRocks holdings, and his controversial resume, among other things. It all paints a very ugly picture. Image: Larry Fink. YouTube screen grab. And third, Im going to revisit a video I posted at American Thinker in June. A Dutch woman created the video by working her way through publicly available information (often from Wikipedia). The result of her research is a demonstration that, contrary to what we think about our capitalist system, neither private investors nor a broad range of institutional investors owns most of this countrys corporations. Instead, BlackRock and The Vanguard Group pretty much own everything: If you don't want to watch the video or don't have 45 minutes to spare, you can read the transcript here. If you type Larry Fink into YouTube, youll also find a video entitled Larry FinkThe Most Powerful Man in Finance. I havent watched it but I suspect its illuminating, whether it praises or damns him. One aspect of my conservativism is that I am opposed to any single person or entity having too much power. Concentrated power never works well for ordinary people. Moreover, I believe that one of Americas greatest strengths over the centuries has been its diffuse power, and the room that creates for ordinary people to do great things. BlackRock and Larry Fink are everything I fear and dislike: Too much power and too much money concentrated in a single entity and person. I dont have any idea how this can be addressedperhaps falling back on the type of anti-monopoly policies that made Teddy Roosevelt so greatbut something must be done. No one person should have that much control over Americas destiny. On Friday, Special Counsel John Durham filed with the D.C. Federal District Court a what should have been a boring conflict of interest motion, but it hid a surprise: The Clinton campaign, through Perkins Coie, spied on Trump both before and after he was president. The following is a plain English-language summary of relevant parts of the motion: Michael Sussman was a partner at Law Firm-1 (i.e., Perkins Coie). He met with the FBI General Counsel (i.e., James Baker), and offered data and white papers purporting to show that Trump was communicating covertly with a Russia-based bank (i.e., Alfa-Bank). Mueller, incidentally, had to admit this was untrue. Durham indicted Sussman because he allegedly told Baker that he was not divulging this information for a client. In fact, he was acting for at least two clients: the Clinton campaign and Tech Executive-1 (i.e., Rodney Joffe), who worked at a U.S.-based internet company (i.e., Neustar Inc., a federal contractor). As part of his work on the Clinton campaign, Sussman repeatedly met and communicated both with Joffe and with another law partner who was Campaign Lawyer-1. (I guess we can await that indictment soon....) Beginning in July 2016, Joffe began to work with (1) Sussman, (2) an investigation firm that Perkins Coie hired for the Clinton campaign, (3) cyber researchers, and (4) employees at multiple Internet companies to assemble the data handed to James Baker. To do so, Joffe exploited access to private and/or proprietary internet data. He even coopted researchers at a U.S. university who were receiving lots of internet data as part of a cybersecurity research contract that was pending with the feds. (The Conservative Treehouse says the university is Georgia Tech and it was a DARPA contract.) Durham alleges that Joffe was accessing internet traffic for a particular healthcare provider (speculated to be Spectrum Health), Trump Tower, Donald Trump's Central Park West apartment building, and the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). (Emphasis mine.) Joffe had a very specific assignment for the people working for him: He wanted them to mine internet data (and again, this was not public data) to establish an inference and narrative that would tie then-candidate Trump to Russia. He told people that he was seeking to please certain VIPs, meaning both Perkins Coie and the Hillary campaign. Much of the motion is concerned with allegations already familiar to you from the indictment against Sussman. Thus, after talking to Baker, Sussman also talked to another government agency, telling its employees that DNS data (that is Domain Name System info, which is like an internet telephone directory) revealed that Trump or his team had looked up Russian contacts millions of times. Sussman neglected to add that these DNS lookups were for Trump Tower as a whole, which is a massive business center. More importantly, when reporting about lookups from the EOP (that is, the White House server), Sussman didnt mention that many of those DNS lookups went back to 2014that is, when Obama was in the White House. Image: Man with binoculars by lookstudio; White House by Rob Young (CC BY 2.0). So again: Durham just let everyone know that the Hillary campaign, acting through Perkins Coie and its attorneys, engaged a tech-savvy executive to spy on Trump internet searches. This executive exploited his connections to obtain private and proprietary data (including federal government data) to review internet searches originating in Trump Tower, Trumps home, and the White House. Moreover, this spying, which began when Trump was still a candidate, continued once he became president. Trump, obviously, trumpeted the fact that he was right all along, as well as making clear the enormity of what happened: Obviously, its nice to be proven correct. However, I agree with Conservative Treehouse that there are a few glaring problems here. Preliminarily, The obvious question is: If Rodney Joffe is spying on the office of the president, why hasnt he been indicted? Thats just one question, though. The real problem, which Sundance places at the head of his post, is this: CTH begins every outline of the ongoing Durham investigation with the following disclaimer: How is John Durham going to reveal everything that is possible about the deep state Trump targeting operation, and simultaneously handle the involvement of Robert Mueller, Andrew Weissmann and the Special Counsel team who were specifically appointed to cover it up? The short answer is, Durham cant. The ramifications would collapse the U.S. government; yes, all three collaborating branches. As a consequence, some of these revelations are only valuable insofar as they will be needed by historians who look upon the scattered rubble of this once great republic and seek to explain to future generations how it all went wrong. In other words, the Durham investigation is almost certainly just another cover-up. The Russia Hoax is a huge infection in the American body politic. It was Muellers responsibility, and its now Durhams, to hide that infection. To that end, Durham is going to focus Americas attention on a few hangnails and scratches, in the hope it deflects us from the fact that the American political system is dying from sepsis. I would love to see Durham expose the whole festering mess, and Id happily eat my words, but I dont see that happening. If the polls and the mood of the nation are any indications, it appears that the GOP is going to obliterate the Democrats in the midterms. While that is definitely good news, lets refresh our memories about 2017. Donald Trump had won the Presidency while the GOP controlled both the House and the Senate. The GOP should have been in charge and the Democrats mere spectators. But instead, the Washington Democrat Establishment seized the narrative by concocting the Trump-Russia collusion hoax even before Trump was inaugurated. The hoax was amplified and mainstreamed by the news media. It caused the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The partisan Mueller probe loomed like a sword over the Trump Presidency for two years. Trumps Attorney General, on the advice of Department of Justice career bureaucrats, had recused himself from the investigation. This probe that began in 2017 meandered through the 2018 midterms while the media carried the fake news of ironclad evidence of 'collusion' that would force Trump out of office. The charade cost $32 million and two years of instability. Back then, many Republican officeholders displayed an attitude that ranged from hostility to indifference towards President Trump. Only a scant number of Republicans such as Devin Nunes stood by Trump and confronted the various establishment falsehoods. The cloud of doubt created by the Mueller probe probably caused a significant segment of voters to be sickened of the chaos and believe that electing Democrats was the only way to stop Russian Mole Trump. Hence the Democrats managed to win back the House on the basis of a malicious sustained disinformation campaign. One wonders what would have happened had the GOP had shown some spine. What if the then-GOP leaders of the House and Senate, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, along with various other Republicans had dismissed and ridiculed the premise of collusion from the day it surfaced in a coordinated manner. Perhaps Muellers appointment would never have occurred. The first two years of the Trump presidency would have been stable and the MAGA agenda could have been implemented much faster. There would have been fewer angry tweets from Trump. The GOP probably would have retained control of the House during the midterms in 2018. President Trump would not have been impeached twice on flimsy grounds. The federal government would have managed Covid-19 more adeptly. In 2020, Trump would have won by such an emphatic margin that the electoral malpractices would have had little impact. The media would have been relegated to barking dogs who couldnt bite. There would be no Biden, Harris, or Pelosi in positions of power. There would be no insurrection, the economy would still be strong, there would be no energy crisis, illegal immigration would be under control and there would be peace all over. But that was not to be, because elections have consequences. The modern Democrat party is a left-wing extremist party that views political opponents as enemies. The Democrats weaponized the government machinery and investigative agencies to intimidate and punish Republicans. They already have branded parents who oppose the teaching of critical race theory in school as domestic terrorists. They used Covid-19 to impose mandates and restrict freedoms. The modern-day Democrats do not accept electoral results unless they win. Their goal is a monopoly on power like they have in New York and California. Consequently, they see the GOP not as a rival but as an impediment that must be overcome. They have already called the GOP a front for terrorists. However, most of the GOP still seems ignorant of these facts and frequently displays subservience to the Democrat establishment. The January 6 partisan probe is merely a sequel to the Mueller probe. The goal is to create the perception of guilt to prevent Trump from running again in 2024 and to persecute MAGA supporters. The occurrences of January 6 were nothing more than protests that went overboard. There is reason to believe that the break-in was incited by mysterious proxies of government agencies. The Republicans are aware of these facts, yet many endorse the Democrat groupthink. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. Senator Ted Cruz during a Senate hearing described the Jan. 6 protest as a "violent terrorist attack. He did walk back those comments on TV, but official records will reflect his utterances in the Senate. Mike Pence grandstanded with the claim that "The presidency belongs to the American people and the American people alone." Hence implying there was no fraud. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who are leading the assault, were rightly censured by the Republican National Committee and are beyond hope. Republican Senators Burr of North Carolina, Cassidy of Louisiana, Collins of Maine, Murkowski of Alaska, Romney of Utah, Sasse of Nebraska, and Toomey of Pennsylvania broke party lines and voted to convict President Trump for the occurrences of January 6. Beyond Jan. 6, many within the GOP are unreliable. Senator Lindsey Graham sways according to the direction of the wind. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who seemed like a rising star, branded members of the House Freedom Caucus as grifters. These pejorative epithets are used by Democrats to denigrate the GOP. There have been myriad instances of Republicans siding with Democrats and voting against the interests of their voters. In recent times 80 House Republicans voted to fund the creation of a federal vaccination database that could be used against the citizenry in the future while 19 Republican senators voted to resettle unvetted Afghan refugees in the U.S. Overall, Republicans may say the right things on Fox News and during the hearings, but their actions dont always reflect their utterances. There are many who continue to be mute spectators to the Democrat assault on the founding values of the nation. It proves that the Establishment runs deep and gets to everybody in various ways. The Freedom Caucus and the likes of Senator Rand Paul have been a sole source of hope. What lessons do we learn from this? That meticulous vetting of each and every candidate is most essential. It is essential to dig deep through records and judge them by both their character and record. Every major endorser, especially President Trump, has to be thoughtful while handing out endorsements. It has to be remembered that Romney was elected to the Senate following an endorsement from President Trump. History has shown us that every single seat in both Congress and the Senate matters. Even a couple of dissenting senators can block a crazy spending bill or prevent a conviction during an impeachment. Getting an establishment Republican elected will be better than electing a left-wing Democrat, but the difference won't be significant. The establishment candidate will capitulate when you need them the most. This is not just another election; the results will decide the future of the country. The Democrats have to be stopped, for that, the GOP leadership must display courage. A nasty article in the New York Times, or the Washington Post, or attacks from MSNBC, or a rebuke from the establishment should not deter them. They have to be brave, confident, uncompromising, articulate, and ideologically committed warriors who faithfully and fearlessly represent their voters. Graphic credit: Max Pixel public domain Despite moves to push back against Critical Race Theory (CRT), it continues to be embraced from kindergarten through college. The Oregon Department of Education is training its K12 teachers in "math equity" to combat "the toxic characteristics of white supremacy culture with respect to math." An elementary school in Philadelphia "forced fifth-grade students to celebrate 'black communism' and simulate a Black Power rally in honor of political radical Angela Davis." Public schools in Louisville, Kentucky are hosting anti-bias and pro-equity teacher training to "eliminate curricular violence" in mathematics education. Last fall, one Virginia school district spent $24,000 on Ibram Kendi books, pushed as "required reading" for U.S. history classes. A high school in Minnesota now begins all of its staff meetings with a commitment to dismantling "processes that benefit whiteness." In September, a high school in Washington canceled a 9/11 tribute because it could be seen as "racially insensitive." At Union County College, N.J., the Associate Dean of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) explains that her "research interests are in critical race theory, and [she] enjoys presenting on racial awareness and race conscious education practices." Furthermore, Union County College proudly displays a poster saying it is the recipient of the Aspen Institute award for being one of the top 150 community colleges in the country. Yet the Aspen Institute (A.I.) receives financial support from George Soros's Open Society Institute. The Institute was founded in 1950 by Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke. The organization pursues these objectives by way of seminars, public conferences, issue analysis forums, and young leader fellowships. Moreover, "[e]ncompassing a broad range of issues, many of AI's policy-work programs are rooted in the belief that the United States is a nation whose history amounts largely to an unbroken narrative of injustice; that government intervention frequently represents the best remedy for social and economic problems; and that America's deep-seated 'structural racism,' while 'harder to see than its previous incarnations,' is just as likely as its forerunner to 'perpetuate racial group inequity.'" The first black American commissioner of education in New Jersey and now the first black president of Kean University, Dr. Lamont O. Repollet, explains that the "recent public uproar over Critical Race Theory and the banning of certain books and even terms across several states points us to the question of how we understand and teach our shared history. Kimberle Crenshaw, one of the legal scholars who created the framework for Critical Race Theory, explains that it 'is based on the premise that race is socially constructed, yet it is real through social constructions. Crenshaw and other scholars examine our society and history through a lens that acknowledges how race becomes realized through the systems we construct as the foundation for our society." Repollet explains that "[o]ur diversity is our greatest strength and ... an honest examination of our shared history strengthens our nation rather than depletes us. We must deconstruct the myths that have developed around Critical Race Theory to ensure students have access to the texts that capture our histories." To those unfamiliar with Kimberle Crenshaw, here is some background: Crenshaw is a foundational figure in the field of Critical Race Theory, a radical legal framework founded by the late Derrick Bell, which maintains that because the entire structure and history of America are founded upon racism and oppression, the nation's laws and legal institutions are necessarily unjust, invalid, and undeserving of nonwhite minorities' respect. So what is the uproar surrounding CRT all about, and why has this theory insinuated itself at every level of education in America? Christopher F. Rufo in the March 2021 issue of Imprimis explains that critical race theory is an academic discipline, formulated in the 1990s, built on the intellectual framework of identity-based Marxism. Relegated for many years to universities and obscure academic journals, over the past decade it has increasingly become the default ideology in our public institutions. It has been injected into government agencies, public school systems, teacher training programs, and corporate human resources departments in the form of diversity training programs, human resources modules, public policy frameworks, and school curricula. There are a series of euphemisms deployed by its supporters to describe critical race theory, including 'equity,' 'social justice,' 'diversity and inclusion,' and 'culturally responsive teaching.' Critical race theorists, masters of language construction, realize that 'neo-Marxism' would be a hard sell. Equity, on the other hand, sounds non-threatening and is easily confused with the American principle of equality. But the distinction is vast and important. Indeed, equalitythe principle proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, defended in the Civil War, and codified into law with the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965is explicitly rejected by critical race theorists. To them, equality represents 'mere nondiscrimination' and provides 'camouflage' for white supremacy, patriarchy, and oppression. In contrast to equality, equity as defined and promoted by critical race theorists is little more than reformulated Marxism. In the name of equity, UCLA Law Professor and critical race theorist Cheryl Harris has proposed suspending private property rights, seizing land and wealth and redistributing them along racial lines. Critical race guru Ibram X. Kendi, who directs the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, has proposed the creation of a federal Department of Antiracism. This department would be independent of (i.e., unaccountable to) the elected branches of government, and would have the power to nullify, veto, or abolish any law at any level of government and curtail the speech of political leaders and others who are deemed insufficiently 'antiracist.' One practical result of the creation of such a department would be the overthrow of capitalism, since according to Kendi, 'In order to truly be antiracist, you also have to truly be anti-capitalist.' In other words, identity is the means and Marxism is the end. An equity-based form of government would mean the end not only of private property, but also of individual rights, equality under the law, federalism, and freedom of speech. These would be replaced by race-based redistribution of wealth, group-based rights, active discrimination, and omnipotent bureaucratic authority. Thus, "critical race theory prescribes a revolutionary program that would overturn the principles of the Declaration and destroy the remaining structure of the Constitution." How does CRT manifest itself? In Cupertino, California, an elementary school forced first-graders to deconstruct their racial and sexual identities and rank themselves according to their 'power and privilege.' In Springfield, Missouri, a middle school forced teachers to locate themselves on an 'oppression matrix,' based on the idea that straight, white, English-speaking, Christian males are members of the oppressor class and must atone for their privilege and 'covert white supremacy.' Perhaps the most important point that Rufo makes is that the writers and activists who "speak out against critical race theory have tended to address it on the theoretical level[.] They fail to force defenders of this revolutionary ideology to defend the practical consequences of their ideas in the realm of politics" (emphasis mine). For example, do Critical Race Theorists support the following? public schools separating first-graders into groups of "oppressors" and "oppressed"? mandatory curricula teaching that "all white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism"? public schools instructing white parents to become "white traitors" and advocate for "white abolition"? Do they want those who work in government to be required to undergo this kind of re-education? How about managers and workers in corporate America? How about the men and women in our military? How about every one of us? In fact, "[n]o parent is against teaching the warts and sins of our nation's history, and any [person] suggesting otherwise is patently false. But the problem with CRT is it teaches that all white people are evil oppressors, divides students based on skin color, belittles, and demeans students of color as incapable, and demands that the only solution is reverse discrimination and equity of outcomes." Is that what your taxes and tuition dollars are paying for? A.J. Pushback is a pseudonym. Image: Tony Webster via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. The left tells us that black slavery is unique to Anglo-Saxon culture. But the reality of the matter is that slavery was always illegal in its motherland, England. How so? Going back to 1215, start with the fact that England became a unique nation in the world around the issue of individual rights. That began with the Magna Carta, which established for the first time that a king, in this case, the hated King John, was forced to admit he did not have absolute power. It may have been at the proverbial end of a sword and broken soon after by King John, but he was the one who marked the wax and was carried through by every king and queen to follow with some ignoring their limitation at great cost to them. It should have rippled throughout Europe to other powerful lords who wanted the power the English barons gained, instead it remained localized to England. After King Johns defeat by the barons, others of equal rank should have followed. Outside Britain, it never went anywhere. There was a ripple that did happen, but not throughout Europe, and not immediately realized. It was a ripple through time that led to English Common Law being written. It was a system of laws that bound everyone. The Magna Carta started with the limiting of kings and queens who ruled Britain. It spread to other royals who could not claim they had absolute power when not even a king or queen could make that claim. No one was above English Common Law throughout Britain. If not even a king or queen had absolute power, no one did. In order for any British colony to legally exist, Common Law was required by London. It was the reason representative governments were set up, whether the powerful governors liked it or not. Any governor could be removed and replaced by London for any number of reasons, including dragging his feet on the matter of installing representative government. Outside Common Law were various codes backed by various crowns and high-ranking people. Due to Common Law being the law of the land, the codes were not lawful. The only thing considered lawful was what was written in Common Law. The codes were an attempt to bypass Common Law. They had no legal standing in the courts. For something to be legal, it had to be included in Common Law. Slavery was one of those issues that was included in the code but never added to Common Law. Considering the penchant of peasants for rising up and killing royals in England, none would dare risk their lives to make slavery legal. In 1772, Somerset v Stewart was heard by Lord Mansfield, the presiding judge in that case. It makes for an interesting case of code versus Common Law because it was dealing with slave code over what was permissible under the Common Law. From History on the Net, The Case of Somerset v Stewart: That famous case involved a slave from [J]amaica, James Sommersett, who escaped when his master brought him along on a business trip to England. After he was recaptured, Sommersett was placed in chains aboard a ship that was to take him to Jamaica to be sold. While still aboard the ship, however, Sommersett was brought by habeas corpus before the Court of Kings Bench. Lord Mansfield was known for being a stickler with the law. He was not the judge anyone on the side of slave codes wanted sitting in judgment over that case. Without slavery included in Common Law, they had no legal grounds, since codes were not law. From the UK National Archives, The Somerset Case: The state of slavery is of such a nature, that it is incapable of being introduced on any reasons, moral or political, but only by positive law,It is so odious, that nothing can be suffered to support it, but positive law. Whatever inconveniences, therefore, may follow from the decision, I cannot say this case is allowed or approved by the law of England; and therefore the black must be discharged. The positive law Lord Mansfield referred to was something that had to be included in English Common Law. Since there had only been slave codes and never a word about slavery being included in Common Law, the slave codes as a whole were found to be illegal. Thomas Hobbes had one of the most brilliant legal minds of his day. His book, Leviathan, continues to be studied, despite it being written in 1651. He wrote about what made positive law in his book. From Britannica, Thomas Hobbes: In his magnum opus, Leviathan (1651), he wrote that law in general, is not counsel, but command and that civil (i.e., positive) laws are those rules which the common-wealth hath commandedby word, writing, or other sufficient sign of the will that certain actions are to be done or not done. The entirety of English Common Law consisted of positive laws. Positive is not a reference to morally positive, but something that was legal. Since there were no slave laws included in Common Law, there were no positive laws to support the abhorrent practice. Slavery had no legal foundation to exist anywhere in Britain. Any law written in a given British colony had to follow Common Law, not codes. Any law passed in a colony that violated Common Law was an illegal law. Slavery should have been stamped out by London the moment a single colony made slavery legal. The failure of London to act immediately after the first illegal code was written resulted in the horrors of slavery that followed elsewhere. Slavery was a clear violation of English Common Law because it never included slavery as being permissible under any circumstances. The only legal thing that could be done regarding lifelong servitude was if an indentured servant violated the law, which included running away. A servant, if found guilty of violating any law could have his contract extended for the entirety of the servants life. It did happen on occasion and was legally allowed under Common Law. Lord Mansfield was a rarity in his time and any other. He had the courage of his convictions that English Common Law took precedence over code. He was the Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of his day. Someone who cared about law over everything else. Bob Ryan is a writer who has an MBA and is a science fiction writer and mostly historical blogger. He has been a weekly blogger at the Times of Israel since 2019. He is an American Christian Zionist who staunchly supports Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Image: Public.resource.org, via Flickr // public domain The National Defense University, a branch of the Department of Defense, boasts that it educates joint warfighters and other national security leaders in critical thinking and the creative application of military power to inform national strategy and globally integrated operations, under conditions of disruptive change, in order to prevail in war, peace, and competition. In the Biden era, the DOD believes that its people should learn that socialism is the answer to dealing with China. Perhaps this is the fight fire with fire curriculum. Thomas Piketty is a French economist who loves socialism. His affinity for leftism isnt a fad. He is a hardcore leftist. According to Wikipedia, his parents were Trotskyites, although they moved away from this position after they visited the Soviet Union in 1991 when Piketty was 20. By that time, it seems that it was too late for their sonhe was a determined socialist. In his early twenties, Piketty was studying at the London School of Economics, which was founded by open socialists in 1895 and has remained true to that creed ever since. His thesis was about wealth redistribution, which Im guessing he supported. Piketty then taught at MIT before heading to the Paris School of Economics, which he abandoned briefly, in 2006, to help a socialist party candidate run for president of France. In 2012, he again threw his weight behind a socialist candidate, this time the successful Francois Hollande, who was an abysmal president. By 2015, Piketty was working for the British Labour party, and reporting to Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-left Labour Party leader who was briefly kicked out for giving the partys blatant antisemitism a pass. In 2013, Pikettys Capital in the Twenty-First Century excited American Democrats. It contends that the way to reverse economic inequality is for the government to control the economy. (Piketty presents this as reforming capitalism. If only Marx had thought of that delicate euphemism.) Piketty seems unperturbed by the fact that socialism has only brought economic disaster and human despair in its wake. Im willing to bet that none of his work acknowledges that Europes post-WWII socialism worked as well as it did only because America funded Europes defense, leaving the ungrateful Europeans free to socialize their medicine and then sneer at us. Image: Thomas Piketty by Fronteiras do Pensamento. CC BY-SA 2.0. Pikettys most recent book is Time for Socialism: Dispatches from a World on Fire, 2016-2021. I dont have to read it to know that this French limousine liberal, whos never had to meet a payroll and is probably extremely wealthy thanks to the New York Times crowd loving his books, claims he has the recipe for socialism done right. With this academic git as our guide, were assured that we dont need to worry about becoming North Korea, Cuba, the dead Soviet Union, Ethiopia, collapsing Europe, or any other failed socialist experiment. And this is the man that the DOD wants to have speak at its university: The lecture, which is scheduled to take place online February 16, is titled, Responding to China: The Case For Global Justice and Democratic Socialism, and will be given by French economist Thomas Piketty, who is the author of a 2021 book titled Time for Socialism. A summary of the event, posted on the universitys website, reads: Western countries are still struggling to define their attitude towards the Beijing regime. In this talk on February 22, 2022, Thomas Piketty will argue that the right answer lies in ending Western arrogance and promoting a new emancipatory and egalitarian horizon on a global scale, a new form of democratic and participatory, ecological and post-colonial socialism. If they stick to their usual lecturing posture and a dated hyper-capitalist model, Western countries may find it extremely difficult to meet the Chinese challenge. Under another administration, I might think that the point of the lecture is for the DODs students to understand the enemy (that is, China and its political-economic system). However, because this is Bidens DOD, Im pretty sure that this lecture is intended to prepare our joint warfighters and other national security leaders to get along with our new Chinese overlords as we embark upon the grand experiment of the Great Reset and the New World Order. God Bless the brave Canadian Truckers and the Pandora's Box of liberty they've thrown wide open. Their spark has ignited a significant portion of the planet -- sent all manner of tyrants scrambling to silence the voices of medically terrorized and physically oppressed people the world over. The desperation felt by heavy-handed dictators to shut down the Freedom Convoy movement can be seen in nearly every news story about the supposed "racist", "violent", "siege", "occupation", and "threat to democracy": "We are now two weeks into the siege of the City of Ottawa. I call it a siege because that is what it is. Its an illegal occupation." ~ Ontario Premier Doug Ford These kinds of words have long been used to smear people and movements, deny them legitimacy, and lay the legal groundwork to exert governmental force over the situation. What this tells us is that the bad guys are extremely scared of what is transpiring, they feel their grip on power being pulled away: CBC: "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." The abject intellectual depravity bursting from this ludicrous "warning" is overwhelming. Did they really say that the Truckers are responsible for "people being denied the lawful use, enjoyment and operation of their property and causing businesses to close down"? The entire reason protestors are out there is that the citizenry is being denied lawful use, enjoyment, and operation of their own physical beings -- resulting in a compulsory loss of work and business! Grandpa Brandon and Tyrant Trudeau have been quick to confer about the frightening freedom happenings, join forces against their own people who merely wish to decide for themselves what should and should not be injected into their own damn bodies: Whitehouse.gov "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 U.S. companies and workers are experiencing serious effects, including slowdowns in production, shortened work hours, and plant closures. 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." This reads almost exactly like the BS argument from the Winsor Police, no? And of course, our regime here in America is in lockstep with the Canadian authorities in their methods and tactics. As reported by Fox News, DHS and local law enforcement are beefing up personnel to counter vaccine mandate trucking protests on Super Bowl Sunday I can only surmise that fear combined with total ignorance is what has led the masses to the insane conclusion that there's anything lawful about "mandating" potential injury or death upon their fellow citizens. The cherry on the top is that the idiotic vaxxes don't even work to stop infection or transmission. Their only even theoretical place is possibly reducing the severity of infection for those submitting to the stabbings (at least where they aren't hurt or killed in the vaccination process). There exists no science or logic to make the case that Wuhan Plague shots are anything more than a regularly lethal means of possibly reducing the level of personal sickness. Freedom says you are allowed to be sick, sick as you want, you can even sign up to not have lifesaving assistance administered if an individual so chooses. Here is a poor mom who ended up in the hospital after being forced into taking a vax because she didn't want to miss an important wedding. And what about this hero? He's a veteran who enlisted to die for us all if necessary, and he is being actively denied a lifesaving transplant because he refuses to be vaxxed. He says he will die before being stabbed. As a Marine, I know vets very well, he's not bluffing.). Freedom has never been free -- and it never will be. People must always struggle and fight to keep it alive and something tangible in their lives. "The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the Atmosphere." ~Thomas Jefferson Photo credit: YouTube screengrab Jarrad Winter (Dad, U.S. Marine, Engineer, Developer, WhiteHat Hacker & Slayer of Tyranny) PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* The Defence Secretary has compared diplomatic efforts to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine to appeasement as he said it is highly likely Vladimir Putin will order an attack despite the concerted talks to avert war. Ben Wallace said there is a whiff of Munich in the air, in a reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War. The Cabinet minister, who this week flew to Moscow as part of the frantic spell of diplomacy, shared his concerns as US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause widespread human suffering. During an hour-long phone call, Mr Biden told the Russian president an attack would diminish Russias standing as heightened fears of an attack caused Western nations including Britain to urge citizens to flee Ukraine. Mr Wallace said in an interview with the Sunday Times that Moscow could launch an offensive at any time, with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraines border. It may be that he (Putin) just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, he added. A source close to Mr Wallace explained that his concerns that if Mr Putin strikes come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man. Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis said on Sunday that an imminent attack is entirely possible, and discussed the optimism of 1938 that diplomacy could prevent European conflict, adding: That eventually turned out not to be the case. It turned out that wasnt the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. What hes (Mr Wallace) drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that hes had that the Foreign Secretary and others has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this, the Northern Ireland Secretary told the BBCs Sunday Morning programme. But hes expressing that concern that weve got to also understand the reality that while theyre having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, weve got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore weve got to be cognisant of the reality that they could move very quick(ly). US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to play down the threat, saying: The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and cant help us. President Biden spoke with President Vladimir Putin today to make clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the U.S. and our allies will impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden urged President Putin to engage in de-escalation and diplomacy instead. pic.twitter.com/HqK0b65kFm The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2022 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking hysteria. Diplomatic efforts on Saturday also included French President Emmanuel Macron sharing a call with Mr Putin, but it was understood that Boris Johnson, who spoke to the Russian president earlier this month, did not have any calls with Moscow scheduled. UK nationals in Ukraine are being urged by the Foreign Office to leave now while commercial means are still available. Armed Forces minister James Heappey warned Russia is in a position to be able to attack very, very quickly, with an estimated 130,000 troops on Ukraines border. But unlike when the Taliban seized Kabul, Mr Heappey stressed that the RAF would not be carrying out evacuations in the event of war in Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she discussed her acute concerns that Russia may launch further military aggression against Ukraine in coming days during a call on Saturday with US secretary of state Antony Blinken. We agree Russia will face massive consequences for any invasion, including severe sanctions, she said. Spoke to @SecBlinken today about acute concerns that Russia may launch further military aggression against Ukraine in coming days. We agree Russia will face massive consequences for any invasion, including severe sanctions. Russia must deescalate and engage with @NATO proposals Liz Truss (@trussliz) February 12, 2022 After UK nationals in Ukraine, thought to number in the low thousands, were ordered to leave on Friday night, passengers arrived on a flight to Gatwick Airport from Kyiv on Saturday afternoon. Among them was 21-year-old Haider Ali from Birmingham, who said the warning had caused quite a panic with his fellow students at the Dnipro Medical Institute. British ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons was remaining with a core team in Kyiv, but some embassy staff and their families were being withdrawn. Mr Wallace has said an invasion could come at any time, while US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said an attack before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 is a credible prospect. I am staying in Kyiv and continue to work there with a core team. The embassy remains operational. https://t.co/WWvIz4uIT4 Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) February 12, 2022 Western leaders have threatened Moscow with a damaging package of sanctions in the event of a further incursion into Ukrainian soil. Ukraine is not a Nato member and allies in the defence alliance have said they would not join fighting in Ukraine, but have bolstered forces in neighbouring nations and are threatening widespread sanctions. Though the Kremlin insists it is not planning an invasion, US intelligence suggests Russia could fabricate a false flag pretext to attack. A Connecticut woman who was charged in connection with alleged cocaine dealing is free on $100,000 bond, according to federal officials. Griselle Ortiz Archilla , 31, of New London, is charged on a superseding indictment returned by a grand jury with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine, according to federal officials. Advertisement The Task Force involved in the investigation includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and town of Groton police departments. The superseding indictment was returned on Feb. 8. in New Haven, according to federal officials. Ortiz Archilla appeared last week via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector and was released on a $100,000 bond, federal officials said in a statement Advertisement The superseding indictment also charges Carlos Antonio Crespo-Febus, 40, of New London, and Steven Collazo, 30, of Groton, with the same offense. Crespo-Febus and Collazo were originally charged by indictment in September 2021, federal officials said in the statement. Breaking News As it happens Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut > The case began in April 2021, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating a cocaine trafficking operation allegedly headed by Crespo-Febus, federal officials said in the statement, citing court documents and statements made in court. The investigation revealed that Crespo-Febus was coordinating the shipment of parcels, typically containing two kilograms of cocaine, from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various drop addresses in New London County, federal officials said. Collazo and Ortiz Archilla picked up parcels from the drop addresses and delivered them to Crespo-Febus at Crespo-Febuss New London residence. Ortiz Archilla also recruited others into the conspiracy. Federal officials said, it is further alleged that investigators have intercepted and seized more than 12 kilograms of cocaine that were mailed from Puerto Rico to Connecticut, and have identified dozens of other suspicious parcels that likely contained kilogram quantities of cocaine. Crespo-Febus and Collazo were arrested on September 20, 2021. Crespo-Febus is detained and Collazo is released to home detention on a $100,000 bond, federal officials said. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine carries a maximum sentence of up to life in prison, federal officials said in the statement. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Services Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New London and Town of Groton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman. The Duchess of Cambridge has invited young viewers into her bedtime story den for a reading on CBeebies of a book she enjoyed as a little girl. Kate described the childrens classic The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark, by Jill Tomlinson, as an encouraging tale during her narration of the book to mark Childrens Mental Health Week. Illustrated by Belfast artist Paul Howard, the book tells the story of baby barn owl Plop, who is helped by others to grow in confidence and overcome his fears. At the beginning of Sunday nights episode, the duchess says: Hello, my name is Catherine and tonight were in my bedtime story den. Ive chosen a story which I remember reading as a little girl, its called The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark. Illustrations from the storybook accompany the reading by Kate, who is wearing jeans and a Fair Isle jumper while sitting in a wooded area, with a hot chocolate within reach, two soft toy owls for company and a lit fire bowl. At the end of the reading, the duchess adds: Wow, what an encouraging tale. We can all feel scared sometimes just like our little owl friend Plop, but as Mrs Barn Own said, Its better to find out about the things that scare us before we make up our mind. And with the help of others, we can often face things that worry us. Now its time for bed. Night night and sleep tight. Paul Howard illustrated The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark (Brian Morrison/PA) Kate is following in the footsteps of Hollywood star Chris Evans, best known for playing Captain America, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and British actors Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy, who have all appeared on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. The duchess has taken part in the broadcast on the BBCs channel for young children to mark Childrens Mental Health Week, which is a national event that aims to highlight the importance of the issue. She picked Tomlinsons book as the story chimes with this years theme of Growing Together. The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark read by the duchess can be viewed on the CBeebies iPlayer channel. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has described the way in which London Mayor Sadiq Khan pressured Dame Cressida Dick into resigning as chief of the Metropolitan Police as rather odd. Dame Cressida announced she was standing down as Met Commissioner on Thursday evening after Mr Khan made clear he had no confidence in her plans to reform the service. Mr Lewis said Mr Khan, who had been very keen to appoint her but now seems to have had a volte face in just the last week, had possibly been playing politics. He told Times Radio: I think he shouldve been consulting with the Home Secretary, bearing in mind this is a man who just a couple of months ago extended Cressida Dicks contract. For me, yes, I think he shouldve been talking to and working with the Home Secretary, particularly so close to a time he extended a contract himself it does seem to be a rather odd position for him to have taken. Dame Cressida Dick arriving at New Scotland Yard the day after she resigned as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Conservative Home Secretary Priti Patel holds the power over the appointment of Dame Cressidas successor but she must take the Labour Mayors preference into account. The resignation comes just months after Ms Patel agreed a two-year extension to Dame Cressidas contract. Home Office sources said the Cabinet minister was angered by Mr Khans failure to inform her that he had called Dame Cressida to a meeting on Thursday afternoon, which she considered rude and unprofessional. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Ms Patel has been silent on policing for a year when much-needed reforms have been needed. British officers police by consent and reforms to areas including training, vetting, misconduct, challenging any internal culture issues, and helping to keep women and girls safe, which currently too many feel that theyre not, have been needed to help back that up. Ms Cooper told BBC Ones Sunday Morning programme with Sophie Raworth: Once that confidence was lost then the Met Commissioner was right to resign, and I support the mayors decision. But what I am concerned about in all of this debate is its all focusing on one individual, one individual new appointment, and also one police force. I think the challenges for policing are much broader than this and there needs to be Home Office-led reforms in this area as well. Ms Patel reportedly wants an outsider who can reform the forces culture instead of senior officers inheriting the job, according to The Sun on Sunday. She has told allies she is determined to end the Buggins turn system whereby appointments are made by rotation rather than merit, it has been reported. Racist, misogynist and homophobic messages exchanged by some officers at Charing Cross police station sparked outrage (James Manning/PA) Mr Khan has pledged to oppose the appointment of a new Met Commissioner unless they have a robust plan to deal with the cultural problems that have led to a series of scandals in the force. Writing in The Observer, he said he is deeply concerned that public trust and confidence in the countrys biggest police force has been shattered so badly, which he concluded can only be rebuilt with new leadership at the top of the Met. Mr Khan wrote that Dame Cressidas successor will have to understand the scale and urgency of dealing with the Mets cultural problems, and added: In short, they need to get it, and they need to have a proper and robust plan to deal with it. The real cultural problems in the force cannot be fixed overnight, according to former HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham. She told Trevor Phillips On Sunday: Whoever the incoming Commissioner is, they will have a very, very full inbox. They will have precisely the same problems that Cressida was contending with to deal with. The problem is that at the root of this there is a real cultural issue in the Met that needs to be unpacked, unpicked and dealt with. We know that is not going to happen overnight but that needs to be at the top of the new Commissioners inbox. Dame Cressida had care, compassion and candour and really generated great loyalty amongst the frontline troops but was overtaken by catastrophic events, according to Ms Billingham. She added: She was walking an incredibly tough tightrope, post the appalling killing of Sarah Everard and the erosion of public trust. She really needed to focus on rebuilding that trust while at the same time maintaining the confidence of her own staff. Dame Cressidas departure follows a barrage of criticism of the force, including over its handling of the case of Sarah Everard, who was murdered by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens. The force has also been criticised for being slow to investigate reports of parties in Downing Street and Whitehall in breach of Covid restrictions. The final straw, however, was a report by the police watchdog which exposed violently racist, misogynistic and homophobic messages exchanged by officers based at Charing Cross police station in central London. A teenager has been charged with murder after an 18-year-old was stabbed to death in north London. Timothy Adeoye, 18, of no fixed address, has been charged with the murder of Donovan Allen on the evening of February 7, the Metropolitan Police said. Mr Allen, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was found in Ayley Croft, Enfield, and died at the scene despite the efforts of the emergency services to save him. A post-mortem examination found he died from a single stab wound to the chest. Adeoye has also been charged with three counts of attempted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and threatening a person with a blade in a public place. The Metropolitan Police said these charges relate to additional incidents on February 7. Adeoye is to appear in custody at Willesden Magistrates Court on Monday. A 14-year-old boy, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail until early March. Ukraine has criticised the Defence Secretarys comparison of diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing an invasion by Russia to appeasement, saying now is the wrong time to offend our partners. The worsening situation in Ukraine caused Ben Wallace, who has warned an attack is highly likely, to leave a family holiday in Europe early on Sunday, having set off a day earlier. But his remark that there is a whiff of Munich in the air, in a reference to the agreement that allowed German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 but failed to prevent the Second World War, was not welcomed by Ukraine. Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko warned that the panic being caused by the West sounding the alarm could be playing into Russian President Vladimir Putins hands. Its not the best time for us to offend our partners in the world, reminding them of this act which actually not bought peace but the opposite, it bought war, the diplomat told BBC Radio 4s Broadcasting House programme. Theres panic everywhere not just in peoples minds but in financial markets as well, he added, warning it is hurting the Ukrainian economy on sort of the same level as people leaving the embassy. Mr Wallace said in an interview with The Sunday Times that Moscow could launch an offensive at any time, with an estimated 130,000 Russian troops and heavy firepower amassed along Ukraines border. It may be that he (Putin) just switches off his tanks and we all go home but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West, he added. A source close to Mr Wallace explained that his frustrations centred on if Mr Putin strikes come what may, then all the diplomacy would have been a straw man, rather than being aimed at any European allies. The Defence Secretary said he was returning from a planned long weekend abroad in Europe with his wife and children because we are concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine. Mr Wallace arrived back in the UK from Moscow in the early hours of Saturday before heading abroad with his family, but it was understood he had already accepted he would be leaving the holiday early rather than having cancelled it on arrival in light of new developments with Russia. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said an imminent attack is entirely possible but insisted Mr Wallace was not criticising European allies with his Munich remark. Mr Lewis discussed the optimism of 1938 that diplomacy could prevent European conflict, adding: It turned out that wasnt the intent or aim of Adolf Hitler at the time. The Northern Ireland Secretary told the BBCs Sunday Morning programme: What hes (Mr Wallace) drawing comparison with is we hope that the conversation that hes had, that the Foreign Secretary and others has a positive outcome and Russia does work through and find a diplomatic peaceful way out of this. But hes expressing that concern that weve got to also understand the reality that while theyre having these diplomatic conversations Russia has continued to move troops, weve got about 130,000 troops on the borders, and therefore weve got to be cognisant of the reality that they could move very quick. US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart an attack would cause widespread human suffering during an hour-long phone call on Saturday. Mr Biden told Mr Putin an attack would diminish Russias standing as heightened fears of an attack caused Britain and other allies to urge citizens to flee Ukraine. On Sunday, Mr Biden went on to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, vowing that the US and allies would respond swiftly and decisively in the event of any further Russian incursion. US officials have discussed receiving intelligence that Russia is considering Wednesday as a target date to strike, but it was unclear how definitive the intelligence was. Mr Zelensky has sought to play down the threat, saying: The best friend of our enemies is panic in our country. And all this information is just provoking panic and cant help us. President Biden spoke with President Vladimir Putin today to make clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the U.S. and our allies will impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden urged President Putin to engage in de-escalation and diplomacy instead. pic.twitter.com/HqK0b65kFm The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 12, 2022 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the White House of stoking hysteria. Diplomatic efforts on Saturday also included French President Emmanuel Macron sharing a call with Mr Putin, but it was understood that Boris Johnson, who spoke to the Russian president earlier this month, did not have any calls with Moscow scheduled. UK nationals in Ukraine are being urged by the Foreign Office to leave now while commercial means are still available. Western leaders have threatened Moscow with a damaging package of sanctions in the event of a further incursion into Ukrainian soil. Ukraine is not a Nato member and allies in the defence alliance have said they would not join fighting in Ukraine, but have bolstered forces in neighbouring nations and are threatening widespread sanctions. Though the Kremlin insists it is not planning an invasion, US intelligence suggests Russia could fabricate a false flag pretext to attack. A British student who fled Ukraine said people were rushing to leave ahead of potential turmoil that could kick off quite quickly if Russia invades. Haider Ali, 21, from Birmingham, told the PA news agency that students at Dnipro Medical Institute in central Ukraine were concerned about the universitys proximity to the countrys conflict-torn eastern regions. Speaking a day after arriving in the UK on one of the first commercial flights out of Kyiv after the Foreign Office called for Britons to leave, Mr Ali said he had urged fellow students to book their tickets too. I said to my friends, right, its going to get a lot more expensive because when it kicks off, it will kick off quite quickly. You know, were not that far from the border. Were only about 200 miles, 150 miles from the border where everythings going on in Crimea. Russia seized control of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 while Russian-backed separatist rebels seized territory in eastern Ukraine in fighting with the Ukrainian military. A recent Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border has triggered fears that it is preparing another incursion against its neighbour. Mr Ali said there were worries that Russia could send a warship along the Dnieper River, a major waterway that flows through Dnipro, the city where his university is located, all the way to the Ukrainian capital. The Dnipro Medical Institute is not far from where a Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down above eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board, he noted. The institution urged students to take advantage of the commercial flights while they were still available, as when stuff kicks off itll be hard to find any plane leaving the area, according to Mr Ali. He said many of the universitys British students were, like him, heading home over the weekend. If they havent gone already, I would expect they will be returning quite soon, he said. The majority of people will be gone by about Wednesday. The medical student said: Im very grateful that I did buy my tickets early and avoid the panic. Because if they run up to any military action, the airspace will be closed, so the only way out would be west towards Poland. Ive had friends talking about taking the train across Ukraine into Poland over the border and flying out through there. Again, if everybody does that prices will soar. Students at Dnipro Medical Institute were concerned about its proximity to Ukraines conflict-torn eastern regions (Haider Ali/PA) Mr Ali packed as much as he could using his 30kg luggage allowance on his Ukraine International Airlines flight to Gatwick on Saturday, but had to leave some of his possessions behind. He said he is just waiting for things to calm down before I return if I return. He plans to continue his studies remotely from Birmingham until he has to sit his state medical licensing exam in Ukraine in June. Mr Ali started his graduate-entry medicine studies in Dnipro last September, a move that made his parents quite worried because of the ongoing tensions with Russia. He said Ukrainians had a laissez-faire attitude towards Russian President Vladimir Putins intentions, saying hes always been breathing down our neck. But I dont think theyve seen this amount of massing of military resources on a scale like this, he said. More people are preparing to hunker down and brave the crisis. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said he believes there is a landing ground for resolving difficulties which exist with the Northern Ireland Protocol. But shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle has warned that the Good Friday Agreement is now under huge pressure because of the Governments handling of issues around the protocol. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met in London on Friday as part of their attempt to break the deadlock over the protocol and committed to intensive talks over coming days. But DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has since warned that there has been very little progress in the ongoing discussions and said he does not expect to see a breakthrough before Stormont Assembly elections in May. But Mr Lewis told the BBC: We think there is a landing ground, we think there is a way of resolving this. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss meeting European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic on Friday (Rob Pinney/PA) The best way to resolve it is by agreement because that gives certainty, stability for businesses and people in Northern Ireland. One of the points the DUP make, so do Sinn Fein, is we need to resolve the problems with the protocol to make sure the people in Northern Ireland can access goods and products in the way they always have done. Northern Ireland was plunged into fresh political upheaval recently when the DUP withdrew Paul Givan as first minister in protest at the protocol. The party said the post-Brexit deal, 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. 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. Peter Kyle has blamed the Government for the political crisis in Northern Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA) Stormont Assembly elections are scheduled for May 5, but in the meantime there is no functioning Executive. Mr Kyle blamed the Government for the political crisis in Northern Ireland during an appearance on Skys Trevor Phillips On Sunday. He said: We have a Prime Minister that goes to Northern Ireland, makes an absolute solemn promise there will be no border down the Irish Sea and has no intention of honouring that promise, and in fact breaks it straight away. This has put a division right down Northern Ireland at a time when politics is already fragile. The Good Friday Agreement is under huge pressure at the moment because we have a Government that doesnt represent all of Northern Ireland, it only represents part of the politics of Northern Ireland. We have a Northern Ireland Secretary who doesnt really engage across all of the communities in Northern Ireland. He added: I am afraid this is a Government who has played fast and loose with the Good Friday Agreement and all of the measures which have delivered peace, stability and economic growth in Northern Ireland and that is a real worry. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is returning to the UK from a family holiday in Europe early because of his concerns over the worsening situation in Ukraine. The Cabinet minister only arrived in the undisclosed country on Saturday, having travelled there following diplomatic talks in Moscow. But he said on Sunday that he had cancelled a planned long weekend abroad with my family because we are concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine. having returned from Moscow early on Saturday morning and because we are concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine i have cancelled a planned long weekend abroad with my family and will be returning. Rt. Hon Ben Wallace MP (@BWallaceMP) February 13, 2022 It was understood Mr Wallace had accepted he would be leaving the trip early before heading there, rather than the decision coming in light of new information. A senior defence source said: As events worsen, the Secretary of State has cut short a planned long weekend with his children for half-term. The decision is markedly different from the one made by Dominic Raab, who, as foreign secretary, stayed on a family holiday in Crete as the Taliban were marching back to power in Afghanistan. Is it OK for kids to celebrate Valentine's Day? "I intend to teach [my daughter] that Valentine's Day is about showing love to others the same way you would every other day," says one mom, "except that some people choose to exchange gifts on this day to signify that love." (Photo: Getty Creative) Valentine's Day means something different to everyone, but most would agree the holiday is traditionally devoted to the celebration of romantic love. Still, with pink and red hearts and bright boxes of candy covering shops across the globe in preparation for the day, it's no surprise that children long to get in on the fun. But is Valentine's Day OK for kids to celebrate? Is the holiday for heart-shaped candy and flowers adorable and harmless? Or, are some V-Day celebrations objectifying and inappropriate? Christine Michel Carter, a single mom and author from Baltimore, Md., says rather than focus on romantic love, she sees Valentine's Day as an opportunity to teach her kids about love and respect, as well as to debunk gender roles. "I believe it's important to teach my children how to treat someone they care about," Michel Carter shares, "and not just from a romantic perspective." To do this, Michel Carter developed her own version of the holiday to celebrate with her kids: "palentine's day." On "palentine's day," Michel Carter treats her kids to a meal at a high-end restaurant, something she describes as a fun way to teach them about manners and behavior in upscale locations. She also emphasizes to her kids that these experiences are not limited just to romantic partners of the opposite sex. "I wanted to debunk gender roles and show my children a woman can pay for a fancy meal," she says. "This was especially important to me as the mother of a straight son and non-binary pansexual tween girl." Pareen Sehat, a clinical counselor at Well Beings Counselling in Vancouver, Canada, says with a bit of planning, Valentine's Day can be a sweet celebration appropriate for all ages. "It's a day that should be celebrated regardless of whether the individuals are seniors or teenagers," Sehat tells Yahoo Life. "The holiday is perfectly OK as it's a celebration of love. Valentine's Day is an all-inclusive day that doesn't differentiate between the gender of partners." Abby Anoff lives in the United Kingdom and blogs about parenting at Kin Unplugged. Anoff says although her kids, a 3-year-old daughter and 6-month-old son, may still be young, she already has plans for how she hopes to share Valentine's Day with them as they grow. "I'm perfectly happy for my [daughter] to celebrate [Valentine's Day] because at her age, I can control the narrative," says Anoff. "This year, I intend to teach her that Valentine's Day is about showing love to others the same way you would every other day, except that some people choose to exchange gifts on this day to signify that love." Anoff says from an early age, she has shown her daughter and son that Valentine's Day represents all kinds of love. "It's important they know this showcase of love is not gender-based or romantic only," she explains. But, while parents and experts agree that Valentine's Day can be harmless fun and even an opportunity to teach children something new, many are less-than-thrilled with the stereotypes and expectations that come with the day thanks to places like the kids' clothing section or candy aisle. "I believe that stereotypes such as 'lady killer' and 'heart-breaker' add a negative connotation to the eventful day," says Sehat. "In a patriarchal society, these terms can damage the perspectives of individuals, as they feel that their ego is at stake every time a girl says, 'no.'" Elizabeth Hicks, a mother of two and co-founder of the website Parenting Nerd, says while she supports children celebrating the holiday, she agrees it's time for some gender-specific stereotypes to come to an end. She's found that engaging in open, honest and age-appropriate conversations is a great way to dispel these negative tropes. "Having any kind of conversation with your teenager is a challenge in itself, especially one revolving around love, sex and consent." says Hicks. "The best way to go about it is to be direct and use your own experiences in life to set an example." Sehat concurs. "Every parent should have an age-appropriate conversation with their children about boundaries, consent and romantic love," she says. While changing up the way Valentine's Day is celebrated in your home may seem like a great deal of preparation for one day, Hicks reminds parents that the day is a small holiday that brings attention to a larger picture: The romantic and platonic love Valentine's Day celebrates are an important part of our human experience and should be talked about with kids no matter which day of the year it is. "Dating is a major aspect of our lives and everybody has to go through the experience once in their life," says Hicks. "Valentine's Day is a significant event that celebrates love and I believe everyone should be a part of it." Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. People protest COVID-19 restrictions in Canada on Saturday. (Nathan Denette / Associated Press) The pictures from Ottawa over the last two weeks have defied every American stereotype of Canadians. We think of our northern neighbors as incorrigibly polite, their politics as moderate and their capital city when we consider it at all as boring, the Sacramento of the north. Suddenly, however, Ottawa has become the center of a global populist backlash against vaccine mandates and, more broadly, elitist liberal governments. About 500 truckers angry about new border-crossing rules between Canada and the United States have occupied the citys central core. Theyve been reinforced by thousands of other protesters, some waving Trump banners, swastika flags and placards with decidedly impolite epithets aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The mayor and police chief, after 11 days of Canadian restraint, declared a state of emergency and asked the federal government for help, but protesters appear to be settling in and planning on more. For much of the last week, copycats blocked the most important land crossing between Canada and the United States, the Ambassador Bridge across the Detroit River, which normally carries almost one-third of the two countries manufacturing trade. The effect on North Americas supply chain was nearly instant; automotive factories from Ontario to Alabama cut production as they ran low on parts. More copycat protests have sprung up from Australia to France, and U.S. groups say they are trying to organize a similar truck convoy from California to Washington. The protesters demands are often vague. In Ottawa, they ranged from an immediate end to all pandemic regulations to Trudeaus resignation. (The prime minister rejected both.) But the common threads are clear: anti-vaccine militancy and general anger at government, a stubborn package of populist libertarianism. Most of the protesters in Ottawa are not truckers at all, Martin Geoffroy, a scholar of Canadian extremist movements at Edouard-Montpetit College near Montreal, told me last week. They include a collection of far-right movements which existed before the pandemic. All of them have one thing in common: They are opposed to the authorities. Also, many of them admire former President Trump. What were seeing is a spillover of Trumpism into Canada, he said. Weve seen Trump flags, QAnon flags, flags that say Dont tread on me. These are American symbols, not Canadian. The admiration runs both ways. The Freedom Convoy is peacefully protesting the harsh policies of far left lunatic Justin Trudeau who has destroyed Canada with insane Covid mandates, Trump said in a written statement. (In fact, Canada has weathered the pandemic with a death rate roughly one-third of ours thanks largely to its higher vaccination rate.) On Fox News, Tucker Carlson called the convoys the single most successful human rights protest in a generation and suggested the time might be ripe for similar actions south of the border. Most of the time, trends start in the United States and they move north to Canada, he said. But this time, the opposite could happen. Other American conservatives raised money $10 million by one estimate. The protesters claims to speak for the average Canadian, however, are belied by polls showing that the truckers blockade was widely unpopular even before it began mucking with the supply chain. In a survey by the Leger polling organization, 65% of respondents called the demonstrators a small minority of Canadians who are thinking only about themselves. Only 32% said they supported the protesters demands although 44% said they were sympathetic to their frustration (a quintessentially Canadian response). Frank Graves, a pollster at Ekos Research in Ottawa, noted that sympathy for the protesters was strongest among conservatives, people in rural areas and people without a college education all groups similar to Trumps main backers in the United States. As recently as 2020, Canadians expressed much higher trust in government than Americans. Thats one of the reasons Canada did better in terms of vaccinations, he said. But as the pandemic has persisted, Canadians trust in their leaders has ebbed, and the differences between the two countries political cultures have narrowed. Were moving closer, not farther apart, he told me. Canadas Conservative Party has been moving rightward as well. Two weeks ago it dumped its last leader, Erin OToole, in part because his moderate tone was out of step with his partys populist wing. (He also lost last years election to Trudeau.) His interim successor, a Manitoba populist named Candice Bergen (not the star of Murphy Brown), was once photographed wearing a Make America Great Again cap. She embraced the truckers, hailing their peaceful protest. But by the end of last week, Bergen, noticing that voters patience was running out, executed a U-turn. The time has come down to take down the barricades, she said Thursday. The economy you want to see reopened is hurting. Trump, Carlson and other U.S. conservatives may be cheering for the truckers now, when theyre disrupting lives a safe distance north of the border. They should be careful what they wish for. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A man who was suffering from gunshot wound went to Hartford Hospital early Sunday, police said. Hartford police officers went to the hospital, which is located at 80 Seymour St., at about 9 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a gunshot victim arriving for treatment, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert. Advertisement The victim, a male in his 50s, was suffering from a nonlife-threatening gunshot wound, according to Boisvert. The man was not identified. [ Boy, 14, shot in finger, Hartford police say ] Boisvert said the location of incident has not yet been determined. The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded and assumed the investigation, he said. HAZLETON, Pa. (AP) DNA and a 20-year-old genealogy expert helped state police identify the man who abducted, raped and murdered a young girl in a case that rattled a Pennsylvania coal town nearly six decades ago, officials announced Thursday. State police exhumed the long-dead assailant's body last month and said his DNA precisely matched DNA left on the jacket of the victim, 9-year-old Marise Ann Chiverella, who was snatched on the morning of March 18, 1964, as she walked to school in Hazleton, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. Her body was found that afternoon in a nearby waste coal pit. Authorities say she was raped and strangled. Police identified her killer as James Paul Forte, a bartender with a record of violent sexual assault, who died of natural causes in 1980 at age 38. Police said Forte, who was 22 at the time of the murder, had no known connection to the little girl or her family. Generations of state police investigators pursued Marise's killer more than 230 members of the department were involved in the probe at one time or another but Forte's name did not come up until 2020. By that time, new DNA technology had established a distant family connection to Forte, and Eric Schubert, a college student and expert in genetic genealogy who had volunteered to work the case, put together an extensive family tree that helped investigators narrow their suspect list. State police made the announcement at a news conference packed with current and retired investigators including the trooper who first probed Marises murder and the little girls four siblings and extended family. Her siblings called Marise a sweet and shy girl who was learning to play the organ and aspired to be a nun. 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 her sister, Carmen Marie Radtke. We will continue to ask ourselves, what would have been, what could have been? She said their deceased parents never sought revenge, but justice. Thanks to the Pennsylvania State Police, justice has been served today, she said. Thanks to Schubert, as well. A history major at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania and proprietor of ES Genealogy, Schubert developed an interest in the discipline as a young boy and had helped other police agencies crack their cold cases using genetic genealogy, which blends the use of DNA testing with traditional genealogical research. He was looking for a new case to work on when he ran across Marise's story, and offered his services to the normally insular Pennsylvania State Police. He was pleasantly surprised when they accepted and spent the next two years on the case, working side by side with investigators. The investigation that went into all of this work was probably the hardest genealogy task that Ive ever faced. This was probably the hardest thing that I've ever done in my entire life, he said. And it means so much to me that I was able to be on the team that could provide answers to the Chiverella family. At a certain point, he said, I knew we were going to find the assailant. State police Cpl. Mark Baron, the lead investigator, said it was believed to be the fourth-oldest cold case in the U.S. to be solved using genetic genealogy, and the oldest in Pennsylvania. Baron, who choked up as he spoke, called it an important day for Marises family and for a community that had long been haunted by her slaying. It's a vivid memory for everybody who lived through this, and it's a vivid memory for everybody who grew up in this area, he said. What happened to her ushered in a change in this community. Whether you like it or not, the way you lived changed after March 18 of 1964 in Hazleton. Matthew Fletcher, left, stands with his attorney Mark Geragos during his arraignment hearing on March 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. Fletcher, himself an attorney who represented Marion "Suge" Knight, faces charges of conspiring to bribe witnesses and obstruct justice while representing Knight during his murder case. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) In his own words, Matthew Fletcher is a "f gang motherf lawyer." The defense attorney's crass self-assessment was captured on tape a few years ago while L.A. County sheriff's investigators eavesdropped on one of his conversations. It was typical bravado for a man who often speaks with rapid-fire profanity and can rattle off the turf boundaries of Compton's street gangs as easily as another attorney might cite sections of the penal code. The persona has endeared him to clients, while aggravating prosecutors and detectives, some of whom say Fletcher behaves more like a defendant than a defense attorney. That line has blurred completely in a Los Angeles courtroom where for the last two months Fletcher has defended himself against charges he conspired to bribe witnesses to lie on behalf of gangsta rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight, whom Fletcher represented in a murder case. After listening to closing arguments from prosecutors and Fletcher, who acted as his own attorney, jurors are expected to begin deliberating this week. If convicted Fletcher could face nearly four years in prison. Prosecutors portrayed the case against Fletcher to jurors as a righteous stand against a corrupt attorney, with Deputy. Dist. Atty. Stefan Mrakich comparing Fletcher in his closing statement at trial to Saul Goodman, the morally rudderless attorney on "Breaking Bad"and "Better Call Saul." Knight's murder case ended in 2018, when the Death Row Records founder pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 28 years in prison for running his pickup truck over a man at a burger stand in South L.A. Six months before Knight's plea deal, Fletcher and another member of Knight's defense team, Thaddeus Culpepper, were indicted on several charges related to the alleged witness tampering. Fletcher has also been charged with a count of perjury arising from a hearing connected to an unrelated allegation of misconduct brought in 2016 by the State Bar of California. Culpepper's case is on hold as he faces a federal trial next month on allegations that he cashed more than $1 million in stolen checks. Prosecutors say the attorneys were prepared to pay witnesses to testify that a group of men who confronted Knight at the burger stand were armed with guns in order to bolster Knight's claim he was the target of an assassination plot and had been fleeing for his life when he killed Terry Carter and seriously injured Cle "Bone" Sloan in January 2015. Their case rests heavily on recorded jailhouse conversations he had with Knight as well as discussions with a Sheriff's Department informant who posed as a witness willing to help the defense. Prosecutors have acknowledged they have no evidence Fletcher actually bribed anyone, but argued at trial that his recorded comments show he intended to do so. If these motherf got a price, well lets get that motherf price paid," Fletcher said to the informant on one call played in court. "I told Suge man, you can always make some more money. You can't make any more freedom though. In another call, Fletcher told Knight that $25,000 would be a "fair investment" to secure an acquittal. To win a conspiracy conviction, prosecutors need to prove Fletcher made an agreement with someone to commit a crime and took a step toward doing so, even if he didn't complete the criminal act. Fletcher has insisted that his references to paying witnesses were about his willingness to compensate them for videos or other recordings they made at the burger stand. In Knight's case, Fletcher claimed videos shot by witnesses would show Knight's alleged attackers were holding guns, but no videos or other evidence corroborating that claim have ever surfaced. Some legal experts, however, expressed concern that the trial is the latest in a series of overly aggressive maneuvers prosecutors made in their pursuit of Knight and his allies. Another attorney in the case, Mark Blankenship, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in 2019 and was placed on probation for helping facilitate the sale of video of the fatal crash to TMZ. Knight's fiancee, Toi-Lin Kelley, was sentenced to three years in prison for helping Knight violate a court order. Sheriff's detectives also seized a journalist's phone and sought to force two filmmakers to testify at a grand jury hearing connected to the case in 2018. Fletcher was the attorney of record on Knight's murder case only for two months in 2016, though he also represented Knight in a related case involving threats Knight allegedly made against a film director. Mrakich dismissed suggestions that Fletcher had been subject to a "witch hunt." The investigation into Fletcher and other Knight associates, he said, was sparked by Fletcher's phone calls with Knight and a leak of surveillance video of the crash to TMZ. Although investigators typically would be barred from eavesdropping on jailhouse calls between an attorney and his client, Knight's habit of allowing his fiancee or others on the calls meant they were no longer private and opened the door to allowing detectives to listen in, court records show. And once investigators raised concerns that Fletcher could be tampering with witnesses, a judge gave them permission to listen to calls between Knight and Fletcher, regardless of whether anyone else joined them. As the witness tampering investigation progressed, prosecutors had a confidential informant approach Knight and offer to help with his case. Knight sent the informant to Fletcher, who suggested witnesses would need to be paid, according to recordings played in court. If this cat's ready to come forward and say, Look man we had guns' I dont care why he says it," Fletcher said on a jailhouse call with Knight, according to a transcript shown in court. "And if somewhere down the road they say, Oh, they gave us $50 racks,' say, 'OK, well prove that s. Fletcher has repeatedly claimed the case against him is the result of a vendetta held by the lead investigator in the case, L.A. County Sheriff's Det. Francis Hardiman. While testifying in his own defense, Fletcher yelled that Hardiman had been "trying to get me for 10 years." At one point during the trial when the jury was not present, Hardiman suggested to the judge that jurors should hear about an incident in which an undercover operative tried to get Fletcher to accept methamphetamine as payment for legal services. Hardiman claimed Fletcher responded to the offer by saying he had bought and sold far more drugs in his life than the informant was offering. Fletcher laughed at the detective and said, "I knew he was undercover." In the lead-up to the trial, Alexandra Kazarian, an attorney assisting Fletcher in his case, also tried to portray Hardiman as a rogue detective with questionable credibility. In a court filing, she accused Hardiman and his partner, Richard Biddle, of routinely threatening criminal action against defense attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates who they view as interfering with their cases. She pointed to a homicide case in Compton last year in which Hardiman arrested defense attorney Naren Hunter on suspicion of obstruction of justice. Hunter did not respond to a request for comment and the district attorneys office said only that it has not yet decided whether to file charges against him. Kazarian also wrote that Fletcher and Hardiman have a long and tumultuous history. In one incident, she alleged, Hardiman threatened a witness who refused to cooperate in a case in which Fletcher was defending a high-ranking member of the Mexican Mafia. I will run you over like a train to get what I want, OK? Hardiman said to the woman, according to the motion Kazarian filed. Deputy Dist. Atty. Phil Stirling, who helped prosecute Fletcher, downplayed Kazarian's claims, saying Hardiman and Fletcher crossed paths only on the Knight investigation and the Mexican Mafia case. And Hardiman's comment to the witness about the train, Stirling said, was a metaphor, which Fletcher and Kazarian had taken out of context. In his closing arguments last week, Mrakich said Fletcher is incapable of telling the truth. He told jurors they should believe what they heard Fletcher say on the recordings, not his explanations of what he meant. I think you can safely say if Mr. Fletcher is standing and his mouth is open and hes saying something it's false," Mrakich said. "He lies about his own lies. But Fletcher maintains it is prosecutors who are being dishonest. Despite all of the recordings they played of his conversations, Fletcher repeatedly noted prosecutors had failed to present a witness who testified Fletcher offered them money or asked them to lie for Knight. You bring in one witness who says that," Fletcher said repeatedly during the trial. "And Ill plead guilty. Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report. For the record: 4:09 p.m. Feb. 13, 2022: An earlier version of this story misspelled L.A. County Sheriffs Det. Francis Hardimans first name as Frances. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Owosso, MI (48867) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. High 51F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight Cloudy. Periods of light rain early. Low 43F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. President Kovind and PM Modi expressed grief at the demise of Bajaj and recalled his contributions to the world of industry Mumbai: Veteran industrialist and head of the Bajaj Group, Rahul Bajaj, passed away on Saturday at the age of 83. Bajaj, who had pneumonia and a heart problem, was admitted to the Ruby Hall Clinic a month ago and breathed his last at 2.30 pm on Saturday. The Maharashtra government announced a state funeral for him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray among other prominent figures offered their condolences over the death of Bajaj, who was the chairman of Bajaj Group for four decades. He had resigned from that post in April last year and was appointed the firm's Chairman Emeritus for five years. A statement shared by the Bajaj group read, "It is with deep sorrow that I inform you about the passing away of Shri Rahul Bajaj, husband of the late Rupa Bajaj and father of Rajiv/Deepa, Sanjiv/Shefali and Sunaina/Manish. He passed away on the afternoon of 12th February, 2022, in the presence of his closest family members. The Bajaj group also said that the last rites would be performed on Sunday at Pune's Vaikunth Crematorium. Known to call a spade a spade, Rahul Bajaj, who was a recipient of Padma Bhushan, was one of the most respected businessmen in India. He also served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2006-10. Rahul Bajaj often spoke out against curbs on freedom and in November 2019, at an event where home minister Amit Shah was present, the veteran industrialist spoke about the government's "stifling of criticism", among other things. "This environment of fear, it's definitely on our minds. You (the government) are doing good work; and despite that, we don't have the confidence that you'll appreciate criticism," he had said. Born on June 10, 1938, he had a BA (Honours) degree in economics from the University of Delhi, a law degree from Mumbai University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Rahul Bajaj took charge of the Bajaj Group in 1965 and it was under his leadership that the company's Bajaj Chetak scooter became an aspirational symbol for the Indian middle class, and the ad jingle "Humara Bajaj" held a happy promise of a better future. She constituted a TMC national working committee of 20 members which is led by her and would run the party from now Kolkata: Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday abolished all senior level executive posts in her party at an emergency meeting to remove a division between old and new guards over the call of "One Person, One Post" given by her MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee and a rift with election strategist Prashant Kishor and his consultancy firm- Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). She constituted a TMC national working committee of 20 members which is led by her and would run the party from now. This is the first time the TMC witnessed such a major revamp in its history. Through the abolition of posts which cost her young nephew the powerful designation of TMC national general secretary, Ms Banerjee sent a message to the warring factions that she, as the chairperson, has the last word in the party and all have to work under her command, according to sources. The TMC national working panel list has the names of the West Bengal chief minister's main advisor Amit Mitra, nine state ministers-- Partha Chatterjee, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Jyotipriyo Mullick, Moloy Ghatak, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, Bulu Chik Barik, Asima Patra and Sovandeb Chatterjee--, two Rajya Sabha MPs-- Subrata Bakshi and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, three Lok Sabha MPs-- Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Abhishek, Anubrata Mandal, Rajesh Tripathi, Goutam Deb and Yashwant Sinha. Announcing the list Mr Chatterjee, who was the secretary general of the TMC, said, "These names will be sent to the Election Commission as and when Ms Banerjee allots designations to them. None of them hold any post now." Interestingly, three-time Dum Dum MP Sougata Roy and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, who are known to be followers of Abhishek, have been kept out of the apex body. Sources revealed that Ms Banerjee also held a separate meeting with Abhishek on the I-PAC, which has a contract period till 2026 with the TMC, after chairing her party's reorganisation at her Kalighat residence in presence of the leaders. Mocking the rejig in the TMC, BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh however claimed, "I do not know their purpose of setting up a new party formation. But it is clear that there is an attempt to take control of the party power in the state by sending other senior leaders to a national body." Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Chaudhuri alleged, "Mr Kishor painted a dream to the TMC chief and her nephew of opening their party's branches in other states. But their party has suffered a jolt in Tripura and will get another blow in Goa. So Ms Banerjee is trying now to take control of her party." At My Papa's Homemade Pasta Sauce in Manchester Dylan McCall, foreground, feeds jars into a labeling machine, while partner Dimitrios Lazaridis checks the labels before packing. (Jesse Leavenworth / Hartford Courant) (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant) Manchester Since launching My Papas Homemade Pasta Sauce in Manchester four years ago, boyhood friends Dimitrios Lazaridis and Dylan McCall have gradually boosted production and automation in their corner of the historic Hilliard Mills complex. The partners have done much of the work by hand cooking and stirring the red sauce in 40-gallon pots with a paddle the size of a rowboat oar; filling, capping and labeling each 24-ounce jar; packing cases for shipment. Advertisement In an interview Wednesday, the two Glastonbury natives, still the companys only full-time workers, said they have invested $150,000 in an expanding production line in the 2,500-square-foot space. An automatic filler and capper are the latest additions. The company that started with one stock pot now sells 1,200 jars a week at 200 stores throughout New England, and the partners said steady growth is their goal. Advertisement Their inspiration, Lazaridis and McCall said, comes from Angelos Pizza and Restaurant in Glastonbury, where both worked as teenagers washing dishes, slicing pizza and doing every other chore for owner Angelo Lazaridis, Dimitrios father and the papa " in the company name, whose mantra was, Never say its not your job. He worked eight days a week, Dimitrios said of his father. The image of Angelo Lazaridis holding a plate of steaming pasta and red sauce is on every label of My Papas sauce. Lazaridis said he grew up in the restaurant and knew his fathers sauce recipe from a young age. The inspiration for My Papa's Pasta Sauce was Dimitrios Lazaridis' father, Angelo. (Jesse Leavenworth / Hartford Courant) The two teenage boys did not particularly notice the quality of the sauce, McCall said, but they did hear customers always asking for extra. If they got a grinder, they wanted extra sauce to dip in, he said. Both men graduated from Glastonbury High School in 2006. Lazaridis attended St. Johns University, pursuing a degree in biology until he realized after four years that it wasnt for him. McCall received a bachelors degree in criminology from Central Connecticut State University. Both men found they had an interest in business, and the notion of selling the popular Lazaridis sauce to a wider market never left them. In 2014, they sought public reaction at Glastonburys Apple Harvest Festival, handing out 2,500 sample cups with chunks of dipping bread. The feedback was all positive and the seed of the company was planted. My Papas Homemade is based on his fathers sauce and adjusted to our tastes, Dimitri Lazaridis said. When they first started hawking the brand to food market managers, McCall said, they handed out jars, but soon found a better tactic was to bring samples of heated sauce in a thermos with dipping bread so managers could try it on the spot. Advertisement Production ramped up from a single pot to four 40-gallon pots. The partners use peeled plum tomatoes from California in most of their all-natural, gluten-free sauces, including the flavors classic, slightly spicy and tomato basil, but Connecticut-grown tomatoes go into the fall harvest variety. Partners Dimitrios Lazaridis, left, and Dylan McCall started with one stock pot and now sell 1,200 jars a week. (Jesse Leavenworth / Hartford Courant) (Jesse Leavenworth/The Hartford Courant) News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > The partners recently purchased a 500-gallon steam kettle, essentially a giant double boiler, and plan to add it to the production line within the next six months. McCall and Lazaridis, both 34 and single, said they may outgrow their current space at Hilliard Mills, but they plan to stay in Connecticut. Additional workers also may be needed down the line, they said. For now, they rely on each other and some relatives to help when needed. It has been a lot of hard work, the men said. Running the automatic labeling machine Wednesday, they remembered hand labeling their first 100,000 jars. Lazaridis said he has found his knowledge of biology helpful in the business, while McCall, who also is a jet engine technician with the Connecticut Air National Guard, said his mechanical know-how has been useful. Asked how many hours they put in each week, the partners said sometimes its 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; other times, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The jars are listed for $7.99 on their website, and they wouldnt disclose their profit margin, but McCall said, The money we get inspires our work ethic. Advertisement Stores that sell My Papas Homemade and more information can be found at mypapashomemade.com. Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com. The announcement by Pushkar Singh Dhami attracted severe criticism of the BJP, especially the timing of it, by Opposition parties New Delhi: On the last day of election campaigning in Uttarakhand, the chief minister of the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand, where polling for Assembly elections is scheduled on February 14, announced on Saturday that if the BJP is re-elected to power in the hill state, the new government will constitute a committee to prepare a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) soon after it is sworn in. The announcement by Pushkar Singh Dhami attracted severe criticism of the BJP, especially the timing of it, by Opposition parties. Uttarakhand is scheduled to vote on February 14 to elect its next Assembly. "Soon after its swearing-in, the new BJP government will form a committee to prepare a draft of Uniform Civil Code in the state. This UCC will provide for the same laws regarding marriages, divorce, land-property and inheritance for all people, irrespective of their faith... This Uniform Civil Code will be a step towards realising the dreams of those who framed our Constitution and solidify the spirit of the Constitution. This will also be an impactful step towards Article 44 that provides for UCC for all citizens. This UCC will be for equal laws on subjects like marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for people of all religions, said the Uttarakhand CM. Mr Dhami maintained that the UCC will enhance social harmony, boost gender justice, strengthen women empowerment and help protect the extraordinary cultural-spiritual identity and environment of the state. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal blasted Mr Dhami and the BJP saying such a claim two days before Assembly elections shows that the BJP is losing in Uttarakhand. Mr Sibal also asked Mr Dhami not to embarrass your party and yourself with such announcements, and added that the CM needs some legal advice. Reacting to Mr Dhami's announcement, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that the chief minister should understand that uniform doesnt mean common. Babasaheb (Dr B R Ambedkar) had said that it should be voluntary and not mandatory. AIMIM believes in unity in diversity. What does diversity mean? It means one size wont fit everyone. India has several cultures, he said. In Uttarakhand, the ruling BJP has been accusing the Opposition Congress of communalizing the election by promising a Muslim University to appease the minority community, an issue which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to during his recent virtual rally to the states voters. Most opinion polls had predicted the BJP retaining power in the state, but with the Congress giving the ruling party a tough fight, it may improve upon its last poll tally significantly. Hitting back at the Congress, BJPs IT cell head Amit Malviya tweeted: Uttarakhand CM announces BJPs decision to implement Uniform Civil Code in Devbhoomi after elections. Uttarakhand will be the second such state after BJP ruled Goa to do so. On the one hand Harish Rawat promised Muslim University while the BJP speaks of equality and empowerment. Referring to the sub-judice hijab row, another BJP leader and partys national secretary Y. Satya Kumar said, The real difference between the secularism of Baba Saheb Ambedkar (followed by the BJP) and the secularism of Jinnah (followed by the Congress) cannot be more visible. While BJP announced Uniform Civil Code in Uttrakhand, Congress leaders want the entire country to wear hijab. Echoing the views of Mr Dhami that it is BJPs prime duty to keep the culture and heritage of 'Devbhoomi' intact, the BJP's youth wing head and MP Tejaswi Surya said that the need for Uniform Civil Code has been long felt to protect the diversity and unique culture of Uttarakhand. Although the Law Commission had concluded in 2018 that a UCC is neither desirable nor feasible, nor has any blueprint for a UCC been prepared, the BJP keeps bringing up the Uniform Civil Code . Regional parties are also trying to make inroads in these states that have traditionally been ruled by the two parties New Delhi: Taking on the incumbent BJP, the Congress is all set to fight it out in a very close contest in the poll-bound states of Uttarakhand and Goa. Both the states vote in a single phase on Monday. The high-octane campaigns in the two states have poised the match evenly. Regional parties are also trying to make inroads in these states that have traditionally been ruled by the two parties. The Trinamul Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party had an aggressive campaign strategy in Goa. The TMC in Goa managed to pull several candidates from other parties to itself while the AAP is on the poll plank of a corruption-free government. In Uttarakhand, the AAP has been campaigning for the past few months and has attracted leaders from other parties too. AAP chief ministerial candidate Ajay Kothiyal is contesting from Gangotri. The 70-member Assembly in Uttarakhand has seen a liberal interchange of leaders between the Congress and the BJP. BJP government ministers Harak Singh Rawat and his family and Yashpal Arya and his son are now in the Congress. The Congress former state unit chief Kishore Upadhyay and Mahila Congress state chief Sarita Arya are now in the BJP. In the 70-member Assembly, 36 is the majority mark. There are 22 seats in the Garhwal region, 20 in Kumaon and 28 in the plains, or Maidan. In the 2017 Assembly election, the BJP won 57 seats and the Congress 11. It was the highest number of seats any party won after the states formation. The key seats include Khatima, Lalkuan, Srinagar, Gangotri, Lansdowne, and Kotdwar. BJPs chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, is standing from Khatima, while Congress Harish Rawat is contesting from Lalkuan. The three repealed farm laws will also be a major factor in the plains as the protests against these laws also took place in this region. In a bid to buttress his commitment to the state, chief minister Pushkar Dhami has announced his plans to implement a uniform civil code if voted to power, to which the Congress has said that he needs sound legal advice. The Congress has promised that if it wins, four lakh youths will get jobs, a gas cylinder will cost less than Rs 500 and five lakh poor households will get Rs 40,000 per year. The election campaign saw high-profile visits from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. Since its inception in 2001, the state has not yet repeated the party in power in any election. The 40-member Goa Assembly is seeing a multi-cornered contest. The Trinamul Congress and the AAP are also trying their luck in Goa. In the last five years alone, 27 out of 40 state legislators in Goa have switched parties. Party-hopping after the results is a serious concern of the central leaderships of all parties. The main issues in this election include the restart of mining, jobs and boosting tourism. At least six Assembly seats have been affected directly and indirectly by the ban on mining in the state, and the issue may decide the fate of many candidates. CM Pramod Sawants constituency, too, is affected by the issue. The BJP has pledged that it will restart mining within six months of coming to power. The Congress and the AAP have also promised sustainable mining. The Christian votes in the state have been a challenge for the BJP, especially in the Salcete belt that has eight constituencies and a Christian population of almost 40 per cent. However, the BJP is also giving tickets to influential Christians who have joined the BJP from the Congress. The BJP has given tickets to 12 Christian candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a scathing attack on the Congress saying that Goa could have been liberated within hours in 1947 when India attained Independence, but it took 15 years for the state to be freed from Portuguese rule because the Congress did not do anything for 15 years. This claim had been strongly countered by the Congress. Since the Assembly has only 40 members and the winning margins are narrow, almost 10 parties have fielded their candidates, including the MGP, GVP and UGDP. These smaller parties, along with the Independent candidates, will also hold sway in government formation. The result in both states will be announced on March 10. The central prong has been always to poke at pre-existing religios prejudice of Hindus against Muslims By virtue of being a voter in Uttar Pradesh, a handbill was delivered along with the days newspapers. It was, from the BJPs nominee, a sitting MLA who won with one of the largest vote margins in 2017. No rival has undertaken this exercise yet, indicating either that they have given up the fight, or presumed that our middle-class locality is unlikely to vote for them. Despite being the incumbent, the marketing flier with the BJP candidates gloat-filled and photo-shopped picture prioritised serving a reminder to voters of the before 2017 era and not the after 2017 section. It mirrored the incessant before 2014 refrain of the BJPs un-harmonic orchestra conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with teleprompters in front. The difference being that while the partys national campaign stresses on the previous seven decades or so as being a period of zero or insignificant achievement, this BJP aspirants handout depicts the years before 2017 as when lawlessness was rampant and hooligans stealthily pounced on sisters-daughters, traders and anyone seeking their legal entitlements. The 15-point list of blemishes of the pre-BJP period, (essentially under the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party) is aimed at reminding people of the horror shows previously, while the post-March 2017 phase is depicted as an era of golden contrasts. Women and girls are not scared now, but offenders are the ones looking for avenues to slink away. While the idol of Ram Lalla was beneath a tent previously, a grand temple for the deity is coming up now. Previously, our district had a Haj House to enable the Haj-bound to stay while completing last-minute procedures before emplaning for Saudi Arabia. To be one up on them and to match such appeasement, the BJP government has constructed a lavish Kailash Mansarover Bhavan, despite the fact that the pilgrimage is unlikely this year too after the Covid-19 pandemic led to the yatras cancellation from 2020 onwards. In the leaflet, of the listed achievements, most are in the sphere of religious (cultural) counter-balancing actions: floral showers on Kanwar Yatras in place of bans, Deepotsav in Ayodhya and the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as against the Saifai Mahotsav, official Navratri celebrations and not Iftar parties and finally bhajans over loudspeakers every morning and evening in place of the ban previously. The next largest cluster of the failures-successes juxtapositions are in the realm of crime, criminals and criminality, where the dog-whistle links them to Muslims and their associates official protection for goondas replaced with a tenure when they were on the run and instead of cases against the criminals being withdrawn by the government, and their properties are being bulldozed. The development spiel finds little mention in the pamphlet, but even the three feats listed are contentious. Like, for instance, the claim that potholed roads have been replaced by expressways, flyovers and elevated corridors. As a resident of UP, I can testify that the quality of roads, by and large, remain the same. Likewise, many flyovers and the 10 km-plus elevated corridor in the district were started during the dark days. The BJP candidate did not seek votes on the basis of improving peoples livelihood and for efficient tackling of the health and economic crises triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The poll plank of the BJP candidate in our constituency has a continuing narrative in the partys manifesto and epitomises the partys thrust in trying to retain the state, that is considered by most as central to the Prime Ministers campaign for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024. From the time the partys three major flag-bearers Narendra Modi, Union home minister, Amit Shah and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath blew the bugle in autumn last year, the emphasis was on reminding voters of the alleged criminals-Muslims-Yadavs-police nexus. Earlier too, several law-and-order measures, for instance the formation of anti-Romeo squads and calls for thok do (shoot) had a clear majoritarian orientation. When the BJP made its political advent in Uttar Pradesh, in the 1980s and 1990s, the articulate leadership then coined the idea of reverse polarisation in seats where Muslims were present in large numbers. By claiming they were consolidating against the BJP, unabashedly presented as being committed to furthering Hindu interests, its leaders beseeched the community to line up behind the party en masse to demonstrate the might of awakened Hindus. Going one step forward, by juxtaposing the Haj House with Kailash Mansarovar Bhavan and Iftar parties with official Navratri celebrations, the BJP has graduated to reverse-appeasement. From when the trishul or trident became the symbol of demonstrating Hindu assertiveness in the course of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, the BJPs political campaign has been multi-pronged. However, the central prong has been always to poke at pre-existing religious prejudice of Hindus against Muslims, convert this into fear and eventually electorally harness this sentiment to the BJPs favour. It is the consistent strategy of fostering hatred that has resulted in the dangerous situation of proverbially spawning a thousand Nathuram Godse-like characters. Despite showcasing the state police forces purported efficiency, the attack on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi is a pointer to a grave threat to Indias internal security. The statements of the accused point to the emerging gun-culture with a majoritarian thrust in the country and the absence of widespread condemnation from the BJP leadership will only encourage more Sachin Sharmas and Shubhams to express their rage and fury at provocative statements by leaders like Mr Owaisi, not with words or action but by emptying a few rounds of bullets. The absence of remorse from any senior BJP leaders, even before the hate speeches at the so-called Dharam Sansad faded from public memory, is a marker to the thin ice that we are all walking on. That hate begets hate is a truism but the BJP leadership has consistently looked the other way. With the stakes high in UP for being part of the first round of polls after the ferocity of the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of governance during last years second wave and the incapacity of the Central and state governments to put the personal economies of devastated citizens back on track, the rest of the campaign will be indicative of the inter-community relationship in future. Going by the pamphlet that came along with the days news, the portents are not encouraging, but one hopes good sense prevails on the BJP leadership and they douse the raging flame they have stoked in millions of hearts. by Nirmala Carvalho On the eve of local elections in the small state where Christians are a quarter of the population, the Council for Social Justice and Peace warns that, Money and freebees are distributed and unfortunately many people accept them. These offer no solution for unemployment, for escalating prices and homelessness. Above all, Let us not be manipulated by political experiments, electoral adventurism and deceptive propaganda. Goa (AsiaNews) Next week elections will start in five Indian states Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa to elect local assemblies. The poll comes at a critical moment for the political stability of country, especially the vote in Uttar Pradesh, which has a population of 200 million, and is by far the most populous state. How will local Churches respond to the vote at a time when intimidation and violence against Christians have reached worrying levels? Goa is an interesting case. A small state with just 1.5 million people, it is extremely important for Indian Christianity, not only for its history like its famous churches designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites but also for the size of its community. Christians number around 366,000 or 25 per cent of the population, second only to Hindus (about 65 per cent), Muslims (8.3 per cent) and smaller groups of Sikh, Jain and Buddhist minorities (1 per cent). Goa goes to the poll in a single round next Monday (14 February), but results will be released only on 10 March, when voting and counting will be concluded in the other four states. In recent weeks, the local Church has urged Catholics to grasp what is at stake, inviting them to prayer, highlighted by an extended Eucharistic adoration the whole day yesterday (11 February), in many parishes and religious communities. Even before this moment of prayer, however, in recent weeks the Diocesan Council for Social Justice and Peace issued a very frank statement inviting Catholics to reflect, pray and vote. Elections are a two-way responsibility, both of the electorate as well as of the candidates. We should elect the right people, rather than electing the wrong people and blaming them. In our first few assemblies, we elected respectable persons who enjoyed high credibility. Nowadays, we want to elect people who are at our back and call, to serve our purposes, even if they are illegal. One of evils of Indian politics listed by the secretary, Fr Savio Fernandes, is politicians crossing the floor to join other parties. Goa has gained notoriety in the past as well as today for record number of defections and desertions driven by selfish considerations. Though some defections were much publicized; the fact is that, there have been defections and desertions all across the political spectrum. Let us be honest: we too have to share the blame for the same, as we have failed to confront those concerned, giving the impression that their actions are justified. In fact, we ourselves have tried to justify such acts on the pretext of development and even glorifying concerned persons as being the ones who help us in our needs. With respect to Indian politics more broadly, the statement notes: We are confronted with intolerance, misuse of law enforcing agencies to suppress opponents, complete control of the mainstream media, presumed monopoly on truth, draconian laws, federalism is under challenge, legislations being bulldozed, and the farmers struggle for justice. Every issue is sought to be projected in polarized terms. There have been attacks on weaker sections, and on minorities under the pretext of forcible conversions. Prayer services of various faiths, including Christmas celebrations were disrupted and educational institutions attacked. There have been shocking calls for genocide. Against this background, the Council for Social Justice and Peace says that, we need to look not only at the candidate but also at her/his party. Large corporates often colonise (remote-control) through political entities. Sadly, Money and freebees are distributed and unfortunately many people accept them. These offer no solution for unemployment, for escalating prices and homelessness. Many candidates are propped up to divide votes on sectarian considerations. For Fr Fernandes, There is frequent misuse of religion for political purposes through much publicized blessing ceremonials and offers of free pilgrimages. Appealing to people to take money but to vote for oneself is blatantly improper and illegal. Floating of fancy financial schemes which cannot be honoured is highly deplorable, more so, when the State itself is in debt. [P]arties with national ambitions are here to increase their vote percentages, so as to gain national recognition, even by recklessly splitting secular votes. We should be mindful of the possibility of communal and fascist forces camouflaging behind the labels of political alternatives. Last but not least, Let us not be manipulated by political experiments, electoral adventurism and deceptive propaganda. We have joined the mainstream of national life long back. We need to remain in the national mainstream in a dispensation which is stable and secular. Consequently, We should certainly vote; however, after prayerful discernment. At the Angelus Francis spoke again about the crisis in Ukraine and called on the Virgin Mary to move the conscience of the political leaders. In the Gospel passage dedicated to the Beatitudes, the pontiff praises the identity of Jesus disciples who do not find joy in money or material goods, but in the gifts they received every day from God: life, creation and the desire to share. Vatican City (AsiaNews) At the end of todays Angelus address, Pope Francis made a heartfelt appeal for peace in the Ukraine to the faithful gathered in St Peters Square, urging them to pray in silence for a few seconds. New from that country is very worrying, he said. For this reason, I entrust every effort for peace to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and to the conscience of the political leaders so that every effort for peace can be made. As he did last Wednesday at the general audience, the pontiff spoke about the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, at a time when an attack by Moscow appear increasingly possible. Hence, he renewed his call to make every effort for peace. Before the Angelus prayer, commenting on the Gospel passage dedicated to the Beatitudes, the pope stressed that they define the identity of the disciple of Jesus, even though they may sound strange, almost incomprehensible to those who are not disciples. The first one is the basis of all the others. Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you poor. [. . .] In what sense! asks the pontiff. In the sense that disciples Jesus do not find their joy in money, power, or other material goods; but in the gifts they receive every day from God: life, creation, brothers and sisters, and so on. These are gifts of life. They are content to share even the goods they possess, because they live according to the logic of God. And what is the logic of God? Gratuitousness. The disciple has learned to live in gratuitousness. This poverty is also an attitude towards the meaning of life, because Jesus disciples do not think about possessing it, about already knowing everything, but rather they know they must learn every day. Hence the disciple of Jesus [. . .] is a humble, open person, far from prejudice and inflexibility. The pope then mentions last Sunday's Gospel in which Simon Peter, an expert fisherman, accepts Jesus invitation to cast his nets at an unusual hour, and, full of wonder at the miraculous catch, leaves the boat and all his goods to follow the Lord. This episode is an exhortation and shows the way to truly become disciples of Christ, putting aside given certainties. Peter shows himself to be docile by leaving everything, and in this way, he becomes a disciple. Instead, those who are too attached to their own ideas and their own securities, find it difficult to truly follow Jesus. [. . .] Perhaps they listen to him, but they do not follow him. And so, they fall into sadness. In a world where ideologies prevail, where everyone tends to show off their own certainties, the disciples know how to question themselves, how to humbly seek God every day, and this allows them to delve into reality, grasping its richness and complexity. Whoever follows Jesus accepts the paradox of the Beatitudes: they declare that those who are poor, who lack many goods and recognize this, are blessed rather than those who are rich, with many goods, who receive plaudits and are the envy of many, who have all the certainties. Jesus, on the contrary, declares worldly success to be a failure, since it is based on a selfishness that inflates and then leaves the heart empty. Instead, following Christ requires a journey, sometimes wearisome. However, by freeing us from the slavery of self-centredness, [he] breaks our locks, dissolves our hardness, and opens up to us true happiness, which is often found where we do not expect it to be. By way of conclusion, Francis called on the faithful to be inwardly unhinged by the paradox of the Beatitudes, helped by Our Lady, first disciple of the Lord, who shows us how to live as open and joyful disciples. 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 The following clip reveals only 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) on the odo. According to the owners manual, breaking in the 3.4-liter V6 twin-turbo powerplant requires the owner to avoid towing, emergency braking, sudden acceleration, driving at a constant speed for extended periods, driving continuously in low gears, and driving at high speed for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers).Being a force-fed lump, the V35A should be allowed to idle immediately after high-speed driving or hill climbing to prevent damage to the turbochargers.The six-cylinder mill is known for wastegate actuators that may go kaput in the new Tundra pickup truck. The Japanese automaker isnt really transparent with this problem, which only aggravates the urban myth according to which turbocharged engines arent reliable. Spoiler alert: they sure are if properly operated and maintained. Whats more, the V35A debuted in the 2018 LS 500, a vehicle thats never been recalled for an engine issue.Imposing on the outside, the fourth-gen LX is the luxed-up sibling of the J300 thats not available stateside because the Land Cruiser wouldve overlapped with the LX too much in terms of pricing. On the upside, Land Cruiser loyalists are offered an alternative in the form of the new Sequoia TRD Pro.Currently available in LX 600 guise, the gentle giant starts at $88,245 excluding destination charge and optional extras. At the other end of the spectrum, Lexus offers the LX Ultra Luxury for a whopping $127,345.Fully stock, the 3.4-liter V6 cranks out 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet (650 Nm) of torque at 2,000 revolutions per minute. By comparison, the old models free-breathing V8 is boasting 383 hp and 403 lb-ft (546 Nm). SUV ADAS kW Remember, Alfa Romeo is still around. Just like Stellantis brother from another FCA mother, Chrysler. And it,, too, has just two vehicle nameplates on sale right now. So, at least the latter does not try and pose as a major Formula One (that would be NASCAR or Indy for them) contributor.Alas, that F1 team name and logo change was one of the main highlights for our Alfa Romeo newsreel last month. That one, along with the seemingly never-ending string of teasers and spied 2023 Tonale prototypes, of course. Well, this is what happens after years of neglect.Also, when only offering the Giulia sedan and Stelvio sport utility vehicle. By the way, just in case someone forgot, those two were presented to the public back in 2015 (Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, Italy) and 2016 (Los Angeles Auto Show), respectively. Then, for almost six long years, nothing.That drought finally ended with the leaked 2023 Tonale. Mere hours later, Alfa Romeo itself signaled it was time for La Metamorfosi . It means the metamorphosis in Italian and brings with it an interesting equilibrium dance. The Italian automaker promises the new compact crossoverwill remain true to a brands (sporty) DNA that has been around since 1910.Alas, the little CUV also comes with a radical evolution of the 111-year-old brands ethos. No one should be surprised, though, as the marque simply tries to adapt to modern times of connectivity and electrification. As such, it also brought an interesting world exclusive (for a car) first NFT (non-fungible token) digital certificate on the automotive market.Along with the usual array of huge LCD real estate in the cockpit. They total 22.5-inch from two large TFT screens and have access to an all-new infotainment system. It is complete with OTA (over-the-air) updates and Level 2systems, among others (just ask Amazon Alexa, she is also there). Naturally, that is not all, as Alfa needs state-of-the-art electrification if it wants to boost sales, not just survive for a few more years.There is a mention of a European base. A new-generation 1.6-liter, 130-horsepower diesel engine with a six-speed TCT dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. But the real stars of the powertrain show are Tonales dual-levels of electrification.The first debut revolves around a 130- or 160-horsepower Hybrid VGT (variable geometry turbine). It blends a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a 48-volt 15-, P2 electric motor and pairs them with a seven-speed TCT.The second layer of performance comes in the form of a 275-horsepower PHEV (plug-in hybrid) Q4. That means all-wheel drive and 62 mph/100 kph in 6.2 seconds, complete with more than 60 km/37 miles of pure electric range, according to initial estimates. Will that be enough to make Alfa Rome a sales hero yet again?That would be anyones guess. But at least the Italian automaker is looking forward to better North American and Middle East outcomes, also with region-exclusive 2.0-liter gasoline mills. As far as we can see right now, when the first deliveries are still quite a long way forward, Alfas Tonale has at least remained a darling of both the rumor mill and automotive virtual artists.Rumors are already swirling about even higher performance factors, such as a potential Quadrifoglio version to keep the equally possible fully electric version company. Meanwhile, pixel masters have already thought about flagship GTA opportunities . Both for Alfas new Tonale, as well as for a sensible update of the ultra-cool Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm! If only things were so easy in real Stellantis life, as well... Enter the MC-130J Commando II , an airplane the U.S. Air Force (USAF) describes as one suitable to fly clandestine, or low visibility, single or multiship, low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces missions.It can be used to airdrop or airland supplies or hardware, and can even perform aerial refueling missions. 164,000 lbs (74 tons) of cargo can be carried to the needed destination by each of these planes, to distances as far as 3,000 miles (4,828 km, without aerial refueling), and as fast as 362 knots (417 mph/671 kph).The kinds of missions it is used for means the Commando generally keeps a low profile while in enemy territory. Not the same can be said when it feels safe at home then, it likes to show off with its friends.Weve already seen several MC-130J Commando IIs gang up together for a display of force, most recently in January, when they performed something called flight of the flock over Japan. And here are some again, this time involved in an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base in the same country.In fact, these are the same planes as last time, deployed with the 1st Special Operations Squadron, a unit tasked with infiltration, exfiltration and resupply for allied forces in austere environments.There are six planes seen here, but the larger training exercise they were part of back in January saw the unit deploy all the seven Commando airplanes they have in their possession for the first time together. Anti-mask and anti-vaccine protestors gathered outside the state Capitol on the first day of the 2022 legislative session last week. Schools likely will face heated debate if Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order for mandatory masks in all public schools ends Feb. 28. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) With less than three weeks before Connecticuts school mask mandate is expected to expire, local school administrators are hurriedly trying to figure out what to do when the mask or no mask decision falls to them. But with the issue already deeply divisive in many Connecticut communities, most educators last week were saying nothing publicly. Advertisement Many are hoping that state health officials guidance later this month will bring some resolution, but are acknowledging that town-by-town debates likely heated in many cases appear inevitable. In many communities the masks have been such a hot issue, the meetings have been contentious. The (school) boards are thinking all those discussions will intensify at the local level even more now, said Patrice McCarthy, deputy director of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. Advertisement Assuming the state Senate agrees this week, Gov. Ned Lamonts executive order for mandatory masks in all public schools will end Feb. 28. That would leave each school district free to either drop all mask rules on March 1, adopt their own mandate, or try to fashion some less-restrictive requirements. Far from resolving the nearly two-year arguments over masks, though, that is likely to make local school board meetings the main arena. He puts the onus upon the towns, the schools, the superintendent, but more importantly on the board of education, Norwich school board Chairman Robert Aldi said at a meeting last week. Local chapters of the Unmask Our Kids movement were on social media calling for parents to press their school districts against instituting any local mask mandate. There is a letter going to the current superintendent and we need support to unmask our kids, Ann Miller Flynn wrote on Facebooks New Milford page. If you are interested in being part of this, we just need your name and email address to put on the list of parents who support taking the diapers off our kids faces. With less than three weeks before Connecticuts statewide school mask mandate is expected to expire, local school administrators are hurriedly trying to figure out what to do when the mask or no mask decision falls to them. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (David Goldman/AP) And some educators anticipate that pro-masks parents and teachers, whove had no objections during the state rules, will become more vocal now. The overwhelming majority of school systems were holding off on decisions or even public discussion. Advertisement Windsor Locks school board, however, decided that the mandate ends this month. It voted Thursday night that masks will become optional for its students, staff and teachers starting March 1. East Hartford education officials made no decision, but signaled theyre open to ending mask rules. If the statewide mandate is lifted, we intend to follow suit here in East Hartford, said Laura Roberts, the districts communications director. Bridgeport administrators told News 12 that theyll likely implement a local mandate at least until the end of June, while Trumbulls superintendent said masks will become optional when Lamonts order ends. The state public health department is expected to give guidance later this month on how school systems should proceed. Many educators want a system of benchmarks based on community infection rates and vaccination rates, and perhaps even a formula that factors in the air-circulation capability of each school or the space available for social distancing. Advertisement Until then, they say, theyre unwilling to commit either way. Privately, they also acknowledge concern about angering parent groups, student organizations or union factions on opposing sides of the issue. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > So most school systems said nothing. At this time, weve decided it is too premature to make any comments, said Stan Simpson, the communications director for Bloomfield schools. We wont be making any public statements until the legislature takes action and the DPH provides the guidelines that theyve promised, said Wolcott Superintendent Tony Gasper. Other districts including Farmington, Region 10, Winsted, Enfield and Thomaston simply didnt respond to questions. Middletown acting Superintendent Alberto Vazquez Matos said Friday that he and Mayor Ben Florsheim will work together with the Middletown Health Department to determine the metrics theyll use for a decision. Advertisement At its regular meeting Tuesday night, Norwichs school board concluded it would have to convene a special meeting later this month to reach a decision. But even then there were signs of debate ahead. One member began enthusiastically talking about studies concerning natural immunity; the chairman cut her off, advising her to wait for the special session. As such, Rockers are a rare sight on todays roads, and customized ones, even more so. If you travel to Japan though, the country where a custom shop by the name Bad Land resides, youll probably be surprised by the number of such two-wheelers trekking the countrys roads, in modified guise.One of them is the bike we have here, a 2009 Rocker so heavily altered it was in need of a new name. The shop chose to baptize it Dragon Fly, for one reason or another (probably nothing to do with the Anisoptera insect, or flying dragons, for that matter), and its a black wonder the kind were used to seeing coming out from Japan.Propped on aftermarket wheels, made by Ricks Motorcycles and sized 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, the build is the classic Bad Land interpretation of an American machine, with an imposing stance, almost frightening appearance, and mechanical upgrades here and there.The shop went all out on this one, gifting it with tons of in-house-made bits, including the headlight, handlebar, fenders, fuel tank, and short exhaust. Rebuffini contributed the air cleaner kit, while Performance Machine was in charge with supplying the controls.The Dragon Fly is custom project number 96 in the Bad Land portfolio, which includes at the moment a total of 134 builds, but like all others weve talked about before, the amount of money needed to transform it is not public information. Developed in Canada, this pocket-sized device fits easily in your palm, measuring 74 x 50 x 33 mm (2.9 x 1.9 x 1.2) and weighing just a bit over 8 oz (230 grams). It gets mounted on the two-wheelers disc brake. You can lock it by simply pressing on it and it can be unlocked with either a key or via fingerprint, with the latter method requiring only 0.3 seconds. It can memorize up to 16 fingerprints that get stored and managed directly in the lock. As for the accuracy of fingerprint recognition, the manufacturer boasts a 97 percent rate.The Yeelock is fully waterproof, with an IPX7 rating and it is also weather-resistant, being able to cope with temperatures ranging from -20 degrees C (-4 F) to 85 C (185 F). It is powered by two Li-MnO2 batteries that offer a working time of one year. Users can easily replace them with CR2032 cell batteries.In addition to being weather and water-resistant, the Yeelock is also durable, tear and rust-resistant, as it's made from a zinc alloy.While the lock is designed to be installed on the disc brake, theres also a holder available for it, which allows you to mount the Yeelock on cylindrical objects that have a diameter of 18 to 25 mm (0.7 to 0.9), such as your bikes handlebars. The holder is sold separately as an add-on and it will cost you an extra $8.Right now, the lock is seeking funding on Kickstarter . You can get one for approximately $55, with the estimated delivery date being April 2022. After World War II ended, countries started building themselves back up again. Diplomatic and economic ties had to be reestablished, peace was a priority, and the good spirits brought up by the possibility of having a meaningful existence manifested into entrepreneurial greatness.Europe had to work hardest on this matter. The war has left the continent with multiple scars and a lot of confusion. It needed a way out. Closing the door on hate and border changes, some industries began to shine. Automakers especially had a proper chance at escaping the old ways of doing business. Their machinery could be easily reconfigured to make other types of vehicles and parts for them.Almost two decades after the end of the World War II and we find the same exuberance over in Sweden. The carmakers were looking to export as many cars as possible, since people in countries like the United Kingdom, France, Portugal, U.S.A, Canada, Russia, and Japan were finding out about the reliability of Volvo . Made in Sweden was becoming something of a phenomenon.In the midst of all this international success, Volvo and the Swedish government decided North Korea was a good place to do business. They thought the market had promise. Even though the state was relying on foreign aid, they had been buying machinery from the northern European country. Swedes even set up an embassy the first western country to do so!The trade contracts signed with North Korea also stipulated the buying of exactly 1,000 Volvo 144s. The small Asian country wanted the rigid design, the European look, and the famed reliability. What the carmaker didnt know was that North Korea never planned on actually paying for them. The Swedes, in good faith, made the cars and shipped them as the signed contract said. It took a whole year, but it was done. The cars were distributed to those close to the rulers, and became a sign of good friendship with the authoritarians.The Volvo 144 was a great sedan in the 70s. It was part of the 140 Series, which was comprised of two- or four-door models and, before discontinuing it entirely, the car was also presented as a station wagon. The name 144 was an indicative of what the car was: the first of its kind, 4-cylinder engine and 4 doors. The car was such a success that it ended up being made in Belgium, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and South Africa. The rectilinear appearance was one of great importance back then. And, apparently, it still is. North Korea still has the cars delivered by Volvo in 1972 and 1973. Granted, theyre a rarer sight today.Sweden and Volvo never expected North Korea to not deliver on its promise. That is why they waited for the money. They only started asking about the 110 million ($124 million) in 1976, and became serious about it later.North Koreans didnt budge. They never intended to pay, and it is possible they never will. But Swedes, as kind as they are, never forgot. They still ask Pyongyang once every two years to reimburse the effort they made in the 70s. According to the Sweden foreign ministry, the debt today is about 277 million ($314 million), and it will keep rising. Volvo didnt end up in trouble because of this mishap. The Swedish government paid the carmaker in full from public funds for the 1,000 cars. Now officials must keep trying to get the money back. The now Chinese-owned Volvo might help, but we'll see if it happens.May this be a lesson for us all: never deliver in full when theres no payment guarantee. SUV The Land Rover Series I was conceived as a farm tractor and family vehicle as well. Later on, it evolved into the Series II, Series III, the 90/110, and, finally, into the Defender in 1990. I wrote about its history , and I'll skip the details here. Now, we are going on a tour along 'the concept to reality' road between what the DC100 was and what the 2019 Defender became.Unlike other concept cars that evolved from just a show car unveiled at some auto show, the Defender II needed a longer gestation period. This is because the brand itself was on the way to recovering from the debris left behind by Ford when the carmaker sold the British brand to Tata Industries in 2008. By that time, the carmaker had less than a year to switch to new emission systems.As soon as the carmaker obtained the necessary funds from its new parent company, it started to work on the next-generation Defender. Thus, at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Land Rover unveiled the DC100 Concept. The car was designed by Gerry McGovern, director of design for the British brand. It was obvious that the car was meant to replace the Defender.Unlike the Audi Q7 , which was a completely new chapter for Audi, the DC100 was made by a traditional 4x4 manufacturer. Apart from the specific look, the concept featured specific off-road accessories such as the winch at the front and a snorkel on the side. Moreover, to confirm its legacy in helping people worldwide, it featured the red cross red crescent flag on the sides.It didn't look as menacing as its predecessor, but it looked like it was ready to take people on board and treat them lightly. Whoever has driven an old, body-on-frame Landie knows that "harsh ride" has a different meaning in a Defender, as in "even rougher." The rounded front area was a shock for the hard-core fans, who didn't like it, even though it was needed to pass the pedestrian safety requirements. Even though it was a concept car, Land Rover didn't want to lie to its customers.Fast forward to 2019, and the production version was ready. It was unveiled in September, also at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the DC100 had been presented eight years before. Thus, it started a new era for the model's nameplate. Then, in 2020, the global health crisis started, and all plans went haywire. The production paused for a while, affected by the global chip shortage as well. But Land Rover was stubborn and pushed forward. It had to succeed and prove to the world that now, the Defender is no longer a tractor but a family vehicle.So, how different is the production version compared to the prototype, you may ask? For starters, the front is not as prominent on the production version as on the DC100 Concept. That might have something to do with the fans, who disagreed with the bulky bumper featured on the concept.From the side, the windscreen is not flat anymore, which is something everyone agrees that it's better. Still, it was tilted so it could decrease the drag coefficient. It is something like shaving a brick and softening its edges. The biggest difference comes at the rear, where the production version features squared LED taillights instead of the round ones fitted on the concept car. From my point of view, they look better than on the DC100 but have your say in the comment section below.Inside, the production version has to cope with some strict rules and regulations regarding safety. But that didn't stop the carmaker from installing a cabin fitted with the latest technologies. Lately, even Amazon Alexa is available , and this wasn't even in development when the DC100 was unveiled. As a result, the 2019 model year gets a nice interior, eons above the original Defender, not to mention the 1948 Series I. Land Rover nailed things, and, despite what fans of the old Landie have said, it is a present-day car.Its platform is evolved from the D7 developed for Jaguar-Land Rover products. It is named D7x and offers unique features, available exclusively on the 2019 Defender. Under the hood, Land Rover installed a range of modern engines, including a plug-in hybrid. Its adjustable ground clearance allows it to go deep enough on trails. It might not be as hardcore as the new Bronco , but some new customers never thought about going through two feet (60 cm) of mud and water.The only thing the new Defender lost is its rugged appearance and no-status look. While its predecessor was the car for farmers and royal families alike, the new generation jumped in the expensivesegment. There are few chances to see one of these vehicles plowing a field but all the probabilities to see it in shopping malls parking lots. Nevertheless, the new model is a success story for Land Rover because the production version was even better than the concept car Its unclear what the outcome at Palmdale City Hall will be, but we are certain of two things: A lawsuit has been filed and the city manager is now on admin leave. Three-quarters of Americans say that U.S. democracy could be at risk without stronger regulation of false information online, according to a poll by bipartisan advocacy group the Future of Tech commission, results of which were shared first with Axios. The same survey found broad bipartisan support for stronger privacy regulation and increased spending on cybersecurity. Why it matters: Congress is considering a range of new restrictions on tech, including bills related to privacy, competition and possible limits to Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from being sued for user-contributed content. "Voters across party lines overwhelmingly support a range of government actions," Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer told Axios. Steyer is a co-chair of the Future of Tech commission, along with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. By the numbers: The survey of 1,000 Americans, conducted by Benenson Strategy Group on the commission's behalf, found especially strong support to limit collection of users' personal data and even stronger support to limit it for users under 18. 78% of Americans believe consumers should have to opt-in before their personal data is shared. 76% of those surveyed say companies should not be able to collect and use personal data beyond what's necessary for the service being provided. 75% said they support prohibiting companies from collecting personal data on anybody 16 or under. Yes, but: It's one thing to call for these limits in the abstract and another once users realize they might be asked to pay for or give up services that are now supported by targeted advertising. Between the lines: While there is strong bipartisan support, in both polls and among legislators, for reining in Big Tech, the consensus often disappears once the problems described and solutions proposed get more specific. Steyer acknowledged a steep partisan divide when it comes to questions about content moderation and Section 230 reform. "That doesnt mean we cant get major stuff done this year," he said, noting a broader consensus around privacy regulation, as well as support for better broadband and improved cybersecurity. The big picture: While the politics of getting anything passed by Congress are complicated, other countries are poised to act, with the EU and U.K. both considering fresh legislation. "We have birthed the extraordinary tech revolution," Steyer said. "We should lead the world in smart, common-sense, thoughtful guardrails." What's next: Steyer, Patrick and Spellings will present the group's legislative recommendations at a gathering next week. Also expected to attend are FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said this week that he hopes anti-vaccine protestors in trucks "clog up [U.S.] cities." Driving the news: "Im all for it," said Paul, a vocal critic of masking and vaccine mandates. "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." "I hope the truckers do come to America, and I hope they clog up cities," Paul told the conservative Daily Signal in an interview Thursday. State of play: A Department of Homeland Security bulletin warned law enforcement this week that a convoy of truckers protesting vaccine mandates, similar to protests in Canada, could begin soon in the U.S. The bulletin said the convoy could "begin in California as early as mid-February and arrive in Washington, D.C., as late as mid-March." The big picture: Protests over the vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions have spanned several days in Canada, blocking roads and portions of the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing, cutting off key delivery routes and leading factories to shut down. The blockade at the U.S.-Canada border is beginning to dissolve peacefully on Saturday after police moved in to remove the vaccine mandate protestors. Go deeper: U.S. warns protest convoys could hit Super Bowl The New London State Pier is being improved to accommodate wind turbine generator staging and assembly. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/Mark Mirko) The ambitious plan to transform an aging New London pier into a hub for Connecticuts offshore wind industry has long been besieged by delays and ballooning costs. When Gov. Ned Lamonts administration announced in 2019 that it had reached a harbor development agreement to redevelop the dilapidated State Pier, the initial price tag was $93 million, and officials aimed to complete it by March 2022. Advertisement Now, the project remains a year from completion, its estimated cost has swelled by 250%, and it has drawn the attention of federal investigators looking into spending projects overseen by Konstantinos Diamantis, the former deputy secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, who was fired by Lamont last year. In October, the U.S. Attorneys office in New Haven served a federal grand jury subpoena to the Lamont administration, requesting all communication dating to Jan. 1, 2018, connected to Diamantiss involvement with school construction projects, hazardous materials abatement projects and the State Pier project. Advertisement The New London State Pier is being improved to accommodate wind turbine generator staging and assembly. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/Mark Mirko) The redevelopment of State Pier which sits a few miles upstream from the mouth of the Thames River involves dredging the surrounding riverbed and filling in the space between two existing piers to create a much larger area with upgraded heavy-lift capacity. The new pier will be used to construct and stage wind turbines for Revolution Wind, Connecticuts first offshore wind farm, as well as South Fork Wind and Sunrise Wind. Backed by a joint venture of Eversource and the Danish wind energy company rsted, the three projects will collectively provide enough clean energy to power more than one million homes in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. For New London Mayor Michael Passero, the State Pier project represents the first real opportunity for this harbor and that pier to be successful, promising a slew of new jobs and economic stability for New Londons next generation of residents. But over the past few years, delays, rising costs and claims of impropriety at the Connecticut Port Authority have tarnished the projects shine. The New London State Pier in May 2021, Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/Mark Mirko) In 2019, Diamantis was designated as the Lamont administrations point person for the project, heading a team composed of OPM and Department of Administrative Services employees that oversaw the procurement and construction activities and awarding of contracts, David Kooris, chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority a quasi-public agency that oversees the states ports said in a statement. The thinking at the time was, hes probably the most experienced in construction management in the administration, so adding the pier duties to his other duties seemed to make sense, state Sen. Paul Formica, an East Lyme Republican, said of Diamantis. But I guess theres been some question as to how he conducted business. During a February 2020 press conference in which Lamont announced a final agreement on the harbor development plan, he painted a vision of a a world-class port for the next hundred years in New London. Referencing Diamantis, he said, Now Kostas got to deliver the goods. Diamantis assured the crowd that the project would be on time and on budget. Advertisement Im very familiar with this particular project, he said. Its a $157 million dollar project. There are no overruns in this project. But the project estimates continued to grow, rising from an initial estimate of $93 million to $235.5 million. Meanwhile, delays in obtaining required permits pushed the project deadlines further back. We were all very concerned about what was going on because we felt the oversight was not there and the costs were exploding, state Sen. Cathy Osten, a Sprague Democrat, said of the project. It seemed like every six months there was an increase in cost. Other issues abounded. At the start of the redevelopment project, Passero said that he initially felt betrayed by agreements between the Port Authority and other companies over the State Pier, which left New London in the dark. That was at the height of when the Port Authority had been operating in secret, he said. A lot of the trouble theyre in now stems from the actions taken then. The city was one of the victims. Eventually, though, Passero secured a host community agreement with rsted and Eversource, in which the city will receive $750,000 per year over a seven-year period. Advertisement As far as the federal investigation into Diamantis, Passero said he does not expect it to stall the project, saying, Nobody really knows what theyre fishing for. Kooris said that the Connecticut Port Authority had not been contacted by, or received any requests for documents from, the U.S. Attorneys Office investigating Diamantis. Yet the Connecticut Port Authority has also been under increased scrutiny recently, following a report released from the State Contracting Standards Board alleging that the Port Authority did not have the authority to enter into a public-private partnership for the pier redevelopment and has no accountability or transparency measures in place for its procurement policy. Were extremely disappointed in questionable dealings with the Connecticut Port Authority and possibly some school projects, state Rep. Anthony Nolan, a New London Democrat, said, referencing school projects that Diamantis was involved in overseeing. Legislators representing the region said last week that as the State Pier project develops, they are keeping a close eye on the Connecticut Port Authority, in light of past issues. I am a proponent of offshore wind, Formica said. I am an opponent of the shenanigans going on at the Port Authority. Advertisement Following the release of the report from the State Contracting Standards Board, state Sen. Heather Somers, a Groton Republican, blasted the Port Authority, questioning why a quasi-public entity cannot follow its own procedures and noting that the organization has had longstanding issues with transparency. This is more than just not following simple procedures, she said in a statement. This is about a few individuals entrusted with millions of taxpayers money, making crucial decisions which have long-term impact on our region and entire state. Proponents of the project say that the redevelopment of State Pier still holds great potential to bolster the Connecticut shoreline, positioning it to be at the forefront of renewable energy ventures in the Northeast. The only question is whether that vision can be executed. None of us are concerned about the mission of the project; we believe in wind energy, Osten said. We want to make sure its done right because it will impact a whole region. Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com. A webinar starting at noon Wednesday will delve into federal legislation that, if approved by Congress, would provide new financial assistance Police have arrested two people in connection with multiple storage unit burglaries in Southeast Texas. Dilan Garcia-Rodrigue, 27, and Danny Mouton, 46, on Feb. 3 were arrested for burgulary of a building on after police received a call for a burglary in progress at the Public Storage located at 6160 Delaware St. Both men were taken the Jefferson County jail, a Beaumont police news release said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are believed to have committed numerous additional burglaries of storage units in the Beaumont/Port Arthur areas in the last few months, Beaumont PD said in the release. The investigation into the series of storage unit burglaries is on-going and additional charges and arrests are expected. No further information was immediately available. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie The undercover work of multiple Southeast Texas law enforcement agencies has led to several arrests on Thursday along the Interstate 10 corridor. The focus of the operation was to target drug related crimes at hotels along the IH-10 corridor, including the College and IH- 10 intersection, a Beaumont Police Department news release said on Friday. Multiple undercover buys were made, resulting in a total of 7 arrests as well as the recovery of methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana. Republican leader Vincent Candelora (left) holds the door to the House floor as Republican legislators Rosa Rebimbas and Anne Dauphinais leave under protest after Speaker Matt Ritter enforced the room's mask mandate. Republican representatives Kimberly Fiorello and Gale Mastrofancesco (both not pictured) also left the room. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) HARTFORD The statewide school mask mandate is scheduled to end Feb. 28 marking a sharp change in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has lasted nearly two years. How did we get here? Advertisement The state House of Representatives voted Thursday night to end the mask mandate after Gov. Ned Lamont declined to ask for an extension of his emergency powers, in which he initially imposed the mandate. What happens next? Advertisement The state Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on ending the mandate and extending some of Lamonts executive orders that would otherwise expire. Who will be in charge now? The local school boards will have the authority to impose a mask policy in the individual towns, starting after Feb. 28. Mayors, first selectmen and town councils will not have that power, legislators said. Why was the mandate not ended immediately? Lamont and legislators wanted to give the towns time to prepare, including after many schools will be closed for days or the full week of Presidents Day on Feb. 21. What do public school teachers think? Many teachers favor the masks. A survey by the Connecticut Education Association, the states largest teachers union, showed that 62% would continue wearing a mask if it became optional, while 38% would not. Overall, 55% of teachers surveyed support the mask mandate, while 40% say it should end. Who oversees day care? Advertisement The individual private day care operators across the state will decide the mask policy at their centers, legislators said. Will some towns opt out and drop masks entirely? Yes. The school board in Winsted, for example, recently voted unanimously that it would not require children to wear masks. Three-quarters of parents responding to a survey said they not the school board should decide if their children wear masks. Will there be disputes in towns over an emotional issue? Thats possible. Advertisement School board meetings have seen contentious opposition to mandated masks throughout the pandemic during public comment periods and occasional protests. Several meetings in towns across Connecticut were ended abruptly because members of the audience refused to wear masks as required; sometimes police were called. If the pandemic spikes again, could the mask mandate be reimposed? Yes. Advertisement While Lamonts emergency powers are set to expire on Feb. 15, they could be restored at a future date by the Democratic-controlled legislature if the virus starts to spread again. What other executive orders did the House vote to extend? Visitors to nursing homes will continue to be required to be vaccinated or take a COVID test before being allowed into the home. That provision will be extended to March 15, while other short-term provisions will last until April 15. None of the provisions are being permanently written into state law, providing flexibility for the legislature to make changes, depending on the severity of the pandemic. What about the homeless? The bill also allows the state to provide housing for people who are at high risk of contracting the coronavirus, such as homeless people who may otherwise be crammed into shelters in close quarters. The House voted separately on a resolution to obtain millions of dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay for the temporary housing for the homeless. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. PITTSFIELD A pair of moccasins and a wampum pouch that have been in the Berkshire Museums collection for nearly 65 years are on their way home to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians in Wisconsin. Upon being presented with the moccasins and wampum pouch during an official transfer of custody at the museum on Thursday, Bonney Hartley, historic preservation officer for the Stockbridge-Munsees, carefully tucked cedar and tobacco leaves amongst the items. Its actually kind of similar traditionally to what Sachem Konkapot would have in his wampum bag. He would have had wampum in there or medicine. I just used my own medicine bag to place tobacco and cedar. Cedar is for protection, tobacco is our way of offering prayers. When I take them back to our office, Ill light sage and smudge them, Hartley said, referring to the Stockbridge-Munsee office on the Williams College campus. The moccasins and wampum pouch are attributed to Pophnehonnuhwoh, a Muh-he-con-ne-ok sachem (chief), later known as Chief John Konkapot (a name taken after his Christian baptism in 1735). At some point, Konkapot gifted the items to Israel Dickinson, whose great-great-grandson, Allen Peck, of Pittsfield, donated them to the Berkshire Museum in 1958, said Jason Vivori, collections experience manager at the Berkshire Museum. The items are headed to the tribes own museum and library in Bowler, Wis., where their cultural items are preserved. We just want to cleanse them off, welcome them back home and let them know whats happening to them theyre returning from here to go back to our community, Hartley said. But also just recognizing that we dont know the circumstances, exactly, of how they were obtained in great detail. So, I offered too, some protection from any energy be around that exchange, and if there was any pain or unjust actions. She explained the wampum bag of a sachem, traditionally, would not be something Konkapot could decide to give away on his own. The wampum pouch, she said, would also hold wampum beads used in the telling of a tribes oral history. But Konkapot, one of several sachems, or chiefs, of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok (People of the waters that are never still), also known as Mohicans, was himself unique. In the 1730s, Konkapot welcomed the Rev. John Sargent into his village, Wnahktakoot. Sargent built a mission, Indiantown, an early attempt at assimilation of indigenous people through Christian conversion. There is some amount of question [of whether the items belonged to Konkapot], I often think when working in repatriation, you dont know, don't always have 100 percent certainty ... , Hartley said. In cases like this one, she said, with items from the 1700s and records that begin with the donation in 1958, the baseline is preponderance of evidence, a case of more likely than not. In this case, we dont have a reason to dispute the museums records from the donor they obtained it from, she said. We go with best records that we have. They are within our design and style [and within] the colors. We have no reason to doubt thats not the case. That is the best available information. Hartley adde that while it is not known what the relationship between Konkapot and Dickinson was, they do know both were alive in the same area of the Berkshires at the same time. (Dickinson was Berkshire County sheriff.) Talks of repatriating the items to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community began in August, when the museum was partnering with them on the exhibit, Muh-he-con-ne-ok: People of the Waters that are Never Still, Vivori, said. To do so required the Stockbridge-Munsees make an official request under the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Under the act, federal agencies and institutions receiving federal funding to return Native American cultural items to lineal descendants and culturally affiliated American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Cultural items include human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. Vivori said that despite both parties agreeing that the items should be returned to the Stockbridge-Munsees, they had to go through the process which includes a consultation process, a process of determination and publishing in the Federal Registrar of the U.S. National Archives. In the case of the moccasins and wampum bag, the items were returned under a claim of cultural patrimony. The claim for the wampum bag, she said, focused on the cultural patrimony of the item a cultural significance, rather than a ceremonial one. Regardless of the exact circumstances, we took the approach that it belonged to the whole community, that a medicine bag is not individually owned; not one persons individual artwork, Hartley said. This is an item that belongs to the collective. Clearly, the moccasins are attributed to our sachem. And thats the interest in them. If they were just from anyone in our tribe, I dont think the museum would not have had an interest in them, she said. They took them with the understanding they had belonged to our leader. They have that kind of symbolic representation of our communitys resilience, leadership and diplomacy all the things Sachem Konkapot represents in keeping our community together; alive. This is not first time the Berkshire Museum has repatriated an item under NAGPRA. In 2018, the museum partnered with the Big Drum Society and White Earth Tribal Council to return an Ojibwe Large Drum to the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. Cops and Courts Reporter Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. A Google street view photo is posed in front of the site of the former home of Roanoke native Henrietta Lacks at 1102 Norfolk Avenue SW, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (Scott P. Yates/The Roanoke Times/AP) An excavators claw no one in local history circles saw coming leveled a house that records say was once the home of Henrietta Lacks, the Roanoke-born woman described as the mother of modern medicine. In a freakish stroke of bad timing, a local historian discovered the home standing vacant on a Hurt Park street, but city officials werent told of its significance in time to call off the demolition. Advertisement Code enforcement officials did not know Lacks had lived in the American Foursquare house on Norfolk Avenue, which had become unsafe, said Dan Webb, codes compliance administrator. Nor did the owner. Advertisement An excavator tore down the dwelling at 1102 Norfolk Ave. S.W., which was at least 95 years old, about four months before the start of the pandemic, The Roanoke Times found. Nelson Harris, an author of history books, pastor and former mayor, said he found the home never before associated with Lacks by discovering her fathers name in local residential records. Harris said he might have mentioned it to a few friends in passing, other history nerds like myself. Just looked like an old home in need of some attention, he said. Webb said his office placarded the front door with a bright yellow sign that read, THIS STRUCTURE IN UNSAFE in about March 2018. Below it officials tacked a copy of a letter to the owner, titled NOTICE OF UNSAFE STRUCTURE, he said. Harris said he saw no such warning notice when he was there, nor did he see any sign that Roanoke had condemned the home. One week after Harris first stopped by the house in September 2019, the city issued a building permit for its demolition, according to city records. Demolition followed in November. The previously unknown episode involving the house has jolted members of a local campaign organizing memorial tributes to Lacks. Advertisement It blows my mind that it was there up until a few years ago, said Vice Mayor Trish White-Boyd, who was informed of the existence of the house and about its demolition in a Roanoke Times interview last month. Lacks lived in Roanoke from birth in 1920 to 1924, spending most of her short life elsewhere. At age 31, while living in Maryland, she entered the hospital of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for treatment of cervical cancer, during which time doctors removed some of her cancerous cells. The first immortal cell line for medical research, valued by scientists worldwide to this day, was created with the cells from Lacks body. Due to their ability to divide endlessly in the laboratory, they provided an unparalleled platform for research, supported such breakthroughs as the development of the polio vaccine and made billions for industry. Lacks died that year. It would have taken about $75,000 to save the house, an owners representative said. A recently announced fundraiser to place a statue of Lacks in downtown where part of a plaza across from city hall was renamed in her honor last year raised $18,000 in about the first month of its existence toward a goal of collecting $140,000. The house did not stand in a local or national historic district; by law its demolition was assumed to have no negative impact on historical values, Webb said. Had an historic designation for that neighborhood been in place, a historic review would have occurred beforehand. However, such a review would have focused on historical significance from only an architectural standpoint. It would not have gotten into the historical importance of those who lived there, Webb said. Given the city staffs adherence to the rules, Webb said it would be up to the city council or city administration to grapple with whether the loss of Lacks former home requires any particular response from the city. Advertisement Maybe, in the future, we should look a little bit further into some of these houses that we have to demolish, Webb said. Roanoke historian and school system employee Jordan Bell, who played no role in finding the house, insisted that Roanoke must embrace its history. Whenever I hear about something being torn down, I cringe, Bell said. Thats exactly the reason right there. Donald Shovely, associate minister at Jerusalem Baptist Church, said he knew nothing about Lacks having lived at the address, which is next door to the church. As was the case with Webb, Shovely knew who Henrietta Lacks was, however. But at no time in Shovelys 64 years of attending Jerusalem Baptist did anybody mention Lacks lived that close as a child. Had the community known of Lacks tie to the home, Shovely asserted, the owner could have collected enough money to save it. The property owner, members of the Ferrell family, could have gotten the money free probably, Shovely said. But no one knew. Advertisement For at least 10 years, historians and some local residents have known Lacks was born in the vicinity of Norfolk Avenue and 12th Street Southwest and that that house had been knocked down decades earlier. That came out in and after a 2010 book that broke the story of Lacks, her connection to Roanoke, the groundbreaking research performed with her HeLa cells and ethical issues raised by their use without her prior consent. With publication of the book, Roanoke learned in one breath that a city native had standing in the global scientific community but that her birth home no longer remained. In fact, another home almost as important was standing, according to city directories and real estate records. In her book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, author Rebecca Skloot didnt mention a second family home a short distance away. Harriss discovery of the second family dwelling added little to Lacks overall life story, as she would have lived there only about a year or so before her parents moved her to another city in 1924. But for a city wishing to memorialize her place in local history, the second house represented a new point of local interest with appreciable qualities that the first residence, now part of Perry Park, could not. Harris decided he would mention the find to state officials responsible for approving historical markers. Now pending before state officials, a marker request Harris filed could receive approval later this year, he said. Lacks was born Loretta Pleasant in Roanoke on Aug. 1, 1920, Skloot learned from her birth certificate. The Roanoke city directory by publisher Hill Directory Co. in Richmond said John Pleasants, the name provided for Henriettas father with an s on the end, lived at 28 12th St. SW in 1920. This Hurt Park address, assumed to be where Loretta Pleasant was born, was demolished in about 1970. Advertisement City directories of the era listed residences only by head of household. A person with a different name owned the 12th Street house, suggesting that the Pleasants rented. However, it was surely a family home, as shown by the 1920 census, which said eight children lived there even before little Loretta came along in late summer, according to Harris. The family size information agrees with information living family members. The recently demolished home sat about 350 feet to the southeast, also in Hurt Park. John Pleasants bought 1102 Norfolk Ave. S.W. in 1919 and posted it as collateral in April 1922 to support a $3,000 loan from the Peoples Perpetual Loan and Building Association, according to records recorded in Roanoke Circuit Court. A 1936 Roanoke Times article described the association as a local home-building enterprise that loaned money to home builders. By 1923 the Norfolk Avenue address had a dwelling on it and the Pleasants family lived there, according to that years city directory. The home where Lacks was believed to have been born, 28 12th St., was occupied by William Green, the city directory for 1923 said, suggesting the Pleasants had left. Real estate records dont give the purpose of the loan and its not possible to say for sure it was taken out to build the house. City records also say the recently demolished house was built in 1905, long before the Pleasants family lived in the neighborhood. In addition, while the city directory called the head of household Pleasants, the family called him Pleasant. Advertisement The city directory listed his wife as Eliza, which matches family-provided information. One more point of confusion is that the directories of the 1920s listed 1102 Norfolk Ave. as 1100 Norfolk Ave. No one interviewed for this story knew the reason. Henrietta Lacks family members say her mom died in 1924 in connection with giving birth at home, according to published accounts. Her death prompted her husband, who city directories said worked as a railroad brakeman, to relocate his youngest children to the homes of family members elsewhere. Lacks went to Clover near South Boston in Halifax County and is buried in that area. John Pleasants continued to appear in the annual city directory as the occupant of 1102 Norfolk Ave. through 1929. Along the way, Lorettas first name became Henrietta. Family members have told historians they dont recall the reason. Her last name changed in marriage. After Pleasants owned it, the Norfolk Avenue home changed hands in 1930, 1947, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1985 and 2009. Records identify the current owner as Mary Jean Ferrell and James Henry Ferrell, et al. Angelia Sanders of Roanoke, who identified Mary Jean Ferrell as her aunt, said in a recent interview that her aunt has never heard of Lacks. Nor had Sanders heard of her. Peeling exterior paint, rotted wood siding and decayed porch columns had brought the home to the citys attention. It needed a new roof, reconstruction of overhang extensions and chimney repair. The tax assessors office valued the home at $10,500 and the land, about one-sixth of an acre, about the same. Advertisement In March 2018, code enforcement officials sent Ferrell a Notice of Unsafe Structure a copy of which was obtained by the Roanoke Times in which the city condemned the house and ordered that no one could live there. It would have been at least 95 years old at the time and, Sanders said, vacant for about 20 years. Knock it down or correct all violations, the citys letter told Ferrell. State law empowers municipalities to eliminate public nuisances, which include dangerous buildings, in their boundaries. Ferrell and other family members figured they needed $70,000 to $80,000, her niece said. Ferrell was trying to save the house. We worked with her for a good while, said Webb, the codes compliance administrator. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Funds did not materialize. Nineteen and a half months after the notice was first issued to Ferrell, the four-bedroom house fell. This was a fairly straightforward demolition. The house was unsafe and in imminent danger of collapse, Webb said. In early January, Harris went out to check again on 1102 Norfolk Ave. his first time out there since 2019. The lot was vacant. Advertisement I thought, what? What? Harris said. I literally drove around the block saying, I know this house is here, I know this house is here. Then, no, its not. " It is kind of sad that the two homes in which the family lived are no longer around, given her legacy and the fact that now as a city were trying to do something to recognize and honor that. But it is what it is at this point, Harris said. Tax officials have yet to subtract the value of the house from the assessed value of Ferrells property. Such an action would reduce the total value of the land-only parcel to $9,800. Ferrell has been billed for the demolition, which cost more than $20,000. Adding in fees, costs and late-payment penalties, she owes $34,824, according to the Roanoke treasurers office. Plus interest until paid. Winter hangs on, but its bite slowly weakens as spring is five weeks away Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High near 60F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low 42F. ESE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. If you are bewitched, bothered, or bewildered by how the far left communicates, then this column will be a safe space for you. Way back in 2006, I wrote a book called "Culture Warrior," which quickly became a number one bestseller. In that book, I put forth the goals of the progressive movement - what they really want besides power and money. Now, 16 years later, it has all come true. The far-left controls the man in the White House, most TV News operations, newspapers, and Hollywood. I'd say that's an impressive resume. But many Americans still don't understand the progressive language, so I am here to help. That's just the kind of guy I am. Behold, the lexicon. Social Justice. The big one. The tent under which most minority grievances are displayed. Equity. The solution to social injustice. The government and private enterprise favoring minority groups and sometimes women. Restorative Justice. The movement not to punish criminals with incarceration. This, of course, has led to thousands of murdered Americans, most of them minorities. Climate Justice. The destruction of the fossil fuel industry and the allocation of massive government funds to support mostly speculative alternative energy plans. Economic Justice. Guaranteed jobs and salaries. Income Inequality. Another big progressive tenet. This is the justification for socialism whereby the federal government controls the money flow to Americans - taking from the "haves," giving to the "have nots" with no work requirements or substance testing for the folks receiving other people's money. Inclusion. Preference for certain social categories, i.e., gay, trans. Food Insecurity. Free food for the poor. Housing Insecurity. Free or heavily subsidized shelter for the poor. Reproductive Rights. Abortion on demand at any time, for any reason, funded with taxpayer dollars. No rights for the unborn or their fathers. There are other far-left codes, but those are the headlines. Progressives have now reached the apex of their power, with the ill-informed having no idea about what is actually happening. So, this is quite the brave new world, is it not? And I don't think President Biden and Vice President Harris would object to any of it, which is frightening. And know this: If progressives get what they want, there will be no safe spaces. What you have earned throughout your life with sacrifice will become a target of seizure by a powerful government. That's the plan. However, there is still time to defeat it. The November vote will be key.